Tech BSU gathering in Hiawassee
April 22-24, 2022
It was a blessing to again gather the Ga Tech BSU alumni group at the Chatuge Lodge on Lake Chatuge in north Georgia. Our last gathering had been in 2018, having been discouraged from large gatherings during the covid era. We had a Zoom meeting in late 2020 when we had enjoyed having Sue Woolf with us before she went to be with the Lord in March of 2021. In the current gathering, we continue a fellowship of over 60 years in duration, as summarized in an interactive history of our group meetings. Many thanks to Frank and Babs Gudger for making the arrangements in Hiawassee. The springtime in the mountains was very beautiful and we had wonderful views of Lake Chatuge from our meeting area and our rooms.
This group picture was taken at our Saturday evening gathering after dinner.
L-R back row: Bill Miller, Leland Strange, Aubrey Bush, Art Sherwood, Wes Simmons, Walt McKinney, Sam Shelton
Middle row L-R: Suzanne Lowe, John Lowe, Frank Gudger, Bob Brown, Norman Petty, Laddie Rollins, John Baxley, Jim Tanner
Front row L-R: Rod Nave, Brenda Nave, Babs Gudger, Gwen Sherwood, Martha Brown, Nancy Bonds, Barbara Petty, Becky Rollins, Nancy Baxley.
Also a part of the gathering were Ron and Linda Jones and Jim Bennett, who had had to leave early. Thanks to Carol McKinney for taking the group photos.
On Friday evening after dinner, we had groups sitting in our meeting room in conversation. I have just realized how remarkable this group is! Every man sitting here has a Ph. D.! Including me, that is 8 Ph.D's sitting around talking talking about all kinds of topics. That's 3 PhD chemists, 3 PhD physicists, 1 PhD in Electrical Engineering and 1 PhD in Mechanical Engineering. That brings back memories of our student days in which there was a strong academic competition among the fraternities on the Georgia Tech campus, but none of them was able to match the gpa of the Baptist Student Union! CW from left Aubrey Bush (EE), Bill Miller (Chemistry), Ron Jones (Physics), Jim Tanner (Physics), Rogers Redding (Chemistry), Sam Shelton (Mechanical Engineering), and John Lowe (Chemistry). In the background are Suzanne Lowe and Linda Jones, who had to put up with a Chemist and a Physicist respectively as husbands.
 | Earlier in the afternoon as people had arrived, we had a good time visiting. Here Brenda Nave, Linda Jones, Nancy Bonds, Babs Gudger and Carol McKinney enjoy the large porch with the view of the lake. |
| The guys present were Bill Miller from Berkeley, CA, Rogers Redding from the Birmingham area, Jim Bennett from Savannah, and Ron Jones from near Louisville, KY. We were pleased to visit with Jim since it had been a long time since we had seen him. He lived 2 or 3 years in remote NW Alaska, then a number of years in Anchorage, and now lives in Savannah, GA. |  |
 | Another guy we hadn't seen in a long time was Wes Simmons. He had come all the way from Long Beach, California so he and Bill Miller were the ones who had traveled the greatest distance. He is shown here with Leland Strange, who had found out that Wes had become the California tennis champion for the over 80 division! He did look very fit, so a good testimony for tennis. |
| The conversation continued among two chemists and two physicists: Bill Miller, Ron Jones, Jim Tanner and Rogers Redding. The conversation was mostly about old times together, but we are always interested in Rogers' experience as a football referee and director of the referee program. |  |
 | The friday evening conversations continued with Bill Miller, John Lowe, Frank Gudger, Wes Simmons, Leland Strange and Walt McKinney. |
Saturday, April 23
Our beautiful weather continued on Saturday morning and we enjoyed the views of the lake and mountains.
