South County Profile: Jeanne Rhodes-King

JEANNE RHODES-KING

Jeannie Rhodes-King was born in Redding and attended local schools including Anderson Union High School.

After high school, Rhodes-King attended the University of California at Santa Barbara. She earned her bachelor's degree in social science in 1970. Rhodes-King worked in the Santa Barbara area working for the UC Alumni Association for 20 years as an organizer of events.

When Rhodes-King was asked to help coordinate the Anderson High School Centennial Celebration by Bob Reid and Randy Palimino, her automatic answer was yes.

Anderson High School has not kept track of its graduates over the years. In 2002, a company tried to find past graduates. Rhodes-King has taken the research done by that company and taken it a step further by finding 3,000 e-mail addresses for the estimated 15,000 graduates from Anderson High School since the school was established in 1909. She has also designed a Web site to help find more of the schools' alumni.

Rhodes-King and Pat Allison have put together events that will help bring generations of family and friends together in many different ways, from a golf tournament and dinner/dance to a traditional high school homecoming triple-header football game. Rhodes-King is looking forward to seeing it all come full circle. Her biggest challenge in this entire project has been getting the word out about the event through the Web site, newspaper ads, just about anything and everything. There have been approximately 100 volunteers on the committee putting the event together.

"As I come back to the Anderson area and others come back to participate in the events, they will have fond memories of growing up in Anderson and a small community. Remembering a slower pace of life and the nostalgia of the area. Some graduates are getting together with friends at the different events that we are having, others are unable to attend. We would do anything to make it so that they can attend some of the events," said Rhodes-King.

Rhodes-King is a 1966 graduate of Anderson High School. She owns United Country King Properties and works as a real estate broker. While in high school, Rhodes-King was a cheerleader, a majorette and participated on the tennis team as well as the swim team along with serving as a student body officer.

To learn more about the Anderson High School Centennial Celebration, visit the Web site at www.andersonunionhighschoolcentennial.com or send an e-mail to Rhodes-King at margojean@aol.com or call her at (530) 339-1002.

Name: Jeannie King.

Born where and when: Redding, 1948.

Occupation: Real Estate Broker.

Marital Status: Married to husband Butch for 14 years.

Pets: Two miniature schnauzers, Emma and Lucy.

My worst job: Cleaning rooms at a motel on highway 273 in Anderson. Truckers routinely stayed there.

My first job: Baby sitting.

In my spare time I: Garden, travel and play golf.

My favorite book: Currently, "Eat, Pray, Love"

My favorite movie: HBO's John Adams.

My favorite recording artist: Vince Gill and Michael Jackson.

My dream car: My Highlander.

My friends like me because: I am honest.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: My family, friends and my dogs.

The one thing in live I've learned is: Never give up.

The best advice my parents gave me: Walk like you own the world.

My most embarrassing moment: This interview.

My most irrational act: I am not an irrational person.

My most valued material possession: My home.

What I like best about the North State: The small town feel and the warm nights.

My hero is: My father, Cecil Rhodes.

My pet peeve is: Helplessness.

My fantasy is: I would like to run a foundation.