The awesome 45th year reunion happened a week ago! I guess it is time to start planning for the big 5-0 golden anniversary event to happen in 2018!!
MAIL CALL
from Joe Juarez (faculty) in Port Neches
I am sorry that I will not be able to be with your fellow classmates at the 45th year class reunion of the 1968 class. There are so many that I would have enjoyed seeing. There is hardly a week that passes without my thinking and/or sharing a memory of my three years teaching at TJ. I am fortunate in “running into” sturdents that were at TJ during that time. It really meant a lot for your class to want to include the faculty.
from Hugh LeBaron (faculty)in Starkville, MS
I just read your latest newletter and was pleased to hear from Mr. McBee but sad to learn about his health problems. My wife Dorothy travels so poorly these days because of her health that attending the reunion is impractical for the present. As for me, I am enjoying good health except for minor shoulder problems that sometimes require medication.
Dorothy and I married my first year at Thomas Jefferson in 1963 and we celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary this past March with a weeklong visit to New Orleans during which I gained five pounds! My southeast Texas relatives are growing fewer but I still have a brother in Nederland and numerous cousins scattered about the area. I was there for a visit last summer and went on to San Antonio afterwards. I still live in Starkville, MS near my youngest daughter, Paige Elizabeth, and her two grandchildren. I hope your reunion is a success and as much fun as my fortieth reunion was. Regards to the TJ class of '68 and best wishes for your happiness.
hlebaron@ms.metrocast.net
from Pam Mabry Bergman in Stonewall, TX
I'm sad to tell you that we will not be able to attend the reunion. Kim has oil drilling rigs going near Graham, and I'm traveling with a Dhahran days girl friend from Cheyenne to Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, etc. I know y'all will have a wonderful time together. I hope to be there for the 50th (how can that # be real??).
kpjbergman@yahoo.com
from John Wilson in Houston
I won't be able to attend the reunion this time but you never know. I may surprise you at another one sometime. I do stay in touch and see David Lapham often.
jdub2349@yahoo.com
from Kenny Bragg in Sheridan, AR
Life is definitely different in the political realm. It was a very busy session but I really enjoyed it. I learned a lot about the process and met a lot of good folks. I'm sorry Beverly and I won't be able to make the reunion our class has planned. I will be headed to Chicago for a legislative conference. Working my full time job and blending in the interim legislative functions are still putting a strain on time. Beverly has been babysitting one day a week with our first grandchild, Presley Grace Peacock, who is nine months old. They only live about 40 minutes away in Little Rock so it is convenient. I do appreciate all you do to keep us connected. Maybe we can get down to PA sometime later this year.
(Kenny was elected to the House of Representatives in Arkansas in November of 2012)
kenbragg@windstream.net
from Barbara Bowers in Pagosa Springs, CO
We are so sad we won't make it to the reunion. We have too many animals here to just leave. But, one day we will leave! and hope to see you all then! Hugs to everyone!
barbanddaniele@gmail.com
from Arleen Lang in Houston
Thanks to you and the rest of the reunion committee for a wonderful weekend. I had such a wonderful time catching up with old friends. I have not missed one yet and looking forward to our fiftieth reunion in 2018!
mhulin46@gmail.com
from Linda Yancey in Nederland, TX
The 45th Reunion was wonderful and I appreciate all of the tireless work that you and the committee put into making it a success! It was great to see everyone and I look forward to our next get together. I emailed Christine Smith Hood and called her today to let her know how much we missed her. Christine said she is doing good and missed coming and I told her she should have called because I would have picked her up and she said she can still drive but did not want to come because she uses a cane, I let her know that she should have still come because she would not have been the only one and that we really missed her. Christine and I go all the way back to grade school and it was so good to talk with her.
(As reported in a previous newsletter, Christine asked for prayers and support from her classmates. She was diagnosed a year ago with Lou Gehrig's disease.)
We are going to go out to lunch one day, so any Sam Houston classmates, Terry Sue Saulsberry, Jenny Rhodes and anyone else, send me an email and we will can all go together.
iky1949@gmail.com
from Carole Oubre Reeves in Groves
The committee did a great job! The turnout was fantastic for both Friday and Saturday nights. It was great seeing everyone again, and I look forward to our 50th. So sorry I wasn’t able to spend time with more people.nWe really need about a week to be able to cover all the territory.
creeves@talonins.com
from Eileen Gannon Hutchinson '70 (mom of the reunion DJ, Justin Hutchinson
Hopefully, by now, you have had some time to rest and recuperate after the fantastic reunion. It was obvious everyone had a great time seeing each other and I am so glad you all had such a big turnout. I enjoyed seeing so many people I have not seen in years. Justin had a lot of fun that night!
