Ron Griffin:
CLASS OF 1962
Englewood High SchoolClass of 1962
Jacksonville, FL
Terry Parker High SchoolClass of 1961
Jacksonville, FL
Southside Estates Elementary SchoolClass of 1956
Jacksonville, FL
Ron's Story
"Updated 2-24-24"
I'm a few years older and three of my grand-kids are married. Two of the boys are in the military.
I still keep up with a few of my old classmates, Englewood & Terry Parker. I wish more classmates would take the time to write, or update their bio's & photos.
It's hard to believe that all of my classmates are pushing 80 years old. I guess that's better than the alternative.
"NOTE" I received a request to contact, in my "OldFriends" site, with incomplete contact info. I would enjoy responding if I had more info. I check "Classmates .Com" more often than my "Old Friends" site.
Construction is complete on our new house and we are all moved in. It's only 3 miles from my prior house. Things moved slow, Building materials were always on back order and hard to get. I never thought that inept politicians could have such an impact on my personal life. I will be more politically active and hope to help "drain the swamp". Your vote counts, (sometimes if it's not stolen).
LIFE, So Far-
ron at rongriffin dot com
During my school years I lived at 2320 Southside Blvd., Jax., Fla.
I left home in 1962. I returned for a visit 50 years later and was able to stay in the house overnight as my uncle "Royce Rocher", bought the house after I left in 1962. The house seemed absolutely tiny. I don't know how we
got along with only one bathroom and very small rooms. I always thought the house was large while growing up. Lots of good memories came back to me during that visit. (See photo in my gallery)
Schools Attended- - -
Southside Estates Elementary School. -2nd thru 7th grade
Terry Parker HS. - 8th grade
Englewood HS. - 9th thru 12th grade
Miami Dade Community Col. & Florida International Univ. .BS Degree.
U.S. Coast Guard 4 yrs.
USCG Cutter "Sweetgum", Mayport, Fl.- 1962-64
USCG 7th District Office, Miami, Fl.- 1964-66
Miami Police Dept. , retired.
NC Dept. of Juvenile Justice, retired.
My wife, Jeanne, was the Chairperson of the Business and Technologies Dept. of a North Carolina Community College, and is retired.
( I would love to view a yearbook from Southside Estates Elementary School. 1950s, if there is such a thing, Classmates doesn't have it.)
We now live in a small rural town, about 20 miles outside of Raleigh, NC. and I have 4 "kids", with 8 grand kids. All in the Raleigh, NC area.
My hobbies are computers and digital photography, boating,
surf fishing-"Outer Banks", NC and tra...Expand for more
veling.
I also enjoy growing a few fruit trees and having a small garden. I particularly like growing and propagation of different varieties of mulberry trees and fig trees. I've got several varieties of each and always looking for more. I also grow a lot of Rabbit-eye Blueberries.
My garden consist of kale, collards, datil peppers, tomatoes. I used to grow mush more but find the farmer's market easier for the other produce I enjoy.
Some of my best memories during Englewood are skipping school and spending the day swimming at the "sand mines" or the beach. I spent a lot of time at Preston's Drugstore on their pay phone talking to my girl friend and drinking cherry cokes. No cell phones in the stone ages. I also spent a lot of weekend nights at the Southside Midway? Drive-in Theater and the Atlantic Drive in.
I did not get too serious about my education until I started paying my own college tuition.
I obtained my Duval Co, School records from the "District Records Office", Room 434, 1701 Prudential Dr., Jax., Fl.
I enjoyed the comments the teachers made. Some of the reoccurring ones were - "Lacks concentration". "Needs motivation." Most of my grades reflected this...
I do remember getting 3 SWATS while in the 8th grade, with a large wooden paddle with holes drilled in it. I don't recall who applied the swats or what I did to earn them, It must have been effective because I didn't receive any more after that. Maybe this is something that should be reintroduced in the schools today. Schools were much safer in our day. If I could go back in time I would make their job easier and pay attention in class. However all my memories of those years are good memories.
Note - I recently recalled why I received the swats. I had a few torpedo fireworks in my pocket during class change. they are designed to be thrown and then pop on impact. Well, I was getting something out of my pocket and accidentally dropped one on the floor. A loud bang got everyone's attention, including several teachers. The rest is history.
Some of my Englewood teachers are listed below. (As I remember. Probably not complete.)
Josephine Bradley, Eng
J.R. Bridges, Horticulture
C.L. Cothern, His
Gerald Disch, PE
Wolfgang Haller, SS
Nina Jansen, Eng.
Arthur Jones, Shop
Burton Park, SS
Carl Phibbs, Math
Elizabeth Richardson, Math
Charles Smith, PE
Mary Woodell, History
Alice Woolf, History
Charles Wright, Phys. Sci
Note: My favorite coach was Gerald Disch, PE. "RIP
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