September 16, 2016

Crawford beat Southwest San Diego last week by a score of 30-6.  Tonight's game is a 7 PM kickoff against El Cajon Valley High School.

Better late than never!!  Ginger Irvine Barnard forwards a snapshot from last year's Class of '60 reunion.  Lela Kerth Schlitz is on the left and Sabra Clardy Bordas is in the middle.

Here's the first Golden Anniversary Pacer for the 1966-1967 school year, the issue from September 15, 1966.

Phyllis Schwartz may have too much time on her hands.  While perusing her '72 Centaur she noticed that her pal Debbie Soper

is pictured among the Seniors on Page 199

and also among the Juniors on Page 157

This was news to Debbie also, but she lost her yearbook in a Nebraska house fire in 1977.  Says Phyllis, "Deb and I want to know: was it a prank? an honest mistake? Does she have an identical twin born a year apart?"

From Pomona to Ramona.  Mary Jane Rogers, Bob Richardson, and Facebook's mysterious Nancy Jane all went to work researching the life of Horace Mann Principal C. Russell Henzie.  Bob learned that "Buddy" Henzie was president of the 1935 Pomona High Student Council and Mary Jane found a 1990 Los Angeles Times article in which Mr. Henzie tries to save the 300-year old oak trees on Highway 67 near his horse farm.  I'll try to put all of this together at a later date.

Here's a puzzlement.  Jana Ditmars forwards an obituary for Barbara Jean Naish, age 83.  The article said she graduated from Crawford.  Her little sister Patricia Naish Johnson '59 DID go to Crawford, passing in 2014. I'm guessing the oldest Crawford graduates might be pushing 75, so Crawford probably was still dirt when Barbara graduated.  Maybe she went to Hoover.

Vern Bowman sends sad news.  His little brother Dennis, from my Class of '62, passed away September 7th from Lou Gehrig's Disease.  Wrestling victories for Crawford and Coach Frank Smith were among Dennis' happiest school memories.

Edell "Del" Kelley Henry '63 died of cancer September 6th.  A Memorial Service will be held Sunday September 18 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at Foundry Church 60 N.W. Foundry Avenue Bend Oregon 97701.  Click HERE to leave a message.

The Class of '67 Reunion Committee just learned of the belated passing of their classmate John Hearst on October 28, 2012.

September 9, 2016

SUMMER'S OVER and it's still dark in Pacific Beach.  The good news is that Nancy and I can assume our rightful spot at the Waffle Spot counter without standing about in the lobby with the unwashed masses and their hyperactive progeny for half an hour.

Crawford outlasted Classical Academy last Friday 15-13, so the team is 2-0.   They'll meet Southwest San Diego tonight at 7.  

Speaking of Crawford football, Karen Clarke Snyder spotted a fellow with a Colt T-Shirt at her gym in Santee.  She  told him she was an alum from the Class of '74.  He turned out to be head Football Coach Michael Wright.  "He seems to be a super-nice dude," noted Karen.

I always enjoy the notes that occasionally accompany newsletter renewal checks and feel badly that I'm too lazy to respond.  This one is from Mel Brav '60.  

Tiki Oasis San Diego has come and gone.   I probably wouldn't have known about it if the Crowne Plaza Tiki crowd hadn't overflowed into the Amigo Spot.  Turns out there's a history of Tiki Bars in San Diego (and Tijuana) on the web.  Click HERE to check it out.  The postcard above shows the Aloha Cafe in Tijuana in 1931.

 

I understand the Class of '61 will celebrate the 55th Anniversary of its Graduation over the weekend of September 23rd.  For those folks who misplaced their yearbooks, they can check out enlarged pages of the Senior Standouts.

After 72 years in San Diego Tom Cassie, and wife Barbara, have moved to Colorado Springs.  It's probably not a coincidence that their daughter and her family live there.  Tom's new email address is tcassie714@icloud.com

C. Russell Henzie, Horace Mann Principal in the '50s and '60s, passed away July 23, 2016.  He was born December 8, 1917.  I think we all would have enjoyed a more detailed obituary, but that's all I got.

