iss magazine - fall 08

40 | Indian Springs School fall 08 | 1

190 Woodward DriveIndian Springs, AL 35124

205-988-3350

www.indiansprings.org

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Lara Hoggard,second director of the iss Choir.

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a l e a r n i n g l e g a c y

l e a r n i n g t h r o u g h l i v i n g s i n c e 1952

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From the Chairman

From the Director

Welcome New Faculty

Faculty Focus

Alumni Profiles

Alumni Weekend

Sports Update

Class Notes

News Briefs

Events

contents

board oF governors 2008-2009

mission statement the mission of indian springs school is to

develop in students a love of learning, a sense

of integrity and moral courage, and an ethic

of participatory citizenship. inspired by the

motto Learning Through Living, the school is a

community of talented boarding and day students

and dedicated faculty committed to the belief

that in learning to balance individual achievement

with the values and principles of democracy, the

student can develop to his or her full stature.

Donald Hess ’66, Chairman P ’89, ’93, ’93, ’95, ’95, ’01

John Abbot ’80

Larry DeLucas P ’05

Bryson Edmonds

Alan Engel ’73 P ’03, ’12

Mike Goodrich ’63 P ’90, ’93

Greg Hawley ’75 P ’08, ’09

Sally Hawley P ’08, ’09

Catherine McLean P ’03, ’06, ’11

David Ovson ’69 P ’01, ’04

Libby Pantazis P ’03, ’06, ’09

Alton Parker, Jr. P ’94, ’99

Gray Plosser, Jr. ’63

Kip Porter ’60

Rusty Rushton ’74 P ’09, ’11

Frank Samford ’62 P ’90

John Simmons ’65 P ’96

20 Sports Update

10 ISS Alumni In the Business of Wine 16 Alumni Weekend

Wrap-Up6 A New Era – Gareth Vaughan

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fall 08 | 3

Gareth Vaughan Director

David Noone Assistant Director &

Dean of Residential Life

E.T. Brown ’74 Director of Admission &

Financial Aid/Webmaster

June Conerly Director of Guidance and Counseling

Gisèle Crowe Director of Development

Jan Fortson Dean of Students

Jonathan Horn ’75 Dean of Academics

Sue Hutchison Registrar

Gunnar Olson Director of College Counseling

Greg Van Horn Athletic Director

Chuck Williams Director of Technology

Tanya Yeager Director of Finance and Human Resources

Indian Springs School admits students of any race, gender, religion, national origin, or ethnicity to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.On the cover: Charles Brammer Sr. with alumnus Charles Brammer Jr. ’98, Co-Founders of Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery


n July 14 a new era began at Indian Springs – Gareth Vaughan started as our fifth Director. The transition from Mel MacKay through Lee Pierson as our Interim Director to Gareth has been a seamless process. Mel left us in good shape, Lee stepped in with experience, charm and grace to keep us moving forward and Gareth has started and hit the ground running. The community will see the impact of his philosophy and direction as the year unfolds, and I am certain that we shall be very pleased. We welcome Gareth and his wife, Dorrie, to our community.

The decision to hire David Noone as Assistant Director and Dean of Residential Life was entirely Gareth’s and was wholeheartedly supported by the Board. The responsibilities of our Director have grown over the years, and we have clearly had the need for more administrative support.

While our Director leads and sets the tone for Indian Springs, the ultimate achievement of our mis-sion depends on our faculty, staff and students. We have an outstanding faculty and wonderful students. Thanks to all of you for your hard work and understanding of ISS in making the transition so smooth. We are always counting on you as we move to new heights.

Several decisions regarding board structure were made at our February and May meetings. We ap-proved a resolution to increase the size of the board from 14 to 21 members. While we will not rush to fill all of the approved slots, we recognize the need for more board members to provide continuity and expertise on our committees. We also established three sub-committees to focus on specific areas of board responsibility. Each sub-committee will be chaired by a member of the board with other members chosen from our community. This structure permits us to get more people involved in our governance process in areas where they can make a difference.

There are two sub-committees of the Finance Committee: Investment, chaired by Alan Engel ’73 with John Abbot ’80, Ehney Camp ’60, Debbie Long, Dave Faber ’66, and Ben Hunt ’82; and Buildings and Grounds, chaired by Gray Plosser ’63 with Jimmy Lewis ’75, Louise McPhillips, Ed Cassady ’76, and Merrill Stewart. The Planning Committee has one sub-committee, Athletic Affairs, chaired by Catherine McLean with Charles Simpson, Janet Stewart, Luther Strange, John Simmons ’65, and Lia Rushton. All three sub-committees have met and will make valuable contributions to our board deliberations and decisions.

On the fundraising front we continue to move ahead, albeit slowly. The Learning Through Living campaign has raised over $11.1 million, more money than we have ever raised before, but we are still $1.4 million short of our goal. If you haven’t yet given to the campaign and would like to participate please call Gisèle Crowe (205-332-0600), Gareth Vaughan (205-332-0603) or Greg Hawley ’75 (205-241-3142) and offer your support. We have attempted to reach everyone, but we are volunteers and some balls have been dropped, but please do not let that keep you from being a part of this effort.

The Annual Fund met its goal for the first time since 2003. Board giving more than doubled over last year and Alumni giving increased in dollars and percentage. Twenty-seven percent of our Alumni gave last year compared to 11 percent in 2002. The Parents’ Association is taking a very active role along with the Alumni Council in our fundraising efforts. We could not reach our goals without them. Thanks to everyone who gave to and worked in these campaigns.

And finally, graduation – the culmination of everyone’s commitment, passion and dedication – is always a moving experience and this year was no exception. Congratulations to the Class of ’08 and best of luck in your journey as you pursue your passions. Come back to see us often.

Oearning through Living, the Indian Springs School motto, is no mere Latin phrase supporting a heraldic shield; rather it is an effort to capture the essence of an Indian Springs education. The importance of this motto, and the way in which the principle embodied within it is manifested in the current Indian Springs, is one of the things that first intrigued me about the school, and ultimately drew me to it.

If you explore the writings of the philosopher and educationalist John Dewey, you will immediately identify the influence of his work on the guiding principles of the Founding Director of Indian Springs School, Dr. Louis E. “Doc” Armstrong. Central to

Dewey and Armstrong’s concept of education is the notion that successful schools are environments that develop and sustain true learning. This perspective of education as a process of nurturing and cultivation is not necessarily the model at all schools. From its foundation, Indian Springs has been a school which encouraged the development of independent learners. To this end, Armstrong crafted a unique form of participatory student government as a mechanism to help teach skills of active community engagement, independence, and critical thinking. This is an approach that John Dewey would have honored believing as he did that true education required active participation by the learner. As he put it, “facts cannot be hammered in; or beliefs plastered on.” This educational heritage remains an important, discernable qual-ity of the modern Indian Springs. As radical as some of these ideas may have seemed when Dewey was writing in 1929 or Armstrong was creating Springs in 1952, they remain critical and valuable elements of a modern education.

When I visited Indian Springs School in the Fall of 2007, I was immediately struck by the commit-ment of the faculty, in the mold of Dewey and Armstrong, to develop questioning, active learners. Truth be told, encouraging independent thinking is not a path that all schools truly embrace; it can after all make for a challenging environment for teachers and administrators. For students to becoming self-directed learners with ability to analyze and question, they have to be allowed to practice these skills. And we, as the Springs faculty and administrators, have to bear the brunt of this process and submit to being “practiced” on. Fortunately, the Indian Springs faculty clearly has the strength of character and the depth of belief in these special “Springs” principles to face these challenges and ensure a remarkable level of success for Indian Springs’ graduates. As our students enter the rapidly changing environment of the coming age, they will need to be prepared to analyze new situations, accept new information, and adjust accordingly. Well-trained young people without flexible minds and critical thinking skills will find this environment difficult to navigate. Well-rounded Indian Springs students will, however, have the opportunity to thrive.

The philosophies of Dewey and Armstrong that informed the founding of Indian Springs are as rel-evant today, if not more so, than at the founding of the school. Indian Springs School stands for a unique brand of education that fosters academic excellence and independence in equal measure. I am proud to be associated with a school with such a forward-thinking philosophy and honored to have been given the opportunity to be the Director of such a unique educational institution.

L

“the culmination of everyone’s commitment, passion and dedication—is always a moving experience and this year was no exception.”

“indian springs school stands for a unique brand of education that fosters academic excellence and independence in equal measure.”

Donald E. Hess ’66Chairman, Indian Springs School Board of Governors

Gareth VaughanDirector, Indian Springs School

from the chairman from the director


For British native Gareth Vaughan, who officially took the reigns as Indian Springs School’s new director this summer, becoming the head of school was the culmination of a long career evolution.

“If you had spoken to me early in my career, I would have denied that I had any interest in being an administrator,” says Vaughan, whose first job in education was teaching science at Washing-ton International School, a prestigious pre-K-through-12th grade co-educational day school in Washington, D.C. “I found being in the classroom very stimulating, and I was reluctant to lose the opportunity to interact directly with students.”

Gradually, though, he did begin to move up through the ranks at the International School. First he was promoted to dean of students, then assistant head of school and finally head of the upper school, a position that put him in charge of faculty, staff and students for grades nine through twelve. Over the course of those years—26 in total at the school—he says he came to a revelation that ultimately prepared him for his new role as direc-tor at Indian Springs:

“The critical moment,” Vaughan notes, “comes when you understand that just because you become an administrator, there’s no requirement to give up interaction with the students. There are people who do that—they turn into simply manag-ers or administrators, and become invisible—but in my view, the job doesn’t force them to. It’s a choice. In truth you can maintain contact with the students and faculty, albeit not on an hourly basis,

while still taking hold of the leadership role and having a greater impact on students’ lives overall.”

Vaughan, who holds graduate degrees in Edu-cation from the University of London, in Public Policy from George Washington University and in Educational Leadership from Columbia Univer-sity, says that during his initial visit to Indian Springs he felt an instant connection. He saw it as an institution that combines a forward-thinking philosophy with rigorous academic standards and a strong emphasis on building independence. “I think that combination is quite rare in schools,” he adds. “Sometimes there’s a mistaken impression that highly disciplined focus on academic work and success necessarily means a certain kind of structure, with authoritarian rules and uniforms and such. It’s breaking down some of those mis-conceptions about education which attracts me to schools like Indian Springs.”

Vaughan’s wife, Dorrie Fuchs, whom he met at the International School where she served as direc-tor of admissions, also found much to embrace here. “I fell in love with it, too. It was really quite wonderful that it wasn’t just one of us that felt that way,” she says. “We were both attracted to the opportunity to join a community full of people with a shared vision and shared ideals. You don’t get that with every job.”

Prior to the International School, Fuchs spent many years working for A Better Chance, a national program that serves to match academi-cally talented minority students with schools that want to diversify their enrollment. She says she learned a lot from that experience. “I found that some schools wanted to bring in children with different backgrounds without understanding that it was going to actually change the school. They needed to infuse different literature, world histories and so on into their curriculum for all of their students,” she says. “There were schools that understood that very well, and others that didn’t—and I’m pleased to say that Indian Springs, which incidentally is a member of A Better Chance, is among the former.”

In spite of her own wealth of experience in the field of education, Fuchs says she does not plan to seek any professional position at Indian Springs. Instead, she sees herself playing the role of unoffi-cial school ambassador, helping to spread the word about Springs as she gets to know the Birmingham region. “I think it could be a service to the school, to have the spouse of the head of school out work-ing in the community and talking about a place that they love,” she says.

At the same time, Fuchs has already found other outlets for supporting and getting involved with the community. A talented musician who spent many years as a member of the Washington Chorus, which performs occasionally with the Na-tional Symphony at Kennedy Center, she has joined the Birmingham Concert Chorale as a second alto. She’s also volunteered to help with a special-eques-trians program that leases the barn at Springs, and is beginning to try her hand at gardening on the

school grounds. “I’m an impatient, and not terribly knowledgeable, but happy putterer in the garden,” she says. “And this is a great place to grow things, because you can grow year-round.”

Vaughan and Fuchs both express gratitude for the hospitality they’ve received so far during their first few months at Springs. “This is a unique place, a very special place,” Vaughan says, “and we have felt an incredible warmth and welcome here. That’s something we appreciate very much.”

New director gareth vaughan

“i think the critical mo-ment comes when you understand that just be-cause you become an administrator, it’s not a requirement that you have to give up interaction with the students.”

“it’s about creating a community and a home.”

David Noone with his wife, Beth Mulvey, and children, John and Sarah

Gareth Vaughan with his wife, Dorrie Fuchs

New assistant director / dean of residential Life david Noone

Along with announcing a new director, Indian Springs School is also welcoming a new assistant director / dean of residential life: David Noone. A veteran of two other, well-respected indepen-dent schools in other parts of the country, Noone impressed everyone who met him during the inter-view process as an excellent fit for the position.

“When I discovered how favorably David Noone had been received by the community,” says Director Gareth Vaughan, “it seemed only logical to explore this chance for him to play a key role in the future of the school.”

For his part, Noone says he immediately felt at home at Indian Springs, in part because it reminds him of Darrow School, in Lebanon, New York, where he got his first teaching position and went on to chair the history department. “The spirit there was very much like Indian Springs,” he

explains, “with a lot of emphasis on progressive, hands-on, active forms of learning, as well as other things like environmental sustainability.”

Though he has now worked in education for 13 years, Noone initially began with an entirely different career path. Following his 1987 gradu-ation from Notre Dame, where he majored in Finance and Economics, he went to work for Andersen Consulting in New York City doing litigation support. While he enjoyed the opportu-nity to work with a lot of high-profile cases for the firm, he later decided a career in education would be more rewarding. “Working in schools,” he says, “I’ve had opportunities over the years to do all the things I love to do—teach, coach sports, work with kids. It’s a whole different lifestyle.”

Noone, whose most recent academic position was as associate headmaster at Kiski School, an all-boys boarding school outside Pittsburgh, comes to Birmingham with his wife, Beth Mulvey, and two children, John, 7, and Sarah, 11. He comments on the ease of integrating into a private-school family like the one he found at Indian Springs. “Normal-ly, when you move to a new city you don’t know anyone,” he says. “But when you move to a school, you have a community given to you. Everyone greets you when you show up, and there are all of these social engagements already in place. My kids had other kids to play with on their first day here.”

As dean of residential life, he strives to empha-size those same quality-of-life factors for the ap-proximately one-third of Indian Springs students who board here. “It’s about creating a community and a home,” Noone says. “You want an environ-ment where they experience different things they might never have tried, develop relationships with kids from different parts of the world, and really build responsibility for managing their lives.”

Welcome Welcome

fall 08 | 98 | Indian Springs School

Machen explores new style in a spring show at Lyda rose gallery

olson appointed to Fiske college guidebook advisory Board

Artist Melody Machen, for many years primarily an abstract painter, recently began experimenting with a new style leading up to a group show she participated in at Homewood’s Lyda Rose Gallery in early 2008.

“What I’m doing right now is very different than my past work,” says Machen, who is begin-ning her third year as an art instructor at Indian Springs. “It’s more expressive, using color as a starting point to show off the form of objects.”

For instance, she notes, all of her work featured at the Lyda Rose show was “something you could eat—whether it was an arrangement of vegetables, or pizzas, or Caribbean food and all the ingredients which come together in it.” (Fittingly, given the subject matter, this collection of Machen’s works is now on display in the café at Manna Market in Tuscaloosa.)

Still, although the newer paintings show more recognizable forms, Machen says her approach has not really changed. “It almost begins just with spots of color, and then later I get more detailed,”

she explains, adding that she rarely works from visual sources.

Though Machen is relatively new to Indian Springs, she has a long history of teaching art in the Birmingham community, including teaching at Birmingham-Southern College and many years at Mountain Brook High School. In the past she also taught teenagers and adults at her own studio, Open Art. Her work has been also featured at other area galleries over the years, including Little House on Linden and Maralyn Wilson Gallery.

For students and parents embarking on the chal-lenge of trying to select the right college, the Fiske College Guidebook Series is widely considered an indispensable source of information. A few months ago, Indian Springs Director of College Counsel-ing Gunnar Olson received the honor of being chosen to join the advisory group that the Fiske guides rely on for valuable input.

“Our job is to review all the information that’s out there and add our advice and ideas,” explains Olson, who is beginning his sixth year at Indian Springs. Olson joins the Fiske team at a time when the college-admissions process has become more difficult to navigate than ever.

“I think alumni from years past, when their own children begin applying to colleges, will be surprised at how much the climate has changed,” Olson says. “The general trend is that some stu-dents who were admitted 10, 15 years ago would not be admitted to the same colleges today, due to the competition.”

Olson, who will represent Indian Springs at the Annual Conference for the National Associa-tion of College Admissions Counseling this fall, attributes the increased competition to the simple fact that more high school students are graduating with plans to attend college. At the same time, in-

dividual students are applying to multiple colleges more so than they did in the past. “By those gen-eral numbers, colleges are receiving a significantly higher percentage of applications, but they are not looking to increase their student populations, and in some cases colleges are accepting even fewer students.

Still, Olson counsels students not to panic. “I think students just need to look at a wider range of colleges,” he says. “I really encourage them to have an open mind in terms of looking at schools they may not be as familiar with but may still be excellent schools.

faculty focus faculty focus

“what i’m doing right now is very different than my past work. it’s more expressive, using color as a starting point to show off the form of objects.”

Melody Machen, ISS Art Instructor

Gunnar Olson, ISS Director of College Counseling

“i think alumni from years past, when their own children begin applying to colleges, will be surprised at how much the climate has changed.”

