Home Page - BGA Class of 1967

Jack Staples Dept.	Jack passed his finals yesterday, August 1, 2024. We send our condolences to his friends and family, and hold them in our hearts. All: stay safe and healthy.
Mike Burton Dept.	Mike passed his finals in October, 2022. We send our condolences to his friends and family, and hold them in our hearts. All: stay safe and healthy.
Jim Webb Dept.	Jim passed his finals in July, 2020. We send our condolences to his friends and family, and hold them in our hearts. All: stay safe and healthy.
Hooray for Jack Staples! Dept.	Thanks to Mike Greene for sending this tribute to classmate and wrestling coach extraordinaire, Jack Staples! Jack has been honored by Naples (FL) High School, where he was head coach from 1971 - 1985, by having a major wrestling competition named for him. Join me in congratulating Jack! Note: click on the image on the right to see a larger, more legible version.
Eddie Lunn Dept.	After a courageous battle with cancer, Eddie passed his finals on January 30, 2020. He will always be remembered as a boon companion, an upright man, and an unfailing friend to BGA. We miss you, old friend.
Jim Swiggart Dept.	I neglected to include the passing of classmate Jim Swiggart, and am grateful to Eddie Lunn for calling that to my attention. You know how it is when you get older, you, uh, you...now what was I going to say? Jim passed his finals last November after a long and successful career as a tennis pro and running the tennis center in Steamboat Springs, CO.
Frank McCoy Dept.	I appreciate Frank Bell's emailing about Frank McC. Brothers, if you find that a brother has graduated, please let me know, and I'll pass it on to the rest of us. I hope you all have a Happy New Year!
Bob Ford Dept.	This is way late. My apologies. Bob graduated last April 7. I now have control over my domains once more. I hope this finds you all well.
Yo Guys! 50th Here! Dept.	Yeah, I should have put this on the website awhile ago. As I was busy marrying off my younger daughter, hiking, having a heart attack, getting ulnar nerve surgery, and finally getting lumbar surgery, from which I'm now recovering, I figured sending emails was sufficient. This has proven not to be the case, so here is The Word. As I'm still healing up from surgery, I'll not be able to make our 50th. Have a wonderful time, and I'll see you subsequently.
Remembering Dickie Dept.	OK, guys. I'm getting older and slower. Not like you, I'm sure. So, between age and not really wanting to do this, I've hemmed and hawed about posting a notice about Dickie on our website. It will be a better notice when I've found my annual, which has inexplicably lost itself after our move to NC, and will be embellished with a proper picture of Dickie at age 18, which I will have stolen fair and square from our senior pictures. Until then, I'll use a photo from our last mini-reunion, and thanks to whomever took it. This gets no easier. PS, finally made it.
Let's Honor Frank Dept. and Holy Cow! We're up to Eight in the H.O.F.! Dept.	2015 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Brunch Saturday, October 3 Embassy Suites Cool Springs 820 Cresent Centre Drive Franklin, TN 37067 Email Candy Sullivan for info and registration: candy.sullivan@mybga.org Alumni Hall of Fame Frank Clement '67	HOORAY FOR FRANK!
Memories Dept.	Thanks to Eddie Lunn for this pic from our 40th reunion. L. to r., your humble webmaster, Jerry ("Jelly") Thompson of fond memory, and Robert Franklin ("Bobby") Stamps, Class of 1967 valedictorian. Let's not forget those who have "graduated", like Jerry, but also our brothers who are still here. And let's take every opportunity to celebrate ourselves. We've earned it.
In Memoriam Jerry Thompson	I figured if I held off updating our website, somehow, it would make Jerry's passing less real, so we could hold onto him just a little longer, and, in so doing, hold onto ourselves, our class, and each other. It was good to see so many of my friends again, to see how many had come out to say goodbye to Jerry, and how many had come out to say "hello" to one another. I just want to reiterate what Jerry's brother said at the memorial service: "Don't pass up a chance to tell someone that you love them." Amen.
