Jay Holman, Class of 1971, plans to retire from a career of solving digital conversions for cable and telephone firms.

Jay writes:

 “It's time to call it a career. The heaviest thing I am lifting will be grandkids.”

Jay tells me:

“John, not sure yet, but this is my last assignment and, when I come off the road, I am done and will be close to grandkids to be a full-time grandpa and shuttbug going around the state and taking pix.

“Still up in the air.”

Jay plans to move back to West Virginia. He grew up in Carolina while going to Monongah High.

Jay is a professional photographer, often providing me with photos of the Class of 1971 reunions, the annual all-class versions or just a roundup of the 1971 gadabouts.

Jay is an expert at “retiring.”

He did it in 2005. That lasted two years before he got into the digital conversions career.

Which took him to Cox’s Plus 1 Communications in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Suddenlink in St. Joseph, Missouri; and his latest, Plus 1 Communications in the Atlantic Beach, North Carolina area, where Jay lives.

Jay also was sales & leasing consultant at University Ford and Kia of Durham, North Carolina, and Verizon local manager.

Jay, one of the most active alumni in the Class of 1971, married a Fairmont West girl, Margaret, in 1998.

They have three sons: Jay Holman III, a Chicago banker; Robert Holman, who works for the federal government out of Clarksburg; and Fairmont State grad Michael Holman, North Carolina’s Family and Consumer Science Teacher of the Year.

Michael came to Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in 2011 as a teacher at East Chapel High School after four years in Granville County Schools.

Jay was a ground mechanic for the Air Force during the Vietnam War.

For those who don’t have Jay’s phone number, it’s (919) 724-9522.

As for the Class of 1971, that may be the most active and rowdiest group of graduates ever to leave footsteps behind in Monongah High.

For starters, there’s Susan Ahouse Schrader, who lives in Picataway, New Jersey and Stoney Lonesome, Monongah, when she’s not gallivanting around the nation or in other countries.

And Doris Carpenter Rogers, who lives in Charleston with husband Scott Carpenter . . . when THEY aren’t traveling to warmer, friendlier climates.

Doris’ parents were Bill Carpenter and Iris Delores Martin Carpenter, Class of 1950. Her siblings are Will Carpenter, Class of 1975 and a Marion County teacher since 1975 who lives in Fairmont; and Amy Carpenter.

And Susan Staron Sanders, an administrative assistant at Personnel, the person most responsible for Monongah having all those Christmas street lights every year.

And who could forget Charlie Miller, star defender and halfback on Monongah High’s 1968 and 1969 state title football team and 1968 state champ relay team in track, who is rehabbing after a stroke.

And Jennifer Jane Sabo Yanero of Sycamore, an item with Rick Fay Yanero since fifth grade at Thoburn School.

And Rebecca Urish Anderson, who will be married to Gary Anderson for 45 years come November. They live in Clarksburg. Rebecca works at Food Lion.

Their daughters are Melissa McGahan and Miki Anderson-Fluharty, who lives in Martinsburg with husband Shawn Fluharty.

And Jim Foster, married to Monongah High grad Linda Phillips Foster, Class of 1977. Jim grew up in Monongah, went to Monongah Middle School and Monongah High School.

And Rick Yanero, former owner of Rick’s Belleview Lounge in Fairmont who is married to Jennifer Jane Sabo Yanero.

And Wal-Mart retiree  Ed Graffius, Class of 1971, who lives with wife Brenda Ridenour Graffius, Class of 1974, a Licensed Practical Nurse, in their Pleasant Valley home in Fairmont. Their 44^th wedding anniversary will be Thursday, August 4.

They have two children and five grandchildren.

And Gary Haught, a former boxer and Gary’s Pro Painting owner who lives on Traction Avenue in Monongah with his mother, Nellie Haught, 81. Gary’s father is Jennings Haught.

And Pat Levelle, who married the Fairmont postmaster’s daughter, Fairmont East High grad Cindy McVicker Levelle, 38 years ago.

And John Baransky of Fairmont, who was at the 2012 Monongah High Alumni Reunion.

That’s just off the top of my head. Whew! The Class of 1971 is a real whirlwind class.

And I can’t help wonder if Jay Holman will un-retired for the zillionth time if those grandchildren wear him to a nubbin.