7/31/02
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PHS Alumni On-Line
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Jul 31, 2002
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13 Bulldogs today:
Mary Jo Cravens Schaefers (`55)
Sallee Crawford Bower (`55)
Nancy "Jane" Blevins Thorpe (`56)
Lyle Brewer (`57)
Glen Fetter (`59)
Ronald Olsen (`59)
Shan Egan (`65)
Karyn Turya Rehfeld (`67)
Paul Case (`67)
Kevin Williams (`77)
Tammy Robinson Jackson (`78)
Ricky Jackson (`78)
Blaine Wiggins (`95)
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From: Mary Jo Cravens Schaefers (`55)
Remembering the Navy Base
A few weeks ago I shared on this forum about going to Longfellow grade school in the 1940's. A couple alumni responded with dates and additional info. Thanks. Today I recall going to the old Navy Base to attend sixth grade in 1948-49 and later Junior High School.
There were two sixth grades classes assigned to go out of town to the former WWII Naval base facility, while the other sixth graders remained at Longfellow and Whittier. My teacher was Miss Waite; the other was Mrs. Whiteside. Things which stand out to me about that year were: having to take a bus to the Navy Base, roller skating at recess on the cement pad there, taking square dancing and ballroom dancing class, and the friends I made, namely Sue Thomas (who later moved to Spokane) and Verlea Strebe, (now Buckindorf) (who now lives in Finley). I also remember catching a bus from Pasco on Friday nights in order to go roller skating on the wooden gym floor at the Navy Base where there was a commercial rink. This is when I first teamed up with my longtime friend, Sallee Crawford (now Bower), class of 55, who still lives in Pasco.
Does anyone else remember the Navy Base days or what year the school district stopped using that facility? I know that it was used for Columbia Basin College classes for a while in the 50's. I returned there for 7th and 8th grades because everyone from Pasco went there for Junior High in those days. My seventh grade homeroom teacher, Miss Eleanor Kelly (now Kelly McFadden), introduced us to journalism, literature, and so much else. I remember reading The Navy Blue and Gold that year in her English class. I know she had some of us (like Bev Bafaro (now Fink) and me get up in front of everyone and take turns reading that book to the class. We didn't mind because it was such an exciting football story. Miss Kelly became my model for what a good teacher should be. She loved teaching, made learning and projects exciting and fun, never sweat the small stuff, and really cared for us as a good friend as well as our teacher. She became engaged to her future husband, Bill McFadden (now deceased), that year and we students really thought that was romantic! Hot pink and neon green were popular colors that year, but we called them fuschia and chartreux. Two of my classmates, Chet Cooney, and Dale McCarty, had their mothers dye their corduroy pants those colors with one leg fuschia and one chartreux.
I think it was in the 7th grade when another girl and myself and many boys signed up for aeronautics class in which we learned to build model airplanes. My model was a real mess, but the instructor was very patient as I pieced it together gradually stick by stick. Who was that teacher -- aviation fans out there, do you know? In 8th grade drama class (with Mrs. Bernice Mylerberg) I recall writing a script for a radio show based on "Little Women" and also wearing a sailor's suit to sing in the chorus of the HMS Pinafore. "We aaaah sail the ocean blue......" :) And what a basketball season that year! Mr. Green's boys did splendidly while we girls cheered and cried our eyes out when they won the last game against --? Our team was the Pasco Junior High School Panthers, right? I wrote my first novel in the 8th grade. It was a junior high school story about my friends: Sallee, Judy, Verlea, Claudine, Bertie, Peggy, and others. It included stories of everything from fishing trips to first kisses to sock dances. I called it "The Crackerjack Girls." It may have been a classic if only I had spelled better. Naturally I never published it.
Here is a trivia question to jog PJHS memories. What was The Tumbleweed?
Mary Jo Cravens Schaefers (`55)
Hoodsport, WA
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From: Sallee Crawford Bower (`55)
Hello to all of my classmates! I love this to read this site. Mary Jo and Larry have brought back so many memories of days gone by. Lyle Brewer asked about Mrs. Ruzick. The class of 55 was honored with her presence at our 40th reunion along with Mrs. (Kelly) McFadden and Ms. Ethel Booth. Mrs. Ruzick lives in Cheney, WA, Mrs. McFadden lives in Spokane, and Ms. Booth, here in the Tri-Cities. That was about 6 1/2 years ago and all of them were as spunky as when they were teaching us.
I hope all of you will pass this website on to your classmates.
Sallee Crawford Bower (`55)
Pasco, WA
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From: Nancy "Jane" Blevins Thorpe (`56)
To Mary Jo Cravens Schaefers (`55):
Yes, I remember the credit bureau years! You're the one that got me my job there when I was a Junior. What a blessing. Anything was better than working at Larry's Mile High Cones in Kennewick! We have lived here in Tacoma since 1961 and are now retired. We just returned from South Dakota where we met our new GREAT Grandson, Garrett, born June 27th. What a thrill! Now he and our grand daughter will be leaving for Germany to be with daddy/husband.
Jon is doing better each day and we appreciate your prayers which give us strength and encouragement. Jon especially remembers the tennis bus trips and the cards you all played. "Who Wouldn't Be Crazy?" and the "Night of January 16th" were some of the plays we were in together and also the WASCO staff. What fun!
