HHS - Reunion Committee Meetings

From: Susan Eller Everett Cathey, Abilene, TX, 4/26/08
Thanks to all who are responsible for this website and the activities that continue to bond the Class of 60. I enjoy the website. It's great getting to see and hear about former classmates - except for the sadness of knowing that some are no longer with us. The lunch group is such a fantastic idea - I'd love to be able to be a part of that if I lived in the area.

Jerry you have done wonders on the Highland60.org site - A MILLION THANKS and JOB WELL DONE.

From: Sue Anderson, (Spouse of Martin Anderson), Wylie, TX, 1/15/07
I just want to let you know what a fabulous job you do with the HHS 60 class. Our year (61) is so pitiful, I go in every now & then to see if anything is going on, it's nothing like yours. I know it does take a lot of time & I sure wouldn't want to do it, but I just love reading yours.

From: Thomas Ormsby, Richmond, CA, 6/6/05
I will be at the 45th . . .God willing. I can be contacted at my e-mail address.
I appreciate your efforts a lot and have really stayed connected with the
Class of 60 mainly due to you. Great job.

From: Norma Jean (Woellhart) Martin, Huntsville, AL, 5/16/05
Dear Jerry: First of all, let me congratulate you and THANK YOU for the wonderful job you have been doing on the Class of 60 website. It is just great! It's fun to look at all the photos. I appreciate getting the obituary information also, although it's sad to see how many of our classmates have died.
I see from your e-mail to me that my old friend Carol (Johnson) Rockwell contacted you. I have been looking for her off and on for quite a few years; we were best friends in junior high at Wilson and at Highland, but lost touch a few years after we graduated. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I finally found her last week and called her. I had planned to notify you that she was now "found," but she beat me to it.
I'm also trying to find out about Marvin Leroy Berg. He was a member of my church and I'm quite sure that I heard many years ago that he had moved to California and had been killed in a motorcycle accident. I'm trying to confirm that and will let you know if I find out for sure.
I just sent you a small update (in the "Comments") on my information. For your "Recent Photos" section on the website, I'm attaching a picture of my husband and I taken last year when we set out on a 3,000 mile journey on the boat that's in the background. What an adventure!
Again, thanks so much for all your hard work!

From: John Hall New York, NY, 9/6/04:
Again, our appreciation for all that you have done and continue to do as HHS60 Webmeister. The site is probably the best in the realm and a source of great satisfaction to Hornets, class of 1960. An education, also, for those who might stumble upon the site and get a glimpse of styles and doings of a bygone era.
I noticed for the first time, yesterday, that HHS 1960 Annual photos have been attached to the names and addresses of "Found Classmates". A wonderful addition, especially for those of us such as myself, who have managed to lose our Annuals and have spent many a moment wondering what so-and-so looked like. John

From: Betty Whiton, Albuquerque, NM, 3/2/04:
Thank you Jerry for your persistence and hard work! The success of our class cohesiveness and activity level is your involvement. Only a small change, BIO: Retired but working 1/2 time in APS, doing group therapy with children. (Just couldn't stay home! )Thank you again! Betty Whiton

From: HHS Class of 1959, Kathy Clifton,, Placitas, NM, 2/3/04:
Thanks for your note. Well, www.hhs59.org should be up to date, interactive and functional if not completely dressed up in a week or two to help us get ready for our 45th. It looks like we'll join the school homecoming on the weekend of the 17th of September. We will see how that falls into place down the road and call on you and Bill with gratitude. Kathy Clifton

From: Randy Johnson, Midlothian, VA, 1/27/04:
Snowed in and nothing to do so I clicked on the HHS web site and found the 57 Chevy. Turned the speakers up and enjoyed the music. Damn you guys are good! Brings back great memories. Even found the photo of the Cushman scooter--that was the days at Jefferson Junior High.

From: Carolyn (Calvert) Clark, Albuquerque, NM, 1/10/04:
Hi Jerry, as for pictures, after 30, I stopped taking them. When I look in the mirror, I either see myself at 25, or I see my mother. but if I happen to get a pix sometime and can figure out how to download it (one of my next projects is learning how to get pix's from my digital camera to the computer) I will send it. I am with Edward Jones, a (no THE) investment firm, have been in that biz for 35 years, gad! how time flies, unlike other firms, Jones has offices with one Investment Rep and one administrator (me). I do everything except sell. I was a broker with Dean Witter, but as I grew older, I felt that the gob-slops of $$$ wasn't worth the early grave due to stress. Hope of hear from classmates! Thanks Carolyn Calvert Clark

From: Anne (Wengerd) Riffey, Temple City, CA, 1/8/04:
Jerry thanks so much for adding the Tournament of Roses Parade to the website. I received an e-mail from Martha Swindle Abernathy the other day. Good to hear from her and you. We had a grand time and will have lots of good memories of our year. We will receive videotapes from every channel that taped the parade. I know the best ones will be HGTV and the Travel Channel - which is KTLA, channel 5 here in LA. We are looking forward to receiving the tapes so we can see "Mike's" parade. Keep in touch and I will check the website for info on the next reunion. Jeanne Ball Sampson and I are ready to come. If we get to traveling and appear in your area, we'll call. Thanks again. Anne

From: Sue Chase, Fallon, NV, 1/3/04:
The Tournament of Roses parade was wonderful and I loved watching it on HGTV because we got to see all those wonderful bands without them being cut out for commercials. You and your husband did a wonderful job of picking out the bands, I was amazed at the small towns with the huge bands, living in a rural community I know how much work it takes to send a band to such an event. Best Wishes to you and your family in 2004.

