James Atwood

James “Buzz” Atwood quietly passed away Sunday, May 31, 2009 at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory. Born April 13, 1934 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio Buzz was the only child of William and Harriet Atwood. He discovered his talent for singing while attending Euclid High School in Euclid, Ohio and often performed with a local band, patterning his style after Frank Sinatra. Buzz learned to pilot airplanes while in high school and was a volunteer for several years at the Cleveland Air Races, parking the planes before and after each event. In 1952, he was accepted at Southwestern Louisiana Institute in Lafayette, Louisiana and occasionally attended classes. More often than not, he could be found bowling, absorbing the exciting Louisiana culture and music, and again singing with a jazz band. In 1998, he reconnected with a member of that jazz band and had the opportunity to perform in a Burbank, California night club. Buzz joined the Army in 1954 and was stationed in Bad Aibling, Germany. He was assigned to the 328th Army Security Agency (ASA) Company of the 312th ASA Battalion. His main responsibility was to intercept and translate communications, often sent in Morse code. Later he would tell stories of how the soldiers in his company were the first to hear the German invasion of Hungary and alerted the military powers to that event. While stationed in Germany, Buzz continued to sing and perform and won the All Army European Entertainment Contest for Vocal Soloists. This award sent Buzz across Europe to sing and entertain the US troops. Medical problems began to appear after he returned to the USA. He was diagnosed with macular degeneration in his early 30's which would quickly deprive him of the central vision in both eyes. Determined to live a full life, even though legally blind by Social Security standards, Buzz enrolled in Kent State University in Kent, Ohio where, after attending a play, decided, “I could do that!” He convinced the Kent State theater director to allow him to audition even though it meant that Buzz had to memorize the entire play. From 1958 to 2002, he acted in and/or directed plays in Ohio, Florida, and many cities in North Carolina and returned to Kent State for one season as an Artist-in-Residence. His best known role in the Hickory area was Tevye in Hickory Community Theater's 1980 and 1990 productions of “Fiddler on the Roof”. Others will remember Buzz as Santa, a role he played for almost 30 years for private and public events. Buzz graduated from Kent State with a Master's Degree in History and moved, with his first wife, Kristine Skogland, to Pahokee, Florida. He taught History for several years and sponsored the Pahokee High School's first drama club. In 1969, the Social Security Administration trained a test group of eight individuals - each visually impaired - to work as Service Representatives in the Miami, Florida's Social Security office. The concept had been suggested by a blind, double amputee who had worked for the Social Security Administration in Florida and who convinced the government that people with vision problems could be very productive. Admitted to that test group, Buzz became one of the country's first blind Social Security Service Representatives. In 1971, he helped staff the first Social Security Telephone Service Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and, in 1973, was promoted to a Social Security Claims Representative. Buzz accepted a Social Security Claims Representative position at the Hickory, NC office and quickly became involved in the community theaters in Hickory, Valdese, Newton and Lenoir. His vision impairment and the need to memorize entire plays never slowed his zest for the stage. He received 6 Willy Awards from the Lenoir theater and 7 Kay Awards from the Hickory Community Theater and was a cast member of the Hickory Community Theater's 1993 NC Theater Conference's Best Play, “I'm Not Rappaport”. He retired from the Social Security Administration and began teaching Theater Appreciation, Speech, and Storytelling classes at Catawba Valley Community College using tape recorded texts and/or readers to prepare for his classes. A massive stroke that left him almost speechless and unable to use his right side finally ended his acting and teaching career in 2002. After the stroke, Buzz enjoyed others' performances and became an even more avid movie fan. Buzz is survived by his second wife, Paula Smith Atwood of the home, a son, William Charles Atwood of Winston Salem, a stepdaughter, Malindi Edwards Powers of Charlotte, cousins, and many, many friends. To honor his wishes (“Skip the funeral and just have a party to celebrate my life!”), he was cremated and his ashes will be scattered in the Sequoia National Forest among the redwoods that he loved. The world is invited to a “Celebration of Buzz Atwood's Life” on June 27, 2009 from 2-5 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Catawba Valley, 833 5th St SE, Hickory. Please bring a covered dish or soda to share, stories, memories, photos of Buzz, and your musical instruments to share special songs. If you are unable to attend but would like to share in the Celebration by sending photos, condolences, memories or “Buzz” stories, feel free to email them to buzzetta@charter.net or to mail them to 506 7th St SW, Hickory, NC. 28602. Buzz suggested that perfect memorials for him would be your favorite charity, your local community theater, or to take your family to a show! Condolence messages may be sent to www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Atwood family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton.