Milby Class of 1960: MEMORIES OF DAYS GONE BY...(archived earliest comments)

Posted by Karla Lofgren Davis

I have been looking through my Milby yearbooks to get inspiration for the initial blog threads. If your memory is anything like mine, you have an easier time remembering things that happened in 1960 than you do remembering why you walked into the next room 5 minutes ago! Still, the yearbooks serve as a good jog to my memory. As I look at various photos, I immediately have some fond (and some not so fond!) memories of classes and teachers . . . extra curricular activities . . . special events . . . classmates . . .

I can still remember exactly where I sat in some of those classrooms. I can picture who sat in front of, behind, and beside me. I can also remember how stressful it was to rush to get to my locker, work the combination (why did my lock so often fail to open?), find the right books and materials, and then get to the next class on time. I actually still have dreams about that, waking up in a cold sweat and then being so relieved when I realize it was just a dream and I don’t EVER have to go through that ordeal again. I have another dream that recurs every few years (probably closely related to the previously mentioned dream) in which I am zipping down the halls of good old Milby on roller skates. Not that I ever did that, of course. I think it is just my positive alternative to the negative locker dream! (Note: Laura McNeil Burns sent me this addition in an e-mail after this was published: "You know, Karla, you can't roller skate in a Buffalo Herd!!!" Funny, huh!?!?!?!)

What are your favorite memories of Milby? What words of wisdom from certain teachers still come to mind as you wind your way through life. What hilarious stories do you tell your children and grandchildren when the subject of your youth comes up? For example, any crazy experiences while “wrapping” houses? I remember being terrified that someone would catch us in the act (especially when “borrowing” rolls of paper from a service station restroom) and we’d “get into trouble!” Of course, that did not stop me from participating.

And someone out there owes me big time! You may remember that our yard had huge oak trees. Someone(s) did a really thorough job of throwing those toilet paper rolls high into the trees for a really lovely effect as they trailed down to the ground and were again tossed high. My dad was quite mad, and said since he didn’t know who did it that I could just get myself out there and clean it up. I did! You owe me!!!

Please use this opportunity to comment about your favorite high school memories – in or out of school hours. Let’s enjoy a stroll down memory lane together…

This is one of the earliest posts on the blog. So many comments had accumulated that it became cumbersome to find the latest comments. Therefore, on March 26, 2008, I decided to “archive” the earlier comments in this location. You can still read the post and comments. However, to read the most recent comments and add your own, please open the “Memories of Days Gone By” in the main body of the blog.

CLICK HERE to return to the top of the main section after reading comments below, and/or making your own comment.

Posted by: Randy Lofgren | July 10, 2007 at 12:53 PM After almost 20 years, my old Milby buddy, David Jones '58, pulled a surprise visit on us last Saturday. He reminded me of the slogan that appeared in the "drama shack" compliments of Richard Niemi. "Trifles make perfection...but perfection is no trifle." I'm sure Mr. Niemi never had any idea how much he influenced my life...and continues to do so.

Posted by: Charles Simmons | July 10, 2007 at 02:10 PM Thank you, Karla, for taking the initiative to get this blog going. Your efforts are appreciated. I look forward to keeping up with the latest on our classmates. Warm Regards, Charles Simmons

Posted by: Karla Davis | July 10, 2007 at 03:02 PM
Charles, thanks for visiting and signing-in. You win the prize for 1st photo submitted! Please fill us in on what you are doing in your retirement. For those of you who have not done so previously, please visit Charles' and his lovely wife's website at: http://home.roadrunner.com/~cvsimmons/

Posted by: Billie Trombatore Young | July 12, 2007 at 06:54 PM
Two memories come to mind. The spelling bee in the 5th grade at Park Place..Donald Hannz's mom called out the words. Her accent was cute & I didn't ask her for a definition for the word I missed. I thought she said "war", but the word was "wore" with an accent. :) They gave us all one of those ice cream cups afterwards.

The other one was Home Economics last period at Milby. Our bus driver loved us...we brought him samples of our homemade tasty endeavors. When not riding the bus, it is hard to imagine walking all the way home to Iola & Easton. What a trip!

Posted by: Mike Roberts | July 13, 2007 at 02:18 PM
Karla, I just can not get over how great this blog is. Thanks again. As I was reading thru some of the pages memories were flashing in and out of my mind, kinda like my mom used to say, " in one ear and out the other ". The name dropping unwinds my recall power just enough to get me started.

Billie, talking about Don Hannz, brought back thoughts of he and Don Veazey, 2 of my pals who, I considered, were the smartest guys on the planet, in the eighth grade, haven't seen either in 45 years. Iola and Easton, Park Place, I went to Southmayd Elem. I am now married to my 2nd wife, of 37 yrs., who lived on Easton.

