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CLASSMATE NEWSWyandotte High School Class of 1958

   LIFE SINCE ’58: Let us know what you have been doing since 1958 dschone@cox.net      

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LIFE SINCE '58:  Mike Calwell

 I moved to Kansas City in 1957 just before my senior year and chose Wyandotte because it had a swimming team.  I was only at Wyandotte as a senior, however I made a lot of new friends through swimming, and still keep in touch with many of them today.  After graduation from Wyandotte I found out by accident (our swimming coach didn't even know) that I had been selected as swimming All-American in the 400 yd freestyle.  This news helped me secure a scholarship to college so I started at K-State in the fall of 1958 as a freshmen swimmer.  I ended up at KU and finished my swimming years there in 1963 as captain of the KU team.  My summers had been filled with jobs around swimming pools including guarding, teaching, and coaching.  I completed my degree in Education at KU and took a position in the Kansas City Missouri Schools as a teacher and swimming coach.  Over the 10 years I taught biological science at Kansas City Missouri East HS, Southwest HS and finally moved to Shawnee Mission South HS.  I started teaching in a blue-collar environment, and finished in one of the most affluent school systems in the U.S.  What an interesting contrast and what a fortunate learning experience.  I continued to coach Men's and Women's swimming teams, teaching science while working on a Masters degree in Physiology (MS completed in 1973).  I maintained a pace in those days that would probably kill me now.  Still, I count those years as the best and most challenging of my life.

 

By 1975 I was getting a little burned out with the 12+ hour days and low pay.  With two children, Todd age 5 and Cindy age 2, and house payments (a whopping $122\month), I needed better income and more time to spend raising my own kids.  After ten years I made the difficult decision to step out of teaching into a business career and took a position in sales with a sash and door company in Lenexa.  In the first year alone, I doubled my salary from the teaching days.  I was eventually promoted to sales manager and in 1979 (when the home building crunch hit) I made my third and final career change.  I went to work for a Kansas City based corporate recruiting firm, and by late 1980 decided to set up my own operation.  Myself and another gentleman established a Search firm called Michael\Merrill-Kansas City.  We bought space in a condominium style office building on the Meadowbrook Golf Course (the view was great) in Prairie Village.  We started with two phones, two chairs, and two card tables and were in the black within 30 days.  In 1981, I returned to swimming as a way of keeping physically and mentally fit.  I began swimming in the U.S. Masters program and competed locally and nationally.  I met some great people and developed many new friends.  One highlight was an opportunity to compete on the block next to one of my great swimming idols, Olympic great, Jeff Ferrell.  I didn't beat him but it was a close race.  In 1984 I was elected chairman of the Missouri Valley Masters Swimming Committee and over the next four years worked to develop that local organization and serve on national committees.  Many of those changes and improvements are still in place today.

 

I was divorced in 1984 and like many of you who have experienced this difficult emotional time; I suffered through it with the hope that things would eventually heal over.  In 1986 I met a beautiful brown eyed, brunette Masters swimmer named Laura.  I casually moved over to her lane and we hit it off immediately.  By the end of the year we decided to get married.  I hired a minister, a hot air balloon and a stretch limo and we were married in a beautiful outdoor lake setting West of Lenexa on Oct 17, 1986.  The wedding party was a balloon chase.  After a marvelous two-hour flight, we landed in a farmer’s field where the reception was held with about 70 friends.  At this writing we have just celebrated a fantastic 14 years together.  We each have two wonderful children from our first marriage, and at one time had four teenagers living in the house at the same time.  (Never again!)  Laura and I just returned from a spectacular three weeks in Alaska where we paddled with humpback whales, hiked the rainforests and glaciers, and walked in the grizzly bears habitat.  A life's dream-come-true!  In 1991, I took my son to Alaska and we were introduced to Ocean Kayaking.  Once back in Kansas I bought two 16-foot Sea Kayaks and our love affair with rivers began.  Recognizing the serious plight of our rivers in Kansas, Laura and I began to explore and ultimately work to defend our great Kansas River.  Over the last 6+ years we have developed a group called Friends of the Kaw, www.kansasriver.com Helping to save our Kansas River”.  Laura is the President of that organization and I serve on the Board.  We continue to solicit members to help protect the river from mining and pollution.  Our simple goal is "Access to Clean Rivers".  Laura is a full time interior decorator and I continue to run my recruiting business.  We both squeeze a lot of river work into our busy schedules.  I serve as President of The Kansas Canoe Association that is a paddle sport club of nearly 200 members whose purpose is to help people get on our rivers for canoeing, kayaking, and rafting.  We write, lecture, lobby, sponsor floats, and promote clean water whenever there is an opportunity to protect and improve our river.  Last year I scheduled and led a series of float trips that took a large group down the full 170 miles of our Kansas River.  We took over 500 slides along the way and have developed a presentation for civic groups called "OUR KANSAS RIVER-The Good, The Bad and the Ugly."

 

I still own the office space on the golf course, but after nineteen years I have moved my business into my home.  I built a great office from our old attached garage.  It's the private "den" I've always wanted and the décor reflects my love of the outdoors.  It's wired to the max and I love it.  I invite you to come and see my "wall of eagles" sometime.  Those great birds are on the comeback trail and this is my daily reminder that the struggle is the adventure.  My parents Doris and Bill Calwell are 92 years old and enjoy good health.  They live in Topeka at a retirement home.  Dad plays golf (made a hole in one at age 91).  He has macular degeneration and he still beats me at golf.  I tell him … "something is wrong when I can't even beat a blind guy".  I still take him fishing on good days and this year he caught an 8 lb bass.  Mom still cooks and is doing a lot of writing for senior magazines.  They are a gift I hadn't counted on.

 

In 1983 I served on the Wyandotte Class of ’58 25th Reunion Committee and had a blast getting reacquainted.  Two years prior to the 1993 Reunion (35th) I was asked to co-chair the committee with Judy Donovan McIntosh.  What a hard working group they were!  We had a BLOCKBUSTER 35th Reunion!  I was asked again to chair the 40th Reunion Committee for 1998.   "The Class of ‘58 would be 58 in’98" and we toned down the activities to allow for more interaction (visiting).  It worked very well and thanks to a great committee we had a delightful 40th.  Those of you out there that don’t come to the reunions are missing a great opportunity to see the past come alive again.  It's like stepping forward in time to see what people have become.  Don't miss the next one.  To my friends I say ... love many, trust few, but always paddle your own canoe.

 

Mike Calwell  - E-Mail Address: mcalwell@swbell.net

 

 

         Mike and Laura Calwell

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  Barbara (Fabac) Schone

 Hello former classmates, my post Wyandotte High School life began by attending KCK Junior College and working part-time.  I continued dating Don Schone, Wyandotte Class of 1959, who attended K-State, and KCK Junior College.  We became engaged, married, and moved to Southern California the year following KCKJC graduation.

 

We lived in Downey, California, home of the first McDonald's and Rockwell International of space-race fame.  I worked there (then North American Aviation) for six years during the time of the first Moon landing, and had the opportunity to meet some of the Astronauts.  Don worked for the State of California and attended college at night.  He graduated from California State University at Long Beach with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, and was in engineering management at Southern California Edison (now Edison International) from 1970 until his retirement at age 55.  We have two fine adult Sons.  Scott earned a B.S. in Mathematics from California State University, Fullerton, and owns a computer consulting company.  He is the Father of our two Grandchildren.  Steve graduated from UCLA with an Economics Degree.  He remains single and is a manager at a national magazine publishing company.  In 1970 we bought our first home in the Southern California planned community of Mission Viejo.  I was hired in 1971 by Mission Viejo Company (a Philip Morris company), the land developer that built Mission Viejo, working in public relations and recreation throughout most of that development until my 1997 retirement.  Upon retirement, we remodeled our second Mission Viejo home where we moved in 1978, the year that it was built.  I enjoy playing piano and spending time on the PC -- creating and maintaining this Web Site and another for the Alumni of my former company http://members.cox.net/mvcalumni) -- and interfacing with those Alumni and other friends and relatives.  I am pleased that we have remained friends with '58 and '59 WHS classmates over the years.  Though we enjoy and have done some travel, we look forward to more.

 

It is nice to be able to serve on the Wyandotte Class of 1958 Reunion Committee as Web Site Master.  My thanks to other past and present Committee members for their efforts and good planning that have resulted in outstanding Class Reunions!

