55th Reunion Committee is Formed and Date in 2008 Set
Reunion co-chairs, Joe Jaramillo and John Holland, have formed the 55th Reunion Planning Committee. It is composed of Joe, John, Rex Bell, Chuck Handley, Gloria Hicks Alger, Gretchen Harris Payne, Larry May, Fred Pinjuv and Alice Thiriot Waite. Their first Committee meeting was held on May 9th at the home of Rex Bell. Our 55th Reunion will be held on June 6, 7 and 8, 2008. Put these dates on your calendar!! The Committee's plans for the 55th will follow the general format used by Bowser and Co for our 40th thru the 50th. Most likely it will be held again at Sam's Town and include a reception at Rex's, golf, a tour, Saturday dinner dance and perhaps a Sunday brunch for those who will be around.
'Cat' Tracks Almost Came to an End But it would seem that my final pleading for responses produced results and I was pleased to expand this edition from 12 pages to 20. This is what I call a good showing. I am especially pleased because of the number of "first timers" who responded. Although I admit to be puzzled by the absence of a number of our "regular" contributors. So for now, 'Cat' Tracks is saved from oblivion! I'll plan on publishing it again in 2007 as a lead-in to our 55th Reunion. And we'll see what happens from there on. So thanks to you all who took the time to respond. It makes my time and effort worth while. Personal and Family Notes/Memories John Holland: I‘m now living in Las Vegas with my wife Jeannine, who is my most precious love. I‘m totally retired now, playing golf, active in Lions and doing a little traveling. Jeannine is still working, shes a Nuclear Medical Tech., so traveling is limited to her time constraints. In a few years that will change and then we will do more extensive traveling. We have had four new grandchildren since the last Cat Tracks, a set of twin boys born John and Peter on 10-8-03, a girl born Aurora on 8-2-04 and another girl born Kalaya on 11-10- 04. This makes nine so far. No greatgrand kids yet. Looks like I‘ll be helping Joe —J“ with our 55th. Should be a lot of fun and hopefully we can come close to the fine job done by Bill and the two Georges on the past three, or so, reunions. We‘ll give it a good shot. Ann Love McPherson: My husband and I are still busy with our professions, he with his Estate Law Practice and me with my Planned Giving-fundraising/Facility Planning work for the Central Coast Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice in Monterey. In addition we have our real estate company, Love Realty, and if anyone wishes to purchase property here on the Monterey Peninsula or in areas close to Yosemite, I would be pleased to work with you. Our family is now 15 strong plus three —granddogs“ and we still have great times each summer with camping together or like this summer we will rendezvous at Lake Powell, stay at the hotel lake front and frolic on/in the water doing —lake“ stuff! We do the usual time-off ourselves like cruises or Yosemite each year and generally have a lot going on just like everyone else. Love to all my classmates and may we all continue to thrive! Lets see, 70 in September sure sounds weird and hard to get used to..BUT, we must remember this TRUTH, —Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, But beautiful old people are works of art“!! Bill Ward: As I recall, I am one of the younger members of the class (now a young 69) so some of you guys must be really old. Some mornings when I get up, I don‘t feel a day over 90. As we get older, sometimes our worlds seem to shrink and we don‘t see the —whole picture“ as much as we used to. Our worlds seem to shrink to our immediate and extended families. With 5 sons and eleven grandchildren, there is always something going on. I think that will be all of the grandchildren and there are no great-grandchildren yet - but there are still marriages (and unfortunately divorces), college, jobs, missions, remodeling and all the other things that make our lives interesting. I am grateful to have lived in Vegas during the '50s. That seems to have been the —golden“ period of America. Wages were about a dollar per hour but gasoline was so inexpensive that Carl Stephens, Bill Hamilton and I could scrape up 80 cents between us and buy enough gas to cruise all night with Bob Orona in his 39 Packard. The Lord knows that today doesn‘t hold a candle to —our“ time. Living in Vegas and growing up with you classmates provided such stability - wish I could impart some of that stability to some of my young-uns. Betty and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in September. That woman is a wonder - how did she ever put up with me for so long? She always says that she married me because I had such a nice car so I built her one just like it. We now have a pair of quite nice 50 Plymouths (seen below). Since she is a Betty Boop fan, we‘ve named it —Boop‘s Coupe“. You can see our cars at my website - http://www. oldplymouths .bigstep.com/generic.jhtml?pid=71 or www.oldplymouths.com . She can‘t travel anymore but we are fortunate to have some fantastic memories of Hawaii, Alaska, Florida and points in between. I recently saw some photos of a soldier‘s funeral in a small town out in the country. The entire town turned out to line the streets with their flags and it prompted a bit of reminiscing. Permit me to ramble a bit if you will -As long as Americans are willing to lay down their lives for what they believe in, America will remain great. When they no longer understand what America is all about or become unwilling to set aside their own petty self interests, then America will cease to be America. Do you see a trend there? Those of us who were privileged to be alive in the 1940s & 1950s have some understanding of how great America can be. We pledged allegiance to the flag, had prayer in schools, condemned sex & pregnancy out of wedlock, thought homosexuality was a sin, weren‘t denigrated for holding doors open for ladies, said —yes sir“ or —yes mam“ to our elders, had less disposable income than our parents and nobody stole our —identities“. And now we are told that our ideas are all wrong and that having a —good feeling about ourselves“ is more important than doing what is right. Well, our women were a lot safer on the streets at night, our children didn‘t have to be guarded 24/7 and the jails & prisons didn‘t have revolving doors. Pornography was hidden away on the shelves of the —dirty book store“ on North Third St., our doors were not locked and barred at night and our car keys were most generally kept over the visor. Most of our generation is gone, or will be in a few years and then —America“ will no longer have to put up with such old fashioned notions except hopefully in small rural towns shown in those photos where being an American still means something. Looking forward to seeing you in 2008 at the 55th! David Nerger: George,, You know that I‘m the worst procrastinator on sending anything. Will give you what I can think of from a dull life. Have had two additions to the Nerger family, a Grand daughter in Reno, and a Grandson in Pensacola. While in Las Vegas last year (only 2 weeks) we had a Hurricane, IVAN, hit Pensacola, a direct hit, has been said it was the 4th worst disaster in the United States ever. If you took pictures of our Gulf Coast and put them in with the Tsumia pictures you couldn‘t tell the difference. Some houses just left the slabs, others the pilings and the rest were see thru houses Complete devastation. It was a three county area. We were very lucky living 20 miles due north of where it came a shore. We have our house, needed a new roof, lost all the buildings that were not attached to the house. Motor Home cover, was steel and it folded like a house of cards, did bring $27.00 at the scrap yard, was new 2 months, complete loss. Took out 12 pine trees, lucky neighbor lost 130 down and ended up taking 180 out as they were leaning over., Boat storage (gone), horse barns and feed barn, (gone) workshop roof gone, carport gone and hit our pickup, new paint job on it. We are still working to clean up and replace everything. People so busy hard to find anyone to do the work. Around the county had debris piles 7 stories high and about 20 acres, had some 15 of these places. Will take 5 years to get back to near normal. Other than that no excitement down here in the South, just a note, Hurricane season starts again in a few months. Robert Horsley: I lived in North Las Vegas from 1940 until 1958 when Judith and I were married. In 1961 our first child was born at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas (it was very small and one story then). We then moved to Salt Lake City for five years, where I continued my career in banking. Five years later, we moved to California, where I worked for several banks over a thirty-three year period. A year after I retired from the bank, we moved from California back to Nevada and now live in North Las Vegas again (came full circle). We attended the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Gloria and Earl Alger last summer, and it was fun. We saw only a few people that we recognized in the attendees. We have attended every reunion that our class has held since graduation and are always happy to see everyone. We have six children, all living still. They are scattered in Hawaii, California, Nevada and Arkansas. We have twenty-six grandchildren who, except for two, still live with their parents. We married when we were twenty-four years old and got a late start with our family two years later. Most of our grandchildren are quite young. We make trips to visit them as often as we can. Our son owns a Halloween store in Honolulu, and the last two years, we have worked in the store over a two-week period. This also gives us time to tour the beautiful island of Oahu, so we plan to return to work again this year. One of the best decisions we made