Ahhh, Southmayd, Kay Burg, I'll bet she remembers the Mayfete that she and I were partnered up in. We had to circle up with the rest of our classmates, dressed in neat costumes, and do a dance or whatever out on the playground. It was a windy day as, you can imagine, and all of our parents and other folks were gathered to watch. As the music started, the wind caught Kay's hat and off it went. Needless to say, off went Kay to retrieve the bonnet and I was left there to dance by myself. I was bashful in those days, so I was red faced and probably angry that I was left to dance alone. Everyone got a good laugh as each time Kay caught up to the bonnet the wind would send it off again. Sorry Kay, that is how I remember it. I should have been the gentleman and chased the bonnet for you, heeheehee ! !

I know this was quite a long post but I think of those olden days often and I'm proud to have known each of you wonderful people.

Posted by: Doris Lentz Simmons | July 13, 2007 at 03:44 PM
I was reading what Randy said about Mr. Niemi -- he really did make a difference. I can still see him running up the middle aisle of the drama shack, pointing his finger in my face saying, "I'm going to teach you to talk yet!" And, I remember running for cheerleader of all things, and he introduced me and mispronounced my last name.... on purpose! Thank goodness, because I don't know how I'd been able to pull that off. He was too special!

Posted by: Kay Burg Moseley | July 14, 2007 at 11:49 PM
Mike, I don't remember that incident at the Southmayd Mayfete. Sorry I deserted you. (I probably need psychotherpy to find out why I am blocking it out!) Many fond memories of Southmayd and Mrs. Lawhorn, our principal. Our Girl Scout troop still gets together occasionally - Sandy Barry, Betty Bobb, Sally Jo Boulware, Lynn Chatfield, Melba Evans, Sammie Farquhar, Pam Thomas and Fonda Whitt.

Posted by: Mike Roberts | July 15, 2007 at 12:48 AM
Hi Kay, I just sent a class picture to Karla and she is going to put it on the blog. I'm glad to hear you gals have stuck together thru the years, there is almost nothing to replace good friendships. Hey,see how many of the faces you can name in the photos! How can we ever say enough to thank Karla for putting this together?

Kaleidoscope Memories . . . Posted July 15, 2007 at 06:58 PM
(From the 1959 Inside Program Cover)

The lights are dimmed. The curtain rises. Ten charming girls, The Calendar Cuties, grace the stage. The 1951 Kaleidoscope begins. This was the opening scene of the first Kaleidoscope. As the Journalism Jewels step on the stage April 4th, 1959, this scene will take place again. Paul Berlin, emcee of six of the seven performances, will take the mike as the big show begins.
The first performance, consisting of Milby talent, was held in the Milby Auditorium. As the show gained in popularity, the school auditorium became too small to hold the enthusiastic crowd, and the show moved to Cullen Auditorium on the campus of the University of Houston. The cast of performers no longer consisted of Milby students only, but of talent from all high schools in Houston. Later a band and elaborate settings were added to the show. (transcribed from photo album for those whose eyesight is diminishing)

Posted by: John Echoff | July 16, 2007 at 12:14 AM I have a 1957 Kaleidoscope program, it is titled "57 Karats". the event was held at the Music Hall in Downtown. The Master of Ceremonies was Fred Nahas. I would like to share it with everyone, if someone tell me where to send it so it could be posted, I'll dig it out of the memory box...

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | July 16, 2007 at 12:30 AM It would be great to have some pictures from the 57 Carats (or Karats?). The Coed Cadettes put on the K(C)arats show at the downtown Music Hall - it had a BIG, FANCY royalty court.
Kaleidoscope was a different show - put on by the Plainsman (school newspaper)and was held at the U of H - Cullen Auditorium. I know that because I have been researching all of these things, NOT because my memory serves me well!!!

John, can you scan the cover/pages? If so, then scan a few pages - as many as you like - and e-mail them to me in a jpeg or gif format. I'll get them in the blog photo album right away.
Otherwise, you can mail the program to me and I'll scan and return the book. I'll e-mail you my address if you choose to go that route.

S'good to hear from you and have your contributions to the blog! Karla

Posted by: John Echoff | July 16, 2007 at 12:46 AM Oooops, is my face red-Kaleidoscope-Plainsman-Coed Cadettes, see what 50 yrs will do to your memory...
Karla, send me your address and I'll send you the program.

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | July 17, 2007 at 01:29 PM
I was out gardening and thought about how hot it was, then I remembered school days with no air conditioning. We had those big rotating fans, and whether they cooled you off depended on where your desk was in the class. Of course, when it rotated your way, you had to hold your papers down to keep them from blowing all over the floor, a tricky buisness.

In the journalism shack (remember that the official name was “temporary building”, though some of them stood there for decades), the classroom was of the usual sort, but the offices of the Plainsman and Buffalo had window air conditioners, one of the perks for being on staff. On one occasion, the Plainsman staff held a reception for staffs of newspapers of other high schools. I suppose we had cookies and soft drinks, but there was no educational benefit whatsoever for them or for us. They got off their own campuses for a little while, and we got to send out the unspoken smug message, “Ha, ha, we have air conditioning.”
Nowadays, if the air conditioning in a school building went out, everyone would probably get sent home for the day. But who can blame them?

