HHS Class Of 1960 45th Class Reunion.  Weekend of July 22 and 23, 2005.

New E-Mail Addresses

Jill Perry Chapman - JohnJillChapman@aol.com

Lucy Smith Duba - lucille.s.duba@verizon.net

Carolyn Hazlett Flannery - cflannery321@aol.com

Wilsie Hale - wilsie@unlimitedfuture.org

Louis Harper - lwharper@wideopenwest.com

Richard Johnson - gjohnson@co.brunswick.k12.nc.us

Donna Darbes McGehee - petermcgehee@sbcglobal.net

Linda Watts Peters - gma4372@msn.com

David Reeder - step1942@cableone.net

Frank Smith - fsmith1218@charter.net

Frances Swartz Thresh - fthresh@yahoo.com

Bill Weed - williewee@myexcel.com

Carole Ann Ramry Strahan.  During my recent discussion with Linda Watts Peters, she told me that her best friend from our class, Carole Ramey, was now deceased.  Carole passed away on December 6, 1998 in Arlington, VA.  She was 56 years old.  Carole is survived by her husband Tom Strahan, and 3 children.  Another child had died at infancy.  Carole died of uterine cancer after a short battle with the disease.  Linda told me that, "Just after high school, she moved to Arlington, Va. and went to work at the Pentagon as a secretary. She was there several years though I cannot tell you exactly how many. Tom Strahan was her third husband.  I had a letter from her saying she was very excited because the two of them were going into business for themselves. I believe it was a catering business."

This search for missing classmates sometimes finds one of our old friends deceased, which is very sad.  But, we can remember them as we knew them back at HHS and know that they would be happy that we thought of them.  Fred

New Cyberpony - Linda Watts Peters.  Linda and her husband Richard (HHS'58) live in New Carlisle, Ohio.  Linda explains, "I have 2 children.  Charlotte, 41, lives right here in New Carlisle with my oldest granddaughter who will have her 21st birthday next month. My son Stephen, 40, lives just 20 minutes away.  He has 3 girls (18, 16, 15).  We have a great-grandson Khole who will be 1 year old in October.  We are expecting our second great grandchild in March but as yet do not know if it will be a boy or girl."  Linda continues to work as a Pharmacy Technician and Richard is retired.  Linda is looking forward to retirement in the near future too.  Linda's e-mail address is gma4372@msn.com.

Louis Harper - Retired Columbus Police Officer.  Louis provided the following history as he also joined the Cyberponies.  "I moved to Columbus in the fall of 1963 looking for a job.  I found one and did not like it so I joined the U.S. Marines in Jan. 1964 and spent 6 years with them.  In March, I joined the Columbus Police Dept. and spent the next 31 years with them.  I spent 5 yrs. in patrol and then moved to the helicopter section where I flew the choppers for the next 10 yrs.  After which I returned to patrol for 5 more yrs. doing stakeouts and surveillances.  In Feb. of 1990, I was asked to transfer to the training academy to help train the dept. in new handguns, and spent the next 11 yrs. there, until I retired in March 2001.  I live in Columbus, Ohio with my wife Brenda (Cornes) class of 1961 HHS.  We have three girls ages 38 thru 32 with 7 grandkids ages 17 to 5 (4 boys and 3 girls)."  Louis Harper.  Louis' e-mail address is lwharper@wideopenwwest.com.

Bill Weed Retires From Teaching.  Bill Weed has retired from teaching and moved from Rainelle, WV to Charleston.  Bill taught music in Greenbrier County for 35 years.  He has now re-married (2 years ago).  Bill and his wife Kathryn are currently working on a special book.  It is a children's book telling special family history.  Kathryn is the writer and Bill is illustrating it in watercolors.  One of Bill's hobbies is playing the bagpipe.  He has done this for years and is currently playing in the Kanawha Valley Pipes and Drums.  We welcome Bill back to the Cyberponies.  His e-mail address is williewee@myexcel.com.

Cyberpony Returns.  David Reeder tells me that his computer crashed and he lost all of his data.  So, I sent him your e-mail addresses to get him re-started.  David's new e-mail address is step1942@cableone.net.  Welcome back to the Cyberponies David.

Hurricane Charley Misses Ponies In Florida.  I heard from a number of our classmates in Florida recently as Hurricane Charley cut a path through Florida and parts north.  Unfortunately, as I write, they are all worrying about Hurricane Frances!

"My wife, Linda Fleming, and I were in Maryland when the storm cut across Florida and in West Virginia the following week visiting with her mother - arriving home yesterday. My neighbor advised we only had a little rain and a very short power outage - a lot more fortunate than the people between Fort Meyers and Daytona."  Douglas Hager for Linda Fleming Hager.

"Bill Bolt and all the Bolt family are fine, we had some roof damage and tree damage, and been without electric and water at our home for last 5 days.  Our office is ok, electric and water.  We are very thankful to just to be alive.  We had winds from 85 to 100 mph. Can't imagine what it was like close to the eye (145mph).  We have a motor home and it was parked beside our house and we had the generator hooked up to the refrigerator but still had no water (did not fill tanks in motor home before storm- not smart).  Our office got electric on Tuesday.  We still feel very lucky."  Bill Bolt, Ft. Myers, Florida

"We are fine and very thankful.  Of course, we packed what we needed and left the 'unsafe' Tampa Bay area at 4am Friday morning.  We relocated to what was to be expected as 'safe' Orlando area only to have Charley change his mind and eventually come across directly where we were staying.  By the time it reached us it was no longer a level 4 (Praise God) but things were pretty scary for a while.  We had winds of 80 -100 miles an hour and about 4 miles south of where we stayed it was much worse. Power lines down, no power, traffic lights, businesses and signs, poles etc. blown down.  We could not come back interstate 4 from Orlando area due to the VERY high volume of traffic and debris.  So what should have been a 90-minute drive took about 5 hours by way of northern routes. But all was well with our home when we returned and all is well with all of us.  We feel VERY, VERY fortunate.  It is amazing and very humbling to see what could have been and we feel very sorrowful for our southern neighbors.  God was good to us and our prayers go out to those less fortunate."  Louis and Mary Elam