Williams featured in EdTech magazineThe August/September 2008 issue of EdTech, a magazine dedicated to technology insights for educational leaders, included an interview with Indian Springs Technology Director Chuck Williams on the topic of recent innovations that are making computers more cost-effective for schools.

Specifically, Williams discussed Indian Springs’ extensive use of equipment designed by NComput-ing, a virtualization software and hardware company that has created a way for a single host computer to support multiple workstations. Williams reported to EdTech that the technology has saved the school money while greatly expanding student access to computers.

“Miss edna” retires after 28 years of serviceEdna Wade, a dedicated and distinguished member of the ISS Housekeeping Staff and one of the most senior members of the Springs’ family in terms of length of service (appointed in June 1980) retired on Friday, March 7th. A farewell reception was held in the girls’ dorm commons room with students, faculty and staff attending. After almost three decades of service to the school and to the Springs Family, Edna has earned the community’s appreciation and affection, and we all extend our warm gratitude and best wishes for the future.

sheehan lands cover for taylor Hicks’ new cdAs one of his latest accomplishments as a nationally known photographer, artist-in-residence Michael Sheehan shot the cover photo for a new CD to be released by Birmingham native and “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks. Sheehan, who teaches photographic art at Springs, has photographed hundreds of musicians over the years, including Ray Charles, B.B. King, Carlos Santana and Widespread Panic.


alumni profiles alumni profiles

the wine industry—whether one makes it, imports or sells it—is endlessly

changing, often challenging and offers the potential for a lifetime of great

adventures. is it any wonder why so many alumni of indian springs school

have embraced it with such fervor?

We interviewed six of these—among them an expert in wine technology, an importer of little-known wines from the Argentinean and Chil-ean countrysides, the owner of one of Alabama’s largest wine distributors and the founder of a family-run vineyard and winery specializing in muscadine wines. They frequently cited Springs as a wonderful spring board for graduates to enter this business, having absorbed the val-ues of working hard, taking risks and challenging conventional wisdom. Or, as Charles Yeates, ’71, co-founder of International Wines, puts it, “We embraced Springs’ philosophy about the joy of learning over a lifetime—something that’s easy and fun to do in the wine industry.” Meet Yeates and five more who are still learning, and enjoying, careers in the world of wine.

If starting a wine distributorship in the mid-1970s seems like anything other than an uphill battle, consider the prevailing wine culture in Alabama at the time: A lot of people considered drinking wine, or any alcohol, sinful or at least distasteful. People who did drink, preferred beer or bourbon. And those who actually enjoyed the occasional glass of wine were proudly pouring Paul Masson or Inglenook into their guests’ glasses at dinner parties, because those were the only wines many of them knew.

Contrast that with the personal experiences of Charles Yeates, ’71: “My father, Rutherford Yeates, weaned us on wine as we were growing up,” he remembers. “He would enthrall us with wonder-ful stories of the history of the wines, where they came from and what they were about, and he would let us have a little wine with special dinners. My brother and I thought it was great stuff.”

Their father, in fact, had such a keen interest in the wine industry that in 1973 he offered to loan his sons—Charles and his older brother, Rud (who has since passed away)—$10,000 to start a whole-sale wine business.

So the Yeates brothers wrote letters to 40 U.S. wineries and suppliers, offering to become their Alabama distributor. Two responded. The first declined, citing Alabama’s antiquated wine laws (including the fact that the state boasted the country’s highest wine tax). The second was Miras-sou Winery, which agreed to become the first wine distributed in Alabama by the Yeates’ company—ambitiously named International Wines, Inc.

The brothers then hit the road to work on building more business, traveling the country in their 1969 Volkswagen station wagon seeking new

wineries, networking, and crashing industry trade shows. The company lost money for its first nine years, but they persevered. Charles says that he and Rud were adamant in their belief that if Europe-ans loved wine with such passion, winning over Alabamians was only a matter of time. “We called it the light at the end of the tunnel,” Yeates laughs, “that one day the climate would get better.”

Yeates says they finally did see the light in the mid-’80s. For one thing, in 1983 the state finally reduced the wine tax to its current level of 34 cents per bottle, something for which the brothers along with their father had lobbied hard. Also, the locals were now embracing wine like never before, and the industry began to grow on a major scale. Yeates estimates more than 10,000 wines are now available in Alabama, and International Wines dis-tributes some 2,200 of them throughout the state.

He attributes the company’s success in part to the sense of shared ownership and responsibility that he took away from his time at Indian Springs. “I have tried to instill these in our company,” he says. “Hopefully, everyone at International Wines feels as if it is their company, and that their daily decisions help or hurt its health.”

Charles Yeates ’[email protected]

“hopefully, everyone at international wines feels as if it is their company, and that their daily decisions help or hurt its health.”

Charles Yeates, ’71, co-founder of

International wines

For Jonathan Ross, ’03—the youngest to join the ranks of Indian Springs alumni who’ve found their calling in the wine business—it was actually a com-pany owned by a fellow Indian Springs graduate that gave him his first opportunity.

Though in college at Birmingham-Southern he majored in English, Ross had long had his eye on the food-and-beverage industry. “My dad, Murray Ross, was with Royal Cup Coffee (the Alabama-based coffee importer and distribu-tor) for all of my formative years, and now he’s a partner in Jim ’N Nick’s Barbecue (a restaurant group with locations through the Southeast),” Ross explains. “So I’ve been around those kinds of businesses my entire life.”

Following graduation in 2007, Ross honed in on the wine industry and began hunting for a job opening at a distributorship. Fortunately, his father was close friends with Seth Poole, vice presi-dent of International Wines. “That connection got me in the door,” he says, “and after interviewing three or four times over a few months, a position finally came open, and I took it.”

Having started with the company in spring 2008, he currently holds the title of “off-premise merchandiser,” which entails assisting Interna-tional’s wine representatives who work with large grocery chains. Ross describes it as an entry-level position that allows him to gain enough experi-ence to become a wine representative himself and actively scout and manage accounts—a promotion he hopes to secure in the next several months.

For now, though, Ross relishes in his newbie status. “It’s a never-ending educational process, which is what really interests me,” Ross says. “We have over 2,200 individual labels in our portfolio, so it can be a bit staggering, and even some of our most seasoned employees don’t even know all of them. But I did have a little bit of knowledge coming in and have done a lot of reading since I started. Believe it or not, Wine for Dummies is a great book.”

Still, though knowing the wines is obviously critical to learning the trade, Ross says that in his opinion it’s still essentially a “people business.” And to that end, he believes he has benefited greatly from two sources—his education at Indian Springs, “where they taught me how to write, and in turn become a stronger communicator,” and the experiences of his father. “He’s been in food and beverage forever, so he taught me that whole end of business,” he says. “The firm handshake, look-ing people in the eye—absolutely.”

Jonathan Ross ’03jonathanr@international_wines.com

Jonathan Ross, ’03, Merchan-diser for International Wines

“we have over 2,200

individual labels in our

portfolio, so it can be a

bit staggering, and even

some of our most sea-

soned employees don’t

even know all of them.



For Sean Meyer, husband of Celia Carey, ’87, his rise through the ranks of the wine industry was born initially out of a career crisis. He had studied opera performance in college only to decide, after graduation, that it wasn’t what he wanted to do. At an impasse, he “headed to the Caribbean to try and sort things out,” Meyer explains.

There, he began working in restaurants while he weighed his options—and found his calling, as a sommelier. “I’ve always been interested in wines but never thought about making a career of it,” he says. “But working in the restaurant industry, I saw it was a great career track, and a wonderful thing to study, because the more you learn about it, the more you want to know.”

As Meyer’s experience grew, he got jobs work-ing for “some of the most amazing chefs in the na-tion,” he says. He worked in Minneapolis for chef/restaurateur Tim McKee, a James Beard Award nominee. For a number of years he also served as the lead sommelier for a Napa Valley restaurant owned by Thomas Keller; that turned out to be the job that introduced him to Celia, an independent filmmaker and journalist who was there to write an article for Executive Traveler Magazine. Finally, he was offered a job by famed Birmingham chef Frank Stitt, as wine director for his three restaurants.

The move allowed the couple to return to Carey’s hometown, and he loved the position—“but once I got married, the long hours of the restaurant industry didn’t make sense any more,”

he explains. In 2007, he started his own business as a wine consultant working with both restaurants and private consumers but was soon lured back to Napa to serve as manager of VIP hospitality for several local wineries, namely Atalon, Cardinale, Freemark Abbey, La Jota, Lokoya and W.S. Keyes. Meyer began the new job in March and describes his role as “ensuring that for visitors to Napa wineries, the guest experiences are truly above and beyond their expectations.”

At the same time, Meyer is working towards earning the coveted title of Master Sommelier. Fewer than 170 people in the world hold this des-ignation, and Meyer is currently among those who have been invited by the Court of Master Somme-liers to sit for the final examination.

In the meantime, Meyer is reveling in the opportunity to work again in Napa, where Carey joined him this summer. “As much as I loved Birmingham,” Meyer says, “just being around so many people who are in my same industry, with a great collaborative spirit, is very exciting.”

Sean Meyer, husband of Celia Carey ’[email protected]

“i’ve always been interested in wines but never thought about making a career of it.”

Sean Meyer, manager for VIP Hospitality with Napa area wineries

In the year 2000, Charles Brammer, Jr, ’98, was a junior at Birmingham-Southern College when his recently retired father began talking about dab-bling in winemaking, using the muscadine grapes and other fruits grown on the family’s farm in Harpersville.

For his part, Brammer, considering his post-graduation options, was looking for a career. He

suggested joining forces. “I said, ‘Well, if you want to do this, let’s make a business out of it,’” remembers Brammer, who was majoring in finance and accounting.

They began laying the groundwork, and by the time Brammer graduated, Morgan Creek Vineyards and Winery was already up and run-ning. In 2001, they produced around 600 cases; by 2007 Morgan Creek produced some 15,000 with the wines sold in some 400 stores throughout Alabama, including most major grocery chains and wine shops.

Brammer attributes this success to the fact that Morgan Creek has created its own niche. “We spe-cialize in muscadine and fruit wines—semi-sweet to sweetish wines—and nobody has really done those commercially,” Brammer explains. More-over, he says he had no interest in competing with legions of chardonnays, cabernets and more tradi-tional wines already crowding the shelves in stores, and wanted to focus on a product that would be truly native to the area. “One of our clichés is, grits don’t come from New York, and chardonnay doesn’t come from Alabama,” he says.

While growth has exploded over the win-ery’s first seven years, it has been limited by the amount of fruit the Brammers can get their hands on. Already, they have to rely on other growers to produce about 90 percent of the fruit they use, and it’s still not enough, because so few commercial vineyards grow muscadines on a large scale. That’s why the company, which previously had only 10 acres for grapes, recently purchased 100 more acres to greatly expand their ability to grow more of their own.

But even as Morgan Creek continues to expand, it still remains solidly a family owned business. “It’s just me, my father, Charlie, and my mother, Mary, who runs the tasting room,” Bram-mer says. “I thought I had it made being an only child,” he quips. “But now I wouldn’t mind having five brothers and sisters.”

Along with dealing with a few growing pains, Brammer still encounters a stigma in certain circles about muscadine wines—which doesn’t bother him a bit. “First of all you put ‘Alabama’ on a bottle of wine; then you add ‘muscadine,’ and half of the wine snobs will laugh at you, which is fine,” he says. “After all, Indian Springs taught me to think out-side the box and pursue one’s passion even when it seems contrary to conventional wisdom. And I’ve always kind of liked being the underdog.”

Charles Brammer ’[email protected]

Charles Brammer, ’98, Co-Founder of Morgan Creek

Vineyards and Winery

“one of our clichés is, grits don’t come from new york, and chardonnay doesn’t come from alabama.”



Looking for a way out of the top-down, cubicle-style culture of working for a large law firm in Georgia, attorney Stephen Humphreys, ’76, decided to go out on his own. It turned out to be a pivotal change, as he then realized that he no longer even had to limit himself to the practice of law—after all, he is passionate about a number of other things, as well. One of these is learning about little-known wines from around the world.

Turning that passion into a second career be-gan, initially, in Asia (where he was engaged in yet another interest of his, the international art busi-ness). “Traveling in Asia, I started to notice that in certain echelons, people who had never cared anything about European-style wines suddenly couldn’t get enough of them,” he explains.

Around the same time, Humphreys, who does a good deal of international legal work, had also been traveling in Argentina on business. “I found myself discovering all of these wonderful wines that were not being exported anywhere,” he says. “So I decided, well, the Asians are looking for wine, and the Argentines have it. I just started put-ting it together.”

The fledging business, AmerAsia Wines, grew so quickly, and began occupying so much of his time, Humphreys estimates that in 2006 he spent only about two weeks out of the entire year at his home in Athens, Georgia. Though he’s made many good friends throughout Argentina, Asia and other far-flung locales, he missed spending time with friends and family at home, which became the im-petus for creating a second wine business—Athens Imports—to import wines into the U.S. as well. The first wines of the new company will arrive in Alabama from Argentina and Chile this fall.

Humphreys specializes in finding smaller, lesser-known wineries, something that, he points out, would be “almost impossible for someone who doesn’t speak Spanish to do,” given that the people he deals with often speak no English.

To that end, he feels he owes a great deal to his foreign-language education at Indian Springs. “I got my real start traveling abroad because of my first French professor at Indian Springs, John Campbell,” he says. Though Humphreys had never studied French prior to transferring to Indian Springs in 10th grade, he learned so quickly that Campbell took the initiative to accelerate him through French I, II and III in a single year. “Something like that could only have happened at a place like Springs that was flexible and open to possibilities—so I have tried to stay that way my-self,” he notes, adding that his French skills made learning Spanish and other European languages relatively easy.

Humphreys concedes that while his language skills often give him a leg up, other aspects of the business have presented more of a learning curve—for example, negotiating the maze of regulations governing wine imports creates its own share of headaches. Still, he finds the end result hugely gratifying: “I had no idea how much effort it was going to be,” he says, “but I saw a lot of opportu-nity to do business while helping people and doing something that is very enjoyable to me.”

Stephen Humphreys ’[email protected]

“i got my real start traveling abroad because of my first French professor at indian springs, John Campbell.”

Steve Humphreys, ’76, founder of AmerAsia Wines

and Athens Imports

Once described by a colleague as “a unique com-bination of 21st-century technology and 19th-century romantic philosophy,” Clark Smith, ’69, is widely known in wine circles for his pioneering work in wine-production techniques. And though some of his innovations—including a process known as reverse-osmosis filtration, which alters the alcohol content of wine—have been criticized in some circles as corrupting the winemaking pro-cess, they have also been embraced by hundreds of top wineries.

“Love him or hate him,” remarks fellow Springs alum Charles Brammer, ’98, “everybody knows about Clark Smith.”

Smith, who earned a B.S. and M.S. in Enol-ogy from the University of California at Davis in the early 1980s, first launched his career as the founding winemaker for R.H. Phillips Winery and Vineyards in California’s Dunnigan Hills. He later became interested in experimenting with new winemaking technologies, which he commercial-ized when he founded Vinovation, a company he co-owns with his brother Brian. It is now the larg-est wine-production service company in the world.

As for his critics, Smith takes them in stride—going so far as to start a new website, winecrimes.com, to publish and respond to the diatribes sometimes launched against him. “Most of the criticism is pretty half-baked, more designed for self aggrandizement and selling publications than any heartfelt sense of concern,” Smith says. “My strategy is to stick to what’s true and authentic and make the debate as public as possible.”

Today, Smith has expanded his interests into a new realm of the industry: pairing wines with music. His theories on the subject have been fea-tured in the San Francisco Chronicle and on National Public Radio, where Smith explained to a journal-ist that, “Music has moods—and quite simply, I think wines carry mood also. So the wine is acting like another musical instrument in the orchestra.”

(A few samples of Smith’s pairing sugges-tions: a 2003 St. Francis Sonoma County Cabernet goes with “dark, angry music” such as The Doors’ “People are Strange,” while the often-scoffed-at Sutter Home White Zinfandel can be spruced up by a little “polka or polka-like blues,” such as “She’s Too Fat for Me” by Jimmy Sturr.)

His ability to regularly shift his focus among so many aspects of the wine industry has prompted Roger Dial, Publisher and CEO of AppelationA-merica.com, to call Smith a “renaissance pro-fessional, and real wine master with visionary perspective.”

Smith believes his accomplishments have been born, in part, out of lessons learned at Springs—from Lee Watkins’ “dilute aqueous model of chemistry” to R.J. Stegner, who “taught me to communicate effectively and provocatively” and finally “Doc,” who “dared us to love life’s adven-ture.”

In short, “Indian Springs,” he says, “gave me the keys.”

Clark Smith ’[email protected]

“music has moods—and quite simply, i think wines carry mood also. so the wine is acting like another musical instru-ment in the orchestra.”

Clark Smith, ’69, Co-Founder of Vinovation


In case you missed it…this is the speech given by Greg Hawley, ’75, at the Dedication of the “Fleming House” during Alumni Weekend:

“Indian Springs School is the most important educational institution in Alabama, and perhaps the southeast. Some of you may be surprised by that statement, so let me repeat it. Indian Springs School is the most important educational institu-tion in Alabama, and perhaps the southeast.