Posted by: Karla Responding to Laura | July 17, 2007 at 02:12 PM Welcome, Laura! I love to see a new contributor pop up on the blog!!! And I love to be reminded about the "good ol' days" without air conditioning, especially since I am an educator in Texas now. My classroom AC went out 4 weeks before the end of school a few years ago - I was teaching 2nd grade - and I thought I would never make it until the last day of school. They had to order a new unit and I guess someone in maintenance thought it was so close to the end, no need to hurry. When my superintendent heard about it he was furious...but too late to help me out! However, I did survive. :-) Laura, I am sure you have a lot more stories to tell - and with great style, since you were co-editor of the Plainsman!!!! Keep those contributions coming!!!

Posted by: Russell Moore | July 17, 2007 at 08:03 PM Many of my associations with the '60 class were in the drama group including Carolyn McSwain, Kay Oslin, Noreen McGregor, Sharon Abdo, Freida Theilman, Colin Patterson. I do remember building the theatre in the temp building and the seats were not stair stepped high enough behind each row. Niemi was not happy.

Posted by: Karla re John's "58 Carats" Program | July 22, 2007 at 09:45 AM John, I received the 1958 Carat's show program you mailed to me - have scanned some of those pages and entered them into a new photo album for photos from plays and programs. Thanks!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... if any of you have ANY photos that you want published on the blog (past or present, school or personal [that's you, your family, pets, craft projects, your prize collection, your boat, landscaping and gardening projects, ANYTHING]) - e-mail them to me as an attachment (they need to be in jpeg or gif format) and I will get them on the blog immediately. (I'm a primary level educator - I prefer books with pictures.) Karla :-)

Special Note: John included in the envelope a handwritten note that included this interesting item, in reference to some of the ads in the program, in particular Galli's Spaghetti House at 4500 Telephone Road..."I am sure many of us ate there on occasion. What's interesting is that the son, Cesar, later became a successful attorney, then a district judge. I testified many times in cases he was defending."
I enjoyed picturing Officer John Echoff being grilled on the witness stand, just like we see in the movies!!! KD

Posted by: Ray Prichard | July 25, 2007 at 03:41 PM Fifty years too late, I realized I should have taken drama classes. Tho' I failed to participate, I vividly remember Mr. Niemi had a presence or aura about him; you felt the excitement just passing him hin the halls.
He always made a talk to the new 10th graders at the annual orientation meeting for the incoming sophomores. From talking to other classes before and after our orientation, I found he always told the same corny joke using slogans from two then big selling products. The joke was about the guy who had a new invention that combined Pepsi Cola with Energine Cleaning Fluid. The invention's attraction was that it not only hit the spot, but it removed it too. If I remember correctly, Mr Niemi's daughter is married to local thespian turned movie star, Patrick Swayze.

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | August 12, 2007 at 04:07 PM Whenever I see a movie or TV show designed to evoke memories of the 1950s, it brings them back, but also exasperates me. They never get the clothes quite right, and miss a lot.

I have never seen a teenaged girl in one of these films, for instance -- not even in one actually MADE during the 1950s -- wearing a velveteen cord tied around her neck, from each end of which dangles a cork ball covered in sequins, each sequin centered with beads. But they wore them. Remember?

Plus they show girls in saddle shoes. All through Deady and Milby the only possible shoes for girls were either ballerina flats or penny loafers (the daring -- who did not include me -- wore taps on them, against school rules). And white was the only possible color for girls’ socks.

The Fonz’s hairstyle is fine, but where are all the flat tops? Plus the first words teachers said to their male students when they went into class was, “Button your shirt.” You don’t see that on TV. Then again, there were probably more regional differences in teen customs back then.

Guys also wore Ivy League pants with little belts sewn on the back, which sometimes their friends would mischievously unbuckle.

Remember the skirts, either full circle (yards and yards of material, no permanent press) or straight. They show those, poodle skirts especially, but you seldom get an inkling about the starched multiple layers of petticoats underneath, then a bit later, hoop skirts. Yes, we wore hoop skirts. For some, Merry Widows and waist cinchers. Slacks, jeans, against school rules after elementary (my mother considered them inappropriate and would not let her daughters wear them in elementary).

And no movie or TV show deals with the all-important mouton. Having a mouton coat-- how crucial it was, how we obsessed over it, right up to the time when the styles changed and you would not dream of wearing a mouton. At one time I belonged to an informal gathering of women, mostly writers, who spent a yearly weekend together. After some reminiscing, most of us being of a certain age, we called this event the Mouton Hunt. And we all found old moutons in thrift shops and elsewhere and began wearing them on our February weekends in Wimberly, Texas. Who knows, maybe some Milby girl’s former pride and joy made its way there, and I saw it for a second time in my life?

Posted by: John Echoff | August 14, 2007 at 01:05 AM Laura you are correct, we never see the sequined bolo's in the movies, but how about the "Discs"? the ones that when put together formed a heart with the boy's name on one half and the girl's name on the other, remember? The Mouton coats brought back special memories, those things were so soft and every girl seemed to have one. What you didn't mention was the corsage's that all of us guys bought for our dates for big football game, I wonder how much just our class spent on stuff like that. Then after the game, or movie there was the ritual visit to Valian's Pizza on S. Main. What a time of wonder and innocence...