"I am fine.  We had a little rain, but that is all.  I am in Port Saint Lucie.  Tom Camden's area had a lot more than we did.  I didn't realize he was near by."  Mary Ellen Wharton

"Christie and I live in Jacksonville and have a condo on the inter-coastal in Daytona Beach.  We were expecting the storm in Jacksonville and did all the preparations, when we heard the hurricane turned and was heading for Daytona.  We left Jacksonville about 4:45 pm Friday and headed for Daytona to take in patio furniture and tie down our boat.  We spent the night and weathered the storm.  There was a lot of tree damage, light pole damage and roof damage, but other than having our boat cover ripped from the boat, no other problems.  Just about every boat at our condo lost a bimini top, and one sailboat lost its mast, which caused a lot of damage from falling.  Anyway, it was an experience and we consider ourselves lucky."  John (Pinkie) White

"John East here, went thru Hurricane Charlie without any damage.  I was one of the lucky ones."  John East

"The Mabes are doing fine. Jacksonville didn't have any damage but our condo in Ormond Beach had some wind damage but our unit was fine.  We dodged the bullet again."  Linda Millard Mabe

"We were truly blessed that Charley did not come to the Tampa Bay area.  We had to evacuate but never had anything except a few of the feeder bands that brought some rain and very little wind.  Our son and daughter in law had to evacuate and went to her folks in Deltona and Charley visited them on Friday night as a Category 2. They had a downed power line (still no power) and a tree across the driveway and said that lots of trees were topped at the same height which later they realized was what height the winds had passed over their place. But their home was fine.  So our family is fine and we have been spared one more time.  Thanks for everyone's prayers and thoughts."  Pat Richardson Adkins

"Thanks for asking.  I am fine.  At the last minute, the storm turned north and we didn't receive the major hit we expected.  I had power restored last night.  Now the mosquitoes can stay outside again -- There are still about 500,000 without power, etc.  It's a mess, but getting better."  Tom Camden

Parents Remembered.  Three of our classmates have lost parents recently.  Please take time to remember them and our classmate friends.

EVELYN MILLER 82. of Columbus, OH, August 12, 2004.  Bill Drummond and Jerry Drummond’s (HHS'59) mother.

JOHN HUNTER EAST SR., 94, of Huntington, WV, August 15, 2004.  John East Jr.'s father.

ILENE I. SHEPARD NICHOLAS, 85, of Largo, FL, August 18, 2004.  Peggy Jo Dailey Cheatham and Patsy Dailey Burns' (HHS'59) mother.

CONKOLENE MASON "Bunny" GRAY, 84 of Huntington, WV, August 27, 2004.  Olivia Gray Stewart's father

Lena B. Tomblin Is 100 Years Old.  Linda Tomblin Watkins sent the news that her mother celebrated her 100th birthday in June, 2004.  What a wonderful accomplishment!  Here is the announcement from the Family section of the Herald-Dispatch.  See Classmate Photos.

100 YEARS OLD - Lena B. Tomblin recently celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at Highlawn Place where she's the oldest living resident.  She is also the oldest member of the 10th Avenue Church of God.  She raised her family of five daughters and one son in the Westmoreland area of Huntington.  She has 12 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 23 great-great-grandchildren and three more are expected this summer.  She lived a Christian life and God has blessed her richly.

Bob and Eileen Are Enjoying Retirement.  Bob writes, "Eileen and I just keep enjoying our retirement by traveling and playing golf.  We are so lucky.  Yes, we did go to Thailand in January and February.  It was the most interesting, exciting, and educational trip we have taken.  We not only spent time visiting with wealthy and middle class families, but we spent a lot of time with the very poor.  The culture was so different from anything I had expected.  We also spent time with people in Burma and Laos.  In May, Eileen and I went to Aruba to celebrate our anniversary.  I just returned from a two-week fishing trip in Northern Ontario, Canada.  I also stopped in Huntington on my way home to visit with my Mom.  She is doing so great."  Bob Stevens

Four Generations of Richardson Family.  Pat Richardson Adkins sent a great photo (see Classmate Photos).  Pat explains, "This picture is of my Mother, Eloise Richardson, our daughter Paula Simmons and our only grandson Aiden Simmons. It was made about a month ago. Our daughter is expecting twin boys in just about 4 months. Aiden will be about 17 months old when he becomes a 'big brother'."  Pat also provides some family history.  "I married Ralph Adkins, who graduated from Hamlin High School in 1957.  Ralph played football for Hamlin for 4 years.  We have been married for 37 years and have two children.  Jeffrey is 35 and Paula is 30.  Jeff got married last October to a very sweet girl named Amy.  Paula and Scott have been married for a couple of years.  Ralph is retired and works for a Security Company part time.  I retired after teaching for 15 years in Christian Schools.  I loved teaching but being a grandmother is the best.  My Father died in March of this year.  Mom has moved to Florida and is living with us.  It is such as a joy to have Mom here with us.  We live in a small community south of Tampa (Riverview)."  Pat Richardson Adkins

News From John And Donna Underwood.  Donna writes, "We had a wonderful 7 day trip on the Mississippi Queen leaving from Memphis and returning to near Louisville.  The boat was supposed to dock back in Cincy, but locks were closed between Louisville and Cincy.  The theme for the trip was the Civil War.  James I. Robertson Jr. was one of the historians and speaker.  He's a professor at Virginia Tech.  His talks were most interesting.  There was another speaker from the Naval Academy and a Riverlorian.  I would recommend this trip to anyone who wanted a very restful, relaxing vacation.  The entertainment was top-notch and the food exceptional.  Now it's back to the diets.  John is doing well, his hair is starting to grow back and his strength is also returning.  Doctors say he's in "near" complete remission.  We are very optimistic that this is good news.  If the weather stays nice, we'll try and play a few holes of golf this coming week.  Of course, the football games are looming on the horizon and JLU is looking forward to another winning season.  As time permits will try and get in a few games of bridge. Don't have to go back to Little Rock to see the doctors until the first week of January.  We'll probably just hook onto our 5th wheel and keep on "truckin" on out to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and spend the rest of winter in warmer weather.  Plan on being here in Huntington until after Christmas."  Donna (and John Underwood)