 

Barbara (Fabac) Schone – Footnote: Barb sadly passed away 4/6/07 Click on her Obituary & Guestbook  Thank you all… Don Schone dschone@cox.net

 

     Steve, Barb, Don, Andrew, Kathleen, Scott, Annaka

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  Joyce (Ethridge) Woods

 Within a week of graduation from Wyandotte, I started my secretarial career at Westinghouse.  I have also worked as a secretary at Trans World Airlines, a law firm, and Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.  I simultaneously attended K-State as a secretarial science education major and substituted for the instructor as needed.  Manhattan was a terrific place for raising children and I have never regretted the move.

 

I divorced after almost 23 years of marriage, and felt freer and more independent than I ever felt in my life!  So, what did I do?  I met a Southern gentleman by the name of John Woods.  Our first date was the weekend following the 25th year class reunion.    We married in May of 1984 and bought a lovely home at Table Rock Lake in southern Missouri on three acres located at the end of a peninsula.  Life was heavenly until John tired of tending the acreage and we both tired of fishing.  We sold the property, put our belongings into storage, hooked our 5th wheel RV to our pickup and hit the road!  For the next six years we traveled over 175,000 miles and in twenty-one states.  We had a ball!  It takes two people with a love for traveling, and who get along extremely well, to live in a 23-foot RV.  We have settled near Milford Reservoir, which is 70 miles west of Topeka, Kansas.

 

My daughters have grown into beautiful women; each with her own delightful personality.  And, each a personality I love dearly.  Carol is a hazel-eyed redhead who has two red-haired sons, Benton and Wesley.  Eadye, a blue-eyed blonde, has a blue-eyed blonde daughter, Demi.  Gigi, the brunette, has dark eyes, and has a dark-eyed, brunette daughter, Jessi.  Each daughter and son-in-law has at least one college degree.  I'm terribly fond of my sons-in-law.  The only requirement I have of them is that they treat their families lovingly...and they do.  I am truly blessed.

 

Joyce (Ethridge) Woods - E-Mail Addresses: wyandotte1958@yahoo.com or joycewoods@tctelco.net

 

 

           Student Bulldog Joyce         Joyce (Ethridge) Woods

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LIFE SINCE ’58:  Jim Masters

James I. Masters is President of the Center for Community Futures in Berkeley, California.  The Center helps organizations develop their vision, values and strategies.  He has worked with over 500 Community Action Agencies and Head Start programs since 1966.  He was with the US Office of Economic Opportunity from 1966 to 1970.  From 1970 to 1975, he served in several appointive positions in New York City government, including Assistant to the Budget Director, Evaluation Director in the Human Resources Administration and Assistant Deputy Administrator in the HRA Department of Community Development.  Jim has a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Kansas and a MS in International Business (with Honors), from St. Mary's Graduate School of Business, Moraga, California.  Jim's motto:  LIFE LONG LEARNING!

 

Jim has been married to Patricia for 20 years and they live in Oakland, California.  There are five children:  Jennifer is single, is honing her writing skills at UCLA, and has passed the State test qualifying her to do substitute teaching.  Greg heads the legal department at Plumtree Software Company in the California Silicon Valley.  Michael works for the San Jose Police Department, and he and Monica are expecting “Baby Wharton” in September 2003.  Michele is full time Mom, as she and Todd are parents to new baby Tessa who arrived on June 23, 2002.  Rachel moved from teacher’s aide to third-grade teacher, and has started work on her teaching credential and Master’s degree.  Jim says that time has played tricks on him.  He was just finally getting the hang of being a father and now he is a GRANDfather.

 

Jim Masters - E-Mail Address: jmasters@cencomfut.com

 

 Jim Masters                

   http://www.cencomfut.com - Center For Community Futures      Jim and Granddaughter Tessa

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Ron Bozich

 In the Fall of '58, I entered college, but dropped out to enter the workforce since money at that time was of more interest to me than a degree.  In 1960, I went to work for the Rock Island Railroad.  I joined the U.S. Army in September of 1963 and served my country in Newport News, Virginia.  Three months later, on December 28, 1963, I married a lovely lady by the name of

Margaret.  We were married at St. Johns Church in Kansas City, Kansas.  "Maggie" returned to Virginia with me and we started our life together.  Our first son, Ron, was born in September of 1964.  Then, in late 1964, I shipped out for Bien Hoa, Vietnam, for a year's tour of duty.

 

When I was discharged from the Army, we moved into our first home as a family, in Kansas City.  I returned to work for the Rock Island line.  With Rock Island's help, I received an associate degree in 1967, and a bachelor of science in engineering technology degree in 1970.  Our second son, Mark, was born in 1969.  Today, the Rock Island is gone, but Margaret and I are still together.
I am the Plant Engineer for Parker McCrory Mfg. in Kansas City.  With over twenty years of railroad experience, I recognized a need for qualified railroad inspectors.  So, I started a small business that I run from home called Kansas Rail Services.  I provide freight car and locomotive inspections for private car lines and other customers.  When the Rock Island track from Kansas City to St. Louis was sold to the Missouri Central Railroad, some of my old railroad friends went to work for the MOC and asked me to come aboard as their Chief Mechanical Officer on an as-needed basis.  So, I did it just for fun.  Not much money in it, but I can play train and run locomotives when I have time.  We all need our toys!

 

Margaret and I have lived in Shawnee, Kansas, for the past 25 years.  We have one grandson who I can't wait to take fishing.  Most people our age are looking for ways to retire and I plan to do that some day, but for now there are many things that need to be done.  One of the things I enjoy most is working with refugees from Bosnia and Croatia.  Margaret and I have been working with the refugees for five years.  I have learned to speak Croatian again; my grandparents were from Croatia.  The Croatians and Bosnians roast some of the best lamb and pork you have ever eaten, and their smoked meats are delicious as well. I am glad to be a part of the Class of 1958, and hope all of us together have made a difference in this world we live in.  We should never forget from where we came and we need to pass along to our children and grandchildren our lessons we have learned in life.

 

 
 


Ron Bozich - E-Mail Address: rmboz@everestkc.net  

 

  

       Donna, Margaret, Ron               Ron and Margaret Bozich

       Ron Jr., Matthew, Mark

                                                                                       Ron                               Margaret

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LIFE SINCE ’58:  Mel Bliss

 Right after high school I worked for the Kansas City Kansan newspaper, in all departments except circulation.  The main department was Advertising where my final assignment was in Classified Display.  During this time I attended Kansas City, Kansas Junior College where I met my now ex-wife, Carolyn Pickel (a NW Junior High and 1959 Wyandotte graduate) and we had three great children.  I then went on to get my Associate Degree from Donnelly College, while working full time for the Kansan and Southwestern Bell.  In January 1966 I went to work for Southwestern Bell in the Marketing Department.  My last major accomplishment with SW Bell in the Kansas City area (mainly on the Kansas side) was the coordination of a large Central Office based system for all of the General Motors Corp. located in the Greater KC area.

 

I then moved my family to Parsons, Kansas where my job with SW Bell was Marketing Manager for all of SE Kansas.  While working for SW Bell I was able to finish my Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, with a major in Marketing, at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas in 1979.  We moved back to the KC area in 1979 and I stayed with SW Bell for another 1½ years, when I quit to go to work for Plantronics (the headset company) out of Santa Cruz, CA as the District Manager for the Midwest area.  I then started my own telecommunications business here in the Midwest, and stayed with this until 1992, when I broke my ankle, which led to complications, eventually having to have my right leg amputated below the knee.  This does not slow me down, I still officiate high school football in the Fall here in SE Kansas.  I owned my own Auction and Real Estate business up and until I went to work for the Boy Scouts of America in SE Kansas (Pittsburg) in December 1997.  Before that I was in the Alton, Illinois area with the Boy Scouts for about 2½ years, and before that I was in Monroe, Michigan where I started with the Boy Scouts in October 1993.  I retired from the Boy Scouts in March, 2002 and am now living back in KCK, Just East of Wyandotte County Lake.