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | August 14, 2007 at 06:26 AM
Ed and I went to Valian's on our *first date. Their pizza with bacon is still our all time fave. It broke our hearts when Valian's closed. In fact, just last week we were eating a really good pizza and saying, "but it's still not as good as Valian's".

[*first date - Randy set it up. He was home from Baylor for the weekend and brought some buddies from his dorm with him. The two guys flipped a coin to see which one got "the other girl" and which one got to go with me. They had met me, but not the other girl (my buddy Kay Knobloch, who was also about to go to Baylor) so they flipped to see who "won". Fortunately, Ed lost the coin toss, and the rest is history.] Karla

Posted by: Frank Heide | August 14, 2007 at 05:35 PM
To Laua McNeil Burns:
Hey Mac!!!
Remember when your Aunt Mattie Sims brought you to visit our 6th grade class one day @ Harris Elem? I'll never forget. Where were you going to elem. school at the time?
Let's hear from some of the
Harris Elem. people.
Regards,
Frank Heide

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | August 15, 2007 at 04:59 PM Yes, of course I remember coming. I went to Park Place, which does seem to be fairly heavily represented on this blog. Sister (as we all called my aunt) was always pleased that you remembered her, Frank.
Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | August 15, 2007 at 04:40 PM
I just recall, I did meet someone from Harris Elementary in Georgetown in the late 1980s. His name was Joe Raser or Razer (not sure of spelling--pronounced like razor). But he moved to West Texas after elementary school, if this brings back a memory for anyone.

Posted by: Frank Heide | August 17, 2007 at 04:34 PM Thanks Laura, I just knew you would not forget that visit.
My Mom & your Aunt were friends (my Mom a Home Room Mother, made cup cakes, cookies, whatever when the occasion arose).
For those of you who went to Harris Elem. in this generation, do you remember teachers?? See 1-6 below...Fill in the blanks..
1. Miss Katie Koy—1st grade (her first assignment out of college).
2. ??
3. Mrs. Kenyon-in the new wing.
4. ??
5. Mrs. Tierney (looked like Aunt Bee).
6. Ms. Mattie Sims
7. Principal—Mr. Sloan (had only one arm but could he swing a paddle!!!)
Back then, you got paddled in the principal’s office & they notified your parents so you could receive the same at home.
I'm trying to work from elementary school thru high school with memories which are so meanginful. I've shared memories recently with Wally Sisk about Little League.
More to come!!

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | August 17, 2007 at 08:33 PM I remember the visit -- I came to dance in the May Fete in place of one of the Harris girls. Leah Edsall is the person I remember most strongly from the visit, though. But you are the person who has reminded me about it most often afterwards, Frank! I used to hear a lot about Mr. Sloan from my aunt (it was not about paddling), had forgotten the name until now.
You have given me an idea and I'm going to try to match your list with Park Place teachers for mid-termers and I also hope for filling in of blanks (or corrections):
1st grade -- Ms. Parton (or was she second)
2nd grade -?
3rd grade - Mrs. Gardner, very curly red hair, a son our age named Harlan.
4th grade - First semester woman who grew up in Panama, whose name I can't remember, 2nd semester Mrs. Frerichs.
5th grade - Woman teacher who got married, then Mr. Buescher. Was he our low -6 teacher also?
6th grade - Mrs. Vogt, at least for high sixth.
Principal most of the time was Mr. Marr. I don't know if he ever paddled anyone or not.
I also remember Mr. Brown, the janitor, and among the maids, a very personable one named Josephine.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis| August 18, 2007 at 09:32 AM Paddling? Surely you never experienced the paddle, Frank! I have described you to my husband as "such a nice guy!" (I hope - at our ripe "old" age - you take this as the compliment it is intended to be.)
Nowadays paddling is mostly verboten in public schools, the idea being you can't hit the tough ones hard enough to help and the others really need counseling and training more than whacks. I work with a mostly low socio-economic clientele and most believe that if we would just smack the kids around the problems would go away. Probably some truth in both positions, but I prefer the less punitive approach.

Frank, if you have contact with Wally, please use your influence to get him to sign in and contribute to the blog. I know he would have a lot to offer here. But please, Frank and Laura, continue your repartee - I am enjoying eavsedropping on your rememberings. Karla

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | August 18, 2007 at 10:31 AM
When my sons were in Round Rock public schools, in middle school and high school they were given the choice between "licks" (with a paddle) and detention. They always chose the licks, to get it over with. But the school did not notify parents. When the schools abolished corporal punishment in my younger son's junior year, I began finding out about stuff he did that I had not previously known about, because he had to be at school after hours and on weekends. (A great kid nonetheless, a math teacher today.)