Linda and Dean Busy Helping Friends.  Linda Gallaher Sutliff and husband Dean have been busy.  Linda tells the story, "We have been helping a friend, whose husband suddenly died, clean out his business.  30,000 sq.ft. of junk!!!  He had a Correct Craft dealership and repair business...and never tossed anything.  There was so much stuff that it has taken us about 2 months to carry everything out of the building, sort it and put it on palettes for an auction. Now we are cleaning up what was left.  It's getting old and we haven't had much time to enjoy the summer but it's almost over. Physical labor isn't what I want to do in my next life!"  She also says that they plan to go to Florida again this year, since they enjoyed some time there last year.  A trip to West Virginia is also in the plan.  She says, "We are starting to think about selling this house and building a smaller one here (Minnesota) and in Florida."  There certainly are enough classmates all over Florida (41) to give them advice.

Donna and Pete Celebrate 43rd Wedding Anniversary - By Moving.  Donna Darbes McGehee and husband Pete are moving from St. Louis to Houston September 10-13.  Donna says, "This one is on our 43rd anniversary, can you imagine!"  Pete has retired but is considering new challenges.  Donna has accepted a position as Assistant to the Director of the Leukemia Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.  Donna told me, "We are looking forward to being in the same town as my daughter and grandchildren."  Their new e-mail address is petermcgehee@sbcglobal.net.

LAST MOUNTAIN DANCER.  Chuck Kinder's new book can now be purchased in hardback.  The following description has been written by Publishers Weekly.  LAST MOUNTAIN DANCER: Hard-Earned Lessons in Love, Loss, and Honky-Tonk Outlaw Life by Chuck Kinder.  At the beginning of this bawdy, in your face, hugely entertaining bear of a book, Kinder explains that he intends to tell readers about his home state, West Virginia, land of "legendary mountain dancers, moonshiners, stupendous marijuana farmers, snakehandlers, blood-feudists, mystery midgets, mothmen [and] horny space aliens who drop into my home state as regular as clock-work in order to engage in extra-terrestrial sex with a multitude of juicy West Virginia majorettes..." On sabbatical from his professorship at the University of Pittsburgh, Kinder travels home to mine the state's legendary depravity.  Family members, old drinking buddies, new drinking buddies and a host of others flood the narrative.  Sparks fly, plans are hatched, threats are made and a lot of legally questionable activity is engaged in, and Kinder's fine prose relates it all. 

How Big Is The HHS Class Of 1960?  Bruce Forinash wrote recently to ask this question, "I know I probably have this somewhere, but to save my counting our class pictures, do you know approximately how large our graduating class was?"  Well, it is not an easy question.  Here is my answer.  When we went to school, high school was 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.  I expect that all 3 grades would have totaled 1200 to 1400 students.  From the 3 yearbooks for our class plus the graduation list, we had the following numbers: Sophomore Class - 480, Junior Class - 481, Senior Class - 421, Graduation - 385.  Combining the classes, I come up with a total of 585 students who were in our class during those three years. 

Judy Vance Blankenship.  Judy is listed as one of our class members, since her name appears in our junior class.  However, Judy’a allegiance is with the class of 1959.  Here is a recent letter from Judy.

"Hello Fred.  Thank you for writing me, it was quite a surprise.  I'm on the 59' class register.  I left 3 month's before I graduated and went to Michigan, after my grandfather died and, my grandmother needed me.  I finished my education there.  When I found the (1959) web site on HHS, I wrote Mike Hoback and he said of course I was to be included.  I'm sure I have friends from 60 - so many I went through with at West Jr and on to HHS.  I've been in Florida since 1965 and very happy to say I'll be moving back to Huntington by spring, for good.  I've never belonged anywhere else. My email says justawv, which means, Just A West Virginian!  I have 3 daughters, 8 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.  My grandson is in Iraq now (Army) and my granddaughter (Air Force) just came back after a 6-month tour.  I'm in security, have been for 20 years and my husband, Chuck, is an ex-cop and police chief.  I had planned on coming to the (HHS'59) reunion but we've decided to move back and will be coming up in September to house hunt and I'm storing all my energy for that. Ha!  I would like to view your web sight if you would send me the address.  I have no clue as to why my name would be on it, first I've heard of that.  Thank you for writing.  Judy Vance Blankenship

Brodof's Take The Grand Cruise.  Terry and Sandy Brodof are taking a 2-week trip to Europe.  They will travel on a cruise ship from Amsterdam, Holland to Budapest, Hungary.  This river cruise will follow the Rhine, Main, Danube, and Strudengau rivers.  They will make stops and tour the cities along the route.  Near the end of their tour, they will meet Bill and Mona Angel in Vienna, Austria for a HHS Mini-Reunion.  We will expect a full report with pictures when they return.  See a recent photo of Terry and Sandy taken in Charlotte at Classmate Photos.

Don And Donna Celebrate 40th Anniversary.  Don writes, "Donna and I just celebrated our 40th anniversary last month.  We have four children and six grandchildren and have been second mom and dad to nineteen foster children.  I retired from PepsiCo Corp. nine years ago after twenty years in operations management.  We came to the Atlanta area eight years ago to open a small LTL freight company and within a year added dedicated distribution services for a large pharmaceutical company.  We are in the process of adding a location for the same company in Orlando.  Our success has far exceeded our expectations.  Donna, who loves to sew and quilt, has her own business here as well, teaching and marketing the art form that she loves so much.  Being that our children and grandchildren are in Alaska, Utah, and North Carolina, Donna and I love to travel.  I'm a big time outdoor guy.  I love to hunt, fish, and take in the grandeur/beauty that the good Lord put upon this earth.  Don Blake

Special Dinner At Bonefish Grill.  Joe McVay describes the event.  "My sisters Sally and Susan (twins) i.e.: the babies, Jimmy, and I went to the opening of the Bonefish Grill with BIG JOE.  My friend, and the owner Burley Moss came by our table to say hello (Burley loves BIG JOE) and he thanked BIG JOE for coming and said that every opening BIG JOE has come to the restaurant has been successful, and that he brought him luck.  BIG JOE said to Burley.... ARE YOU READY FOR THIS ONE?... 'BURLY, I HOPE THIS NEW RESTAURANT IS A BIG SUCCESS AND IF I BRING YOU LUCK I'M HAPPY FOR YOU, BUT THE REASON I'M HERE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS FOR THE FREE DRINKS AND DINNER'  We all had a big laugh.  I have sent you a picture of BIG JOE."  Warm regards, BIG JOE and little joe (McVay).  You can see Big Joe McVay at Classmate Photos.

