MAIL CALL
from Richard Cole in Magnolia, TX & BEYOND!!!!
Many thanks to you and Mike on all the work and time you guys have put into maintaining the website. You don't know how much I enjoy reading the update twice a month. I have spent most of my adult life living and working overseas and it keeps me in touch with my roots!
(You made our day with your comments. Our mission of doing the website is to keep our '68 classmates connected! Thanks friend.)
from Felicia Hiatt Petit in Texas City
(taken off of Facebook)
February 14....I am having a nice Valentine dinner with the man in my life. We have been together 45 years...wow...Our first date was to a DeMolay dance in February, 1968.
February 17....David just finished cleaning out our attic. Thanks to our son, Adam, for coming over to help. We have to be out of our house by the end of March. I think we are making progress. They start building our new home next week. Yeah. We have accumulated a lot while living in this home for 37 years!
(Felicia is married to fellow classmate, David Petit.)
from Fred McCarty in Kingwood
Sandy and I decided to jump into grand-parenthood in a big way. Our granddaughter, Teagan, was born January 20th, to my oldest son, Matt and his wife Heather. Then, our grandson, Heath McCarty, was born February 12th to our younger son, Brian and his wife, Laura.
(Congratulations! Now, you get why your friends are always smiling thinking about their grandchildren. There is nothing better.)
from David Salter in Oklahoma City,
OK
I was trying to locate Dennis Cross, who formerly lived in Edmond, OK. It looks like he has not lived at the address given to me since 2011. I am disappointed since I wanted to reconnect with him. We were in the Edison
band together and he was a great trumpeter. I missed him not being in the TJ band with us. Thanks for all you and Mike
do to keep us posted with our classmates.
(Thanks for looking for him. Does anyone have any current information on Dennis Keith Cross? We want him to know the information about the reunion, too.)
DWIGHT WAGNER'S ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT
(a note from Dwight '69)
Thank you for announcing my album release on the last update of the TJ class of '68 web page. I enjoyed our phone conversation. Thanks for ordering my CD.
(I was out of town and unable to attend Dwight's concert at the Woodrow Wilson auditorium last Sunday. But, I am enjoying listening to his CD titled BLESSINGS while I am writing this NEWSLETTER. You may contact Dwight at dwagner822@yahoo.com Dwight was a fellow member of the mighty MAROON & GOLD BAND.)
BOYS GET-TOGETHER
A few male classmates get together every February in Houston
when David Salter comes into town from Oklahoma for a petroleum industry function. It has become a tradition to meet and have fun reminiscing while dining at Papadeaux's. The attendees this year were George Collins, Joel Levy,
Mike Harmon, Fred McCarty, and David Salter.
from Joel Levy
We were able to have our gathering again this year when we met our Lee Elementary friend, David Salter.
from Fred McCarty
Thanks,
Joel, for remembering to bring your camera and for capturing our picture. It was a great visit and a good meal with long-time friends. PRICELESS!
from David Salter
It was so good to get together with all of you. It is tough to beat the combination of good friends and crawfish! I sure appreciate the pic, Joel. Mike, it was really great having you join us this year....especially with you having to make the trek from Beaumont. I need to give more notice next year of the exact date of our Houston industry gig so Leonard Hilliard will have more time for schedule arranging. Again, congratulations and thanks to Grandpa McCarty for providing my transportation.
from Mike Harmon
I had a great time with you guys and hope we can do it again soon, but with Leonard Hilliard next time!
(You can find the photo they are talking about by going to CLASS PHOTOS, then MISC. PHOTOS, then page 7 on the front page of the website. For all you single women....these great looking guys are all TAKEN!)
REUNION NEWS
Caterer
The committee voted on Simply Elegant Caterers for the catering services for the Saturday night wingding. They were also the company that served us 5 years ago and did an excellent job. Also, a great big thanks to classmate Lynn Eldridge Gill for donating $$$$ to buy BOUDAIN BALLS from the Boudain Hut to add to the food table!
DJ Referrals
We now need a DJ. Please send me the names of DJs that we can consider for this job. Of course, we want someone who will play our favorites of the 50's, 60's, some 70's, line dances, etc.
Flyers
The flyers listing all the information that should be needed is in the mail! Yea.
Map Making????
We will have a MAP of the Friday night and Saturday night locations as soon as someone VOLUNTEERS to to make it! Any takers? I would like to post it on the website under REUNION NEWS. We will also have a map available at the Social on Friday night so that you will be able to know how to get to the Saturday night event. (By the way, it is just down the road very near the airport.)
Motel Reservations
Some of you have informed me that you have called and reserved a room. Good for you. Don't forget to mention “TJ, class of '68” to get the reunion rates. It might be wise to reserve one now even if you are unsure of attending the reunion.
Checks for the reunion tickets have been received from:
Bill Richey
Fred McCarty
Lynn Eldridge
Jim Andrus
Paul Colletti
Jude Arisco
Please note that financial difficulty should NOT stop you from coming to our reunion. No one is turned away. You can contact me ahead of time if you prefer. Also, any classmate can contact me about someone that you would like for us to add for the complimentary tickets.
The money we have received so far has enabled us to pay for the postcards, flyers, stamps, envelopes, and the return address stamp. If you find out that you are unable to attend, I will REFUND your money. But, remember that sending it early allows us to pay for the deposits that are due. I appreciate it friends! PLEASE send your checks ASAP!
