JOHN JAY H.S. "CLASS OF 1970"

Anytime a classmate shares news with me, I am happy to post it here under "Current Classmate News." Every six months, I archive the "Current News" and start a new page. News of the past 11 years can be found by returning to the INDEX page and looking under the dates of the ARCHIVES.

Remember, I can't share your news with classmates if YOU don't tell me. I also accept photos and post them here on this page when I can.

Love is all around,
Dennis M. DuPriest
7439 Lancewood
San Antonio, TX 78227-1001
mustangs@ texas.net
(210) 674-6767

WEB $ITE DONATION$
YOUR $UPPORT I$ APPRECIATED & NEEDED...
Hey! Do you enjoy this web site? I've been online with this since 1997 and would love to keep it going for many more years to come, So, how about helping to keep it online with a couple of bucks! Now, more than ever before, I need your help to keep this website going. Please, send in a contribution, today. To those of you that support these efforts, year after year, I say, "Thank you, so very much!" I am so grateful to each and every one of you. Without you, all this would have ended years ago. I appreciate your generous spirit of giving, not only from your wallet, but, from your HEART.

Just $end your donation$ made out to:
Dennis DuPriest,
7439 Lancewood, San Antonio, TX 78227-1001.

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR DONATION$ FOR THE WEBSITE.
My thanks to you wonderful alumni who are sending in donations for the website with your Christmas cards to me, this holiday season. It means a lot to continue to earn your trust and to keep the Mustang alumni flame burning brightly. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year/

NELDA CARTER ('73) -San Antonio, Texas; MIKE DILLARD ('71) -El Paso, Texas; WILLY ('71) and MARY LOWE - Dallas, Texas; STEVE MAYS ('70) -Ashburn, Virginia; DAWN DAVID ('73) -Cameron Park, California

SUMMER & FALL 2008 DONATIONS
THIS SUMMER & FALL, A SPECIAL CALL TO SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE GOES OUT FAR AND WIDE TO OVER 600 JJHS ALUMNI AND THESE ARE THE FANTASTIC MUSTANGS THAT ANSWER THE CALL:

TOM SMITH ('69) -Spicewood, Texas; MARY LOU NORRED ('71) -Poway, California; VANCE VERBECK ('69) -Brazoria, Texas; VIKKI CHAPMAN ('70) -Austin, Texas; FRED BUTLER ('70) -Austin, Texas; TONY PELLETIER ('71) -Houston, Texas; GLENN BURCHARD (his 2nd donation this month) -Austin, Texas; MR. JOHN FRIEDLAND (Asst. Principal) - San Antonio, Texas; ELIZABETH POHLMAN ('71) -Bainbridge Island, Washington; TONY SORIA ('70) -Chatsworth, California; STEVE MAYS ('70) - Ashburn, Virginia, CARL JENSEN ('70) -Newport News, Virginia; MARK LOISELLE ('70) -Trevor, Wisconsin; MR. TERRY McGUIRE (Principal) -San Antonio, Texas; JEFF CARRUTHERS ('72) -San Antonio, Texas; LINDA BEAUCH ('73) -San Antonio, Texas; JOE HAZEL ('70) -Omaha, Nebraska; CHARLES BOOKER ('70) -Ft. Smith, Arkansas; DEBRA VAN PELT ('69) -Houston, Texas; SHIRLEY ENGLISH ('70) -Bulverde, Texas; LORI McDERMOTT ('70) -Ashburn, Virginia; CLEVE HUGHES ('69) -Southaven, Mississippi; MATT DELANEY (70) -Santa Barbara, California; MARY "MIMI" VERBOIS ('69) -Dixon, Illinois; NELDA CARTER ('73) -San Antonio, Texas; DEBRA STUNES ('74) -San Antonio, Texas: RENEE EDWARDS ('72) -Seguin, Texas; TARYN HOUGH ('72) -Norman, Oklahoma; MR. WALTER CHESSHIR (1967-1992 Original JJHS Teacher) -Jourdanton, Texas; BOB WILLIAMS ('69) -Houston, Texas

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY. WITHOUT YOU, I WOULD HAVE BEEN "OFF THE AIR" LONG AGO. IF YOU COULD MAKE A DONATION, I'D BE PROUD TO ENTER YOUR NAME, HERE, WITH THE OTHERS! SEND TODAY.

ALUMNI BUSINESS PAGE ON THIS WEBSITE
Dear Mustangs--- I'm going to prove a JJHS ALUMNI BUSINESS PAGE for alumni who wish to offer their services to JJHS classmates. These listings will be FREE, but you can certainly send in a donation if you wish. They do not have to be San Antonio businesses. By liiting your business or services it does not mean that you are offering discounts or specials, it is just a lisiting and what you do with it is your affair. Any deals that you make with other classmates is up to you. I am not endorsing any of these listings, just providing them advertising space. The alumni business page will be located at http://www.dmd52.net/business.html

Please send in your name, JJHS graduation year, business name, address, phone, cell phone*, email* (*optional). Give a brife description of your business/services. Even if you're not the owner of the business, I'll still list it for you. Like you sell cars or insurance, real estate, dog breeder, lawn & garden services, etc. whatever. If you want to be listed then, send me the info!

Lisitings will stay as long as you want them to. Ask me questions if you have any. Support our alumni!

CURRENT CLASSMATE NEWS
DECEMBER 2008

SANDY [WOODS] ('70) and DEAN DUNN ('69) in North Richland Hills, Texas always send me Christmas greetings and I love hearing from them. They are both deeply involved with raising funds for diabetes research as their grandson has it. Her recent e-mail to me says...< style="font-family: arial;"> "Dear Dennis, Merry Christmas, love the Santa picture.You are without a doubt someone who has never fallen short of their maximum effort to keep us all together. Please don't ever forget that, ok? < style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">May you be blessed with better health in 2009 and may there be great leeps towards better diabetes care in the medical field. Don't know if I told you but "Ryan's Dream Team" raised over $24,000.00 so far for 2008. Still waiting for the corporate matches to come in. Since our Ryan was diagnosed 5 long years ago, our family teams for Ryan have all raised over $100,000.00 and counting. We thank those like yourself who gave as there was only success in volume. Yes, with people like yourself, Dennis, Love is all around.< style="font-family: arial;"> --- Sandy, thanks for your kind words, and from those of us who also suffer with diabetes, thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to fight this affliction. God bless you, sweetie. (21/21/08)

