ORHSAlumni.com - Oak Ridge High School

flylab1 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject: Alice Lyman RIP

http://www.oakridger.com/stories/031505/obi_20050315051.shtml

Miss Lyman was my instrumental music teacher at Jefferson. She also directed the band there when I played cornet in 9th grade. She had us all terrorized. I remember her throwing erasers at the drum section that landed among the clarinets. I also recall (as noted in the obit) that she never owned a car.

Very dedicated to musical instruction.

http://obit.weatherfordmortuary.com/obit_display.cgi?id=197065&listing=Current
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Joel (ORHS '73)

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."

~Charles Darwin

cartaka · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 8:12 pm Post subject: Miss Lyman

The memorials on Weatherford's site are already getting interesting. My favorite:

"At a time when life was simple and the most complicated part of my life was Alice Lyman I just wanted to survive. With maturity I appreciate the wonderful gift of quality she gave me."

Most mentioned her "firmness." I remember her bringing Brian Ripley to tears during class one day. That's all I remember of her -- and the fact that one year of clarinet was all I could take.
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Karen Gray Carta '76

"No rain, no rainbows"

Micro '73 · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:20 am Post subject:

Thank goodness I went to Robertsville and took music and band from Terry Cayton. God bless Doc Combs for being able to actually get former Jefferson band members to play with gusto and joy rather than fear and dread.

flylab1 · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:28 am Post subject:

"But not to being very kind as I recall. Bless her anyway. Don't mean to speak ill of the dead but a spade is after all a spade."

She was dedicated to musical instruction, and she showed this dedication by maintaining standards and enforcing them. No, I suppose she never bought in to the "self esteem" movement. She was tough. I had firsthand experience with her toughness, but her conservative values served her and her school well. Her students did well in competitions.

Nick Orlando and Alice Lyman. Two hardass Jefferson teachers who were results-oriented and commanded respect. Were they my favorite teachers? No. But they did a tough job pretty well, overall. I wouldn't wish junior high teaching on anyone.
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Joel (ORHS '73)

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."

~Charles Darwin

cartaka · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:34 am Post subject: Lyman

I wouldn't wish living to 98 in NHC on anyone either. If I'm 90 and in NHC, will someone from this group come and shoot me -- please?
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Karen Gray Carta '76

"No rain, no rainbows"

Rachel Sewell Nesteruk · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:48 pm Post subject:

my dad had her... he told me stories of her hitting him across the knuckles with a drumstick. Shocked

i remember her as being an extremely short person with a really fake wig who always attended the playhouse when i ushered there with girl scouts. and i gave her a ride back from a play at the high school once.

Ann96 · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:20 am Post subject:

Was she the one who wrote that awful JJHS fight song? I vaguely remember that the song was only maintained as long as she was living. I hope Jefferson has a new song now.

Micro '73 · Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:45 am Post subject:

I don't know Ann, could be that darned song may live as long as that awful wig of hers survives.
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Micro '73 A. K. A. Mike Crow, Class Of '73 who firmly believes that you should never followgood whiskey with water unless of course you are out of good whiskey.

AndyL · Newbie Joined: 13 Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Richmond, KY

Hi all! I just foiund this site. So, this is my first post. I was reading through earlier threads and found this one. I just had to add my 2 cents. I was in Miss Lyman's band all through junior high.

I remember all her ferocity, but also her kind side. I especially remember a day when she made us finish our marching band practice on the football field at the old Jefferson Jr High even though it was pouring rain. I had worn a brand new Madres dress that day. It bled all over everything. I was so mad at her. When I got home, my mom told me that Miss Lyman had called her to tell her that she was worried that I might catch cold from getting wet during practice. I have no idea what caused her to do that. But, she treated me more kindly after that.

Andy Lyle
Class of 1970

I live in Kentucky, now. So, when I yell GO, CATS, people think I'm yelling for Kentucky! HA!
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GO CATS! GO VOLS!