was about fifteen years ago when we bought into a timeshare the works on a point system. We can go to condominiums in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Canada and Mexico. The only place we have not used the condos is Mexico, but we did go on a seven-day cruise from San Pedro, California, to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. We were called last May to be missionaries for our church. We have a great group of young people who work with us and we also work with the full-time missionaries. Each Wednesday we go to Cosine Elementary School and, where we read with two classes of first grade children (about 24). We love to see them progressing in their reading, and it has been a pleasure the last two school years. We hope that all of you from the Class of 1953 are well and enjoying life to the fullest. LeRoy Wentz: Thank you sooo much for your efforts over the years to keep us all in touch. I have totally lost track of many friends over the years because there was no one making the effort to keep communicating. Without your efforts I am sure that we would have drifted apart without knowing how our fellow '53ers are doing. My own personal life seems mundane and not of much interest to share so I tend not to share. However, I do want you to continue so here comes my input. The big seven oh turned out to be less significant that 60, 50, etc. I don‘t feel old except for the creaks and pains and diminished capabilities. I am surrounded by a wonderful family and friends and am having a great time cruising, fishing and participating in the growth of 6 grandchildren. I continue to raise a lot of Dahlias, fruits and vegetables. If only I didn‘t enjoy meat and fat so much I could probably live to be 200 on my organic farm products. I wish the best for all my classmates and hope to see all of you in 2008. I have been a little slack in upkeep of the web site but it is still there and I will get back to it soon www.itseasyto.com. Best to all Bob Beville: As to what's new with us, my health is not to hot but I'm making it. My wife, Nancy, and I are still living in Las Vegas. Our kids are both successful in their careers and healthy. Both are living in Las Vegas as well. The oldest of our two grand daughters graduates from high school soon. Nancy and I are thankful to be around to see that take place. With any luck, we might be around to become great grand parents. Who knows? As to what I enjoyed the most while at Vegas High they are as follows: Friday night football and basketball games followed by the dance at the Wildcat Lair; Saturday night dates at the movies, followed by hanging out at Sills or Round-Up drive-ins; parties at Pat O'Donnell's house; trips to Mt. Charleston lodge to enjoy hot chocolate; going down to Allen and Hansen's on Saturday to pick up the cashmere sweater you had on lay away for months; playing the ukulele at those great assemblies in the old gym and Christmas shopping downtown at Ronzone's, Johnson Apparel, Sportsman Sporting Good Store, Allen and Hansen's, Sears and Penny's. High school kids in Vegas today have nothing available to them compared to what we had. There are no drive-ins to hang out in. When they try to hang out at the malls, they are thrown out. When they try to cruise the strip, they are stopped by the police and told to go somewhere else. They seldom hold any dances because there is nowhere to hold them. When they graduate from high school, their graduations are combined with several schools and held at the same time, so there is no individual identity for the students or the schools. The graduation classes are so large, no one knows anyone else, and so they don't even bother having any reunions. Pretty sad when you think about it. I am very thankful for those great years we had in Las Vegas when it was small. Bill Bowser: Not much has been happening since our Golden 50th...just a lot of golf and growing old. I did a great cruise last Febrary from Ft. Lauderdale, FL through the Panama Canal and up to San Diego, Aruba, Panama City, Costa Rica and Mexico. Need to take cruises like that more often. I'm kickin' back and looking forward to enjoying our 55th Reunion in 2008. Hope to see you all there.
Pete White: Hello everybody. I'm still kickin! Been on some fishing trips, to Gold Beach, OR which is my favorite place to fish for salmon on the Rogue River. Been lucky every time I go; catch enough to have them smoked and to give to my family and friends. On a trip to Carbo San Lucas, Baja, Mexico caught tuna, but no Marlin this time. But had a great trip. My wife talked me into have a massage on the beach!! If you've never done that, you really should! Pete and Danny Lee at the Revere Golf Club Pete and his massuse at Cabo San Lucus, Mexico. Miranda, Kendall, Petey, Stephanie, Ryan, Courtney, Greg, Chris, Sam jr. Turned 70 in Jan. 05. My daughter gave me a surprise party at the Revere Golf Club. What a great surprise. Her gift to me was a book that she spent a year putting together about my life. I love it! With time you tend to forget a lot of things you did. It's a fun reminder. One of the best things at the party was all my grandkids sang "An Okie From Musgokee." Everybody enjoyed it. Most of me! It was nice to see old and new friends and family together for good food and lots of stories. In October of 04, we were hit with the news that our oldest son, Peter (47) who was a welder/fitter, hasthyroid cancer. He has four children: one still in high school, one graduating from high school this June, one in a 3 year college, and one employed as a manager. Please send all your prayers to us for a recovery soon. I hope life gives you and yours, a lot of good times. Rex (Tony) Bell: All is well with my family. Dorothy and I will leave in June for the East Coast. We will be driving and be gone about 7 weeks. I heard from John Holland, so the work will start for the next reunion. I send my best to all of our class, and wish them all good health! I send my best to you, George, and thanks for the great work! Tell Billy B and George B I said hello. p.s. Saw John Enomoto recently in Vegas after a City Council meeting. He looked great. Learned he went to USC and that he travels out of the country a lot. Hopefully we'll get him to the 55th. Don Rasmussen: I'm pleased to report that grandson Anthony is a Wildcat freshman at Marion High School in Marion, IL. Granddaughters Khalia, a sophomore, and Olivia, a freshman, are Wildcats at El Camino High School in Oceanside, CA. Guess the acorns don't fall far from the tree, after all. Ray Winn: I am involved in the formation of a new company investigating the application of using antimatter (specifically antiprotons) to terminate cancer cells in tumors. We have completed animal tests at the CERN accelerator in Geneva with 'spectacular' results. Our corporate offices are in Newport Beach, CA and we have just established an office in Tulsa, OK where we will be building a 1,000 foot diameter accelerator to manufacture the antiprotons. Our plans include the construction of up to 15 treatment centers around the world. There is a lot of work to do, and many possibilities of success and problems, but we are charging forward as if we will ultimately be successful. The head of radiation oncology at UCLA made a public statement that this technology promises to be at least ten times more effective than standard X-ray radiation treatments. Will keep you posted. The web site is: www.Nano-Life.com. Danny Lee: Dorothy and I just returned from a 15 day cruise to Hawaii and back to celebrate our 45th anniversary. Great trip and I recommend Holland American Cruise Line. Went to Palm Springs and Tuscon in Feb. to celebrate my 70th birthday and play some golf and to eat and drink to much. We will be going away as usual for the summer --the first Saturday in June until the first Sat in Sept. Then home again to get ready to hit Reno, Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, glaciers, the Washington, Oregon, California coasts and all point in between to fish, golf, drink, eat, sightsee and anything else that feels good. I play golf with Pete White whenever he feels like it and take an occasional trip with him and his wife. The desert is absolutely beautiful at this time; with all the rain it is green with wild flowers everywhere. Went to the Searchlight area and to the river and it was beautiful. Keith Wallace: We bought some property at Rodeo, NM in Feb 04. Currently we are there, erecting a metal building, putting in utility lines, etc. The desert is beautiful this year. We are still living in our motorhome. Last summer, though we had a little wreck and it took five months to have the motorhome repaired. So we were homeless for a while. We plan on attending the 55th! Frank Abercrombie: Times marches on. Sometimes it is double time. We set our paces, when I do-it stays at a steady beat for a long time. Enclosed (shown below) is a photo taken at the KENO radio station. My mother's notes say they performed on live radio. Ask our fellow Vegans if they recognize anyone. May be older brothers and sisters are there. My brother Ray is in center front with the clarinet. George! "70" is wonderful for us all. Give praise to our Lord Jesus! We can give and share ourselves to others. It's like having a good clean rifle. Load, cock, air ourselves toward others. Shoot the good news. Wally Amundson: First I'd like to express my thanks to all those that put together the 50th reunion. It is of greater impression to those of us who have been away from Vegas for a long time. After my draft into the Army I married the daughter of the fire chief of N.Las Vegas, joined the LDS Church and had two cute vacation in the hills above Boise, ID, we build an A-frame cabin, but liked the place so much we moved to Meridian, ID in '69 and started a remodeling business. Then had another blonde girl and three boys. Well, it goes to say