WB Ray High School, Richard King High School, Mary Carroll High School

CLASSMATES - BLOG --- a place to POST MEMORIES -- or --- SHARE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR LAST 50 YEARS!!

SHARE - what you have been doing the last ''50'' years -- flew an airplane, wrote a book, led an expedition, was a miltary 'hero', took care of a family, changed the lives of children, planted a garden, made a billion dollars! (Try to limit to 500 words or less, but if you can't, don't worry. No teacher will dock your grade!)

If you don't want to type in the box below -- type your 'memories' and email them to raykingcarroll66@gmail.com WE WILL POST THEM FOR YOU!

D. George Harrison

Now

From D. George:Have moved from Maryland to Haslet, Texas, just north of Ft. Worth. Retired from federal service on '05 and from the USAF Reserves in '97 as a Lt. Col.. Have two grown daughters; 2 grandchildren and 2 on the way. My wife of 35-years, Pat, died last year of thyorid cancer. Keep busy with the kids and science collections/studies. Have published two books and some journal articles over the years.

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Wallace Klekar

Then

Now

From Wallace:After graduating, I knocked around for a couple of years, I had a good job working at ARADMAC, but decided in 1968 I wanted to join the Marine Corps. I did 2 tours in Vietnam, got out in 1972. I couldn't find a decent job in Corpus, so I moved to Katy. I learned a trade, hanging wallpaper. I did that for 27 years. I got married in 1975, raised 3 children, and got divorced. Since the wallpaper business went by the wayside, I decided to become a realtor. I've been selling homes in Katy and Houston since 1997.

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Jill Hurwitz (McLain)

From Jill:I’m sorry that I will be unable to attend the reunion, due to a prior commitment. I live in Austin with my husband, Jerry, a black lab and a black and white cat. Three of our five daughters, their husbands, and 6 of our nine grandchildren also live here, keeping us happily busy with family. We have one daughter/spouse and granddaughter living in New York City, and another daughter/spouse and 2 granddaughters on the west coast in Cupertino.

I still work part time for a company where I have spend the last 30 years, and in my free time, when I am not spending time with the family, my hobbies include golf and photography, neither of which have I mastered. Although I no longer have any family in Corpus Christi, we do get there from time to time and drive around to see all the old haunts.

I hope everyone has a wonderful time renewing friendships this coming weekend. I applaud the Reunion Team for their untiring work in bringing so many people together for this event. I know it will be a big success and hopefully a stepping stone to others in the future.

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Susan PARKS (Emerson)