The Silly Notions We Carry.  Here's another very interesting story from Bill Weaver.

There was this black guy who is always sitting on a bench across from a White Castle in Louisville, Kentucky.  I drive past him almost every day as I go out to check on the temperature, and other conditions of our lab trailer.  In another part of my life, at the local Buddhist community center, I was having tea with my favorite tea person.  Her name is Koko Shaw.  She is very Japanese, and a tough cookie.  She used to constantly scold me for missteps in the tea ceremony, and other small matters of Buddhist _expression.  She has been tougher on me than my mother ever was, but she seems to care about me.

One day, I was speaking to Koko about this homeless person, and she lit up like a candle and said, "Oh yes, I know him.  He plays chess with himself.  He sits on the corner across from the White Castle.  He is a good boy like you".  (Understand Koko is 82 years old, and so to her, indeed, I am a boy)  "Yes", I said, "that's the one."  The next time I drove by, sure enough, he was playing chess on one of those portable little sets one can buy for long trips, and bored children.  One morning recently, I had a little extra time, and I thought I would be generous and just give the guy $5.00, so that he would have an extra good day.  I pulled the truck in behind the bench, and got out, and extended my hand and introduced myself, saying that I understood we had a mutual friend named Koko.  He asked who that might be, and I said, "Do you know a little Japanese woman named Koko?"  Then he lit up like a candle and exclaimed "Ah yes, she helps me every day."

I had no idea.  But, regardless, I figured that another $5.00 wouldn't hurt anything, but, when I offered it, he refused.  As I was getting back into my truck I said, "Well, I come by here almost every day, and if you spot me and need some help, I will be happy to lend you a hand."  I went to the trailer and finished my work, but was frustrated that I hadn't been able to do anything to lift this guys day, and then I got this bright idea that I would go and buy him a real nice chess set that was portable, but elegant.  This time, just two days ago, I stopped and sat down next to him.  He looked at me, and said, "Oh, you again.  What do you want?"  I said, " I want to make your day better than it would have been if I weren't in it."  And, at that point I presented him with this chess set.  Truly, I have never seen a man beam as much as Kevin when I did this.  That's this guys name, but it's a small thing compared to the truth I learned while sitting there talking to him.

He was looking at my card, Marine Testing, Ltd., and he asked me what I did.  I told him, and he understood what aquatic toxicology was, which astounded me, and then he pulled out his wallet from his sock.  He had a badge.  He was a NARC officer.  He was a man waiting for someone to offer him something other than a chess board.  He said, "You know Mr. Weaver, you and I are working for the same cause.  We are working for order in our society, our city, state and country, and in a way, the entire world."  Then he pointed at the light, and said, "See, when the light turns red, the cars stop, and when it turns green, they go, and when someone doesn't stop, then sometimes people get hurt or die, and all of life is changed.  You and I just try to bring the color of the light to the attention of others who seem to be color blind."  We talked quite a while, and he told me that this chess set I gave him was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him, and that he would keep it safe at home.  He made my day.  I really felt great.

Perceptions.  We drive by, and we think we know what we are looking at, but we don't.  This world is so deep, and complex, that even contemplating the size of earth in comparison to the universe comes second to the complexity of human relationships, and the power each of us has to matter to someone else on any day we choose.  I am getting ready to go and check on the trailer now.  I will see Kevin, and wave.  Now, he will wave back.  Life is good.  William C. Weaver

Pony News From August, 2004.

Missing Classmate List Is Getting Smaller.  I am glad to announce that the following classmates from HHS 1960 have been found and removed from our missing list:

Carolyn Hazlett Flannery - Melbourne, Florida

Richard Johnson - Oak Island, North Carolina

Betty Spurlock Maxwell - Gainesville, Florida

Linda Watts Peters - New Castle, Ohio

Chet Porter - Huntington, West Virginia

Frank Smith - Belpre, Ohio

Frances Swartz Thresh - Ashland, Kentucky

Carl Trosper - Barboursville, West Virginia

Jim Zimmerman - Ashville, Ohio

Bill Anderson Is Keeping Busy.  Bill writes, "Chris and I are well. I am still working away at my research. In fact, I'm trying to complete a huge paper that is long overdue, and my editor is losing patience with me. Just have to keep beavering away at it. Otherwise, I work on our house (just taught myself how to refinish rattan furniture) and listen to my huge collection of recorded opera. Chris and I have been traveling a lot to opera this spring and summer, and are about to leave for a meeting in Utah followed by a week in Santa Fe to take in their offerings for this year.  Santa Fe has the most respected summer opera program in the country. I also buy used CDs for a small group of people around the country who like opera but don't know which recordings to get. My collection is so large that I'm not adding much to it now, so this gives me an excuse to haunt our wonderful used CD store and pounce on treasures when they show up, which I then pass on to my friends. I don't make a profit on it; I just do it for fun, and only want to break even. Once a collector, always a collector, I guess."  Bill Anderson

Laura Says Hello.  Laura Grace White Barnett is still living in Chesterfield, Missouri with her husband Jerry.  She says that she hopes to attend our next reunion.  She does not use e-mail, so we will have to store up all of our questions until next summer.

Michael Is Making Great Progress.  The following up-date from Michael Lerner shows he is making great progress.  He says,  "I've re-named my out-patient therapy 'Camp Gimpy'"

CAMP G---gaining, I---independence through, M---motivation, P---pride, Y---you betcha!"