You may wonder what I mean by “most impor-tant.” Think about your favorite restaurant in the same terms. What is the most important restaurant in Birmingham? I believe that in this context, “most important” has two qualities: First, that it is consistently superb or excellent; second, that it is unique. For example, although there may be one dish that is always excellent at a chain restaurant like Applebee’s or Friday’s, you probably would not say that it is the most important restaurant in Birmingham. There are simply too many of these restaurants across Birmingham and also in every city in the southeast. To be truly important, it also has to be unique. But simply being unique is not enough. You might find a restaurant that is truly unique – one that serves Tibetan food, for example. But if the food is mediocre, it certainly cannot be the most important restaurant simply because it is unique.

So it is with this standard that I say that Indian Springs School is the most important educational institution in Alabama, and perhaps the southeast. We are fortunate to have many excellent educa-tional institutions in Alabama, and I know that

many of you will be quick to point out the various magazines that rank UAB and Birmingham-Southern and other institutions very highly. Bir-mingham is also fortunate to have many excellent private schools and some excellent public schools. As great as these are, they are not unique.

Let’s take UAB. It is the most important economic engine in Birmingham, and we all need for it to survive and prosper. But if you look across the southeast, every other significant city has its own version of UAB. Nashville has Vanderbilt. Memphis has the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Atlanta has Georgia Tech and Georgia State. New Orleans has Tulane. Charlotte has University of North Carolina-Charlotte. And the list goes on.

Birmingham-Southern is a wonderful liberal arts school, and Alabama needs more kids who pursue liberal arts educations. I would be pleased if one of my sons attended Birmingham-Southern. But when you look across the southeast, many other cities have their own version of Birming-ham-Southern. Charlotte has Davidson. Memphis has Rhodes College. Atlanta has Emory. Chatta-nooga claims Sewannee. Jackson has Millsaps. So, Birmingham-Southern is a tremendous asset to this community but is hardly unique.

As for the other great private schools in Bir-mingham, they all fit traditional models of good private schools. They all have counterparts in places like Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Chatta-nooga, Richmond, Memphis, Dallas and elsewhere.

So now let’s look at Indian Springs School. We all know that the academics are excellent. Is it also unique? It is also a boarding school, a feature that sets it apart from most schools in Alabama. It is the only boarding school in Alabama that is not a parochial school or military school, so it attracts a student body that is diverse. But that is a quality that sets it apart from Alabama schools. What sets it apart from other private schools or other private boarding schools in the southeast? Every other boarding school in the southeast follows a tradi-tional model of 19th-century education. They are authoritarian and use a top-down approach. They all have social cultures that revolve around football and cheerleaders and atmospheres where peer pressures are like peer pressure in public schools—and the pressures of conformity. They all tend to follow traditional models that focus on rules that must be obeyed, subjects that must be covered, the right books to read, the right way to dress.

But at Indian Springs School the focus is on the student, not the rules, and on the community itself, not the various parts of it. And that’s why

I say that the best description of Indian Springs School came to my attention six years ago when a new Indian Springs student was asked by a former classmate at Mountain Brook Junior High, “What are the big differences between the junior high and Indian Springs School?” This girl (who did not know that her father overheard her telephone conversation—and certainly did not understand that he would repeat it to me!) replied: “Two things. First, it’s cool to be smart. Second, other kids, instead of looking for reasons to dislike you, look for reasons to like you.”

It is those qualities that allow kids to blos-som here. The lack of negative peer pressure—especially in this time of tremendous peer pressure at other schools, is what sets talent free at Indian Springs.

Because of those qualities, there is no place in Alabama—and I believe no place in the south-east—that allows students to succeed and thrive in this academic setting. Because it has no peer in the southeast, it is quite unlike other great educational institutions in Alabama. It is the most important education institution in the southeast.

So, what is the significance of all of this as we honor Mac Fleming? Mr. Fleming is the only person currently teaching at Indian Springs School who started with the original faculty in 1952. He has taught history for 56 years. He has served as college guidance counselor to hundreds. He has served as interim director. He lived on campus and raised his family on campus and has served the school in countless ways, nurturing students and guiding them inside the classroom and out. Given those contributions over 56 years, it is easy to argue that Mac Fleming is the most important teacher at Indian Springs School.

So, if Mr. Fleming is the most important teacher at Indian Springs School, and if Indian Springs School is the most important educational institution in the southeast, then Mr. Fleming is the most important teacher at the most important educational institution in the southeast. We are pleased to name a faculty house in his honor.”

alumni Weekend

Fleming House dedication

mr. Fleming is the only person currently teaching at indian springs school who started with the original faculty in 1952.

Fleming House Dedication: (1) Mac sitting with tears in his eyes as he gets a stand-ing ovation. (2) Mac beside his portrait. (3) Mr. Fleming pictured with his children—Catherine Edwards, ’78, Reah Fleming, ’79, and Robert Fleming, ’86. (4) Dedication sign on the Fleming House. (5) Greg Hawley, ’75, making his speech

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alumni Weekend alumni Weekend

Alumni Weekend 2008: (1) ISS Choir led by Dr. Tim Thomas, ’67. (2) Charlie Rueve, Alexis Rueve, and Ally Williams. (3) Class of 1998 10th reunion: (Top) Kevin Tavakoli, Sebastian Ahn, Dustin Osborn; (Bottom) Nathan Shepura, Grey Tilden, and George Jones. (4) Class of 1988 20th reunion: (Back row, left to right) Chuck Goldfarb, Andres Soto, Sam Burn, Neal Curtis, John Michael Bodnar, Amol Bapat, Raja Khala, Mary Dott, Kevin LaCasse, Stephanie Meyerson Warshal , Elise May Frohsin, and Marjorie Lee White. (Front row, left to right) Alison Goldstein Lebovitz, Julie Koh, Wendy Hale Koch, Anna Clark Velasco, Aye Unnoppet, Lauren Convey Wainwright, and Joe Embry. (5) Class of 1958 50th reunion: (From the left to right) Hardie Meade, Tommy Donald, Chip Gamble, Clifford Spencer, Joe Pigford, Arthur Toole, Elias Watson, Tommy Lamkin, Robert Sherman, Robert Cleckler, Buddy Heacock, Robert Phillips, Skip Browne, Dan Davis, and Arthur Bagby.

(6) Chip Thuss, ’74, Mark Waldo, ’75, Amy Gary, and Nap Gary, ’75. (7) William Belser, ’80, John Abbot,’80, and Betsy Belser. (8) Coach Ray Woodard and Rhett Walker, ’83. (9) Larry, ’68 and Carla Hawley with Director Gareth Vaughan (center). (10) Class of 1978 30th reunion: Bob Cooper, Deak Rushton, Chris Gentry, Nick Dahdah, Chip Hall, Miles Wright, Suzanne Tishler Pihakis, Dana Crocker Templeton, Mac Fleming, Catherine Fleming Edwards, Lydia-Kay Reid Blackburn, Macke Mauldin, and Tom Carruthers. (11) Class of 2003 5th reunion: (Left to right) Phillip Cezayirli, Rebecca Owen, Jessica O’Leary, and Jeff Tolbert. (12)Ginger, ’86 and Steve, ’84 Rueve. (13) M.D. Smith, ’59, Cutter Hughes, ’61, Sharon and Frank, ’62 Samford. (14) Members of the Class of ’58: Chip Gamble, Buddy Heacock, Bobby Sherman, Joe Pigford, Hardie Meade, and Burr Spencer. (15) Donald Hess, ’66, Eleanor Hodges, ’05, and Liz Hodges.

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fall 08 | 21

ON

E FORTHEBOYS

photo by paul CrawFord

Persistence pays off. After making it to the state title three times in a row, the fourth time was a charm.

20 | Indian Springs School

ISS Boys’ Soccer: (Left to Right) Taylor Hogan ’09, Colby Marks ’09, Freddie Delchamps ’09


Boys’ soccer Brings Home First-ever championshipFor its fourth straight year, the boys’ soccer team returned to Huntsville in May to compete for the AHSAA Class 4A-1A championship, ultimately ousting rival Randolph—a notably satisfying victory, as Randolph brought home the trophy in both 2006 and ’07. Indian Springs freshman Alex Jamroz earned the championship game’s MVP award after scoring the first goal of the game, unas-sisted.

Back on campus, the team’s 3-1 championship win kicked off a major celebration.

“It was huge for our whole student body,” says head coach Rik Tozzi. “The joy this victory brought far exceeded even what I anticipated. It was just incredible.”

Led by Jamroz, as well as seniors Thomas Fox and David Pigue and junior Evan Pantazis, the team boasted a final 2008 record of 20-6-1, includ-ing a number of impressive victories along with at least one emotional loss, to Altamont, in March.

But the few losses the team did suffer were ancient history after the championship win in May—which marked the first official boys’ title in Springs history, although previous coach Ray Woodard did lead the school to several unofficial championships before soccer was sanctioned by the AHSAA in 1991. Tozzi is quick to praise Woo-dard’s accomplishments in working to build the program. “Without Ray Woodard, there wouldn’t be a team at Indian Springs,” Tozzi says. “He was the one who turned Springs into a cradle for soccer in Alabama.”

girls’ soccer team con-tinues strong showingIn spite of lacking depth on the bench, the girls’ soccer team fought and prevailed in several tough battles last year before ultimately being edged out in the finals by tough competitor Guntersville High School.

Led by seniors Devon Weldon, Megan Es-cridge and Jillian Theibert as well as junior Betsy Stewart, the team enjoyed a number of satisfying victories throughout the spring. After losing twice to Montgomery Academy during the season, the

girls went on to oust Montgomery in the quarter-finals. Another highlight was beating Altamont during overtime in the semi-finals. “Those were pretty emotional wins for us,” says head coach Hunter Gray.

Though Weldon, Escridge and Theibert gradu-ated this year—with Theibert going on to play for Birmingham-Southern College this fall—Stewart will be returning to the team and will continue to be an invaluable asset. Gray notes that although Stew-art had always played defense until last year, she has now turned into an offensive force for the team.

“We needed somebody new to play up top, and she said she was willing to try it,” he says. “I think she ended up scoring 35 goals and was named offensive MVP for the Lakeshore Tourna-ment. She was also our lone representative to the All-Star Game this summer and ended up MVP of that game, too. So we’re looking forward to having her back next year.”

golf team plays Hard with strong seniors, New playersLed by senior Logan Burnett along with juniors George Ryan Connor and Miller Majors, the golf team played a solid season to conclude with a record of 4-3—including two wins over rival Alta-mont. The team also beat Oak Grove and Chelsea.

“I thought we had a very good season,” says athletic director and head coach Greg Van Horn. “In spite of the fact that two of our better players decided to play soccer this year, which meant we weren’t as deep as we normally are, we also ben-efited from some younger players coming in and playing well for us.”

With Burnett being the only team member to graduate this year, Van Horn is optimistic about the coming season thanks to the return of Connor and Majors. Meanwhile, the team continues to build strength, as Van Horn expects new rising competitors to help fill the ranks next year.

Baseball struggles against tough competitionWith a relatively young and inexperienced team—and a debilitating lack of depth on the bench—Springs’ baseball suffered a tough season and finished with a 5-7 record. Out of nine players on the team, head coach Brian Lamp says four were completely new to the game.

“That’s a rough way to start out, but it’s fair to say that every single player improved. They try their hardest, and whatever happens, they suck it up,” says Lamp.

He notes that one player, Chee Lee, showed such determination, he regularly stayed after practice to continue working with the coach. Late in the season, Lamp finally called Lee up to pitch—and while he struggled as a novice pitcher, the coach says he admired Lee’s bravery in stepping up to the mound for his first time ever. “He was scared, but at least he got out there,” Lamp says.

In spite of the challenges, assistant coach Michael Sheehan says he believes the baseball program is on the upswing. “We’ve got some good players returning, including Phillip Ward, ’09, who plays short stop and pitcher, and Will Smith, ’09, who plays first base, pitcher and short stop. We’re also making a lot of improvements, and Lamp is an excellent coach in terms of his knowledge and motivation.”

sports update sports update

“it was huge for our whole student body. the joy this victory brought far exceeded even what i anticipated. it was just incredible.”

“that’s a rough way to start out, but it’s fair to say that every single player improved. they try their hardest, and whatever happens, they suck it up.”

ISS Boys’ Baseball in a pre-game huddle

(Above) ISS Boys win the state title: Keehn Strange,

’08, Adam Trodd, ’08, Ben Guion, ’08, and Thomas Fox,

’08. (Right) ISS Girls Soccer: Jillian Theibert, ’08

iN MeMoriaMChristian Ramsey, ’58 of Lexington, KY, formerly of Oklahoma City, died June 21st from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Atlanta, Ga., graduated from Indian Springs School in 1958, received his M.A. degree from the University of North Texas in 1966, and graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA., in 1970. That same year he was appointed to a White House Commission on Population Growth and the American Future by President Richard Nixon and served as its vice chairman with Chairman John D. Rockefeller III for two years in Washington, D.C. In 1973 he began his family medicine residency training in Waco, Texas - completing it in 1976. He became the Director of Medical Education and the Director of the Family Practice Residency Program in Waco and continued in that capacity until 1982 when he was named Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. He held that post until 1994 when he was named the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine. He retired in 2000. During his medical career, he wrote and edited several textbooks, published numerous articles, and served in many leadership positions associated with family medi-cine. One of his greatest accomplishments was an endowed chair in family medicine named in his honor at the University of Oklahoma for his exemplary accomplishments in this field. He was a member of Christ Church Cathedral and a former member of The Lexington Club and Idle Hour Country Club. He is survived by his children Christian Ramsey III, M.D. and Anne Hadlock Ramsey, by his former wife Patricia Hadlock Ramsey and two brothers Robert Pringle Ramsey and Willis Alan Ramsey.

Iain Wilson, ’91 passed away in Scotland on April 29th when his bicycle collided with a lorry while he was bicycling to work. Survivors include his beloved wife Silvia, his parents, Graeme and Anne and his sister Katherine, ’94. The neuroscientist, who worked at Edinburgh University’s School of Biomedical Sciences, had moved to Scotland after completing postgraduate research in Finland. Iain studied psychology at Haverford College, PA, before completing his PhD in neuroscience at the Univer-sity of Kuopio in Finland in 2005. An enthusiastic sportsman, he enjoyed running and hillwalking. A member of the university’s orienteering club, he also spoke five languages – three of them fluently. Dr. Wilson had been involved in postdoctoral research at the university’s Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems and was investigating the mecha-nisms of learning and memory.

Jack Dorsky, a lifelong resident of Birmingham, and a well-known athlete died on Sunday, June 15th. Jack was a city, state, and regional handball cham-pion and an avid golfer. He and his father owned Alabama Scrap Metal Company. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ellen Siegal Dorsky, his sons Stephen (Lori) Dorsky, ’71 and Leslie (Karen) Dorsky; and his granddaughters, Isa, Becca, and Kaitlyn. He is the brother of Joyce (Stanley) Routman. Jack was a member of Temple Emanu-El for 57 years. He also enjoyed his memberships at the Fairmont and Pine Tree Country Clubs and the Levite Jewish Community Center and has been a lifetime member of the downtown YMCA.

Karen White Hickman of Gulf Breeze, Florida, died July 7th. Karen was born in Kingsport, Tennessee. She moved to Gulf Breeze, Florida, in 2007 from Birmingham, where she resided for 19 years. Karen


class notessports update

softball team Boasts record seasonThe softball team set a record for wins this year, with marked improvements throughout the season that concluded with a 12-9 record. Included in the victory total were three wins over Altamont—two of them extra-inning victories, and one a double-header sweep in the Indian Springs Invitational.

“The team was led by four seniors, all of whom will be greatly missed,” says head coach Richard Theibert. “Jillian Theibert pitched every inning of every game, and Bess Matlock played shortstop, third, first and catcher while being one of the lead-ing hitters in the area.

“Meanwhile, Betsy Battistella played five dif-ferent positions, and Morgan Cahn batted clean-up for the third straight season, while catching almost every inning.” Theibert adds that Cahn hit a memorable triple in the state tournament against Altamont, enabling the team to stage a comeback from five runs down.

As for Battistella, Theibert describes her as “symbolic of the dedication and improvement at Springs. She had never played an inning of softball until her junior year, and started every game as a senior.”

Next year looks promising, he says, with Junior Tullia Rushton, Christina Malmat, Casey Stewart, Michelle Rezonzew, Veronica Ciniglio and

Sara Lowery among the leading players returning. But, he adds, “the contribution of all the new

players cannot be overlooked. Springs will need, as usual, inexperienced players to play and contribute to be competitive.”

tennis teams Battle transitional YearFollowing a string of great seasons—with the boys finishing first and the girls finishing third in the 2007 state tournaments—Indian Springs lost a lot of its best players and faced an uphill battle last spring.

“It was definitely a downturn from where we’ve been,” says head coach Boo Mason. “On the boys’ team, we’ve had three outstanding players—Arie Hefter, ’07, Bryan Song, ’07, and Faris Pacha, ’08—for a couple of years and just dominated the section, but last year we lost Arie and Brian and faced a disappointing season.” The boys ended with a final win-loss record of 2-8. The girls’ team fared somewhat better, with Elaine Song, ’10—the team’s “unsung hero” according to Mason—and Natalie Dove, ’08, serving as mainstay players. They finished the season at 6-4.

Next year, Mason, who has coached tennis at Springs for more than 25 years says, “we’re expect-ing a pretty good team next year.”