Then

Now

From Susan:Susan Emerson
P. O. Box 641, Rindge, NH 03461-0641, 603-899-6529, semerson435@aol.com
I married the love of my life, Gerald W. Parker USAFMC, a brilliant man that was admitted to Union College when he was 15 years old. He graduated from New York Medical School 1st in his class. He joined the US Air Force and I got to enjoy his marvelous career. He was stationed in the Philippines, Spain, and Thailand. He headed up the IG at Norton AFB, CA. We traveled everywhere there was an Air Force hospital and that was all over the world.  What great fun we had.  He achieved the rank of General and retired from Bolling AFB, Washington, DC as Deputy Surgeon General. He taught at George Washington Medical School, Georgetown Medical School, Howard and USSAH Medical School.
When I lived in Washington DC, I ran for Commissioner and won to my surprise. That was when Marion Berry was mayor. There was never a dull moment.  That was an interesting 6 years. During that time I ran for the US House of Representatives against Eleanor Homes Norton, She beat me, but there were 12,000 registered Republicans and I got 24,420 votes so that was really good for a Republican.
While living in DC, I was asked to join several board of directors which I was honored to do. I was asked to join the Washington Hospital Center Board of Directors, a 1000-bed state-of-the-art hospital, and then I was appointed to the  D.C. Hospital Association Board of Directors and from there the Visiting Nurse Association Board of Directors for Maryland, Virginia, and DC. I was also on the American Hospital Association Board which was a national board.   That was all very interesting work and I loved it. I served on these boards for over 6 years until my husband retired. We had a whirlwind social life going to all the Embassy parties, black tie functions, and even got an invitation to the White House for a State Dinner for Thailand.
When my husband retired, I just couldn't go back to Texas; it is too hot down there. So we had a very quiet life in New Hampshire. I was too full of energy and had to get involved in something. So in 1999, I decided I didn't like the way some older folks were being thrown out of their homes where they had lived all their lives because the taxes had gone up so much that they couldn't afford it anymore, so I ran for State Representative and won to my surprise. I was appointed to the Health and Human Services Committee and have been there ever since. I'm the senior ranking Republican on that committee. I have served in the House for 14 years.
Over the years, The Speakers of the House have appointed me to serve on several statutory and chaptered study commissions: Oral Health Commission, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission which I've chaired for 10 years, Primary Care Work Force, Commission to Study Mental Health Implementation, Committee to Study How to Regulate and Control Synthetic Drugs, Commission to Study General Court Policies and Procedures Related to Persons with Disabilities, Committee to Study Health Care Services in Correctional Facilities, Committee to Study Medicaid Payments for Hospital-Based Physician and Outpatient Services, Automated External Defibrillator Advisory Commission, Task Force Relative to Central Registries, Commission to Study Elimination of Cervical Cancer, State Committee on Aging, and the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee.
I am also very active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Rindge Budget Advisory Committee, Rindge and Jaffrey Women’s Clubs, Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary, Park Theatre, Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce, Rindge Historical Society, Sons of the Union Army Auxiliary, and American Legion Post.
My personal interests are gardening, cooking, traveling, and shopping.
I enjoy my work as a state representative and have helped many constituents over the years. I plan on serving in the NH House for as long as I am healthy and vibrant.

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Debra Stallings

Then

Now

From Debra:I must admit my life has been full of adventure with some wonderful highs and the normal curve balls that are just part of life. I became a friend of Bill Wilson in 1988, and my life took a magnificent turn for the better. I did not have children, so I took on some rather different jobs in my earlier life such as working offshore on a drilling rig in Alaska, serving as the exercise director at a vegetarian health spa in Cuernavaca, Mexico, working as an able-bodied seaman on a supply boat in the Gulf of Mexico, teaching and coaching at King High School for 2 years (but I graduated from Ray), and most recently as a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office in Conroe, TX. I have been married, more times that I care to admit. So my marriages and jobs have something in common—neither ever lasted more than about five years!
After retiring from the Postal Service, I signed up for the Master Gardener course in 2004 at Montgomery County AgriLife Extension Service (part of Texas A&M). I found my true heart’s desire as a Master Gardener, not only learning all about plants, how to grow and care for them, how to propagate them, and how to diagnose problems, but also sharing this information with new MG interns and the community. I volunteer at “Extension” throughout the week. My life is full of joy with the fellowship of many good gardening friends as well as playing with plants in my own gardens at home. Lately, the challenge is dividing my time between Master Gardener work and working with this fabulous committee for our RKC 50th Reunion of the class of 1966, which I might add has been a true blessing (most of the time, HA!). Life has been quite a journey. So when I leave this life, hopefully by just keeling over in my flower bed, I’ll be saying, “Wow, what a ride!!!”. And I wouldn’t change a single thing.
Debra Stallings

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Linda Steele

From Linda:So sorry I am not there to visit with all of you. I already had a commitment I didn't feel like I could get out of. I am a retired teacher as of this year, 34 years in Education, and 24 with Fort Bend ISD in Sugarland, Texas. My daughter, Debra, and her husband, Wayne, gave me my first grandbaby this May. So, I retired at just the right time. Having so much fun watching Clara grow! What a joy to have grandchildren!

