Have I got a story for you!!!

On September 25^th a comment appeared on the Milby 1960 Blog from a Vietnam veteran, searching for faces that matched his memories of long ago significant events. That comment on Glenda Burns Minniece’s biography page lead to an exchange of e-mail messages and photos and an October meeting in Kent, Washington. What unfolds is such a beautiful story that I urged Glenda to submit it for publication here. Click on this link to read it in full and view the photos that Glenda has provided. (KD)

*******************************************************************************************************  Please click here to find photos and links to the recent obituaries for Susie Hardy Davis, Donna Sanford Phillips and Melissa Gray Sepulveda-Grant. There are also obituary links for James Wilks (Milby class of '56) and Coach Hal Lambert.

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 Houston After Dark ~

Christmas 1960

 

My brother, Randy, sent me this link to a vintage film entitled Expedition Houston! The Dark Hours, produced by KTRK (Channel 13) in 1960. It takes a look at what goes on in the city once the office workers leave and the shops close for the day. The sound is not great, but the visuals more than make up for it. Click here to catch glimpses of Valian's, the Metropolitan and Loew's theaters, Pucho's Purple Onion, and many other spots we visited during our senior year in high school. Then click here to leave your comments related to this video.
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Stay tuned for breaking news on the Smith Family - they are in the process of installing new homes on their property and Larry promises photos soon. . .

 

Previous message: Please click on the link that follows to read the e-mail that Ray Prichard sent, telling the news of a fire that destroyed the home of our classmate Larry Smith. Also view the two albums at the top of the right sidebar, featuring photos from a visit with classmates in the Smith's home. We grieve their loss, even as we thank God for their safety. Download Ray's E-mail re Smith Family Fire and then Download Larry's Update as of June 28

See Larry's bio for the story of how the Smiths and their extended family established their homestead at Stoneham. Larry is seen third from left, wife Charleen is second from right in this photo. The couple on the far left is Charleen's brother and wife (whose home did not burn) and Charleen's parents are the other two individuals in the photo. Their home was also totally destroyed. (click on photo to enlarge)

To make a comment about anything you read or any photos you see on the blog click here

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On May 19, 2011 a group of Milby friends gathered to visit once again at the Black Labrador in Houston. This gathering was especially inspired by the return of Jody Bugg for a brief visit in the Houston area. Glenda Burns Minniece sent this photo and the following information. Jody Bugg sent more details when she got back home and it is given in black print following Glenda's remarks. Click Photo to enlarge.

Glenda writes, “Seated left to right is Gladys Payne Bohac, Sammie Farquhar Valenti, Carolyn Smith Pfennig, Alma Woodward Powers, and Delores Huggins Manning. Standing left to right: Glenda Burns Minniece, Sue Sanford Lenoir, JoAnn Peters Green, Linda Robinson Britt, Linda Hocher Bennett, Jody Bugg, and Bonnie McCool Gervais. Merle Montgomery Petty knew she could not attend the luncheon but came later to say hi to those who were still there. Unfortunately, I had to leave shortly before she arrived so I missed her.

“The twelve of us who did have lunch together had fun talking family (elder care, kids, grandkids, marriages, re-marriages, etc), health issues, travel, cooking, and who knows what else. We never once talked about the weather so we didn't run out of anything to say.”

Jody Bugg sent the following e-mail when she returned home, “Here are the update notes I made regarding the Milby girls at the Black Lab luncheon when I was in Houston”:

*Linda Hocher Bennett continues to enjoy grandmother-hood, taking care of baby Emily and looking after Daisy the dog

*June 5-22, Gladys Payne Bohac heads to Florida to see Charlotte Vann Dew who says "hi" to everyone.

*Linda Robinson Britt enjoys her grandchildren and is going to Denver, CO, a trip which is being planned by her daughter.

*Jody Bugg loves the Pacific NW and being with Olive, and is still getting her house just the way she wants it.

*JoAnn Peters Green and husband Martin celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year. She is still in real estate(homefinderofconroe@suddenlink.net). She and Martin journey to the Louisiana casinos from time to time and are cruising to Honduras, Belize, Cozumel, and other ports of call this summer.

*Bonnie McCool Gervais has summer travel plans to go to Breckenridge, CO, Yosemite, Napa Valley, and Costa Rica. In October, she will be headed to Munich, Germany.

*Sue Sanford LeNoir and husband Greg also celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year. She continues to work part-time in a Friendswood gift shop. The LeNoirs will spend time this summer at their beach house with family.

*Delores Hugghins Manning is closely monitoring her garden. She planted four tomato plants. A neighborhood squirrel has been dining on one of the plants, but she is hoping for at least a harvest of a half-dozen tomatoes. She is also busy helping the Milby 1961 class plan its reunion this year.