"As you can see by the photographs (See Classmate Photos), I continue to make steady progress. To bring you up to date: I continue w/ out patient therapy three days a week. I am going to the therapy pool twice a week as well. Have been cleared for independent pool use. I have a booklet of exercises that I do, and I am gaining strength in my legs and arms. Have resumed flutter kicking and have increases mobility as well as strength."

"Last week I began using the treadmill; did 10 min. @ 1mph.  Increased that today to 12 min. Have been cleared to use treadmill at home and plan on working up to 2.2-2.5mph for up to 20 min as I get stronger.  Piano-I'm playing a couple of the Bach 2-part inventions-that's using all 10 fingers; not the smoothest sound, but considering that my right hand was barely working 2 months ago, I'm pleased."

"Have resumed more food preparation duties for our family-fully preparing some meals and being "prep chef" for other meals.  I've been sleeping upstairs for 4 weeks now, and I negotiate the stairs with relative ease -one step at a time; not bounding up 2 at a time yet!"

"We go out some now- for restaurant meals, occasional movies (gotta see "Supersize Me" if you haven't seen that yet!) I then walk mostly with the "quad" cane (cane with four small legs for better stability) into /rest/theater and don't look so much like the "GIMPY GEEZER". I move pretty well on the walker now just the same and have used the wheel chair minimally for the last week."

"So what's with the horse? Part of therapy is Riding for the Handicapped out at the KY Horse Park. These pix are from my second of approx. 6 sessions. I spend 30 min on my less-than-spirited/gentle steed "Ingrid". It builds trunk strength, balance and coordination.  Made good progress between 1st & second session."

"Emotionally I have good days and so-so days. I am thrilled with my progress but am impatient to be doing what my brain knows I've done, but the equipment is not as responsive. I get frustrated and would be described as something other than cheery by my loved ones (to say the least-LOL).  That's about it for now. Thanks for thoughts, energy, prayers, and good wishes. They are all contributing to this miracle in healing I'm experiencing."  Michael

Family Photos Of Paula Whitten Smith Family.  Please see Classmate Photos for new pictures of Paula, Don, and sons Paul, and Cy.  The photos were taken during Paula and Don's 40th wedding anniversary celebration this summer. 

Bill Weaver's Thoughts On The Real 911 Report.  "Once upon a time, a long, long, time ago I worked for the West Virginia State Road Commission under a man named Major Turley.  It was a much more interesting job than one might imagine, even though the real job was to go to various intersections and count the vehicles that used the intersection, and classify them on a special clipboard, then record the findings every hour, and turn in a report that covered 8 or 12 hours, according to which ever assignment I had been given."

"Of course, the counting was boring, and the paper work was tedious, but what happened is that people would get curious, and come talk to me while I was counting the cars.  This made the time pass quickly, even though sometimes I would get certain individuals that made me worry about my safety, and made me clutch my Dad's pistol as it was tucked in under my leg..."just in case", as he used to say."

"One day in the summer of 1959, before the beginning of my senior year in high school, I was taking a survey on the Point Pleasant bridge which later fell into the Ohio River.  And, as I was counting the cars, I this guy came up and talked to me about who I was and where I went to school and so forth, and then he started showing me porno pictures and little bags he said were filled with heroine, and he was asking if I was interested.  I said ‘sure I'm interested, but right now I'm broke.’  But then I said, ‘I'll be back up here on Saturday after I get paid, and I'll meet you here at 8 PM.’  I established the price for two bags and three porno books, and indicated that was within range."

"I told Major Turley about this event and he asked me if I would be willing to call the FBI and have them make the appointment.  The reason Turley knew I should call the FBI is that this man had told me they were operating out of Gallipolis, Ohio, and that made this situation a federal matter.  Sure enough I called, and the FBI made the appointment, and as a result, I received a personal letter from J. Edgar Hoover asking me to become an agent in his Special Forces unit.  He explained that I would have to get a law degree and be an expert marksman with many different weapons, but that he would like to have my on the team."

"I wrote him back, and said that law was a profession that my family was not very respectful of, and that the chance of me getting my father to put up the money for that was slim and none, plus, I really didn't think I wanted to spend my life in law enforcement.  In a very short note, by return mail, Mr. Hoover said that if I was ever in Washington, it would be his pleasure to give me a personal tour of the bureau, and that he would really like a chance to convince me to change my mind."

"It so happened that I had made a bid for an appointment to Annapolis, and fallen short.  Seems a fellow named John Tweel won that, and I was second or third best.  However, in the fall of 1959 I was asked be retested, for on the aptitude test, I had scored a near perfect mark on one section for being a navigator.  I was sent to Washington to be tested with some other guys, and the idea was that if I tested well enough, then maybe I would get an appointment anyway."

"I arrived on Thursday, was given a manual to read and study, and told that we would be tested the next day to see what our retention level was.  I suppose we had arrived about noon.  Around 2 PM in the afternoon, a small limousine pulled up, and three guys got out.  I saw them, but really didn't think it had anything to do with me, and went on about studying.  Suddenly there was a rap on my door.

'William Weaver...William Weaver...William Weaver'

'Who is it?' I said.

'We're from the FBI.  Could we speak with you for a moment?'

And, of course, I let them in."

"The truth is, I was a little scared because I had forgotten about the letter exchange, and I thought I might have done something wrong.  I was on an USAF Base and there were all kinds of restriction signs around, and it was hard to tell if you were where you were supposed to be or not."

"'The director has sent us, and he has issued you an invitation for a tour of the bureau...will you come?'

Well, of course, I said yes.”

"Mr. Hoover's office was huge.  It must have been 30' X 40' and all walls were lined with law books, not only current law books, but real old ones and also law books from around the world.  His desk was so large I found myself wondering how they got it in through the door, or if they built it right in the room.  The expression from this man's face was one I have rarely seen.  Power oozed from his eyes and body movements.  He was in charge, and his presence left no doubt that he was 'the man'.  I got my tour, and I did ask how he knew I was in town, and he just smiled and said, 'I make it my business to know everything I need to know'."

