Sycamore High School Alumni
Cincinnati, Ohio (OH)
Alumni Stories
Rodney Jackson
Class of 1977
The 1960's, it was an unusual time in our History, especially for People of Color. Then, Rodney (Buzzy) Jackson was one of eight children born in Poverty in 1958. He lived just a few miles away in the Community of Hazelwood. Homes with dirt floors, out houses, assorted Farm Animals, shacks and weeds.
His Parents had minor jobs but took care of the family by Picking Up and Hauling Junk to the Scrap yards.
Buzzy was a shy student and being in an all White affluent School with students that felt comfortable racially attacking minorities made it even worse.
Unknown at the time, he was Learning Disabled. He went from Grade to Grade with Failing Grades and the unkind words of Teachers that weren't too caring at the time
Fighting for acceptance, he managed to talk three other students into Robbing a Bank in his Sophomore Year.
Immediately, he was arrested and beaten by dozens of officers so severely that he had to crawl under a police cruiser to get away from them.
Interestingly and Ironically, that beating gave the attorneys leverage to make a deal with the Courts and he was given Two years Probation. Determined to get it together, he Completed his Probation in six months and made Plans to attend the Scarlet Oaks Law Enforcement Program.
"No how, no way" was the Official word from their School Administrator but they never met his mom. Threats were made and Deals were expected but in September of 1975 he Enrolled.
True to his words, he Graduated in 1977 with Honors and went on to work for Proctor & Gamble in Security before later becoming a police officer.
That was (5) Police Badges ad (3) Fire Badges ago before he Suffered a Heart Attack in his Police Cruiser in 1990. Realizing he couldn't continue in Police Work, in 1995, he called it Quits and Enrolled in College.
With the ADA and IEP's, he finally Learned that he was Severely Learning Disabled and advised to drop out of college, he Refused even though it was his 7th University.
Despite Suing the College for Discrimination and Suffering a Stroke in his Senior Year, he Graduated in the Spring of 1999 from Northern Kentucky University with a Degree in Sociology/Afro American Studies.
With that Degree he went on to Serve as a Consultant to Vice President Al Gore and as Advisors to Governor Robert Taft and Governor Ted Strickland.
His Awards and Accolades are too numerous to List but he is most Proudest of the Nationwide Gubernatorial Endorsement of the only Warning System for the Deaf in the U.S.
...but despite of it all, from being Learning Disabled, from his Diaper Changing Station that he developed in the late 1970's, Colonel Jackson continues to Develop Disability and Public Safety Products from his Electric Wheelchair and Hospital Bed.
Born on June 27, 1958 to Roseamary and the Late Tommie E. Jackson
His Parents had minor jobs but took care of the family by Picking Up and Hauling Junk to the Scrap yards.
Buzzy was a shy student and being in an all White affluent School with students that felt comfortable racially attacking minorities made it even worse.
Unknown at the time, he was Learning Disabled. He went from Grade to Grade with Failing Grades and the unkind words of Teachers that weren't too caring at the time
Fighting for acceptance, he managed to talk three other students into Robbing a Bank in his Sophomore Year.
Immediately, he was arrested and beaten by dozens of officers so severely that he had to crawl under a police cruiser to get away from them.
Interestingly and Ironically, that beating gave the attorneys leverage to make a deal with the Courts and he was given Two years Probation. Determined to get it together, he Completed his Probation in six months and made Plans to attend the Scarlet Oaks Law Enforcement Program.
"No how, no way" was the Official word from their School Administrator but they never met his mom. Threats were made and Deals were expected but in September of 1975 he Enrolled.
True to his words, he Graduated in 1977 with Honors and went on to work for Proctor & Gamble in Security before later becoming a police officer.
That was (5) Police Badges ad (3) Fire Badges ago before he Suffered a Heart Attack in his Police Cruiser in 1990. Realizing he couldn't continue in Police Work, in 1995, he called it Quits and Enrolled in College.
With the ADA and IEP's, he finally Learned that he was Severely Learning Disabled and advised to drop out of college, he Refused even though it was his 7th University.
Despite Suing the College for Discrimination and Suffering a Stroke in his Senior Year, he Graduated in the Spring of 1999 from Northern Kentucky University with a Degree in Sociology/Afro American Studies.
With that Degree he went on to Serve as a Consultant to Vice President Al Gore and as Advisors to Governor Robert Taft and Governor Ted Strickland.
His Awards and Accolades are too numerous to List but he is most Proudest of the Nationwide Gubernatorial Endorsement of the only Warning System for the Deaf in the U.S.
...but despite of it all, from being Learning Disabled, from his Diaper Changing Station that he developed in the late 1970's, Colonel Jackson continues to Develop Disability and Public Safety Products from his Electric Wheelchair and Hospital Bed.
Born on June 27, 1958 to Roseamary and the Late Tommie E. Jackson
Recent Members
| Frances Cassidy | 1977 |
| Joe Lunchbox | 1989 |
| Mark Heger | 1974 |
| Pallavi Gorrepati | 1986 |
| Roche Mcgreevy | 1974 |
| Roger Curran | 1974 |
| Teresa Ann | 1979 |
| Todd A Steinbrink Todd A A Steinbrink | 1984 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
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Lost Class Rings
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Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!