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"CLASSMATE NEWS"
ARCHIVE JANUARY 1998- JUNE 1998
The Continuing Adventures of the 'Original' Mighty Mustangs
JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A.

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JUNE 1998:
LEONARD SAAVEDRA ('70) called me a few weeks ago with some great news and I almost totally forgot to put it here on the web page. Len and his business partners have opened up their own business and a store in Montana. (At least, I think it's Montana.) Len worked for "Michael's" and "Hobby Lobby" for many years and now he and his partners have gone into a similar business and called it, "Legends 7." (Geez, I knew I should have written this down!). Any way, I am sure Len will read this and call me with the proper details, so I can get this right! Good luck on the new venture, my friend. (6/30/98)

SHARON GOODYKOONTZ ('70) wrote me and has volunteered the use of her Bulverde home and soon-to-be-built swimming pool for for a party/picnic when the times rolls around for our 30-Year Reunion in July 2000. It's a ways out in the country from San Antonio, but it's certainly something to think about. Y'all let me know what ya' think. She's still taking college courses and hanging in there. Bet she'll be the oldest of us to graduate from college! (6/28/98)

WADE HOOD ('70) dropped me an e-mail to bring me up-to-date on his doings and to let us know he's still alive and hanging in there. He says, during the week, he works at White's City, New Mexico (the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns). He also enjoys working on his dwarf race car and competing in races. Wade has been married three times and has seven children ranging in age from 10 to 24. He enjoys this web page and sends his best to all the classmates. Anyone wanting to drop Wade a letter can send it to his new address: 4302 W. Texas Street (or P.O. Box 2508) Carlsbad, NM 88220. He'd love to hear from y'all. (6/28/98)

NATHAN WILLIS ('70) is happy to announce that his daughter, Stephanie, has given birth to his first grandson! The baby was born at Santa Rosa Children's Hospital NW, here in San Antonio, on June 22, 1998, and weighed 5 lbs 13 ozs. and was 19" long. Baby and mother are doing just great. Nathan's son and his wife have a daughter and live in Virginia. Nathan says to be sure and tell KENNETH ELKINS ('70) that (quote) "I'm still waiting for the child support!" Man, I don't even want to know what that's about!! Congratulations, Nathan! Be sure to give our best to baby and mother and grandma, too! (6/25/98)

RICHARD BRATZ ('70) dropped me a line and a check for this web page and the newsletter, too! Thanks, Rich! He lives just down the road from Roy Roger & Dale Evans in Apple Valley, California. (By the way, did y'all know that Dale Evans was born in Uvalde, Texas and her rel name is Frances Octavia Smith!) Richard's e-mail says he just got back from deep sea fishing at Cabo San Lucas and he did great. He and a friend landed five (5) marlins in three days!!! I wanna see the pictures, Rick! He sends his best to everyone and looks forward to our 30 year reunion in JULY 2000. (6/14/98)

DON HARING ('70) was in from Hermiston, Oregon, for a two week visit at the beginning of June. Don works for the Corps of Engineers and is a project director (or something like that) on the chemical weapons incinerator being constructed in Oregon. I have knowm Don and his sister, DEBBIE HARING ('71) since 1965 when our families were stationed at San Vito di Normandi Air Station in Brindisi, Italy. Don is doing great and send his best to everyone. (6/14/98)