they have kept me busy just to get them raised. We recently retired and moved to Garden Valley above Boise about 50 miles where we are still remodeling only for ourselves now on a cabin. The phone still rings for people who need help, but I can be a little selective. Not to mention I get tired a lot faster and I've got parts that are failing too. Might be the age? We don't get down to the heat very often, but we still keep in touch with old friends and school mates. Enjoy hearing from yall!!! Joe Harvey King: (sent in by wife Tony Jolley '52) Nothing has changed with us. We finally have a grandchild married but aren't great grandparents yet. We are still living in our motorhome and spending winters in Palm Springs and summers traveling. This is our 22nd year of doing this. Joe Harvey sometimes wants a house, but I never do. We were in Las Vegas in April to visit my brother and 50 years has made such drastic changes in our nice little town. It isn't "home" anymore. They've torn down all of our memories including our football field. It's not fun to visit anymore --except when there is a class reunion and you get to see old friends and share great memories. We're looking forward to Marilyn Gilger Albiston: Since I fall in the category of those who enjoy reading the newsletter and never writing, I‘ll take George‘s challenge and write a note. I‘m not sure how I‘ll boil 52 years down to one paragraph, but I‘ll try. My husband, Stan Albiston, and I met my senior year at BYU. The day after I graduated we were married, and left immediately for Canada. where he was from. That fall we went back to BYU where he finished his degree and then returned to Alberta, Canada. Our first two children were born there. Edmonton, Alberta was quite a drastic change from warm and sunny Las Vegas, so when the opportunity for a position at Titanium Metals in Henderson came up, we returned to Nevada. Twenty-five years ago we moved to Kaysville, Utah, where we still live. We find it a pleasant medium between Nevada and Canada. We have seven wonderful children and our 22nd grandchild should be born next month. Stan worked for Eyring Research and Thiokol after moving here and I taught Elementary School. Stan retired eight years ago and I have been retired five years. We served a Latter-day Saints Charities Mission in Thailand, where we worked with Thai teachers helping them learn better methods for teaching English. We found this a very rewarding and exciting experience. Since retiring we have added on to our home and Stan is presently building new cabinets so he can remodel the kitchen. We enjoy being —do-it yourselfers.“ I‘ve included a picture taken of us last summer on Prince Edward Island. Marilyn and Stan Albiston Catherine Blackman Hammelrath: I am still teaching Adult Ed for the Clark County School District - It is a great part time job that is more like full time every day! I still love what I do. My grandsons are growing up fast. Richard is 15 and completing 9th grade at So. NV Vo-Tech High School. Joshua is 12, completing 6th grade and last year at First Good Shepherd Lutheran School. They are both in the Boy Scouts at Community Lutheran. Josh is flying to Huntsville for Space Camp for a week this summer. Richard will do The Edge Camp at Lee‘s Canyon. They will both do Scout camp somewhere in CA. In August their crazy granny (that would be me) - will take them on our second Know Nevada trip. Their bikes go along -last summer we visited Ely, andfriends there ... they loved riding all over town .. we drove the road to Wheeler Peak. On to Elko where they visited a memorial marker for their granddad, toured Lamoille Canyon where his ashes were scattered, visited an old UNR friend of mine and the local museum - and rode their bikes all over town. On to Eureka where they rode with real abandon and loved it, then to Austin which is really going all out for bikers and has a system of trails laid out. They loved that too. Then the rain socked us in and we came home. This summer they want to return to Austin. We may do CC and the VT train ride. Then there is Denio and digging for opals - with plenty of room to ride bikes. I do not ride, I sit and worry, walkie talkie and phone in hand. My once-broken leg will not bend enough for riding, dang it. We also want to do Hwy 50 from west to east, Ichthyosaur State Park, Elko and Ely again. Also, my cousin‘s daughter lives on a ranch out past Jiggs would love to visit them for a day and have the boys see a genuine working ranch. That is enough for several more summers - so we will have to hammer out a plan that fits into somewhere between 7 and 10 days. After that, I may kill them. I fear this will be our last as Richard will probably work next summer. So, I will love what I get for now. They will hate me because I am going to ban Game Boys. They can look out the window and learn the lay of the land in order to know where they are (Mean granny). My children are fine, working, well. Bill is deafer, and fine. Still remodeling two bathrooms and nearing the third month at it - I may have a real fit pretty soon and hire someone! My brother is also fine and so is all his family. I e-mail with Martha and David N on a regular basis. I have been to Reno several times this past year ... I always do the annual in Aug where I get as many as possible of the 1st cousins together. Last year my cousin, Dr. Clark Cole, had us at his home there. He is the emergency room doc at St. Mary‘s. My Aunt Eleanor is 93 - we were just up for her b-day. She is fading fast now and that is why we have been there 3 times since Jan. It was good to visit her while she still had an interest. I usually also visit Toots Wellington, John‘s mom, when there. She is in an assisted living facility. That's my life. Guess Who? Roger Adams, Don Rasmussen and Burt Purdue, 8th Grade, 5th Street Grammar School. (Photo sent to Don by Carolyn Whipple after the 50th Reunion.) Alice Ann Thiriot Waite: It certainly doesn‘t seem possible that two years have gone by since the 50th. The class of —55 is gearing up for their golden reunion – and looking at the plans brought back good memories. Since then I have had two more grandchildren which makes 17 now (+11 step-grandchildren). Just got word I will be a great-grand sometime the first of next year. I guess 70 years old brings added blessings as well as added creaks and groans. One of the most fun things I have done lately, is march with an old Rhythmette group in the Helldorado Parade last Saturday. One of the Rhy‘s who graduated from LVHS in the ‘60s got the idea to have a reunion and march in the parade, since that was a tradition since we were in high school. She put an ad in the paper with a little picture and ended up getting calls from many places in the country. Some were still living here, and some had relatives still living here that notified their Rhy. relatives. We ended up with 33 ladies in our marching group, four rode in a car do to health problems, and 48 came to the get-together the next day. It was so interesting that with such a diverse group we all had such similar experiences. And everyone so loved Evelyn Stuckey and what she did for us. They are trying to get her on the list for a school to be named after her, so anyone that would like to write a letter could do that and send it to me. I will get it in the file. The parade experience was surprising. We only had 2 practices, and not everyone that marched had been together except the morning of. However, all along the route people were clapping and yelling and saying, —Yeah, Rhythmettes, we remember you!“ So, there were many old timers along the way. It made us all feel great! The parade wasn‘t quite like the good old days, however. So many newcomers here they didn‘t quite get the ideas of what the old traditions were, but it was a good stab at it. Instead of one high school band there were about 27 high school bands. Whew! From our class of ‘53 there were Mary Jane (Arnold) Hoffman, Gretchen (Harris) Payne, Beverly (Jurard)McIver, Fawn Harding, and me, Alice. Earlene (Whitt) Moses rode as one of the past beauty queens. She thought she was one of the earliest ones there, but she probably looked the best. She is amazing. It was such a great experience, but probably not one that will happen again. (There were ladies in our group that are younger than my children. Does that age you fast? I still think I am 18 years old on the inside; it‘s when I look in the mirror that I get a shock). I will be heading back to Michigan for a grandson‘s high school graduation the first week in June, and then as usual up to Oregon to do a little farming for the summer. I always look forward to being in that beautiful cool country for the summer, but I love coming back to the wonderful Las Vegas winter. Lucky to have both worlds. I read a cute thought not long ago: —THINK ABOUT THIS: There‘s always a lot to be thankful for if you take the time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don‘t hurt.