"I was back at the base by 5 PM, and by the way, I aced that test, which leads to another story I can tell on another day.  I tell you this story, because the American people have been let down by their government.  It's not the Republicans or the Democrats.  It's the whole damn thing.  The stupid people who run for office are actually in charge these days, and those stupid people are all political, and involved in survival, and struggling to cover their ass, or paint some event in their past in different colors than it really got painted when it happened.  It is a complete systemic failure.  Our government is only a shadow of its former self, when Hoover and Helms knew "everything they needed to know".  We gutted that, because Presidents were afraid to let any one individual have that much knowledge and power after JEH and Helms died.  We have no 'men of power" to hold the fabric of our veiled democracy together, and on top of the world.  We are a house divided against itself, with no father/mother figure to tell us to sit down and shut up, when we get out of hand."

"In the old days, we wouldn't have any film clips of highjackers getting through any gates.  They would have already been hunted down quietly and killed, with their bodies thrown down the hole in River Boot Basin, West Virginia; never to be heard of again.  No one would know that many people's civil rights were constantly being violated and preserved by the very action of violation.  It would have all been handled, and we could continue to watch 'Leave it to Beaver' and 'The $64,000.00 Question'.”

"Now, we have a real circus on our hands, and our lives are sitting in the hands of fools, on both sides of the aisle, while no one has the responsibility, and the will to use the power of that responsibility, to protect America from sea to shining sea; keeping the stars in the eyes of the innocent, and our nation safe from harm."

"But this 911 report will not say what is truly needed.  It can't, or there would be uproar.  Therefore, while we have a moment when we think we have some answers, we may have answers, but are not willing to have solutions.  It's too dangerous.  We are so politically correct, we are doomed to national extinction.  There is a huge volume of work to be done, but in these times, FDR cannot call a JEH and say, ‘Clean up the mess in the Midwest, and take care of that fool from Louisiana’, but, unfortunately, that is what we need."

"The report we will all know about today will be published, and all the people who make their living pointing fingers of blame at various individuals will have their program format filled, but America is even less safe today than she was on 9/11/2001.  Life is ruthless.  It takes ruthless men, who love order, to keep the illusion going, that ‘life is a beautiful flower’.  We have none."  Bill Weaver

Mark Artis Explains The Non-Race Time.  "We like author James Lee Bourke too,"  explains Mark.  "One of the latest things that our race team has done is include a small lending library in our trailer.  So many times that we are out there, with the down time at the races, nothing to do but wait out the weather, oil downs, scheduling, etc. A good book comes in handy. After so many years of racing, we many times retreat into the trailer, under a nice, shady spot, away from the 'madding crowd' to take a bit of a rest and read.  We now have racers from all of the other classes coming by to see what is new, swap a few books and discuss what they have read recently. With myself, g/f Pat, and my crew chief, Richard being avid readers, we always have something new to share.  We try to keep around 30 to 40 paperbacks on board."

"If anyone ever manages to make it to any of our races, be sure to stop by and say hello, and grab a handful of books.  By the way, our next race is Aug 6/7/8 at Mid America Raceway in Wentzville, Mo. This is the second of our 'Texas Outsiders Racing Series' races for this season.  The finals for the T/O series will be here in the Dallas area, (Denton Raceway) Oct 22 and the big 6th annual end of season bash and party will be at our shop Oct 23.  Everyone is invited ... Skydivers, Air Show, band, food and of course, plenty of cars.  Mark Artis, Texas Thunder Performance

Frances Swartz Thresh Lives In Ashland. KY.  She moved there in 2001.  Frances was happy to hear from an old classmate and welcomes others to get in touch.  In 2000, Frances had a stroke and she is somewhat disabled as a result.  She has a computer and an e-mail address.  She admitted that her typing skills are not so good so e-mailing is a little frustrating.  She has two sons.  One lives in Frankfurt, KY and the other is moving to Columbus, OH.  You can write to her at  fthresh@yahoo.com.  She welcomes your contacts.

New Cyberpony - Carolyn Hazlett Flannery.  Carolyn lives in Melbourne, FL with her husband James.  They are retired now and are enjoying themselves in sunny Florida.  They have one daughter who lives in Miami.  Carolyn's e-mail address is cflannery321@aol.com.  Carolyn would enjoy hearing from you.

Mary Ellen Wharton Moves To Her New Home In Port Saint Lucie, FL.  Mary Ellen explains, "I work for a developer in a golf course community.  I am the mortgage broker.  When I started to work here, they had just introduced a new line of homes.  They were pre construction, so they were a good bargain.  I built one as investment, but fell in love with it along the way, so I rented out my other house and moved into this one when it was completed.  My Lanai is on a lake, and across from the lake is #5 fairway.  My daughters and their children and I play #5 a lot.  That is enough golf for me.  We have glow balls to play midnight golf, and that is a lot of fun.  I am enjoying it.  I sit in my hot tub and make fun of the bad swings every morning."  Mary Ellen

Jim Zimmerman Is In Ashville, Ohio.  I had a nice long phone conversation with Jim Zimmerman recently.  I was able to track him down through his sister, Ruth Ann Zimmerman Baker (HHS'58), who lives in Huntington.  Jim and his wife live in Ashville, Ohio.  He married Charlotte McCallister who was in the HHS class of 64.  They have three children and 8 grandchildren.

Jim worked for CSX as a district electrician and is now retired.  He traveled for 30 years for them covering Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, and Virginia.  He is an avid reader, which he took up during those traveling days.  One of his favorite authors is James Lee Burke.  Jim also a big Marshall fan and hopes to see them play against Ohio State in the fall.

He is definitely interested in our class reunion in 2005.  His brother Robert will be attending the HHS Class of 1959 reunion in a few weeks.  Jim does not have a computer.  He said that he had enough of that at work.

John P. Boylin Jr.  I am sorry to inform you that Jane Heywood Boylin's husband passed away recently.  He was principle owner of Camden Park and president of East End Realty.  The following obituary was in the Herald-Dispatch.  Many have expressed their thoughts of what a wonderful man he was.

