May is here along with spring events at school with vacations not far behind.  Of course, I am talking about grandkids.  There is probably just a handful of us left with teenagers still at home!!!!  Thank heavens.

MAIL CALL

from Liz Hall in Lubbock , TX
My husband, John, and I just returned from a fabulous trip to THE MASTERS golf tournament in Augusta , GA.   If you have watched it on TV, I assure you that no hi-def TV can do the course justice.  It is beautiful and the most "civilized" golf ever.  We had a great time. 

taken from The PA News about Hal Ross
J ack Brooks Regional Airport manager Hal Ross will retire later this year, sometime after county budget hearings.  Ross announced his plans at the commissioners court meeting.  Ross was appointed airport manager in 2003.  Before that, he worked for Jefferson County , presiding over hospital hearings to determine whether people should be committed to the Spindletop Center .

from Jan Russell in Spring
I agree with your cousin from West Orange talking about what should happen with the space shuttle.  I think we should land the shuttle at Ellington, taxi down I-45 to NASA Rd 1, then onto NASA at the Houston Space Center in Clear Lake !!!!  After that we SECEDE and DARE the Feds to do something about it!  (I know---they tried it in 1861 and things didn't go so well, but now we have the technology!)  Our population is steadily growing, and, with all the "snowbirds" in Florida , we could use it as a penal colony! 

from Sherry ( Sheridan ) Jordan '67 in Ruston , LA
I just stumbled across your newsletter and website and would like to thank you for keeping everything so current.  I was saddened to hear about Jimmy Hughes and hope that he continues to do well in his recovery.  His older brother, Joe, was a dear friend.  I was also shocked about Robert Thornell's death.  I was good friends with Sheridan Jones  when we were in school.  It is just nice to know anything about people from your past.  I have lived in Ruston , LA for the last 38 years.  Most of my family in PA have either moved or passed away.  Actually, Gail Holtzclaw is my first cousin and she lives in the Port Acres area.  We just don't get to see each other very often.  Again, just wanted to let you know that your class news is appreciated.
sjorda@latech.edu

from Janette Light Norton in Cypress , TX
Just a friendly note to all of you.  With my kids settled and my recovering health, Richard and I are finally feeling retired.  This month especially we've managed a few great visits with old friends.  Sunshine and wildflowers.  While I was in San Antonio a couple of weeks ago, I spent an entire afternoon with Jann Rodriguez Carter .  On the way home, I stopped for lunch with Sharon Lewis Forrest .  Both girls are quite gifted-- Sharon with her glass fusion and Jann with her gardens, both floral and vegetable.  Ironically, Liz, Jann, and I all lost our mothers almost a month to the day in Nov, Dec, and Jan.  

Last Friday night with a balmy evening breeze, Liz Tieskens Ellis and her husband, Butch Ellis '69 , joined us on the waterfront at Kemah for a few good laughs.  Today Carol Bonin was nearby recruiting nursing students; we met for lunch before she headed back to Beaumont .  Carol is finishing her doctorate in nursing.  

Of course, I can't forget the nice visit with the dear friends, too many to name, but all generous of their time and love for Jimmy Hughes and others of us who have been dealt life's blows.  Anthony Roccaforte went above and beyond.  

Driving down the road I was struck by the genius, determination, and goodwill of both our class and our community.  Ya'll come!

PS  News Alert:  Someone is stealing flowers out of the cemetery in Anahuac .  Seems like I remember someone we know and love who used to do that for a certain carhop at Drake's!   

from Billy Jordan in Decatur , AL
We feel blessed!  We live in northern Alabama and last week was very scary.  We had seven tornado warnings, many fatalities to the west and east of us and major destruction. The sirens were going off constantly.  We lost power for a long time.  We came through with no damage and all are fine.  The reports said that we had 48 tornadoes that hit the ground. (Seeing all the destruction from the storms made me feel embarrassed for doing the "poor me" pity dance after Hurricane Ike! So glad your family is safe . )

from Nancy McClain (PE teacher and Hussars sponsor)
Thank you for all you do for your classmates and teachers on the e-mail and class page.
( You are welcome.  I lost lots of the teachers' e-mail addresses in the storm.)