Posted by: Sheila Steele Howard | August 18, 2007 at 11:28 AM Regarding Harris Elementary. I attended only the first grade there before being transferred to Park Place but I think my teachers name was Mrs. Neimeyer. Not sure about the spelling. Park Place was 2nd grade: Ms. Craft (I was terrified of her).
3rd: Mrs. Deguerra
4th: Mrs. Boyd
5th: Mrs. Harris
6th: Bertha Smith
Now let's do teachers by hallways at Deady. That should be a real test.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | August 18, 2007 at 11:58 AM
What fun this is!!! I think the mid-termers had a different set of teachers, or else they had two teachers per year, which would have been a shame. My brother Randy was a mid-termer. We are having dinner with Randy and Jeanine this evening and I intend to ask him about that. Was it Mrs. Harris or Mrs. Hargis? I have both names running through my mind. Perhaps they were both teachers at Park Place. I'll ask Ran about that too.

Ms. Trotter was the one that really scared me. I still have difficulty spelling fourteen and forty (forteen? fourty?) because she humilitated me in front of the class on that one. Nowadays we characterize that as sending the student into "brainstem survival mode", a condition that does NOT commit information to the long-term memory!

Sheila, I intend to scan lots of photos and submit them to the photo albums this weekend. I am in the throes of school start-up (2007 style) right now and while the blog still gives me great pleasure, I am a bit distracted with the necessities of my real-world, present-time job.
I just love chatting with all you guys (and gals!). Karla

Posted by: Mike Roberts | August 18, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Hi Laura, I would venture to say that the licks your son was given at school may or may not have helped or hindered his education, but it seems to have made some impression on where he wanted to spend his time. LOL
What a great observation, Mike! Of course, his Mom and Dad probably had considerable influence on his chosen career, too.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis| August 18, 2007 at 12:02 PM HMMM, Great Observation! We are all going to have to get together and have a deep conversation about education one day soon...say, in the year 2010? Karla

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | August 18, 2007 at 07:24 PM Mid-term teachers were for the whole year theoretically, but a summer might lead to a different job, so we sometimes got two. I suppose mid-term classes were an innovation to push kids through a crowded school system faster. Before our Low 5 class got a permanent teacher, we were split up with some High 4ths, and I was in Ms. Trotter's class for a few weeks. I agree, Karla, that woman had no business treating you like that! I remember her as a mean teacher, and was glad to get away from her. And up on the second floor where a 5th grader "belonged." That was a big status thing for the elementary "upperclassmen" back then, along with being a patrol, remember?

Of course, mid-termers got stories in their readers about Valentines in October, winter in May, but it didn't seem so strange until I thought about it later. After all, in real life I never heard people say, "Oh, oh, oh," either.

Posted by: Sheila Steele Howard | August 19, 2007 at 11:13 AM Karla, I think you are correct about Mrs. Harris vs. Hargis. I have remembered it wrong all these years. Now I am trying to remember the school-wide program in the spring at Park Place. Think my class did a dance to "The Glow Worm Song" The gals wore bright yellow skirts and the guys had yellow ties to match. Do remember gnashing my teeth over that one.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | August 19, 2007 at 11:20 AM Sheila, did you see I created a new Elementary School Class Photo Album, adding your's and John's class photos? I have yet to do the captions - it just all takes time. :-) If you still have the caption info that you typed out and sent to me with the photos, could you either copy and paste it into an e-mail or attach it to an e-mail? That would save me a lot of time typing. Again, :-)
But, if not - I'll get it done asap!!! Karla

Posted by: Frank Heide | August 19, 2007 at 12:12 PM

Karla,
Thanks for the compliment..I've tried to be "a nice guy".

Sheila,
Teachers by hallway @ Deady?? That's a toughie but I'll start with this..
1. Mrs. Reynolds (math) on a corner in back hallway.
2. Mrs. Wright (typing) across from Mrs. Reynolds.
3. Mrs. Durham (geography) 2nd floor corner.
4. Mr. Keenan (spanish) 2nd floor
facing Broadway.
5. Mrs. Eighner (biology) 1st floor (also my 1st HR teacher)... Band room down the hall.
Can't remember a lot of classroom teachers but men's PE teachers were Sanderson, Harwood, Heynie & Elrod.

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | August 19, 2007 at 08:19 PM I can remember some teachers, but not all the locations. Mr. Tulley and Mr. Ledoux, who both taught math, were in the shacks, I think, as were Miss Goodnight, Social Studies, and Mr. Wyman, English. Mrs. Gore taught choral music, and that room was on the west side of the building, I believe. Mrs. Lake taught world history, second floor at the front of the building. Mrs. Denison taught Texas history, but I cannot remember the hall. Girls' PE: Miss Godbey, Mrs. Mayfield, Miss Robb.

Posted by: Frank Heide | August 20, 2007 at 04:46 PM Can't believe no one has mentioned THE RANGER yet!! Dip fries, malts, "fender roaches", etc. Those with cool cars just driving around & around & around with their fingers on the vent window, sitting low in the seat.
I seem to remember Austin HS had a similiar hangout. Anyone remember?