KATHY KEISOR ('72) was also stationed with us back in Italy. I bring up her name because Kathy was my first high school girlfriend. It wasn't until both our families were stationed back here in San Antonio and we both came to John Jay that I fell head over heels in love with her. Then, her dad was sent to Vietnam, I think. When he came back, they were transfered to Alaska, where Kathy still lives to this day. Oh, the story I could tell you about the night they left here for Alaska. Her parents had to physically pull us apart and put Kathy in the Winnebago. She ran to the back window, I reached up on tippy-toes to press my hand against her hand through the glass. As they drove off, I ran behind until I could run no further. Through my own tears, I could see tears streaming down her face, as the red tail lights of the camper faded in the distance. I don't think I've cried that much in my entire life, before or since. Don & Debbie Haring were with me (Don had a driver's license and car) and we drove around, while I sat in the back seat crying. I must have been a sight! Don and Debbie still laugh about it to this day. Anyway, today, Kathy lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and is married (for 20+ years) to a guy named Jay (her Alaska high school sweetheart. LOL), and they have a beautiful daughter who is a Freshman in college. After 25 years, Kathy and I have been able to get back in touch with one another on America On Line. Kathy and I had our own special song, "Love Is All Around" by the Troggs, and whenever she or I hear it on the radio, even today, we think of one another. It's nice to remember the days of our youth with those who still mean so much to us today. I have carried Kathy's photo in my wallet for over 25 years... through my marriage and divorce and even tougher times, since. It's funny how something like looking at her 1968-69 black & white school picture can bring me such comfort in troubling times. Oh well, I guess that's why I enjoy doing this web page and newsletter so much. (6/14/98)

MAY 1998:
Well, health problems and frankly, lack of interest on my part, has kept me from updating this page for over a month. It's been very hard for me to keep the energy going on this and other alumni projects. I may decide to step down from directing our reunions, so if anyone else is interested in picking up the reunion baton and running with it, please let me know. --Dennis

RUSSELL ('70) & PHYLISS (FORTENBERRY) GRIFFITH ('70) wrote me a letter from their home in Saudi Arabia. Russell tells me: "Dennis, We are moving to Houston, Texas, in July! I got a job there this month. After eight years in the desserts of Saudi Arabia, we're looking forward to being Americans, again! Will get you the new address soon. Phyliss sends her regards. See you soon! --Well, I can't wait to see y'all! Be sure to call as soon as you step foot back in Texas! Good to have you and the family back! (5/13/98)

DONNA COBURN ('71) sent me an e-mail back in March. She and her family moved to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin. She writes: "It's been a long, long year. I finally got a new computer and boy is it fun. The weather up here pretty much sucks in the winter, but the people are great fun. That's probably because all there is to do in the winter is eat and drink lots of alcohol! Ha! My husband will be coming down to Texas for his 30 year class reunion in Converse. My mom want me to come down at that time, too, so you never know, I may show up on your doorstep! We'll be going to our property up in Idaho afterwards. I'm going to have knee surgery in April or May. It's an old injury that I've put up with for many years. My husband and I joined a "curling" club. It's a new Olympic sport. Well, just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive! All my love, Donna." Well, Donna you can show up on my doorstep anytime! Hope the surgery goes (went) well! And yes, I know what curling is. The BEATLES played a game of curling in the movie "HELP!" Please stay in touch! Donna's direct e-mail link is listed on the e-mail page. (5/13/98)

FRANK "RIP" DOUVRY ('70) is headed back to Australia for a month. In an e-mail he writes: "I'm going back "Down Under." I have been asked to help out Australia's largest bank spend about $24,000,000.00. They have asked me to come down and map out a strategy for their item processing future-- things like check processing, remittance processing, and credit card regognition. I will be leaving next week (May 15th) for about 30 days. I'll see what I can find for you, Dennis. I just got back from New Orleans and picked up a mug for you there. When I get to San Antonio, I'll be sure to bring them. I'll try to stay in touch from Sydney, Australia. I may have a internet connection while there. Take care, Rip." -- Rip, thanks for the update and for keeping an eye out for those coffee mugs! Have a great trip! --Dennis (5/13/98)

APRIL 1998: No updates. Life goes on...

MARCH 1998:
Sorry that's it's been a while since I last updated this web page, but "life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." (John Lennon 1980). I'll do my best to keep up better. ---Dennis

CARL UTTERBACH ('71) checked in with me earlier this month. He is a family doctor and lives in Uvalde, Texas. Carl tells me that he has delivered over 2,000 babies in his career. He loves the small town atmosphere of Uvalde and really enjoys his work. He's a pilot, too. He had recently talked to RANDY OLSEN ('71) the bother of our classmate, RICHARD OLSEN ('70), who lives in Massachusetts. Randy is doing much better following serious heart surgery. I think Carl told me that Randy has moved to Fairfax, Virgina, and that's where our classmate, KAREN MORRIS ('70) also lives. (3/22/98)

DONNA STEPHENS ('70) is having a wonderful time being a GRANDMOTHER down in Corpus Christi. She sees her twin sister MONNA STEPHENS ('70) in Grapevine (near Dallas) whenever she can. Donna tells me that WANDA DARLEY ('70) is heading to Corpus to see her and they'll be having lunch together. then Donna promised me that on her next trip to San Antonio, she and Wanda will take me to lunch! It's a date girls!! Speaking of Wanda, my thanks to her for her generous donation to the alumni stuff! (3/22/98)

BRENDA DUGGER ('71) tracked me down on America On Line earlier this week. Brenda lives in Midland, Texas with her husband, FRANK TRIMM ('69). It was great to hear from the both of them. They are doing well and love it up there in the Texas panhandle. Brenda and Frank's direct e-mail link has been added to the chart, so drop them a line when you can! (3/11/98)

SHARON ROW ('70) was in a severe car accident a month or so ago, but she's doing fine now. In fact, her health is pretty good all around and that's always nice to hear. She's taking 18 hours in college right now and recently directed some drama work. She says she can barely wait to graduate after all these years. Hang in there, girl! (3/11/98)

CHUCK OGIER ('70) has made the BIG time! He has started working for a new company, ATLAS AIR and he now flies a Boeing 747. Actually he's training in one and should be a full blown 747 pilot by the beginning of April. The company flys international routes almost exclusively and is the 3rd largest worldwide shipper behind UPS and FED-EX. It's something that he's wanted for a long, long time. Because his training schedule has been so full, he hasn't had time to retake the California bar exam. He hopes to do that sometime in July. Best of luck on your new career, Chuck and on the bar exam, as well. (3/11/98)

FEBRUARY 1998:
VICKI GREEN ELKINS ('70) called me this week to say, "Hello," and to express her sorrow upon reading, on this web page, that Erwin Forbis has died. She said that her husband KENNETH ELKINS ('70) and Erwin were close friends during school days and that they had lost touch with one another over the years. But at the 25-Year class reunion they were able to renew their friendship. Somehow, life comes full circle for us doesn't it. 2/22/98

ERWIN R. FORBIS ('70) died on November 7, 1997. I received a letter from his wife, Mary Beth, on February 14th. She writes... "Dear Dennis, I would like to let you and the Class of 1970 know that my husband, Erwin R. Forbis, died on November 7, 1997 of an extended illness. I am sorry that I haven't let you know sooner, but I am trying to catch up on busniess matters and, truthfully, I find it hard to function well at this time."... Mary Beth, on behalf of all of Erwin's classmates, I extend to you our sincere and heartfelt sympathies and prayers. May Erwin's soul find peace in the love of our Lord and may our Lord comfort and strengthen you and your family.--Dennis. I have written a letter to Mary Beth on behalf of our class and if anyone else wishes to send their condolences the address is: Mary Beth Forbis, 1596 County Road #45, Roanoke, Alabama 36274. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. (2/15/98)

CAROL LIPSEY ('70) sent me a beautiful St. Valentine's Day card. Every year, she sends me one and it just makes my day! She reminded me that I have a standing invitation to go and visit her out in Bulverde and to bring my telescope. She is way out there in the country and when the sun goes down out it gets SUPER dark. You wouldn't believe the billions of more stars you can see out in the country that you can't see in the city limits. Well, I am definitely gonna' make it out there sometime this Spring. 2/15/98

WANDA DARLEY ('70) sent me an e-mail with a bunch of funny stuff. You know those symbols people use on the internet like the smiling face, using a colon and a parenthesees- :) , or the frown- :( Well, Wanda sent me some hilarious ones!! If you want a great laugh, go down to the e-mail direct links below, find Wanda's e-mail link and write her. She'll send them to you! Thanks, Wanda, you always brighten my day when I hear from you! 2/15/98

WARREN WHITAKER ('70) also sent me an e-mail recently, to let me know that all is well with him in Austin. He's been real busy with his job at UT, but loves every minutes of it. He'll be paying me a visit in the very near future! Hang in there, Warren! 2/15/98

LEONARD SAAVEDRA ('70) got in touch with me to explain why he never came to visit me during his recent visit to San Antonio. His trip was cut short due to business and he just didn't have the opportunity to call. No problem, Leonard, all is forgiven. We'll get together next time! 2/2/98

JANUARY 1998:
HAPPY NEW YEAR to each of you! I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season. I had a blast hearing from so many of you with cards, letters, phone calls, and e-mail. This website is getting bigger and bigger and the word is spreading. I receive a lot of feedback on my suggestion that I might drop the twice-a-year newsletter. The vast majority of you asked that I keep the newsletter going. So, for the time being, we will.

LAURA SUMMERSILL ('69) is back in nursing school and hitting the books. Laura is a single mother of three and lives in Valley Hi, just four houses down from her childhood home on Maple Valley! Laura and I have stayed in touch over the years. I will never forget the surprise birthday party she hosted for my "Sweet 16" birthday! It was always a blast to work with her in the drama productions. (1/21/98)

CARL JENSEN ('70) and LEONARD SAAVEDRA ('70) both contacted me during the holidays and said they were coming to San Antonio and promised to give me a call or stop by. Well, if they made it to town, I never heard! Neither got in touch with me. I only mention this because I know they both check out this web page on a regular basis, so I would hold them up to public ridicule and hassle them about it! Carl lives in Virginia and Len lives in Arizona. What happened to you guys? (1/21/98)

LEONARDA GARONSKI ('69/'70) called me last. I hadn't heard from her since our 20-Year Reunion in 1990. She tells me that she is divorced and looking! I suggested that perhaps she could wrangle up a husband at the next class reunion. When she asked when that would be, I told her July in the year 2000. I heard her gasp! Guess she doesn't want to wait that long. She's now the grandmother of two and that keeps her pretty busy. She looks forward to our big 30-Year Reunion and sends her best wishes out to everyone. (1/21/98)

GERALD "BEETLE" JACOBS ('70) was a sight for sore eyes! He came to "The Guys" New Year's Eve party out at BUBBA ABEL's ('70) house. Beetle hasn't changed a bit. I had always thought that he had gotten the nickname "Beetle" from being a big fan of the "Beatles" or that he liked to drive or work on "Beetle" Volkswagens, but not so. I pressured him to tell me the story and he says, is goes way back to the early 1950's when his dad took a liking to a famous racehorse named, "Beetlebaum." His dad started calling Gerald, "Beetle" and the nickname stuck! Beetle and his wife, BRENDA MAY ('73) own the "Little Rascals Daycare" in Castroville. (1/21/98)

MICHAEL COULING ('70) is the General Manager of the "Old San Francisco Steak House" here in San Antonio, and wants to remind all our classmates that the steak house is a great place for family gatherings, office parties, birthday and anniversary parties, wedding receptions, and more! If you're looking for a great place with great food, give Mike a call and he'll take special care of you! I talked with Mike a week or two ago and he tells me he's been in the restaurant business for over 20 years, with Red Lobster, Spaghetti Warehouse and now the steak house. The next step for him would be to open his own place! Can't wait for that, Mike! Good luck!! (1/18/97)