MR. JOHN FRIEDLAND, in San Antonio, Texas, was one of the original Assistant Principals at JJHS. Back in the days when I was in drama, I got to make morning announcements on the school P.A. system. Mr. Freidland began calling me the "Golden Throat" and was the "Silver Haired Orator" (more like solid WHITE hair!) LOL He and I get in touch every once in a while and I got this e-mail from him this week... "Dennis, the "Silver Haired Orator' sends Christmas greetings to the "Golden Throat". So, listen up, there are thousands, by now, of us Mustangs who wait to hear that Love is all Around. We are so glad you are carrying the torch because without you out there leading the way through the wilderness, we would have splintered and only remembered Jay as some far distant memory. Because of you we are a pretty cohesive group. Some of the group can be pretty active and the rest of us are praying and occasionally paying members, but we are together because of you, brother, and we really don't know yet how much we should appreciate that. But we do appreciate it, an maybe we need to tell you more often what you mean to us. Maybe we should all stop a minute and give you one helluva an "ATTABOY" for a job well done. Celebrate because you are still writing and working and making the Mighty Mustang mightier than we ever knew. You are one in a million Dennis, and we need you there in our million to keep the flame burning. As for myself, I am still (can you believe this) teaching. I teach English as a foreign language at Lackland Air Force Base at a school called The Defense Language Institute. I just got my 20-year pin for twenty years of federal service to the country and that was after thirty years with the public school system. And I love it. There is so much for me to learn from these military guys from all over the world. I may teach them English, but I have learned the customs and cultures of over sixty different countries as these folks have come through my classroom. I have many family responsibilities which, after worl, keep me at home those days. What a family we have: seven grown children, nineteen grandchildren, and they are spread all over the world. There are two in San Antonio, one in Austin, one in Ft. Worth, one in Kentucky, one in California, and one in Okinawa. Sometime between the middle of November and the middle of January all of the families except the guys in Okinawa will be coming through the house to celebrate. We have a free lance writer and mother married to an Aflack duck (:-), a doctor (ortho surgeon) married to a housewife and mother, a housewife and mother married to a computer wizard out West, a central office school administrator (Mansfield ISD) and mother married to a construction superintendent, a Latin teacher and mother in UT land married to a computer programmer, and a lawyer who is an Air Force judge married to a housewife and mother in the Land of the Rising Sun. And there all really good people except for that one that got into school teaching and administration. We never could get her to get a real job.Have a great holiday and plan on spending '09 in a healthy and prosperous year." -- It's always a pleasure to hear from you, John and I hope we can get togther some day soon and do lunch/ All the best to you, my friend. (12/21/08)

TERRY BLACK ('73) in Greenville, South Carolina, found my web site and e-mailed me twice. I will combine the letters..."Dear Dennis, stumbled on your web site the other day when I had too much time on my hands! What an awesome website it is! My sister and I attended John Jay for the 70-71 school year. Our father was a patient at Wilford Hall. He passed away and we returned to Florida at the end of the school year. My sister did graduate with the class of '71. Her name was DEBBIE BLACK and she lives in Columbia, South Carolina. There was a girl she just loved during her short time at Jay. Imagine my surprise to see her name several times on her website! That girl was Joy Griffin ('71). We spent less than a year in San Antonio and it could have been a sadder time for my sister had it not been for Joy. Joy may not remember me, but she might remember that I pierced her ears one day using an ice cube and a needle! As I recall, I lived in fear for sometime because Joy's mother had a fit. If you talk to her, please tell her that my sister and I remember her fondly and it's never to late to thank someone for their kindness to a newcomer. ///// I don't know if Joy would even remember us. We were such a blip on the radar screen. Other than the piercing, she probably wouldn't remember me at all. Being AF brats, we were used to moving around, but having to leave Florida and then come to San Antonio under such sad circumstances was hard. For my sister, it was even harder being uprooted in her senior year. Luckily for me, I had friends that had ended up at Randolph, so I could go over there for some social life, but Debbie had no one. Had Joy not befriended her, it would have been a lonely year. We left and went back to Florida and picked up where we left off. I just attended my 35th reunion in Cocoa Beach, Fl. What you are doing with your website is wonderful. I have a few classmates who make it their business to keep us together. I may send them the link to your website, so that they can see how it should be done! We have discussed combining the classes, like you have done. It is great to see that others love to hang on a little to the past. I know the Merritt Island High School Class of '73 still thinks we are the greatest thing that ever happened. LOL. That's why my husband doesn't come to my reunions..he says no one could like us as much as we like ourselves!" --- Terry, it is wonderful to hear from you and let me be the first to welcome you back to the Mustang Corral. I have already contacted Joy and YES she remembers you and your sister and is dying to hear from you! She recently got an e-mail address. Be looking for her e-mail. Be sure to send me your sister's e-mail address so I can add both of you to my e-mail list. And now that you're back, stay with us! Merry Christmas! (12/21/08)

ODDS & ENDS--- Just a few quick notes of what's been going on durin g the holidays. I went to my first Christmas party in over 25 years when I was invited to DEBBIE HARING's ('71) house. I had a great time and also got to visit with her brother DON HARING ('70) whom I had not seen since the reunion back in 2007. Now, get a load of this! Don is the LEAD ENGINEER for the massive building project at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). That HUGE multi-million dollar project is under his immediate direction. WOW!! Don and Debbie are the longest friendship that I have since 1965. We were all stationed in Brindisi, Italy, together and luckily got station back here in San Antonio. ----- GLENN HUTTO ('71) came by for a Christmas visit at my home on Sunday 12/21/08). He came into town from Austin to also visit his sister who lives here in Town. He and his wife, Karen, are doing great. He showed me his denim jacket that Art Garfunkel and Willie Nelson autograhped for him. As a Christmas gift, I gave him the collection of original 1960s TWILIGHT ZONE episodes. About 100 of them! ----- MS. KRIN BROOKS, our original Mustangs drama teacher, called me from her home is Austin,today, to wisj me Merry Christmas. She's still a wonderful lady. Her sister, Kelley, passed away in October from brain cancer and Ms. Brooks has recently move her MOM to an assiated living community in Austin to be near her. She sends Christmas wishes out to everyone. ----- JOY GRIFFIN ('71) is still doing wonderful humanitarian work with the Jefferson Outreach program, here in San Antonio, We talk very often and she has been a blessing to me and hundreds of other people. ----- RAY WHITWORTH ('73) has retired from a lengthy and very succesful career in radio and is earning his teaching degree to work with children with learning disabilities. He'll still keep his foot in the braosting door by doing commericlas every now and then, but he really looks forward to this change in career.

Our original Mustang principal, Mr. Terry McGuire has been very ill and in the hospital. I will do my best to keep everyone posted. Please keep him in your prayers and send him some good vibrations. He has undergone a lot of medical tests and required a large amount of blood transfusions. In response, original Mustang alumni have donated blood in his name from all across the country. I spoke with him while in the hospital and he sounded pretty worn out from being there. In fact, he spent his 73rd birthday in the hospital. I assume that he is home by now, but I have not heard from him since a December 8, 2008, e-mail, in which he wrote---

Dear Dennis,
Thank you so much for informing the "Jay Family" about my illness. I received many e-mails and they brought back old memories. I am also aware that a number of students donated blood on my behalf and I am very thankful for that. I will find out Friday what the next step is and will let you know.
Sincerely, Terry McGuire (e-mail: tmcguire@shrinenet.org)

NOVEMBER 2008
Sorry, life got the best of me this month and I didn't get to write anything. I apologize.

OCTOBER 2008

Here are some of the GUYS on Halloween night at Pizza Hut. Left to right: Rick Sandoval, Stephanie Copas,
Heidi Sandoval (in glasses Rick's wife), Bubba Abel, Lin Hughes, Jack Matthews, Mike Jones. Me in the middle.

