Owen "Wes" Western passed out 3-D glasses at yesterday's Class of '63 Reunion meeting then later emailed a photo of the group.  I hope you've got an old pair laying around.

We're still trying to figure out where this picture of President John F. Kennedy was taken.  The business at the left has a phone number that appears to be AT-2-7721.  Barbara Bright Wilder '62 thought it might be that portion of El Cajon Blvd. that was cut away to make room for the I-15.  Bob Belanzon '70 thinks he can spy a portion of a steak house that used to be there.

Click HERE to see a gorgeous enlargement of a 1912 La Mesa photo from the San Diego History Center.  Sadly I don't know my way around in La Mesa, so someone will have to tell me which way this photo is pointing.

Dave Folck '67 has written a book entitled: MRSA, MRSA Me! A First Person Story of Gross Negligence Medical Malpractice, the Lawsuit Which Followed, Thoughts on Fighting Back and Reform. 

David Bieber '69 has probably made it to Washington, DC on his WWII Harley Davidson by now.  He posed for this photo with a couple of guys from the 1st Airborne Division in Grand Island, NE on June 4th.

I've just learned that Suzanne Laycock Fares '68 passed away last September in Pleasanton, CA.  Click HERE to read the obituary written by her husband.

The Wandering Wingo Women checked in late yesterday from Virginia City, Montana.  Nancy says she'll be back in San Diego for the Class of '63 Reunion Planning Luncheon on Thursday.  

Susan Marshall Gordon '64, my Foundation connection, found a home at Crawford for the collection of 3-ring binders that I inherited -- and she came and got them.  The next day I was scouring Casa Frita (can you make the translation?) in desperate need of a 3-ring binder.

The June edition of the quarterly 12-page Alumni Newsletter went in the mail last week so, if you're a subscriber, you should have it in hand.  Since the Class of '73 will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of its graduation before the next newsletter, I put in a couple of pages of photos from the 1973 Centaur. Pacerettes Paula Davis, Dyane Culver and Peggy Fransaw are pictured above.  New subscribers include Sandra Beeson Benson '65, Bruce Carlquist '65, Sydney McVay Drumel '65, Gary Miller '65, Robert Phillips '65, Ken Sheldon '65, John Sweet '66, Winifred Ward Whitaker '66, Deborah Goldberg Todhunter '70 and John Schroyer '70

I'm guessing Marv Abrams '65 spotted the above baseball photo in the newsletter.  He's emailed some corrections, located himself in the photo, and thinks he may have thrown a ball that broke Bill Paxton's finger.  Click HERE to read all of what he wrote.

It can't be a coincidence that Dan Schrecht sent me this photo of JFK on El Cajon Blvd on June 6, 1963.  That was 50 years ago Thursday.  Dan and his brother, both Kearny graduates, learned in 1984 that they had a big sister -- a 1960 Crawford graduate.  Click HERE to learn who it is, and to see the above photo enlarged.  I'd be curious if anyone can identify where the photo was taken.  I let my fingers walk up El Cajon Blvd in my 1956 City Directory to no avail.  Even cruised The Boulevard via Google Earth.  Boy, that red building looks familiar!!!

Click HERE to read the June 9, 1972 edition of the Pacer.  The 6-page publication is the last one from the collection donated by Velinda Clanton Peterson '72.  The collection is now in the archives at Crawford.

A rather cryptic email last week asked me to take Cathy Johnson Slater '66 off the email list.  "She passed away on Mother's Day".  

The Wandering Wingo Women -- Nancy, Leanne and Lisa -- have reached Rapid City, South Dakota. They're hoping it quits raining long enough to visit Mount Rushmore.  Here's a photo Nancy took  yesterday evening at Wall Drug Store.

Hey buddy!!  Interested in any 3-ring binders? Bayview Terrace Elementary School is closing, after 71 years in Pacific Beach.  I've inherited the Principal's Albums and, after removing all of the photos to save storage space, I'm up to my armpits in 1 x 8 1/2 x 11 binders as well as 2 x 12 x 9 binders.  They're like new.  Let me know if you're interested.

Click HERE to see an enlarged version of this 1911 photo of Lemon Grove.

Lois C. Tidwell, my English teacher at Crawford, passed away last week at Age 103.  I assumed she died years ago.  A two-line notice in the May 30th Union-Tribune is all I can share.