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | August 21, 2007 at 09:55 PMI remember the dipped fries for sure - YUM . . . don't think I want to know what fender roaches were . . . and I can't remember where the Ranger was located. Telephone Road?

I thought Mr. Ledoux taught science. What I remember about him is that Judy Kennedy and I really liked him and we thought we were two of his favorites. That made it even more painful when we arrived slightly late for class one day after PE (swimming). The class was starting a test, but Judy asked me - or I asked her - to borrow a comb for our straggly wet hair. He promptly took our papers and gave us a zero! Another humiliation, and this time a lesson learned.

Now that I am a teacher I understand that perspective better, but at the time it really seemed unjust. A girl has to comb her wet hair!!!

Something else I remember about school and teachers... I signed up for a drafting class. When I arrived in class on the first day I was the only girl. The teacher gave a sarcastic speech about a girl enrolling in a boys' class just so she could be with the boys. He told me homemaking was appropriate for girls and refused to let me be in his class. Imagine that today!!! No wonder the Federal Title 9 Act was necessary.

[Note: I really was interested in drafting (I did not know it was a class only boys could take). One of our sons is an engineer and I was fascinated with his drafting projects as he progressed through school - feeling I had a natural ability in that direction and still wishing I had been allowed to pursue that interest.] Karla

Posted by: Bob Neal | August 22, 2007 at 02:51 PM This was an unfortunate view taken by a myopic teacher. My first year of teaching was at a new high school where I taught what was known then as Wood, Machine, Metal Shop and Drafting. I only had one girl in Metal Shop. Drafting was ~ 30% girls. The second year, all students had the opportunity to select whatever classes they wanted, provided their core classes were included, and they could select the times and teachers. Several girls mentioned they couldn’t take my classes according to their counselor. I immediately went to the counselors office, explained the class objectives were for all students and she reversed her position. My classes filled up immediately resulting in 46% girls. Drafting went to 60%. A number of the girls entered furniture exhibits and participated in drafting competition against high school and vocational schools at the TSIC in Austin. Overall, the girls were superior students to the guys. Sorry for your experience.

Posted by: Mike Roberts | August 22, 2007 at 02:58 PM Ouch Karla, that's bad, could that have been Mr. Hood that did that to you? I have never heard of anything like that at Milby.

Frank you're right - that was The Ranger on Telephone Rd. I frequented the Winkler and Holt's, the one at Evergreen and La Porte Rd. Charlie McMillan was usually at one or the other in his '40 Ford convertible.
There was another over on Bellfort and what is now Martin Luther King Blvd (South Park) where the kids from Jones would hang out. I think it was a McDonald's (the old McDonald's not the Ray Krok model). Hmmmm, my memory is awful weak. You remember Prince's and McDonald's on Harrisburg right before the bridge at Clinton. Boy , I need some help here!

Posted by: Kay Burg Moseley | August 22, 2007 at 11:24 PM
Karla, was it at Deady that you tried to sign up for a drafting class? Might it have been with Mr. Lightfoot? I think he was my homeroom teacher. (Help me those of you whose last name began with 'A' or 'B'.) I remember climbing up on those tall stools with the drawing boards. I would have enjoyed that class also.
I made many new friends at Deady by being on the Deady Pioneer. How could we ever forget Mrs. Lake? I remember the gossip columns were 7th Heaven (about the 7th graders) and Behind the 8 Ball. OK, hornets, what was the column for the 9th graders?

Thank you again, Karla, for the time that must go into this blog. It is great. May you have a great school year and remember me when the "teachers" get together in 2010. I retired in 2000 after teaching in elementary school and in a high school for pregnant teens. My last ten years were as an educational diagnostician.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | August 23, 2007 at 06:54 AMMy bad experience of gender discrimination was at Milby, but I got the drafting bug while sitting at those drafting tables at Deady. (I think I had a study hall in that classroom.) And in my attic at home.
When I was younger my dad had built me a drafting table/art easel under the eaves of our very hot and very dusty old unfinished attic. Very clever. He used long bolts and wing nuts to extend 2X4s down from a couple of beams - loose enough to be adjustable. He then attached a piece of plywood to the front, added a tray for pencils and other artist materials at the bottom, and hung a removable T-square across the front. This table had some sort of support pieces that made it possible to tilt the board at various angles. A tall stool was all that was needed for the architect in me, or I could tilt the table differently and stand to paint.
The attic was always either very hot or very cold, but I loved having my own special place. More than anything I loved it that my dad recognized my creativity and nurtured it. Of course, I didn't know the significance of it at the time - that came later after myriad education courses and a long stint studying in the school of life.

About Mrs. Lake - now there's a topic for many a memory and many a tale. She certainly had a great influence on my life! I'll ponder which to tell in a day or two... I'd love to hear journalism memories from others.

Posted by: Mike Roberts | August 24, 2007 at 10:38 PM
Hi all, I visited map quest and remembered that the Prince's and McDonald's I referenced were on opposite sides of the street (69th) before the bridge to Clinton Drive, instead of Harrisburg. I guess I have not been in that neighborhood for 35 years or more.

