WE*CA*TON NEWS REPORT!! -- 22 July 2005:
---Am I ever ticked! While it's not good to be doing anything on a negative note, I have to tell you that I'm not in a good mood. Why? Well, I was in here awhile ago, typed for an hour and a half, finished off my entire bulletin, then hit that one wrong button, and lost it ALL!!! I was so angry with myself, I had to get away from this for a spell, so that I'd be able to cool down and try it again. I realize I have to get right back to it, though, while it's all fresh in my mind, or else I'll forget the text and the list of names. So bear in mind, I'm doing all of this from memory. If I screw up, you will have no choice but to forgive me, although I DO want you to send me a corrective reminder of anything you may have sent, which I overlooked. This happened to me last year, during the hurricanes, as all of you, "old- timers" will recall, when I experienced a power outage. I was ticked, then, even though it wasn't my fault. This time, though, it WAS my fault, so it made it much worse! I offer sincerest apologies, especially, to our two new sign-ons, who will be addressed later. So here we go---again!!

Messages were really piling up and I didn't intend to do another bulletin, quite this soon, but this is good, for it means that I'm hearing from more of you. I do hope this will continue into October, when I shall see every single smiling face on this list, right?

As you all already know, we lost another WC alumnus on July 11, JERRY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG, Class of 1958. Jerry died of cancer. This past year has been just disastrous, as regards fallen classmates. Jerry was but 65, and in his abbreviated life, it seems he managed to accomplish a great deal. This report was transmitted to me by 1961's NANCY J. ERTEL. We can't get Nancy out of Kansas, but she continues to stay abreast of all that happens, and keeps us well-informed. Thank you, Nancy. Don't worry, I'm not going to get out my soapbox again. However, I surely AM going to say to all of you, "Get to the WC functions!" Don't delay. We never know. Life is tenuous, at best, and we continue to have that fact proven to us, with each passing week. So get your plans in place for alumni weekend (October 7, 8, 9). Don't make any excuses. JUST BE THERE!!!

Checking in during this period with the usual forwarded materials were 1955's DONNA GENE TUDOR; 1957's SHIRLEY ANN HILE; 1958'S RONALD D. "TOM" FEE, WILLIAM R. HOWARD, LINDA L. BECKETT, BRUCE E. CHENOWETH, ROBERT W. "SMITTY" SMITH; 1959 's GARY E. BARNES; 1960'S LINDA LEE SHANK, MICHAEL S. WEST, STEVEN M. KOKOT, GERALD A. FULLER, EULA FAYE BAILEY, JUDITH A. STALDER; 1961's SALLY L. GILLETTE (finally!), DALLAS K. MATHIS, JANET L. CHANDLER (finally!), LARRY D. GILBERT, PATRICIA LYNNETTE GARRETT, JUDITH L. SAMUELS; 1962's BARBARA T. O'NEAL. I'm still thinking there's someone I'm not remembering. If so, I'm sorry.

Still among the "missing" ---1960's MILTON R. WOLFE, 1961's GARY R. FRANK, MICHAEL R. FORSYTH, and 1964's BRENDA ASHLEY TAYLOR. Does anyone have an update on these folks, or failing that, some way to GET one?

It's been a very long time since I heard from you, Miss Tootie! (1959's CAROLYN E. PENCE) Where are you and why haven't you written us a time or two? We want an update! You have a fan club amongst WC people and I've been getting queries about you! The same goes for you, Miss Cookie! (1960's NANCY E. BOWIE) It's been way too long since I heard from YOU, too! I've been in touch with other people, though, like 1958's Bruce Chenoweth and 1960's Eula Faye Bailey. We all maintain pretty close touch. Bruce drove down to the Bluegrass state last month, he told me, and escorted 1960's NINA F. KNISLEY out to dinner. During Eula Faye's recent Ohio visit, she went to dinner with Bruce and companion, 1971's PATTY JO WHEELBARGER. A recent, chatty phone call from my birthday twin, 1960's DEVONA S. TAYLOR, advised me of her recent move with her spouse of 45 years, GENE COUCH. They're hangin' right in there, reports Dee.

