Hey friends. It has been a month since the last update. Mike and I thought we would have some communication by now. Most of what we have this time is news of classmate's physical issues and many deaths. But, I think this is just as important! So, if you have something going on in your life please send to me or Mike.
MAIL CALL- none
TEST QUESTION
(submitted by Bill and Tillman Richey)
“We pose this trivia question to the class of '68: On Paul Bauch's Channel 4 Studio Wrestling show.... Name 5 Wrestlers and at least two of their holds to conquer their opponent. Guaranteed big prize at the 50th Reunion in 2018 (according to these guys!) Anyone who gets close wins!!!!! We've got plenty of time.”
(This MUST be a GUY THING! I have no clue what they are even talking about and I watch WWE RAW with my Dad every Monday and Friday! Send in your guesses and I'll keep them in the REUNION file.)
NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT
Nothing much going on here. Dad STILL hasn't moved into his facility. There have been some holdups on the construction due to STATE mandates. Maybe next week.
I had a cardiac PET stress test. I find out the results on Tuesday, July 1.
We had an RV trip planned for July 2nd - 6th at River Road Camp in New Braunfels but it looks like Murphy will have to go without me again. His family and about 40 others go every July 4th week.
Murphy and I went on a bus MYSTERY tour to Houston a couple of weeks ago. We went to the tall Chase building and viewed the Houston skyline from the 60th floor. We also stopped near the Heights and had a cheese and wine tasting then had lunch at the Junior League. The afternoon was spent at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences where we were lucky enough to view the MAGNA CARTA. Of course, we also enjoyed the Egyptian artifacts, viewed the large dinosaur exhibit, saw gorgeous GEMS, (picked out an emerald necklace but Murphy said, “not this time”, learned about Native Americans, and enjoyed a relaxing stroll in the BUTTERFLY garden. It was a very pleasant day (date!).
A few TJ gals spent a luncheon date at Lupe's Tortilla in Beaumont celebrating Ernie Castaneda's 64th birthday. Those attending were Ernie, Beverly Copeland, Debbie Borres, Diane Richmond, JoAnna Simmons ('69) and me.
Speaking of classmates, a few couples had our annual get-together this year at Lost Pines Resort in Bastrop, TX. It was very relaxing and of course, we always look over the class spreadsheet and questions were asked and answered by SOMEONE in the group. The classmates attending were Lynn Eldridge (Dallas), Paul Colletti (Fort Worth), Jude Arisco (Temple), Jim Andrus (Jourdanton) and me (Lumberton). Next year our gathering will be in Horseshoe Bay.
Murphy and I have a scheduled 10 day trip planned for the Seattle/Canada area in the middle of July. Keep your fingers crossed that we are able to make this trip. It has been planned for many, many months.
ANOTHER TRIBUTE TO COACH SMITTY HILL
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Former TJ Coach Smitty Hill Dies
May 16, 2014
Gabriel Pruett
The Port Arthur News
PORT ARTHUR — Smitty Hill, former head coach of the Thomas Jefferson Yellow Jackets, died Thursday night after battling with Alzheimer's for years. He was born in El Paso on June 26, 1930 and was 83.
Hill coached the Yellow Jackets from 1966 through 1971 and was known for bringing in a great passing game to Port Arthur that led to a lot of Yellow Jackets points.
His record at TJ was 54-11-3 with his best season being in 1970. That year the Yellow Jackets started the season 13-0 and had outscored opponents 485-93. TJ eventually lost to Austin Reagan in the Class 4A state semifinals.
Nolton Prince graduated from TJ in 1969 and played two seasons under Hill on the varsity level. Prince went from always starting his first two years in high school to sitting the bench to start his junior year.
“He always told me my time was coming,” Prince said. “He was true to his word.”
Prince played all over the field for the Yellow Jackets. He returned punts and kicks, ran the football and even played on defense in the secondary.
“There were a lot of times I didn't come off the field,” Prince said. “Coach Hill knew though when I came running off the field with my tongue hanging out I needed a break.
“Smitty was just a great guy. He was a mentor to several guys and he was ahead of his time. He could tear a defense apart.”
Through the years Hill became not only a coach to Prince but also a friend. The same can be said for other players like Gary Hammond, Cotton Speyrer, Dennis Howell and Tighe Huber. The former players also took it upon themselves to help out once Hill became ill.
“He did the same for me,” Prince said. “My mother was sick with cancer my senior year and Coach Hill always made sure I had a way to get around from practice and to home because my father spent a lot of time with my mother at the hospital.”
Hill took his coaching skills to San Angelo but when he returned, Prince gained a companion.
“We would go to games together,” Prince said. “Then when he got sick, it was a bad situation. I always tried to shield him when he got Alzheimer's because he was embarrassed. He was so good to everybody. We knew this day was coming but it was still such a shock.”
Ronnie Thompson coached the Yellow Jackets from 1978 through 1981 and also had a four-year stint in the early 2000s. Thompson was filled with nothing but praise for Hill.
“Smitty was one heck of an innovator,” Thompson said. “DI colleges didn't see offenses like the one he ran at TJ. It was just so far advanced. He was just as good a person as he was a coach. He was a fine Christian man. I can't think of one vice that man had.”
Thompson described Hill's offense as a horizontal and vertical attack in an age when a vast majority of teams were happy with three run plays in a row to either pick up a first down or settle for a punt.
“I remember when I was playing in college and got injured I came down to watch them play in the playoffs,” Thompson said. “They had Brazosport in the bi-district and Brazosport had a huge team. They averaged 35 points. Well Brazosport got their 35 put Smitty and the Yellow Jackets put up 62 or 63 that night.”