ISS Girls’ Softball Team: (Top row) Casey Stewart ’09,

Bess Matlock ’08, Morgan Cahn ’08, Veroncia Ciniglio

’09, Caroline Thrasher ’10, Christina Malmat ’09, and

Tullia Rushton ’09; (Bottom row) Hollye Hamilton ’11,

Julia Horn ’11, Jillian Theibert ’08, Carter Long ’10, Katie

Hamner ’10, Sara Lowery ’09, and Margaret Sandy ’10. With coaches Pam Abernathy and

Richard Theibert.


had a B.S. Degree from the University of Tennessee, College of Pharmacy in Memphis. She was a member of Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham and attended Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church. Karen enjoyed studying world history and loved home schooling her children. Her father, Glenn E. White, preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband, Gregory Hickman, mother, Mary Ellen White, sons Andrew Michael Hickman, ’06 and Hunter Gregory Hickman, ’09, and daughter, Katelyn Elizabeth Hickman, ’11.

Robert Hirsch Loeb died after a prolonged illness at home. He was born in Birmingham to Stella and Leopold Loeb. He was educated at Ramsey High School, University of Alabama (where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and ODK) and Harvard Law School. During World War II, he served his country in the anti-aircraft in North Africa and Italy and then as a Judge Advocate in the USA. He retired from military service as a Captain. His legal career spanned more than 50 years and included appear-ances before the Supreme Court. He was a Past President of the Young Men’s Business Club, President of the Speech and Hearing Clinic, President of Traveler’s Aid, President of Temple Emanu-El and Hillcrest Country Club. He taught Sunday School at his Temple for 30 years and then taught the Old Testament for 10 years at Our Lady of Sorrows in Homewood. He retired in 1990, and volunteered for Hospice at Trinity Hospital and also for WBHM from 1990-1999. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty Wolf Loeb, his four children, Lauren (Syd, III) Lerner, Robert (Margery) Loeb, Jr., ’68, Dr. Thomas (Patricia) Loeb, ’72, and Dr. Peter (Cecilia) Loeb, ’76, eight grandchildren, Adam and Dory Lerner, Rebecca and Emily Loeb, Erin and Brian Loeb, and Alexander and Madeleine Loeb, and one great-grandchild, Sophia Wolf Lerner.

Simmie G. Kayser, beloved wife, mother, grand-mother, and friend, died March 15th. She is survived by her husband, Leo Kayser, Jr., and by her daugh-ter, Deborah K. Strauss, of Birmingham; son, Leo Kayser, III, ’62, and grandson, G. Kayser Strauss, ’96 and wife Keiko, of New York.

Sam C. Pointer Jr., a federal judge and legal giant in Alabama’s judicial circles, died on March 15th. Appointed by President Nixon, Judge Pointer retired from the court on March 31, 2000, after nearly 30 years as a federal judge. Last year, Judge Pointer led the investigation into allegations of academic impropriety at Hoover High School involving athletes. Judge Pointer is remembered for his high respect of the law, tolerance of others, his sharp intellect and attention to detail. “The legal community revered Judge Pointer for both his brilliance and his wonderful temperament,” said Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon Lovelace Black-burn. Judge Pointer was on the front line for issuing controversial decisions as Birmingham struggled to deal with desegregating school systems in the 1970s.

He ordered the busing of children to achieve integration in the Jefferson County schools. During the school cases, he received threats on his life, prompting round-the-clock protection by U.S. Marshals, even at a church service. The Birmingham native started his law education at Vanderbilt University, but transferred to the University of Alabama, where he earned his law degree in 1957. He received a master’s degree in taxation from New York University in 1958. He returned home and joined his father, Sam C. Pointer, in a small practice until 1970, when he was appointed to the bench for the Northern District of Alabama, the state’s largest federal court district. He served as chief judge of the district from January 1982 until November 1999. He served as temporary judge on the Emergency Court of Appeals 1980-87. While Judge Pointer built a reputation in the courtroom, he also was lauded for his work in the classroom, where he taught legal education courses to federal judges all over the country. When he stepped down from the bench, Judge Pointer was in high demand for his legal expertise. Pointer was actively involved with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. He is survived by his wife, Paula, his son, Sam C. Pointer III, ’81 and his daughter, Minge Pointer, ’78.

ForMer FacuLtY aNd FrieNdsHelen Payne | I taught French for 22 years (1975-1997) at ISS and now live on an island north of Seattle (Whidbey Island) where many of my former students have visited. My children Michael Payne (’84) and Laura Payne Martinez (’86) both graduated from ISS. Happily they will converge on the island next year (Laura coming from Colombia, South America and Michael from the Hague, Netherlands) plus 5 grandchildren! P.S. I have recently written quite a lot about my days on campus. Great times!

Luther Strange | (father of Luther, ’03 and Keehn, ’08), who narrowly lost in a 2006 campaign for Alabama lieutenant governor’s office, has formed his own law firm. Mr. Strange has been appointed by Gov. Bob Riley to the state’s Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board of Trustees representing the 6th Congressional District.

Mike and Mickey Turner | (parents of Starr, ’02 and Bentley, ’03) of Freedom Court Reporting Service received the Alabama State Bar’s President’s Award in recognition of their meritorious service to the legal profession.

cLass oF 1958The Class of ’58 celebrated their 50th reunion this year. The following class notes are excerpts from a commemorative booklet.

Arthur Bagby | I graduated from the University of Alabama with a History Major and a minor in English and Political Science. At Alabama I roomed

with Hardie Meade and Jordan McDavid who had also previously attended Emory University with me. With the background of ISS and Emory as support the discipline of academics at Alabama were more easily balanced with the abundant social activities afforded at Alabama. Immediately after graduation I went to work at Bagby Elevator & Electric Company (Bagby) where I had worked part-time since 1954. For the first few years at Bagby I was a Project Manager for electrical contracting jobs and supervised the electrical installation at the Park Tower Apartments on Highland Avenue in Birmingham. Shortly after completion of that project I was made Vice President of the Elevator Division of Bagby. In 1980 I purchased the assets of the Elevator Division and in 1988 purchased the remainder of Bagby. Since then Bagby Elevator has expanded its operations to Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. As President and CEO, I continue working at Bagby Elevator but hope to retire within five years. In December of 1993 I wed Anita “Cindy” Leslie Cochrane and I have two sons: Arthur IV (1972) and Hunter (1974). Arthur and his new bride Alyson are making their home in Birmingham as are Hunter and Leigh. Hunter and Leigh have a son Clayton (2006) and a new baby daughter Eleanor Elizabeth (2008). My hobbies are Photography and Computers. After a lifetime of sports activity (Football, Basketball, Tennis, Golf, Fencing, Wrestling, Racquetball, Weight Lifting) my principal sport is now croquet. This six wicket croquet is not the game you may remember playing in your yard at home in the days before TV and Air Conditioning. It is often described as “chess on grass.” Croquet the Sport is demanding mentally and physically. My 0.5 handicap allows me to compete head on with the very best players in the United States and many of the best in the world. I am the Alabama Director for the United States Croquet Club and the former Treasurer of the National Croquet Foundation (501c3). During the winter months, business permitting, I enjoy competing in tournaments at the Mission Hills Croquet Club in Rancho Mirage, CA. Cindy has a home at Mission Hills and enjoys wintering there - playing competitive croquet and swimming daily. Mission Hills has the honor of being selected the Croquet Club of the Year for two out of the past three years. The Club hosts about two week-long tournaments per month with many parties associated with each tournament. In Birmingham I have created a regulation size croquet lawn which was written up in Inc Magazine. I use the lawn to practice and to host Summer Croquet Tournaments. I remain hopeful that I can again play some casual golf.

What follows is a true golf tale from my past: “Act of God”—This golfing story took place during the early sixties on the old East Course at Birming-ham Country Club. On the first tee our foursome assembled and of course the discussion immediately turned to the matter of a wager. George Thomas

“T-Barrel” Lane opening the discussion by saying “Art, I am not going to bet with you ANYMORE!...you have soaked me for the last time.” Paul Pankey and the other member of the foursome listened with amusement to “Barrel’s” statement of resolve. No bets were made and we began play with our near empty wallets secure and nothing at stake but our egos. Barrel was playing magnificently! As we came off the green at number six he was even par; six straight pars. He was playing golf for sport and bet-ting with Art was an unpleasant memory...forgotten; he was on automatic. On the par three sixth we had caught up to a slower group and were waiting at the seventh tee for the fairway to clear. Timing could not have been better for me to make another move of barrel’s wallet. I said “how about we play this hole for five dollars?” Indignant, Barrel said “I told you NO BETS!” I pointed out the fact that he was even par through six and on a roll. Barrel fired back a recount of the last time we had played number seven. He said “the last time we played this hole your drive went out-of-bounds, hit on the road, ricocheted from a wall and bounced back in bounds twenty feet from the green.” I pointed out there was no reason to believe that kind of luck would happen again in our lifetimes. Barrel was taking no chances on spoiling his round, his mood, or putting his financial resources at peril. Understanding that get-ting Barrel to bet was going to take some real good bait I said “OK Lane, you can have half a stroke on a one hole bet. You par the hole and it will take a birdie for me to take your money.” Pars forgotten Barrel was focused on the proposition at hand. The forces of security, serenity, revenge and greed weighed heavily upon him and the bemused onlook-ers eyed Barrel in the throes of his dilemma. The forces of greed and revenge won over security and serenity...the bet was made. Par four number seven was an uphill dogleg right paralleling Country Club Road, high on the right. Barrel sent his drive dead center of the middle of the fairway just past the crook of the dogleg. My tee shot was short of his and below him. It trickled off the fairway into the left rough. My lie in the rough was not bad with the ball sitting up well and slightly uphill of my foot placement. My problem was I had to carry a bunker and be near enough to the pin to one putt. This was made more difficult because of my lie in the rough would take all the backspin from my ball and the stance with the ball above my feet would make the ball hook left naturally and fly with a lower trajec-tory. Barrel was center fairway and lying net one-half stroke. My nine iron shot to the green came out of the rough well, came within a foot of clearing the upper lip of the bunker and disappearing into that yawning hazard. Barrel played a safe shot to the center of the green with a slightly uphill putt of some 25 feet. When I got to the bunker I saw my half ball buried in the sand. To make this situation worse it was located a few inches below an almost straight up from the lip of the bunker. I had to hole out the shot from the sand or Barrel could two putt for a win. As I stood in the sand in despair I looked

class notes class notes


around and saw a Jack Russell Terrier puppy coming straight for me from about fifty yards away. A fan-tasy played out in my head, wouldn’t it be nice if the dog picked up my ball and dropped it where I could play it? I remained very still and the puppy kept coming straight at me and right up into the trap. I dared not even blink while watching the dog. When the dog was at my feet he looked up at me and I looked back without moving. For a moment our eye contact locked and I willed him to pick up the ball. He seemed to be wondering why I did not shoo him away. Then he decided I was going to leave him to his journey without any disturbance and he turned back to continue on. Upon turning his head he was confronted by my ball resting in his path. With only the slightest hesitation he took my ball into his mouth and charged up out of the trap. He was run-ning across the green with the ball in his mouth delighted at the mischief he was causing. His line of flight took him very near the flag and as he approached the flag I yelled “hey...you son of a bitch.” The alarmed dog dropped the ball from his mouth and fled. The ball came to rest about a foot from the pin. I climbed from the trap and sauntered across the green to my ball. The other players were watching this amazing turn of events without mov-ing or saying a word. Without pulling the pin I rammed my ball into the cup with a one handed putt and immediately pulled my ball out of the hole. As I turned to confront my opponent I could tell he had not expected me to hole out. His arm was extended with index finger pointed at me. I answered his ges-ture by saying the words “Act of God.” I strode to the edge of the green with Barrel in hot pursuit. A huge flap ensued about the applicable golfing rules. To settle the argument it was agreed that if Barrel two putted the golf ruling was to be settled by the Golf Pro at the conclusion of the ninth hole. Barrel made a good try at the uphill one putt but missed and took a regulation four on the hole. After num-ber nine Barrel made straight for the Pro Shop and we all awaited the verdict on number ten tee. As Barrel made his way back to the group the droop of his shoulders foretold some lack of success and I had the faintest hope. I was concerned that he had not been able to ask the pro for a ruling. When Barrel stepped out onto 10 tee he slapped a five into my palm and told us of his meeting with the Pro. He had recounted the events to the Pro Jon Gustin and upon hearing the tale the first words from Gustin’s mouth were “Act of God.” Dejectedly Barrel mut-tered his final comment “you bastard, you waited until the dog was at the hole before yelling.” We played the back side and I never mentioned a bet again. Wouldn’t want to press my luck...! Barrel has kept playing golf and is a fine golfer; much better than I. For more pictures and descriptions please visit: Bagby.com and Golfcroquet.com.

Skip Browne | After graduating from the Springs I chose to go back to the University of Florida. I was concerned about things at home. My mother was a professor at the University and between 1951 and

1957 she had lost her husband and both her parents, all of whom had died at home. Florida was, and is, a very good school. At that time there were limited seats available in Florida universities so academic standards were kept high to discourage those without the skills. The Springs training helped a lot. I was a fraternity boy so the parties were good and I lived out the movie “Animal House” before it was made. It was a great time. It was clear before I graduated that I was going to have to deal with Vietnam. I joined the Navy and after OCS was assigned to a ship out of Long Beach, California. I did a deployment to Vietnam on that ship, was transferred to a destroyer where I did a second deployment. A destroyer wardroom is 20 officers, and the odds of having an ISS classmate in the same wardroom I cannot calculate. But, behold David Price. David was so smart that he drove the Captain and other officers crazy. He always arrived at the correct answer to a problem but never by conven-tional means. The captain must have dismissed David from the bridge half a dozen times. I found him wonderful to have on the bridge. For course and speed problems we all needed a special form. David did the computations in his head. After watching the movie “Stalag 17” in the wardroom he was forever christened “Priceinger or Pricehoffer or whatever your name was before the war”. It was very funny to everyone but David. After Navy service I returned to graduate school at Florida. I completed my Masters and went to UCLA for a year. I am not a California boy, so I was able to arrange temporary duty with the Navy that allowed me to relocate to Washington, D.C. I arrived in Washing-ton in January 1971 and have been happily ensconced here ever since. I married Sherry Hulfish in 1981. She was a blind date. The first time I asked her out I asked if she wanted to go sailing. Her answer was an unequivocal “No”. I knew at that point this was going to be a “duty date”. Little did I realize that the “duty’ was for the rest of my life. It has been great duty except that her answer to sailing has essentially been unchanged. We have one daughter, Polly. Named for her maternal grand-mother she is now in her third year out of college. She works for Olgivy Mather, a large advertising firm in New York City. Her division is dedicated to internet advertising. Her major client is Cisco Systems and she places ads with Google and Yahoo. She loves it, which makes me a very lucky man. Sherry is 7th generation Alexandria with roots that go back to the late 1700s. She is deeply centered in this area, and I now have a tap root that runs to the center of the earth. We do leave town occasionally, even to go north. For my career, I wanted to get into real estate. I did an apprenticeship of sorts selling construction supplies, then worked for a large construction firm. In 1976 I established my own real estate development firm specializing in renovation of inner city Washington homes. Things went well until the early 80s when the real estate market crashed and the savings and loan crisis arrived. I had an opportunity to switch to the computer business

and have been at the senior computer technical levels since then. I have worked for firms that provided technical support to DoD agencies, primar-ily Army and Navy. The work environment has generally provided a secure, steady income, and you are working with very bright, well educated people, deeply committed to the team concept. Not exciting, but a very good environment for raising a family. The military is particularly family oriented. There were many things that attracted me to Washington. The Chesapeake Bay is one and I have been an avid sailor since shortly after I arrived. The Chesapeake is a great place to sail. It is a very safe environment. You can sail nearly 9 months of the year. There are also many places within a day’s sail. One of our favorites is Oxford, Maryland and the Robert Morris Inn. It was built prior to 1710 by ships’ carpenters with wooden pegged paneling, ships nails and hand hewn beams. In 1730 an English trading company bought the house as a residence for Robert Morris who represented the firm’s shipping business interests in Oxford. His son, Robert Morris, Jr. is known primarily by his title “The Financier of the American Revolution,” a reference both to his position as a Superintendent of Finance of the United States from 1781-1784 and to his general role in raising money and supplies for Continental government. He was one of the only two Founding Fathers to sign all three fundamental testaments of the American Revolution: The Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation, The United States Constitution. In the line of succession that include Alexander Hamilton and Albert Gallatin, Morris may be considered the first of the three great treasury secretaries who laid the financial foundations of the United States. And, the inn is Cool! The history is great, but it is the getting there that really excites me.

Robert Cleckler | After graduating from ISS, I attended Emory University and the University of Alabama. I began working at our home town bank in 1963 and retired as President in 1997. Since then I have been a pawn shop operator (sort of like banking), a bartender (not at all like banking) and a cancer survivor among other things. I married my high school sweetheart, Terry Kaye, in 1964 and we have a son and daughter. They each have three children and live in the area so we are able to enjoy our grandchildren who range in age from nine to seventeen. Trey, our son, lives in Pelham with his wife, Michele, and is in sales with a company that manufactures, installs and maintains canopies for service stations and convenience stores. His son, Bobby, and daughter, Katie, are currently in Pelham High School. Matthew, the youngest, is in middle school. Our daughter, Dani, lives in Childersburg and is the Human Resources Director for The Home Depot serving the Alabama region. She and her husband, Evan, are the proud parents of Eli, Jessica and Ethan. The youngest are twins. My military stint was with the Alabama Air national Guard with the reconnaissance unit based in

Birmingham. In 1961-1962 we were activated and spent some time in France and Germany during the Berlin Crisis. For some demented reason, I decided to run for public office and was unopposed for a city council seat. My term expires at the end of next September and I will not be a candidate again. I have enjoyed serving and would not mind another term but plan to do some traveling when Terry Kaye retires in a few years (if I can afford the gas).

