Bobby Thorp

Bobby Thorp (Bob)

Bobby Thorp (Bob)

2684 Northbrook Drive

Atlanta, GA 30340

Tel: 770-934-7980

thorpb@bellsouth.com

 

 

Before Graduation:

My education all came in the Aldine school system.  The first grade was at Aldine in the portable buildings in the back with no restrooms.

 

The second grade was at Orange Grove a new Aldine elementary.  I was there through the sixth grade.  The teachers I remember are Mr. Thorne for 6th grade and Mr. Davis for 5th grade.  Mr. Davis had a homemade paddle with holes drilled in it; this was a real attention getter.

 

I was next in Aldine Jr. High School and then the new high school.  Many Classmates from our graduation class all went to school together in Orange Grove.  Some names I remember are: Kenneth Blake, Robert Coussan, Gracie DeCarlo, Tommie Elliott, Sonny Henderson, Pat Johnson, Mary Lindamood, June Roark, Darrel Jean Garner, Gail Chambers.  I’m sure there were others.

 

During high school my subjects included agriculture classes for 2 hours in the 9th and 10th grade.  In the 11th and 12th I had distributive education and left school about 12.  I didn’t see too many of you then.  I worked at Danburg’s Department store selling shoes to pay for my convertible. 

 

After Graduation:

I managed shoe stores and supervised others.  I was with a large shoe company.  They transferred us quite a bit.  I lived in Texas City, Galveston, Tyler, New Orleans for 4 years, and then Dallas.  I moved to Atlanta in 1970 as an independent salesman for footwear.  In 1978 I began to travel the Orient and develop lines for companies.  In 1992 I registered Smoky Mountain Boots www.smokyboots.com and formed a wholesale and import company.  I am still working and my son and daughter help run the company.  It will be theirs soon.  We now import footwear from India and China and this requires a bit of travel.

 

Personal Life:

I married Mary Jones from San Houston High School in June 1958.  June of 2008 will be our 49th anniversary.  We have 3 children and we are very proud of them.

 

My oldest, Robert, has a computer science degree.  He is in the company with me and has been very valuable in many areas.  We have a large warehouse that he supervises as well as handling all our computer software and electronics.

 

Carolyn is my youngest.  She worked for me while in college.  She has a fashion design degree.  She is secretary of the company.  I couldn’t operate without her.  She helps in developing new products, builds our catalog, handles our website, and manages our office.

 

Scott is my middle child.  He is an artist and college professor at Savannah School of Art and Design (SCAD).  He lives in Savannah.

 

Mary and I have 4 grandchildren – 2 girls and 2 boys ages 4 to 12.  Carolyn is expecting a girl, Ruby Belle, on December 25th.  What a Christmas present.

 

What I would do different:

I have wonderful memories of Aldine and all my classmates.  I have a wonderful family and have been very fortunate.  I think I should have tried to keep in touch with my classmates.  I only attended the 20th reunion.  But I am planning on being at the 50th.

 

Memories and Comments:

We lost a couple of classmates while in high school and one died shortly after graduation.  We had a Chinese classmate drown in Lake Houston.  A couple of brothers a grade above us had a bad auto accident and 1 died.  We had one boy who always had a motorcycle at high school was killed on it on Hwy 59.  I think his name was Casey.  Shortly after graduation Ruel McGee was killed in an auto wreck.  Since graduation Elmer Thompson and Jerry Belin have died.    There were probably others.  We have all lived close to death and we are fortunate to be the survivors.  Do we have a list of our classmates who have passed away?

 

Travel:

I have traveled quite a bit internationally and domestic.  I find we are very fortunate to live in this wonderful country and I prefer to travel America. 


Thanks for being my friends and I look forward to seeing you.