(Source of image: Florida Collection, Main Public Library, Jacksonville)

Here's the School Boy Patrol at Ramona Boulevard Elementary during the 1969-1970 school year.  Sixth grade teacher Charles Bryant served as the group's sponsor, while the "commander-in-chief" was principal Margie R. Persons.

THE RAMONA FREEBIRD -- Lynyard Skynyrd can boast at least one Ramona connection: During the 1950s, the band's lead singer landed in hot water as a student there.  Young Ronnie VanZant was a lover of country music and an apt imitator of radio musicians, using a lusty, soulful delivery.  Thus, it seemed natural to him one day to regale his classmates with "Beer Drinkin' Daddy" and "Ricochet Romance."  Ronnie's mother wasn't amused, though, visiting Ramona to counsel him.  It's not recorded whether he received a whupping for this particular incident.

Ronnie liked math and history in school and normally enjoyed baseball, fishing, and singing on his own time.  The future rock legend was born on January 15, 1948, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Jax.  He entered first grade at Hyde Park Elementary School, but by the time he attended second grade, his family lived in a rough neighborhood on the Westside's Woodcrest Road.  His father, a semi-truck driver, resided in this house for many years afterward.  His mother worked at the well known Krispy Kreme Donut Shop on Cassat Avenue, even after Ronnie hit the big time. 

In 1977, a Mississippi plane crash killed Ronnie VanZant and two other band members.  His daughter and widow now own the enormously popular Freebird Cafe in Jacksonville Beach.  The restaurant/entertainment venue is named after Skynyrd's best known song, a mournful, heartfelt vocal that eventually explodes with lightning fast guitar work.

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