Family members of Deceased Classmates
Notify me if you know of a spouse or sibling of a deceased classmate that would like to attend our reunion. We will mark them down for a complimentary ticket to the event. The late Randy Schneider's brother, Fred '66, has already asked to be included. We would be honored to have them attend and reunite with their loved ones' friends from the past.
(notes and phone calls)
Donald Monson said to tell everyone that he is “alive and well” living in Buna. Unfortunately, he will not be able to attend the reunion.
Steve Nelson I am planning on attending the reunion in August. Please add me to the RSVP list. I appreciate the updates on the website. It seems so long ago that we were in high school.
(Oh Steve, what is a little 45 years? See you soon.)
Richard Cole I am looking forward to this year's reunion and hope I will be back in the states to enjoy it. I will be sending my check soon.
Reunion Committee
The reunion committee has been meeting once a month since August to finalize plans to make this event happen. Committee members are Ernie Castaneda Bullion, Bobby Williamson, Jonnye Doering Williamson, Linda Gothia, Mary Wells, Cecelia Trevino Esqueda, Darlene Turner Landry, Paula Daigle Sheppard, Carla Castro Stewart, Sandra Garsea Broussard, and Randy
Blanchard. But, I would be remiss if I did not mention my classmate and lifelong friend, Beverly Copeland Gaspard. She is not on the committee that meets, but she has spent hours and hours helping me with spreadsheet problems, labels, flyer tweeking, editing, and just listening to me VENT! It might not have been so arduous getting these items done except I am working on a MAC computer and she has a PC. Like Mike Lawson says, “Those two computers trying to work together is like trying to get the Russians and Americans to negotiate!”
Thanks to Beverly, my committee, and my “other spouse”, Mike Lawson, for making sure the reunion news gets posted on the website for your convenience.
Speaking of poor Mike.....he has two wives to take directions from; his legal wife and me.....his website wife (but without BENEFITS)! “-)
Thanks, also, for my real husband, Murphy! He has been really patient about the time that I spend away from family to get these jobs done! It isn't always at a convenient time that work has to be done.
WEBSITE DONATIONS
Donation $$$ was received from Fred McCarty and Jim Andrus to help with the expenses incurred in running a website. It is very much appreciated.
SUPPORT
(taken off of Facebook)
Amy Latiolais Kidder's husband, Johnny, was admitted into the hospital today. Tests are being run to find out the problems.
a note from Frank McCoy '67
(taken off of Facebook)
I went to the Methodist Hospital Monday for the second day of a three day testing to be considered for a kidney transplant. My loving wife will go on March 11 to begin testing to see if she is a match to see if she is a candidate to donate one of her kidneys. Such amazing love from such a godly lady. Please pray for us.
Diane Richmond Miller is scheduled for a knee replacement in Houston on Tuesday, February 26th.
millerdianee@gmail.com
Vicki Choate-health issues
2720 2nd Ave.
Groves, TX 77619
a note from Gayle Mercer Borgerson in Katy, TX
I am recovering from a hip replacement. It's a slow recovery process. It has been two weeks, but I'm just now getting off the walker onto a cane. Painful. The doctor said to give it another month and it will be much better.
missgayle1@att.net
(Glad the surgery is over and you are on the mend.)
CONDOLENCES
NOTICE OF A CLASSMATE DEATH
John Graybill
5/3/49-6/29/11
John's widow, Frances, was kind enough to contact me when she received the reunion postcard in the mail. She informed me of John's untimely death in 2011. I appreciate that she took the time to share this information with the classmates.
(a thank you note from Kathleen Rosenthal Phillips)
On behalf of Tim, Patricia (Tom's widow), and myself, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the prayers, cards, e-mails, phone calls and visits from so many of our classmates and friends during Tom's illness and passing. We were so pleased with the turn out at the MEMORIAL GATHERING. Sharing memories and visiting with so many friends brought much comfort to our family. Much thanks to Jerry and Sharon (Trahan) LaBove, Bob and Carol Sandoval, Ronnie
and Debbie Moerbe, Linda (DeCuir) McFadden, and Ray ('69) and Rachel Richard for their special kindness. We were so blessed to be part of Tom's life and family. He was the kind of person that truly touched many lives for the better because of his faith and character. We feel rewarded and truly grateful for the many wonderful memories, love and support from our dear friends and classmates. May GOD bless each of you.
Yours truly, Kathleen R. Phillips
(There was a wonderful attendance of other classmates offering their support to our classmates, Tim and Kathleen, at such a sad time. It is what we do best! Those present were Van Thigpen, Joyce Marceaux Abate, Steve Redick, Debbie Borres Desmond, Daniel Wolf, Jeanette
Constantine Morgan, Debbie Thompson Saide, Sheridan Jones Thornell, Lana Oliver Baker, Mel “Cooter” Simmons, Paula Daigle Sheppard, and Wade Miller. My apologies if I left out any other classmates' names.)
Jeanne Painton Cain
(death of her husband, Dr. Leonard
Cain)
15975 County Rd 30
Delores, CO 81323
leonardcain@gmail.com
Craig Runyan
(death of his father, John Braxton Runyan)
The obituary is on the front page of the website under OBITUARIES.
Craig's reunion postcard came back to me. I have no current mailing address. If any of you do, please pass it along to me. Thanks.
Please send me any news, questions, or comments for the next update. I appreciate all I received for this one. Keep them coming.
Keep in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda
DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com