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Boy,
my eyes are crossing and my head is swimming after looking at the tiny print on
this classmate spreadsheet
. I have been working non-stop for
several weeks trying to update the list
. It is 5 years old!! Because
so many of you were nice enough to write something about yourself and your
family when you contacted me with needed information, I am going to have to do
something a little different in MAIL
CALL
this edition. I don't want to inundate you
with too many classmates' stories at once. So, I am going to publish some
this time and hold off on the others for later publications. Don't
get your feelings hurt if you aren't in here this week. I just picked them
randomly. Don't stop writing to me though. Now, to your favorite
section
.....
MAIL
CALL
from Buddy McDowell
in Groves
Thanks so much for this website. I've located one of my best friends that I had
from elementary school to Lamar
College
. I don't think I would have found him without it.
from Linda Blakley
Rindlishbacher
in Oroville
, CA
We're all fine here. Still busy watching my grandaughters Monday through Friday.
Isabella is 20 months, Kaitlyn is 16 months. Rudy, (my husband), Rhett, (my son
), and I are leaving Wed on a week long RV trip. We're going down south to
Solvang, a cute little Dutch town, which is near Santa Barbara
. We have friends (other families) going down in their RVs too. Staying at RV
resort with many ammenities which will be lots of fun as well as near the ocean
which I love. In October, my sister Nancy, who is also a TJ Graduate, and I are
going to New York for 10 days.... just sister-time seeing the sights. Nancy
will fly out of San Antonio
and I will fly out of Sacramento
and meet in N.Y. It was nice that so many people responded to your
request for your Mom's card shower. I am sure it made her birthday
more special. July 10th will be the 8 year anniversary of losing my Mom. I miss
her daily. We really were so close.
from Dennis O'Quinn
in Anahuac
, TX
Sorry for not staying in touch more but we stay real busy out here, I
do get to read the Web site every once in awhile and it's great. I
will send you some money to keep this thing going.
from Nancy Jowell
Grisbee
in Sugar
Land
We are in the Houston
area ( Sugar
Land
) for one year before returning to south Florida
next summer to continue our work there.
from Judy Thompson Orr
in Fremont
, CA
Just checked out the latest newsletter. I really enjoy looking at the
site…what a great job you guys have done! I have a website for my
classroom and I KNOW how much work goes into maintaining one. I loved getting
the postcard and finding out about it. THANKS!
from Linda Blanton
Murski
on the island
of Guanaja
in the Bay
Islands
of Honduras
When is the reunion? I really only see US mail when I come to the
States and my next trip is planned around the Renaissance Festival sometime in
late October early November. Let me know so I don't miss this one,
okay??!!!!
(See the reunion news later in the NEWSLETTER for more information.)
from Jack Atkins
in Austin
Our daughter Alaina and her husband Keith Fournier are expecting our first
grandchild at the end of the month. She has her PhD in Cancer
pharmacology and is working for the Dept. of Health and Human Services in Washington
, DC
. Keith has his PhD in Neuro pharmacology and is with the Swiftwater
group. We are in Pt. Neches with our parents at least once a month, but
just don't seem to find the time to get out and visit on short weekend trips.
from Brenda
Rector Cooke
in Nederland
I am an accountant for Beaumont Rice Mills - started there July 1979. I
don't know if I mentioned this before, but my Mom is 83, Dad is 80 and
they still live in Port Arthur
. However, they are building a smaller home next door to me. My son
has a home on the other side of their lot. Needless to say, we are
slightly crazed from this building project. We are all helping out as best
we can and it is forcing us all to stay young! I'm sure lots of people
thought my parents have gone insane to tackle this at their age, but it has
really been great for them. They are so excited about being next door and
I'm am so blessed to still have them. This December they will celebrate 59
years of marriage.
from Laura Meece Darby
in Kingwood, TX
Bart & I have been married for 37 years this July. We have two
children, Daryl & Michele. Daryl is 35, married to Lisa; and they have
a daughter, Kaelie, who is 3 years old. Daryl graduated from SFA with an
accounting degree. He is an accountant with a company
called KeyeEnergy in downtown Houston. They live here in Kingwood, also. Our daughter Michele is 32,
divorced; and has a daughter, Paige, who is 2 years old. Michele graduated
from Southwest Texas
in San Marcus with a Management Degree like Bart. She is a Quality
Assurance Testing specialist in the corporate office at the Home Depot
office in Austin
. Right now Michele and Paige live in Round Rock. We're hoping one
day to have them move here. But, we'll see. Our two granddaughters
are the lights of our lives right now and we try to spend as much time as we can
with them. After living (in this order since the day we were married!) in Houston,
Pt. Arthur, back to Houston, back to Pt. Arthur, Kingwood, Shreveport,
LA, Austin, Round Rock, ...we are definitely so happy to be in Kingwood again! I
told Bart I am NOT moving anywhere again...this is where I'm staying for good!!!
