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1/7/02
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PHS Bulldogs On-Line
Jan 07, 2002
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5 Bulldog alumni notes today:
Loren Larson (62)
Larry Hilton (62)
Dave Demitruk (63)
Sheldon Spadafore (65)
Patti Scharf Noakes (67)

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From: Loren Larson (62)

  Jr. High: Cool names.
  I remember a Gary Ellison took the one I thought was the coolest (everything was cool), "The Kid." Wearing jeans below my bony hips. Getting to school (Jr. High) early to hang out on the corner with all the guys. The fun bus rides to sporting events. Willie Orange, what a character. The homecoming bonfires. The car serpentines cruising through Kennewick (I still hate that school, kidding). Cutting off all the belt loops then discovering the quarter inch, double buckled, turquoise belts were popular. Folding pant cuffs inside my pant legs. Rolling up T-shirt sleeves. Duck tails (DAs), Princetons, Hair Care (wax), Flattops. Unbuttoning the top two buttons of your shirt and having your collar up was not allowed at school. Skirts had to be below the knees.. Mr. Fink and his paddle was voted the "most feared." "Pantsing" Mr. Cochran made overnight history. The most feared, and much later most respected (without paddles) Mr. Jake Stapler and Mr. Michelson. The Taylor Maid salad burgers, breaded veal cutlets, marshmallow shakes. Teen Age (could never beat Dean Kirby at Ping Pong (or anything else)).
  Because of my involvement with diversity issues I have reflected over the years about our "Home Town" being segregated, East Pasco. James Beard, Bobby Cleveland, Willie Gross, Willie & Robert Orange, Alfred Burnett, Robert Mooney, Richard Jemmerson and one of my favorite people ever, Raymond Avery who just passed.
  One of my favorite stories: Dub Meyers took Bill Keller, James Beard, Phil Tilton (as I remember) and myself on a fishing trip to the Potholes. We were packed into sleeping bags anywhere we could find a spot in Dubs car, laughing uncontrollably most of the night. During one of these guffawing sessions Phil reached out picked up a cow pie shoved it in my mouth at which time we all just about died with laughter. By the way, eastern Washington dried cow pies taste very much like wheat germ. Can't remember if we fished or not. Great memories.
  I don't get "home" often, but driving around down town and remembering many of the old spots - Star Cleaners, Tilton's pool hall, Carl's, Pasco and Liberty theaters, Pasco Clothing, Magic Clipper (my dads barber shop), Crater's Jewelry, Penney's, Walker's Barber Shop, the many changes that took place on the four corners of 4th and Lewis. I get confused with the new street names.
  Remember hiking "way out" to the "tar pit" overlooking the Airport. Big Pasco. Jean Bishop and her parents futuristic 57 Ford hardtop convertible. My dad's 52 Chevy with the fake continental kit, visor and the unbelievable windshield washers, the Traction Masters car club, Doyle Clapper's 54 Chevy. Bob Stromer's customized 40 Ford. My 38 Plymouth. Janice Meyers teaching me to "fast dance." The "heroes" that could actually ask girls to dance and then have the courage to ask them out.
  This summer it was my pleasure to see and golf with Jim Cox (smooth), Doyle (most improved), Phil Tebay (nice cart), Gary Bumgartner (will never change, thank goodness), Dean (find another sucker), Glenn Pudwell (still happy), Ted Osborne (will you ever age?), Dewayn Watenberger (still handsome), Larry Dietrick (sandbagger), Bob Butterfield (never a dull moment), Donna McIntyre (Kanapel) and many others. It was a great place and time to grow up.

Loren Larson (62)
Everett, WA
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From: Larry Hilton (62)

  To Dave Whitmire
  Glad to see you join the PHS bulldogs online group. Your story about hicky-bobbing brought back some good memories. When the snow would get packed down on the roads and iced over, Kenney Craven and I would pick a road intersection that had a stop sign. At night we would hide behind some large trees so that the vehicle's driver wouldn't spot us. When the vehicle came to a stop at the stop sign, we would run up behind the vehicle, grab onto the bumper and wait for the vehicle to start moving. There was one big problem you had to avoid. That was getting dragged over a sewer man-hole cover. The man-hole cover always had warm moist air coming up from the sewer and all the snow and ice would be melted off. Hitting a bare man-whole cover at 25 miles an hour, your feet would slam to an instant stop but your body kept flying through the air until it finally came to rest on the hard road. OUCH!!

  How about summer time? Anyone else remember walking all the way out to the Old Navy Base to go swimming at the Pas-Port Plunge swimming pool?

  How about when you got ready to throw a party; you would drive out to Jackson's Potato Chip Factory, located at the Old Navy Base, and for about 50 cents to a dollar they would give you a whole big cardboard box of broken potato chips that didn't make the grade. The box would contain a mixture of cheese, Bar-BQ, and plain style chips. A box of potato chips, several bottles of soda and a record player and you had all the necessities of a party.

Larry Hilton (62)
St. George, UT
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From: Dave Demitruk (63)

  Yes, hooky bobbing, or hicky bobbing, (whatever you called it) was fun! I thought it was "hooky" bobbing because you "hooked" onto the back bumper (or any other thing back there). Although I never considered myself an aficionado, I did have a great pair of hooky bobbing shoes called English brogues. They had the thick leather soles, and heels with thick metal taps inset in the heel, and turned up toes in the front. If you kneeled down with them on, you get the best curvature of the leather soles that made them perfect for hooky bobbing! They were also great for sliding down the hallways at Capt Gray Elementary, "heel and toe" style.... I think Phil Sargent was pretty good at the "heel & toe" sliding as well.

Dave Demitruk (63)
Russell, OH
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From: Sheldon Spadafore (65)

  Best wishes to all from PHS for a Happy New Year.

  My wife and I are enjoying (enduring) some pretty warm weather here "DOWNUNDER" where the temp is around 100+ these days and lots of bush fires about the place.

  Had a nice Christmas Day though and made it through New Years Eve with no dramas.

  Is anybody listed with "ClassMates"? Have been debating the worth of paying to join so I can catch up with some of the folks I see listed there.

  A special thanks to Linda Sanchez for keeping in touch with me. It has been good to hear from folk from the old stomping grounds. Although we think of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, as Gods own country - I remember lots of good times in Pasco.

  Take care and have a wonderful New Year for 2002.

Sheldon Spadafore (65)
Booragul, New South Wales, Australia
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From: Patti Scharf Noakes (67)

  There's new information about Pasco High School Class of 1967 Reunion at Classmates.com. Please take the time to go to the Reunion Site at Classmates.com and complete the NEW survey. It will help the committee members to plan the best Reunion Weekend yet! We are looking forward to your comments.

  Go to information about your reunion by clicking the link below:

  Class of '67 Reunion Planning Meeting
  Thursday, January 10, 2002
  Round Table Pizza - Pasco
  7:00 PM

  See you there!

Patti Scharf Noakes (67)
Kennewick, WA
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