Dan Davis | Following a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychol-ogy from Peabody, where Doc was professor of education, I was on the faculty at Vanderbilt University, the University of North Carolina and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. After these tenures, I entered the real world of indepen-dent practice which has allowed me to more fully live ISS’s motto, learning through living. Consulting with individuals, families and companies in a variety of capacities, has provided an enriching professional career. Currently, my efforts are focused on increas-ing the quality of life as we age. This includes working with the Geriatric Division at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, co-authoring a book with an attorney on legal and family dimen-sions in estate planning and hazard avoidance, and participating in several efforts through the Univer-sity of Denver on concerns for vitality and second careers for aging people. Nancy, second marriage, I got it right, and I are now without children in our home and continue to enjoy the scenic opportunities of Colorado: camping, skiing, hiking and biking as well as musical events across the state. ISS exposed us to excellence and that has been the continuing contribution the school imbued in me which I value most. Learning and contributing in various ways continue as vital to my life.

Tommy Donald | After graduation from ISS I did my undergraduate work at Washington & Lee University along with John Poynor and Ormond Somerville. After my junior year at at college, I entered medical school at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. In 1966 I returned to University Hospital in Birmingham where I completed four years of surgical residency. 1970 was a big year! I finished my surgical training, married a young girl, Anna Margaret Holbrook, and left for Minot, ND where I spent two years as Chief of Surgical Services at a large regional hospital working for Uncle Sam in the USAF. In 1972 I returned to Birmingham and entered private practice in general surgery where I remained until retirement in 2001. I have really enjoyed retirement. We travel a lot and enjoy our four grandchildren. Thanks to Anna Margaret, I have three lovely daughters, Elizabeth Courtney, Findley Holbrook and Anna Grier. Findley has two boys, and Courtney has a girl and a boy. Grier is finishing her masters Degree at New York Univer-sity in May.

Chip Gamble | After graduating from ISS, I received a Mechanical Engineering degree from Rensselaer



21, while at a conference in Houston, sold it and bought with a partner a Bonanza V35A, got my instrument rating in that plane and never again flew with “white knuckles.” It was about 20 years ago when we sold that plane and I have never been in a private plane since, though I have missed it. I have always said how much fun it would be to get paid to play in your sandbox (my laboratory). Thirty-ning years later, I feel the same, past retirement age, I totter on still grinning and teaching. I have taught the main-line physics course, mostly pre-meds and engineers, for about 20 years, off and on, with occasional assignments to Astronomy, Astrophysics and Medical Physics and Mechanics. My first line to the students each year is that “there are no laws of physics, just descriptions of what we observe and these descriptions change with each advance in our ability to observe. This is when we go on to talk about the dual nature of light (both photons and waves) and that particles are waves too, relativity and quantum mechanics (all is not as it seems, we must first roll the dice). My research work began at Berkeley where my advisor John Reynolds, the father of noble gas mass spectrometry, designed and built his own instruments. I carried on that tradition at Washington University, designing and building new instruments, recently giving the keynote address at the Goldschmidt Conference in Melbourne on “Noble Gas Mass Spectrometry in the 21st Century.” About a bakers dozen of PhDs have come out of my laboratory one, a Physics Professor at Purdue, directs the Prime Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility, another is a Physics Professor at the University of Arizona, heavily involved with missions to Mars, and yet another is in Los Alamos, the former director of Nuclear Safeguards, a program that oversaw storage and security of plutonium from dismantled Soviet nuclear warheads. Thirteen years ago I invited a Russian scientist and his wife, also a scientist, to join me at Washington University. It is hard to imagine that the two of us, born half-a-globe apart, could be so similar. He studied with Yuri Shukoly-ukov, “father of mass spectrometry” in Russia, studies the same material as I (the Oklo natural reactor in Gabon), hates writing papers and tinkers all the time (as I do). I am turning more and more of my research over to Alex. In fact, I cannot even operate the equipment in my laboratory anymore, even though I built most of it, Alex has made it his with his own genius. Olga, Alex’s wife, keeps us both in line and is harder working than either Alex or me. She is now in charge of I-Xe dating, a method we refined, based upon decay of extinct 129I that dates events that happened in the early solar system. We studied individual grains of olivine from meteorites that proved the sun went through a “T-Tauri” phase as it began its stable life, we measured the? decay lifetime of 128Te as 7.7 x 1024 years, the longest half-life ever measured. It takes 10 years for one decay to occur in 1 kg of native Te. Alex and I are on the Science team of the Genesis Mission and the Stardust Mission, and our

graduate student Jennifer Mabry measured solar wind Ar in the Genesis collectors with a precision 50 times better than previous measurements of the solar wind. My son Brad got his MBA here at Washington University and is starting a winery in Defiance, Missouri (believe it or not, Missouri had superb wines before Prohibition, supplying Bordeaux with root stock after disease wiped out most of the native vines.) However, Missouri followed law, destroying all of its vines. Now, we produce the kind found with screw tops in Quickshops. Hopefully, Chandler Hill wines will change this but right now, he is selling California wines under that label. Brad went to Emory where he majored in Business. He was a jock in high school and had too much fun his Freshman year. However, during his Sophomore year he discov-ered that he was no longer working to please anyone but himself, making the Dean’s list thereafter. Although my son did this on his own, we had a lot more help. It all began at Indian Springs School, where Dr. Armstrong set the standards we all struggled to keep at Indian Springs but soon found they were part of our lives. We developed study habits that bode us well in college and a thirst for knowledge we carry until today. This is the legacy of Indian Springs.

Frank Jones | Since graduating from Indian Springs, I was trained professionally as an actuary and spent most of my career in various life insurance company management positions. We lived in Oklahoma City from 1982 until 1986 when I was head of one of Torchmark’s life insurance companies. Other than that we have always been in Birmingham. During the 90’s I was employed by a large funeral service company in Houston and was responsible for their life insurance operations, which included life insurance companies in Rapid City, SD; Paris, France; and a large operation in the United Kingdom. During that period of time I traveled extensively and learned a great deal about how differently people in South Dakota and Paris, for example, view the world. Definitely a broadening experience. We have a daughter, Laurie. She and her husband, Shea Kent, live in Beaumont with their three boys, ages 10, 8, and 6. All three boys are enthusiastically into sports, as well as hunting and fishing. Our son, Caldwell, died in 1993 when he accidentally stepped off the side of a mountain just as he was beginning his junior year at Sewanee. Laurie and I continue to be blessed with good health. We are active in the Episcopal Cathedral here where Laurie volunteers regularly with the parish food pantry and organizes the church grief recovery sessions, which we still host in our home twice a year. I assist her in the grief group and serve on the vestry of the cathedral. I am also in the middle of a two-year term as board chairman of St. Martin’s in the Pines, a continuing care community. We get away several times a year to our condo in Perdido Key, Florida, and travel frequently to Beaumont to see Laurie and her family.

Polytechnic Institute in 1962. Almost immediately I joined the Navy and went into the Civil Engineering Corp. My first duty assignment was with a Construc-tion Battalion (Seabees) deploying mostly to Cuba and Puerto Rico. After about two years in the Seabees I went to Vietnam in early 1965. I was assigned to work with the Army Advisory Teams all over the country. I left the Navy in 1966 and entered Harvard Business School. I received an MBA in 1968 and went to work in the Medical Device industry. My first job was with Baxter International in Chicago. After eight (harsh, cold winters) years I took a job in (warm, sunny) Clearwater, Florida, with Concept, Inc., a small medical device manufacturing company. Three years later in 1979 I moved to United Medical, a division of Pfizer. United developed and manufactured products in the wound care and ostomy markets. After Pfizer sold the company in 1988, I moved to Halkey-Roberts Corporation, a division of Atrion, as President. Halkey developed and manufactured components for medical devices and marine and aviation safety products. I retired in 2003. While in Chicago I married Gail Foote whom I had met in Boston. Gail, after her graduation from Simmons College taught school in Los Angeles so we carried on a long-dis-tance relationship until we got married in 1970. We have one daughter, Sarah. She graduated from the University of Florida and then received her Masters Degree in Architecture from the University of Texas in 2005. Sarah is a practicing Architect in Austin, Texas. Since leaving the business world I have been spending my time playing tennis, volunteering and traveling. As long as my body holds together I hope to keep playing several times a week and on the “Super Senior” circuit on the west coast of Florida. As a volunteer, I primarily work with two retirement communities, two organizations that serve develop-mentally disabled individuals, and also serve on the City of Dunedin’s Board of Finance. Gail is also an active volunteer in the community but her primary focus is on developing her creative skills in pastels. We spend the summers in Chautauqua, NY to escape Florida’s heat and humidity.

John Heacock | After graduating from Harvard College in 1962 and Harvard Law School in 1965, I went to work for a law firm in Huntsville, and I’m still working there, although at a much more relaxed pace. I’ve had a diverse and interesting legal career, with the major focus on commercial litigation. My wife, Judy, and I were married in 1970, and we have two children (a son and daughter) and two grand-sons, ages 3 and 5, whom we enjoy very much.

Charles Hohenberg | After my wild and fabulous ride through ISS, I went on to Princeton University for my BS in Physics, actually beginning in Mechanical Engineering, then Aeronautical Engineering, graduating in 1962. My interest in flying was stimulated at ISS by Dr. Moore who took us to Birmingham airport to show us his Aerocoup. I got my pilot’s license in Selma, flying an old Aeronica L2 with no brakes and the carburetor heat knob held down by bailing wire. I joined the Princeton Flying Club, becoming Treasurer. As an officer of the Club, I had the privilege of a car, where all other Princeton students had to go without, with most usage having nothing to do with trips to Princeton Airport. Graduating from Princeton, I went on to the University of Califor-nia, Berkeley in 1962 for my PhD in Physics. Those were exciting years at Berkeley. I got married to a University of Delaware girl, who I met while at Princeton. She, came to Berkeley for her Masters but, as the 60’s rolled on, she became a flower child and I more conservative. Different lifestyles led to fracture. During those turbulent times, I almost got a free bus ride home (to Selma) for the 50 Mile March, but I opted out. A good friend of mine from Princeton, representing the Justice Department in intervention at Selma, became good friends with my father, representing Selma, leading to more open communications and constructive solutions. I stayed on for 2 years as a Post-Doc at Berkeley building experiments for the Apollo Program, then accepted a faculty position in Physics at Washing-ton University, St. Louis, where I remain until today. I bought my first airplane, a Mooney Super



all over town at one time. Building houses was great but the rest of it was just hard work. My daughter Anna went to Wake Forest after ISS and met and later married a classmate, Jeff Harris. They now have three boys and are living in a house directly behind the house where I grew up. Jeff is a lawyer with Harbert Management. My son, Trip, went to TCU after ISS and met and later married his college sweetheart, Jenny. They have two boys and live in Kansas City where Trip is with Garmin working on new product introduction. Alice and I have enjoyed traveling with the kids when they were growing up and now traveling with the kids and grandkids. We have now settled on one place we all love and go every summer to Sun Valley, Idaho and enjoy watching the grandkids do a lot of the same things the kids did when they were that age. I am now selling houses in Liberty Park, a planned unit development adjacent to Mountain Brook. We now live in Liberty Park so the commute to work is less than 5 minutes. It is so easy to work and not have all the responsibility. I’ve cut back to about half time and really like that. Hopefully we will all get together in about 5 years and do the reunion thing again. It was just great to see you all doing well and still active in various ways.

Robert Phillips | After graduating from Davidson I spent the next year finishing an MA in English at UNC-Chapel Hill. In June 1963 I was treated to the Infantry Officers’ Basic Course, IOBC 19, at Ft. Benning followed by a course in military intelli-gence at Ft. Holabird in Baltimore and an assignment with the 205th MI Detachment in Frankfort. In fall 1965 I returned to Chapel Hill and by 1971 had finished my Ph.D. having taught for two years at North Carolina Central University. From 1970 until I retired in 2002 I taught American literature at Mississippi State University and worked for the Mississippi Quarterly, an academic journal devoted primarily to the study of the literature of the American South. From 1988 until 2004 I was its editor. I have published a number of articles about Southern writers, have edited or helped edit several books, and have written books on Richard Harding Davis and Shelby Foote. In the late 70’s with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities I worked with the Mississippi Library Commission to produce a television series, A Climate for Genius, about Mississippi writers. Cicely Tyson was the hostess for the show and a number of writers (Shelby Foote, Ellen Douglass, Elizabeth Spencer, James Seay, Margaret Walker, and others) appeared in the six installments. In 2003 I went to Japan as an exchange professor at Meisei University. The one-year exchange turned into three. Since my return from Japan in 2006 I have been at work on a biography of Lara Hoggard. In 1967 I married Lucy McIntyre. Lucy taught voice at Mississippi State and Wood College, and for many years maintained a very active vocal studio in Starkville. Her students have been winners and finalists in state, regional, and national competitions. She was the first

foreigner to win a major prize for traditional Japanese brush painting at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum. We have three children. The oldest, Robert McIntyre (Ty) has degrees from Mississippi State, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and expects to finish another at the University of Memphis in writing and film. Shandy, our older daughter, graduated from the Juilliard School and has advanced degrees from the Boston Conserva-tory. She plays violin and teaches in Boston. Lucy Holland, our youngest, is also a violinist. She graduated from the Blair School at Vanderbilt, has an MM from the New England Conservatory, and is completing a doctorate in performance and musicology at the University of Oregon.

Jerry Pieh | I parachuted into ISS as a senior when my father joined the faculty. Not the best time to change schools, but it worked well. The Glee Club was a particular focus for me, perhaps in place of an earlier focus on athletics. After a very good four years at Duke, I got an MAT in teaching history at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and taught for three years at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. At PA, I met and married Lucy, my wife of almost 45 years, and helped to start the Minnesota Outward Bound School. After those years, I returned to HGSE as an Assistant Dean for two years and as a doctoral student for two years. Our first two children came during that time. The doctorate came in the first of three years as high school principal in Hamilton, MA. Our third child came during that period. Another highlight was starting Project Adventure, an experiential educa-tion program that continues to this day and whose board I now chair. In 1973 at a ridiculously young age, I became head of Milton Academy, a K-12, boarding/day school of a bit over 900 students (still in MA), and stayed in that role until 1991. Lots of highlights, a fourth child, programs started, building built, money raised, etc. One program of note might be the Mountain School, a residential, semester-long, farmschool in VT and owned by Milton. I still sit on their advisory board. In 1992 - for no reason except that we wanted to live in our home on the Kennebec River in Maine, needed to make a living, and I could do search work on the computer from a home base - I joined a Boston retained search firm, Isaacson, Miller, Inc. My practice has been eclectic with an emphasis on university administrative and leadership searches as well as a number of research center leadership searches. So, now Lucy and I happily live in Arrowsic, Maine. My mother (89) and sister are within half an hour and three of our four kids are within an hour. Our children are teaching preschool, running a maintenance/construction operation in a small hotel, working as a custodian at L. L. Bean, and working as a family practice/emergency room doc. I continue to work about half-time and Lucy continues her vocation as a volunteer grief coun-selor. A client just left! I consider myself a reasonably successful landscaper/environmental

Thomas Lamkin | After leaving Indian Springs, I attended Rice Institute which became Rice University while I was there from 1958 to 1962. I was accorded the honor of being a fellow of my residential college, Hanzen College. I may have to go back out there to see what that gets me. In 1966 I graduated from what was then the Medical College of Alabama and is now UAB School of Medicine. At least Indian Springs has not changed its name out from under me. December 30, 1965 I married Anne and we have remained happily married ever after. We have 3 children, all married, and one grandson born to Tom, Jr. and his wife Kelly on January 5, 2007 and named Thomas Griffin Lamkin, III. We call him Griffin. Daughter Anne married an Indian Springs graduate, John Durward, in 2000 and son Robert married Angelina last July. Anne went to W&L and Robert went to Hamden-Sydney and both earned their LLD from Cumberland School of Law. Tom went to Vanderbilt and earned his MBA with honors from DePaul University in Chicago. Robert also earned his MBA while at Samford. Anne is a partner in the law firm of Massey, Stotser and Nichols. Tom is an executive with Marvin’s Building Supply Co. after being with Sears for 5 years in their home office in Chicago which is where he met his wife. Robert is an Investment Advisor with Sterne Agee and Leach. I interned at Denver General Hospital and then was drafted into the United States Navy to be the Battalion Surgeon for the 1st Battalion 2nd Marines at Camp LeJeune, NC. We deployed to the Mediterranean for a four months cruise visiting Spain, France, Corsica, Sardinia, Naples, Livorno, and Greece. It was much nicer than WestPac. In 1972 we returned to Birmingham for good. I did my Ophthalmology residency from 1969 to 1972 at University Hospital. (It is now UAB something or another.) Then I joined my father-in-law Oscar Dahlene, Jr. in private practice which I still enjoy though I have stopped doing surgery. There are no plans to retire. My wife Anne is still very active in civic activities. Her latest was organizing a luncheon for the Women’s Committee of 100 honoring Jordan and Israel. Some how she kept the Middle-East war from breaking out in the ballroom of the country club. I had my doubts for awhile but both parties had a good time so all was cordial. But I have to keep working to stay out of her way.