Thompson called Hill a tribute to every community he spent time in through his years.
“He will definitely be missed,” Thompson added. “People will come from far and away to that funeral. He was a giant of a man. He always had talented players like Cotton and Hammond but it all worked because of Smitty.”
Avid Nederland Bulldogs fan Russ DeVillier watched Hill coach and always admired the way the Yellow Jackets played during his tenure.
“As a Bulldogs fan, I can remember the absolute frenzy of Yellow Jackets fans when Smitty led his team onto the field,” DeVillier said. “And that was just the beginning. Tension was in the air all night trying to slow down Smitty's volatile offense.”
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SUPPORT
(June 17 posted by Jan Russell's friend)
Jan's 2nd surgery for an umbilical hernia went very well today. The doctor was pleased to be able to completely clean up the damaged area of her former surgery and to use the plastic mesh that has better results. He implied that everything went "without a hitch". Praise God...this is the first time I can remember that the "worst" hasn't happened. Poor dear, her medical history has been full of unexpected complications. I'm sure she would appreciate your continued prayers for her recovery. She was in a LOT of pain when I said goodbye to her.
Jan Russell
4545 Louetta Rd, Apt. 3902
Spring, TX 77388
jlrussell49@comcast.net
(The next two postings are from Arleen Lang's sister, Kathy about Arleen's liver transplant)
June 7
I just returned home. I arrived at St. Luke's yesterday at 3:30pm (somewhat in shock)....we were told the liver transplant would either be that evening or early Saturday morning. Around 11:00 pm, two doctor's came in to share they were on their way to Dallas to harvest the liver and if the liver looked good would be having the surgery by around 6:30 am Saturday. Transport arrived at Arleen's room at 6:30 am and the surgery began at 7:20 and lasted until 12:30...which was good because we had been told it would take between 4-12 hours. The surgeon said everything went great. Arleen is in ICU and I expect she will be there one or two days. She still has tubes everywhere but can mummer answers to us. Her color is good, however is in quite a bit of pain.
June 21
Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers sent this way. We were able to bring Arleen home today. Medicines and insulin have all been adjusted. Wow, the amount is staggering. She is moving slow and needing a lot of rest time but we are home and that is a blessing.
Arleen Lang Hulin
11402 Sageberry Drive
Houston, TX 77089
mhulin46@gmail.com
(Update on Suzanne Miller, wife of James Miller)
I spent most of the week at MDAnderson hospital for my checkup which has been yearly for the last 4 years.
I had a great report on all of my tests. 7 years cancer-free. So happy and relieved! My physician's assistant, Peter said we'll do this dance again in a year!
August 1st will be the 7th anniversary of my autologous stem cell transplant or like the nurses always say "new birthday"! Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers.
(An update on Charlotte Pace Thurston)
She finished chemo yesterday. (The 2nd and 3rd rounds were in Beaumont.) The malignant sinus tumor has shrunk enough away from her brain and eye that they plan to remove it on July 14th---- praise the Lord. (Gilsey Viator Campion is going to Houston for the surgery.)
After recovery, she will have to have the cancerous kidney removed, followed by radiation and chemo. She has no kidney symptoms. It was found in a CAT scan. Her test on her thyroid nodule came back benign! So they will monitor her thyroid.
Charlotte Pace Thurston
2702 Mazur
Port Neches, TX 77651
from Carolyn Hebert (wife of Alfred Hebert...biology teacher)
Since Alfred had his cycling accident he is walking some now. He still has to revert back to the wheelchair some but at least he is walking. His hip is healing but it is not completely well yet.
(a note from Dianne Dupre)
June 22
Great news. I have lost a total of 79 pounds. I begin working out with my personal trainer next week. Look out world!!!
CONDOLENCES
We are saddened to find out that another classmate has passed away.
MADELINE “CAROL” MOORE PAPANIA
November 28, 1949 - May 21, 2014
May she rest in peace.
Read her obituary in the MEMORIAL section.
( Because I don't receive the local newspaper anymore I didn't see this earlier. I thank Susan Reagle's husband for sending me this information. Because Carol was listed only by her MARRIED name and I wouldn't have recognized her as a classmate. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a proper notice so that we could have paid our respects at the services.)
Carol was the 10th classmate to pass away since the week of the 45th reunion August 2!
(a note from Donny Moss)
I wanted to thank everyone for their kind words of support when we lost our granddaughter.
Donny Moss
13560 Wayside Dr.
Beaumont, TX 77713
don53moss@yahoo.com
Three Lakeview friends lost their spouses in one week:
(All three of these men attended our 45th reunion.)
Sherry Clingan Armentor
(death of her husband, Les Armentor)
3235 Woodlawn
Groves, TX 77619
sherryarmentor@sbcglobal.net
Betty Steck Cleboski
(death of her husband, Ron Cleboski)
7223 Shady Arbor Lane
Houston, TX 77040
betty@tomstewartinsurance.net
Debi Tate Pigg
(death of her husband, Gary Pigg)
18040 Magnolia
Beaumont, TX 77705
dabadeb2@aol.com
These obituaries may be found on our website under the heading OBITUARIES
Please contact these classmates to show your support at this sad time.
Maybe I will have more pleasant news for the next update in two weeks. Don't forget me. Hope I don't have to write about you or a family member in the SUPPORT or CONDOLENCE section next time. Take care of yourself and enjoy life as much as you can!
Let me hear from you and contact a classmate,
Linda DeCuir McFadden
lindadmcfadden@yahoo.com
www.tjhs1968.com