SEPTEMBER 2008

ALUMNI REPORTS: HURRICANE IKE

I HAVE CONTACTED CLASSMATES IN THE HOUSTON AREA ABOUT ANY HURRICANE DAMAGE TO THEM. HERE ARE THE REPORTS THAT I AM RECEIVING. IF ANY CLASSMATES HAVE FURTHER REPORTS, PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME. IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE OR I CAN DO, LET ME KNOW. WE STAND TOGETHER TO HELP OUR FELLOW MUSTANGS IF WE CAN. --Dennis

TONY PELLETIER ('71) in Houston, Texas reports--- "We made it through the storm in pretty good shape. Some tree damage and one door blown off a barn structure but, compared to many, pretty good shape. We have power restored at the house - so we are functional. Our West Houston Office is still closed - no electricity or city water. Our downtown office is functional but without A/C. Communications (land lines, cell phones and internet) are still pretty
sketchy and intermittent. We have an oil & gas production facility in the Gulf of Mexico with enough damage that we will be shut-in for awhile. The good news is that the damage all looks repairable - it will just take some time and money. Heckuva storm but we're in pretty good shape." (9/19/08)

DEBORAH VAN PELT ('69) in Houston, texas writes--- "Dennis, Thanks so much for your concern. We are fine here -- rode it out and made it through okay. Just got power back yesterday evening. One of our backyard fence slats got punched out by part of the tree in our neighbor's yard being ripped off and falling down onto our fence, and our wood gate to the backyard, though lashed to the upright support, got pretty banged around and needs replacing. A little peeling paint on the second floor ceiling -- looks like some water must've been forced through into the house, probably through a vent or louvre. Pretty sure no roof damage, as we have new construction, though we will want to have a roofer check it out. All in all, we did great compared to many others, especially in Galveston. We love Galveston and are deeply saddened to see the devastation. It's Katrina all over again. My husband's grandmother was a child in Galveston during the 1900 hurricane and stories have been passed down about the experience and how they survived."

"Ike quite unnerving. Woke up Saturday morning at 2:00 a.m. feeling the bed shaking and the house swaying slightly. Lost power about 3:00 a.m. Very scarey to look out one's living room windows and see what, basically, one sees on the news when reporters are standing out in a hurricane on location and being forcibly blown about and drenched -- driving (counter-clockwise) rain, stuff flying around in the air, our poor little immature trees in the front, trunks upright because of the collars around them and being staked to the ground, but the poor branches practically horizontal (they actually made it through just fine -- not even denuded). Right after power went out the home security system freaked out and then we had to figure out that also we had a smoke detector wigging out because water was dripping down through it (again, another case of forced water through a vent/louvre). We got the home security system issue under control with Brinks, on the phone, and by unscrewing the smoke detector, respectively, which was good because who wants to hear a screeching alarm system and a screeching smoke detector when you have a screaming storm going on outside your house? We were concerned about possible flooding, but that didn't happen, fortunately. Street flooding, but nothing even close to our doorways. Went out during the eye and cleared the drain in the back yard, which drains out to the front of the house."

"Saturday, no power and sleepless night because of heat/humidity. But Sunday, a minor miracle as a cold front moved into place. It moved the trailing end of Ike back down to us with no wind but constant steamy rainfall (straight down) early Sunday morning, but by Sunday midday, the rain stopped, and it became dry and cool, actually a cool breeze -- even though we had no power, and no reason to expect any for several weeks, we felt blessed for that and were able to at least sleep that night. We always had gas for the cook top range and the hot water heaters, so at least we were able to cook the contents of our fridge and to have hot water for showers and washing dishes. Again, we were among the most fortunate, so we cannot complain."

"However, editorally speaking, it is not an experience we would like to repeat anytime soon. We hope it is the last the of the season. Back to work today for me (not Ron, as his job is in The Woodlands, and they took an enormous hit), and people have been saying that this has been the worst hurricane since Carla (1963), believe it or not, so, I have to say I was glad to hear that, hopefully, something this serious will not be an annual event. Ike was only a category 2 hurricane based on wind velocity, but people have been saying that every storm has its own personality and that different conditions conspire to create different effects. Allison was a tropical storm that sat on Houston for four days in 2001 and dumped rain until massive flooding occurred, and Rita was apparently pretty much a non-starter, since it was the primarily the drama of the attempted, and in many cases, disasterous evacuation that took center stage. I guess the next biggest one was Alicia in 1983, and hurricane Bret in 1999. Ike was apparently 600 miles in diameter with a 70-mile wide eye -- I gotta tell you, I don't want anything 600-miles wide hovering over my house. It's like f*%&ing "Independence Day." At least Ike moved through at a rapid pace." (9/18/08)

BOB WILLIAMS (‘69) in Houston, Texas writes--- “Dennis, We are ok, no damage to house but spent last two days cleaning up the yard of limbs etc.We have electricity and ac but no water. We filled the tubs and coolers with water before so we use that to flush. We have a lot of family over as we seem to be one of the few with elect. We fell really blessed as God was surely looking after us. The strong winds lasted for about 8 hours, from 1 to 4 in the morning it was really bad, the house was shaking and I was actually wonering why we stayed. It was amazing, the winds started at 7pm and didn't calm down until 10 the next morning. When we finally got to go outside it was amazing. We couldn't see the streets because of the tree & limbs. I appreciate your email checking on us. Hope all is well with you. One last thought, I was listening to a woman complaining on tv about not being able to get ice, the mayor said that there were people who lost everything, the ice was not a real priority right now, kinda put everything in perspective. Take care" (9/15/08)

ROSS RAYMOND (‘69) Katy, Texas-- “Thanks buddy. Getting the phone service to kick in is questionable. I just got the internet up and you were the second email message of the 121 in the inbox. We were very lucky in Katy as the storm went to the east of us. Just some fence damage and a tree limb and from what I can see, that is it. We have two families living with us at the moment. One is from Galveston, they lived on the seawall at the end of it in an apartment. I doubt there is much left of that and the other from west Houston near the Galeria mall, they don't have power and it seems it will take a few weeks before they do. Life is great and certainly provides us with ample opportunities to do the Lord's work. Take care and if you hear of any JJHS folks over here in need of help, give them my email address and I will do what I can for them.” (9/14/08)

RENEE EDWARDS ('73) in Seguin, Texas, makes contact with me after being "absent" for a few years. She writes... "Dear Dennis, Thanks for all of the work that you do on this site, I check it out once in awhile, but I must admit it has been longer than it should have been since I last looked, I did not realize that you had been so ill, I hope that you are feeling better these days. I will be sending funds to you and your site on Friday to the address you have listed. (Must wait for payday!) I was delighted to see the picture of Joy Martinez on your site, Once upon a time Joy and I worked at the infamous Lackland AFB Exchange, I caught shoplifters while Joy checked folks in and worked the front checkout. I also spent much time at the Alamo Dragway with her and several other friends when she first started dating Joe, and attended their wedding. I also spent much time being a designated driver when we all went bar hopping! I have not spoken to her for a very very long time. When next you see her, ask her to tell you about the middle of the night drive that she I and Connie Perry took to Louisiana to attend her brothers wedding! I cannot remember whose less than stellar Idea it was to leave in the middle of the night, but it seemed a good idea at the time. I recall it seemed that the only songs we could get on the radio were that Patty LaBelle tune- “Lady Marmalade” and the Doobie Brothers- “Black Water”. It is great to see that Joy still has that "I might be up to something," smile and a devilish twinkle to her eyes.

Most of my family still reside in SA, we are all JJHS grads. My brother Greg Edwards (‘69) died last month. My sister, Paige Edwards (‘76) splits time between Wimberly and Colorado. The little bros (twins) graduated sometime in the 80's one has his own business the other teaches in Cibilo. One of the little bros (if one can call 42 little, still lives in the old family home on Threadneedle Lane.) Me- I moved away to Florida in 1977 and came back here to be close to family in 1999. In Florida, I spent several years working, getting married, getting divorced, getting dragged out of the closet and along the way obtained a degree in Horticulture from dare I say it, the home of the Gators. I am presently the Landscape Superintendent at Port San Antonio....do not make me explain that one. (The Port part that is.) Suffice it to say that the Old Kelly AFB is looking much better grounds-wise these days. I am also rather rabidly “organically oriented” when it comes to gardening and landscaping. I have no wish to contribute to any sort of pollution that may or may not have been perpetrated by the prior tenants of the area my employer now occupies. ( Did I mention those law classes I took covering plausible deniability?)