 

I have been alone since September 1992 and divorced since 1994.  I have three children and four grandchildren.  My oldest daughter, Melanie, is an Art/French teacher in Goddard, Kansas (a suburb of Wichita), with her husband who is an elementary school principal in the Wichita School District.  She has two of my grandchildren, Joshua, age 14 and Jessica, age 11.  My son John has just moved from the KCK area back to the Denver, Colorado area with Adelphia Cable Company.  His two children, Johnathan, age 11 and Jordan, age 10, live in Denver with his Ex.   He is the Technical Trainer for a four-state area out of Denver for Adelphia.  My youngest daughter, Amy, and her husband live on the NW side of Johnson County, just South of 47th Street (County Line Road).  She is an Architectural Engineer for Walton Construction Co. in the Kansas City area.  I love to square dance, camp, travel, canoe, white water raft, and just enjoy the out-of-doors in general.  When I have found that special someone to spend the rest of my life with, I might start up my auction business again.

 

Mel Bliss – E-Mail Address: melbsa3@sunnetworks.net

 

 

       Mel Bliss

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Bob McCoy

 Hello folks, after high school I joined the Marine Corps and was gone from KC until April 1963.  When I returned I went to work for Proctor and Gamble.  Then in 1965 I married and moved to Yakima, Washington and went to two years of electrical trade school.  Upon completion I moved to Milwaukie, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, where I joined the Electrical Union Local 48.  Then along came two sons and a divorce.

 

I worked for 35 years in the construction industry and retired at 60 years old with quite a nice retirement package.  Somewhere in there I had a second marriage (if you want to call it that), it only lasted for about eight days.  I had custody of my oldest son and the Ex had the youngest.  As luck would have it, the oldest died at 19 years old.  The youngest lives in Springfield, Missouri.

I spend my summers in my Oregon home and my winters in my Arizona home enjoying the good life of retirement.  I am a computer nut, a ham operator and a Harley rider.  I love the out of doors, watching football and life in general.  I could go on for hours, but there is just not enough space to put all the life since '58 in this little summary.  If anyone would like to know more, feel free to e-mail me and I will be glad to have a chat.  Good luck to you all.

 

Bob McCoy - E-Mail Addresses: 2Dogs@worldnet.att.net, twodogs_az@hotmail.com or kb7da@arrl.org

 

       

 Bob McCoy

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Tom Cunningham

 The Long And Winding Road Since Wyandotte High School 

Education

Attended KCU (Now U of MO At K.C.)                       9/58 - 6/59

Attended Central Electronics Institute, K.C. MO     7/59 - 2/60

USAF Technical Training Course, San Antonio, TX   5/60 - 9/60

Attended Seattle Community College                   6/70 - 6/72

Graduated U of WA. Seattle, WA                          8/74

 

Employment & Military

Retail Sales & Factory Job K.C. MO                       6/58 – 3/60

Active Duty w/USAF Texas, Nevada, Germany        3/60 – 3/64

TWA Interline Accounting K.C. MO                        3/64 – 9/64

Mgr. Retail Sales Spokane, WA & Seattle, WA            9/64 –12/69

Life & health insurance Agent Seattle, WA            1/70 - 12/70

Planner/Coordinator, City of Seattle                     1/71 - 7/74

Painting Contractor, Seattle, WA                          11/74 – Present

 

Sports, Hobbies & Interests

Ran my fastest mile run at Stead AFB, Nevada        5/61

Jazz music has always been an interest.  Played

Keyboards and sang with some unknown groups.    61 - 68

While in the Air Force went on tour with the 28th

Air Division Jazz/Dance Band as the singer.           2/62 – 6/62

Active In Jaycees N. Spokane & Burien, WA           66 – 75

Member of Thornton Creek Alliance                     95 – Present

Life Member of U of WA Alumni Association

Volunteer for Changes Parent Support Group         8/99 – Present

(CPSN) 

 

Family Of Origin

Father Deceased 66                     

Mother Deceased 88

2 brothers and 1 sister live in Kansas City Area

1 sister lives in Southern California

 

Marriages

(1) Anita Louise Fabunan, Spokane, WA    7/65, Divorced 7/70

Daughter, Sandalynne (Sandi)

Daughter, Tracey L.

(2) Susan Katherine Elwood, Glencoe, IL   12/70

Son, Thomas W.

 

Grandchildren from Sandi and Demir Ateser

Son, Stephen C. Ateser

Son, Alexander T. Ateser

Son, Ryan C. Ateser

 

Grandchild from Tracey L. and Scott Robertson

Son, Max Ansell Robertson

 

I've lived in Seattle, WA since 4/68.

Since 2005, I have become involved with Prepaid Legal Services Inc.

Website:  www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/thomast07

 

That’s all for now.  Updates when they occur.

 

Thomas T. Cunningham – E-Mail Address: cunninghamtom39@hotmail.com

 

         

  Tom Cunningham              Susan and Tom Cunningham

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Jim Warfield

 September 1959, I decided to move to California and get a job and go to college.  Started evening classes at El Camino College in Torrance, CA while working days.  In 1961, I met a beautiful Italian lady, Rose Anne Pizzorno, at a church dance.  She was also a student attending Marymount College in Palos Verdes, CA.  After dating six months and a one-year engagement, we were wed August 10, 1963, right after she graduated with her teaching credential.  On August 29, 1964, son Tony was born.  November 28, 1966, daughter Michelle was born.  November 14, 1968, daughter Gina was born.  Rose Anne has been teaching off and on, between having the children until the youngest started school.  She is now doing substitute teaching here in Torrance.  My career has been involved in the Materials Management field in aerospace and electronics industries until about six years ago.  I am now the Vice President of Home Run Software Services in Huntington Beach, CA.

 

Interests:  Sports, traveling, gardening, camping and fishing.  All of our children have been heavily involved in sports.  All three played baseball, softball and soccer as young children.  Both my wife and I coached baseball and softball through their younger years.  I coached both of my daughters in high school softball for four years (three championships in four years).  One daughter played college ball and they both played college soccer.  All of the kids (30 years old now) and myself are still playing softball, and the kids are still playing soccer.  We all play while my wife watches all the grandchildren (seven of them now).

Travels:  Moved to Bellingham, WA in 1992.  Moved back to California in 1995.  Vacationed to Vancouver, British Columbia, Europe (Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), cruise to Alaska; cruise to the Caribbean, and four cruises to Mexico and of course around the U.S.   

 

Jim Warfield – E-Mail Address: jimwarfield@usa.net

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LIFE SINCE ’58:  Larry Dowd

 I, like so many others, joined the ranks of grads at the State Avenue University.  Seems over 90% were the classmates that graduated just three months before.  I wanted to bring this time period into light because I met my future bride on a blind date while in attendance.  Norma, my bride, is also a '58 grad, but from Washington HS.  Stumbled through JC and began pharmacy school at the University of Kansas City, later to become UMKC as part of the University of Missouri system.  I took a pathology final on 25may62 and we eloped the next morning.  We had a total of five in the wedding party; the two of us, the couple that stood up with us, and the chaplain from Baptist Hospital where I was serving my pharmacy internship.  At this time, I still had three years of school staring me in the face.  Stumbled a lot here also.  But graduated in '65 and Norma received her PHT (Putting Hubby Through) degree from the school also.  This did eliminate any school loans, but the repay plan I became involved with is much different and longer.

 

In December of '65, Uncle Sam needed a good man to join him.  A draft notice was received in December and I left for basic training in the US Army with my new home in Ft Jackson, South Carolina.  Advanced training was also at this location and then transferred to Ft. Benning Georgia for Officer Candidate School.  There with the training and a letter from my mother, I became an officer and a gentleman in this man's Army as an Infantry officer.  Had a 13-month tour in Korea and finished my Army career of two years, nine months 28 days at Ft. Carson, Colo and enjoyed the whole schmear.  We had two children while in the Army, both at the cost of $25.00 each--no return, no refund--Norman Scott, named after Norma born 23jun67 and Deedra Jeannine, named after yours truly (Larry Gene) born 12oct68.  Arriving back in KC, this family of four was now ready to face the real world.  During the next eleven years, we moved from Kansas City to Wellington, KS; had a drugstore in Gt. Bend, KS; lived for a short time in Columbia, MO, and moved back to KC in 1980.  I became a traveling salesman for an over-the-road nationwide truck-line and stayed for ten years.  It was during this time that my blood donations began and it took 13 years, but I donated a pint of blood in each of the 50 states and Washington, DC.  In 1990, I shifted back to pharmacy and in due time, had stints of pharmacy in retail, hospital, sales, nuclear pharmacy and long term care pharmacy.

