Bill Kirby: This old classmate was big in Hollywood … real big
"If life were fair, Elvis would still be alive today and all the impersonators would be dead."
– Johnny Carson
Our search for celebrity high school classmates continues.
Gary Coles adds this.
"As it turns out," he writes, "both my wife and I graduated with celebrities.
"I graduated in 1972 from Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, Conn., and one of my classmates was an actor by the name of Erland Van Lidth De Jeude." There are Wikipedia and IMDb pages about him with film credits for "The Running Man" in 1987.
"Erland was a wonderful person … a gentle giant with an operatic voice. Just a beautiful singer and all-around good guy. The football coach wanted Erland to play on the team but he couldn't because they didn't have a helmet large enough for him. He ended up on our wrestling team instead and won every match. Most of which were forfeited by the opponents. He was at least 6'5" and 300 pounds. Massive. You can really see his hulking size in the movie "Stir Crazy" with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.
"My wife, who is six years younger, graduated from Bethel High School in Bethel, Conn., in 1979 and was classmates with Meg Ryan. My wife was the class president and Meg was a class officer I believe in their senior year."
Did anyone else go to school with someone famous? Tell us in an e-mail to bkirby@augustachronicle.com
HIGHWAY HELP? Peggy Ludwick points out a stretch of local road that needs repair.
"... Between Hwy. 25 and Hwy. 1 on Lumpkin Road there are 17 patches just in the right lane that feel like potholes. They need to start there and fix the roads. Please."
MORE CLEANUP: A local group hopes to plan a cleanup effort at West View Cemetery on Thursday, Feb. 17. According to an e-mail from Richard McKinney: "Almost all of us have loved ones buried in West View and we are concerned at the condition the cemetery is being kept in these days even though lots of our sections have perpetual care and should be cleaned and kept in good condition.
"So we have decided to schedule a day to meet … and do our own cleaning. I know we are all senior citizens at this time and some may not be able to clean their sections alone but if we all pitch in we can work together to get it done.
"We are proposing we gather with whatever tools you can bring for cleanup about noon on Thursday, Feb. 17, with a fall-back date of Feb. 24.
Richard's e-mail is rmckinney75@comcast.net.
FAMILY SEARCHING: Dr. Walter B. Curry Jr. will present a virtual genealogical program between 1 and 2 p.m. Feb. 26 on writing your family history. The program is free to Augusta Genealogical Society members and $10 for nonmembers.
The program will direct participants to learn how to write a narrative history about relatives and the process in writing your family history book using this approach.
The deadline to register is Feb. 22 by visiting www.augustagensociety.org/ags-programs.html.
TODAY'S JOKE: A nervous taxpayer was sitting across from an IRS auditor while his records were under review.
The auditor noticed his discomfort and tried to set his mind at ease.
"You have to admit," the IRS man said, "this is a wonderful country and we would hope everyone would realize that and eagerly pay their taxes with a smile."
"Thank goodness," said the taxpayer, showing some relief. "I thought you were going to want cash."
Bill Kirby has reported, photographed and commented on life in Augusta and Georgia for 45 years.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: In high school, this classmate was bigger; in Hollywood even bigger