I must also echo the comments from some folks on your site at the appalling state of the neighborhoods around Jay. I hope that the growth of the Southside and the growth that my current employer plans to bring to the area will help in some small way. I have been encouraged of late at the development along Marbach towards 1604, and the shops at La 151 (Who can afford La Canterra!)

My significant other of many years and I now reside in the thriving metropolis of Seguin. I would love to meet you all for one of your Pizza Hut gatherings... which Pizza Hut. Please drop me a line and let me know how you are doing! The attached picture was taken last month in Manitou Springs Colorado. We gay people just cannot pass up a photo opportunity with a Rainbow." (9/15/08) -

--- Well, Renee, thanks for "coming out of the closet" on my web site! LOL Just kidding. More power to you, girl! Really thanks for contacting me. The photo looks great as do you! Sorry to head of your brother, Greg's passing. I have added his name to the others further down this page whom we remember with love. Thanks for bringing us up-to-date on your life. Yeah, the "port" of Port San Antonio still sounds strange to me. It's great to have you back in the neighborhood. Hey, do me a favor, see if you can locate KAREN "KC" KRAUSE STEIN ('70) in Seguin. The last I head, five years ago, she lives there. We have been trying to find her for years!! She was the female "Class Clown" to my male "Class Clown" in our Senior years. AS for the Pizza Hur, it's at Marbach Road and SW Loop 410, across the parking lot from Long John Silvers and McDonalds. We meet on the last Friday of every month. It's usually by invitation only (by a member of the Guys) so I invite you! Thanks for your pledge of financial support for the website! Hope to see you. I'll be talking with Joy tonight. Love is all around."

Renee Edwards, Mighty Mighty Mustang Class of 73.

ME (Dennis, again)-- I just got a call from MIMI VERBOIS ('69), an Original JJHS Mustang Cheerleader, who lives in Dixon, Illinois (Ronald Reagan's hometown) and she's down visiting her mom here in San Antonio. Mimi's coming to visit me here at my house, tomorrow, Wednesday!! I can't wait to see her!! "Someone upstairs" must like me a lot to send my friends to visit me when they're in town. Leonard Saavedra ('70) just visited me, this past Saturday, all the way from Mesa, Arizona. I gotta' tell y'all-- it's good to be Dennis!! More on Mimi's visit tomorrow night! (9/9/08)

UPDATE---UPDATE---UPDATE: As promised, Mimi came over to my house and 2 and-a-half hours later, we still weren't talked out! Mimi is looking outstanding and as beautiful as ever. I swear she sould probably still fit in her JJHS cheerleader uniform. We talked and talked about so many things. I caught her up on so many classmates. The heart problem that she had that prevented her from attending SHINDIG VI, back in July 2007 has cleared up and she promises to make it to SHINDIG VII in July 2010. She asked me about fellow former original cheerleaders and I told her what I knew-- SHIRLEY ENGLISH ('70) lives in Bulverde. LAVERNE SHIPMAN ('69) lives in Austin. DEBORAH VAN PELT ('69) lives in Houston. And no one knows where JANE DAWSON ('69) is. Now, if anyone does know where Jane is, please let me know. I last saw her in 2005 and she was going into the seminary to become a pastor. No one has heard anything since. Can someone bring me up-to-date oh her?

Mimi's smile, when she talks about her first grandchild, almost makes her eyes disappear! She LOVES being a grandma. I forget the boy's name, but he is a cutie and almost one year old. She spoils him and she loves doing that! She slowed me close to 700 photos that she has of him on her digital camera. (OK, not 700, but darn close!!) Mimi is a devote Christian which she credits for her wonderful life these days. She is very much a mom and grandma her loves her family. Her sister, MARGUERITE ('79), lives just across town from her in Dixon, Illinois, which is about two hours from Chicago. Their brother DAVID VERBOIS ('71) lives in San Francisco, California. Well, we talked and lughed about the old days and she had so many stories and asked me about so many people. She almsot stumped me on several people, but I did pretty well. Mimi did have the aopportunity to drive by John Jay as school was letting out and commented that she couldn't believe how much the school and students have changed. Yeah, I agree. I hardly recognize the place anymore, myself. It's best we just remember the way it used to be. Mimi sendx best wishes out to everyone. She's flying out tomorrow morning (Griday) in an effort to beat the hurricane headed out way. Well, we had a wonderful visit and I look forward to seeing her on the next visit, whenever that may be. I even invited her to attend a GUYS meeting, next time. It turns out that one of the GUYS-- LINDA HUGHES ('69) gave her a baby shower for her first child 37 years ago! What a hoot!! Mimi, you are a sweetie for coming to see me and you brought such joy to me. Thanks for your friendship. Take care. (9/11/08)

At the Northside Education Foundation annual gala, the guests of honor are homegrown.

Six outstanding graduates of Northside ISD were honored as the 2008 "Pillars of Character" at the NEF black-tie gala, held earlier this week at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort. The annual gala raises money to fund innovative classroom programs through teacher grants.

This year's Pillars include a composer, engineer, college softball coach, energy executive, U.S. Army major, and an expert on wildlife research, all dedicated to improving the lives of others.

For the last decade, NEF has selected six NISD alumni and living role models to represent a character trait that is taught in Northside classrooms as part of the District's character curriculum. The six Pillars of Character are: responsibility, citizenship, respect, fairness, caring, and trustworthiness.

Teachers weave lessons about the Pillars into activities throughout the year, and the Pillars themselves also make classroom visits. Posters of the honorees are hung in 6,000 classrooms across the District to remind students that everyone has the potential to be a Pillar of Character - and a classroom celebrity.

Pillar of Caring: Charles "Chuck" Booker, Jay High School Class of 1970 (Top row, far right)
Band music composer/conductor
Years after graduating from high school, Chuck Booker returned to his alma mater to ask his former band directors, Dan Schreiber and Al Sturchio, "Are you a musician or a band director?" They replied, "We are teachers." Chuck Booker is that and more. An educator and former U.S. Army Bandmaster, Chuck Booker is also a musician and published composer. While in the U.S. Army Band program, the UTSA alumnus marched in the inaugural parades of President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton and played trumpet at the funerals of Presidents Truman and Johnson. Today, high school, university, and military bands around the world perform his music. Because Chuck Booker cares about the musicians of tomorrow, he currently shares his talent with students as the Director of Bands at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

Pillar of Responsibility: Tony Pelletier, Jay High School Class of 1971 (Top row, far left)
Engineer/Energy Executive/Pilot
Both a "math geek" and a linebacker in high school, Tony Pelletier today is an oil and gas exploration company co-owner and a pilot who flies Angel Flights missions to transport cancer patients and blood and organ donations. Educated at Lackland City Elementary, Rayburn Middle School, and Jay High School, he was elected class President four years in a row and football captain as a senior. A turning point in his life came his junior year when Texas A&M recruited him for a summer National Science Foundation program, and his high school math teacher encouraged him to forego a dead-end summer job to attend. He later graduated from A&M and now is President of Alamo Resources in Houston. A heart attack survivor, Pelletier rides his bike in long-distance (150 miles) races to raise funds for multiple sclerosis research in honor of a fellow Jay graduate. In his spare time, he speaks to high school and college students to encourage them to take responsibility for their futures. (Joining the celebration as Tony's guests were JJHS 1971 Mustangs alumni Linda DuPriest, Laura Henderson, Christine Schlaeger, Billy Pointer and Roger Savage.) [9/5/08]

(Article by NISD Communications Department website, except for the last line. I wrote that!!)