“ Take care everyone. Hope to see all of my —golden friends“ (as Chuck Handley said) in 2008, if not before. Camille Roberts Ortiz: Sorry I didn‘t respond right away. I was waiting to see if the new house we bought went though. Well it did. We bought a house in Palm Desert (Sun City). It is one level & that‘s the reason for our moved. Stairs & I don‘t get along. It‘ll be sometime before we move into (we‘re keeping our townhouse for awhile) the house. We have FIVE granddaughters. The oldest is 16, 15, 14, 13, and 3. Isn‘t that great. They are the love of my life. Rudy and are getting along fine and very busy with move. I have received many cards and messages which I really appreciate. Please, don‘t quit putting out Cat Tracks. I really enjoy it. Our 55th Reunion Mary Francis Irwin Rimerman: Sorry I didn‘t respond, but not much new is happening. Didn‘t attend the 50th Reunion, but was able to hear all about it from Louise Davis Ritter who did go. I met Louise when I was in Second Grade at the Fifth Street Grammar School. So we go back a long ways. I haven‘t seen her though since high school. Grateful to still be alive and healthy. I continue to live in Lincoln Hills - a Del Webb Sun City Development just east of Sacramento. At the moment I am very active in the Genealogy group and we just got back from a week in Salt Lake City. For an avid genealogist, the Family History Library is an adult Disneyland. I am still in awe of the facility, the volunteers who staff the place and the free classes they offer. I plan to return soon with my sister-in-law and help her with some German research. I only mention this because from past write ups I noticed that I am not the only one hooked and involved with this interest. I have a daughter who has spent her career in the publishing world and she has offered to format and put my work into some form for our family. So, at least I don‘t have to worry now about all those papers hitting the dumpster in a big black garbage bag someday. Only other news from me is that the same daughter & her husband produced an adorable baby boy last fall. This was a late first marriage for both and the baby, Dashiell will be their one and only. I thought my family was through having grandchildren and so this little guy was very special and exciting for all of us including his other cousins. Still makes you wonder where all the time went. Seems like only a few years ago I was co-writing the weekly gossip column in the Desert Breeze with Gloria Skerell and on the lookout for news. I wonder what ever happened to Gloria. I don‘t keep in touch very well, but did I ever enjoy reading all the stuff that Louise sent me about what had happened to the Class of ‘53. So a big Thank You to all of the people that do contribute their news. That‘s about it from me. Life is quiet and mellow right now. Hope I can keep that going for awhile. Lois Wentz Durkee: George - sorry for not responding sooner. At almost 70 years of age I still work full time as a Realtor with Prudential Americana Group Realtors in Las Vegas. I have been in the business for over 30 years and feel blessed that I am still mentally and physically capable of keeping up with the business world. I have served in many positions with the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors including the Board of Directors, Chair of the MLS Committee, etc. At present, I serve on the Professional Standards Committee which I chaired a couple of years ago. Some of my former classmates and long time friends have referred their children to me to purchase homes. I have achieved two separate designations that required extensive courses: (1) Certified Residential Specialist; and (2) Accredited Buyer Representative. My daughter, Pam Ruggeroli, is a Realtor in Tucson, and my son, John Durkee, is a residential appraiser intern in Las Vegas. They both had other successful career fields, as did I, but ended up pursuing real estate related careers. I wish to say how much I miss Rena Pulliam Ruby since her passing. She was a dearly loved friend and also June Ledbetter Taraldson, whom I had not been as close to in later years but we spent countless hours together in high school. She actually lived with me and my family for awhile after her mother was seriously injured in an automobile accident. I am constantly in contact with my brother, LeRoy, whom I love and admire. He had the —brains“ in the family and my children take after him. My son, Dan, lives in Pennsylvania and has an engineering degree. I have seven grandchildren, two living in Las Vegas. The oldest is 23 years of age. I am extremely proud of my family, especially, my husband Bill, who has been retired for a number of years but hanging in there at age 84. Las Vegas is so big now what with the tremendous growth rate, but I have never lived anywhere else and this is my —hometown“ and always will be. Yvonne Sacksteder Drakeley: I am checking in with (for me) some very sad news. My beloved husband, Gary passed away January 30, 2005. He had been ill since last September, in and out of the hospital three times before succumbing to Pneumonia. We at least got to celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary (Sept 1) with a trip to Canada and got to visit all his relatives as well as attending the wedding of a cousin of his. That was August into September. His parents had lived in Sparks, NV. When they had passed, their wishes were honored by placing their ashes into the headwaters of the Truckee River. Gary had requested the same. Sunday, my sons and I will meet his relatives in Tahoe and on Monday scatter his ashes there. Afterwards I am going to travel with my brother-in-law,Lorne and his wife Pat, back to Lake Tapps (25 miles south east of Seattle, WA). As three of my four sons live here in Las Vegas, I am planning on staying here. My wonderful Mother passed away March 2004. So, I guess this past year was my time of travail. For some good news, Little League Baseball season just started and I attended my Grandson‘s first rookie game. His name is Johnny and three out of the first times at bat, he didn‘t hit it out of the park, but made it to first base. It was fun to watch and cheer him on. Gloria Hicks Alger: Guess what? Earl and I are in Nauvoo, Illinois!! We were called by our church leaders to serve in the temple here for six months. We left home in Las Vegas on April 18th and arrived here April 22nd. We will be serving in the temple until the end of October. We have met so many new friends from all over. Everything is so green! We have never seen so many different kinds of birds. We are right by the Mississippi River. We live in a very nice apartment and have very good neighbors. Since the last newsletter we have added a great grandson and a great granddaughter. They have moved from Lehi, Utah, to Las Vegas. We are grateful for the friendships we have with all the special members of the Class of ‘53. They are all an inspiration to us. We do hope all are well and enjoying life! Marilyn (Sims) McCluskey: Sorry to be so last minute, but I don‘t have to explain to you about flying time and good intentions. Nothing new with Marilyn, except one new great grandson, making a total of..let‘s see 8 grandchildren and now 3 greats. I‘ve retired (again) and am between employment at the moment. We‘ll see how that goes. I still think the Northern Branch (Reno area) of the Class of '53 should get together for lunch this Summer. I'll work on that. Otherwise, I‘m in relatively good health for people our age and have too many memories of the good old days to retrieve only a few. However, the only way I‘d like to go back is if I could take my 70 year old brain with me. Thanks for your good work in keeping us all together. Mary Jane and Clark Hoffman: It‘s been almost two years since our 50th. What a couple of years we‘ve had. In the fall of ‘03 I (Mary Jane) began to experience some very unusual symptoms and in late November was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Surgery was performed in December and ALL went–– well. Radiation was scheduled but about the time it was to begin, my (Mary Jane‘s) mother passed away. She was 94. Treatment was put on hold while we took time to honor Mom‘s life. She had lived with us for her last five years and the loss was extremely noticeable. But we survived. Cancer treatment began in February and finally ended in early April. What a life altering experience! During the course of all the MRIs and CT scans another tumor was discovered, this time in the right kidney. The specialist determined to —watch“ it but the oncologist had different ideas. In mid-June a rib was removed along with the malignant tumor in my right kidney. I‘d say the first surgery was —a piece of cake“ compared to this one. The good news was that renal cell carcinoma does not respond to any form of treatment so I was spared that experience this time. YEAH!!! It has taken me a good nine months to begin to feel like my OLD self again. Actually (and at our age), I don‘t imagine I‘ll ever be back where I used to be. I still carry around a —bulge“ and my right abdomen is numb but, oh well! I don‘t think I can ask for a better outcome as the surgeon pronounced me cured. So, why then, do I have to continue semi-annual checks for life? can honestly say I‘m grateful for the first cancer diagnosis because it led to an early detection of the kidney cancer which, if left undiscovered for much longer, would not have been pretty. So, I‘ve had a hard season since our 50th but one from which I‘ve learned much. During all of this Clark was the consummate caregiver attending to my every need and wish. He put most of his projects on hold just to care and provide for me. What a great husband and companion he is and how very grateful I‘ve been for him. Clark‘s now back to working a little–mostly in Alaska, and we moved part of our life back to Alpine, Utah. We still have our same home in Las Vegas and will eventually sell and find something smaller in LV. But for now our address and phone number are the same. We hope your lives are as blessed and full as ours. We look forward to ‘08 and another reunion. You know we‘re very partial to such events! All the best Roscoe Howes: I retired May 1998 after 27 years in real estate in Las Vegas. In December of that year while on vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we found our dream vacation home, a condominium project located right on the ocean. Roscoe and Roberta Howes My wife Roberta retired from Southwest Gas in May of 2000. We headed north to Montana to spend the summer fly fishing, a sport we both enjoy. We had purchased a 1 ton Ford dually diesel crew cab truck to pull our 30' Arctic Fox travel trailer and began spending our summers chasing fish in the back country of Montana. In the fall of 2001 we found a condominium community on the shores of Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana. We had wanted to relocated to Montana from Las Vegas and we were very pleased to discover that the condo had our prerequisites of a —deck and a dock“. So now we needed a boat for our —dock.