CLASSNOTES
58 / ’southern
’62
Dr. Rachel ClarkeMathes
of Birmingham, onOct. 25,
2013. While studying under BSC
Professor AndrewGainey,Mathes
earned a Fulbright for graduate
study to theAcademy forMusic
andPerformingArts inVienna,
Austria, which kicked off her
operatic career. After shewon the
BaltimoreOperaVocal Competition,
shebegan performing abroad
inmany large theatre houses of
Europe. Her Americandebutwas
made inPittsburgh, followed by
theMetropolitanOpera andNew
YorkCityOpera. In 1977,Mathes
returned toBirmingham to begin
her teaching career in voice at
BSC and thenUAB, later founding
UABOpera; she also continued
to perform. Her studentswere
winners and finalists innumerous
music competitions. Mathes
received twoObeliskAwards
andwas honored by theAlabama
MusicHall of Fame. She earned
her DMA degree at theUniversity
of SouthCarolina inColumbia,
and retired from teaching and
performing in 2009.
’63
BruceHulberg
of Hoover, on
Nov. 12, 2013. Hulbergwas a
dedicated teacher formore than 30
years in theShelbyCounty School
System. Survivors include hiswife
and two children.
’64
JamesChristie“Chris”Conway
of Lincoln, on Feb. 3, 2014.
Conwaywas a journalistwith
theBirminghamPost-Herald
duringBirmingham’s civil rights
movement. He laterworked in
public relations for Alabama Power
Co. andwas a leader of state and
regional PR organizations. Conway
sang in the choir and servedon the
vestry at St. SimonPeter Episcopal
Church. Hewas a talented painter
andwoodworker. He is survived
by hiswife,
KarlaShackleford
Conway ’88
(MPPM grad).
’66
RitaWatkins Peterson
of Athens,
onDec. 12, 2012. Peterson did
a superb joboneverything she
touched, from cooking todrama,
theater directing, sewing, and
gardenwork. Shewas an avid
reader and always had a kindword
for everyonewho came across
her path. For 48 years, Peterson
opened her home to peoplewho
werehomeless orwho needed
help or support of any other kind.
She is survived by her husband,
DonPeterson ’62
, two children,
and five grandchildren.
’69
LawrenceWadeBlack Jr.
of
Birmingham, onFeb. 2, 2014.
Blackworked ceaselessly for
human rights. For the past eight
years, he had served as executive
director of theBirminghamPledge
Foundation, and for the past year
as co-chair of theBirmingham
MetroDiversityCoalition. He had
many careers over his lifetime,
including teaching filmmaking,
forwhich hewonmany awards.
Blackwas remarkable for his huge
intellect, his voracious appetite,
and capacity for learning. He
earned amaster’s and almost
completed a Ph.D. inEnglish from
Florida StateUniversity. Among
survivors are hismother,
Auguste
RicherzhagenBlack ’43
of
Huntsville, and a son.
Larry Joeseph Lamon
of
Birmingham, on June 24,
2013. Lamon retired as supervisor
of systems development from
SouthernNatural Gaswith20
years of service. Hewas a
member of St. John’sUnited
Methodist Church, where he
previouslyworkedwith their youth
program. Hiswife, Sharon, is
among survivors.
Friend
Cooper“Bud”DixonSpivey
of
Columbiana, onOct. 11, 2013 (see
artists feature on page 33).
TheReel BSC
BSC archivist Dr. GuyHubbs recently uncovered this amazing vintage
newsreel about the college from 1938! The film, which is about sixminutes
long, can be viewed here:
During thepre-
television era, newsreelswould be shown inneighborhoodmovie theatres
before themain attraction. This short (and soundless) clip, produced by a
student club, includes the 1938BSCConcert Choir, Professor of English
Dr. James SaxonChilders and other former faculty, and other nuggets of
campus life, including the annualMayDay celebration—amajor campus
event of that time. Originally shot in color, but now very faded, this is
BSC’s oldest known film footage. Happy viewing!
Classroom scene from the newsreel