At the induction ceremony for Tony Pelletier are (left to right):
Roger Savage, Christine Schlaeger, Tony, Linda DuPriest, Billy Pointer and Laura Henderson

SPECIAL NOTE: Several people have written to me asking for the info on the NORTHSIDE ISD "PILLARS OF CHARACTER" AWARDS. Here is a link to the PILLARS page: http://www.nisd.net/pillars/ On it, look to the far right, and you'll see a box that says RELATED LINKS for nominating someone. (If not, click HERE for the nomination form.)

ME (Dennis) on September 1, I had dinner at Chili's restaurant with 1971 alumni (my sister) Linda DuPriest, Laura Henderson and Joy Griffin.. Christine Schlaeger was supposed to join us but she was delayed in Austin. On Saturday, September 6th, my 1970 classmate, Leonard Saavedra is flying in from Mesa, Arizona to see his mom and he's invited Denise Rupp ('70) and myself to go to lunch with him out in Stone Oak!! And he's buying!! Hmmmm, think I'll pig out! (9/5/08)

UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE... Leonard had originally called to visit me. I told him, just pick us up some tacos at Taco Cabana and come on over to my house to visit. Then. he told me he wanted to see Denise, also. OK, here's the plan... we'll all meet at TRILOGY PIZZA in Stone Oak, a San Antonio subdivision. Well, Leonard and his Mom had to go to Alice, Texas, to place flowers at his aunt's grave. Returning to town, they were delayed by an hour. So, Leonard call Denise and she said she would hang out at the shopping center where the restaurant was located in Stone Oak and wait for us. She did tell him that her time was limited, as she had later plans she had to keep. Leonard called me and said he and his mom would pick me up at my house an hour late. So, I sat around my house watching TV.

Leonard finally show up and stood at my door. I saw a shadow and yelled through the door, "Leonard is that you?" and he said, "Yes." Then, I said, "Are you ringing the doorbell?" Again, he said, "Yes." and I said, "Well, the doorbell doesn't work, you have to knock." So he did!

With his mom in the car and I hobbled in with my cane. I hadn't seen her for 16 years when I had attended Leonard's 40 birthday party. And talk about coincidences, it was going to be Mrs. Saavedra's brithday, tomorrow, September 7th. So, I wished her HAPPY BIRTHDAY and we drove off down the road.

So, we make the long 26 mile drive to Stone Oak. And when we get there, it takes my breath away! Oh my good God!! I did not know that a place like Stone Oak existed in San Antonio!!! It is gorgeous and RICH!! The homes are magnificent and huge and RICH. Their lawns are immaculate and RICH. The squirrels have their hair styled!! The dogs pick up their own poop and THEY'RE RICH, too!!!! This place is friggin' amazing. I had never been to Stone Oak before and I started to get worried that if the police saw me, I wouldn't be allowed in this place!! Hell, the police wear tuxedos on duty!! They're RICH!! I got no business being in a place like this!! I am out-classes by a mile!!

I whispered, "Leonard, I didn't bring my passport to get in here! And I ain't submitting to a strip-search either!!"

Well, needless to say, we made it to the restaurant. Denise was waiting for us in the parking lot. She looks FANTASTIC!! I mean to say GORGEOUS!! She has to be the most physically fit of our 1970 classmates, bar none!! Damn, she's BEAUTIFUL. (Leonard cuts a nice figure, but Denise is awesome!!) Anyway, we all hug and greet. Leonard's mom is taking her car and going home to prepare to go to church and Leonard's nephew is coming over later to come pick us up. So, Leonard's mom drives off.

We get in the restaurant, sit down and get some iced tea. We no sooner start to visit with one another than just TWO MINUTES LATER, Leonard's cell phone rings.

It's his Mom, she's just had a car accident one block away!!

He jumps up from his chair and sprints out the door.

Denise and I are left alone in the restaurant. We chit chat for a while and then start to worry. She calls him on his cell phone but he doesn't answer. Since her time is limited, she decides she has to leave for her other obligations. We hug "goodbye" and she leaves.

Five minutes later, she returns to tell me that she found Leonard and his mom at the accident scene and that his mom is ok. She ran into the back end of a MERCEDES. Not a Ford, not a Chevy, not a Dodge pick-up. She smacks a MERCEDES IN STONE OAK! Both cars are un-driveable! She says they'll be over here as soon as the accident is cleared up. Denise leaves a second time.

So, there I am sitting in a strange restaurant with strange people, for an hour, all by myself, 26 miles from my house, no transportation, no money, no idea what's going on.

WHAT DO I DO, NOW? I FRIGGIN' ORDER PIZZA!! Hell, I ain't gonna starve!!

The pizza comes, and I just start eating my worries away! Well, finally after what seemed an eternity, Leonard and his mom come walking in the restaurant, along with Leonard's brother and three nephews who had driven over to pick them up. Both cars, in the accident, had to be towed off, but no one was hurt. His mom was a little shaken up, but she's ok. They sat down, we ordered another pizza and had a blast.

And that's my adventure with Denise, Leonard and his mom!

THE END

AUGUST 2008

RAY WHITWORTH ('73) in Dallas, sent in an e-mail to bring me up to date on his media career and some news on mutual friends. He writes,

"Hi Dennis: Its been a long time since we've corresponded. Recently, there was a reunion of San Antonio radio personalities . Enclosed is a picture of two who ever hosted "Swingtime" brought to you by BIg Red. Swingtime originated at Channel 12 KONO-TV (now KSAT) It moved over to WOAI TV. In the photo (from left to right is Don Couser, the first host of "Swingtime", and famous DJ at KONO AM; George Lester formerly of KONO, Liz Houston formerly KTSA News reporter. Back Row, second host of "Swingtime," Bruce Hathaway, formerly of KTSA, now on KKYX, Johnny Shannon formerly of KONO/KEEZFM and my first PD while I was KEEZ-FM back in 1975 Don Couser was MY radio hero and inspired me to get into broadcasting back in 1965, In 1973 he became my first Radio instrurctor at San Antonio College. In 1974 he gave me my first break when he wanted me to do voice characters for his client "Village Casuals", Johnny Shannon produced it,and year later in 1975 I was hired at KEEZ-FM (now KAJA) and Shannon was my PD."

"I still am on the air In Dallss -Ft.Worth and doing commercials for the Texas Rangers AA farm team the Frisco Rough Riders. I am a year away from finally finishing my college degree in Sociology/Education with aspirations to Teach Speech Communication for Children wit hAutism /Asperger's. Male Teachers compose less than 1% of Special Education ,yet there is a 2 to 1 dominace of male children who have Autism. Its been a good ride in radio and I still pan to do commercials and keep a part time presence on air, but Radio is not radio anymore. Its 97% corporate crud,and does not listen to its listeners like it used to, thus a shift in careers to serve the public as a teacher. Take care Dennis."

Left to right-- That's Don Couser, next to the current Program Director aof KONO
radio (name unknown) then, that's George Lester in the black shirt and tie (Couser's former on-air partner); and the lady is well known newswoman, Liz Houston. In the back row are Bruce Hathaway and Johnny Shannon, who's on KTSA..

