MAIL CALL
from Rhonda Carleton Richey '70 in Orange, TX
I am looking for information on the story of "Jesus on the screen door" in the Lakeview area of PA during the early 70's. Marlene Ravey says this happened at the same time of the "picture of Jesus" on another screen in Port Neches. Does anyone remembering it happening in the Lakeview area? Let me know.
from Shari Louvier Parker in New Boston, TX
(taken off of Face Book)
WOW, what a difference a day makes. We now have a full publishing house with 6 writers, full time copy editor, 2 typists, proofer, new binding machine and a new computer. I am still designing and printing for all types of groups and customers. We are still interviewing for new authors. I thank God for blessing me with so much and having so much fun and peace in my life. As you can probably see, I don't need all the farm equipment I have because I have NO time to manage a farm anymore. I am selling all my farm equipment, new tractor, tiller, disk, post hole digger, shredder, front end loader, fork lift and a 16 foot trailer. If you know anyone who needs equipment, please tell them to call me at (903)933-6273. Thank you for all your support and prayers.
from Sandra Dauphine Vaughan Merrifield (TJ faculty, French teacher, 66-67)
After leaving TJ, I taught at Edison for a while and then married and moved. There were some terrific students at TJ AND Edison in those days. I do enjoy perusing your website. It brought back great memories. I am in touch with a dear old teacher friend from those days, Joyce Vasquez Loukas. She taught Spanish and French. She keeps me posted about some of the fellow teachers at TJ and elsewhere in the PAISD system.
from Paula Iles Restrepo '69 in the Dallas area
It's been awhile, but I am still enjoying the website immensely. I would like to get in touch with Vicki Brunow and Jeanette Light. I was in choir with Jeanette and we sat next to each other and used to chat. Vicki was a really good friend of Pat Dionne and I got to know her better in the summer of '69. The year after I graduated from Lamar I moved out to California and started working as a secretary so I began to lose touch with the PA friends. I spent 10 years out in California and moved to the Dallas area in 1980 to be closer to family. I married a Norwegian Minnesotan who grew up on the same block with JESSE VENTURA, (former professional wrestler and governor of Minnesota), and do I have stories to tell about him. My husband and I celebrated our 20th anniversary in Paris in April and we also got to go to the lake district of England in July. We are planning to spend Turkey Day with my sister and family in Lumberton.
from Loretta LaLonde Myers in League City, TX
We had an awesome time in Rome and a wonderful 16 night cruise back to Galveston. I had to go to Rome to reconnect with Larry Hope, one of our classmates!!!! Larry and his wife Val live in League City, also. His sister and brother-in-law that were also on the trip live in PA.
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OBSERVATIONS of GROWING OLDER
*Your kids are becoming you...and you don't like them...but your grandchildren are perfect!
*Going out is good...coming home is better!
*When people say you look "Great"...they add "for your age!"
*You forget names...but it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!
*The 5 lbs you wanted to lose is now 15 and you have a better chance of losing your keys!
*Your spouse is counting on you to remember things you don't remember.
*Your husband sleeps better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than he does in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".
*You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON' and "OFF" switch.
*You read 100 pages into a book before you realize you've already read it!
*What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
*You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet...2 of which you will never wear.
****But, old is good in some things:
old songs,
old movies,
and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!
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NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
Murphy is healed after getting heart stents put in. He also has gotten over a week of bronchitis. He did feel good enough to go to the "beer lease" and ended up shooting at a deer that took off. He left his blind to go look for it and got LOST! Now, he says that IF he had a "SMART PHONE" he could have found his way back! Well, I think a little compass from the hardware store could ALSO do the trick! Maybe if he was a better shot then the deer wouldn't have been able to run off!
My sister has had a horrible "go of it" these last few weeks but the psychiatrist took her off of one of her meds that was making her shuffle and fall and have loss of muscle control. She, of course, will have a long road ahead with her bi-polar condition and dementia. Please continue to pray for her.
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OUR HOMETOWN
by Dennis Hollander '61
(sent in by Carole Oubre Reeves)
Many years ago the members of the TJ , class of '61, lived and grew up in a place they will always remember with fond memories. It was a special place that doesn't really exist any longer-at least not as we remembered it in our youth. The place was known as Port Arthur and is still called that today but in name only. Even though there were never more than around 65,000 inhabitants it was always full of life, lights, laughter, excitement and good times. The Procter Street downtown area was always lined with cars parallel parked along both sides of the street for blocks. On the weekends the automobiles on Procter were bumper to bumper full of people having a "Day on the Town." Remember the numerous retail stores and movie theatres that used to line both sides of Procter Street? The Pleasure Pier with its boats, amusement rides, swimming pool and large dance hall was always a place we looked forward to visiting. Watching the moon over Lake Sabine while parked with someone special behind the dance hall was something we more than likely can all relate to and reminisce about.