September 2, 2016

Crawford beat Mountain Empire last week 12-6.  Tonight they meet the Classical Academy Caimans at 7 PM at Del Norte High School in 4S Ranch.

Nancy and I got the September newsletter to the Midway Post Office, or what's left of it, on Monday so you should be getting your copy if you are a subscriber.  Click HERE if you're interested in information on subscribing.

Newsletter subscription renewal notices went out to the Classes of 1960 and 1972 this week.  

Did you watch Phil Collins perform the other night at the opening of the US Open tennis matches in New York?  Me neither.  Russ Boggs '71 did, however, and thought it an "indifferent performance".  He WAS impressed with the bass player, who turned out to be Nathan East '73.  Click HERE to take a listen.

William Braxton "Joe" Dyke '65 posted this 1978 photo of the Seaport Village Band on Facebook.   When Seaport Village shut down the band, members kept the uniforms and became the Grand Pacific Band.  Among other venues, they perform at NASSCO ship launchings.  I think Joe is the one who isn't smiling.

Louis William "Duke" Wellington passed away August 10th at home, surrounded by family.  His obituary said he attended Crawford and joined the Marine Corps in 1963.   Classmate Maurice Barringer says Duke would have graduated in '64 had he not left school early.  I've placed him on the Class of '64 Obituary Page.

The obituary for Duke Wellington said he'd been predeceased by his sister Carol Wellington Bennett '63.  Mary Gale "Sherlock" Rogers found a birth date, but nothing else.

August 26, 2016

Looks like football season begins tonight for Crawford, which is picked to finish third in the Central League.  You better hitch up the buckboard early if you want to travel to the 6:30 kickoff of tonight's game.  It's at Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley.  Those of you who check your maps on-line may, like me, be surprised to learn that you get there by traveling east on the Kumeyaay Highway.  Some of us still think of it as I-8. 

I got a kick out of Wednesday's Bliss Cartoon

My classmate Gary Schulte sent me a San Diego Sun newspaper dated September 26, 1938.  I scanned some articles and posted them on Facebook last week.  Those of you who don't do Facebook can now read them on my web site.  Click HERE.

I guess Sandy Shapery's replica Electriquettes are up and running in Balboa Park.  The Union-Tribune's Karla Peterson took one for a test drive.   Click HERE to read her story.  Sandy Shapery is a 1961 Crawford graduate.

I awoke Monday morning with Ernie Dronenburg speaking out of my clock radio.  Turns out he was making an endorsement in the County Supervisors' race.  You can read all about it on the KPBS web site.  Ernie Dronenburg is also a 1961 Crawford graduate.

Speaking of politics, 10 people have taken out papers in the City of El Cajon council election.  One of them is George Glover '73.  Read more about George and his competition in East County Magazine.

(Please do not send me a nasty email.  I'm not endorsing political candidates.  I'm just letting you know about Colts in the news)

James Norman Smith '61 passed away August 8th -- a week after being diagnosed with liver cancer.  I've posted a small obituary on the Class of '61 Obituary Page. 

August 19, 2016

The only Colt I saw in the news this week was myself, buried in Wednesday's Logan Jenkins' Union-Tribune column about San Diego County place names.  Click HERE to read his column.  There's a link within the column to a 20-year old Ken Kramer interview on the same topics.  The image above is the sign on Cass Street with Garnet Avenue misspelled.

I dug deep into the Top 40 archives to come up with this KCBQ "Top 29" list from August 17, 1973.  The #1 hit was "Live and Let Die" with Paul McCartney and Wings, which reminds me of my buddy Jeff Dalrymple's son's plaint "Dad!!  Did you know Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?"