 

We've all heard the "old dog, new tricks" saying.  I am not a believer of that.  In 1990, my bride and I began ballroom dancing.  This is strictly for fun—no competition.  We dance several times a month and travel various places for dances.  At age 56, we both began snow skiing.  We'll never make the Olympics, but we have fun frolicking in the snow.  In '99, I began taking piano lessons--just because I wanted to.  We love to travel and don't have near the time (a sub for money) to travel as we wish, but we make the most of it.  Some of our vacations were to places for blood donations and some very interesting sights were observed.  We look forward to more travel in the very near future. 

 

Larry Dowd - E-Mail Address:  na28rdlgd@aol.com 

 

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LIFE SINCE ’58:  Judy Gail (Harman) Arnold

  I have lived in Marin County, California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco since 1966.  I work for John Burton, the President pro Tempore of the California State Senate.  I am his District Coordinator for Marin and Sonoma Counties.  I have also been a political consultant and a candidate for office.  I think this whole government thing began when I took International Relations my sophomore year at Wyandotte.


My husband, Bruce, is a musician and sculpts 1:43 scale model cars that are manufactured.  He is licensed by Cadillac as Bruce Arnold Models.  Also a song he wrote and recorded as Orpheus in the early 1970's was just redone by Hootie and the Blowfish in the Jim Carrey movie, Me, Myself and Irene.  My oldest son is married and lives in L.A. and is a Veep at MGM.  His wife works for Chuck Norris.  My daughter is married and lives in San Francisco.  My youngest son works in the film industry in L.A. I am enclosing a photo of me taken at my 60th birthday party with two of my three granddaughters.

 

Judy Gail (Harman) Arnold - E-Mail Address:  judyarnold1@cs.com

 

   Lauren, Judy and Brayden

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LIFE SINCE ’58: Frank Locke

   I am one of those people, who most of you do not remember, but I remember most of you all and I am very excited to attend my first reunion and to tour Wyandotte High.  I have been around the school several times since graduation, my brother Joe lives within walking distance.  When I left high school I was only seventeen, and too young to get a good job and go to the service, so I worked at Jake Brown’s Barbecue after graduation until I could go into the service.  Then I joined the SUAVE and went to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, then to Washington State.  After my return to Kansas City I went to work for Western Electric Co. in Merriam, Kansas and worked there for fifteen years.  I married a local girl who also went to Wyandotte High.  Her sister Mary Jean Ruby was in our class.  We had a daughter, Virginia Locke, and later we divorced.  I also have a son, Joe Locke, who lives in Canada.

 

I decided my life was not being fulfilled and I quit my job and moved to Oklahoma.  I opened a nightclub and it was not what I wanted.  One day when I was reading Success Magazine, I saw an article and the man said, "You can do anything you want to do, If only you believe.  Let me show you.   I went to Waco, Texas and I met Paul J. Meyer, and he made me a believer.  I closed my club and set out working for myself.  I was selling tapes and books for three hundred fifty dollars.  It was going real good, then it got bad, and I closed myself up in my apartment, no job, no food, no nothing.  Then one afternoon Paul J. Meyer’s office gave me a call.  Mr. Meyer told me he felt something was wrong.  I shared my story with him and he said I needed to come to Texas and now.  I finally talked a friend into lending me some money, but it was just enough to get there and back.  For three days and nights I slept in my car.  I had peanut butter on bread, drank water, and no smokes, but I learned a good lesson.  Never, never, never, never give up.  The one who gives up loses.

 

I saw a Chevrolet car store and I went up to the dealer and said I want to sell cars.  He said to be there the next morning and I could go to work.  After fifteen years with that dealer I was top sales person for ten years, used car manager, new car manager, general manager, and business manager.  I only quit because I wanted to become a dealer myself.  I made a list of everything I ever wanted; one hundred fifty items, and I achieved one hundred twenty of them. The top of my list was Frank Locke Chevrolet, the first of two dealerships; traveling, and many things for my wife.  We traveled for ten years and we really love the ocean and the sun.  I have three boys and two girls and I have nine granddaughters.  I am hoping for a grandson, but whatever the Lord Jesus wants for my life, that’s what I want.  I must tell you that all of my children have graduated with degrees and Masters, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma University, North Eastern University, Rogers State.  I am thankful my wife and I were, with the help of God, able to see them all through school.

 

I have not worked for three years now.  I had a stroke, and I have spinal cord damage.  I had prostate cancer, thirty-eight treatments and the cancer is gone.  I believe my Father in Heaven has healed my legs and spinal cord, and I will be able to walk into Wyandotte High School.  In the meantime I am in a wheelchair, and I have the best caretaker in the world who loves me unconditionally, my wife Ronda.  But the thing that I most want to share with you is that I am grateful that I went to school with each one of you, and if I could give you anything, I would give you Jesus.  I have had a life that was very hard on me, but the Good Lord got me through.

 

You are one of the many special people Barb that I remember the most.  I am looking forward to seeing you and all the others.  If I should not live long enough to see you all, thank you for being a part of my life, thank you for being nice to me.  I felt so alone in that big school.  Some of you made me feel like I was a part of the class, and that I was wanted.  You smiled at me, and said Hi to me.  How can I ever repay any of you?  I am still working at home.

 

Update July 2003:  I shared with you in the past I am hoping to be able to walk by the September Reunion.  I am getting weaker and cannot walk without a lot of help.  I might have to dance around the floor in my wheelchair.  I am really grateful that I will be able to come to my first reunion. I am as excited as a new teenager.  I really enjoyed the Life Since 1958 articles.  Thank you and the others for all your hard work in making our reunion a success, and making an old teenager happy.  Sincerely, Frank Locke  

 

Frank Locke – E-Mail Address: franklocke@cableone.net

 

         Ronda and Frank Locke

http://www.quickinfo247.com/7621565

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  John Richeson

  The summer of 1958 was devoted to assisting in the building of my parents new home in Leawood where we moved the day before I left to attend the University of Kansas.  I spent eight consecutive years in school working on three degrees.  I obtained a B.S. in journalism and a J. D. in law.  During my quest for an M.B.A. in the eighth year of my university experience I succumbed to academic fatigue as I commenced my private practice of law, which by that time was my first love.  I located in Ottawa, Kansas, because of its close proximity to K.U. in Lawrence while I completed one half of the M.B.A. program.

In 1967 I met Jan, a home economics graduate of K-State and we were married the same year.  We lived in Ottawa for the first five years of our marriage. Jan taught third grade and decided to pursue her masters degree in guidance and counseling from K.U.  We later moved to Olathe, Kansas, where we remained from 1972 through 1997 and I commuted daily to Ottawa, a 32-mile trip on I-35.   Jan retired from teaching in 1975 and we were fortunate to adopt our son and daughter in 1977 and 1979 respectively.  Ryan is a 911 dispatcher and Megan is a 2002 graduate of K-State in public relations mass communications and history.  We have one grandson, Ryan Jr. age 3.  We moved to Leawood five years ago to a new home we custom built.  We enjoyed the planning and the decorating.  Unfortunately, I increased the distance away from my Ottawa office so I daily make a round trip drive of approximately 95 miles.

I continue to enjoy helping people solve their problems and plan their estates.  I cease to be enthusiastic about litigation because of the uncertainty of the outcome, the extreme expense and the personal stress.  As a young man I envisioned that the longer I practiced law the better I would become.  Experience is a wonderful teacher to reveal that the longer you are involved the more chances you have to get it right and you start to worry more with seasoning as to which of the alternatives present the best plan for the client.  I do plan to remain active by serving as a mediator and as an office lawyer.

                                                              

John Richeson – E-Mail Address: jricheson@abrfh.com

 

             John Richeson

See John’s professional Bio at this site: http://www.abrfh.com/sys-tmpl/attorneys

Anderson, Byrd, Richeson, Flaherty & Henrichs, a Limited Liability Partnership

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  A. Compton Reeves

 It is delightful to have been found by the class of 1958.  My life has just been moving from one school to another since leaving Wyandotte.  I took BA and MA degrees in history from the University of Kansas, and then a PhD in history from Emory University.  I was a professor of medieval history at the University of Georgia for three years, and then moved in 1970 to Ohio University, where I now teach part time and am Emeritus Professor of Medieval History.  My permanent residence is in Prescott, AZ, and I am also Adjunct Professor with the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.

 

I am very impressed with the efforts of the reunion committee, and hope that I shall make it to the celebration in 2003.

