Man searches for owner of '77 high school ring

A Marietta man is on a quest to retu a more than 30-year-old high school ring to its owner.

John McDowell found the ring in the parking lot of a Costco wholesale chain in Kennesaw several weeks ago and has been on a crusade ever since.

”It takes 12 years to ea that, 12 years of your life. If I lost it, I would feel real bad, McDowell said.

He told Channel 2 Action News reporter Eric Philips he found the ring by chance.

”I saw something glitter and as I got out of the truck, I reached down and picked it up and that was the ring, McDowell said.  ”And being in a handicapped place, I figured what happened is they had their hands on a wheelchair and it probably peeled it right off.

It is a woman’s ring from Our Lady of Mercy High School, class of 1977.

”I got on the inteet at work trying to find [local] our lady of mercy high schools and there happens to be one, but it didn’t open until 2001, McDowell said.

From there, he expanded his search to other schools nationwide bearing the same name, but his search has been unsuccessful so far.  He said he’ll know when he’s found the right person because of the ring’s unique characteristics.

”If you can tell me what’s inside that ring, then you can identify it, McDowell said.

He said he’s trying hard because he would appreciate it if someone did the same for him.

”It’s what you’re supposed to do, McDowell said.

He also tried calling Jostens, the company that manufactured the ring, but company officials told him sales records do not go back that far.