I remember with such pride the beauty and neatness of all the old homes along Lakeshore Drive and down Procter Street. Rose Hill was always a show place to hold receptions, parties, weddings or simply visit with out of town friends and relatives. As you drove around the city there was a sense of pride in the people who lived there. You could tell this from the constant sound of lawn mowers being pushed by homeowners, the smell of fresh paint on the many frame houses and the simple sound of children playing in the yards of a town they all loved. People were friendly and mixed with neighbors because there was a common feeling of safely and trust between the citizens of this town.
The public and parochial school system was second to none in the state of Texas. All of the schools were beautiful and well maintained regardless of their age. The old Woodrow Wilson Jr. High on Lakeshore Dr. was the masterpiece of many events. Famous singers, comedians, musicians, dancers and celebrities came there to perform or speak to the citizens of Port Arthur. Remember all the recitals, choirs and minstrel shows that were held there? They were wonderful and everyone enjoyed them immensely. Everyone was proud of our own Thomas Jefferson High School (both the old one and the new one opened in 1959. For decades it was known statewide for its powerhouse football teams and its outstanding Red Hussar Drum & Bugle Corp. The Maroon and Gold Band also had an outstanding scholastic standing among Texas high schools. Many graduates of our school system went on to higher education and lived a life full of great accomplishments and achievements. There were all things that the citizens of the town could respect and appreciate. I never knew anyone during the time I grew up in Port Arthur who wasn't proud to say, "I'm from Port Arthur and graduated from high school there." Unfortunately, you don't seem to hear that type of enthusiasm and impromptu response any longer.
There is an old saying "That change is always inevitable and nothing ever remains the same in life." Is that simply what happened to OUR HOMETOWN or is it much more complex that that? We can debate the various issues of what caused the changes in our beloved Port Arthur and never come to a final conclusion where there is a consensus of opinion on the subject. I personally believe it involved many factors that were beyond the control of anyone or any group. Economics, job availability, relocation of the primary business district, gradual migration of citizens to central and eastern Jefferson County, death and retirement of key individuals are just some examples of what probably cause the "inevitable changes" to our HOMETOWN. I would like to think that someday Port Arthur will return back into a semblance of the type of town it once was so long ago. It's possible but city leaders & all the citizens of the community would have to want this change to occur and work together to make it happen. That's a tall order and one that would require a great deal of dedication and hard work. Whether or not it ever happens is up the the people themselves. Time will tell as it always does.
Even though I have not been a permanent resident of Port Arthur since going off to college in 1961---I can still look people in the eye and say, "I am proud to be from Port Arthur and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, class of '61
Dennis Hollander
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SUPPORT
from Miranda Dishman (daughter of Lillie de los Santos Wersig '69)
Please come out to a benefit fundraiser at Mkt. Basket, PN Sat., Dec. 3, 2011. My mom was recently diagnosed with Lung and Bone cancer. They've been traveling to Houston every week to receive treatment at MD Anderson. Gas and lodging bills are adding up and that's where you can help! We are having a link and CRAFTS sale. We will also have raffle tickets available for purchase. I will have more information once I get the list together. Thanks and God Bless You.
from Jeanette Constantine Morgan
I would like for everyone to please remember my mom in your prayers. She went to the doctor and he thinks she may have to have another surgery. It will be her third surgery and a arteriogram in about 2 more weeks. This has really taken a toll on her physically and mentally so prayers coming her way would sure help. Love to all.
Carla Castro Stewart's husband, Ricky, has health issues.
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CONDOLENCES
from Victoria "Vicki" Brunow in La Veta, CO
My father died on September 12, two days before his 89th birthday. I was back and forth all summer as he became more fragile. Then, when he died I was there for a month. I had him buried with full military honors as he was in the Navy, Coast Guard, Commander of the VFW and had been a Commander of the American Legion as well as a life long member of both organizations. It is difficult to have both parents pass away in less than 10 months.
P.O. Box 786
La Veta, CO 81055
(719)742-5320
Hugh Lively
(death of his father)
134 King Forest Circle
Woodville, TX 75979
Craig Runyan
(death of his mother)
No street address known
Las Cruces, NM
(You can read the Lively and Runyan obituaries in our OBITUARIES section on the front page of the website.)
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I am spending my Thanksgiving day morning with my dad and husband at the TURKEY TROT in Tyrrell Park in Beaumont. My daughter's mother-in-law is making gumbo to eat after the walk/run. Sounds like a plan to me! Enjoy your upcoming long weekend hopefully with family and friends.
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden