YOU SAY ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY!!


HAPPY 69th BIRTHDAY TO RINGO STARR
and 57th BIRTHDAY TO ME
ON TUESDAY, JULY 7th!

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CURRENT CLASSMATE NEWS

JUNE 2009
I am on summer vacation for three months, and I will do a better job of updating this site.  To do so, I need NEWS from YOU.  Please, start sending in some stuff that I can share with all classmates about what you are up to.  Thanks!

MATT DELANEY (‘70) Santa Barbara, California writes--- “Hi Dennis-- We are probably in the top 1% of all schools in holding reunions, thanks to you, and I include the service academies, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Notre Dame! You are the one doing the REAL work. I have been very busy lately: a ten-day hiking trip to the Bay Area, a two-day trip there as well, the local Old Santa Ynez Days celebration, the St. Demetrios Greek Festival, the Summer Solstice Parade, etc. Summer: ya gotta love it! I have two more major trips (Yosemite in July & the Northeast/Midwest for family stuff in September) before I go to Texas next spring. I'll call ahead and we'll feast! Glad things are looking up for you.” --- Matt, thanks for your web site donation.  Be sure to let me know when you’re ready to hike in Nepal and take on Mt. Everest! (6/24/09)

MIKE DUNAGAN ('75) Killeen, Texas, dropped me a line today... "Dennis, I am glad that you are writing for the Mustang Alumni again. Sometime in the next week or so, you should get one of my junk mail checks with a part of my annual donation for the website, so look close at your junk mail to make sure you do not throw it out.Everything is going great here, at the end of March I celebrated my 5th anniversary of surviving pancreatic cancer. I am still cancer free and
skinny as a rail, and they still don't have a way to transplant fat back on to my body. And I admit that when I was fat, I did not complain, I liked being fat, but then I had the hidden muscle to go with it throwing around bales of hay and feed. But now I do not have that hidden strength any more. I now have 7 grandchildren, 4 girls and 3 boys, for the first time the girls outnumber the boys. This coming 4th of July I will be having my 9th annual 4th of July Open House. It's always a grand occasion with lots of fun, family and friends."  ---Mike, it sounds like your life is going great and you really know how to keep family and friends together. Maybe YOU ought to do these SHINDIGS! Thanks for your donation and for staying in touch my friend! (6/24/09)

MIKE JONES ('71) and SUE WEBBER ('72) brought me dinner to my house, last night, from Rudy's Bar-B-Q and it was delicious.  I ordered a pound of ribs, a pound of turkey, a chicken half,  a pound of brisket, pork ribs, potato salad and topped it off with peach cobbler! NO!!!  I did not eat it all.  I'll have leftover for days and days.  Sue is doing well after a hospital stay a little while back.  He heart gives her problems and she has had a heart attack, so anything affecting her ticker, she has it checked out.  As for Mike, who owns Cook-Jones Air Conditioning, he is so busy!!  These 104 degree dats are killing us and making him rich!  LOL  (6/19/09)

ROBERT "Bob" CARROLL ('69) San Antonio, Texas, sent an e-mail to me today---  "Dear Dennis,  I am currently teaching and coaching at Fox Tech High school.  This was my 37 year of teaching or coaching. I bought a new house at Stablewood Estates on Hwy 90 / Loop 410/ Valley Hi Drive.  My wife sandy has returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and my son kevin is now 12 years old. I will be going to Puerto Rico/Dominican Republic next month to conduct some basketball clinics.  I went by Somerset a while back and I was told you were retired.  Sorry to hear about your dad.  < style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">Best Wishes, Bob Carroll"  210-675-3456-home  /  210-584-7741-cell  /  210-999-5679-Fax  and my email is
VIKKI CHAPMAN ('70), San Antonio, Texas writes--- "Dear Dennis, I just wanted to share the news that Debbie ('71) and Steve ('69) Smith, my husband, Jack and I went to Italy for 10 Days over spring break.  We flew into Rome and spent 2 days seeing all it had to offer.  The history of it all took our breath away.  The we went to Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri. Beautiful country and sea side.  To Florence with it's famous glass and leather factories.  The Tuscan country side was my favorite with it's wine vineyards and olive groves.  We were to early for the sunflowers.  San Gimiganano with it's famous tiny towers.  I could have spent days there it was so scenic and serene. Our last days we spent in Venice and Milan.  A trip of a lifetime made special with the addition of friends to enjoy it with you.  Jack and I are going to China next March.  We are trying to get Debbie and Steve to join us.  We'll have to see how that turns out.  Heaven knows you only have one lifetime and you should enjoy what life allows you. Jack and I will be leaving for Aruba in just a few days, then I'll do my summer circuit of visiting friends until school starts.  Then, I turn into a taxi service, and childcare center for my grandchildren for the school year.  I thought I was finished with all that when my son and daughter were grown up.  Oh well, what's retirement for??  Looking forward to the reunion.  It will be the first one for me since graduation.  Thank you for all the work you do for your classmates. <>Take Care and God Bless you,."  --- Vikki, it sounds like you had a wonderful time in Italy.  We were stationed there in the 60s, and I would love to go back there.  It is so beautiful and the people are so wonderful.  Can't wait to see you next year.  Bring me some Beatles stuff from China!  Ahhh So!  (6/17/09)

DANNY PADRON ('69), San Antonio, Texas, will be heading up to Boulder, Colorado in late July to attend a Padron family reunion being held there. Linda (DuPriest) Padron ('71) and husband Pete Padron, and Cindy (Powers) Padron ('71) and her husband Larry Padron, and their respective families will be there along with gobs of cousins, aunts and uncles. Have a safe trip Daniel Boone!  (6/14/09)

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MAY 2009
Dear Mustangs, please forgive me for being out of touch and not updating the web site for the past 4 months. As you know, my dad died back in January and I just lost interest in a lot of things in my life. I guess it’s something we all go through when this happens.

First, I’d like to thank everyone for being so kind to me during this time, especially Carol Lipsey, Carl Jensen, Bob Williams, Glenn & Melba Burchard, Karl Ritter, Debbie Haring, Vance Verbeck, Joy Griffin, Marilyn Messick, the GUYS, Danny Padron, Dottie Webber, Sue Webber, Mike Jones, Sandy (Woods) Dunn and many others. Without your love and understanding, I wouldn’t have made it these past three months. Thanks for putting up with me.

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FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL 2009
AWOL: ABSENT WITH OUT LEAVE

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JANUARY 2009

My dad, Gilbert Francis DuPriest, died on January 24, 2009, after a lengthy illness.

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It's 7:30PM, Sunday,  January 11th, and I just received a phone call from Roberta Dunagan ('72), she was called by a member of the Shriners with very sad news that Mr. Terry McGuire, our original JJHS Mustangs principal. died today. This has also been confirmed by classmates Don Haring ('70) and Debbie Haring ('71) I have no details at this time. I continue to receive phone calls on this and I thank everyone for their concern.

I am so shocked to get this news. We had just corresponded the other day and he told me he was excited about the bone marrow transplant. I just don't know what else to say. He and I grew to love one another as great friends and I am so proud that we overcame the principal/student boundaries learning to respect each other on a different level.

Those who wish to do so, can send in comments and thoughts on Mr. McGuire and I will post them under CLASSMATE NEWS on my website, asap.

Please, go to www.mysanantonio.com which is the San Antonio Express News page and check under obitiaries for further information in the next couple of days. I will forward anything I become aware of.

God bless, Mr. McGuire, his wife Charlene, family and friends. I will miss this wonderful man, so dearly.

CLASSMATE THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES OF MR. McGUIRE...