To Gary Miller (`55):
Jon Thorpe wants to know if you remember the party you had at your house in the summer of 1956? Jon ended up staying all night, along with several others, and his mother was ready to send out a search party for him. She called Nancy's house to see if he was there! Caused quite a stir in the Blevins' household!
Nancy "Jane" Blevins Thorpe (`56)
Tacoma, WA
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From: Lyle Brewer (`57)
This is one great site! ! !
. . I had dropped out of things for a very long time, and thought I should look up a few of the classmates that I remembered as being especially thoughtful and considerate, and I guess we can all think back to what those years were like, and I have been happy to hear from two or three who are wanting to catch up, and resume old friendships. What really started me, several years ago, and pre-computer, was remembering, thinking about, and wanting to get in touch with Janis Moore, my neighbor and classmate. I was devastated to find I took up my search too late, that Janis had died. Is there a lesson here? Cherish your friends!
Lyle Brewer (`57)
Palm Springs, CA
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From: Glen Fetter (`59)
Re: Miss Ruzick,
The teacher that lived with miss Chess was miss Ruzick, I know because I lived right next store to them in Pasco. I graduated from Pasco High School in 1959 and my name is Glen Fetter and I'm now sixty-two years old. I went to Captain Grey Elementary School, Pasco Jr High School, Pasco Sr High School, and 2 years at CBC. Miss Ruzick taught gym at Captain Grey Elementary School when Miss Chess was the principle when I was in 5th and 6th grade.
Why isn't there a 1959 alumni page?
Glen Fetter (`59)
Seattle, WA
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From: Ronald Olsen (`59)
We have gone through the history of the Edgar Brown Stadium. Now does anyone know how Pasco got to be the No. 1 school district in Washington? I was through the other day and saw Pasco School District No. 1 on the school buses. I know it is the best school district in the state but am a little surprised that the west side would concede that.
Ronald Olsen (`59)
Moses Lake, WA
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From: Shan Egan (`65)
What a kick it is to find this wonderful sight. Can hardly wait to read up on all the alumni chat. It makes me homesick.
Shan Egan (`65)
Foster City, CA
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From: Paul Case (`67)
To Class of 1967 alumni:
I think it's last call if you don't want to miss out on our 35-year reunion. I've heard from reunion planning committee folks that response has been very slow, which is too bad because they have worked hard to try and plan a casual, enjoyable weekend so people can visit, reminisce, and just shoot the breeze. I'll assume that if you live out of town that you've already decided whether you're coming or not and that you probably can't change plans at this late date. But if you live close to Pasco (within 500 miles!), I hope you're not planning to just show up unannounced and "pay at the door." Planning a weekend for a couple hundred classmates just doesn't work that way. Patti and her committee have spent lots of hours, probably more like lots of days, planning for food, decorations, entertainment, etc., etc. It makes it really hard on them if they can't get a reasonably accurate count on who is going to attend. So, if you're planning to come, please contact Patti right away or drop a note to PHS Alumni On-Line and I'll see that she gets it.
If you're not planning to come, why not? You're going to miss a nice laid-back weekend of catching up on old friendships and maybe beginning some new ones. I skipped our 20-year reunion and then went to my wife's reunion a couple of years later. Then I was sorry I had missed our reunion and I haven't missed one yet. Life is too short - and too fragile - to let these opportunities slip by. If you're in town - or near town - make plans to come and join us. And please let Patti know right away!
Paul Case (`67)
Pasco, WA
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From: Karyn Turya Rehfeld (`67)
Re Class of 1967 reunion:
I am really looking forward to seeing the people in the Class of `67 in August. It should be fun! After 35 years, it is refreshing to know that it really doesn't matter what you do for a living, how much money you have, we focus more on the good things in life, etc, etc. See you all soon!
Karyn Turya Rehfeld (`67)
Pasco, WA
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From: Kevin Williams (`77)
Class of 1977 Responds!
Hello Rick McNanny and the rest of my friends from the Class of `77!!
Rick, are you still policing the streets of Moscow, Idaho? What is this I hear about topless car washes?
Summer is blazing right now in the Pasco and the Boat Races have just finished up. Quite a spectacular end this year with one complete flip and one close one. All the drivers are OK.
I bought a house with a pool last winter. My kids, ages 9 and 12, are in hog heaven. Just partnered up on a boat, also. Always thought that having a boat while living in Pasco would truly be the way to go.
2007 is not far away! A 30-year reunion sounds like aging! Not a problem, though, since my hair color has not changed since you all saw me last.
Best wishes,
Kevin Williams (`77)
Pasco, WA
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From: Tammy Robinson Jackson (`78)
1978 was great!! Where is everybody at!!!!
God Bless!!
Tammy Robinson Jackson (`78)
Kent, WA
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From: Ricky Jackson (`78)
Is any body from 1978? Did you all find where you were finally going to?
Ricky Jackson (`78)
Kent, WA
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From: Blaine Wiggins (`95)
I got married to my beautiful wife Teesha on August 6, 1999 in Mesa, AZ. We built a new home 2 years ago and we just found out we are expecting our first child in 12/02! A little boy! Whoo-hoo! I am an Admissions Counselor at the University of Phoenix and own two side businesses. I play city league baseball and try to pretend like I'm 17 again (it doesn't work). I still keep in touch with my buddies Brian Woodward and Pat Racsa fairly regularly. Life is great! Would love to hear from anyone anytime!
Blaine Wiggins (`95)
Mesa, AZ
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