GERALD "JERRY" GILES ('70) has not been heard from, by most of us, for 28 years. Then, out of the clear blue sky, this past Monday, I get an e-mail from him after he received our latest newsletter and he checked out our web page! Talk about being surprised!! I told him he was one of the "TOP 10" classmate trivia questions- "What Ever Happened To Gerald Giles?" Well, know we know! I'll let him tell you in the words of his e-mail to me--- "After graduation, I went to Texas A&M and got my mechanical engineering degree in 1974. I also got married that year to my wife, Robbie. We have a 9 year old daughter. We moved up to the Northwest when Robbie got a job as an assistant professor at the Washington State University library, in Pullman, Washington, which is 8 miles west of Moscow, Idaho, where we live. Moscow also has the University of Idaho. The two towns total about 50,000 population and we enjoy living here. Last year, Moscow increased their number of stoplights by 25%. They went from 8 to 10. I work for a large controls manufacturer. Well, "rush hour" is over and the 2-mile drive home should be clear. I wonder if I should take the 1-stoplight route or the 2-stoplight route???" --- Well, Jerry, after a 28-year absence from the ranks of the '1970 Mustangs,' it's good to have you back! (1/7/98)

RICHARD BRATZ ('70) seems to have dropped out of site. His last two newsletters came back without a forwarding address. I checked on the internet for an address update last June and it showed him at the same address, but when I sent this December's newsletter, it got returned to me today and again I checked the internet. This time, no listing. So, does anyone know where he is? Please let me know ASAP. (1/5/98) UPDATE: Get a load of this! I wrote the previous item about 2 hours ago and I decided to get back on the internet and try another browser- "Yahoo." Guess what? I found a listing for a Richard Bratz in Apple Valley, CA. There was no address, but a phone number was listed. I called and left a message. Richard just called me and he's been found! He lives about two blocks from Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and the Roy Rogers museum in Apple Valley. Richard is doing great and is still in the import/export business. (Speaking of Roy Rogers, his real name is Leonard Slye and Dale Evans' real name is Frances Octavia Smith and she's originally from Uvalde, Texas! In 1959, when I was in first grade a won free tickets to see Roy Rogers and Dale Evans at the Ohio State Fair. Well, I never got to go, but my mom saved the tickets. In 1992, 33 years later, I came across the tickets in my first grade report card envelope. I wrote to Roy Rogers and asked, if I sent the four tickets to him, would he and Dale autograph them for me- two with their stage names and two with their real names. His secretary called me one afternoon, here at home, and said that they would be happy to autograph them for me! I mailed them and about a week later got them back- autographed! Neat, huh!!) (1/6/98)

WARREN WHITAKER ('70) finally received his newsletter after it had be returned to me with a new forwarding address, and he could barely wait to get on the internet to check out our website, which he says, "Looks great!" Warren says that 1997 was the year of change for him. He got a new house, a new job, a new car, and even a new girlfriend! Pretty hard to deal with at his age, he says. Warren works as the Human Resources Manager at the University of Texas Performing Arts Center in Austin and really loves his work. He sends his best wishes for a new year to all and promises me that a "check is in the mail" for this class reunion stuff! I'll watch the mailbox, Warren! Warren has an e-mail link on our classmate e-mail page.(1/5/98)

ED HOLLEY ('72) deserves everyone's appreciation for all of his tremendous work on this website. Everytime I screw something up, he patiently puts is back together again for me. He is constantly coming up with new and innovative things to add to this site. I must also thank his wife, BEVERLY (KLUS) HOLLEY('76) for her patience, as well. Sometimes, Ed and I are on-line into the wee hours of morning and she only gives Ed hell about it. She never jumps my case!! What a lady! She has me over for dinner in their spacious home in Castroville, a prime opportunity to poison me and get even, but no, only delicious food and great conversation. She also has my eternal thanks for standing in line for over two hours to get us tickets to the Elton John concert on January 31st! Way to go, Beverly! (1/1/98)