“ We decided on a 20' Four Winds runabout boat. So now we have the best of both worlds œ summers in Montana, winters in Mexico and some occasional traveling. Last year we cruised to Alaska. This fall we‘re heading to Europe for an extended river cruise on the Rhine. We drive from Mexico to Montana visiting as many of our six children, fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren as we can along the way. My best wishes to all in the class of ”53. I hope to see you at the next get together. If anyone comes to Puerto Vallarta or Montana, please call so we can get together. Montana: 406/883-2626 Mexico: 322-221-1201 Don Fabbi: My wife Barbara (Potter) and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on December 26, 2003. We have four children (one deceased), 14 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. I retired from Nevada Power in ‘93 as manager of safety services and 40 years of service. I‘m still very active with gardening and volunteer activities, such as a senior center community garden and establishing a plant a row for the hungry program. I‘ve twice received the coveted silver trowel award from the UNR Cooperative Extension Services for my many gardening activities. These activities now exceed 6,000 hours. Otherwise, I enjoy sport fishing for marlin in East Cape Cabo and large mouth bass fishing every summer for a month in Maine. John Bearce: I want to thank you for all of the work that you have done in putting out the newsletters, our memory book, etc. over these past years. They have certainly kept all of us up-to-date and aware of what is going on with our classmates. Since our 50th, the only thing that has changed is the number of years my wife and I have been married, 48 years this July. We are still here in Las Vegas but it isn‘t like it use to be in any way shape or form. We have two kids who live here in Las Vegas. Our daughter teaches 2nd grade at a year round school. She has two daughters. Our son works for the Community College and he has a son and daughter. It used to be our own kids kept us busy going to different activities now it is the grand kids. This past October we took a trip back to my hometown in Iowa. I hadn‘t been back there for around 25 years. Things had really changed there. I got to see what happens to the small farming communities when an Interstate is built just outside of the town. Las Vegas just celebrated the 100 year Centennial and they had a Helldorado Parade a week ago this Saturday. Earlene was in the parade representing the past Helldorado Queens. They had her as the 1951 Queen but she thought it should have been 1952, she mentioned something to the effect that she was the oldest Queen there!!!!! They even had the past Rhythmettes marching in the parade. My husband, Fred (Buzz), and I are retiring from the workforce for the third and final time at the end of May. We are living in Central, Utah, which is approximately 30 miles north of St. George, on the side of a mountain that abuts the Dixie National Forest and gives us a spectacular view of the Pine Valley Mountains and surrounds. I have been working part-time for a career-oriented textbook publisher and Fred has been working part-time at Dixie State College in their Small Business Alliance office helping start-up businesses. We have found a nice home in a PUD (planned home development) in Cedar City, Utah, that will be finished in approximately September. It will be a short move of only 50 miles for us. Cedar City is the home of the 2002 Tony Award Shakespeare Festival as well as Southern Utah University. It has just over 20,000 people, so should be a slow-paced environment for us —older folks.“ Now we will have more time to visit our daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Joey, and our two grandchildren, Bethany and David, in Michigan. Our son, Mike, is single and working as a chef in Maui, so I am thinking a trip to see him would be a nice way to start our —new“ life. My very best wishes to all my classmates. I can be reached at donnafred@msn.com if you are so inclined Ken Olive: Things have changed a little for Ken and Barbie Olive! We always like to walk every day, and a few years ago we came into town (Reno) from our home out south about 10 miles. We were walking along the Truckee River and noticed a —house for sale — sign about a half block from the river. There was no one at the house to let us take a look but a neighbor saw us looking at the outside of the house and asked if we would like to look at her house and see what they were like. Barbie fell in love with what the house looked like inside and that was that! We love being close to the river and being able to take special walks every day! We always see something new every day, like the river rising about 24 inches this month. By the way, we made sure that our new home was above the 100 year flood level! We get to travel a lot since we have three of our children and their families living out of state; Texas, Los Angeles, and Utah. Our son that lived in Vegas came to Reno 2 years ago, so we get to see them more often! I am the president of the board of directors for a condominium association and this keeps me busy, along with all the —honey do‘s“ that Barbie has for me. We are still serving at the Reno Mormon Temple and love this assignment. I miss —old Vegas“ and all the wonderful people! The Heldorado Hillbilly parade, the cute LVHS Rhythmetts, Heldorado Village, Lake Mead, the Colorado River, Deer Creek, etc. It would be fun to go back in time and have things the way they were. And, of course, come back to now and continue to be —Grandpa“. Beverly Stanfield: I‘m glad you sent your note even though I‘m not a real graduate. I am pretty sure no one other than Melina Saponaro Rissione and Cynthia Slater Schadel remember me but your year book committee was good enough to send me the Reunion Yearbook. I wrote a couple of years ago about the lasting influence that Mrs. Riggs and Mr. Gardner had on my outlook, and I value that greatly to this day. I was pleased to read that Clark Hoffman voiced a similar opinion of Mrs. Riggs. I was in the last semester of Junior English with him, and so delighted to read about his and Mary Jane Arnold‘s marriage that resulted from a reunion. I believe George and Marguerite Ball occasionally see my good friend, Melina. When we do get to visit, the years just fall away and she is still the same incredibly dear and innocent girl I have known through the years; unfortunately Cynthia has chosen not to communicate with either of us for the last ten years or so, but she was very much a part of my young teen years (not even years only one and a half in real time), but much more so in the scheme of my life. Gretchen Harris Payne: I just got back home from a Rhythmette reunion and Helldorado Parade weekend, and Alice reminded us all to send you an email right away, so here it is – boring as it is. It was great fun to practice and march in the parade (33 of us marched, and five rode in a car in front of us). It really takes me back to all the fun we had as kids in L.V. Today we met in the old LVHS gym, took pictures, looked over old scrapbooks of —the good old days“, and reminisced about Miss Stuckey. It was a super get-together! (Five of us from the class of 1953 marched in the parade, and Earlene Whitt rode in the parade as a former Helldorado Queen.) Back to what‘s going on in my life Well, I get up at 5:30 a.m., and my granddaughter, Rachel, gets dropped off at 6:30 a.m. I fix her breakfast, and then at 8:30, walk her to her 5th grade class. At 2:00 p.m., I pick up her brother, Brian (7th grade), at Hyde Park Jr. H.S., fix him some lunch (he won‘t eat at the school cafeteria), and then pick Rachel up from school at 3:15 p.m. Pretty exciting, right? Other than that, I‘m sure you know I retired from the CCSD two years ago, and immediately was asked by the Director of Schools at Trinity Christian H.S. if I would consider working for him every Friday and whenever they needed extra help in the office. I agreed, and am enjoying being around high school kids again. I‘m still working as a volunteer with World Experience (foreign exchange student program). Don & I have enjoyed having many exchange —sons and daughters“ over the years. One of our —daughters“, Ouiza, from France, came back to LV after two years of college in France, and got her teaching degree from UNLV, met and married Don‘s nephew, which now makes her our daughter and our niece! They have two children: Emma, 4 yrs. old, and Joey, 2 yrs. old. Ouiza has now received her master‘s degree in counseling, and is currently a counselor at the new LVHS. Don‘s and my combined children (eight) are scattered all over the US: New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, California, Colorado, and L.V. We have 20 grandkids (counting Ouiza‘s two), and there are five great-grandkids in the bunch. Who ever would have thought...Don and I travel a lot, and play a little golf, and generally enjoy being semiretired. I‘m really looking forward to our next reunion June 6, 7, 8, 2008, and spending time with all our great classmates – the best LVHS class ever! Jerry Tousa: I am retired as a high school football coach in Dallas and we now live in St. George, my wife, Mary Lynn, born and raised here. We have five children: Mike lives in Vegas and is a golf club pro. One daughter. Frank and his wife live in Vegas and he is a coach at Eldorado High School. Jeff and his family live in Charlotte, N. C. He is president of his company. 