Bill Howard will continue to act as our liaison in notifying Frisch's of our "onslaught" in October. We want to keep that function simple and basic, with no rules and no plans and no dress requirements and no arrival time. So says its founder, Mike West. I couldn't agree more! You hit on a winner there, Mike! This function is now on its 4th go-round, and it gets bigger each year. I'll bet we had a hundred people there, last year.

Donna Tudor checked in to say how much she enjoys the bulletins. I appreciate that, Donna. She also mentioned how much she misses her two late sisters, 1955's DORIS D. TUDOR, and 1957's DEANA C. TUDOR. I know you miss them, Donna. So do I, and I also wish they could still be with us. Donna is good about staying in touch. So is her niece, 1987's SHARLENE N. MERKER, daughter of 1960's SHIRLEY J. TUDOR, who I need to call.

If any of you out there have any information on members of the Class of 1957, please contact THERESA M. MOSES. She is trying to track down members of that class. I was able to give her a bit of an assist with both JAMES J. DOWNS and LINDA L. MCAFEE. I'll bet some of you out there can probably help her out with others, too. By the way, Miss McAfee, why haven't we heard an update on YOU? Do you think you can just get remarried and then blow off all of us? C'mon, send me a message!

Recently, I've spoken again with 1960's EDGAR L. "EDDIE" KELLY. All of us always remember Eddie as being the Fonzie of our class, much the way 1962's RICHARD C. CALL was perceived as the Fonzie of HIS class. Also included in those characterizations was that of 1960's WILLIAM M. ROHLER, who was very much a Vinnie Barbarino type ("Welcome Back, Kotter") That particular character always also reminded me of 1960's RICHARD L. "DICK" PHILLIPS, a recent addition to our bulletin list. Also in that group was AARON COUCH and CURTIS KEMP. It was really a fun bunch. By the way, every time I talk to one of you, every single one of you mentions the others. You're a group who REALLY need to reunite! From all indications, every one of you (with the possible exception of Bill) are going to be in Ohio this October. I want to be around to see this, hear? So don't let me down!

Does anyone recognize this e-mail address? I got an e-mail from it and it seems to be some sort of WC group, but I can't identify the individual. The address is as follows: ( frozgood@cs.com ) I don't know who this is.

My sister, 1956's JUDY ANN RISNER reported that she and her husband went to MCL Cafeteria the other night and spoke at length with 1963's RONALD E. LINK, who is their neighbor and a frequent customer of that place. JUDY A. SHOCKLEY, 1960, has worked there for many years. GARY E. BARNES, 1959, is an old pal of Ron's, as is 1958's RONALD D. "TOM" FEE. Between the two of them, we hope to coax Ron to put in an appearance at this year's functions.

Speaking of e-mail addresses, let's all try to be more aware of e-mailing photos to 1960's MICHAEL S. WEST ( W4MSW@charter.net ), who has proven to be such a vital link in keeping us all so well-connected. Not only did Mike come up with the genius of the Frisch's gathering, but he also hosts a website for WC folks, as well as a blogspot where all of these bulletins are posted. Between him and 1961's NANCY J. ERTEL, they serve as the "technological brains" behind this operation. My sole purpose is writing and distributing information. I don't even KNOW how to do what Mike and Nancy do. So let's all pitch in and send them everything we can. As for me, I've got to get cracking and send Mike the photo of my red and black bell in my driveway, beneath which, hangs a red and black flag of a pirate. He asked me for that, several weeks ago.

Recently, I had an exchange with WCHS librarian, ANNE B. SCHALLER. I asked her to attend our alumni gig and I hope she does. She's been very instrumental, over the past two years, in putting me together with an awfully lot of Piratans, which I needed, in order to do what I do. I'd sucre love to meet her, in the flesh.

Our very popular (and sports-oriented) traveler, who had such a freak accident recently in California, DELORES K. "DEDE" FAHRNEY, 1960, is recovering nicely. She and I talked about 2 weeks ago, and she told me she anticipates no problems. But she's sticking with the same doctor out there. This will be disappointing news for BRUCE E. CHENOWETH, who wanted to have a golf match with DeDe, WHILE the wrist was healing. He said that was the only way he'd stand a chance of victory over her. Ha! Listen, DeDe, if you're getting this, please try to orchestrate your travels so that you can be with us all, come October, hear? (How incredible is this? At the very instant I was writing about DeDe, an e-mail came in from her.) She has visited Yosemite, she says, and is still doing well. Great, DeDe! Everyone has been wondering about you and asking about you. We're all delighted to hear a good report.