Bill Lewis | I regret not being able to meet with all of you at the Friday and Saturday get together. Went from ISS to the University of Virginia with Butch Leatherwood and Joe Pigford, and graduated in January, 1964. Married in February, 1964 to a lady from Charlottesville and set up family in Leeds in late February, 1964. Started work with IBM in 1966. My son Wallace 3rd, who is now a photographer with Metropolitan Museum in New York, was born in August, 1966. My daughter, Chelsea, was born in June, 1970. Chelsea has two children: Halle and Jack Henry Hendrix born in 1994 and 1998 respectively. I left IBM in 1982 and with severely impaired brain

cells started a company of my own. The time to leave a company of your own is when an employee comes in and says she has something of vital importance that needs to interrupt any day to day customer calls, service calls, bids for new jobs, money from the bank and says that she is afraid Janice is mad at her because Janice did not say hello to her that morning. Got into real estate in 1992 and I am still in real estate today. It has been so long I forgot .... in 1983 I got divorced from Louise Haney Lewis and singled it for a while. Got married in 1987 to Mary Susan Martin from Selma who had two children from her first marriage, Allison and Julie. Julie graduated from UVA law and was before 9/11, in the World Trade Center. All the step children and children are in Birmingham except for Wallace in New York. Some memories: Could Billy Slaughter beat the hell out of a dinner bell on a lectern or what? Only with Slaughter would all of us continue to rail on while the small bell could hardly be heard: or yes and then Boggs asked us with a stut-ter to vote for him in something...Dick Baldwin used to sit in his room with a wristwatch with a sweep second hand and time it so he would walk in the class door as the bell was ringing...I saw Allen Williams hypnotize Jordan McDavid and then tell him the ink jar he handed him was a radio and what were they playing?...How did Dr. Sipe get picked as the one to actually tell us about hygiene and what to wash? Wouldn’t you like to have been in the meeting and heard the discussions about this subject from Big Doc and who should teach this. I do no not think Mac Flemming could have kept a straight face....T. Lane and I slipped off one night to play fraternity basketball and that was when he blew through a barbed wire fence that he still probably carries scars to prove...No school ever had anyone named Nursie...Boggs actually asked me to climb up a tree behind the infirmary and look at a Bryan lady...I couldn’t figure it out since I got to see her everyday in the dining hall...And the final one that blows me away is that in 1973 I got a package from a college student in Missouri and he had sent me an ISS graduation ring with my initials in it that he had found in the lake at the bottom of the dam. So I have two graduation rings.

Hardie Meade | After ISS, I went to Emory for two years, then did my last two years at the University of Alabama, rooming with Arthur Bagby and Jordan McDavid. After graduating, I joined the Air National Guard and went to work in the real estate business with my dad. After a few years, I left his company and went out on my own. In 1966, Alice and I were married. In 1969 our daughter Anna was born and three years later her brother Trip was born. Both children went to ISS and Anna was Mayor her senior year. Along the way, Alice and I chaperoned the Glee Club on several trips. That was quite interesting but Tim Thomas was a great director and trouble never developed. I continued my real estate business and built a company that built houses, developed apartments, and had as many as 250 agents running


fall 08 | 3534 | Indian Springs School

sculptor (means I do a bit more than mow the yard), member of a variety of educational boards, and enthusiastic grandfather. We currently have four grandchildren, four granddogs, and four grandcats. Our four acres on this large river are surrounded by water on three and a half sides (hope global warming comes slowly), the boat on the dock will get us to a wonderful cottage out on the real Atlantic Ocean, cottage and home are paid off, “retirement” beckons, but I am not really sure what that will mean. Medicare is in hand and we can probably make it financially. I suspect that I will just fill my time with new things, if I stop “working,” but I do like some income.

Joe Pigford | After graduating from ISS: 1958-1962 - University of Virginia - graduated with a BS in Commerce from the McIntyre School of Commerce and received a ROTC commission in the US Army Corps of Engineers. 1962-1965 - Attended Ft. Belvior Engineering School, then Airborne School at Ft. Benning and Signal School in Lenggries, Germany. Served as Communication Officer in the 24th Engineer Group in Kaiserslantern, Germany until honorable discharge in 1965. 1965-1967 - Employed by Sea-Land Service containerized freight transportation in truck operations depart-ment. Trained at Long Beach, California, terminal. Then transferred to truck operations headquarters in Elizabeth, NJ as assistant to General Manager of Truck Operations. Scheduled to go to Vietnam as truck operations manager, but went to work for Vulcan Materials Co. instead in 1967. 1967-1984 - Worked for Vulcan Materials in quarrying operations as Superintendent at the LaGrange and Stockbridge, Georgia, quarries. I married in 1970 and had three sons: Scott in 1971, Michael in

1975, and Patrick in 1977. My wife and I divorced in 1978. I married Betty in 1980. She had one daugh-ter, Sandy, born in 1969. Betty and I celebrated our 28th anniversary February 23rd of this year. If you recall, I shared at our 35th reunion how I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in March, 1984. I left Vulcan Materials in May, 1984 and have been serving the Lord in various capacities at North Henry Baptist Church since then. I presently teach the senior (70+) adult Bible Study class; serve as Church Treasurer (for past 10 years); lead a Tuesday night mens’ prayer group; sing in the choir; assist in three children’s outreach programs including “Awana,” “Upward Basketball,” and the “Good News Club;” and am the lay person in charge of the construction of our new 600 seat sanctuary. Betty and I have eight grandchildren. Sandy is married to Glenn Hill. They have three boys: Nathan (16), Jeremy (14), and Stephen (12); and one daughter, Jessica (10). Scott is married to Terri and they have two sons. Travis, the oldest, is serving in the US Air Force in Italy and is married to Jessica. Sean, the youngest son, is 15. Mike and Chrissie have a daughter, Lane (10) and a son, Cole (6). All three families live around Atlanta. Patrick, my youngest son, is still single and lives in Jacksonville, Florida.

John Poynor | 1958-62 Washington & Lee Univer-sity. 1962-66 University of Alabama School of Medicine. 1966-67 Internship at UAB. 1967-71 Residency in Otolaryngology. 1971-73 United States Air Force stationed in Plattsburg, New York. 1973-present ENT Associates of Alabama. Married Nancy McCall from Mobile, Alabama in 1970; no children. Hopefully I will be able to continue working after age 70 in some capacity either as ENT where I am presently or as pre-med advisor at

Birmingham-Southern College or in the Admissions Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.

Karl Ray | I graduated from Duke, spent a year at University of North Carolina, and returned to Duke for medical school and a pediatric internship. My psychiatric residency was at Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Philadelphia. I married for the first time while in the residency. I entered the Army for a 2 year stay in Albuquerque, NM. After leaving the Army in 1972, I returned to Philadelphia to work in a community mental health center. After a few years, I moved to a center outside Philadelphia and worked there for 9 years. My first marriage ended and after meeting my present wife, we moved to Santa Fe, NM. We have lived here for 25 years and love it. We have a daughter, Rachel, who is about to enter law school. I am Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services for the hospital here. Lisa, my wife, is a personal trainer and great partner and mother. We share a strong interest in music and each sing in local musical groups. I returned to singing regularly about 10 years ago. My men’s chorus is a lot of fun. Having had a child at 45, I’m still working to be able to cut back soon and take more time to enjoy the great outdoor pleasures in this part of the country and spend more time fighting the changes of aging.

Robert Sherman | After graduation I attended Harvard College. I majored in American History and Literature and graduated in 1962. I went directly to Harvard Law school, graduating in 1965. I was married in 1964 to Edith Ordway Clifford of New York City (divorced 1987) , and have two sons Daniel (36) and Charles (31) by that marriage. Both sons work in New York City and live in Brooklyn. No marriages, no grandchildren. I started work in 1965 with the Wall Street law firm of Dewey, Ballantine in 1965 and did general corporate and project finance work. After 5½ years I received a generous offer from a client who controlled a number of large public companies to become Vice President and General Counsel of his largest public company, a Fortune 500 manufacturing corporation named Wallace Murray Corporation. Wallace Murray was headquartered in New York City. This company had approximately 30 manufacturing plants in the US, South America and Europe and significant business relationships in Japan. This was an immensely interesting job involving interna-tional travel, large financings and acquisitions and as it turned out, significant business responsibilities. In addition to running the legal department I was assigned two electronic manufacturing divisions to run. In 1980 this company merged into Household Finance Corporation. I resigned from Household in 1982 to join some former colleagues at Dewey Ballantine in the Project Finance Group at Paine-Webber’s investment banking department. At PaineWebber, our group raised financing for large stand-alone projects such as electrical generating

plants, paper mills and communications satellites. In 1990 I left to become President of McDonnell Douglas Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of McDonnell Douglas Corporation engaged in aircraft and other capital equipment leasing. This was somewhat of a sick company when I took it on, but I was able to make it profitable and sell it for them. After this sale I had had enough of the corporate world, and started a shopping guide publication business in Bergen County, NJ which I ran until I retired in 2004. I was remarried to Linda Sudderth Carley, a native of Greensboro, NC and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, but who, like myself, lived in New York City. Linda has two daughters by her first marriage. Our life centered around New York City, a beach house on Fire Island, NY and international travel. Upon retirement, we moved to High Point, NC, a town adjacent to Greensboro. We travel frequently and have been to South Africa, Peru, Brazil, Italy and Scotland since retiring. We spend part of the summer on Fire Island. I am a member of an organization that is active in preservation of our American History heritage and have been a member of its book award and speakers committee. I have also been involved in Harvard recruiting. I play tennis several times a week and have a great deal of time for reading, which is truly my favorite pastime.

Clifford Spencer | After ISS, I graduated from the University of Alabama undergrad in ’62 and law school in ’64. From there I clerked on the Alabama Supreme Court then active duty with the Air Force from 1965 to 1968. I was at Patrick AFB, FL (Cocoa Beach) the entire time and worked as a JAG. It was interesting work, giving legal assistance, serving as claims officer and participating in court martials (not mine). As claims officer, I handled claims for and against the Government involving property damage and personal injury, some of which involved trips to the Caribbean islands. We were responsible for any claims involving the missile launches from Cape Canaveral, which was 15 miles north of Patrick, but fortunately, none of the launches resulted in claims. There were frequent launches of proven as well as new ones such as the Saturn which later enabled astronauts to reach the moon. We were afraid it would be another Titusville Express. This was an earlier launch that was supposed to go southeast but instead went west toward nearby Titusville, FL. It finally destructed after ignoring several attempts, cleared the Cape and terminated its flight in the Banana River but not before terrorizing personnel, birds, gators, snakes, boaters and all other conscious animate beings in the area. The highlight of my stay at Patrick was, of course, meeting Air Force Lt. Rita Ingalls, on the tennis courts, no less. She decided I was having too much fun in the Space Boom environment and I gave it up and married her. I did stay in the AF Reserves, was assigned to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery and retired as a Lt. Col. As I used to say, if you must do time, Maxwell is the place. After leaving Patrick I practiced law with a medium sized firm for twenty years, then went out



on my own, and still practice. My practice has centered on corporate law, litigation and probate. Rita worked at University Hospital, took time off for family and went back to work at Children’s Hospital where she still works two days a week. Rita and I have three children, Tom, who writes for the Birmingham News, Cliff, a furniture maker in California (cliffspencer.net) and Margaret who put her purse business on pause when she started her family. We have seven grandchildren, one in Califorina and the rest here. We have been active in our Church, Independent Presbyterian, civic work, AF Reserves, a theater group, YMCA, boating, fishing, and going to the beach at Ft. Morgan (but not enough). It’s been a good ride with more to come.

Arthur Toole | After graduation from ISS, I attended Davidson College, earning a B.S. degree in 1962. I enrolled at the University of Alabama School of Medicine with several of our ISS classmates. In 1966, after finishing medical school, I spent a year in Philadelphia at Philadelphia General Hospital for a rotating internship. Uncle Sam called and I entered the US Army Medical Corps, spending time in San Antonio and Ft. Rucker, Alabama (for flight surgeon training). After Ft. Rucker I had an opportunity to visit Vietnam from November 1967 to November 1968. After Vietnam, I moved to Ft. Bragg, NC. A close friend of mine from Talladega worked in Charlotte, NC. He called me when I arrived at Ft. Bragg and told me that he had someone for me to meet and that he expected her to become my wife! We met the weekend that the Jets won Super Bowl III and, as he predicted, Judy Davis and I married in August 1969, a few days before my discharge. We spent two years at Charlotte Memorial Hospital as a general surgery resident and moved to Birmingham in 1974 where I finished my otolaryngology (ENT) residency in 1974. After several months with a couple of private practices in Birmingham, we moved to Anniston, Alabama where I established an otolaryngology practice. For nearly twenty years I was in a solo office, then, over the next ten years, my office grew to four physicians, allowing me to retire (mainly due to vision problems that prevented me from continuing surgery) in 2005. Judy and I are the fortunate parents of two wonderful daughters, Mary Reagan (Molly) and Katherine. The two of them went to and graduated from Sewanee (The Univer-sity of the South). Both daughters are married: Molly to George Macon from Richmond, Virginia, a graduate of W&L, whom she met in graduate school at Vanderbilt where each earned their MBA degree in finance; and Katherine to George Garzon from Montgomery, the brother of one of her roommates at Sewanee, who also graduated from Sewanee. Each daughter has a son, aged 5 ½ and a daughter: Molly’s is Mary Reagan, 4 years old, and Katherine’s is Alice Bellingrath, aged 2. Both sons-in-law are named George as are both grandsons. George and Molly live in Charlotte where he is in commercial real estate development. George and Katherine

returned yesterday from a three-year tour in England en route to San Antonio; he is an F-15C USAF pilot. After retiring, Judy and I have spent much of our time traveling, both in the US and overseas. Of course, having grandchildren in England was a magnet to cross the ocean several times a year!

Elias Watson | Married Lucy Belser Trarue from Nashville in 1976. 2 Children: Elias IV a starving artist in Chicago. Anne Trarue manages an art gallery in Charleston, SC. Live on the Cahaba River in the woods. Lucy is a volunteer in two important programs in Birmingham. Mentors underprivileged kids on a 24/7 basis. Started a GED program at St. Mary’s Church which operates 2 days a week. We own a place at Perdido Key. I spend a lot of time reading, boating and eating. I enjoy duck hunting any where, any time where there are ducks. I generally go to Stuttgart, Arkansas, the Mississippi Delta, and the Tombigbee River. I am still working as a Dermatologist (39 years). Hope to retire in ten to twenty years.

Thomas Wright | After graduation from Indian Springs School it was off to college the following fall. At Duke I eventually majored in Chemistry, more because the subject interested me than because it was something I wanted to spend my life doing (probably not a unique situation). However, those years were filled with new experiences, new friends and the chal-lenges that accompany being on your own. A bright spot was meeting a Danish cousin of one of my new pals. It was not long before Susse and I were seriously interested in each other, and when she returned to Denmark after her visit to her aunt and uncle, both professors at Duke, I resolved to go to Denmark to see her. In those days Icelandic airlines offered the cheapest fares, but you had to leave from New York. I drove my Vespa scooter from North Carolina to a friend’s house on Long Island, passing by chemical plants from Baltimore, New Jersey and New York, each smellier and nastier looking than the last. Upon return I transferred to Auburn with the intention to find another field, but it soon proved to be best and quickest to finish a degree in chemistry, which I did. I also married Susse in 1965 as it was becoming too expensive to keep crossing the Atlantic via Iceland. My first job was in Washington D.C. working for the National Oceanographic Data Center. While there we experienced the political turmoil of those regrettable years of our nations history from a very close up view, as we lived right downtown. I also participated in several oceanographic research cruises with the Office of Naval Research, including one to the North Atlantic in spring. After monotonous months of gray skies and rough, cold and gray waters plus twelve hour watches, I felt I had made another big mistake for a career, however subsequent trips to the Caribbean were better. Washington was a tremendously interesting place and we look back on those times with tempered fondness. I felt the need to continue my education after a couple of years,

and talked to Johns Hopkins University about a PhD program in Oceanography. They recommended that I take advantage of the government’s after hours education program to get a broader science and math background before coming for a degree. It was convenient to take courses at George Washington University, where I discovered geology. The third try was the trick; geology had everything I was looking for in a career. The plate tectonics theory was just taking hold, it was intellectually stimulating and it involved being outside, often in beautiful places. Soon I was a full-time graduate student at George Washington University and received the PhD in 1973. I taught geology at Bryn Mawr College as a sabbatical replacement and then at Allegheny College in western Pennsylvania. The small liberal arts college was fine, the department and students were really good with a high percentage of graduates going on to graduate schools. The region and town surrounding the college, however was distinctly not to our liking. Washington D.C. and Philadelphia living had spoiled us for the lifestyle Meadville offered. While at Allegheny College I applied for a research grant from the National Science Founda-tion, but it was turned down. I reapplied after revision with the same depressing result. In 1977 or ’78 the Geological Society of America annual meeting was in Washington, and while there I went in to NSF to talk to the program director looking for advice. At the end of a very useful discussion, he asked me if I had considered applying to NSF, as there were a few openings coming up. He pointed out that a couple of years at NSF would do wonders in meeting other researchers and in learning how the granting system works. I was successful on the next try for a grant, and a year or so later was successful in being hired by NSF working with the same program director who had given me guidance and encouragement. Program Directors at NSF are urged to maintain their knowledge of their specialty by several methods, one of which is to continue their research program. I was able to continue working on my interests in structural geology, publishing a number or research papers. I particularly enjoyed field work in Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories of Canada, Antarctica and Australia. More than twenty years later I retired and moved to North Carolina. We had bought some lots on Ocracoke Island when I was doing field work for my Master’s project in 1968, but had not built anything until 1994. We are doing a variety of amusing things, both on Ocracoke and elsewhere. Susse is designing houses and additions to existing houses here, and I’m enjoying a well-equipped woodworking shop. We both enjoy sea kayaking, bird watching, socializing with a remarkably interesting group of Ocracoke natives and more recent residents, and other pleasant and satisfying pursuits.

cLass oF 1961John Thames | is an instructor of English as a second language for the Latin American Association of Atlanta.