August 12, 2016

LAST FRIDAY NANCY AND I had nothing to do and all day to do it, so we decided to head east for breakfast at Major's Cafe in Pine Valley.  We made it about as far as Texas Street when the traffic on east-bound 8 came to a stop.  Ahead, on an overpass, I could see police cars streaking with blue lights flashing.  I quit counting at 20 and assumed we were all going to die from a nuclear attack.  All four lanes eventually were forced onto the Southbound I-15.  Once we got up to speed again, Nancy suggested we take 94 to the I-8,  Worked swell until 94 turned into a parking lot nearing the 8.  We got off and worked our way through La Mesa to Spring Street.  Several ambulances were on the freeway overpass, which was packed with pedestrians looking down at the freeway.  "Must be a jumper," I thought.  Nope.  The freeways were shut down so hundreds of police cars could make their way to El Cajon for the memorial services for Jonathan de Guzman, killed in the line of duty last month.  Oh -- we ended up having breakfast at Patty's on Lake Murray Blvd.

"Relatives of yours?" said the text  from Alaska from my pal John Wilding.  The boxes say "Chinook Fry", "Chum Fry", "Coha Fry," and "Sockeye Fry".  Must be distant cousins.  Sockeye sounds like a character from "Dangerous Dan McGrew".

Does anyone out there collect postcards?  I've posted and copied and shared the pertinent cards sent to me by Mike McKim '68.  Now I'm looking to pass them on.  There are a handful of San Diego cards, more than a handful of California cards, and some from overseas.

Ron Morse '64 stands next to his 1962 Fiat 600D on Prom Night.  He says it could do 80 downhill, pegged, and 70 on the flats.  It was small enough to slip between the barriers at SDSU and drive onto the tennis courts.  I've added the photo to the Cars We Drove To School Page.

August 5, 2016

NANCY AND I waved at the Waffle Spot as we drove east on I-8 to Brothers Restaurant on Waring Road last Friday.  Nancy Miljas '66 was also dining there, and stopped to chat on her way out.  When it came time to take care of the bill our waitress said it had been paid, and added -- "Go Colts!"  On Monday we were running late and decided to give the Waffle Spot a shot.  We got in without a wait, just as Ron Dixon and his wife Arlene Lueke Dixon '67 were leaving.  Nancy was dining closer to home in San Marcos Tuesday and again learned someone had bought her lunch.  She paid it forward and took care of the bill of a WWII vet and his wife.  (It said WWII on his hat)

I'm not sure who Pea Hicks is, but Greg May continues to thank him for photos he posts on his Facebook page.  I thank him too.  This week he shared some 1967 aerials of Mission Valley and Mission Bay.

Added to the Cars We Drove To School page this week was Joan Thatcher Green '69, shown here with her '67 Chevy Malibu and dog Tippy

Ted Hazlewood '63 shows off the car he would like to have driven to school.  That's his son Cory riding shotgun.  He didn't say what kind of car it is, other than it's his "Latest Production".

Doug Wilson '71 passed away last month, on July 14th.

July 29, 2016

ONCE AGAIN, there's not a lot of news in the Colt Corral.  Summer visitors have made it increasingly difficult to find a breakfast spot without a 30-minute wait.  Lately Nancy and I have visited the Loma Portal Denny's and the adjacent Swami's

 

Newsletter subscribers from the Classes of '69 and '74 should receive their renewal envelopes in the mail shortly.  They went in the mail yesterday.  If you want to save the price of a stamp you can renew -- or start -- your subscription using the Alumni Newsletter Order Form.

Last Saturday's Union-Tribune had a nice article about Stephen Bishop '69.  Click HERE to check it out.

Try to control yourself ladies.  I just came across this 1964 photo of me and my '56 Chevy, and have added it to the Cars We Drove To School Page.  I'm pretty sure I got the "Chrome" wheel covers and Mickey Mouse sidewalls at Pep Boys.

I may have shared this photo of Caesar's in Mission Valley before, but it popped up again this week on Greg May's Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  It was taken by Virginia May.  I wonder if that was Greg's mother.  It later became Rusty Pelican -- or Lusty Perican, as Jeff Dalrymple's Japanese girlfriend called it.  The entire space was razed and is now Gordon Biersch.

Remember Pioneer Chicken?  I didn't remember that it was Take Out.  The Pacific Beach store is now "my" Starbucks.

Dennis Atherton '61 passed away on June 20th.  That's all I know

We've just now learned of the passing of Richard Saunders on December 10, 2013 -- a day short of his 70th birthday.  You can read more on the Class of '61 Obituary Page.