Let's Meet Dept.	*First Annual* Mini Reunion** Let's get together. October 19, 2013, 6PM, Dick's Last Resort, Nashville. RSVP to Ralph McCracken: RWMC911@comcast.net	Click here to see the PDF.
More About Alex Dept.	From Harry Ford Harry sent this blast from the past: from NFocus, 1968. Shows that nice guys don't always finish last, but they do remain nice guys. Thanks, Harry!
Celebration and Remembrance 2 Dept.	At the Tin Roof, Franklin, 10/29/2012 To celebrate and remember Alex, a number of us gathered at the Tin Roof after Alex's service. Here is a gallery of photos from that event, courtesy of our classmate, David Jackson. David, thank you!
We lose another brother.	William Alexander ("Alex") Steele III William Alexander Steele III died October 23, 2012. He was the husband of Saundra Steele of parish 32 who lives at 565 Beech Creek Rd S, Brentwood 37027-3431, tel # 370-9006. His daughters are Britt Genevieve Steele and Olivia Ruth Steele who live at the same address. His aunt is Damaris Steele of parish 9 who lives at Blakeford in Green Hills, Apt 414, 11 Burton Hills Blvd, 37215-6152, tel # 665-1375. The service for Alex Steele will be Monday, October 29 at 2:00 PM in the First Presbyterian Church, Franklin Road, Nashville, sanctuary with visitation from 12 - 2 in Courtenay Hall. Rest in peace, old friend. Here is a compilation of emails from Alex's classmates from the days shortly following his accident. This is meant as a tribute to Alex and a record of the positive influence he had on his fellows at BGA.
Celebration and Remembrance 1 Dept.	At The Crow's Nest, 10/12/2012 This is the group photo from Boys' Night Out at The Crow's Nest. The photographer, Lin Rutherford, graciously allowed me to alter her original photograph to identify all who were there. I did this primarily for Lyle Hampton, who would like to know what we look like now, so he can enjoy his copy of Lin's original photo. If you've not already done so, I urge you to buy your own copy of Lin's photo. Here's how. Click on the thumbnail at right to see a larger image.
Let's Honor Paul Dept.	2012 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Brunch Saturday, September 22 Embassy Suites Cool Springs 820 Cresent Centre Drive Franklin, TN 37067 $40 per person Go to: http://www.battlegroundacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=49426 to register and pay online. Alumni Hall of Fame Paul Chrisman '67	HOORAY FOR PAUL!
Slaking the Thirst for Knowledge Dept.	As most know (and, if you were there, you should), there was a meeting today (3/30/2012) concerning dates and times for this year's reunion. I hardly need to remind you that this is our 45th reunion, as I've already mentioned it in the article below. Suffice it to say, this is One of the Big Ones from several standpoints, so please plan to attend, if at all possible. Or not; I don't care, just BE THERE! Here's the lowdown: Save the Dates (or get a date) Mark your calendar for THREE very important events. BGA Homecoming Weekend September 14 – 15, 2012 All Classes with graduation dates ending in “2” or “7” will be recognized at halftime of the football game on Friday, September 14, 2012. Hint: for the numerically challenged, that means us. BGA Hall of Fame Weekend Saturday, September 22, 2012 Our own "Woody" Paul Chrisman will be inducted into the BGA Hall of Fame at Noon during a luncheon on campus. Please refer to the article below to read just some of Paul's accomplishments. Add to that his induction into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame on April 14, 2012. All together now, "Wow!" Class of ’67‘s 45th Reunion October 12 – 13, 2012 Our class will meet for our 45th reunion. Friday will be “Guys Night Out” and Saturday will be the “Couples Night”. Check details at http://bga67.jhamptonweb.com/index.html or on the school’s website at www.battlegroundacademy.org More details to follow as we make them up. <seriousness alert>Please join your humble webmaster in thanking Eddie Lunn and Ralph McCracken for being two of the main driving forces behind this and other reunions and class events. Without them, things would simply not have happened. Really, guys, we owe them a lot.</seriousness alert>	BE THERE
Hey! Wait a Minute! Dept.	Wondering where the rest of the stuff that used to be on this page went? Look in the Archives.	Now, wasn't that easy?