Ray Wright | retired (“officially”) in 2006, but is still a practicing CPA (part-time), mostly consulting work. Living in a condo on Orange Beach about 8 months of the year, trying to enjoy “retirement.”

cLass oF 1962Howard Cruse | A 64-page trade paperback edition of Howard Cruse Felix’s Friends (subtitled “A Story for Grown-Ups and Unpleasant Children”) can now be purchased online through the Lulu Marketplace - and nowhere else. Felix’s Friends is a new book but not a new work, having been written and drawn in the early eighties. The story’s first incarnation dates back to 1970, when the cautionary tale appeared in his short-lived Muddlebrow comic strip. Muddle-brow was an ongoing feature in an alternative newspaper named Granny, a brainchild of Cruse’s college friend Julie Brumlik, that enjoyed a brief but colorful life at that time. Cruse’s best-known work, the international award-winning graphic novel Stuck Rubber Baby, published by Paradox Press in 1995, is taught in many college courses around the country, leading to periodic invitations to lecture about the book. Recent campus venues have been at Brown University, Penn State University, and the School for International Studies in Vermont. Pages from Stuck Rubber Baby were included in Lit Graphic, the recent exhibition of work from graphic novels mounted at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. Howard also did cover art for the May 2008 issue of Commonwealth magazine, published by Commonwealth Club of California. www.howardcruse.net.

cLass oF 1963Mike Goodrich | received the Silver Buffalo Award from the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America and Learning for Life Inc. Mike was recognized for the award, the highest bestowed on a volunteer of the Boy Scouts, at a reception on May 23rd in San Diego in conjunction with the national meeting of the Boy Scouts of America. Mike participated as a youth for five years and has served as an adult volunteer of the Boy Scouts for 33 years.

Bill Jones | Lida and I have moved to Ocracoke, NC. - the Outer Banks. ISS introduced me to the idea of education through community. That was almost 50 years ago! We find ourselves in a community of 700 living on a sandbar where people care for us, challenge us and expect the best of us. It feels like home!

Wayne Meshejian | Discovering my new life now that I have retired. I teach a course in physics occasionally as an adjunct professor, but otherwise no longer live on a schedule - something I haven’t experienced since I was six years old. I have transcribed a recording of a 1963 ISS Glee Club practice and rehearsal (with Mr. Hugh Thomas) that can be found as a link at the bottom of my homep-age - located at www.longwood.edu/staff/meshejianwk.



cLass oF 1967Eddie Ashworth | is now Undersecretary of the Department of Social Services for the State of Louisiana.

Henry Weinberg | For the past 7 years I have worked at 1-800-PetMeds in Pompano Beach, FL as purchasing director. I spend most of my time at work buying, managing product offerings, and handling content on the ATG web site. I have an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami (Fl) and a BS in Management from FSU. I’m interested in finding information about other alumni especially those I met during my 4 years at ISS.

cLass oF 1968Dave Doggett | City Stages organizer David Doggett, an Irondale resident, has come to under-stand the Japanese Maple’s siren song. His shady backyard is lush with such plants - sweeping the ground, arching in pots, rooting in wash basins, grafted in Styrofoam cups and plastic containers. Doggett hasn’t completely abandoned the rest of the plant world; his garden includes hostas, hydrangeas, ferns, viburnum and a patch of smooth, manicured grass. There’s a large magnolia tree in his front yard, and several azaleas. But Japanese maples are the dominant motif. Doggett founded the Association of Cajun Music Enthusiasts in Birmingham. When he’s not gardening, Doggett brings Cajun and Zydeco bands here, organizes monthly dances and teaches dance classes at the Vestavia Civic Center. He also coordinates the Dance Depot at the annual City Stages festival, providing a weekend haven for those who admire Louisiana music.

cLass oF 1971Ray Gildea | Caught guitar picks from Eddie & Wolfgang Van Halen this Spring and followed it up with my second consecutive completion of the Ouachita Trail 50. Qualified for the 2009 National Senior Games in Palo Alto, California at Stanford University. I expect to compete at 5 and 10 kilome-ters and 800 and 400 meters.

Richard Hogan | Corporate Chief Financial Officer for Landmark Hospitals, a for-profit owner/operator of free-standing long-term acute care hospitals, with two facilities currently in operation in Missouri and another to open in Athens, GA this summer—a 4th facility to open in Columbia, MO in ’08. Three kids in college—retirement NOT in my future.

cLass oF 1972Pat Alford | We have just moved to Tuscaloosa. Aghdas works for Hunt Refining Co. and I teach in the Strings in Schools Program. Our eldest daughter, Ginous, married Anis Mngapen of Mauritius in the Holy Land last September where they continue to reside until next June. Neda lives in Chattanooga where she manages the Voluntary Claims Depart-ment for Unum. Ruha is a sophomore at Auburn majoring in Chemical Engineering. I heard indirectly from Johnny Dixon when he was home for the 4th.

Michael Routman | What’s new? Well, for one thing, I am now teaching human anatomy and physiology at Indian Springs. So, now I have been a student, a parent, and a teacher at ISS I think next, I will be Headmaster or perhaps a member of the Board of Directors. I still work part time as an anesthesiologist at Brookwood Hospital and still visit my beach condo (purchased during the real estate bubble) as often as possible.

cLass oF 1973Hubert Van Tuyll | My 4th book (co-authored this time) is just out: Castles, Battles, A-bombs: How Economics Explains Military History. University of Chicago Press.

cLass oF 1974Bart Grooms | is being inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in September.

cLass oF 1975John Corey’s wife, Sheri, launched a dorm room bedding company called Dorm Suite Dorm, www.dormsuitedorm.com. It is a great line of linens especially made for the stylish young lady going to college. Presently they only have girls linens but next year they will expand with boys. They also have gift cards.

cLass oF 1976Stephen Humphreys | a collector and dealer of fine art with a specific interest in Cuban art, will present

a Birmingham exhibition this fall featuring the work of several artists he has had the chance to meet and befriend over many years of international travel. Set to take place at the Alabama School of Fine Arts gallery September 20 through November 14, the exhibit will also include some of Humphreys’ own photography from Cuba.

“I have a habit of investigating art wherever I go,” says Humphreys, who began traveling to Cuba on official, classified government business in 1989. “Early on I had the chance to visit Cuban visual artists such as Jose Bedia, and other artists such as famous Cuban film director Tomas Gutierrez Alea, and from there I have developed a network mainly by artists introducing me to other artists.”

Several of these artists have given Humphreys works as gifts when he went to visit them in their homes or studios, and some of these pieces from his own collection will be on display in the ASFA exhibit, titled “ANTES QUE NADA, Thirteen Contemporary Artists in Cuba.”

Overall, works in the exhibit include oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, photo-graphs, photo installations and videos.

cLass oF 1978Dana Crocker Templeton | After 17 years in the Atlanta area, we moved back to West Alabama this summer. Our daughter, Rebekah, is a freshman at the University of Alabama. I’m working in the pre-K program at Woodland Forrest Elem. School in Tuscaloosa (18 4-year-olds make me feel my age!). My husband, Dwain, is still self-employed in the commercial cabinet business. It’s good to be back home in the country after years of city life!

Macke Mauldin | was named the Shoal Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. A Leighton native and president of Shoals-based Bank Independent, he was lauded for showing initiative and drive in spearheading an effort that eventually reeled in the National Alabama railcar company and, as part of that effort, developing the Shoals Industrial Development Committee. Mauldin’s thoughts were of his family, as well as “the 300 team members of Bank Independent,” he said. He stressed that this was a team effort from the entire Shoals.

cLass oF 1979Carolina Arias Wilson | Life in Knoxville is going well. Lee is still at UT Hospital with his practice. I continue to practice dentistry. Margaret (17) graduated in May 2008. She will go to Univ. of Ala or Univ. of Tenn. She’s undecided. Katherine (12) finished 6th grade in May 2008. She continues to cheer competitively for Premier Sharks. She loves it! Please contact us if you’re ever up this way!!

Carl Nechtman | I have not been around B’ham much. I moved to L.A. (lower AL). My practice is now in Foley (near Gulf Shores) where I am practicing at a community hospital, developing the ENT in a fast-growing area. I come to Birmingham

about twice a month, but I am rapidly adjusting to increased humidity and temps of the southern parts. It is great down here. I am extremely busy and looking to expand services down here. My kids are now going off to college (mostly at UA), but I am not sad. There is a surprising sense of freedom!

cLass oF 1982Alicia Kent | Transitions are abounding in my life once again. I am getting divorced, and had to go to Savannah in January and place my mother in a nursing home. Life goes on, and this too shall pass (my mantra these days). Otherwise, my health is probably the best it has ever been, and while the changes have been emotionally trying, it feels good to clear old energy and bring in the new.

cLass oF 1983George Brock | I am still teaching theatre and directing the main stage shows for Episcopal High School in Bellaire, TX. This was my fifth year in the position and we had a remarkable year. Our produc-tion won six Tommy Tune Awards, which were created by Theatre Under the Stars and Broadway legend Tommy Tune to honor excellence in High School Musical Theatre. This year 41 Houston-area schools entered ranging in size from 500 students to 3,500 students. EHS was very pleased to have been selected Best Musical as our student body is around 650. The eight shows that are nominated for Best Musical are invited to perform in a “Tony’s” style awards ceremony held at the 2,500 seat Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston’s Downtown theatre district. That show is broadcast about 2 weeks later on the local ABC affiliate. I am also involved in creating a new performing arts organization inn Houston called Generations - A Theatre Company, with a mission to provide a place for students to work with seasoned professionals in the production of both musical and non-musicals. Our inaugural show - which I am directing - is Ruthless! So things have been a bit hectic here and that’s why I missed the 25th reunion at the begining of May. I was able to get back to Birmingham last week and spent a couple of hours on campus. I must say a lot has changed! Congrats to all on the capital campaign and the new look of the campus...I was glad to see students in rehearsal in the Hut...I figured it would go the way of the dodo after the new theatre was built. Website: http://web.mac.com/abbiefalk/.

cLass oF 1986Prashant Reddy | Hello All! I am currently in Virginia and will be finishing 13 years in the US Navy. We will be relocating to the Dallas, TX area in August 2008. I will be starting private practice - oral and maxillofacial surgery. Looking forward to being close to family—Raghu Reddy, ’88 who is in Ft. Worth, TX. Would love to get together with anyone in the area. Anyone from Class of ’86 e-mail me, would love to catch up. Seems like just yesterday I just graduated from Indian Springs—time flies as you’re getting older I guess! [email protected].

(Above) Joe Farley’s, ’81 daughter in ISS shirt: Virginia

Farley. (Top) “El Carnaval” from Stephen Humphreys, ’76

Cuban Art Exhibit at ASFA

Eme, Gage, and David Ellis, ’75



cLass oF 1990Florian Kuhn | is living in Germany, and would like to reconnect with ISS.

cLass oF 1991Amy Murphy | Amy Murphy officially became a trustee of the Birmingham Historical Society at its annual meeting on the evening of February 19, 2008.

cLass oF 1992Jeff Gale | Living in Birmingham with my wife, Dana, and our 15-month-old daughter, Julia. My ticketing company, Ticket Biscuit, is growing rapidly: from a “1-man band” in January 2007, to 10 employees and counting. I’ve recently taken up Tae Kwon Do and rock climbing - trying my best not to get hurt. Loved seeing everybody at the reunion last summer!

cLass oF 1994Cam Robertson | A reporter for The New York Times, and an occasional cartoonist, Cam spent the week before the North Carolina primary talking to voters around the state about the choices they face. Cam’s reports can be found at: www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/04/30/us/politics/20080430_ASHEVILLE_SLIDESHOW_index.html and at www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/05/02/us/politics/20080502_WHITEVILLE_SLIDESHOW_index.html.

cLass oF 1995Townsend Kyser | “Selected National Chairman of Young Farmers:” Whether he’s slogging through

the mud to share encouraging words with a farm worker, discussing legislation with government leaders in Washington, or greeting a waitress by name at the Mexican restaurant in his hometown of Greensboro, AL, Townsend Kyser is a man who values friendships. So it did not come as a surprise when the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee elected him chairman at the AFBF annual meeting in New Orleans. As National Chairman, Townsend hopes to expand on many programs started in 2007. Townsend, who seems to always be smiling, earned a reputation as a consensus builder last year while serving on the national committee. He recently shared his philosophy about why relationships are important among today’s young farmers. “Farmers are a minority. We are 2 percent of the population, trying to feed the other 98 percent of Americans. If we don’t tell our story, someone else will tell a story for us,” he said. The Kysers’ family business grew from a pioneer in catfish farming 40 years ago to become a modern 2,000-acre operation that supports three Kyser households, including parents Bill and Beverly Kyser, Townsend and wife Kelly, and brother Ashley, ’99 and his wife, Scarlett.

cLass oF 1996Brian Alldredge | was married in April 2008 to April Dawn DeRosa from Huntsville, AL, and is working for an investment banking firm in Nashville, TN.

Fergus Tuohy | is a financial advisor and manager with Ameriprise Financial in Birmingham. At the 2008 Ameriprise Leadership Conference in Dallas, he received the Outstanding Leader of the Year Award.

cLass oF 1997Miriam Williams | My once-boyfriend, Andrew Paul Fama, proposed to me just four days ago, making him my fiancé. He is busy training in the H-60 helicopter with the United States Air Force and I am still training with the 711 SOS flying MC-130(E)’s, as well as flying Embraer 145’s with ExpressJet. I am so fortunate to work at what I love doing and to have found someone to share my life’s experiences with. We have set no date yet; formal announce-ments will follow soon. Following the marriage we will both move to his first assignment base - R.A.F. Lakenheath, England. Now, there’s a commute waiting for me! I hope all my classmates are doing well in their own chosen fields. “Fairy.”

cLass oF 1998Annie Damsky | Annie Damsky represented “You Belong In Birmingham,” a project of the Birming-ham Jewish Federation, in a recent program sponsored by The Women’s Network, a Birming-ham civic organization, made up of influential Birmingham women. Annie attended the University of Texas, and moved back to Birmingham five years ago. She works for Bayer Properties. Panel members were asked questions about Birmingham, such as

why did they come back to Birmingham to live, what they are doing to make our city a better place and what they felt needed to be done to encourage more young professionals to move to our city. “I initially moved back to Birmingham because of a job, but what has really kept me here are the unique aspects presented by the size of the city,” Annie said.

cLass oF 2001Madeleine Hill Bayless | It has been a wonderful past year for me! I got married on June 9, 2007 and then moved to Atlanta, Georgia to join my husband. We have since adopted Jake, our Standard Poodle, and are completely gaga over him! I am working with RFMS Inc. as a Regional Systems Analyst for our clients in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. We look forward to seeing you all again soon.

cLass oF 2003Rachel Hirsch | I have been living in New York for over a year to pursue a career in theatre. Since I moved here, I have had a play I wrote performed in an off-off-Broadway theatre. I also just completed a six-month tour with Arts Power, an equity chil-dren’s theatre touring company, as the lead role in “My Heart in a Suitcase.” Having finished the tour and received my equity (union) card, I am now back to auditioning. The auditions are going very well, and I hope to book my next gig very soon.

cLass oF 2005William Blackerby | a sophomore major in the department of classical languages at the University of the South won a national classical languages translation prize for his translation of Koine Greek. Blackerby won second place in the 2007 Eta Sigma Phi Maurine Dallas Watkins Sight Translation Contests. This contest, now in its 57th year, offers seven different examinations in classical Latin and

Greek translation and composition. Blackerby’s Greek professor this year, Donald Huber, congratu-lated him saying “based upon Blackerby’s previous performance, this doesn’t surprise me at all.”

Will Lively | I’ve been flying Cessna 172s equipped with the G-1000 avionics system from Daytona Beach, FL out and around most of Northern and Central Florida, building up pilot time as I work my way through Embry-Riddles Airline Pilot specialty as an Aeronautical Science major. In between flights I’ve been attending classes as a full time student. I spend my free time at the local disc golf courses trying to get under par, and at the beach sun tanning as I think about my home in New Hampshire, buried in snow.

Nadia Perry | has recently begun her own massage therapy practice in Birmingham. She graduated from the highly acclaimed Red Mountain School of The Healing Arts and is now offering her services as a licensed massage therapist. She is excited about the opportunity to assist those who feel that they can benefit from her work. She is offering a New Client Special of $20 off your first 2 one-hour massages plus a third, thirty minute massage for just $10. Nadia is eager to show her appreciation and give back to the Indian Springs community. For more information you can contact her through email ([email protected]) or by day phone (205) 542-9989.

cLass oF 2006Austin Lyman | At St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Austin is Resident Assistant for Lewis Quadrangle (8), Treasurer of SMCM College Republicans, Treasurer of St. Mary’s Ultimate Team, and member of the Out-of-State Club Council.

Join the Indian Springs groups on Facebook and Linkedin. Also visit www.indiansprings.org.