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Laina Dean (Maher)

Then

Now

From Laina:Wow, 50 years! Hard to believe because I don't feel that old! Well, I married George in June of '67 and we have 4 great daughters and son in laws and 11 grandchildren! We are blessed to have the whole bunch of us living in San Antonio. That's the big picture and now I'll try to fill in details. We moved to Baytown, TX after marriage where George finished college commuting to Lamar U in Beaumont,TX. I worked and we quickly began a family, having our first girl 1 year and 1 month later. He began his career in Nacogdoches, TX then Uvalde, TX, Houston and finally settling in San Antonio in 1973 where we raised our family and for most of the time I was allowed to be a stay at home mom. God was stalking me to come back to the faith of my childhood and in 1974 I gave in and have striven to walk the path He had chosen for me. Faith and family has been the most important thing to both of us. We have taught Sunday School and Precept Bible studies for years and then I wrote a Bible study for the Book Footsteps of the Messiah with another lady. If you are interested go to ariel.org. I know from looking back at the writings from some of you in my annual that it would seem an improbable path going from wild child to a Christian trying desperately to live for the Lord. That would be the most important part of my life, a Christian, a wife, a mother and an occasional seller of Essential Oils. :) I'm looking forward to seeing so many of ya'll that I'm seeing on the list and so hope many more of you come!

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John Gaver

Then

Now

From John:After King High School, I went to Del Mar College, but joined the Navy before finishing. After finishing my hitch in the Navy, I returned to finish up at Del Mar and went on the U of H. I stayed in Houston after that, with the exception of a stint in London several years back. My work in elcetronics had me working at places like NASA, nuclear power plants (I still glow in the dark), and some places that were so secret that I had to have an armed Marine guard at my side at all times. I eventually became an IT director for several years. But ultimately, I got tired of working for other people and started my own business. Over the years, I owned an IT consulting business, an import/export business, and a print shop.

I effectively retired about 17 years ago and now focus on investments (mostly trading in petroleum products and some short term stock trades - 2-5 days holds). I also write books on taxes and economics. My last book is titled, "The Rich Don't Pay Tax! …Or Do They?" and my upcoming book will be "The Tax Deception" (the foreword to that book will almost certainly be a famous politician). My wife of 30 years and I are planning to move offshore within the next year. One of the nice things about both petroleum trading and writing, is that as long as you have a cell phone and an internet connection, you can do it sitting on a beach in a tropical paradise.

One of the things life has taught me is that insanity is not a disease to be cured, but a virtue to be cultivated. Since learning that truth, I have become very cultivated. 8^)

MYSTERY SOLVED: For those of you who may still be wondering who planned and executed the HUGE 1966 King Senior Skip Day promotion that left only 5o seniors in class on April 1, 1966, all those signs were made and put up by just four people, Lexy Hueske, Tony deLorenzo, Rick Gibson, and… let me see if I can remember… Oh yes,… me. In order to keep news of the plan from leaking to the school administration, giving them time to counter it, the four of us agreed that only we four would know anything about it till lunch time, the day before, when all the signs went up. Apparently, it worked. As Paul Harvey would say, "Now you know the rest of the story."

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Tex and Mary Lou

Then

Now

From Tex :'Tex' and 'Mary Lou' practicing for the 'Gator Contest' at the upcoming RKC 50th Reunion on the actual ballroom floor of the Holiday Inn Marina Hotel! They may need some more practice!!!

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Bud (Buddy) Landacre

From Bud (Buddy):I spent my 1st 2 years of HS at Carroll and would have been (maybe) part of the Class of '66 at King had my family not moved to N.C. the summer of '65. I graduated from HS in N.C. in 66, (phew). I joined the Army in'67, went to Nam (like a lot of us did), came back (like a lot of us didn't), went to college, then spent the next 40 yrs. flying airplanes for a living. When I was at Carroll I was kind of like "Toad" in "American Graffitti" (complete with motor scooter) but really thought of myself more as the "Milner" type (complete with Little Deuce Coupe). Now retired, I occasionally get to pat my grandkids on the head and most mornings I wake up, kiss my wife, have a cup o jo, and go out to the garage to play with my hot rods (Just like Milner). Lookin forward to seeing if I remember who I remember at the reunion.

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