I've put the word out to some in our class of '70 that we need to get on the ball and start organizing our 45th reunion as it will be here before we know it. Your class put together a grand reunion on a grand scale! Kudos to you and the committee.
(Several classmates asked for Justin's business card. I'll get info for you by the next update in two weeks.)
from Felicia Hiatt and David Petit in Texas City
We had a great time last night at TJHS '68 Class Reunion. Great friends, great food, great music. Totally enjoyed it.
texteach@yahoo.com
from Donnie DeLee in San Antonio
Thank you so much for helping me hitch a ride with Mike Lawson to the reunion shindig. It was great meeting old friends and acquaintances. Wow, so many old memories came back last night.
(It was great seeing you, dear friend! Yep, we need to go “across the river” again.)
from Helen Rethke Lauck in Littleton, CO
Glad I didn’t make arrangements to come, because it looks like the grand baby will likely be born this weekend. We’re heading for Salina, Kansas tomorrow. Tell everyone Hi for me and I’ll try to make the next one!
from Anthony Roccaforte in Nederland
What a great Saturday night. Thanks to you and the committee.
(We missed Anthony and his beautiful wife, Marilyn at the Friday night event. They had a prior commitment.)
from Pat Trahan Knox in Beaumont
It was a wonderful reunion...great to visit with everyone!!! Already looking forward to the next one. I think our class has held up really well!!! We were the best class, though, don't you think??!!
from Carol “Canny” Babin Prejean in Arlington, TX
I love our reunions. It's so great to catch-up with everyone!
from Becky LeBlanc Robinson in Conroe
I wanted to thank the committee again for the great reunion. You all did a wonderful job and everyone had a great time. Can't wait for the next one.
(This was Becky's first reunion. What do you want to bet it won't be her LAST?)
NEWS FROM THE HOMEFRONT
I just got in this afternoon from a POST-REUNION vacation! Murphy, Ernie (Castaneda) and Ron Bullion and I went to the Astros/Red Sox series in Houston for three days. It was a needed respite after the huge affair that just took place for our class reunion. I just got back and saw on my calendar that it was NEWSLETTER day! I had forgotten about it and haven't put my thoughts together about what to write about the past weekend. I don't want to leave anything out, so I will write about it in the update in two weeks!
Oh, I forgot! Ernie and Ron, Murphy and I were on KISS CAM at the baseball game Tuesday night! How funny!
REUNION NEWS
So much to write about that I will need more that the time I have had to prepare. I “died” in my recliner all day Sunday after the BREAKFAST at LUBY's! The next morning while babysitting my granddaughters I had to pack to leave for our mini-vacation. I just arrived back home this afternoon and am writing this update. I haven't even unpacked! I want to do a good job of reporting the events so you'll have to wait two more weeks until the next update to let me unwind. I would love to have more of you write to me about what the weekend meant to you. I'll include it in the MAIL CALL. Mike will also have an updated list of attendees (IF I can get it right!) If your name is left off, either FIRE ME or just tell me I FORGOT to write your name.) All will be forgiven on both accounts~ I can't wait to see the photos that Wayne Taylor '62 took. He snapped for THREE days! Over 500 photos are being edited.
SUPPORT
Christine Smith Hood has Lou Gehrig's Disease and would like our prayers and support.
Christine Smith Hood
1711 Tallowood
Nederland, TX 77627
(409)724-7622
preston_hood@hotmail.com
A note from Linda Yancey
Carrie (Stout) Robert is going home this Tuesday, August 1st. That is great news. Please continue to pray for Carrie and her entire family, she still has a lot of work ahead of her. We all know how it feels to be in your own home and I believe that God will help with all the rest. HE is in control and that is why Carrie is still with us.
Steve Landry, Darlene Turner's husband, is having major health issues. He is going to MD Anderson at the end of this month. She is requesting prayers.
Darlene Turner Landry
3195 Williamsburg Ln
Port Neches, TX 77651
(409)728-5919 (mobile)
gran090@yahoo.com
Linda Gothia's niece had to have a c-section this week and is having liver failure.
Prayers needed. I'm sorry I don't have any updated info.
lgothia@trinityindustrialsvc.com
CONDOLENCES
(death of a '67 graduate)
Katherine “Kathy” Mouton Freeman
May 15, 1949 - July 25, 2013
(obit on the front page of the website)
DEATH OF A CLASSMATE
(our 96th known one)
Jerry Nicholson
January 24, 1950 – July 29, 2013
May he rest in peace!
Please write me about your reunion “experience”. I would love to get feed back to add to the next NEWSLETTER! Send me or Mike your reunion pictures so we can post them on the website. Until next time.....
Stay in touch and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com