WECATON SPECIAL REPORT !! -- 04 JUL 2007:
Bonnie writes:

We have an accident with which to deal! This past Sunday, July 1, 1960's EDGAR L. "EDDIE" KELLY, sustained a broken back, resulting from an ATV mishap. He and wife Marilyn had spent the entire day in the scenic Idaho countryside, riding their ATVs. They both have their own units. As Eddie was loading his, it did the very thing for which ATVs are so notoriously known; i.e., it went over backward on him just at the moment it reached the, "no-more-gravity," point, as you load. People who are familiar with these things (and motorcycles and trikes, too) will know instantly what I mean.

In any case, Eddie instructed Marilyn to let me know. I was happy that he did. She called me and he wanted to talk with me. This was just about an hour ago, and I think the time differential is 3 hours earlier in Idaho, but it may be only 2. In any case, Eddie and I talked on the phone for possibly 10 minutes. I could tell he was heavily drugged and was also in extreme pain. I was told to notify his schoolmates and that's what I'm doing.

At this moment, he's a patient at Boise's (Idaho) St. Alphonsus Hospital, where he was air-lifted, directly from the desert accident scene. He awaits surgery. I believe Marilyn said that would be done tomorrow.

All of you who came to last year's dinner/dance will vividly recall Eddie stealing the show in his full kilt outfit and of course, he remained our very cool and very hip, "Fonzie," even after all these years. He's told me many times since then, what a warmth he felt for everyone and how much fun he had there.

Well, Eddie needs us all to rally around now. So let's do what we do best---stick together!! After Eddie has his surgery, he'll likley be sent (within a few days) to a VA hospital for recuperation and rehabilitation. But for now, he can be reached directly by calling 208-367-2356. His home phone number is 208 442-4366, and Marilyn will be thrilled to relay messages of support and good cheer to him, from all fellow WC alumni.

Of course, everyone will want to send e-mail! It's so fast and so instantly gratuitous. But please don't do that, Marilyn says. She doesn't know how to do the e-mail and Eddie obviously isn't there to do it. We have to put a bit of effort into this one. She would dearly love to see him get lots of postally-mailed cards. So here is the complete mailing address:

1109 South Bonneville Drive
Nampa, Idaho 83686.

It doesn't matter one bit, if you knew him or not. Just sign your school name and class year, okay?

There were several people who were specifically mentioned by Eddie, as being those he wanted to know about this. They included his lifelong friends, AARON COUCH, 1962's RICHARD C. CALL, and CURTIS A. KEMP. I've notified all of those folks. He also mentioned his, "high school crush," EULA FAYE BAILEY (and I've told her, too), teacher DAVID E. COLLINS (are you there, Mr. C.?) and his high school girlfriend, DIANA JEAN MILTON. Does anyone know how to reach her? If so, please do. There's also 1960 classmate RICHARD LEE "DICKIE" PHILLIPS and I'm going to try and get word to WM. M. ROHLER, as well. I think I can reach him. He mentioned his two very glamorous "escorts" into the dinner/dance, too (1962 classmates and lifelong best friends DONNA JEAN RICHARDS and PAULA ROSE WILSON).

It would be an understatement, I know, if I wrote that I know we all wish the very best for Eddie in his full and speedy recovery from this tragic accident. But in the meantime, let's get out those postage stamps (do you all remember what those are), and those pens and get those cards in the mail. Failing that, let's dial that phone, en masse!!! If there's any good news here, it's that Eddie is still with us and he IS going to recover. I know that is very often NOT the outcome with the ATV accidents, so we're thankful for that. I'll be doing a new WNR, sometime this month. Best to all!

--- Bonnie
- posted by Mikey @ 5:32 PM