Posted by: Sheila Steele Howard | August 25, 2007 at 04:48 PMAccording to Ms. Tebow, algrebra, second floor, cafeteria side, I had no business in her class and was certainly not college material. Was switched to Mrs. Perkins, first floor front and made A's. Personality conflict.

Back to Deady teachers...Mrs. Mapp, English, I think next to the art classes. She popped her gum all the time and wore red framed glasses but was probably pretty cool. Mrs. Dent, English, was out in the temporaries and I think Mrs. Goodnight was upstairs by Mrs. Mapp. Then there was dear Mr. Lawrence, asst. principal.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | August 25, 2007 at 05:58 PM I enjoyed several conversations with Kay Lawrence (Maingot) at the 45th reunion. If I understand/remember correctly, she has a floral business and Viola (Lolly) Falcon Fielden works with her. She was at the 45th, too. Check out Kay's website link in the right sidebar. I hope Kay is checking in here at the blog and will give us some information about her dad, her business, and anything else she wants to communicate.

Another artist from our class is Noreen McGregor. On her website there is a bio section with a picture of Noreen and some beautiful quilting and applique pieces she has produced and sells. I would love to see her work in person.

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | August 25, 2007 at 07:33 PMI can remember some male math and science teachers who were not keen on girls in their classes, though those were required of all students for graduation, of course.
But I also remember a couple of boys trying to enroll in my 7th grade foods class and the teacher chasing them off. Even at the time, I thought, boys need to learn to cook, too.
My older son took home economics in high school and the teacher told me sometimes boys outnumbered the girls in the class (a comprehensive one including cooking, sewing and child care).

Posted by: Charles Simmons | August 26, 2007 at 03:08 PM Karla and John,
There must have been something in the Pizza at Valian's. I proposed to Hilda after a date at Valians and she said "YES." What wonderful memories.
Charles Simmons

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | August 26, 2007 at 10:22 PM Do I understand this right, Jon? Are you actually teaching at Deady these days? What subject? And where is your classroom located? I'll bet you are getting a kick out of our attempts to reconstruct the past, so please fill us in on the Deady of the present. What has changed in the physical layout of the building(s)? What has changed in regards to the teachers, the students, and instructional requirements since we were students there? I know that Milby is a magnet school. How about Deady? Is the student population still selected according to where students live, or do they attend Deady based on their interests and aptitude?

But the really big question my husband (and lots of others I imagine) wants you to answer is, where do you get the energy to keep up with a 7 year old son? We love spending a few days here and there with our grandsons, but I can't imagine keeping up with them full time. His comment? That guy must really be in good shape! How about it? Thanks for joining us on the blog, Jon! Karla

Posted by: Sheila Steele Howard | August 27, 2007 at 03:39 PM A really neat memory about Kay Lawrence. Ninth grade. Her father treated some of us to a trip to the Houston Coliseum to see Elvis. Don't think I heard him sing one note since the screaming was really intense.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | September 01, 2007 at 08:49 AM Have you seen in the news recently that American Bandstand turns 50 this year? Here’s a link to a news article on the subject.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/20/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main3184474.shtml
We were really a part of a lot of history making events, weren’t we? But who could have guessed – “back in the day” – that Bandstand would have lasted so long or have such a profound influence on American society. I remember at the 45th reunion (probably at others, too) seeing Carolyn McSwain, Sandy Payne, and Melanie Winkler leading a group in “The Stroll”. COOL!!! (see related photos in the Milby Family Photo Album, right sidebar)
http://www.history-of-rock.com/line_dancing.htm

Much to my sorrow, I never did learn to dance well, even though I went to many high school dances through the years that Ed was a High School principal. Great dancer that he is he patiently tried to teach me some cool moves, but I just don’t have IT. He was always gracious to dance a few with me, but I am sure he also really enjoyed it when the youthful swingers invited him to join them in line dances and such.
Here is a link to some other photos taken in the Bandstand era.
http://www.history-of-rock.com/american_bandstand_pictures.htm
Karla

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | September 02, 2007 at 03:30 PM That particular link, though it has a picture of Pat Molitierri, does not mention that Dick Clark kicked her off the show for writing for Teen Magazine. Just did a Google search and found that she died in her thirties.

Posted by: John Echoff | September 04, 2007 at 03:37 AMAmerican Bandstand was the 1st nationwide show for teenagers featuring mostly teenage performers, but we had our local version also-one was on Channel 2 on Saturdays and the other was of course the Larry Kane Show. But some of my fondest memories were of the "sock-hops" held in the gym after school. Seemed like there was always a local disc-jockey spinning records and most of the school was in attendance. If memory serves me correctly I think most of the "sock-hops" were on Thursday or Fridays, when we didn't have a Football game scheduled. I believe I first met Anita Henderson at one of the "sock-hops".