3 daughters and 1 son. Cheryl and her family live in Dallas and she is a full time mom. 2 daughters and a son. Scot and his wife live in Ann Arbor, Mich. He plays professional baseball in the Tiger's organization. They are expecting their first child in late July. All is well with us. Paula Barber Boardman: I wasn‘t going to reply because nothing new is going on with me, but I decided to write about this past weekend and our big 100th birthday celebration in Las Vegas. It was fun to have the Helldorado parade back again. It brought back lots of memories, but somehow lacked the glamour of the old ones when the hotels put in their entries. One thing that was unique this year was the ethnic contingents ....Descendants of Asia, Descendants of Europe, Asia-Pacific descendants, African-American descendants, etc. I really got excited to see the Las Vegas High School Band. I will have to say our Helldorado uniforms with the black pants, red and black western shirts, and black cowboy hats were much better looking! If I had a scanner, I would send you my picture from those years! And I am wondering, what is with all the feathers on the band hats? It was fun to see the former Rhythmettes in the parade, too. Alice Thiriot represented them on T.V. in an interview! Another interesting thing was a visit to the old post office at 3rd and Stewart. It is now a museum call the POST MODERN. The second floor has pictures and exhibits of Las Vegas when it was young. There was our high school after completion in 1930 something without any landscaping yet, and a larger than life picture of the Rhythmettes. As I looked, I began to realize I knew those girls. It was from 1952-1953! I am glad today‘s children got a little taste of what it was like when we were young. It was the best! Bill Hamilton: In 1929 the road from Las Vegas to Los Angeles was a dirt road. My grandparents built a gas station and some cabins at Jean, Nevada. By our day, 1935 more or less, the road had been paved and there was a gas station called "Whiskey Pete's" at the state line. I lived there until 1941. Two weeks ago Frances and I stayed at Jean at the Gold Strike and visited State Line (now called Primm) and saw development all over the place. It reminds me that we have all seen incredible change. After I left high school in 1953 it took eight years before I found someone who would marry me, but we have been at it now for forty-four years. We had nine kids and all are out of the house (I would hope so, the oldest is 43). We have twenty-two grandkids, the oldest is 21 and none are married (no great grandkids). I became a CPA and worked in accounting in San Francisco for twenty-three years. It was a terrible commute from Pleasanton, but who would raise a family in San Francisco? In 1996 the kids were raised, enough was enough; we called it quits and came to Lebanon, Oregon. Today we are deep in retirement. We have become country folk and can do as we please. Our neighbor, ² mile away, is 92 year old Burt who lives by himself. I said, —Burt, have you thought of living in town?“ He said, —H– no, if I lived in town I couldn‘t pee in my own yard without upsetting someone.“ That‘s life in the country. On the 4th of July we and the grandkids set off fireworks and nobody complains. We could have horses except I never learned to ride. We have deer, elk, and two big dogs. But the dogs are used to the deer and the deer are used to the dogs. So if I want them out of the garden I have to do it myself. There are twelve couples our age from the church who also have no children at home. So every Monday evening we get together at someone‘s house for a potluck, a party, or what ever we feel like and call it Family Home Evening. My 94 year old mother lives with us. She still calls me Billy. I feel quite fortunate and imagine there are only a few of us who still have one of our parents. My health is good. I am trying to learn golf in my old age and I sort of jog around the block (five miles) a couple of times a week. I am thinking of 10-K races because I figure that since I am now in a new age bracket the competition must have gotten easier. My big project of the moment is writing an autobiography. Some of the grandkids don‘t even know that I lived in Las Vegas. There is a lot they don‘t know. I will tell them that life then was really tough. Would you believe we used to have to walk fifteen feet to change the TV? When I come to the next reunion I will bring a couple of copies of the chapter, —I was a Teenager in Las Vegas“. I hope a few of my friends would want to know what I said about them, and will correct my errors. We look forward to seeing each of you again and again. Bill & Frances Hamilton
Had heart problems again but we made it again. Lucille and I have been caregivers for our mothers since we moved to Utah in 1993. In the past 14 months we lost both of them. My mother was 90 and Lucille‘s mother was 102. We are both having a hard time adjusting to being —foot loose and fancy free.“ We hope our health will allow us to come to the next get together the class of —53“ will hold! I enjoy the newsletters and appreciate your efforts. Thank you p.s.We have 30 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren so far. Do you remember this song? When it‘s night-time in Nevada I‘m
dreaming–
of the old days, on the prairie and you.
I miss you when the campfire is gleaming–
And I wonder if you miss me too.
I can see the Great Divide and the trail
we used to ride–
The only bit of Heaven I knew.
When it‘s night tine in Nevada I‘m dreaming
of the old days, on the prairie and you.
When the golden sun is slowly sinking
Down behind the mountains to the west.
Of you then sweetheart I'm always thinking
Just fashioning a dream I love the best:
I've been drifting since we rode the ranges
Took to roaming when you went away.
With a love for you that never changes
I'm hoping we shall meet again some day.
Ralph Adams: I enjoy the newsletters and so to answer your call for us to update or send even a "hi" to our classmates, I am responding. The enclosed photo (shown above) was taken in Oct 2004 in Colorado Springs, CO. It is a picture of my wife, Elna, who I met in Okinawa when I was in the military (married 43 years) is on the left and some deaf friends in the center and me on the right. These friends taught at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC and taught us sign language and we have been involved with the deaf ever since (30 years now). We have three sons (lost our fourth one) and two granddaughters. I have so many fond memories of all my classmates that I wouldn't know where to start in giving reminiscence of anything in particular. I just remember that we all cared for each other and always enjoyed being with each other. Roger had some friends he hung out with more than me but we did have the same friends. I do remember though that Toni Jolley was the first girl I ever went steady with. I did date some girls that I have fond memories of dating and how much we enjoyed doing the things we all did in high school, such as drive-in movies, Sills Drive-in, and going to the strip on special occasions. Carolyn Whipple Benson: Hello from your classmate in Newton, UT. Newton is a small farming town 15 miles Northwest of Logan. Life in a small town is very quiet and slow paced. Life in a small town doesn't change much from year to year. The only changes have been in our health. Getting older has a lot of ups and downs. Lately it has been more downs. I like the saying "when life gives you lemons make lemonaid." I am grateful for the health that I have. I am also grateful that my children's health has been good. My daughter went through breast cancer, but is doing OK now. It was a good time at the reunion. I renewed friendships with many of you. I have since sent and received cards and letters from many of you. I really like hearing about you and your families. News about my family is happy and sad. Happy because my granddaughter, Laylee, will be going to Cornell for her internship this summer. Following her stay at Cornell she is getting married and then attending BYU as a senior. Her major is physics. The sad part is my sister Beth. She taught school and became a librarian and finally after 30 plus years retired. Her health has really gone. We had to sell her house and put her into an assisted living center. Then she had a seisure. So now she is in rehabilitation. We are hoping and praying that she can go back to her assisted living apartment. Again, thanks to all of you that came to our 50th reunion. It was fun and so good to see and talk with all of you. Hope to see all of you at our 55th. It's worth all the effort to attend. I've enclosed a photo (shown below) of Alice Thiriot and Isabel Worthen taken on one of our bus trips with the Rhythemettes. In Tonopah:On the way to Reno for the '53 basketball championships are Mary Jane Arnold, Marian Hall, Ruby Patrick, Diane Allen and Barbara Profitt. Photo provided by Marian Hall Catron. Club Members -- Pictured above are the members of the newly formed Dacre club, composed of a group of senior girls from Las Vegas High School. Seated on the floor, left to right, are: Ann Love, Marian Hall, LeMoyne Rice, and Barbara Profitt. At the back left to right are: Sylvia Brickner, Lois Wentz, Shirley Chaffee, Mrs R. E. Klinkner, sponsor, June Ledbetter, Myrna McClanahan and Martha Graham. Not pictured are Rena Pulliam and Mary Jane Arnold. (Clipping furnished by Ann Love McPherson) Marian Hall Catron:Am so sorry
and appalled that so few have replied,
as I look forward to reading
about everyone and how they are
doing in life. The older I get the
better that time of my life is remembered,
so much fun, trauma, and
little responsibilities. I just hope
that everyone has found peace and
happiness in their life and I miss
some of our classmates that have
passed on. I have been so blessed in
this life, not that everything is perfect
but I was given the tools and
faith to carry any burden, that I
hesitate to write what is happening.