Ray--- Believe it or not, Bruce Hathaway and I just talked yesterday!! We were on the phone for about 30-minutes. Now-- my connections to these guys... Bruce hosted "Swingtime:" when I joined the show in 1966. We became very close friends and was my inspiration and mentor for getting into radio and television career. Bruce and I stay in touch to this day. In fact, for about a recent 10 year period, he, I and Shari Adock (daughter of show owner/producer, the late Mel Adcock) and Mike Brown (Shari's dance partner and the "Hot Couple") used to meet at the 410 Diner on Broadway for a "mushroom meet." Love those fried mushrooms!! We would get together about every four months or so and I was supposed to get us all together back in January. but then, my leg/foot infection and near amputation squashed those plans and I just haven't had the opportunity to get us all together. Don Couser was my radio courses instructor at SAC (1970-72) and gave me a break by letting me write radio spots for his advertising agency. Johnny Shannon hired me as News Director at KERV & KPFM in Kerrville in 1977. I later became a DJ, PD and then Station Manager, there. It was at KERV that I met Joe Alston, Sales Manager, who was CAPTAIN GUS and invited me on his show. That resulted in me getting my own show, "GOBS OF FUN" on KENS TV-5 in 1979. The rest is San Antonio TV history!! Today, I am nobody, but I used to be somebody!! WOW! What a small world. It's great how our two lives and careers have crossed, Ray. Thanks for sending this my way. (8/10/08)

KIM COLLIER ('73) in San Antonio, Texas, started off my Sunday morning bright and early (for me anyway @ 8:00AM and still zonked out fast asleep) with a phone call. I hadn't hear from her in over a year, so I had e-mailed her, yesterday.

Well, GREAT news!! Kim gor married just last week!! She called me as they were preparing to head out to Galveston for their honeymoon!

Kim has been a flight attendant for a private/charter airline for the past several years and has been traveling all over the word!! She promises to come visit me in the next few week and introduce her husband, Randall Ortman, to me.

On behalf of all our classmates, I offer my congratulations and best wishes to Kim and Randall. May your lives be filled with many years of happiness. All our love to you both. (8/3/08)

JULY 2008

MARILYN MESSICK ('72) in Boerne, Texas, called to check in on me, yesterday. Marilyn owns HOLIDAY FARMS KENNELS (www.HolidayFarms.info) in Boerne, where she boards dogs and breeds poodles. In fact, she tells me she has 10 pure bred poodle puppies for sale, right now. Prices range from $500 to $1,000.

Marilyn says, "I have all poodle colors and they're ready to go! A new puppy spreads lots of love around and it gives me great pleasure in life to make families so happy. When they leave with a puppy and weeks later they call me back to say how wonderful they are . Dennis, life is very good and I have found my niche and calling. You asked me what size poodles do we breed, well, the “puppy nursery” on our website has pictures of me holding a red toy and a champagne toy poodle. We have all the colors- Black - Beige - Red - Apricot - and Champagne. I raise teacup toys - toys - miniatures and will have the big ones (Standard & Royal Standard”) in 2009. The larger dogs are raised at my Holiday Farms kennel and the little ones are usually raised at my house. The breeding pairs are real pretty! I love it all !!"

Marilyn has been so kind to be staying in touch with me and it's always great to hear from her. (7/31/08)

MATT DELANEY ('70) in Santa Barbara, California, is on the road this summer and sent me a postcard, today. He has been on his annual hiking tours throughout the U.S. It's has to read his scribbling on the postcard, but I could decipher that he's been on a 3-week trek in the Cascade Mounrains; the Missoula Glacier; the Blackfoot River; the Beartooth Mountains; Yellowstone National Park the Grand Tetons, and many more places. Jeez, I'm out of breath from just reading the postcard!! (7/31/08)

RALPH GALAVIZ ('69) in San Antonio, Texas and KENNY SUNDBERG ('70) from Omaha, Nebraska, came to visit me today. This was there first visit to my home for both of them. Kenny came to town to visit with old friends and Ralph took the day off and ran around town with him. Kenny came into town Wednesday evening and stayed at the Menger Hotel, downtown. KATHY LUND ('72) saw, here on the website, that Kenny was in town and paid him a visit. It's been a long time since either had seen one another. Kenny & Ralph are scheduled to link up with VANCE VERBECK ('69) tonight, who is coming in from Brazoria City. Ralph's sister, MARIA GALAVIZ ('70), also joined in the festivities. Maria is currently teaching nursing at San Antonio College following an illustrious medical career in the military. When the boys made it over to my house, Kenny, Ralph and I spent over three hours together swapping stories, talking about former classmates, and all sorts of other stuff. It was great to spend this time with them. They are both outstanding people and I'm honored to be their friend. (7/31/08)

MIKE GRINFIELD ('70) in San Antonio, Texas, is in recovery after having part of his left foot removed as the result of an infection and his diabetes. Mike sends out a plea and warning to everyone suffering from diabetes to please take it seriously and not to let thing like this happen to you. Mike knows that I have diabetes and that's been the source of my foot and leg problems. He'sa gotten pretty stern with me about becuase he knows I haven't "followed the rules." Mike's situation has been a major wake-up call for me, but it's so hard to do the right thing when you're single. Get well, Mike and I hope the worst is over. (7/31/08)

RICK KIEFFER ('72), in Normandy Park, Washington, checks in with an e-mail to me... "Dennis, my wife, Mary, and I just got back from the Black Hills of South Dakota where I was born. Yes. Me and Rocky Raccoon were both from somewhere in the Black Minin Hills of South Dakota. We had a family reunion there and all the clan was back in South Dakota for a few weeks. Big fun. Panning for gold, hunting agates, hiking Harney Peak,and way too many BBQ's at many relatives homes in Rapid City. My brothers, JERRY and BOB, just arrived up here in Washington today,. We just finished a BBQ of wild caught Salmon. Life is good. (By the way, JIMMY BARAZZA ('72) and his wife, Izzy, just celebrated their 25th anniversary. Yikes! Congratulations to them both. They're a fine couple. Jimmy is one of my longest living friends. As for me, I can retire any day now. I have a glass case at work with a retirement letter inside and a small hammer on top.....a small sign says "3 bad days in a row - Break glass - sign letter & retire". Had a 2 bad day in a row week a while back and I am just waiting for the 3 bad days in a row. I actually love my job.....I really do. Been a cop 31 years now and a chief of police since 1994....can not believe it. Time flys like an arrow. Fruit flys like a banana" --- It's always great to hear from you Rick. Glad to know that all is well with you and yours. Hey, if you have e-mail addresses for your brothers and Jimmy Barazza (along with their graduation years, please send them to me. (7/31/08)

SHERRY CLONTZ ('73) in San Antonio, Texas, sent in an e-mail... "Hello Dennis: Thanks for the information on Art Zulaica and his grand opening! I will be sure to spread the word with those I come in contact with. My husband Terry and I own and operate our own DJ and Karaoke business. We would very much appreciate it if you would give a shout out to all your readers for us. We have been doing this for over 10 years! We do parties, picnics, weddings, anniversaries, quinceneras, birthdays, even Class Reunions (haha) you can find out more about us at our website. localvocalskaraokeanddj.com We would be more than happy to give a discount to any John Jay alumni that hires us! Thanks for all the updates and everything you do, Dennis." ---Sherry, it's good to hear from you and, as you can see, I have posted your information! All the best for your continued success. (7/29/08)

