Garner Walker:
CLASS OF 1959
Oak Ridge High SchoolClass of 1959
Oak ridge, TN
Oliver Springs High SchoolClass of 1959
Oliver springs, TN
Garner's Story
04 Sept. 2014 UPDATE. I received a one week free review of classmates. I am unable to attend this years 55th year reunions for Oliver Springs or Oak Ridge High Schools but I hope everyone enjoys the get-to-gathers. I'm still in pretty good health and keeping busy "unemployed" with young grandchildren in retirement. I may not stay on Classmates.com but you can always reach me on Facebook by searching my name. If you know me and are ever near Valdosta GA , contact us.
Updated 08/30/09. I'm looking forward to attending the 50th year reunion of OSHS class of 1959 on Oct. 16th/ 17th 2009. I recently attended the 50th yr reunion of Oak Ridge "59" and although I was only at Oak Ridge High for 2 years, It was really great to renew friendships there. I was part of Oliver Springs"59" for 8 years, so I'm really anxious to see some very special friends. My only regret is that I've learned of the passing of several that I wanted to share fun stories with. Any "59" Bobcats out there, let me hear from you!!!!!
I attended Oak Ridge schools for 1st & 2nd grades and then 11th & 12th grades. In-between I was a true Oliver Springs Bobcat country boy. I found it strange to sit in ORHS PEP Rallies and yell wildcats whom I knew casually in such a large school, whereas at Oliver Springs with only about 60 in the graduating class and 350 in the whole high school, I knew everyone personally. I did enjoy myself at Oak Ridge though, especially commerical art class with Mr. Grossman and College Prep with Miss Masal Turner who was kind enough to be honest and advise me NOT to go to college. (without furth...Expand for more
er preparation)
What I remember most about ORHS was the long hallways and how long it took to get from one end of the school to the other. Being kidded about being "country" and from Oliver Springs. Douglas Ray Whitaker (cl of 60) was my closest friend because we lived close enough to walk places together and I didn't get my wheels until my Sr. yr. I made up for it by going to the Drag races at Harriman.
After High school I asked the Navy for the largest ships afloat and they put me on a 165ft wooden Minesweeper, the smallest thing that they would allow to cross the Atlantic on its own power. Being on a small ship I served as ships photographer, mailman,and landing party member, in addition to my Tech job as Radarman. We were part of the blockade of Cuba during the Missle Crisis.
I then spent 10 years at Kennedy Space Center as a tech in the closed circuit TV and RADIO communications dept. during all the NASA Saturn V moon launches. I went back to school and received an AS in Arts and found that college literature was really enjoyable.
In 1972 I left K.S.C. and began a new career as an independent professional photographer in Valdosta GA. I sold my business and retired in 1999. The good Lord has blessed me with five children and four grandchildren.
Now I enjoy spending time with my family members,especially the grandkids, envolvement with my church, relief driver for an Executive Shuttle Service and occasional trips in our motorhome to Jekyll Island GA.
Contact me via classmates under Oak Ridge class of 1959 or at Oliver Springs class of 1959 or via regular e-mail (garnerwalker(at)mchsi.com )
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