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Jack Cherry (previously known as John Cherry) is in Kaye McKnight Beavers and husband, Charlie Beavers, his second, uneventful year of retirement (Reporter’s “live in a condo association where neighbors have tried note: I am anxiously awaiting my second retirement). to figure out a way to maintain a social distance, yet get Jack also says that he has successfully avoided the pan- together.” So, they have “driveway cocktail parties on Friday nights and bring their own chairs and their own demic and he hopes that all of us have done the same. drinks — no food.” (Reporter’s note: Some people just Francis Davis says that he has been on the Rhodes have a knack for putting together a party!) A short time campus only twice since graduation. His most recent ago “one of the neighbors brought guests” and one of visit was for our 55th reunion, when he enjoyed meeting the “guests” was Pete Cornish ’62. They had “a good with classmates and learning about their lives and visit and caught up on news about old Southwestern accomplishments since graduation. (Reporter’s note: friends.” Kaye reminds us that she graduated from the Our classmates, including Francis, have a long list of University of Arkansas after marrying Charlie Beavers. very impressive exploits and accomplishments). Francis Thus she “has an allegiance to both schools.” says that “the campus is impressive” and that includes its beauty and its list of facilities available to the stu- Bill Johns (retired four years ago) and wife, Barbara, dents. He adds that he recently had phone visits with are proud to have three children, 11 grandchildren and Dan Gilchrist (me) and with Tom Lowry. Always four great-grandchildren. They love them all dearly. good to “catch up.” After leaving Rhodes, Francis continued his education and joined the faculty at the Phil Green’s education (after Rhodes) continued with University of Florida, teaching cell biology and doing a Ph.D. (physics) at LSU. He then joined the faculty research into the molecular biology of cell development. at Texas A&M. He and his wife, Barbara HollingHe retired 12 years ago. Since retirement he and his sworth, raised their two daughters in Texas. He took a wife, Rosemary, have spent time visiting family and sabbatical in ’86 (working with Sandia Labs) and then friends, traveling in the USA, Canada, and Europe, moved to Albuquerque, where he met his current wife, doing volunteer work and church activities, reading, Judy. He worked with NASA and Columbia Univerand gardening. Francis adds that he also enjoys fishing. sity and worked internationally, traveling to Russia, Norway and England. While working with Sandia, he His final comment: “Retirement has been great!” continued some A&M work with MACRO, involving Aubrey Smith, on the other hand, has had a bit of universities in both the US and Europe and requiring difficulty recently. While playing “3-on-3” basketball trips into Italy. In 2004 Phil retired from Sandia. Since with his grandchildren, he fell and hurt his knee, his retirement, he and Judy have enjoyed grandchildren elbow, his arm, and his face. He also thought he had and have escorted them on trips to Europe and various cracked a rib. No more basketball — only “horse” from other cultures. Judy retired from her career in music now on. Then the pandemic came in full-force. Aubrey education and now has her own jazz ensemble, “Jazz reports that, due to Covid-19, he had to shut down his to Go.” Phil has a jazz group, too, “Jazz Breeze.” He Golf and Games Family Park on March 12. Near the is also busy making ceramics (raku-fired wall clocks). end of April, he re-opened the park and things seemed They enjoyed the 50-year Rhodes Class of ’63 reunion to return to normal until some minors, left there by in 2013 and hope to make at least one more. their parents, got out of control in the go-karts section, causing closure there, and then closure of the entire Irwin From and PAWS, his devoted cat, have been park once more. Aubrey reports that the entire park was “sheltering” from Covid-19. He reports that he was sad cleared “with the wonderful help of the police depart- (as we all were) when he learned that Chris Drago ment.” Again, things seem to have returned to normal. died. Since graduation Irwin has been on campus only once. Back in the ’60s he taught school in York, SC. A John Rice and wife, Maxine Mitchel Rice ’66, have few years ago, he visited with Ernest Maples. The two been living in an 1850 farmhouse on Cape Cod for the of them visited the Corvette factory together. Irwin past 20+ years on Old Main Street in South Yarmouth. wishes all classmates well. John retired from the Episcopal priesthood in Virginia in January of ’01 and continues to volunteer with the Good to hear from Stephen Albert McMillan, who VNA, Harbor for Healing, and serves churches in the served in the past as president of the Alabama Associarea and on St. Barth’s Island and NYC. John plays ation of Realtors. Steve gave up his real estate business tennis 3-5 days a week, joins wife, Mackie, on dog- years ago and (ultimately) became one of the longest walks and tends to his front-yard Victory garden and serving members in Alabama history of the Alabama 50+ day lily collection. He reminds us that he is “proud House of Representatives (40 years). He also has the distinction of being the longest serving member of of the extraordinary education that Rhodes afforded.”
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