from Carla Castro Stewart in Port Neches
Ricky and I had the most wonderful wedding ever.  Our day was the best in our life.
(Congratulations to a sweet lady and a very lucky man!) 

from Sharon Lewis Forrest in Boerne , TX
I so enjoyed the weekend with Chrissy Dupuis Mullens .  Lots of laughs, beer and shopping on Boerne's Main Street .  Oh, and I can't forget the decorating we did in my kitchen/dining area.  She stayed a couple of days.  We enjoyed the night sitting on the deck.  She even brought some old pics of me, Jim, and the kids---OLD pics! 

from Chrissy Dupuis Mullens in Port Arthur
I am spending a couple of days at Sharon Lewis Forrest's home in Boerne.  The visit has been awesome.  It is so peaceful here.  I can see deer in the yards.  We went to Luckenbach looking for Willie and friends in the Forrest's new F150 Ford truck.  Now, I am heading to Austin with my son and his wife.

***********************************************************************

NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT

I just celebrated my 61st birthday on Cinco de Mayo with some classmates at Tequila's Restaurant in PA on Gulfway Drive .  It is housed in the old Pizza Inn building.  I know that establishment brings back a ton of memories!  Those who shared my birthday luncheon were Ernie Castaneda, Darlene Turner, Debbie Borres, Jane Lippincott, Paula Daigle , and bringing the cake my mom always made me was Diane Richmond !  It was special to have that cake because it was my first birthday without Mom.  It was nice to share the day with friends.  I also received oodles of messages via e-mail, snail mail, phone calls and on Face Book.  Thanks to all of you for taking the time to remember me.  Mike Lawson celebrated his birthday the day before or what I call the eve of Cinco de Mayo.  Someday we might have to meet and celebrate our birthdays together.   

We had a screened-in patio built on the back of my sister's home so that Dad could have a nice safe place out of the mosquitoes to enjoy watching the birds, listen to cajun and classic country music, and a quite place to nap when he is at her home on the weekends in Bridge City. My sister is enjoying it as well!  By the way, my sister is doing really well at the moment with her bi-polar condition.  Thank you JESUS! 

My oldest granddaughter is making her FIRST COMMUNION this Saturday morning in Beaumont at St. Jude's Catholic Church.  This is such a special occasion and I can't wait to see her walk down the aisle in her white gown and veil and tiera just like Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.  They grow up so fast.  Boo Hoo 

Murphy is giving me my belated birthday present today.  The Lamar Alumni is having a tailgate party at the Lamar Baseball Stadium with free admission for the alumnis.  Free food and free admission to the game....I think Murphy is getting off CHEAP!   Do you agree?

***********************************************************************

TJ/Lincoln Rivalry?????

This was the question asked me by a reporter from the Beaumont Enterprise .  So, I sent Mike the question to have him forward it to all of you.  I received a few responses: 

from Mike Lawson
In my opinion, TJ and PN-G was the great rivalry.  I don't remember TJ and Lincoln having any rivalry. 

from Nancy McClain (Girls PE instructor)
If she is talking about sports, TJ and Lincoln were not in the same division. 

from Gary Hammond
Seems like I competed against Greg Davis from the 7th grade on.  PN-G and Nederland were the big rivalries with TJ.  The Yellow Jackets seemed to come out on top and win district my years 66-68.  But, it was always very heated and sometimes a bit controversial.  We did have a heated rivalry with Lincoln in '68 in basketball.  God bless all you PA, PN-G, Orange and Beaumont folks. 

from Dianne (Sheppard) Doyle (wife of Mike Doyle (TJ '64?)
I can tell you for certain what the old rivalry was:  PNG and TJ.  It was HUGE!!!!  My husband was an All-District football player/track star at TJ and I was an Indianette at PNG.  I didn't know him while we were in high school, but I saw his name in the newspapers all the time.  We met at Lamar in the Student Union on the Friday that we were to play each other in September of 1963.  He was with a group of his buddies from TJ and I was with a group of my girlfriends from PNG.  Of course, we all argued about who was going to win the game that night.  That is how I met my future husband.  Even after we were married, for several years he would go see his Yellow Jackets and I would go see my Indians on Friday nights. 