Sarah Abroms, ’04 receiving the Althea K. Hottel Award at University of Pennsylvanina

Class of 1984: Four members of the class of ’84 recently

traveled to the home of Dorothy Deas Hautman in

Minneapolis, MN for a small reunion. Suzanne Henley

Horst, Dorothy Dale Osband Walker and Leslie Lusco

Leopard—spent a weekend in early November, 2007 together. We had a great

time reminiscing about high school and what we are doing currently. Hope

everyone from our class is doing well and looking forward to our next class

reunion—it’s hard to believe we are coming up on 25!


Nadia Perry, ’05 has recently begun her own massage therapy practice here in Birmingham

cLass oF 2004Sarah Abroms | Sarah Abroms, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania this year was awarded the Althea K. Hottel Award. While at UPenn, Sarah was elected to Student Government (Undergraduate Assembly) three years. In her junior year she served as Vice Chairman of Undergraduate Assembly and was tapped into the prestigious Sphinx Society (the oldest Senior Honor Society at Penn, est. 1900). In her senior year, she served as Chief of the Sphinx Society. The purpose of this organization is to recognize seniors who have made significant contributions to the university. The students selected are among the major leaders of the undergraduates on campus. As Chief, she helped to organize this society and encourage collaboration among the different organizations represented in the society. In April 2008 the senior class selected her to receive the Althea K. Hottel Award which is bestowed on only one person annually. The Award is a Senior Honor Award presented to students who have actively contributed to campus life through activities and leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. Sarah has been Chair of the Holocaust Education Committee of the University of Pennsylvania for 4 years. She was also the Founding Member of Green Campus Partnership/Penn Environmental Group in October 2004. U Penn has created a full-time position for next year so that she can spend another year at Penn working on campus sustainability. The following year she plans to attend medical school. Sarah’s parents are Louise and Jim, ’72 Abroms and her grandpar-ents are Judy and Hal Abroms. (Coincidentally—Matthew Levin, son of Robert Levin, ’66, received the Spade Award at University of Pennsylvania when Sarah recieved her award. Of the eight senior awards at UPenn, two of the recipients are related to our ISS family.)

fall 08 | 43

sounds of spring MusicalOn April 24–26, Indian Springs School’s Drama Department performed The Sound of Music. It was truly a community production with nearly 40 ISS students on stage and backstage, several faculty children in the cast, and several students and one faculty spouse in the orchestra. Jim Ellington directed the production and Dr. Tim Thomas, ’67 was the musical director.

The Sound of Music Cast: Maria, Casey Stewart; Captain Von Trapp, Collin Janich; Max Detweiler, Austin Guthrie; Elsa Schraeder, Caitlin Morrow; Rolf Gruber, Elliott Bell; Liesl Von Trapp, Alex Garvey; Louisa Von Trapp, Mary Margaret Barr; Friedrich Von Trapp, Dylan Bordonaro; Brigitta Von Trapp, Emily Fleisig; Kurt Von Trapp, Joseph Copeland; Marta Von Trapp, Julia Fleisig; Gretl Von Trapp, Kadie Jacobs; The Mother Abbess, Elizabeth Perry; Sister Margaretta, Jennie Fisher; Sister Berthe, Elizabeth Staudinger; Sister Sophia, Maddie Brooks; Frau Schmidt, Tara Mazer; Franz, Montgomery Brown; Herr Zeller, Robert Chiles; Frau Zeller, Alicia York; Baron Elberfeld, Tyler Schmidt; Baroness Elberfeld, Teresa Wolverton; Admiral Schreiber, Steven Allen.

neWs Briefs


d-day/recycling clubThe ISS Recycling Club was recently awarded a $700 grant from YouthServe to build a patio made from recycled materials adjacent to the Student Lounge. Recycling Club President, Da-vid Bloom, ’08, says the group wanted to get involved in the conversion of the old Physics Lab into the new Student Lounge while adding a green aspect to the project. They heard about the grants available from the YouthServe Youth Philanthropy Council and applied for funding. YouthServe promotes youth volunteerism and leadership and its Executive Director is Aisha Holmes, ’90. The YouthServe Youth Philanthropy Council is a diverse group of high school ju-niors and seniors who are selected to spend a year reviewing and awarding grants to organiza-tions involving youth in the Birmingham area. The program is funded by the Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation. Three of the 16 students currently serving on the Council are Indian Springs students: Emma Castleberry, ’08, Kate Hawley, ’09, and Andrew Hong, ’09. The patio behind the Lounge will largely be made out of composite decking boards made out of recycled plastic and reused wood. The boards are commercially produced and are very durable. The Recycling Club completed the patio during the Spring D-Day on May 2.

“o” ambassadorsKortnei Scott, ’08 and Kenneth Strickland, ’08 were recently featured on the Oprah Winfrey show as one of the first group of “O Ambassadors.” Scott and Strickland, traveled to Kenya to build a school in just 3½ weeks time with ten other students from around the United States.

Reflecting on that trip, Scott notes that she “saw a lot of things I have never really focused on that I ought to be grateful for—even things as basic as clean water.”

Scott notes that her interest in studying medical research stems in part from her experi-ence in Kenya, because she hopes to find a way to use her research to improve the lives of Africans in need.

2008-2009 Fall term student government officersThe Council is a body of students elected entirely by the students for the purpose of provid-ing leadership in the community. The most important responsibility of the Council is to assess the quality of school-community life and improve it on as many levels as possible. In May, the student body elected their fellow classmates to the following positions:

Mayor: Evan Pantazis Commission of Services: Emory Bright and George Ryan Connor Commission of Citizenship: Elliot Bell and Chee Lee Commission of Education: Kevin Lee and Michelle Luo Commission of Recreation: Robert Chiles and John Long Commission of Protection: Andrew Hong and Collin Janich Commission of Boarding: Mary Damm and Clay Kerchof

9th Grade Class Rep: Jack Dillard and Daniel Ryan 10th Grade Class Rep: Sydney Dean and Robert Joung 11th Grade Class Rep: Julia Fawal and John Willingham 12th Grade Class Rep: Emily Bell and Molly Pace

Judiciary: Erin Abraham, Rebecca Barr, Elliott Bell, Matthew Dix, Kate Hawley, Elizabeth Hodges, Taylor Hogan, John Long, Tullia Rushton

documentary “Has something to say”Celia Carey’s (’87) documentary “Mr. Dial Has Something to Say” received five Regional Emmy nominations for: outstanding documentary, outstanding editing, cinematography, music, and post-production direction. “Mr. Dial Has Something to Say” also received 4 Emmy Awards for: outstanding documentary, editing, photography, and director of post production.

This feature documentary explores the visual arts sibling of jazz, the blues and gospel. As the visual interpretation of life from America’s former slave culture, this improvisational style is a unique artistic view in American history—and one of America’s few very home-grown artistic styles.

The film seeks to address the following questions: What is the meaning and history of this movement? Who are the artists and why do they create? Has Afro-American improvisational visual art been disregarded by the mainstream art world as less important? Have terms such as “outsider,” “visionary,” “primitive,” “folk,” “self-taught,” and “naïve”—all of which have been applied to this particular style—downgraded the importance of this art?

Jamroz wins Fertile Minds Logo contestThe Fertile Minds Learning Garden at Indian Springs boasts its own orchard, a full acre of space for growing organic fruits and vegetables and a well-thought-out design that Garden Director Bob Pollard likens to a picturesque English garden. One thing it did not have, until now: a logo.

That is now being remedied, following the Fertile Minds logo contest the school conduct-ed last year with help from Jim ’N Nick’s restaurant, which offered $500 for the winning submission. That prize went to Alex Jamroz, a ninth grader last year and incoming 10th grader, whose logo was chosen by a committee comprised of Pollard; Kat Martin, manager of the garden; Sam Burn, ’88, a company spokesman for Jim ’N Nick’s; and Ford Miles, chief creative officer for Big Communications. Jamroz’ logo will be used to promote the garden on products ranging from t-shirts and mugs to environmentally friendly canvas grocery bags.

The garden, established about five years ago, enables students to learn about sustainable agriculture. It also has the added benefit of providing organic foods for the school’s dining hall. “Everything that comes out of the garden goes into the dining hall,” Pollard says. And while he has always used the garden as a resource in teaching an eighth-grade Environmental Science class, he soon plans to add a “seed-to-table” curriculum in which students will learn to plant, harvest and eventually cook the produce with the guidance of guest chefs from area restaurants.

Pollard notes that the Fertile Minds garden and the programs associated with it have grown considerably in recent years thanks to support from Jim ’N Nick’s owner Nick Pihakis, who has close personal ties to the school. His son, Nick, graduated in ’05, while his daughter, Catherine, is currently a member of the class of ’10. Even Pihakis’ wife, Suzanne Tishler Piha-kis, is a ’78 Springs alumna.

“Our garden has expanded in a big way with the help of Nick Pihakis and the folks at Jim ’N Nicks,” Pollard says. “They’ve devoted a lot of resources in terms of time, money and people to the program.”

Alex Jamroz’ winning design (above) is the basis for commerial products in

developement by a marketing firm

neWs Briefs


42

1

3

scott receives gates Millennium scholarshipIndian Springs School senior Kortnei Scott recently became the first ISS student to receive a prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship (GMS). She will attend Emory University in the fall and plans to become a medical research scientist.

The GMS program, established in 1999, was initially funded by a 1-billion-dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Its goal is to promote academic excellence and provide an opportunity for outstanding minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential. The program provides funding for undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level programs in the disciplines of education, engineering, library science, mathe-matics, public health, and the sciences. Gates Millennium Scholars also have access to leader-ship training and other professional growth opportunities.

Scott is an outstanding student and member of the Indian Springs School community. She was a four-year boarding student, president of the African American Student Caucus, a mem-ber of Concert Choir, Key Club, and a proctor in the dormitories. In addition to the many ways she is involved at ISS, she was recently featured on the Oprah Winfrey show as one of the first group of “O Ambassadors.”

She and fellow ISS senior, Kenneth Strickland, traveled to Kenya to build a school in just 3½ weeks time with ten other students from around the United States.

Making art connectionsOn April 25–27, Magic City Art Connection, Alabama’s nationally ranked and award winning festival, celebrated its 25th Anniversary in downtown Birmingham. Indian Springs School had a booth at the festival to display student and faculty art work and promote the school. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and parents helped man the booth during the three-day show. Pictured are Sarah Spuell, ’08 and Chappell Stewart, ’08 serving as hostesses at the booth.

proteins in spaceOn February 27, 15 Indian Springs juniors embarked on a unique adventure as part of an education outreach program developed by Dr. Joseph Ng of the University of Alabama at Huntsville and Dr. Larry DeLucas of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The students spent an entire day in Dr. DeLucas’ lab listening to lectures on protein crystallization and learning laboratory techniques that will be used to prepare proteins for their ultimate journey aboard a Russian Soyez Rocket to the International Space Station. The purpose of the re-search is to evaluate the effects of microgravity on protein crystallization. Studying protein crystals, allows scientists to gain a better understanding of the structural features of the proteins which helps them to understand their roles in life processes and their current usages in rational drug design. Students in this class are continuing the initial research at the ISS Biology lab with science teacher Bob Pollard and are preparing proteins that will be carried to the space station in October 2008. After several weeks growing in zero-gravity conditions, the proteins will be returned to Earth and evaluated by Drs. DeLucas and Ng, along with ISS students: George Ryan Connor, ’09, Davis Stibolt, ’09, Stephanie Shooner, ’09, Molly Pace, ’09, Veronica Ciniglio, ’09, (pictured left) Steve Hawley, ’09, Johann Choo, ’09, Freddie Delchamps, ’09, Taylor Hogan, ’09, Michelle Rezonzew, ’09, Rebecca Barr, ’09, Matthew Dix, ’09, Allison Moore, ’09, and Shaina Simon, ’09.

fall 08 | 45

(1) Young Chul Hong (class of ’06), the president of the Korean ISS student association hosted the Korean ISS 3rd annual reunion in Seoul on July 12th. toast to the teachers: (2) Winners of the Bocce Tournament “The Stew”Keehn Strange ‘08, Ben Guion ‘08, David Pigue ‘08, and Bob Pollard (3) Tevon Edwards ’08 playing bocce. (4) Emma Castleberry making a toast.

neWs Briefs events

fall 08 | 47

Graduation Class of 2008: Claire abraham, birmingham, al; Stanford University •

ryan Kendall alexander, birmingham, al; Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• steven alaric allen, alabaster, al; University of Pennsylvania • elizabeth dorr

battistella, alexander City, al; auburn university • eleanor hurley blair, birmingham,

al; Sarah Lawrence College • david martin bloom, birmingham, al; Bard College •

donald hoadley brockway iii, birmingham, al; Washington University in St. Louis •

brandon Jerome brown, birmingham, al; The University of Alabama Montgomery •

nelson brown, birmingham, al; High Point University • logan Jesse burnett, hoover,

al; Wake Forest University • morgan marianne Cahn, orange beach, al; Millsaps College • emma leigh Castleberry, birmingham, al; University of Colorado at Boulder • alexander hamilton Cooper, atlanta, ga; Georgia Institute of Technology • Celia

mouton Cooper, birmingham, al; Bard College • natalie brooke dove, birmingham, al;

Tufts University • tevon Frey edwards, olympia, wa; Reed College • megan michelle

eskridge, mt. olive, al; The University of Alabama • Jane elizabeth Feist, indian

springs, al; Centre College • rana Festok, hoover, al; Birmingham-Southern College

• thomas brittain Fox, birmingham, al; Birmingham-Southern College • benjamin

James haden guion, birmingham, al; College of Charleston • thomas travis harrell,

birmingham, al; University of North Carolina at Asheville • Charles Kirkland hawley,

birmingham, al; University of Kentucky • william bythewood hawley, birmingham,

al; Harvard College • haley glenn himic, birmingham, al; University of Kentucky •

won Joon hur, yong-in, Korea; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • Katral

Jamerson, greenville, ms; Howard University • Jeffrey lee Kim, Jonesboro, ga; Emory University • myles Jaeho Kim, smyrna, ga; Birmingham-Southern College • Jae-woo

Koo, seoul, Korea; The George Washington University • soonho Kweon, busan, Korea;

Purdue University • seung yup lee, Kyunggi-do, Korea; Northwestern University •

yuting lin, shanghai, China; Mount Holyoke College • timothy norton macKay, bangor,

me; The University of Alabama at Birmingham • elizabeth luce matlock, atlanta,

ga; Swarthmore College • tara elizabeth mazer, birmingham, al; Vassar College •

sefan amir nazeer, birmingham, al; Northwestern University • shan ahmad nazeer,

birmingham, al; The University of Alabama • william bankhead nelson, birmingham,

al; The University of Alabama • marketa novakova, pelham, al; University of Florida

• Faris hussein rajab pacha, sylacauga, al; Birmingham-Southern College • neeshee

Kuntal pandit, birmingham, al; Birmingham-Southern College • david randall pigue,

birmingham, al; The University of Alabama • Cortez ramon ross, alabaster, al; The University of Alabama • tunstall perry rushton, Jr., atlanta, ga; University of Denver • Kortnei elisabeth hall scott, birmingham, al; Emory University • melissa nicole

sewell, birmingham, al; Birmingham-Southern College • Katherine Candler shannon,

birmingham, al; Birmingham-Southern College • Jonathan michael shieh, birmingham,

al; Oxford College of Emory University • Crystal ann shurett, indian springs, al;

Birmingham-Southern College • sarah ilene spruell, birmingham, al; Birmingham-Southern College • terra leandrea stanley, pelham, al; Wellesley College • elizabeth

Kennedy staudinger, birmingham, al; Bowdoin College • sarah Chappell stewart,

birmingham, al; Sewanee: The University of the South • Keehn wilkerson strange,

birmingham, al; Trinity University • Kenneth maurice strickland Jr., earle, ar; Duke University • Jillian sinclair theibert, birmingham, al; Birmingham-Southern College •

adam Frederick benedict trodd, indian springs, al; The University of Alabama • devon

olivia weldon, birmingham, al; The University of Alabama • James donald wells,

palm beach gardens, Fl; Georgia Institute of Technology • teresa marie wolverton,

starkville, ms; Middlebury College • matthew dean woodham, montevallo, al; The University of Alabama • alicia dawn york, hoover, al; Davidson College • anika

Zapernick, munster, germany; University in Germany • Xiaoyu Zhong, nanjing, China;

Dickinson College

events

“indian springs is much more than a school; it is a community, a place where

people will not only welcome you into their conversations but also their lives.

here, students acquire the experiences, friendships and memories that most

people don’t have until they get to college.”—claire abraham, ’08

“i want to thank

the outstanding,

passionate facul-

ty. this group of

heroes has made

a lasting impres-

sion on me, and

if i find success

in life, it will

largely be due

to them.”

—tripp Brockway, ’08

“i thank indian

springs for

teaching us

rather than

making me

learn, and for

treating us like

adults. most

of all, i thank

springs for

making me an

individual.” — Myles Kim, ’08

“schools have students, but we have citizens. schools have teachers, but

ours are friends and mentors. every person who has come and learned here

has had his or her character strengthened and developed by the people they

meet here, and will always carry around a piece of those people and this

place with them.”—William Hawley, ’08


190 Woodward DriveIndian Springs, AL 35124

205-988-3350

www.indiansprings.org

l e a r n i n g t h r o u g h l i v i n g s i n c e 1 95 2

First Class us postage

paidbirmingham, al

permit #2287

Lara Hoggard,second director of the iss Choir.

address services requested

a l e a r n i n g l e g a c y

l e a r n i n g t h r o u g h l i v i n g s i n c e 1952

Alumni in the wine

industry

Fa l l 2 0 0 8

Ph

oto

co

urt

esy

of

Eile

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Akin

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iss magazine - fall 08

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