*Glenda Burns Minniece continues visiting her mother's farm in East Texas every-other-weekend to look after her mother. She has been following through with her Grand Jury duties and works Early Voting Precincts when early voting occurs. John and Glenda have traveled to California twice this year: once for a wedding and once for a gradutation.

*Merle Montgomery Petty doesn't plan to retire any time soon. She thoroughly enjoys her job teaching law at the UofH. This summer, though, she has no classes scheduled and will be going to Bend, OR, to see her son and his family.

*Carolyn Smith Pfennig once again biked the MS 150 race. It was her 9th race. Quite an accomplishment, wouldn't you say?

*Alma Woodward Powers and husband Jeff have moved into a new house in League City and are filling their time decorating it.

*Sammie Farquhar Valenti has been taking Jazzercise classes and is addicted to dance. She loves it. She has some flute questions for Beverly Frankinson Allison. So Beverly, if you read this, contact Sammie.

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To make a comment about anything you read or any photos you see on the blog click here

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Was a Tremendous Success!!!

Do you want to express your appreciation to our fabulous Milby 1960 Reunion Planning Committee? Click here to leave them a comment. Then check out photos of the Reunion Planning Committee gatherings (from January 2009 until May 2010) by clicking here. The last 9 photos in the album are from their Wrap-up Meeting held May 22, 2010

Note: There are 4 photo albums of the reunion near the top of the right sidebar. These are from the blogmeister's camera. The photos you took are on the fabulous DVD that the Reunion Committee so graciously put together.

There is a limited number of those Electronic Photo Album DVDs still

available if anyone is interested in purchasing one. The price and mailing or PayPal instructions are still posted on our class website. Scroll down after clicking on this link: http://www.milbyclassof1960.org/2010reunion.shtml

Ray reports: "We anticipate producing another batch of DVD's to fill future orders but that will not be done for at least three weeks from now; sometime in June at the earliest. For those who were unable to attend the reunion weekend, the Electronic Photo Album DVD is a great way to see who and what they missed. If you have any questions please call or email Ray Prichard at 281-359-3235 or milby1960@embarqmail.com.

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Making Comments About Photo Albums

If you would like to leave a comment about any photo album, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

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If this is your first visit to the Milby 1960 Blog, please SIGN IN so we will know you stopped by.

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Tips for Enjoying Our Blog

There is so much to enjoy on the Milby 1960 Blog, including 16 new biographies. Just scroll down the right sidebar and click on any title or name to access that post, page or photo album.

(Clipping from our Milby Buffalo 1960 Yearbook)

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Check out this band of brothers - Buffaloes all - by clicking here and reading the caption. They represent the Milby classes of '59, '60, '67, and '68. Can you guess which of these fine young men belong to the Milby Class of 1960?

(click photo to enlarge)

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Carolyn Smith Pfennig did not attend the Milby 1960 50th reunion. Read all about what she was doing that weekend when you Download Carolyn's MS Bike Ride 2010 letter to our class, written before the ride.

Then Download Carolyn's MS Bike Ride Report 2010 letter to our class, written after she completed the ride

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Introducing Linda Hocher Bennett’s first grandchild, Emily Bennett, born earlier this year. Click here to see a larger image and read the caption that Ray sent along with this photo. Stay in that album to view other photos of “The Kids in Our Lives”, then send photos (davise@swbell.net) of the kids in YOUR life so they can be added to this album.

Now, HERE is Glenn and Elaine Haecker Lorance with their first GREAT grandson. They have submitted the story of their Life's Adventure - it's found at the top of the post, "Click on Links to Pages and Biographies" (listed a little way down in the right sidebar).

Here's Charlene Hickman Worrell and her family. Read about them on "The Kids in Our Lives" album - click here.

And finally, check out the photos of the granddaughters of Bonnie McCool Gervais, also in "The Kids in Our Lives" photo album - click here.

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Judy Kennedy and Karla Lofgren Davis met for lunch at the Stagecoach Inn in Salado(3/20/10) and got semi-caught-up on what has been happening in their lives during the last 25 years - since they last visited in person at the the 25th reunion. Click here to see and read about this and other current photos of some Milby grads. There are a couple of other new photos - one of Alton Couvillon and another of Charlene Hickman Worrell and her family there, among others.

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New post: Click here to access an anthology of “Poetry on the Blog”

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Be sure to check out the post “Eugene Seastrand Composed Milby Songs”. Click here to see some wonderful new additions, including band-related Milby era photos. Read to the very bottom, including comments – great stuff there!

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For information about the Milby Hispanic Alumni Association Download MHAA Meetings and Activities.

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Tips for Enjoying Our Blog

There is so much to enjoy on the Milby 1960 Blog. Just scroll down the right sidebar and click on any title or name to access that post, page or photo.

Be sure to check out the 10 most recent comments, listed near the top of the right sidebar. Click on either the name or title to open.

