Ralph Taber Burson, Jr.

Contributed by Ralph for the reunion of 2007

I am retired from 38 years in Technical Publications at Honeywell in Clearwater, Florida. I now have more time for my stained glass and my wife, Anne. I also serve on the Board of the Miniature Art Society of Florida, and volunteer in the Pinellas County schools and the Honeywell Retirement Club. I have one child and two grandchildren.

Do I have memories of growing up in Grandview? Let me list them.

• The Soapbox Derby on the Grandview Ave. hill
• The Grandview and Boulevard movie theaters
• Romeo's Pizza
• Leonardo's Pizza
• Ox Roast in the park below the hill
• Sledding on hill in my yard
• Carnivals on the lot north of the football field
• Ice skating on the quarry
• Working for the Tri-Village News
• Going to the drug store on Grandview Ave. after school and having a cherry coke and a Hostess Cupcake
• Painting the store windows on Grandview Ave at Halloween

And how about the class of '57?

• Car in the school lobby
• Going to Army reserve meetings
• Playing basketball at my house
• Adonis fraternity
• All night fraternity parties
• Being football manager
• My 49 Ford
• Talent shows
• Mr. Justus's songs and pinches
• Mr. Cornetet's funeral
• Coach Priday
• School assemblies as seniors
• Decorating the gym for dances
• Barber shop singing
• The Mickey Moore campaign for president (MIC-KEY-MOORE)

After high school and Army service, I attended OSU, Ohio Technical Institute, and Nova University, and went to work in the Technical Publications field.

Over the years, I have enjoyed bag piping, tennis, cross stitch, and Scuba.

Some of the major events in my life are

• Having a Son
• Moving to Florida
• Grandchildren
• My second life
• Seeing the stars from the top of Mauna Kea on Hawaii
• Seeing the total eclipse of the Sun in the middle of the Black Sea
• Around the world vacation
• Elementary school volunteer (senior) of the year
• Seeing my first commissioned stained glass window installed
• 38 years with Honeywell
• Retirement