On Saturday morning we had breakfast downstairs in the Lake Chatuge Inn and continued our active conversations around the breakfast tables. About mid-morning we gathered in groups for continued fellowship on the third floor in the meeting room.
| The active conversations continued with women's and men's groups forming around the room. It was a very pleasant atmosphere of sharing. Nancy Bonds, Brenda Nave, Babs Gudger, Linda Jones, Suzanne Lowe. |  |
Proceeding clockwise from top left: 1. John Lowe, Jim Bennett, Bill Miller, Wes Simmons., 2. John Lowe, Ron Jones, Bill Miller, Frank Gudger. 3. Linda Jones, Ron Jones, Bill Miller, Aubrey Bush.
 | Saturday morning was comfortable and casual with everyone milling around to snack and talk. Frank Gudger, Jim Tanner, Rogers Redding, Walt McKinney, Sam Shelton. |
| Jim Bennett, John Lowe, John Baxley, Bill Miller, Wes Simmons, Walt McKinney. John and Nancy Baxley had just arrived and were greeting everyone. |  |
 | John Baxley, John Lowe, Bill Miller. |
The comfortable conversations continue. In back, Sam Shelton and Aubrey Bush. In front Carol McKinney, Brenda Nave, Suzanne Lowe, Nancy Baxley, Rogers Redding, Nancy Bonds.
| Laddie and Becky Rollins arrive and receive a warm welcome. Laddie, Aubrey Bush, Sam Shelton, Babs Gudger, Becky Rollins, Nancy Baxley. |  |
 | Norman and Barbara Petty arrive and likewise receive an enthusiastic greeting. John Lowe, Nancy Baxley, Barbara Petty, Babs Gudger, Becky Rollins. In foreground Jim Tanner and Norman Petty. |
| Suzanne Lowe, Brenda Nave, Carol McKinney, Barbara Petty being greeted, Nancy Bonds. |  |
 | By noon the room was crowded with happy conversations. Above at back are Walt McKinney, John Lowe, Bill Miller, Nancy Baxley, Barbara Petty, Babs Gudger, Becky Rollins. On couch are Laddie Rollins, Jim Tanner and Norman Petty. |  |
For lunch on Saturday, a group of us went down the hill to the Hawg Wild Barbeque. CW from bottom John and Nancy Baxley, Babs Gudger, Barbara and Norman Petty, Sam Shelton, Laddie and Becky Rollins, Nancy Bonds, Brenda Nave.
Our big dinner was at Brothers Barbeque. Brenda Nave, Gwen and Art Sherwood, John and Suzanne Lowe, Nancy and John Baxley, Aubrey Bush.
 | Wes Simmons was at my end of the table, so we got to discuss his tennis playing and the kinds of work activities he has had in Long Beach, California. Everyone was glad to see him after all these years. Brenda had a good time talking with Gwen Sherwood. |  |
When we returned to the Chatuge Lodge and our meeting room we took a group picture and then gathered for a group discussion. It had been beautiful to see the happy conversations in groups of men and women, but it was also good to get the whole group together. We had a free discussion of the impact that the remarkable fellowhip of the BSU at Tech had had on our lives and how we had applied the lessons learned to other situations in our lives. I encouraged reflection on the concept of the "just and intimate community" that is possible in Christian fellowships.
Back row: Bill Miller, Leland Strange, Aubrey Bush. Middle row: Bob Brown, Norman Petty. Front row: Rod Nave, Brenda Nave, Babs Gudger.
Back row: Art Sherwood, Wes Simmons, Walt McKinney. Middle row: Suzanne Lowe, John Lowe, Frank Gudger. Front row: Gwen Sherwood, Martha Brown, Nancy Bonds.
Back row: Sam Shelton, Laddie Rollins, John Baxley, Jim Tanner. Front row: Barbara Petty, Becky Rollins, Nancy Baxley.
Sunday, April 24
We enjoyed once again the beauty of the sunrise over the mountains out our east window and praised the Lord for the beauty of the fellowhip we had had with our longtime friends.
| Beginning the new roof on the Radio Road property |
2022