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | September 23, 2007 at 08:36 PM Today I was remembering that in elementary school we kept our stuff in cigar boxes. I suppose they were free from the grocery or tobacco store -- my mother was in charge of getting the school supplies, so I never thought about this. But nowadays, cigar boxes aren't around, and probably the tobacco motif would be forbidden in schools if they were around, so parents must buy children plastic school boxes, and modern kids don't share our familiarity with the face of King Edward VII.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | October 05, 2007 at 10:49 PMLaura, you do have a way with words...and thoughts.I love the segue from cigar boxes and school supplies to the impoverished 21st century youngsters who have plastic supply boxes and a lack of familiarity with King Edward VII's likeness.

After a few days of mulling over Laura's comment, I had a sudden memory flash of a very long forgotten cigar box encounter. Care Packages, or Red Cross boxes, I think they were called. Do you remember getting a list of things that would all fit in a cigar box? We were to fill the box with the items on the list, and it would be sent overseas to ....who? Servicemen? Starving children somewhere? I just remember that I was very impressed that the little items I was purchasing with the money I had earned (bought at the Park Place Pharmacy or the little variety store down the block on Broadway)...that these little items were going to travel far away and would be treasured by someone who opened the box I was preparing. Someone (was it in school or Brownies?) must have done a really good job of creating that vision for me. I thought I was being quite noble.

Ed has another cigar box memory..."My experience with cigar boxes came from elementary school and had to do with marbles. We would get a cigar box (not sure where we got them - nobody I knew smoked cigars), cut a hole about the size of a quarter in the center of the top, and dump in a bunch of marbles. Then you would meet up with another guy with the a similar box of marbles and begin a competition. You would place your box on the ground and your opponent would take one of his marbles and attempt to drop one of his marbles from about eye level into your box through the hole in the lid. If he was not successful, you kept his marble and moved on to someone else. If he was able to send his marble through the hole, he could then raise the lid and take two of your prize marbles. I remember doing this for a couple of years before the principal put a stop to it - I guess it was something like gambling or maybe it just made kids mad if they lost too often. I never did figure out what was really wrong with it."
And that remark from a man who was a high school principal for years!!!

Did any of you send a care package in a cigar box? Score marbles from a buddy? What other uses for cigar boxes do you remember? Karla (and Ed)

Posted by: Kay Burg Moseley | October 13, 2007 at 01:09 PM We have a shopping center nearby where I saw some cigar boxes in the window of The Beverage Shoppe (liquor store), so I went inside recently after reading your comments to inquire about the boxes. They even have an enclosed, temperature controlled cigar room. I was told that the boxes were free; however, around Christmas time they do sell them. They had the typical ones that we used to have, plus the two I took for my grandchildren are 5" square and the top slides off. Check it out.

Posted by: Laura McNeil Burns | November 24, 2007 at 04:46 PM For some reason I started remembering a day at Deady when all the water to the school was cut off. I don't remember whether it was a hot day, but I do know it happened in the morning. All the milk in the cafeteria was sold out by the last lunch period, an extraordinary event, and there were some mutterings about the fact that there was a Coke machine in the faculty lounge. After school, I luckily had money and bought a Coke at Aunt Bee's, the staff of which were not inclined to give glasses of water to teens who were not so lucky (this seemed mean to me at the time, but I can understand it better now). So we went all day with no running water.

Would this happen nowadays? Or would the students be sent home despite probably having bottled water (which we did not have) in their backpacks (which we also did not have)?

Posted by: Herbert Johns | November 25, 2007 at 01:48 AM
Most of my rememberances of Milby were Ms. Tebow and Mrs. Strickland. Some with a couple of coaches when I played basketball in 10th grade before I started working. After 10th most of my memories are working and getting thru the day so that I could go to work (I enjoyed working). Today, I feel like it is time to slow down and enjoy some of my labors of just walking thru the woods, beach, etc. etc.

My ribs are now well so I'm getting started, but you don't realize how far out of shape you can get in only 2 months doing nothing but sitting to let your body repair itself. Look out world - I'm loose again.

Posted by: michael lonsford | February 05, 2008 at 09:18 PM Karla: I grew up in Houston, and by FAR Valian's had the best pizza ever! I've never had anything like it (altho one came sort of close in San Francisco, of all places, a few years ago). Any idea why it was so distinctive? Any idea where I would get the recipe? I recently retired from the Houston Chronicle, but no one - not even the longtime food editor, Ann Criswell - knew the secret.

Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis| February 05, 2008 at 09:40 PM
No access to the recipe - sure wish I did have. Does anyone else have an idea why Valian's pizza was so good? Care to take a stab at describing it - that might shed some light on what made it so distinctively delicious.

After I read the previous comment, I asked Ed what he thought was the secret to Valian's pizza supremacy. In fact, we had quite a lengthy and serious discussion about it. He thinks it was the sauce - not so tomatoey, mellow and thinly applied. We both remember that we liked the thin crust. It did not taste like crackers like some do these days - not so great! We preferred the bacon topping - regular, not Canadian. MMMM delicious!!!

I sure wish we could all meet there and enjoy a few slices together!!! (For those of you living away from Houston for many years, Valians was torn down in 19?? in the name of progress!) Karla

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