From: Roanne (Glascock) Evans, Modesto, CA, 10/19/03
Thanks for the birthday message and the phone call. All the data in your e-mail looks good to me. Keep up the good work. I just took a tour around the HHS web site and really enjoyed it . Roanne

From: Bob Harrison, San Diego, CA, 7/31/03:
Hi Jerry: Thanks for the call on my birthday. That is my correct phone you called last night. Because of virus problem on my previous computer I changed all e-mail addresses. This is coming from a good address. Thanks for all your work keeping up with a large and spread out class. None of my friends have ever seen such a complete and well-maintained website. Bob

From: Randy Johnson, Midlothian, VA, 7/10/03:
Thanks for the update on David Couch and your efforts to find him. Left Baldridge Lumber Co. due to ill health--that does not sound good. Hope he is OK, I wish him the best. Unfortunately, as we get older we will receive more of this type of news about our class-mates. That's why I really appreciate the work you are doing on the Highland web site.
   Our you setting down? Get a good grip on your chair! My friendship with David Couch started in Junior High with the youth group at Monte Vista Christian Church. Other names that I remember from that group were Jon Steen, John Morris, and Jean Ball. Good memories. David joined the Navy after Highland. He sent me one letter after he joined the Navy and after that his name was just apart of my past. I do hope he is not seriously ill.
   45th reunion in 2005--I do regret not going to the 40th. I'll continue to check the Class Web Site to keep up with plans as they are developed. Thanks, Randy

From: Ron Lauchner, Ocean Springs, MS, 1/23/03:
Jerry, I received the new Alumni Directory a few days ago and wanted to pass on my thanks and appreciation to you and all the others for your efforts. Good job! Also, I realized that I have been delinquent in contributing to the "Friends of Highland". Will complete the "official" form and submit my contribution ASAP. Take care and thanks again for the directory and your many efforts on the Web Site. RON

From: Mary (Stevens) Gadeken, Kennewick, WA, 1/24/03:
I just received my Highland High class of '60 Alumni Directory, for which I thank you so much. It's great! However, I was really shocked to see just how many of our classmates have died , as well as was surprised to find out how many are still missing. That amazes me, as you'd have thought that at least one person in our class would have kept in touch with individual missing people! I wanted to let you know that we moved this summer and have a new address and phone number, so that you won't lose touch with me!
Thanks to all of you responsible for putting together and mailing out the directory! MARY

From: Russ Hutchison, Nampa, ID, 1/26/03:
I was pleasantly surprised to received the Highland High School Class of 1960 Alumni Directory in my mail yesterday. Bill Winkler and Pat Hauser certainly produced a very professional document. You, Jerry, Bill Redak, and all the others who located and compiled all the classmate data have certainly done a yeoman's job in keeping the Web page running and this directory printed. These HHS Class of 1960 productions are certainly more complete and professional than any other high school alumni projects that I have ever seen. My check for Friend of Highland is enclosed in support of this work. RUSS

From: Donna (McNama) McBroom, Albuquerque, NM, 5/27/02:
Thank you so much for the birthday card. It was an especially welcome surprise. I had been in the hospital with my mother that week and she died on April 19th. In the process I sort of forgot I had a birthday. Although friends remembered, it was wonderful that you did too. After twelve years at middle school, I started teaching 10th grade honors English this year at Highland. I love it. The kids are great and it is really something to be back in the old halls. My room number is 115. My brother graduated in the class of '63 and when he came by, he was excited to see the room across the hall where he had an English class. It has been an enriching experience to be there. A final comment: Highland needs alumni to start an alumni club. Could you please put this out on the web page? They want to get one started to give the school the support it needs. The Figge history building has been condemned yet they still have to hold classes there. There are a number of tattoo parlors around and Highland can use some political pull or involvement to help with these problems. Soon we will have everything from Silver over to Zuni as part of our campus. If there is anyone interested in becoming involved: contact Therese Carroll (acting principal) at Highland or you can forward your names to me, and I will pass them on. Interesting side note: A study recently showed that although La Cueva and Eldorado may have more students entering college than Highland, the Highland graduates finish more often than any other high school in Albuquerque. We have just become a science and technology magnet school and are hooked up with Lovelace. These departments can also use mentors that would be willing to work with the students. Hope some of you out there will become involved.
Thanks, Donna

I just can't believe that she (Margaret (Hayes) Bryant) is gone, I have such great memories of her in school. Going shopping with her in downtown Albuquerque, slumber parties, parties, and watching her cheer for HHS. I feel more vulnerable hearing about each of our classmates passing. Thank you for the web site, it is very special and just keeping track of the news, bad and good means a lot.

