DON'T LET THE GREEN WAVE DROWN YOU is a book about Glen Alpine High School and my classmates and friends who attended the school from 1952-1961. Some of us knew each other well and some of us hardly knew each other at all. I regret that we did not take the time to get to know and respect each other more. Perhaps the stories in this book are memories that we hold in common. DON'T LET THE GREEN WAVE DROWN YOU honors my neighbors in the Mt. Olive Church community who experienced the tough years of the last century. We lived the Eisenhower years, the beginning of Elvis Presley's career, hula hoops, poodle skirts, and the joy of rock-and-roll. A few families had money and means, most did not. Some students came to school malnourished and hungry. Others wore cast-off clothing or hand-me-downs from brothers and sisters. At times, students borrowed writing paper and pencil from friends, because they had none of their own. Yet, they made no excuses, behaved, and applied themselves to learning the curriculum. I can only speak of my own experiences. I lived in the countryside near the McDowell County line. Those who lived in Glen Alpine or near Morganton had different experiences. My book is narrow in scope for this reason. I depended heavily on classmate input to write some stories. My book is a validation of the history of our community and school. I have attempted to affirm the truth of what happened. Sometimes I wrote of the beautiful. At other times, I was unable to avoid the ugliness of life. My stories are based on factual experiences. I used real names when individuals gave me permission. At other times, I used a substitute name. In some cases, I chose to conceal both identity and event by weaving an enhanced story around them. I wanted my book to be an affirmation of my classmates and community, so I chose to avoid direct criticism. It is my desire to continue preserving North Carolina history. Writing is an effort on my part to practice self-forgiveness of my own faults and the events of life that caused me pain. I want to cast a net of love and compassion across the years. I am drawing a circle of love to include all of you.
About the Author: Fred Eli Epeley is part of the GREEN WAVE NATION. Born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, in 1943, he moved to Glen Alpine in 1952. After graduating from Glen Alpine High School in 1961, Mr. Epeley showed up at Berea College at age 18 and pled his case of need before the college dean. Berea welcomed him and, for the first time in his life, he found a home. He was the first of his family to receive a college diploma. After graduating from Berea, he received an MA from Appalachian State University. Then, he lived in France, Germany, Spain, and Mexico where he became proficient in German, French, and Spanish. Upon returning to the U.S., Mr. Epeley taught foreign languages for 30 years at both the high school and college levels in North Carolina. He retired in 1995 in order to travel and write. He resides in Valdese, North Carolina.