RENITA FOSTER ('71) in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, (a former NISD "Pillar Award" winner) tells me she is coming home to Texas!! She writes... "Glad to see the Mustangs are doing so well with the NISD Pillars!!!! HERE'S A FLASH! My husband got a job at Fort Hood, Killeen, Texas, so we are moving home!!! I can come as soon as I sell the house!!" --- That's great news, Renita, I can't wait to see you back in the Lone Star state! Keep me posted on developments. (7/28/08)

TONY PELLETIER ('71) in Houston, Texas, sent me a few words about his receiving an 2008 NISD "Pillar Award" this year... "Dennis, thanks for the kind words on the NISD Pillar selection. I was completely surprised by the selection as I was unaware of even being nominated. I am honored but, at the same time, humbled by the selection. There are so many of our friends and classmates working hard every day to do the right thing. I would like to think I am merely a representative for our group." --- Tony, we're all very proud of your accomplishments and proud that's we're you fellow Mustang alumni. All the best to you! (7/28/08)

CATHY BACON ('70) in Virginia, (also a former NISD "Pillar Award" winner)has given me an update on her battle against breast cancer. I dropped her an e-mail to see how she's doing and she writes... " I'm "stable." Still in treatment--right now consising of seeing my physicians about every six months and taking oral medication--for five-ten years. I'm feeling pretty good, just "different." Can't be helped, can it? New news is that I'm training (right now) to become an AFJROTC instructor. Will begin teaching this school year at Oscar F. Smith HS in Chesapeake, VA. I keep hearing about the greatest AFJROTC unit--at John Jay!" ---Cathy, I'm so glad that things are going well for you in your fight against cancer. You're an inspiration to everyone. Yes, JJHS has one of the finest AFJROTC units in the entire nation. They are constantly winning awards. We can all be proud of these wonderful younf men and women. Take care of yourself and keep us posted. (7/27/08)

LYDIA "TOY" KELLY ('71) in San Antonio, Texas is busy making preparations to travel to Minnesota to see her 1st granddaughter. She is so excited! In talking to her, I forgot to ask her if she was flying, driving or riding (by airplane, car or her Harley). Have a good trip, Toy. (7/27/08)

KENT "KENNY" SUNDBERG ('70) in Omaha, Nebraska is coming to San Antonio on Wednesday and Thursday, July 30 & 31 to visit friends. He, RALPH GALAVIZ ('69) and I hope to get together for a visit. (7/27/08)

TWO ORIGINAL MUSTANGS TO RECEIVE NISD ACCOLADE
The list of the 2008 NORTHSIDE ISD PILLARS OF CHARACTER has been announced and two ORIGINAL MUSTANGS have been selected for the honor. They will be honored at a lavish banquet, later this year.

CHARLES BOOKER ('70)
CARING - compassionate, empathetic, unselfish
Band Music Composer/Conductor

TONY PELLETIER ('71)
RESPONSIBILITY - diligent, conscientious, stalwart
Engineer/Energy Executive/Pilot

Other Original Mustangs selected in past years are: Catherine Bacon ('70), Tyrone Powers ('70), Renita Foster ('71).

VIKKI CHAPMAN ('70) in Austin, Texas, sent me a beautiful (and expensive) original work of art of John Lennon by renown artist William K Stidham. (website gallery at:( http://www.williamkstidham.com/home.htm). She even had the watercolor autographed by the artist with a special dedication to me on the back. It is an amazing piece of artwork and I am so very grateful to Vikki for this gift.

This Lennon portrait is fron Stidham's "Sacred Heart" series-- a collection of iconic paintings imbibed with the sacred heart imagery that William grew up with in the Catholic Church. Each of his sacred hearts have touched the world with the gifts that they have been given. Using their heart energy, these artists and shape shifters were able to change people's lives through the use of their gifts. Without them the world and the way we experience it would be lit a little dimmer. Other portraits include: George Harrison, Han Williams, Willie Nelson, Jim Morrison, Jerry Garcia, Johnny Cash, Kurt Cobain, Sting, Ray Charles, Elvis, Janice Joplin, Frank Sinatra, Mick Jagger, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, and many others.

Thank you, Vikki. This is something I will always treasure as a special part of my BEATLES collection. (7/21/08)

WEDDING (7/12/08)- Jenny, the daughter of MICKEY MAHLER ('70) [far left] and SUE WEBBER ('72) [second from left], got married this past weekend to a gentleman named, Jeff. Sue looks absolutely gorgeous as the mother of the bride!

Mickey flew in from Salt Lake City, Utah, where he is a banking executive. Sue makes her home in Lytle, Texas. The wedding was held at the chapel of Trinity University with the reception held at a hall in Lytle. (I thank them for inviting me, but I was unable to attend because of my health.) Mick gave me a call from the airport Sunday morning on his way back to Utah. I get to see Sue, each month, at the GUYS meeting.

The reception was catered by Sue's sister, DOTTIE WEBBER ('71), who also captivated the guests with a rendition of the Patsy Cline hit "Walking After Midnight" during a kareoke session. You may recall that Dottie was a singer during and after high school years. If memory service me correct, she sang with the Slim Roberts & The Country Gentlemen (and Debbie Roberts), who performed at venues all over south Texas. If I got that wrong, someone let me know.

My thanks to MIKE JONES ('71) for taking this photo and providing it to me to post here on the website. In addition to Mike (a close friend of Sue's) former clasmate JOY GRIFFIN ('71) also attended the reception

Mick and Sue's second daughter got married just three weeks later in Texarkana, Arkansas.
I must apologize for not remembering her name at this time. (7/31/08)

TOM SMITH ('69) in Spicewood, Texas sent me an e-mail reply to the information I wrote about him further up this page under the "Website Donations" section.

He says... "Dennis, Herman Munster lives just down the street at number 13, gettin kinda old these days. Lilly divorced him and ran off with Boris Karloff. Bullwinkle mows the grass.Natasha was shot by homeland security. dum ta dum. LOL"

"You asked in a previous e-mail if my wife, Ellen, graduated from Jay. No, she graduated from Churchill in 1976. If you remember, Jane Seabolt was my best buddy during 10th and 11th grades and she introduced Ellen and I and some 12 years later and that was it. We get together and visit with Jane a few times a year. She is such a hoot. I don't get to ol' SA much, but the last time I was there it looked kinda' rough. I have many fond memorys of rabbit hunting at the quarry with David Beavers, Clinton and Harley Elliot, Louis Figueroa, Dean Dunn and others. If I am not mistaken your house is close to or on top of where it was. The Reyes family, who owned the "La Casita" Ice House on Marbach would give the rabbits to the dogs and give us cold sodas, bean dip and chips. Days in heaven for some Texas kids with 22s. Except the time we went skinny dippin and all came out with leeches in all the wrong places; ewe. It still skeeves me out. I look forward to the next get together and your periodic advisories."

Tom, thanks for writing back with the memories of the good old days. Yes, I live in Meadow Village off of Timbercreek, just a few block from the "Quarry."
I went there often with friends to shoot at snakes. I remember my junior year when some kid drowned after diving in head first and smashing his head on a rock. I was there when police divers dragged his body up. It's a sight that I'll never forget. Believe it or not, the quarry has been turned into a nature trail and a park!! (7/12/08)

JOHN JAY
HIGH SCHOOL
7611 Marbach Road
San Antonio, Texas 78227

JJHS CAMPUS-- Another multi-million dollar construction project is now underway at the JJHS campus. If you were standing in front of the school, facing it, all the recent construction has been to the right-side of the campus. In fact, I remember they began building the third wing of the school during my senior year. Well, now they are building a new wing to the building on the left side. The windows and entrances of the building have been boarded up and sealed. They have already torn up half of the original parking lot that students and teachers used. Chain-link fences are up, machinery is moving and only God knows what's being built now. If I can fing out, I'll post it here. I know that things have to change, but it's getting where I can't recognize the place, anymore. But more than changing buildings on campus, it's the kids.