From: John Pappas, Las Vegas, NV (5/15/02):
I want to contribute a few buck to the "Friends of Highland" fund but seem to have misplace the form. Guess a form is not really needed when sending money, but I do want to be registered as have contributed. Can you help? Am unable to send the $1000 which I had in mind because of the drought here in Las Vegas.
   You see, I planted the "seed money" and followed the directions very carefully. Water daily, pull any weeds around the base of tree, fertilize often and give TLC all the time. Well, wouldn't you know it...! Water shortage so I had to cut back to twice a week instead of twice a day, the weeds can thrive in any condition and fed off the fertilizer before the nutrients reached the roots of the tree and I've been real busy trying to put all my soup cans in alphabetical order, and did not given the tree the TLC it needed. Bottom line: Money Tree DIED. Had the local news cover the burial. Lot's of tears and sobbing. Very emotional for everyone -- especially me!
   But not to worry. I dug a deeper hole where the tree was and have filled it with my pool water. The sign in front of my house reads "Wishing Well tours daily from 9 to 5 -- call for appointment." So far only the kids on skate boards have inquired (they done have any money to throw in the well while making a wish) and one homeless guy who offered to dive for the cash.
   I got the idea from the casinos. Most of them have some type of "Wishing Well" and it is amazing what people will do. You watch them just reach in their pockets and pitch a penny, nickel, dime or quarter into the pond. The casinos rake up the cash and donate it to charities. Can't remember the amount recovered but it is in the very high thousands every year. So if I could attract just 2 million people by my house every year (what's the bid deal -- some 34 million visit Vegas every year) and if each just threw in one nickel, that's about $100,000 for me.    Gotta run for now. Need to start painting up some signs.
Regards - JAP

From: Lou Lagrave, Cave Creek, AZ (3/15/02):
Thanks to the HHS web page, the efforts of many in locating class of '60 members, and Classmates. Com, I've reestablished contact with a lot of old friends and acquaintances from HHS, as well as some of the other high schools in Albuquerque. E-mail is great.
One thing I've learned, sometimes to my regret, is that as I've moved and worked around the West, many times I have been within a few miles of many of you without realizing it.
As we grow through the years, we all make new friends and acquaintances, but I for one still enjoy the contacts with those of you who knew me during my sometimes misspent youth. It seems like the fun times of our school years remain in our thoughts, while the sadder and sometimes uncertain times which befall all adolescents fade from memory as realize how insignificant those "problems" really were. For me, these renewed contacts serve to bring back the good memories more often.

From: Dennis Roberts, Albuquerque, NM (2/14/02):
Thanks for all your work on behalf of the Class of '60.
At the urging of my fellow HHS and UNM tennis partner, Bob Carroll, I attended the Class of '61 reunion last Labor Day Weekend. Bob Epstein, one of the organizers, asked me to write an article for those who could not attend. You might be interested, click here to read article.

From: Carol Thomas Rhudy, Beverly Hills, MI (2/7/02):
Hi, Greetings from Michigan! Really had great time at HHS reunion, so wonderful to see everyone. It will never be forgotten, the organizers did a super job!! Hope to return again, not sure about #60, but maybe!
Will send money for fund drive, am in process of moving after 27 years to new home. Will send new address when known.
I thank Marilynne McKay for her wonderful tribute to Marian (Richards) Albright. It was devastating to hear of her death. I was in Hawaii with my sister and just learned of it from an e-mail from Pat Wolff Fascitelli. She will be missed by so many.
Thank you for this site, it is appreciated!!

From: Russ (Earl Russell) Hutchison, Nampa, ID (1/25/02):
Hi everyone - - Thanks for thinking of me on my big SIX-Zero. Birthday parties these days aren't quite as raucous as they used to be :-)
Another thank you for putting the obituary of my HHS English teacher, Mr. Richard Ness, on the web page. Mr. Ness was beyond comparison to any other teachers I had at HHS. Besides the English grammar and diction that I learned in his class, he inspired me in other ways. At the time I was his student, he was a Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserve, although the obituary said that he eventually became a Captain. From his example, I joined the Naval Reserve after HHS graduation, and spent the next two years of active duty, becoming mature enough to be successful in both undergraduate and graduate college study. He was my mentor and inspiration.
One thing I remember about Richard Ness was his blackboard-chalk artwork when he lectured. On one occasion I recall, Bob Slagle tried to make a copy of it. However, nothing could ever match the original.
I regret not knowing that he had retired here in the Treasure Valley, in southwestern Idaho. Had I known he was here, I would have visited. Best wishes to all.

From: Ronald Lauchner, Ocean Springs, MS (1/9/02):
Thanks for your continuing efforts on the site. For your info, as a result of the picture of Jerry & I placed on the site last summer, Randy Johnson contacted me. We had not heard from or about each other since graduation. But have been using frequent emails to communicate since this summer. Really has been great reliving old experiences. Thanks again.