In other traveling news, 1958's JAMES E. KECKLER, and wife Janet, are off on a 1-week vacation, he has reported. They'll be returning tomorrow. As many of you will recall, the Kecklers, attended WC Florida Spring Fest in April and we really had a circus. They're truly fun people. Listen, you two! Don't "over-travel" and then not be able to join us in October, hear?

Well, we've finally gotten a working e-mail address for 1960's WILLIAM E. HECKER, it seems. So welcome aboard, Bill! Our thanks to his old golfing pal, MONTY ESTEP, for not giving up the ship and continuing to try to get it. Okay, Monty, get to work on finding a working e-mail address for JUDY A. SHOCKLEY, will you, please? Tell her I want her on our list and be sure to tell her about our October functions.

JO ANNE MCCLURE, 1955, and I have been having a few rousing exchanges. She flies free, due to her airline ties for her retirement; therefore, I'm encouraging her to get things in order to attend the 50th celebration for her class. Apparently, she and fellow classmate, FREDA FLETCHER, are living practically next door to each other on the, "left coast," of Florida. So we're all especially hoping to see you both, on the wonderful and significant occasion of the 50th anniversary of your high school graduation. I know your other classmates want to see you, too. They all want to have as many attendees as possible. Why don't some of you other 1955-ers get in touch with them? Sic 'em, Donna!

Let's give a big welcome to 1964's STEPHEN A. ELLIS, who has just signed on for the bulletins. He used to live in Morristown, Tennessee, but told me he's recently moved to the Bluegrass state. We're glad you're so near to Ohio, Steph. This means we'll definitely be searching the crowd for your smiling face, come October. Please don't disappoint us.

From our not-so-roving reporter in Kansas, NANCY J. ERTEL, (who somehow manages to rise above the challenges of her self-imposed immobility and do a great job of keeping us all current, anyway) came a terribly amusing story about one of our former teachers, PHIL HUBBARD, who was in our last bulletin. Wrote Nancy, "I'm slow responding to this, but Phillip Hubbard drew a big "R.I.P." tombstone on the board one time, for the WCHS marching band, as we were heading off to a contest, I think. He didn't like band events, taking his students out of class." What a great story, Nancy! Thanks for sharing that with all of us. There must be other former band members out there, who also recall that. I find myself musing now, about the environment in those days, between Mr. Hubbard and our marching band leader, HARRY C. HAGGERTY. Are you there, Mr. H.? Do you remember any of this?

Speaking of WC teachers, we are honored with a check -in during this bulletin period from none other than MURL E. HUFFMAN. Mr. H. reports that he's been visiting and reminiscing with 1959's RICHARD C. HENSLEY. who remains hospitalized with cancer. Someone do take him our bulletin, please, and tell him we're all pulling for him. Mr. H. also reports that he really enjoys all the news in our bulletins. So what does that mean? Well, I can tell you what it means to ME! In school, didn't we all do just as Mr. H. requested? Sure, we did! So that means you must all continue to send in news blurbs, because if you don't, I will have no news for Mr. H.! Don't forget!

Cousin JUDITH L. SAMUELS just had a birthday on the 20th. She reports that she and husband, Bill Van Cleef, took in dinner at the Outback. Also celebrating a July birthday was Mike West. Right now, though, he's busily absorbed in reading the latest copy of Reminisce, the magazine which was gift-subscripted to me by 1960's PHILIP L. WOLFORD. I've fallen into the habit of sending it to Mike and Sally, when I finish it, as it's too good a mag to just pitch. Where are you , Phil? You're usually pretty good about staying in touch.

We continue to search for 1959's ROBERT L. TANKERSLEY for my classmate, DANNY A. WALTERS. We are also on the hunt for WILLIAM D. DUNCAN, 1960, for Phil. Is there any help out there? Let me know, please. We know that Bill is in the state of Maryland. I remain relatively sure that Bob is in the Miami area. I will not abandon the search.

With that, I will close this edition of the WNR. I send fond regards to each of you and hope you are doing well. I leave you all with my usual wish for glowing health, great happiness, peaceful serenity, and boundless prosperity. Ciao!

---And there you have it! More at 11--- B
- posted by Mikey @ 10:16 AM