 

A. Compton Reeves – E-Mail Address: ProfCR@kachina.net

 

       Prof/Dr A. Compton Reeves

See a sample of Compton’s professional work at: http://www.r3.org/wood/papers/reeves.html

 

LIFE SINCE ’58: Alford T. Welch

 It's great news to know that our class has a web site and an e-mail directory.  I don't get back to KC every year like I did before my father died in '87 and my mother in 2000. I should, since I have three brothers and a sister living in a wide circle around KCK (Leavenworth, Olathe, Lenexa, and 122nd and State Line).  I guess that's not a complete circle, maybe more like two or three sides of a rectangle.  I've been teaching comparative religion at Michigan State University since 1972 – after completing an undergraduate degree in Oklahoma (the state in which I was born) and graduate degrees in Louisville, KY and Hartford, CT, and then a Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland (1970).

 

My wife, Dena, and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary last summer with a week in Stratford, Ontario (not much more than a two-hour drive from where we live), where we saw several plays at the Shakespeare Festival Theatre and others there. We've been back to Scotland and England several times, including the 1979-80 academic year at Oxford University and (the last couple of months) back in Edinburgh, Scotland. Our son was 2-3 years old then, so he doesn't remember any of his experiences there.  We spent one summer and then (ten years later, 1984-85) an academic year in Cairo, Egypt (on a Fulbright Fellowship), where I studied the history of the Arabic text of the Qur'an (Koran). Our son, Steve, was in the 2nd grade then, at an American private school (called Cairo American College, where "college" is used in the British sense of what in the US is usually called an "academy"). We had a great time there, among other things, had a two-hour horseback ride in the desert in sight of the Pyramids and then an excellent (but inexpensive) buffet breakfast at one of the fine hotels just down the road from the Pyramids.  We tried to do that at least once a month. We spent our Christmas "holiday" (another British expression) on safari in Kenya, which was also amazingly inexpensive, traveling with a tour group from Cairo.  I'm now writing an introduction to the Qur'an for the Edinburgh University Press, aimed at "the general reader" and undergraduate students, scheduled for publication sometime in 2003. It should be "timeous", as the Scots say.

 

Son Steve is now 25 years old, and is living in California. (He arrived late.  We ordered him in 1970, just after I completed my studies in Scotland, but for some reason -- blame it on the U.S. mail, or the American Stork Society – he didn't arrive until seven years later, on 7-1-77. I thought if he was going to wait that long he should have waited six more days, so I could remember his birth date. But, as you may know, children never listen to their fathers.)

 

Alford T. Welch – E-Mail Address: welch@msu.edu

http://www.msu.edu/~welch/

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  Marilyn (Lawrence) Keller

  I retired the end of December 2000, and am enjoying retirement very much.  I worked the past eleven years for the regional office of the Presbyterian Church.  In fact, I worked with another member of the Class of ‘58, Mary Sue (Frye) Thomas.  We were good friends in high school and have remained so all these many years since.

 

After high school I went to KCK Junior College and in 1961 married a man from Hutchinson, KS.  We met at church one summer when he was working in Kansas City.  We have reared two boys and they both are married and live in Kansas City.  We also have two granddaughters and one grandson and feel blessed that they are close so we can watch them grow.  Since retirement we have done some traveling and volunteering.  I am volunteering at the local grade school tutoring fifth and sixth graders in science, social studies, and reading.  I like working with children so it is a perfect fit for me.

 

I have really enjoyed working on the last four Class of '58 reunions.  I have met people who I didn't know well in high school and we have become friends.  It is interesting to see how well we all have "aged."  Life has been good and for that I am extremely grateful!

 

Marilyn (Lawrence) Keller – E-Mail Address:  gm@everestkc.net

LIFE SINCE '58:  Richard D. Childers

 Following graduation from Wyandotte, I served two years in the Army with most of that time based in San Antonio. Returned to KC upon discharge and began working for 3M Company in sales.  Was transferred to St. Paul, MN in 1967 as a sales manager and while still with 3M attended the University of Minnesota where I received a BA degree. I later received an MBA from Stanford.

 

Left 3M in 1971 to join International Paper Co. in Dallas where I managed a branch operation.  Was transferred back to KC in 1975 and asked to start an Import Division as general manager that involved travel worldwide.  Was transferred to Los Angeles in 1977 as President of a recently acquired company with branch operations from Denver to Honolulu.  Was transferred in 1984 to Erie PA to become President of their distribution business which grew to $6 billion in sales.  Moved the distribution headquarters to Cincinnati in 1992 where I remained until moving to Austin in 1996.

 

I left International Paper in 1995 and started my own merger and acquisition business located in Austin, TX that has been very successful.  I live in a golf community, which is located on Lake Travis just west of Austin and have an opportunity to play golf two  or three times per week.  During the past three years I have lost my son to a brain tumor and my wife to ovarian cancer.  I have a daughter still living in KC.  I recently remarried (Sue) and we look forward to attending the reunion next year and renewing acquaintances with old friends.

 

Richard D. Childers - E-Mail Address: rdchilders@281.com

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  R. Dale MacCallum

 After graduating from Wyandotte, I attended the University of Kansas and graduated with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering.  Then I served two years as a lieutenant in the Army.  After discharge from the Army, I moved to Tulsa.

 

I work in consulting engineering and have done structural engineering designs for high-rise buildings, industrial plants, north slope pipelines and offshore platforms.  In the seventies and eighties when the oil business was booming, I worked a lot of overseas construction.  I worked in Indonesia, Singapore, Korea, the Philippines, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Qatar.  Also, I got to visit Malaysia and India on vacations.  I am currently managing the civil, structural, and pipe stress engineering department for Linde BOC Process Plants LLC, a company that engineers and builds gas and petro-chemical processing plants.  I am a licensed professional engineer in ten states.  I will probably keep working until the brain cells start to die.  Computers have relieved much of the tedious work in engineering making it more fun.

 

After two unsuccessful marriages, I met the love of my life twenty-five years ago.  Her name is Barbara and she is the oldest of eleven ("a nice Catholic girl").  She is a native Tulsan and OSU Master Gardener.  She plants and I dig.  Barb graduated from Tulsa University with a degree in communications and marketing.  We have two daughters, Kim and Megan.  Both are grown and married.  They have provided us with four grandchildren so far, Max, Mitch, Sidney and Patrick.  We have been living in the same house in Tulsa, when we were in the country, for twenty-four years.  We both like to travel.  Barb got to spend time in Korea, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico when I was working there.  We both played tennis until a couple of years ago when Barb's recovery time started to exceed her playing time.  So far, life has been a great adventure.

 

R. Dale MacCallum - E-Mail Address: r.dale.maccallum@worldnet.att.net

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  Willard B. Snyder

 1962, BA from KU; 1965, JD from KU; December 1967, graduated from Infantry OCS as 2Lt.  Served on active duty for four years as Provost Marshal in Germersheim and then as a General Staff Officer for MATCOMEUR in Zweibrucken.  1971, opened law practice in KC KS and was appointed German Consul (H) for Kansas & Western MO.  1995, retired from the Army National Guard as Col.  Currently serving as Consul and running Real Estate Corp. Inc. and The Breidenthal-Snyder Foundation.  Activities include: Dir., Blue Ridge Bank & Trust; First VP, Liberty Memorial Assn.; Trustee (and past President) the MacJannet Foundation (in France); Trustee, the SEAL Museum; Trustee, The Hoover Presidential Library Assn.; Trustee, The Harry Truman Good Neighbor Foundation; member of the Boards of KC Metro Crime Commission, Wyandotte Co. Community Foundation and The Unicorn Theater.  Married to the former "TJ" (Capt. USNR, Ret.) and one son, Rolf, who graduates in June '03 with his JD and MBA.

 

Willard B. Snyder – E-Mail Address: wbs11@kc.rr.com

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  Richard L. Reynolds

  In August 1958 I joined the Marine Corps with Wayne Moore and Ted Fick of the Class of ‘58, along with Ted’s brother Glen Fick, Dan Sheley, Loren (Moose) Rabon, and Dennis (Pee Wee) Walker, all Class of ‘57.  During my enlistment I was stationed in 29 Palms, California and Okinawa, Japan, and was discharged in 1961.