We were finally able to buy the house we were leasing. We have
been so busy painting and doing a little remodeling that I don't know if I
have time to get a job! Bart is a Senior Program Analyst for a company
called Carter-Burgess in downtown Houston. Sometimes he does a little traveling with his job and I'm hoping to
start being able to go with him occasionally. He's been to Fort Worth
, TX
, Washington
, DC
, Chicago
, IL
and Atlanta
, GA.
He's scheduled to go to Miami
, FL
sometimes soon. Hopefully, I will be able to make that trip with him.
And, as for me...I've decided I will retire! I've worked
different places off and on and finally quit after having health problems.
But, I'm good now and enjoying having time to myself being able to do what I
want to do when I want to do it! Right now, for sure I have enough to keep
me busy with the house; and, hopefully, traveling with Bart!
If
and whenever we finally do get settled, I am going to have to go through my footlocker
to see what kinds of TJ memorabilia I have saved. I will let you and
Mike know if I have found anything good to put on the website that hasn't
already been put out there. I always get goosebumps every time I go
out to the website. Makes me wish I could go back to high school again!
from Maureen Murphy
Coleman
in Jasper
We have three living children, nine grandchildren and one deceased daughter.
I am starting my 26th year with Jasper ISD. My husband is a retired high
school principal and now works as the Truant officer with the JISD.
My
life has been so Blessed. I am sorry to see so many of our classmates
listed as deceased in the website. I am really enjoying looking at so many
pictures that classmates are sending in. Funny how time has passed so
quickly. My parents are both deceased now as are two brothers. When
my father died, I brought my mother up to Jasper and she lived for 20 years up
here until her death. I seldom go down to Port Arthur
except to visit the cemetary. I do hope to come to our 40th class
reunion. Thanks so much for making the website available to all of us.
from Loretta LaLonde Myers
in Houston
Well, the time for our
Alaska
trip is here! We fly out at 7:45 tomorrow morning and I am so excited that I
don’t know if I will be able to sleep tonight. Glynn and I will take pictures
and send some when we return.
We did not
realize when we booked this trip that we were leaving on 7/7/07, but I hope that
means smooth sailing.
(As of this writing, I haven't heard from Loretta about her trip. At least
she didn't leave on Friday the 13th!)
from Sherry Clingan
Armentor
in Groves
I am sending a contribution for some of the costs to run the website. If
you need more, please let me know.
from Bert Smith
in Lake Jackson
Your note gave me the reason to finally sit down this Sunday
morning and send you some info on what I have been doing. I am living
in Lake Jackson
with my wife Debbie and our son Paul who just graduated from High School.
He is planning to join the Coast Guard as he loves the adventures on the
water. I also have two daughters. Cindy works for Nasa and trains
astronauts going to the space station on the ISS life support systems. The
last launch of Atlantis was her crew. Cheryl also graduated from A&M
this past last December, just got married to a wonderful young man named Chad
Meche, and she now works for A&M doing food protein research at
the school.
I retired from Philllip Petroleum a few years ago as a manager of capital
projects and have since started a company doing some development work both
in the BCS area and near Lake Jackson
. We built some student housing duplexes up there and currently are remodeling
an old ranch house built in 1941 here along the coast. I don't believe
there is any such thing as retirement!
My spare time is flying my own plane...a Piper Arrow. I have flown into Bridge
City
a few times and need to look you and Murphy up next time but will call in
advance. Debbie is my co-pilot and there is something to be said about women
fliers...they hold course and altitude better than most men! One photo
was on a recent group flight to Brenham for lunch at one of those $100
hamburger joints....$5 bucks for the hamburger and $95 just to get
there!...another one to Huntsville.