The stands would be packed for these games.  PNG was a much smaller school, but the attendance was equal on each side.  There was electricity in the air year after year.  TJ had their band and twirlers, plus a drum and bugle corps called the Red Hussars.  When the game was in Port Arthur, one group would perform before the game and the other would perform at halftime.  PNG had their band and twirlers and the drill team named the Indianettes.  This tradition continues today.  At an early age, I knew both school fight songs.   

Each year leading up to the big game, Mike and I would divide our car down the middle with shoe polish and decorate each side with "Go TJ", "Win PNG", etc.  Everyone looked forward to seeing our car.  I have to admit that TJ won more games than PNG.  One year PNG was winning and it was raining so hard you could hardly see the field.  Mike asked me if I wanted to go home, to which I replied, "No way, I'm not going to miss this!" 

After we were married, we lived in Groves; so our children were definitely Indians.  Our son followed in his dad's footsteps with football and track, and our daughter was an Indianette, then varsity cheerleader.  We now have three grandsons who are future Indians.   

There are traditions on both sides of this fierce rivalry and fond memories that, hopefully, will be passed down to future generations and never be forgotten.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard "Go Ye Port Arthur" and "Scalp'em Indians, Scalp'em!"  I miss hearing them at the games. 

from Linda DeCuir McFadden
After reading Dianne Sheppard Doyle's memories of the TJ/PNG games, I thought of our  song that we would sing when their band played their spirit song....."Poor little Indian boys....Jackets going to sting those Indian boys!"  Thanks for the memories.

*********************************************************************

PAST NEWSLETTERS

Some of you have inquired about where to find and read past NEWSLETTERS.  Let me walk you through it.   

Find  Updates/NEWSLETTERS on the front page of the website

Click on the word VIEW

Find the Updates/NEWSLETTERS index and point your cursor on it (don't click)

Click the year you want to read in the box that pops up

Find a date that a NEWSLETTER was published (We try to have one every two weekends) 

If you need help, contact me.  Thanks for your support and interest in wanting to catch up on past news. 

***********************************************************************

HONORING DECEASED MOTHERS OF CLASSMATES

(Here is a list of those classmates that lost their mother since last MOTHER'S DAY in 2010 .  I'm sure there were more that I was not notified of.  Our sympathies are with you, also.  Please keep these classmates in your prayers as they celebrate their first MOTHER'S DAY without their mothers with them on earth.) 

Debra Jones Shwartzenburg
Linda DeCuir McFadden
James Hubert
Georgette Licatino Stepan
Elizabeth Hall Burns
Dennis Schmidt
Joyce Marceaux Abate
Elizabeth Tieskens Ellis
Vicki Brunow
Carla Castro Stewart
Janette Light Norton
Jeanne Painton Cain
Bart Darby
Jann Rodriguez Carter
Molly Williams Norris
Allen Andrus
Danny Licatino
Glenda Patin
Ellen Fawvor

If flowers grow in heaven Lord, then pick a bunch for me. Place them in her arms and tell her they're from me.  Tell her that I love and miss her, and when she turns to smile, place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for a while.   ***********************************************************************

When I was little,
I thought you were the best mother
anyone could ever wish for.
I thought you taught me more
than anyone else could,
that you understood me
when no one else would.
I thought you loved me
better than any other mother
ever loved her children.
I didn't know
what I'd do without you,
because I loved you
more than I could ever say.... 

Now that I'm grown
I just want you to know
that some things never change....
I still think
you're the best mother
a person could ever hope for,
and  I'll always,
always love you, Mom!

************************************************************************

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.  Drop me a line about your vacations, retirements, illnesses, support needs, etc.   

                                 Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
                                 Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com