 

After my discharge I went to work for Ford Motor Company in January 1962.  In 1966 I met and married the love of my life, Midge Younger.  We had two boys, Rodney who works for Ford, and Rick, now deceased, who also worked for Ford.  In 1969 I went to Real Estate school and got a Missouri Brokers License, which led to the opening of Reynolds Realty in 1970, located at the Lake of the Ozarks in Laure, Missouri.  I ran that business with three salesmen, while still working at Ford.  In 1974, I sold the business and devoted my time to my family, Ford, hot rod cars, boats, water skiing and shooting pool.

 

At Ford, in 1983, I ran for a union office (Committeeman) and won.  Later I was elected to the Bargaining Committee and finally in 1987 was elected to the top job in the local union of Bargaining Chairman in a plant-wide election of 5,000 members.  In this position I was elected three times for a three-year term (the last time unopposed).  I retired as Bargaining Chairman in 1994 and Midge and I moved to the Lake of the Ozarks where I still water ski and shoot pool.

 

Richard L. Reynolds – No E-Mail Address

Sunrise Beach, MO (See Web Site Postal Directory For Address And Phone Number)

 

                        Richard L. Reynolds Family

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Wayne Moore

  In August 1958 I joined the Marine Corps with Rich Reynolds and Ted Fick of the Class of ‘58, along with Ted’s brother Glen Fick, Dan Sheley, Loren (Moose) Rabon, and Dennis (Pee Wee) Walker, all Class of ’57.  During my enlistment I was stationed at 29 Palms, California and was discharged in August 1961 at the rank of Corporal E4.

 

After discharge my working career began in 1961 at Colgate Palmolive in Kansas City, Kansas driving a tow motor.  In 1968 I took a correspondence course involving computers.  This led to a nighttime course taken at Electronic Computer Programming Institute located on Main Street in K.C. MO.  I married in 1964 and we had two girls who produced three grandchildren, one boy and two girls.  After leaving Colgate Palmolive in 1968 I started working for Chemagro Corporation located in the Kansas City, Missouri area as a Computer Operator.  Two years later I was promoted to Computer Programmer and stayed there in that position until 1974.  I divorced the mother of my two girls in 1974 and gained custody.  I should have known better, she was a graduate of Ward High School.  I accepted a transfer by the company in 1975 and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I became a Systems Programmer.  The reason for the transfer was mainly to set up and build a large centralized computer center capable of supplying all the information needs of Bayer's (located in Levercusen, West Germany) nine operating companies located in the United States.

 

In 1976, I married for the second time.  Her name is Elizabeth and nickname is Betsy, a native of Pittsburgh and has a Bulgarian heritage.  She has two sons, so with my two girls we were sort of like the "Brady Bunch."  In 1980 after climbing several positions of Systems Programming, I became a Supervisor in the same area.  In 1984 I was promoted to Systems Programming Manager and was responsible for all operating systems and related software running on all computers. The name of the company was initially Mobay, then changed to Miles, and now Bayer U.S.A.  I left the company in 1990 after a very exciting career lasting twenty-two years.  I then filed an Age Discrimination Suit with the Equal Opportunity Commission, and then in Federal Court.  I won my case in both areas and accepted a settlement in 1995.  Since then I have been retired.  In the year 2000 we moved from Pittsburgh to Sarasota, Florida where we now reside. 

 

Wayne Moore - E-Mail Address: betsmoore@comcast.net

 

                     Wayne and Elizabeth (Betsy) Moore

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Judith S. (Harbison) Pickrell

 Since graduation....that seems like another lifetime ago.  I just can't believe I am 63 years old.  My head says 30 maybe, and then I try to work out or just have a wild night at work and my body says, "SEE! I told you."  My life has never been dull!  I married shortly after graduation and had twins at the age of 21, a son and a daughter.  We were blessed with a second daughter at 23.  Of course, now they are parents themselves and have given me five wonderful grandchildren.

 

I lived in Southern California for about five years and have been back in Kansas ever since.  I now live in Minneapolis, KS, but spend most of my time in Kansas City.  I have worked 12-hour night shifts at Olathe Medical Center, Friday thru Sunday for the past six years.  Mother’s health is failing and requires 24-hour care.  Consequently I only get "home" for about three days every two weeks.  This doesn't allow for much playtime, and I am looking forward to some real down time in the future.  I have promised myself some time off for the reunion to see you all!

 

Judi (Harbison) Pickrell – E-Mail Address: sigluv@informatics.net

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Marilyn (Milam) Fortney

 I was married in 1961 to Ron Fortney from Clinton, MO.  We went on a blind date that Sandy McMillian (Class of ’58) and her husband Denny Childers arranged.  After a very few years we were divorced and I have never remarried.  God blessed me with two beautiful daughters just 18 months apart, so many times it was like having twins.  My girls, Lynn and Kimberly, and I began our journey through life with just the three of us when they were 4 and 5 years old.  There were some very hard times for us and by the Grace of God we've come to this chapter in our lives.

 

I am very proud of my daughters.  Lynn, my oldest, and her husband Jeffrey, have two wonderful children; a son, 7 years old, named Keller, and little Miss Madelynn who is 5.  Jeffrey is a writer/producer currently with Hallmark, but who received four Emmys while with NBC.  Lynn and Jeffrey recently opened a coffee shoppe/bakery in Parkville called River Rock Coffee Co.  Great food - all hand made by Lynn and her staff.  My daughter Kimberly is married to Yehiel, a man from Jerusalem, and they live in Philadelphia.  Kimberly has her own company in Philly and works with movie companies for movie trailers and exit polls on opening weekends for new releases.  Her husband Yehiel has a redecorating business.

 

Me - After working for nine years with Schlitz and Pabst in Milwaukee (no Laverne and Shirley jokes please), I went to work for TWA and eventually transferred to Oklahoma City where my daughter Kimberly trained with the Olympic Gymnastics team at OU, and my daughter Lynn coached gymnasts in dance and floor exercise.  Both girls graduated from OU.  I moved back to KC and eventually left the airlines to become a travel counselor.  Many of those years have been with American Express, and I transferred to Philly with that company.  After 9-11 the bottom has fallen out of that industry and the East Coast was hit very hard in many ways.  We lost our jobs in December of 2002 as a result of the fallout, and I moved back to KC to be close to my grandchildren who are the love of my life.  9-11 was a life changing experience for many of us, as it was for me.  We lost eleven people with Amex, and I was one from Philly to go to New York for the Amex memorial.  It was only about three weeks after 9-11 and, as we went to Ground Zero, the smoke was still rising from the ground.

 

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.  I do know I am blessed and am so glad Joyce Ethridge Woods found me.  I look forward to seeing everyone and creating more memories. 

 

Marilyn (Milam) Fortney – E-Mail Address: rainbowstrust@hotmail.com

 

            Marilynn with Grandson Keller and Granddaughter Madelynn

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Gladys (Heisman) Burks

 Hi to all of my former classmates.  Life for me after graduation began at Bethany Hospital School of Nursing where I enrolled in September of 1958.  After 36 continuous months of hard work and studying, I passed my state boards and became a Registered Nurse.  I began my nursing career by becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.  I spent basic orientation at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and, after completion I was assigned to the Army Hospital at Fort Huachuca, Arizona where I would meet my husband of 41 years, Tommy Burks.  Tommy was an E-4 and the hospital's company clerk.  At that time officers and enlisted personnel were strictly forbidden to have any type of relationship with one another other than military business.  Needless to say we fell in love and after meeting him in January 1962, we were married on April 22 1962.

 

Shortly after our marriage, Tommy was sent to Poitier, France and I stayed in Arizona waiting for orders to join him.  Finally, after six months of paperwork, harassment from my chief nurse, and a lot of help from Senator Frank Carlson, R/Kansas, I was assigned to the 60th Station Hospital in Chinon, France, which was about an hour's drive from Poitier.  With the help of Senator Carlson again, Tommy was reassigned to Chinon after another four months. We lived in a cute two-bedroom duplex without heat, and boy was it cold and damp!!!  We eventually were able to buy a kerosene heater from a family that was being sent back to the States.  We were discharged from the Army in November 1963.  We lived in Kansas City for about a year but, since Tommy was from Mississippi, we decided to move to Memphis, Tennessee and we have lived here ever since, although our home is actually in Nesbit, Mississippi, about ten miles south of Memphis.