Scroll through this main section to view and read some of the original items on the blog. (Some have had additions since their first publication.)

Then click on the little word "comments" at the end of any post and a whole new experience opens up to you as you read through the comments others have made in relation to the topic. And then THE COMMENTS THAT YOU LEAVE will enhance the enjoyment of the blog for others. :-)

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.....1960 ~ 2010.....

Mike Roberts sent a fun "Oldsters" article by e-mail - Check it out by clicking here. On a similar note (jogging our memory of "the good old days") Glenda Burns Minniece sent another that can be accessed by clicking here.

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Boyce Honea (’59) and other Milbyites remember a Fallen Buff, Henry Norman, in the post, "Making Milby Proud". Frank Heide has recently sent a photo taken at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Click here to read comments and see the photo of Henry's name on the wall.

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Milby 1959

Reunion Photo Album

Click on this photo to enlarge it. Then Click here to read a page about the recent Milby Class of '59 Golden Reunion entitled, "Did You Ever Know You Were Our Heroes?". Or follow this link to the photo album of that weekend event.

Note: there are a LOT of photos (thank you very much, Sandra Wilks Honea, Margie Edwards Knight, Marilyn Schrader Mehaffey, and Irene Celis Adame) and so there are two pages of thumbnails. There is a little arrow thingy at the bottom of the array of thumbnails - click on it to see the second set. About half the photos do not yet have IDs or captions - I am hoping folks will send info to me and I will add it to the album. davise@swbell.net

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To read instructions for editing any former post or comment that you have submitted, click here.

To comment on any photo or photo album, click here.

Comments

[Karla Lofgren Davis]

Here's a start on our e-conversations about Christmas. What is your favorite thing about the Christmas holiday season?

I love to decorate the house, although it is getting harder to get pumped up for it every year. That's more about physical limitations than lack of Christmas spirit, and I always feel it is well worth the effort once the work is done.

[FYI: I have finally got a good system in place, with flip lid crates labeled for each area I decorate. That way I can do one section at a time and not get everything out at once. (Our place is very small.) I put the "rest-of-the year" stuff away in the crate from which I take the Christmas decorations for that area. I also take photos of each area when they are decorated and put the photos in the top of the crate for that area. That's speaks volumes about how poor my memory has become - I can't remember from year to year the clever things I have learned to do!

I love the holiday food - both preparing it and eating it. Our school has staff-prepared snacks in the break room every day in December. Hard to resist that temptation! And of course the food when family and friends get together is also irresistible.]

But my favorite thing about the holidays has to be the people part. I love sending, and especially receiving, the newsy Christmas letters from people all over the country - and the world - with whom our lives have been interwoven. I keep up with close to a hundred families (including relatives) and reading those letters, seeing those photos, reliving our shared memories - all give me great pleasure!!!

I am hopeful this blog can serve somewhat the same purpose - the people part - getting the herd together to visit during the holidays this year. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

And you'll see a link in the checklist section at the top of the blog to a post from Linda Little Strickland about Christmas Memories. Check that out and add your comments there, too!

Happy Holidaying!!! Karla

[Charles Simmons]

Karla,
Your quote about physical limitations hindering your Christmas decorating exuberance is understood by Hilda and me. We are at times saddened that we don't want to do as much as we used to.

When we moved into our place twenty-one years ago, we tried to make it look like a gingerbread house every year! But just in the last eight years, we haven't put up our ten foot tall tree but settled for a small three footer in our entry hall. Stringing of lights outside ceased a few years back for the same reasons.

Hilda and I were discussing just last night the different seasons of life and this is one of them. I constantly think of my grandparents and how they changed -- gradually turning the festivities part over to the younger generations. I've made up my mind to stop fighting these seasons of life and simply accept them the way they are meant to be. Hilda and I still enjoy each other as much as ever, but with far less activity. Besides, the real reason for Christmas never changes. We still remained pumped about that!

[Karla Davis]

Thurburn Barker just sent some fun photos of his family gathering this Christmas. You'll find them in the "Holiday Gatherings, 2008" photo album near the top of the right sidebar. Food, art, and feats of skill can be seen in the three photos submitted by Thurburn.

Click on the link to access the photos:
http://milby1960.typepad.com/photos/thanksgiving_gatherings_2/germanpancakes.html

Also, Billy Carter gave us a link to President-elect Obama's website. It is under the Recent Features paragraph in this lead post, in blue - above.

Karla

[Glenda Burns Minniece]

Karla - This is a comment regarding your reflections on the quote Larry and Kathy Bass sent: "The time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted time!" I've always been a lazy creature and have wasted a lot (!!!) of time, but have always felt guilty about it, coming from a family of very industrious people as I do. So when my mother would try to amend my behavior, I would quote Richard LeGallienne's poem:

I meant to do my work today,
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling to me;
And the wind went sighing over the land
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand -
So what could I do but laugh and go?