"Dennis -- Thank you for relaying this very sad news. My condolences to all of Mr. McGuire's family and friends."
Betty Consani (‘70)

"I thought he was out of the hospital and doing better. He's number 4 for people I know who have died in January and it is only the 11th of the month. Bummer.  I know he meant a lot to you, Dennis."
Lydia “Toy” Kelly (‘71)

"I'm realy sad to hear about Mr. McGuire. He is near the top of my list of people that I admire. I didn't see his obituary at mysa.com yet, but I noticed one for Joe Hazel. I'm wondering if he is the father of the classmate that I knew from the JJHS band by the same name. There was a jr. listed as a survivor. Please let me know when you get more information about the arangements. Perhaps we could carpool to the viewing or services. Hang in there."
Steve Jones (‘71)

"We all will miss Mr. McGuire as we miss all who pass on before us that we grow to love as friends and mentors.  I as many of my friends see more of my closest friends leaving this world and it is sad that this happends but we have to ecept it as God's will.  We do not understand it but when our time comes we will learn why because we will be with them after we complete our time om earth.  We do however have the memories of time spent with them in this life and must live this life to it's full potential as we still have lovedones who still need us.  So we must keep the flame of life alive knowing our time will come when God will ask us to join him."
Harrell Scott (‘70)

"Dennis, I am so sorry you have lost a friend.  One thing I have learned on this life's journey is that waiting (until retirement or whatever) is not an option for me.  Today is the day to seize love, be happy and experience life as if every second was my last.  The passing of Mr. McGuire and other classmates you make known are constant reminders to me of this very fact.  Again, I am very sorry for your loss."
Kim Nuckolls (‘72)

"Dennis: This is truly a sad day for anyone who has ever been associated with John Jay High School.  One of the key reasons we all have such fond memories of our time at that new high school was Terry McGuire.  If memory serves me, he was (at the time) the youngest high school principal in all of San Antonio.  It goes without saying that he was one of the most dynamic.  His enthusiasm and support for his new students was truly infectious.  As most of you know, one of the most important roles a principal plays (especially in a new school) is the hiring of faculty.  All those teachers we remember so well and who were so instrumental in helping us develop were there because Terry McGuire hired them.  Add into that his daily support, participation and enthusiasm for our activities and the impact is incredible. Like many of us, I would not have been able to obtain a college education and subsequent professional career without his help.  Although he was almost silent about it, I know that his letter of recommendation paid a huge part in my scholarships to Texas A&M.  It is a debt that is virtually impossible to repay – and there are countless numbers of us who, in one way or another, owe a similar debt. As many of you know, the Shriner’s organization and their amazing charity work was a huge part of his life.  They already have a tribute to Terry on their local website www.shrinershq.org/Shrine/Divan/McGuire .  After reviewing that material, it is almost impossible to calculate the number of people for whom his life and work had a positive impact. Many of them never even knew it, but the impact was there nonetheless. The world is clearly a better place for this man having been in it and we are all better people for having had the privilege of knowing him."
Tony Pelletier (‘71)

"Oh Dennis.  This is so sad...I dont know what else to say.  Thank you for keeping us informed."
Carolyn Sparks (‘70)

"Dear Dennis, I am so shocked to hear this.  His last e-mail sounded so optimistic. Thanks, as always for keeping us posted."
Margo "Dolly" Garcia (‘71)

"Oh my goodness. I just sent him a well wishing email after your last update on him. I really liked and admired him as a principal. I will tell you another story later about what he did for me when I was in school, 3 things that had a huge impact on my experience as a kid and they were grand to me. I am sorry for your loss of a dear friend. Take care of yourself Dennis. Thank you for letting us know."
Nancy Higgins (‘77)

I received this e-mail from our principal, Terry McGuire, updating us on his condition--- "Dennis, Thank you so much for taking the time to pass on information to the Jay Family. I received numerous e-mails as well as cards from many of them. The response for blood donations was very strong and greatly appreciated. There is no way I can thank them individually except by saying God Bless you all. My next step is to have a bone marrow transplant. They have located two donors that match my genetic make up perfectly and are willing to donate. This should take place in about two to three weeks and I am looking forward to it so I can get back to being my old self, I hope. I hope that your health is holding up and that that 2009 will be a great year for the both of us. Again, I can’t thank you and the Mustang Family enough four your thoughts, prayers and your love. Charlene and I love you all for it." Sincerely, Terry McGuire