 

We have three children. Daniel Edward (Danny) is 39, single and lives here in Nesbit.  He is engaged to a sweet girl, Michelle who is from the Philippines.  They are planning to get married next year.  Pamela Jo (Pam) is 37 and has three daughters.  Shelby is 11, Shannon is 9, and Shealyn is ten months.  They live in Warsaw, Indiana where Scott our son-in-law is an engineer for Zimmer Medical.  Our youngest son Timothy Boyd (Timmy) and his wife Diana have two children; a daughter Nicole who is 7, and a son Preston who is 2.  They live in Hernando, Mississippi, which is only a few miles away.  Timmy will be 35 in November.

 

I retired from nursing in October 2001 after working for 35 years at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis.  Currently I am enjoying staying home and stay busy buying and selling on Ebay.  My husband is a Captain on the Desoto County Sheriff's Dept.  He is a criminal investigator and very active.  We have a pontoon boat and enjoy outings on the lake whenever we can.  We are both looking forward to attending the reunion in September.  I hope to renew old friendships and make new ones.  God bless America.

 

Gladys (Heisman) Burks – E-Mail Address: gigisglad@hotmail.com or burks2u@bellsouth.net

 

          

          Gladys (Heisman) and Tommy Burks                  Gladys (Heisman) Burks

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  John M. Zielinski

 My grandmother used to say I should have been a minister, but I knew all my life that I would write.  I was an Air Force Historian, Armed Forces Radio Announcer, writer for a Magazine called "Guidepost" in Madrid, Spain; worked for Associated Press, Milwaukee Journal, and Hartford Times, in Hartford, CT, and Maryknoll Magazine on staff in Latin America.  Works have been published in Life, Time, Reader's Digest, Highlights for Children and Scholastic (at various levels).  I freelanced as a student at University of Iowa to Kansas City Star, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, New York Post, and my Amish Boys Running photo made the New York Times Photo section.  My photos have appeared in dozens of other books.  What you have in the list (below) are only my exhibits, my videos, my books written, designed, photographed, published and distributed under my imprints.  A number of those books I did only photos and layout.  All my scrapbooks are in University of Iowa special collections, along with the newspapers I produced on Iowa corruption.  You will note that open piracy of my work slowed me down, or I would have had twice as many books.  I had to scrap half a dozen Iowa books because I knew I would not get any kind of press.  I am under total blacklist in the State.  Despite the fire I had, I have dozens of articles written about my work and me.  There were hundreds written.

 

I have been very busy the last few years, then a major fire burnt me out in the Ozarks and I lost 90% of the photos I had taken over forty years.  My last book was written for Noreen Gosch whose son Johnny was kidnapped from Des Moines, Iowa in 1982.  It's available thru Barns & Noble or Amazon.com: "Why Johnny Can't Come Home"

 

John Zielinski – E-Mail Address: jmzamish@planetsos.com

 

Zielinski Bibliography (Exhibit by Iowa Arts Council in Hundreds of Locations)

1967 (exh) Iowa Amish (Davenport Art Gallery
1968 (exh) 300 Years of Connecticut Architecture
1969 (exh) The Amish: People of the Soil

        (Iowa Arts Council Touring)
1971 (book) A Money Saver’s Guide to Photography
1972 (exh) Iowa’s Indian Heritage (Iowa Arts Council Touring)
1972 (book) The Amish: People of the Soil
1972 (portfolio) Iowa’s Indian Heritage
1973 (rev) A Money Saver’s Guide to Photography
1974 (book) Portrait of Iowa
1975 (book) The Amish: A Pioneer Heritage
1975 (book) Children of Iowa
1976 (book) Mesquakie and Proud of It
1977 (book) Unknown Iowa
1978 (book) From This Earth
1978 (exh) Brotherhood of Man (Polish American Museum)
1978 (exh) Brotherhood of Man

        (Inaugural Exhibit U of I Hospital, Iowa City)
1979 (pbk) Portrait of Iowa
1981 (rev) Portrait of Iowa
1982 (book) Portrait of Iowa Travelguide
1982 (book) Iowa Barns
1983 (book) Amish Across America

1983 (book) The Magnificent Mississippi
1984 (book) Pirated edition above, claim on my entire works
1987 (book) Amish Children Across America
1988 (book) Amish Horsefarming Across America
1988 (rev) Amish Children Across America
1989 (book) Amish Barns Across America
1989 (book) Amish Life Thru a Child’s Eyes
1989 (book) Alma’s Amish Kitchen
1990-92 Newspaper on Iowa Corruption
1991 (video) Farmers Under Siege
1991 (audio) Missing American Children
1992 (video) America’s MIA Children
1993 (rev) Amish Across America 1693-1993
1993 (video) The Amish: Between Two Worlds
1994 (video) Welcome to Amish America
1995 (video) Amish Buggies Across America
1995 (video) Amish and Mennonite Quilts Across America
1997 (rev) Amish Across America
1999 (book) Surviving Y2K: The Amish Way
2000 (book) Why Johnny Can’t Come Home
2001 (DVD) Welcome to Amish America
2003 (book) Amish Buggies Across America

 

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Ron and Carolee (Crews) Seifert

 Ron and Carolee  completed 44 years of marriage on August 22, 2003

 

They have three children and four grandchildren

  Son Steve Seifert with two children 4 and 6 years old - Technology Manager in the office of the CIO at Perot Systems

  Son Scott Seifert with two children 3 and 7 years old - Attorney and partner in Dallas, Texas law firm

  Daughter Susan Seifert - Graphic Designer

RON - Spent a career in Technology Sales and Management

IBM 17 years, Apple Computer nine years, Toshiba American Information Systems four years.  Retired in 1996 from Toshiba as Vice President of Regional Sales.  Currently on Board of Advisors for Price College of Business, Oklahoma University - Served as Board Chair for two years.  Served on boards/committees for City of Plano, Communities in Schools, Plano Library Foundation, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Mercedes Benz Club/Dallas Section, Council and Mayoral campaigns for City of Plano, Trustee for Dallas Museum of Natural History.  Hobbies – Golf, travel, cars and grandchildren

CAROLEE - Spent a career raising three wonderful children

  A civic volunteer with the library system wherever we lived

  Joined a new business florist startup and became a florist

  Has won most of the ladies golf tournaments at our country clubs in Plano, Texas

  Survived as a corporate wife entertaining and hosting corporate business executives and business partners

  Hobbies – Reading (four to five novels per week), golf, joining Ron on car rallies, and grandchildren

 

Ron and Carolee (Crews) Seifert – E-Mail Address: rseifert@advantexmail.net

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  Sherry (Moles) Halula

 After I graduated in '58 I went to work for Swift & Company in the mail department.  I married my Mr. Wonderful (who graduated from Wyandotte in '52).  Over the next ten years we had six children, including twins.  When I was pregnant with number four, Jack took a new job in another town, and we moved several hours away from KCK.

 

After raising our children, my husband had an opportunity to go to work in Colorado and we moved there.  We ultimately ended up working for the Church and lived near the mountains.  We enjoyed those years of "working for God.”  The pastor asked me to be World Youth Day coordinator for the parish, and I took a deep breath and tackled the job.  It turned out to be a very time consuming, detail-oriented task, but it all turned out well.  Part of the job was to arrange housing, transportation, and food for 85 people from five countries.  The Pope came to Denver for WYD in 1993, and it was wonderful.  The pastor created a new position as Director of Volunteers and he sent me to Colorado University in Boulder for Volunteer Management courses.  I held that position for five years, and oversaw 35 different volunteer ministries, including a food bank and a mother and baby "supply closet."  Of all the different jobs I have had, I enjoyed that one the most.  I think that people are at their best when they volunteer their time and talent to make someone else's life a little better, a little easier, and there is no feeling like it.  When Jack retired a few years ago, we had to stop and think, where is "home?”  We decided to come back to where we raised our family.  Two of the children still live in the area.

 

Jack is retired, but I am still working.  I went back to a second love, medical transcribing, and now work at one of the local medical clinics.  Besides working, I have been spending my time with computer restoration of vintage photography and creating a family tree book for all of our children and grandchildren, with all the "family stories" I can remember (while I can still remember them).  We have been married 45 years.  All of the kids are grown now and are successful in their chosen professions.  We have 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.  Grandparenting is so much more fun than parenting!  God has been good to us and blessed us abundantly in the important things in life - family and love.

