Thanks to John Shearer for his excellent article on the Coca-Cola legacy and all the families have contributed to our community. He also mentioned the Pearson family residence at the corner of McCallie and Central where some of the families lived.
Dr. Pearson was a dentist who worked out of the home and his wife, Betsy, was the French teacher at Chattanooga High School. I had her for two years and she was one of the most popular teachers at the school. She always had a smile on her face and was ready to help the struggling students (like me) with our school work.
Well, what we didn't know until about 20 years after graduating was this jovial, fun-loving teacher, when she was 18, served in the French-Belgium Resistance.
This group rescued Allied pilots shot down over Nazi-occupied territory and helped them get to the English Channel to return to England and resume their flying missions.
After the war she was presented the "Medalle de la Resistance" for her espionage work. For her heroic actions during the war Mme. Pearson was selected as a Charter Member of the CHS Hall of Fame.
Douglas Jones
Chairman CHS Hall of Fame Committee