Keith Landrum of the Landrum community isn’t quite sure when he lost his South Jones High School Class of 1966 ring. He knows it was in the 1980s — sometime between 1987 and 1989 — but wasn’t sure who lost it or where.

But, that class ring missing for decades resurfaced a few days ago when Davy Keith, a local private investigator by trade and treasure hunter by hobby, got a hit with his new Christmas present, a Whites DFX metal detector.

“It’s amazing how ...” Landrum started to say as he saw the ring for the first time as Keith gave it back to him at the Leader-Call’s office. “That’s the first graduating class from South Jones. There are a lot of memories that go with this. As you get older, things like this mean a lot more. I appreciate you and what you did. I owe you some gratitude.”

Keith comes from a long line of electronic enthusiast. His grandfather sold some of the first wireless phones and pagers in Jones County. His father owned David Keith Electronics in Laurel. Landrum, who is in business himself, said he had done business with the elder Keith’s. Landrum pointed out how everything works out.

“It all comes back and ties in in a place as small as this,” Landrum said. “I probably didn’t give more than $20 or $25 for it back then. It’s been a long time, 41 years. We haven’t had one class reunion in 41 years. That’s something. That’s unreal for that thing to be in that great shape to have been underground. That’s one good dig you made.”

Keith said he found the missing ring at a Laurel park as he was trying out his new metal detector. He said he has found some silver coins and a lot of garbage. He considers metal detecting a hobby or a sport. When he found the ring, he knew he had to find the owner.

“If you’re a true metal detector, there’s a code of ethics. If it’s got initials, you try to find them,” Keith said.

Keith cleaned the ring with a little water and saw the red stone, along with South Jones Class of 1966. He saw the initials, and thought the ‘K’ was an ‘H.’ He talked with the mother of a coworker, and she had also graduated from South Jones in 1966.

“We got her high school yearbook,” Keith said. “It makes me feel better to do this instead of keeping it. It’s worth some money.”

Keith said the ring is a rare find. For every 1,000 hits of that type, 999 will be pull tabs from soda cans, statistics show. Keith said finding the ring helps him learn patience and set goals.

“I like going out with a purpose and getting it done,” Keith said. “I use it as a tool for teaching myself patience. You may go out and hunt trash all day, but it’s a lot of fun.”