After graduation from A&M with a Civil Engineering degree, I
spent 27 years with Phillips in lots of places. Norway
was our favorite although Brenham comes in a close second. I had some rather
unusual but adventurous assignments with Phillips including Arctic development
work in the early '80's and did some interesting work on joint
government/industry projects offshore Alaska. I am attaching a couple
photos taken next to the USGC
Icebreaker
Polar
Sea
in1982 near the US- Russian Boundary in the Chukchi
Sea
.....I remember it was 35 below zero and the sea ice was 15 ft
thick!
Both my parents are living out in the country north of the Woodlands
and although they deal with the occasional medical issues normal at
their age, they are fiercely independent and doing remarkably well. My
five brothers and sisters get by to see them quite often and we all help with
projects and doctor visits.
(Mike has included the photos of Bert and his family for us to enjoy.)
from Leonard Hilliard
in San Antonio/Fredericksburg
I am really enjoying the website. Where should I send some financial
support? I've gotten emails from a couple of people (Marvin McDowell and
Fred McCarty), which has been fun. Hope to make the 40th reunion. My
wife and I noticed that Name Badges were now Necessary to ID one another.
Hmmmmm.... I like the idea for BIG PRINT!!! Kathy and I have moved.
We sold our home in suburban SA and now live between our rural property near Fredericksburg
and an apartment in SA.
(If I have this correctly, Leonard is an MD who said he will perform
surgery on any classmate FREE....just LOBOTOMIES, though. Just kiddin'.
I don't even know what Leonard specializes in.)
from Billy Fowler
in Gladewater
, TX
Because of your last update, I made contact with an old friend (Buddy McDowell)
that I've known since Jr. High.
(The website REALLY is working to reunite old friends!!! Yeah
WEBSITE.)
from Camille Messina
Hudson
in Lake Jackson
Thanks for doing such a great job with the web page. It's really
interesting.
from Dianna Caillier
Lewis
in Port Arthur
Thank you so much for the NEWSLETTER that you sent me. I sent the information
about Hurricane Audrey to my sister. I remember the weather that day! I
dated a guy from Grand Chanier, LA and his parents showed me pictures and told
us about the weather. Thank you for the card. It came at a good time. It
was 11 years that day that my mom had passed away. You are blessed to have
both of your parents.
from Christine Smith
Hood
in Nederland
It is such a blessing to be able to keep in touch with our old friends and also
keep them in our prayers when needed.
(AMEN I say to this!)
from Gail Wilson
Felker
in Williamsburg, VA
I hear from my husband, Ross, at least once a week. He's taken up playing
the trumpet at the church services over there. He hasn't done that since
high school!!! Our son, Chris, will be 20 years old this summer. He
will be a sophomore at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. Our
"baby", Jenny, will be a senior in high school. She wants to
come back to Texas for college. Also, I truly enjoy reading the website.
We are all being brought together again after all these years.
(Major Ross Felker is deployed in the Middle East. See the SUPPORT section
on where to send correspondence.)
from Linda Olivier Meyer
(married to classmate Rex
) in Fulshear, TX
Our daughter is getting married at the end of this month at our house, in our
backyard. Needless to say, my back has been screaming at me each evening
for hauling bags and bags of mulch and tons of plants. It keeps
saying.......... Linda, you're TOO OLD to do this!
from Creig Romero
in Houston
I was in Bridge City a few months back at the Bridge City ISD doing inspections
from the Rita damage and had one of the gentlemen show me all the repairs. We
started talking and he and his wife are very good friends with you and Murphy.
Small world. I have visited Jefferson County more in the last 11/2 years since I
moved in '68 to Houston, meeting with my applicants that received damage
from Hurricane Rita. It is funny that I have met several classmates of ours
during my visits. I met Jim
Thompson
with the City of Beaumont, Jack
Wiggins
with Lamar Institute of Technology, Hal
Ross
with the Airport, just to mention a
few.
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
In
the last NEWSLETTER
,
I mentioned the "tiff" that Mike and I are having concerning my
sending a "heads-up" to you when we update the website. Well,
here are the comments I received on the subject. I even left them
anonymous so Mike won't be able to stalk you! (Mike has not seen these
before NOW...hee hee).
"For
myself, I like getting a notice from you that you have an updated website."