My two daughters are flourishing
and have active families that keep
me going to basketball, softball and
plays to support them. I have convinced
the grandkids that I.m the
.Queen Mother. and I.m the ultimate
law. I have wonderful male
and female friends, that are my extra
support system besides my family.
Every now and then, I.m shocked to
find I.m mortal and have a few health
problems, but pop a pill the Doc
recommends and off I go. Still enjoy
weekly golf games, kayaking, and
the ultimate .old lady sport. of walking
my dog. Winter time is for genealogy
and heirloom sewing. I.m looking
forward to the next reunion and
seeing everyone again.
Bob Zirbel: I still haven.t got anything
ready. I was going to send a
little something about some of the
teachers that I became friends with
after graduation either through my
mother and step-father (my mother
was a teacher) or through the school
district where I worked in purchasing
and warehousing for thirty-two
years. For instance did you know that
Richard Millhouse, typing teacher I
believe, married Jeanette Flack in .78?
They have both passed on. That was
what my mother informed me of. They,
being teachers, were great friends.
Gordon Flack was my mother.s principal
at Quanah McCall for a few years.
He lost one leg due to diabetes, but was
still chipper after all that, right up to
the end. Anyhow, sorry I can.t get it all
down right now but do let me know
how it is going with you up in cool
country. Cheers, Love and God Bless,
Lee Lovaas: I just want to say hi to all our great classmates and wish them the best of everything, especially good health. I‘m still above ground, enjoying the great blessing of good health and not experiencing as many aches and pains as I thought I would at 70. Our children and grandchildren, six now with the addition of little Christian who will be two in June. They are all doing well, keeping us very busy attending football, basketball, soccer, baseball games and dance recitals. The avocado farm is wearing me out, having trouble keeping up with the weeding, fertilizing and watering. think fishing and golf will be a better way to spend my time. I still have flash backs about the good times at LVHS. We were very lucky to grow up in that little town and have so many fun experiences with good friends. Today is great, but I do enjoy thinking about the —good old days“ in high school. Chuck Handley: Can't complain! In addition to playing softball I am now umpiring both fast and slow pitch. Fast pitch girls ages 10 and under; 12 and under and 14 and under. Henry Rilling (a.k.a. 'Lucky'): Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when out of the past comes the drumbeat of the bunny hop: the Wildcat Lair rocks again (if only in our memories). What other teenagers on earth had a club that every night after a game there was a live orchestra, ping-pong tables, and a coke bar? A privileged youth full of opportunities could only result in a privileged life, and to my knowledge of the class of '53, we have all continued to have great lives (with a few exceptions for health). What other teenagers had big name entertainers from the strip during the dance intermission, or can remember romantic lyrics to songs certainly not today's teens and today's lyrics. So is it any wonder that we look forward to the next reunion, and read with interest the latest "Cat Tracks" to see how old friends are doing? Judging from the last 'Tracks' and reunion, our greatest contributions on this earth have been a crop of grandkids. I am always amazed at my recall ability about a high school peer group when I can't remember a damn thing about later peer groups who should have been more important to my life. Recently I have been calling LVHS friends to clarify even high school memories, for some of them have begun to get cloudy too. Maybe that's the way it is supposed to be. Perhaps there is only so much space on my synaptic hard drive, and last year's memories are enough to be grateful for, and the space is used up planning today, (which is all we really have) and hopefully tomorrow. It is very humbling to recall the last 12 months, of snorkeling in Roratonga, skiing in New Zealand, Canada & Europe, visiting ancient ruins in Italy & Sicily, and being on tap this summer to hike part of the Inca trail to Machu Picchu Peru, and ski Bariloche Argentina, cross the lake district & Andes and ski the active volcano at Thermas de Chillon Chile. I am thoroughly convinced that we in the class of '53 have lived in the best time in history, and to have spent our teen years where we did with who we did. It may or may not have been fun back in the Middle Ages (I am fascinated by castles & fortresses), but adventure traveling was a bitch back then, and so was staying healthy. Nobody skied back then, changed continents overnight, or listened to music from their youth on mp3 players anytime they wished anywhere they wished. So as we lose 2% of our muscle mass each year, wince at arthritic pains, wonder about the long term effect of our medicines, try to eek another hike out of our knees, and worry about how grandchildren will turn out in this modern world, it is all better than the cold, permanent alternative, and we should be grateful. George Wilkinson: Sure wish I had a clever nickname like 'Lucky'. I don't think I want to know how some people might refer to me after all the nagging I do trying to get info for this newsletter. But what the hell, someone had to do it. Like many of you, my life is rather routine and not really exciting. I get beat regularly in golf by Billy B but still manage to win a few bucks in our tournaments with the Northern Nevada Seniors Golf Club. Watching my IRA shrink to the point of no return and thinking about selling by home in Reno in a couple of years and probably going to live with one of my kids. After all they all returned to my home to live once or twice after they'd left. Sure wish my memory wasn't going down the drain. I can't remember who I took to either the Junior Prom or the Senior Ball. I think I went because I remember my Dad bought me a white dinner jacket and tux pants. Can anyone out there help me out? The bright spots in my life are my granddaughters -- all five of them. Number one, Christina, my oldest son Nigel's first child, is a star gymnast at Towson University, a Division 1 school in Maryland. A sophomore, she was recently named as the Eastern College Athletic Conference Gymnast of the Year. Number two, Ashley, Nigel's second, is a senior in high school. She spent most of last summer with me in Reno. Boy, was that some fun staying up at night wondering what she was doing out on the town with new friends!! Nigel's youngest, Carlisle, is a darling 12 year old going on 30. I get to see her a couple times a year when I travel back to Virgina. My youngest son, Alexander and his family spent last Christmas with me so I got to be with my other two granddaughters. Kira, 12, enjoyed the 4 feet of snow that fell just after Christmas. The newest addition, Maia, at 7 months, was already preparing for a career in basketball. Well, that's it for me. See you all at the 55th. Class President - The senior ball of LVHS was a gala event held at the Silver Slipper ballroom on Jan. 9th. Joe Free, class president, shown above, had appointed five committees to arrange details of the big social event of the year. He is shown above dancing with Miss Isabel Worthen. (Review Journal clipping provided by Ann Love McPherson.) Marcia Whipple Bennett: At this stage in life, everything is Maintenance! Visits 2x weekly to the physical therapist as a result of 4 hrs (really) inside an MRT!! Osteo-arthritis and 2 discs out of alignment (& pinching), bursitis in right hip, etc. Nothing to operate about, sez my Arthritis Doc. Just the usual aches and pains. Taught two days a week at Asheville Middle School from Jan through most of May. I still have a few piano students and tutoring students. This is retirement?? I wonder how many of us will be around at 75? My cousin, Carolyn, called me all the way from Utah on my 70th birthday -- hers is just 4 days later. Neither of us could believe that we've entered the 7th decade. My life is full, fairly healthy and I am enjoying being here in the Southeast. A very different place from the West. (Can you still remember and sing the Nevada state song -- the most beautiful of all state songs? I think.) Remember the song, "Howdy Partner" written by one of out 6th grade teachers at 5th St School -- Ms Driscoll, I think. Another wonderful song. I hope everyone else is well and healthy at this point. I am determined to see 75 and with my genes, I probably will! Jeanne Bush Draper: Hello there. A note from Sparks. Draper Clan still growing. Jeanne & (Dale) married 49 yrs this April. Four