JOHN PARKS BOYLIN JR., 63, of Huntington, W.Va., died Tuesday, July 20, 2004, in St. Mary's Medical Center. Mr. Boylin was born July 16, 1941, in Huntington, West Virginia, the son of the late Dandridge Longwell Blakey and John Parks Boylin. Mr. Boylin graduated with a BA from Davidson College in 1962 and a MBA from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1963. He served in the United States Army from 1965 to 1967 with the rank of Captain. Mr. Boylin was the owner and Manager of United Furniture Stores, and he was President of Camden Park. He is survived by his wife, Jane Heywood Boylin; two sons and daughters-in-law, John Parks Boylin III and Benu Rellan of Huntington, W.Va., and William Dandridge Boylin and Andrea Shaw Boylin of Kettering, Ohio; two daughters and a son-in-law, Mary Claiborne Boylin and Chad E. Fowler of Richmond, Va., and Elizabeth Custis Boylin of Atlanta, Ga.; a sister and brother-in-law, Eleanor and Valentine Nesbit of Tampa, Fla.; and four grandchildren: Claiborne Parke Fowler of Richmond, Va., Dev Gregory Boylin of Huntington, W.Va., Katherine Elizabeth Boylin and William Dandridge Boylin, Jr. of Kettering, Ohio. Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 26, 2004, at Enslow Park Presbyterian Church by Dr. John Niles. Private interment will be in Woodmere Memorial Park. The family will receive visitors 10 a.m. until service time in the church parlor. Expressions of sympathy may be made to The Foundation for the Tri-State Community, PO Box 2096, Ashland, KY 41105-2096, Enslow Park Presbyterian Church, or a charity of one's choice. 

New Cyberpony - Frank Smith.  Frank was our classmate in his sophomore year and then he went to Huntington East to be in the trade school.  You may remember Frank from Cammack (grades 1-3), Monroe (grades 4-6), West Jr. (grades 7-9), and HHS (grade 10).  Frank tells me that, after high school, "I went into the Air Force for five years. After that I was hired by Borg Warner Chemicals in Washington, WV, eight miles from Parkersburg WV, worked production for fifteen years, was able to better myself by working my way into the Technology Department, were I had various jobs.  In 1988 General Electric bought Borg, and in 1998 I was offered early retirement, after 32 years. While I worked I also did remodeling work, since I'm now retired I still do house remodeling work just to stay active."

"I married in the winter of 1960, after my tour with the USAF we moved to Parkersburg, WV.  My wife and I have three children, one daughter and twin sons.  After I retired we sold our house and moved to Belpre, Ohio, which is one mile from Parkersburg across the Ohio River."  Frank's e-mail address is:   fsmith1218@charter.net.

Frank says that, "After going to HEHS, to learn how to be an electrician, I did not have much time to socialize.  My classes would not allow me to play sports, had no free time.  Shop class was three hours per day.  Since I did not go to HEHS my sophomore year, I had to attend summer school for three years, in order to graduate from vocational and academics at the same time."  Frank recalls that he, Louis Elam, and I went to East one summer after the 9th grade to take Electrical Shop and Mechanical Drawing.  I think that Larry Clark was also with us that summer.  Some people that Frank remembers are: Bob Bodine, John Hicks, Louis Elam, Betty Tweel, Tom Haptonstall, and Patty Gillespie.  After 46 years, that is pretty good. 

Marshall University Society Of Yeager Scholars Class Of 2008 Named For Bob And Sylvia Brammer.  Bob and Sylvia Max Brammer have been selected to have the Marshall University Society of Yeager Scholars Class of 2008 named in their honor.  Congratulations to Bob (HHS'59) and Sylvia (HHS'60).

The program is named for U.S. Air Force Brigadier General (Ret.) Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, who is a native of Lincoln County, W.Va.  The Yeager program is the only scholarship at Marshall for which students must compete against one another. Students must meet criteria set for the scholars and then, if they are picked, must participate in the interviewing process. The students are interviewed by teams made up of Marshall faculty and administrators, as well as community leaders.  After receiving the scholarship, the students must maintain a rigorous course load, as well as a 3.5 GPA, and participate voluntarily in campus activities. The society also looks for students who have leadership potential.

The Class of 2008 is named for G. Robert "Bob" Brammer, a 1965 alumnus of Marshall University and member of the Society of Yeager Scholars Board of Directors, and his wife, Sylvia. The Brammers were selected for this honor based on their shared commitment to advancing the program's mission through leadership, advocacy and financial support.

New E-Mail Addresses.

Barbara Moorman Bryan - beeabee@comcast.net

Jill Perry Chapman - JohnJillChapman@aol.com

Darlene Hagaman Langham - langham@ohio.edu

Barbara Wilson Lunsford - del@lunsford.tc

Doug Pelfrey - scpharoh@yahoo.com

Jim Raines - jraines@cloh.com

John Ketchum Says Hello.  While John admits that he never was a member of our class, he is a "Friend of the Class" and has always been considered one of us.  John will fill you in on the details. 

“OK, OK, I've been reading and viewing all of these Cyberpony e-mails for some time and doing it from the safe, uninvolved, non-threatening distance of cyberspace.  However, it's now time to come clean and it took Garner and McVay to make it happen.  I am not at all surprised to see Bill in a party mode - lei and all.  I am surprised, however, that the membership at Hermitage ever voted him in.  I'm just making sure that this is the same Bill Garner that I knew years ago.  And Joe, that must be a glass of Sprite hanging from your left hand.  I can't imagine, thinking back over the years, that it could be anything else.”

“Finally, I must admit that I am not truly a ‘Pony’.  Those of you who know me remember that I hung out with the HH crowd but officially went to a small school on the Marshall campus.  It was Marshall Laboratory School (simply a great name, don't you think) and I graduated with 27 other people in 1960. Thanks to Judy Clark (hello and I still love you), I was added to the list of Cyberponies.  Thanks to Fred Charles, I continue to receive great info on many of those with whom I grew up.  Physically, that is.  I make no claim to having grown up socially or psychologically over those years in Huntington.  Thanks to guys like Bill and Joe for that.”

“I'm in Charlotte, have been for the past 18 years.  Married for the second time - 26 years to a terrific lady.  There are three children from the first marriage (John 38, Christen 36 and Anne Hunter 33) and I find it amazing how kids can radiate light through a dark and violent storm.   I am sending my pride and joy (18 year old Matthew who is a product of this marriage) off to Professional Golf Management school at Methodist College on August 14.  He gets his love of the game from me.  His skills come from somewhere else. The money for another five years of college education following 13 years of private school will come from God knows where.  But, I'm already getting onto some really great courses that I normally could not get on.  Who says education doesn't pay?”