"I
like the "HEADS UP" on the class of '68 website. I usually read
it at work and do not always have time to look at everything new on it. So
the "HEADS UP" gives me a heads-up as what to expect. If I see
something that needs to be looked at immediately or that I would like to respond
to, then I will take time then or go back to it as soon as possible."
"I
find your e-mail notes letting us know when updates have been posted prompts me
to review the website. I certainly do not mind those reminders."
"As
long as you like sending out the reminder, I like getting it. I, for one,
appreciate your "HEADS UP" notice. I seem to check my home
e-mail much less frequently than my work sites, and your message prompts my
visit to the website."
"My
husband and I have 5 email addresses we check (or at least try to check every
day) and I LIKE having the reminder. Sorry, Mike."
"I
vote for you continuing the reminder to check the website. No offense to
Mike, but I think that most of us stay so busy that it would slip our minds to
check it. I hope others agree."
"By
the way, I do like getting a notice that the '68 website has been updated.
I get so busy sometimes that I just need a reminder. Just one person's
opinion, though."
(Uh huh...7 people's OPINION by my count!)
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
from Barbara King
Ringgold
"The website is so great. It's a rare
thing to be able to feel connected to the "Motherland" after all these
years. I have so enjoyed hearing about the people I spent early years
with. My humble thank you. I am forwarding a $
contribution to make the "thank you" real."
from Jody (Hopkins)
& Gary Barbin
(second contribution)
There will always be upkeep on that website...It really is awesome to think that
ya'll have done such a super job!!
(This
is a note from Mike. He has purchased new softwear with some of the
contributions.)
"By the way, I received the softwear in the mail this past week and have
loaded our website into it. It looks really nice and I just need to spend
time working with it. I can see that it will help us create neat stuff on
the site. It will definitely be a learning process, though."
Send
checks to:
Linda DeCuir McFadden
112 Woodsong
Bridge City, TX 77611
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I
asked you in the last NEWSLETTER to have a "posted"
note handy to jot down your updated
mailing information
. Cherlyn Hebert picked
at me about the wrong spelling for the note.....She wrote, "Well, I
couldn't find a "posted" note so I just used a "post-it"
instead."
Well,
I think that I have seen too many POSTED signs around Port Arthur since
HURRICANE RITA ravaged the area. They are still "posted"
EVERYWHERE on dilapidated buildings and such.
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
No
news so far. The committee has a first meeting set up but it will be quite
awhile before we can set an actual date for next summer's 40th reunion.
The location where we usually have our Saturday night shindig, (the
BRAD CLUB) on the outskirts of Nederland, won't let us select a date for next
summer until OCTOBER 16. We do know
that our reunion WILL
NOT
be
held the first TWO WEEKENDS of JUNE
.
Maybe that will help out a little bit. I will let you know more as
soon as I learn something. Sorry for the delay.
It
is really important that we have your correct, updated information for the
spreadsheet. Please comply ASAP. PLEASE
CONTACT
me, if you haven't already, with any
corrections, additions, and deletions that I have asked for in earlier
e-mails. I want to get the list as updated as
possible before I make copies
for the reunion committee to work from. I will have a list of
classmates we need help finding in another NEWSLETTER.
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
You MUST
check this section out on the website. It is located under the CLASS
PHOTOS link. Be sure to read the article about Mike Lawson's great
BASKETBALL fete when he was a sophomore! You can find it under Misc.
Photos page 1 in the MEMORABILIA section.
Woo
Woo. "You go, Mike." Didn't know our webmaster was such a
STAR.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Boogie
Kings
July
21
Carl Parker Auditorium
(next to Woodrow Wilson)
7:30 pm
$20.00 a ticket at the door
Larry's 3rd annual Hooten-Nanny
TJ,
PNG, BB alumni
Oct. 13, 2007
(reservations accepted for tables)
Showtime 6:00
www.larrysfrenchmarket.com
Book
Signing
Paul Howard Nicholas
TJ '68 classmate
"Extingushing the Flames of Hell: A Journey of Spiritual Evolution"
4:30-7:00pm
July 20, 2007
PA Public Library
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
VEHICLE
SHOPPING
contributed
by Pat Trahan
Knox
We've been new vehicle shopping. The first place we
went, Ray had chosen a vehicle, and we went into the dungeon, where this sales
manager, in his ivory tower, has to let you know whether your price agrees with
theirs (NOT!!!). We got to within $349 and I said no. We left, and I felt so
bad!! The next trip, I sent Ray without me, as I really do not like new car
salesmen who make you feel like you just fell off of a turnip truck the night
before). He went to Houston and got some prices, but was afraid to buy
because he didn't want to listen to me say "I told you I wanted such and
such". (And by the way, Tommy T., you can stop saying Poor Ray about
now!!). So, we started out on July 14 AGAIN, to find a vehicle for me to drive.