children & spouses, 27 grandchildren & 7 greats. Three Sons: Kevin (Moana) an Architect in Aurora, Utah; Chris (Patrica) Contractor in Nampa, Idaho; Kyle (Roni Jo) with BYU- Provo living in Mapleton; & Daughter Dawn Marie (John Griffith) in Sparks, (Spanish Springs). Dawn teaching at Hidden Valley Elementary, John works at UNR-Reno. We are retired from 30 years in Education. Jeanne, all grades in Special Education-Early Childhood through Twelth Grade, & Early Childhood through Fifth in General Elementary classes. Taught in Las Vegas, Fernley, Kailua- Hawaii & Carson City, graduated UNR Reno 1968. Taught from 1968 to 1998. Dale began in 1958 at Willits High in California, Reno High, Western (LV), WNCC, Fernley Schools as a Jr. & Senior High Schoo teacher then Administration, Professorship at BYU-Hawaii (84-85) & retired 1985. Designed & made Custom Cabinets for 15 more years while Jeanne taught in Carson. Loved each day. Jeanne writes letters, family photo histories & reads. Dale has Koi, Bonsai, landscaping & woodworking projects with time for fishing. We are happy & healthy with aches from aging, arthritis & Jeanne‘s Fibromyalgia. Grateful for our successful & loving family, comfort at home & ability to keep it going. We treasure our time in Hawaii (198485) & our Senior Mission together (1990-1991) in Hannibal, Missouri, Quincy, Illinois & Nauvoo Stake for the Church experiences. We have enjoyed working in the Hawaiian & Reno Temples. Life has been good these past 70 years. Our parents & brothers, both Dale‘s & Jeanne‘s have passed on and we are —it“ now & find some lonely times at the —TOP“ of the generations. Jeanne‘s brother Steve Bush, died of massive stroke at 63 & Steve had also experienced the residue from the 1951–53 Tests at Frenchman, while walking to & from school for more years than Jeanne. Thanks for reading this. Have seen a handful of classmates over the years. Only made it to a couple of reunions, due to health matters, including thy-roid-related weight challenges. Would love to exchange e-mails anytime. Sonnyorcj@aol.com cj is for Celia Jeanne. Have a good year. Hugs. Jerry Kerns: Thanks for the opportunity. However, I really lead a very quite retirement and have nothing of interest to submit. Take care of yourself. (Editor's Note: At least we know Jerry is still above ground!) Remembering
Classmates
June was born on May 11, 1935 in Sylacauga, Alabama. She passed away, in her sleep, January 9, 2005 in Niceville FL. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, and her stepfather. June was loved by all who knew her. She loved to bowl with her friend, Bev; paint ceramics, and helped lead Brownie Troop 409, with her friend Betty. Her genuine caring nature exhibited in all that she did, left an indelible impression on the many lives she touched. She was a member of Joseph B. Franzalia Lodge #2422 Sons of Italy. Her constant companion was her little dog, Pee-Wee. June is survived by her loving husband of 48 years, James Taraldson of Niceville, FL; son Jeff Taraldson and wife, Caryl, of Sunnyvale, CA; daughter, Jo VonSchoeler and husband Robert of Crestview, FL; three grandchildren and one great-grandson. The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. Barbara Jean Richardson Seno passed away on January 14, 2005 in Las Vegas. She was born March 2, 1935, in Los Angeles and was a 60 year resident of Las Vegas. Through the years, she was actively involved with the parish of St. Francis de Sales, participating in school activities, camping trips, and sponsored sports events. Barbara retired from the Clark County School District, where she was employed as a library aide working at her beloved Dorris Hancock Elementary School. Barbara is survived by her five children, her sister, seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons. Barbara was married and divorced to Robert D. Seno, also of Las Vegas. An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anesthesia he asked to speak to his son. "Yes, Dad, what is it?" "Don't be nervous, son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife" Eufrasia Kaiser Rivers of North Las Vegas passed away on May 3, 2004. She was a retired office clerk for Mission Linens Supply. She is survived by her daughter, Margarita of Las Vegas. Larry Farnsworth passed away on June 23, 2003, three months after heart surgery. He was a residential designer in Springdale, Utah. Larry is survived by his wife, Marolyn, a son and a daughter. Lionel Tyree of Las Vegas passed away on May 4, 2004. He was a retired office machine repairman. He is survived by his wife, Betty, a son, and three daughters. Remembering
Classmates
Harry Mangrum passed away in 2002 in Las Vegas after suffering complications of heart disease. By most accounts Harry had a interesting and somewhat checkered life after high school. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for a year, then entered the University of Nevada in Reno. At the University, Harry belong to the SAE fraternity, met and married Carol Titus. He was active in ROTC, graduating in 1958. He soon entered the Army as a second lieutenant and served three years. After the Army, Harry went to law school in Oregon, passed the Nevada Bar and set up practice in Las Vegas. He became active in politics, running unsucessfully for public office several times. Harry, according to his sister, became somewhat of a recluse in his later years. Harry was married three times, all ending in divorce. He is survived by his sister Carol Ann White (LVHS '55) of Phoenix, AZ. A 97 year old man goes into his doctor's office and says, "Doc, I want my sex drive lowered." "Sir," replied the doctor, "You're 97. Don't you think your sex drive is all in your head?" "You're damned right it is!" replied the old man. "That's why I want it lowered!" Joan Ochs Poole, 70, a homemaker, died of cancer on January 19, 2005. Joan was preceded in death by her brother, Wesley; and her parents, Walter and Lulu Ochs. They homesteaded in Bunkerville in 1918 along with her surviving sister, Amanda Day now in Delta, CO. They moved to Las Vegas in 1920 and eventually owned the old trailer court on North 12th Street. Joan went on to graduate from LVHS in 1953. She was a charter member of the Las Vegas Rythemettes. Joan possessed a beautiful second soprano voice which in her younger years contributed to the music program of her long time church, Trinity Life Center, where her membership began in 1953. Joan is survived by her husband, Robert E. Poole, whom she married June 6, 1955; children, Rev. David Poole, Diana Mosher and Bobbie Poole; and three grandchildren. (Continued from page 1)
tionnaire to provide the Committee
with further guidance is enclosed.
Please complete and return.
As we get closer to 2008 and the analysis of your returned questionnaire is completed, more information will be forthcoming. Joseph W. McNamee passed away on December 10, 2003 in California where he had been living for the past several years due to health problems. While Joe didn't attend LVHS, he went to 5th Street Grammar school from K-8th grades and then went away to boarding school in California for high school. He was a retired business man, former attorney and Nevada assemblyman. Joe is survived by his wife, Megg, and four daughters: Maureen, Marian, Eileen and Therese. Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald and have such terrible eyesight, they don't recognize you. Mark Your Calendar for our 55th Reunion
It was just after our 35th Reunion that I started this newsletter in the hopes of sparking more of an interest in our Reunions. At first I published it every year for 10 years, but it got harder and harder to elicit information from our classmates. The common response "there is noting to write about." So after the 45th I started to publish every two years. But I still get the same response from a few of you and nothing at all from the majority of our classmates. 
Bobby and granddaughter Christina in a '32 duce street rod.. Christina is the daughter of Bob's son Scott who died in 1988. The photo was taken in 2003 
Pete‘s Grandkids at his 70th:
Think Ahead to 2008
June 6 through 8
Make Your Plans Now To Attend
Madeleine Page and Anne Marie Ball
IN RENO. George Wilkinson, Chuck Handley and George Ball got together to wind up Chuck's stay. He was in the area playing and umpiring in a senior softball tournament in late May and early June. 
Kent Huntsman: It was good to get the newsletter notices. Sorry to have missed the 50th as I had really wanted to get to that one in as much as I hadn‘t made any of the others. When It's Night Time In Nevada
June Leadbetter
Taraldson
Barbara Richardson
Seno
Eufrasia Rivera Kaiser
Larry Farnsworth
Lionel Tyree
Harry Mangrum
Joan Ochs Poole
55th Reunion...
Joe McNamee
Cat Tracks...