 

Sharon “Sherry” (Moles) Halula – E-Mail Address: techimom@OurTownUSA.net

 

         

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  Jay Willis

 Even though I had not intended to attend college after graduation in 1958, during the summer I decided to go to college (with the guidance of church friends who felt I should prepare for the ministry).  I enrolled in William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri, majoring in Religion and New Testament Greek, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962.  During these four years, I worked part-time to pay my way.  During the summer of 1958, I met Rebecca (Becky) Sue Johnson (Wyandotte ’59).  We married in June 1960.  We had not known each other while I was at Wyandotte, but we have an interesting coincidence between us.  Early on at Wyandotte, students had the opportunity to get social security numbers.  Apparently, the day I got mine, Becky was standing in line three persons behind me, because we have the same SS number except for the last digit.

 

In the fall of 1962, I enrolled in Midwestern Baptist Seminary (Kansas City North) in the Master of Divinity degree program, still planning to be a pastor, but worked part-time as a music director at Harmony Heights Baptist Chapel in Kansas City North.  Becky became the major breadwinner while I continued in school.  In 1964, our first daughter, Cheryl Luann, was born, and in 1966, our son, Bryan Jay, was born.  I dropped out of school to make ends meet, working for DC (Denver-Chicago) Trucking Company and Jones Trucking Company (both in Kansas City) as a billing/utility clerk.  (My typing skills were still with me, even from that first typing class in 8th grade at Northwest...uh...Grossenbacher!)  I returned to seminary in 1966, graduating in 1968 with a Master of Divinity degree.  Upon graduation, I became Minister of Music and Education at Mt. Washington Baptist Church in Independence, Missouri, until June of 1972. Our second daughter, Katherine Suzanne, was born in 1971, the same year that my father passed away.

 

In 1972, the Old Forest Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, called me as their Minister of Music, Education, Youth, and Assistant to the Pastor, so we all packed up from Independence and “went on down the road.” The work in Virginia was really more than I could handle, and I wanted to focus on church music, so we moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1973 so that I could attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary School of Music. I received a Masters of Church Music degree (a church music education degree with piano as the performance instrument) from the School of Music in 1976.  Becky completed her third P.H.T. (Put Hubby Through) degree.  In 1977, the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church of Washington, D.C., called me as its Minister of Music and Education.  This church, a large, bi-racial congregation, provided us with a wealth of experience and brought us many fond memories.  Our family became infatuated with the East Coast:  we lived within two-hours drive of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Blue Ridge mountains. We’ve lived on the East Coast since then and now call it home.  In 1982, I became bi-vocational, working part-time in churches and full-time in a secular position.  Since 1982, I have served as music director and accompanist in churches in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and as accompanist for the Capital Baptist Chorale, a volunteer choral group, from 1979-89.  Other activities have included adjudication at choir festivals and youth music camp instructor and accompanist at Maryland Baptist State music camps.  My secular work has included word processing, typography, desktop publishing, and copy editing for research firms in Washington.  Since 1990, I have worked for the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), whose mandate involves “sustainable options for ending hunger and poverty”; I enjoy being involved in this research.

 

We’ve settled in Waldorf, in southern Maryland, 25 miles southeast of Washington.  Becky and I enjoy our grandchildren—three girls and one boy—who live nearby. We hate the traffic mess in Washington, D.C., but we enjoy growing flowers and working in the yard.  We both enjoy singing in the choir and listening to music (country, new age, classical); I enjoy playing the piano/organ and accompanying choirs.  Becky collects many things, from salt and peppershakers to dolls to Star Trek memorabilia. We enjoy watching videos of our favorite movies.  Through our journey to this moment, we feel that God has had His hand in it.  Our motto:  one step at a time, ask for God’s help, and try to get some sleep!

 

Jay Willis – E-Mail Address: j.willis@cgiar.org

  Jay Willis

 

LIFE SINCE '58:  Irene (Garcia) Villalpando

 

In January of 1956, I married and ten months later had a beautiful baby boy, Anthony.  Seventeen months later, I had another son, Phillip born in April of 1958.  I call him my diploma.  Residing in Kansas for several years, we found ourselves living in Europe for four years.  While there, we traveled throughout Europe and really enjoyed our life.  While living in Maryland, we had a beautiful baby girl.  I was 34 at the time.  We then moved to the Northwest, where I went to Barber College.  I became a Master Barber.

My husband retired in April of this year.  We are looking forward to traveling, maybe some more college, and enjoying our eight grandchildren.  God Bless!

 

Irene (Garcia) Villalpando – E-Mail Address: irenegarciavill@cs.com

 

  Irene (Garcia) Villalpando

LIFE SINCE '58:  Glenn Bengtson

 August 2003:  It has been a long time since I have seen any of our classmates.  I have recently accepted a position in Washington State - - seem to be developing a habit of moving west.  I'll be acquainting myself with the new job and new region while the reunion festivities are taking place.  I have been in the Denver, CO vicinity for the last twenty years.  Married for thirty-three years to the same woman.  Three boys raised, one is still in college (C.U. - Go Buffs!  Remember, when the chips are down the buffalo is empty).  No grandchildren yet.  Have a nice celebration and I'll be thinking of all of you.  Regards,

 

Glenn Bengtson – E-Mail Address: KBengtson@comcast.net

LIFE SINCE ’58:  Jean (Graves) McDonald-Walker

 Dr. Jean McDonald-Walker was appointed to Arlington Temple United Methodist Church in July 1999, after serving three years as an Associate Pastor in Virginia Beach. In 2004 she was transferred to Market Street United Methodist Church in Winchester, Virginia as Pastor.  Jean graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1996, having entered seminary after two earlier careers. For ten years, she served as faculty member in the Department of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma. Subsequently, she was a senior policy analyst for the National Governors' Association working to help governors improve public schools and colleges. She has two grown children and two grown stepchildren. She was married in 1999 to Bob McDonald Walker. Bob is an analyst at the Institute for Defense Analyses.

 

Jean (Graves) McDonald-Walker - E-Mail Address: JGMcD1940@aol.com

             Dr. Jean (Graves) McDonald-Walker

Pastor, Market Street United Methodist Church - http://www.gbgm-umc.org/marketstreet/

LIFE SINCE '58:  Barkley “Bark” Fahnestock

 

 

           

                                        Pastor Barkley “Bark”                                 Wife Carleen

Barkley “Bark” Fahnestock

Pastor, Quidnessett Baptist Church - http://www.qbchurch.org

 

Note: February 2005 - Barkley and Carleen are on a missionary assignment in the southern mountains of Ethiopia.  Bark's contact information in our directories is no longer applicable.  They expect to return to the U.S. in late summer or early fall of 2007.

View Bark's photography of Ethiopia at: http://www.fahnestockimages.com/stock_photo/index.php?category=gallery

 

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LIFE SINCE '58:  Dr. Ray Wheeler

 

Life SINCE ‘58: Mary Alice (Crowe) Worth

 November 2004: After Wyandotte, I went to work in the insurance industry where I am still employed.  I attended Donnelly College and Creighton University in Omaha.  I was offered early retirement in 1999 from Aon Insurance Brokers after 36 years of service which I accepted with a very nice retirement package.  Not ready to totally retire, I then went to work for my current employer Individual Assurance Company in Prairie Village, Kansas.  For over 40 years, IAC has been the provider of the Group Life Insurance Program for the Government Groups in Guam, Saipan, Marshall Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, and Yap.  I am the Pacific Group Life Administrator for this program which allows me the wonderful experience to travel to all of those islands.

 

I married Larry Worth and we currently reside in Liberty, MO. where we built our home 12 years ago.  We have one son, Alex Worth, age 30, who is married and has four children whom we both enjoy spoiling very much.  My career has been very successful and a fun ride, but I am looking forward to retiring this April and staying home and doing gardening and relaxing at our pool.

 

Mary Alice (Crowe) Worth - E-Mail Address: MWorth@iac-group.com

LIFE SINCE ’58: Doris (Meade) Riley

 
                                        
 

                         Doris                       2004 Country Club Plaza Christmas Lighting Ceremony

 

Doris (Meade) Riley - E-Mail Address: dorisjriley@kc.rr.com

 

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Wyandotte Grads In The Spotlight…

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  

 

 

                                                      

                                                                            Judy Gail (Harman) Ainsworth Arnold

                                                                                           Class of 1958        

                                                                      

     

 

 

 

                                                                                                                    

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Past Cheerleader Deanna Bowers (Actress Dee Wallace Stone)

 

 

 

At WHS Centennial (1986-1987)

 

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Send Candidate Information To:

wyandotte58barb@cox.net

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

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Web Site By Barbara (Fabac) Schone dschone@cox.net

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