“I have a firm here in Charlotte that does strategic marketing and brand consulting as well as advertising and communications.  Great fun, and I truly love it.  We've done well over the years, but it's been a rough business over the past few years.  I learned that Bobby Garner sold his cleaners and retired.  I'm not sure I'll ever hit retirement. Maybe there's an opportunity for Bobby to have someone clean up the luggage carousel in some airport after I've dropped dead on it.  Actually, I don't know that I'll ever want to retire. I may be old, tired and cynical, but I still love the game.”

“OK, enough of this.  I just wanted to say hello and thank Judy and Fred for keeping me informed.  This has brought back a lot of very fond memories.  I'll continue to read and remember.  If any of you want to drop a note (or I guess I should say beam a note), I'd love to hear from you.  Best regards.”  John Ketchum  (See John’s photo on Classmate Photos.)

Barbara Moorman Bryan Has Moved.  Barbara advises that her new mailing address is 1525-D Old Trolley Rd.; PMB 162; Summerville, SC 29485.  Phone: (843) 553-5321.  E-mail: beeabee@comcast.net.

Photo Of Bill And Robin Garner With Joe McVay.  See Classmate Photos for this new photo.  The photo was taken at a party during the member - guest tournament at the Hermitage Country Club, outside of Richmond, in May.  Bill tells me, "I have been a member at Hermitage for over 16 years. We had the Senior tour here for 10 years and our claim to fame is that it is the course in which Arnold Palmer won his last tournament in 1988.  It was called the Crestar Classic."

Garner Family News.  "Bobby sold his cleaners a few months ago and is now in full retirement. My sister just retired from teaching at Walsh College in Canton Ohio after 36 years. I'm now the only child gainfully employed."  Bill

Ponies Dine At Heritage Station.  See Classmate Photos for a new photo of Billy Glick, Brenda Glick, Judy Browning Clark, Larry Clark, and Dee Clark.  They all found each other dining in Huntington.

More Ponies Get Together.  See Classmate Photos for a group picture of Garland Peoples Myers, Jane Beckett Bradley, Carolyn Thomas Schenck, and Fred Charles with spouses and friends.  We were all invited to Garland and Chip’s mountain home in Blowing Rock, NC.  Of course, we talked about all of our old friends at HHS.

Mary Jessie Turley Ricketts.  I regret to inform you of the passing of Joe Ricketts' mother recently.  The following obituary was in the Herald-Dispatch.

MARY JESSIE TURLEY RICKETTS, 84, a life long resident of Huntington, W.Va., died Tuesday, June 29, 2004, at The Woodlands Retirement Center following a long illness. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Dr. Joseph E. Ricketts, parents Theodore M. and Alma B. Champ Turley and brother, Major Garland B. Turley. Mrs. Ricketts was a graduate of Huntington High School and Marshall College and taught home economics in local schools prior to her marriage. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Huntington, where she taught Sunday school for a number of years. In addition, she was a member of the Huntington Garden Club and Auxiliary to the Cabell County Medical Society. Survivors include two sons, four grandchildren and one brother. Sons are Dr. Joseph E. Ricketts, Jr. and wife Brenda of Centerville, Ohio, and Jay S. Ricketts and wife Lynn of Atlanta, Ga. Grandchildren are Christopher H. Ricketts of Cincinnati, Ohio, Amanda Ricketts Gibson of Columbus, Ohio and Benjamin A. and Merrill B. Ricketts of Atlanta, Ga. Her surviving brother is E. Milton Turley, Beckley, W.Va. Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, 2004, at Ridgelawn Memorial Park Abbey of Devotion by The Rev. Skip Seibel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mrs. Ricketts' memory to the First Presbyterian Church, Humane Society of The United States or Alzheimer's Association.

Mary Nancarrow Family Also Plan A Move.  Mary advises, “We will be moving to Florida after the first of the year.  I lost my Father in July of last year and Mother is getting up in age, and needs someone to help keep things going.  I will let you know our new address after we make the move.  I really enjoy the web page and thank you so much for keeping us so well informed as to what our classmates are doing.”  Mary N Wireman

Barbara Is Enjoying The Summer.  Barbara Wilson Lunsford writes, “I spent a week in Long Beach, CA with my mom, while my sister & her family were away.  We had a very nice visit.  It was sad to see how she & dad have gone down hill in their health.  We also had nice visits with our sons Steve and Ryan this summer.  Del & I just completed a remodeling of our house.  We have a complete new kitchen with corian counter & sink, all new appliances in stainless steel, and new floors.  We had the existing tile & all carpet removed & the same tile put in everywhere.  We love it.  It took awhile & we're thankful if is finished.  I'm resting up until school resumes in one month.”  Barbara.

Doug Pelfrey Returns.  Please welcome Doug Pelfrey back to the Cyberponies.  Doug has retired from Bell Atlantic and now lives in Longs, South Carolina (Myrtle Beach).  Doug spends much of his time on the golf course and also has time to work on the computer every day.  Doug's wife passed away in 2001 after a long battle with cancer.  His four children live in Charlotte (2), Atlanta, and Columbia, SC.  Doug also enjoys spoiling his grandsons who are only a short drive away.  You can contact Doug at scpharoh@yahoo.com.

Fire At Brammer Canada Home.  We all are very sorry to hear that Bob and Sylvia Max Brammer had a fire at their house in Canada recently.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.  But, the house  was a total loss. 

Richard Johnson Found At The Beach.  I recently found Richard at Saint James Plantation, near South Port, NC.  Richard and his wife Gena live in Oak Island, NC.  Richard lived many years in Charlotte and was a piping designer for a large engineering firm.  Now that he lives at the beach, he joined the security staff at Saint James Plantation.  He visits Huntington often and has many friends and family there.  Richard will send me his e-mail and is very interested in learning about his classmate friends.  See our photo in Classmate Photos.