Our old neighborhoods (Westwood Village, Lackland Heights, old Valley Hi, Valley Hi North, etc.) have become Burglar Bar City.It's a sign of the times (as Petula Clark once sang), I drove by our old home, at the corner of Remuda Drive and Rawhide, just the other day, and it's trashed out. When I think back on the hard work my parents put into that home and to see it in today's condition, it's unreal. I'm glad my folks move out of there back in 1972. The south side of Marbach Road has become trash. Graffiti is everywhere. It rips my heart out when I see what has happened around here. It's a sad sad situation. I really only live where I do now because my parents are just seven blocks away and want to be near them on a moments notice, if they need me. Yes, the times (and school) are a' changing. (7/9/08)

KIM NUCKOLLS ('72) came to visit me. We had not seen one another in over 30 years and 200 pounds or so (on my part), ago. It was like stepping back in time with her. Her voice had not changed an octave and her smile was unmistakable. Her laugh and giggles are something else that haven't changed. WHOOSH!! 30+ years were gone in an instant. What a joy to spend two hours with Kim talking about the old days. She now lives in Lubbock, Texas, and was in town to take her mother to the San Antonio International Airport for a journey to England to visit her sister, whom she hadn't seen in over 20 years. Kim would just be in town for two days and she chose to come visit me. That really makes me feel special.

Kim is a successful legal assistant and recently bought her own house. We laughed up a storm and I brought her up-to-date on a bunch of people. She really enjoys the website and visits it quite often. Kim is the first person to see me with my very short hair and my almost nonexistent beard. I cleaned myself up for turning 56 tomorrow, but I'll soon be growing it all back.

My thanks to KIm for coming to visit me. (7/6/08)

DAVID DORRYCOTT (??) in San Antonio, Texas, (who has a wbsite: here) wonders if anyone remembers him. I received this e-mail today... "So, this is what happened to the year I left behind (transferred from South San, then had a draft number 004.) I stumbled across your class reunion site quite by accident, it was fun to see those whom I knew ever so briefly. Even one young lady I had such a crush upon so very long ago. For myself, I live in the same house I lived in then, my children graduated from John Jay but as a GED carrier, I have no official school year. My best to you all." --David your name sounds familiar but that's about it for me. Glad you found my website and perhaps this will jog someone's memory and get in touch with you. All the best, Dennis (7/2/08)

QUIK NEWS ROUND-UP-- I've gotten phone calls from alumni over the past 45 days or so. MICKEY MAHLER ('70) in Utah called me, last week, to check on me and my health. Mickey's daughter with his former wife, SUE WEBBER ('72) gets married on July 12th, here in San Antonio, with a reception in Lytle. Mick will be coming down for that and I hope we'll get together. Ive been invited and I'll be doing my best to make the wedding and reception. Speaking of weddings-- DANNY PADRON ('69), here in S.A. was the proud father of the groom as his onoy son, Andy, got married in early June. Andy will be coaching at O'Connor High School starting in August. Nice job, after all his dad is the Athletic Director there! LOL Talk about following in your father's footsteps! TONY SORIA ('70), out in California, calls me about every three weeks, without fail. I have to admit, the conversations with him always cheer me up. He has been there with advice and understanding during some of the toughest times of my l;ife these past few years. Tony and I knew one another just enough to say, "Hello," back in school days, but now, we have become great friends 40 years later. Life never ceases to amaze me. Speaking of friendships, another one is with BOB WILLIAMS ('69) over in Houston Now, again, I barely knew Bob back at JJHS. Today, Bob drops me an e-mail on a regular basis, just to say Hi and see how I am doing. In fact, now that I think of it, I could probably sit here writing 100s of names of people who check in with me quite often. Damn, I am so lucky to have so many wonderful people as friends! Get a load of this-- my last JJHS girlfriend, as a senior, was KIM NUCKOLLS ('72) and I haven't seen her in about 30 years. Well, she lives in Lubbock and will be visiting here in San Antonio on July 3rd and she's coming over to my house for a brief visit. Hubba hubba! My condolences to FRANK "RIP" DOUVRY ('70) whose mom passed away back in June. His parents had been married for 68 years! That is fantastic. Mrs. Douvry was always nice to me when I hung out at Rip's house and made sure I was well fed! LOL JOY GRIFFIN ('71) contiues to come over to my house to help me, The infection that almsot got my right foot amputated has finally cleared up agter 10-days in the hospital and 5-months are care by Joy. It's becuase of her care that I am able to walk. I have been given a wheelchair to get around, these days, but trying my best to avoid using it. My thanks to DEBBY VAN PELT ('69), in Houston, who sent in a website donation back in June. She has such a sweet heat and IS a sweetheart. I still have the plant that she sent me some dour years ago when I had my heart failure. I swera as long as that plant is alive, I'LL be alive!! (7/1/08)

THE GUYS (the little group of us who meet at Pizza Hut every last Friday of the month) just celebrated our 21st Anniversary. Can you believe it, 21 years of getting together every month! The GUYS include-- KAY COMPTON ('71), STEPHANIE COPAS ('71), JOR GRIFFIN ('71), TOY KELLY ('71), SUE WEBBER ('72), SUSAN BREIDENBACH ('71), LIN HUGHES ('69), LINDA DUPRIEST ('71), and, oh yeah, there are some guy guys too-- JACK MATTHEWS ('66), ED HOBBS ('70), ED HOLLEY ('72), RUSTY ATKINS ('70), MASON WRIGHT ('70), WILLY LOWE ('71), CHARLES ABLE ('70), RALPH GALAVIZ ('69), HARRY LINDGREN ('70), BILL MIZELL ('70), ART ZULAICA ('71), MIKE JONES ('71) RICK SANDOVAL ('71), GLENN HUTTO ('71), MIKE GRINFIELD ('70), ROBERT FRAIZER ('72), GEORGE MONK ('71) and a bunch of others that come and go. What a blast we have! We adopted the "Viking" as our mascot and the photo at the right show a special anniversary cake that shows my personal viking icon I even have a special website for THE GUYS, but it's a secret! (71/08)

The GUYS 21st Anniversary cake thanks to Kay Compton and Willy Lowe and his wife, Mary. Kay flies down from Mesquite/Dallas every month just to be at the GUYS meeting,

21 years ago, we drank about 15 pitchers of beer each night and stayed out until 3AM. Now, we all drink tea or water and start looking at our watches at 9PM to head home!

JACK MATTHEWS and I started "THE GUYS" back in 1987. Jack graduated from Holmes in 1966. His dad was Mr. Bill Matthews, who taught math at JJHS. Jack had the famous orange-colored Nomad hot rod in the Westwood neighborhood. I met him as his house when he was putting in a new engine. That's a whole other story! I was lucky to escape with my life. In addition to our monthly meetings, we celebrate with special one-time parties every few years. One time, we had a new year's party at Bubba Able's house and Bibba dug a fire pit in his backyard with a back-hoe! The fire was so friggin' deep and huge, it burned for three weeks! I swear! Astronauts in the International Space Station said they could see the fire from outer space!