(I'm convinced I would be much happier with a horse and buggy). On Saturday,
July 14, we set out again to find the perfect vehicle for me. We went to 3
dealerships where the oldest sales manager must have been all of 21. I do not
like babies trying to tell me about cars. I have two wonderful, talented
sons, but they are smart enough to not tell me what I knew before they were
born!! Ray and I went to 3 dealerships, and I cried all the way back
to Beaumont (my husband is a saint, if you haven't already realized that).
So-o-o-o-o, we went to Silsbee (on my suggestion, thank goodness!). Every
salesman was a mature person. They told me they were interested in finding a
vehicle I would be happy with, no matter where it came from. I had made a
friend!!! We found the perfect vehicle that would make me happier than I was
with my PAID OFF Chevy Blazer LT that I absolutely LOVE!!! I wanted
nothing other than a white vehicle, and I found the love of my car life, a white
Toyota 4Runner loaded. They were old enough to realize that I wanted a good
deal, and I was old enough to know they needed to make a profit. A match made in
heaven!! I love my new vehicle. Now, all we have to do is sell my
husband's truck and my Blazer. That will be another story. My husband is
very happy that he doesn't have to listen to me complain that I didn't get the
vehicle I wanted, and I am so happy. (Okay, Tommy, quit laughing).
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I
DID IT!!!
I have more than DOUBLED
my goal of getting 20 NEW
e-mail
addresses! I now have 56
new ones
!!!!! I am beyond HAPPY!!!
Maybe if I get more I can become ECSTATIC. Mike has upped my goal to 70!!
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
from Joe Pinell
in Nederland
Hey Wild Bunch from 68. Well, I feel like I have to go see Miss Tenney
tomorrow. (He was talking about going to Houston for heart valve surgery
on July 10.) I have been in the situation a few times in my life that I
really don't know what the outcome will be. But, I do know that WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IS MEANT TO HAPPEN.....Today, I am going to do what I love best....ride
the motorcycle for awhile and then park it for a few months. My wife,
Julie, quit working to become my nurse. She will miss the rides as much as
me. Ya'll pray for US and God willing we will have a PARTY next year.
(If
you haven't already, check out Joe and Julie in the BIKERS section on the
website.)
Deployed
in the MIDDLE EAST
Major Ross Felker
( Gail Wilson's
husband)
CAOC/STRAT, APO AE 09309
and
we can't forget
Larry LaPrise
.....
With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth
reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed.
Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote "The
Hokey Pokey"
died peacefully at the age of 93.
The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put
his left leg in, and then the trouble started. (SHUT UP...you know it is funny.)
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
from Pat Lange
My youngest brother Curley "Charlie" Lange,
Jr., 47, TJ Class of '77, was killed July 1, 2007 in an auto accident in Port
Neches. He lived in PN and was a self employed paint/drywall contractor.
Possibly, some of our local classmates may have hired him in the past.
Emmett
Morales, Jr.
(death of his mother)
5260 Stardust
Dr. Beaumont, TX 77706
(409)898-8518
And,
as too often lately, we have found out about another untimely death of a
classmate.
Albert
"Jack" Weldon
Dec. 22, 1949-May 1, 2007
in Fort Worth
No
obituary available.
Our condolences to his wife and two sons. Our prayers are with them.
MAY HE REST IN PEACE
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Did
I fill your brain with enough news? Please remember to send in items for
Mike to put in his sections. Brenda Rector
has sent him a whole box full of
goodies. Ernie Casteneda
sent him photos, also. Thanks!!
I hope that you are enjoying the website and the input by your classmates.
Help out by sending in your own contributions to help keep our class website Rockin'.
(Hope
to see you at the Boogie Kings concert. Be sure to "introduce"
yourself. That way, I won't be so embarrassed. "-) )
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