Mother was a poetry lover so some of the time she'd let me get away with it, but not always! For sure!

But in more direct response to the Bass' quote, a poem written in 1900 by William Henry Davies is especially apt in our modern, fast-paced world. Here's part of it:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to sit and stare?
No time to see in broad daylight
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

And I know that we've all noticed that if we've been wrestling with a thorny issue, then lay it aside for a bit, our minds relax and the issue becomes clearer and/or more manageable. The Bass' quotation is right on - "wasted" time is never wasted - especially when enjoyed!

[Linda Strickland]

Glenda,

Now that we are retired seems we have more time to reflect on life going on around us.

Talking about time...I sometimes do not wear a watch when out and about. I enjoy the moments spent not looking at a list, viewing a new business, speaking with others I meet, not on a mission but a "la la" time of simple enjoyment. Linda

[Charles Simmons]

While flying for the airlines, I was married to my wrist watch. Like Linda, I never wear one around the house anymore - only when I'm out and about, but hardly ever look at it. Another thing I don't do anymore is constantly watch the Weather Channel. About all I care about is, "Did the sun come up this morning?" Time is different when retired. I find it's measured in weedends - not hours. Getting somewhere on time is a virtue, but I've coined an expression that applies when we get just a little behind schedule -- Relax, we're not catching an airplane!!!

[Post a Reunion Committee "THANK YOU"]

Here's the place to post a word of appreciation to our fabulous Reunion Planning Committee members. To see the members, click on this link:

http://milby1960.typepad.com/photos/reunion_planning_committe/index.html

Then to return to the main post, click on the phrase "milby1960.typepad.com" at the top left of the album.

Karla

[Gladys Payne Bohac]

Bo and I are really getting excited about the BIG 50 REUNION. Every year we go, it is bigger and better than before. All of you make such a sacrifice to make it all happen. So much love is put into this task and we really appreciate each one of you.

I have been telling everyone I meet about our great class of 1960, about the blog and about the reunions. Great job, well done. See all of you in April. I have already reserve our rooms, how about you.

Love & Hugs

Gladys Payne Bohac

[Sonny Jones]

To all you guys on the "planning committee"...kudos galore and heaps of thanks for all your dedicated efforts. There's no doubt in my mind it'll be the very best reunion ever. When it is, you will have been responsible...thanks in advance.
Sonny Jones

[New Blog Material 4/13/10]

Here's what's new on the blog:

There's a beautiful photo of Linda (Hocher) and Tommy Bennett with their first grandbaby in the photo album, "The Kids in Our Lives". Glenn and Elaine (Haecker) Lorance submitted their photo with their first GREAT grandchild. And now there's a photo of the new family Charleen Hickman Worrell and hubby are raising. Generations - what a perspective!!!

The photo of Judy Kennedy and Karla Lofgren Davis inserted in the lead post is a reminder and a link to the photo album "Current Photos of Milby 1960 Grads".

Judy Kennedy, Pat Webb Bridges, Pat Pierce Schneider, Lonita June Sillings Priest, Betty Bobb Strauss, Alton Couvillon, David Gager, Glenn and Elaine (Haecker) Lorance, John Rodriquez, Melissa Gray Grant, Rodney Preuit, Sharon Abdo Ellis, Charles (Butch) Vetters, Arline Helen Baumgarth Smith, and Claudia (Tilton) Martin - ALL submitted their first-time bios. Be sure to read their stories and leave a comment at the bottom of their pages.

There are now 75 bios on the blog. Have you sent yours? If not, do so TODAY! (davise@swbell.net)

Thurburn Barker, Ken Corey, and Charlotte Vann Casselberry Dew added some cool photos and other information to their bios (the new stuff is at the top of their pages). Kay Burg Moseley did a complete update of her story.

Laura Striegler Wilson, Malcolm (Tommy) Sanford, Laura McNeil Burns, and Marinell Roberts Mendoza (’62) have added updates to their bios via comments at the bottom of their pages.

All of these items are linked mid-way down the right sidebar in the "Click on Links to Pages and Biographies" section. Just click on their names to open.

The URL to Billy Rowland's website was received as a way to get a glimpse into his world: www.wwrowland.com
You can also click on this website link - along with websites for other classmates - at the very bottom of the right sidebar.

I have created a new page entitled "Poetry on the Blog", gathering a number of poems sprinkled throughout the blog into one meaningful location. I am receiving and posting some new material for this page now, too. If you are a poetry lover, check them out. Here's the URL to copy and paste into your browser. http://milby1960.typepad.com/milby_class_of_1960/poetry-on-the-blog-1.html

Keep the info and comments coming, and keep coming back to read what others have written!

Karla