After Vigor I moved to Jackson, MS and worked while attending Belhaven College. There I met Sylvia Rody and we were married in 1966. We lived in Baton Rouge, LA where Sylvia got her MA in English at LSU. I was working and also attending LSU. I got my BS from Southeaster Louisiana University in Hammond, LA in 1971 and went to LSU and obtained a MS in Dairy Science in 1974. I then worked for the University of Arkansas for 2 years.

Sylvia and I both decided to go back and get our terminal degrees. We both received Ph.D’s in May of 1979 – Sylvia in English and I in Horticulture. I was a professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville 4 years and then moved to the University of Georgia where I retired as Professor Emeritus in December of 2004. It was fun but time to give it up to the younger generation.

Sylvia and I moved to Long Beach, MS and I stayed retired for about 6 weeks. A job with Mississippi State University came open and I started working on the breeding program of azaleas and crepe myrtles along with other plant species. This is not work – just fun.

Sylvia and I have 2 daughters. Ayn Claire is a VP in banking in Atlanta, GA and Caoilte Lynn Pickle is married, works for UPS and lives in Knoxville.

Sylvia and I have acreage in Long Beach and are developing quite a large garden with as wide a plant base as possible. Right now, hydrangeas are predominate but that could change. Would love to have any of you come by when you are in the vicinity.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.