Donna Mador '68 died on May 28th.  She was a life-long San Diegan and is survived by brother Charles Mador '66 and Shirley Mador Kessler '69.

The final Golden Anniversary Pacer is the 10-page June 5, 1963 "Welcome President Kennedy/Graduation Issue".  Enjoy!!!

Drum roll please!!  This is the First Thursday Event everyone keeps asking about. D Day, if you will. Members of the Class of '66 are going to collectively celebrate their 65th Birthdays.  As a member of the Class of '62 I'm thinking this is a good chance to meet some young chicks giddily waving their Social Security checks in the air.  Apparently the event has been moved upstairs and will begin at 6PM -- not 5 PM.

Nancy and her two daughters arrived in Boise, Idaho last night, which will be their Base of Operations for the next couple of weeks.  I believe they're headed to Missoula, Montana today

I can't believe Memorial Day is here again.  I hope you'll take time out from your merriment to visit the Colts Who Died in Vietnam Page.  Get a box of tissues before you watch the Fort Rosecrans video prepared by the 2007 Crawford AV Class.

 

Last week's U-T Health Section had an article that suggested you wash your hands more often -- and long enough to sing "Happy Birthday" twice.  I got to wondering if that put Jehovah's Witnesses in a compromising position.  Maybe they can sing "Row, row, row your boat."

I'm not namin' names, but it was less than a week ago that someone revealed to me that he had a school boy crush on Mary Pomplun '62.  "Take a number," I thought.  Looks like there's a new Pomplun in town.  Chula Vista's Raquel "Rocky" Pomplun is the granddaughter of Mary's uncle -- and the May 2013 Playboy Playmate. 

The May 26, 1972 Pacer is the next-to-last of the Crawford student newspapers donated by Velinda Clanton Peterson '72.  Swimmers Larry Farrar, Mike Yeakle, Aric Partovich, Skip Weitzen, Ron Smith, John Connover, Warren Turner and Kenny Burton all get a mention in the article on the CIF Sweep.  I was more interested in the "Pacer Junior Staff Puts Out" headline.  Turned out to be some sort of Freudian Tunnel Vision.

It's Spring Training time for football, and this past Tuesday's U-T had a nice article on the fact that Crawford is switching to the Manzanita League in hopes of being able to compete on a more level field. Click HERE to read the article.

I thought I was old!!  Don Ball would like folks to know that his Class of '59 will celebrate the 55th Anniversary of its graduation in 2014.  Email Don Ball or John Blackwell if you'd like information.  You can also telephone Don at 951-600-0434

I must have walked by it 50 times, but never did pay attention to the smarmy little elves Nancy affixed to the rear window of her Tucson.  It was only after the snickers and furtive glances became overpowering that I examined the little quintet.  Reading from right to left I determined that the dog was  Leanne's little ball of fluff Phoebe. The two girls in tiaras would be Nancy's daughters Leanne and Lisa.  Wearing the mouse ears would be Nancy herself.  Holy Crap!!  She made me Grumpy the Dwarf!!  That hurts on a couple of counts.

This 1915 photo of Encanto was printed from a cracked glass plate negative with a light leak on the left.  I was able to doctor up the crack but not the light leak.  

Remember that video of the 1945 military Harley Davidson owned by David Bieber '69?  David's getting ready to saddle up the bike and go "Across America".  He's hoping to raise $4500.00 for the Wounded Warrior Project.  Click HERE for more information.  You can also send a check or money order to David Bieber, PO Box 907, Chula Vista, CA 91912.  

The Golden Anniversary Pacer is from May 23, 1963.  Rich Osher was elected ASB President, Anne Kingsbury was named editor of the Pacer, Barbara Lamb was chosen Coed of the Year, Dennis Rubin's Dodge Lancer won the Crawford Car Show, and Bob Brunner and Gary Byrnes were named Athletes of the Month.  Jeez, now you don't even have to read the paper.

Marion "Herr Mac" McAnear taught German, and English -- and coached soccer -- at Crawford for many years.  He passed away April 19th.  You can read his obituary and sign the guestbook at Legacy.com

Mail sent to Alfred Torres '70 was returned by the post office with the hand-written note that he passed away on December 6, 2011.  (Actually it said "past away" which was charmingly similar to castaway.)

I neither brunched on hot dogs nor lunched on pizza during my three-hour autograph session at Costco last Friday.  Nancy did take a break from shopping to bring me a churro, which we split.  I sold a handful of books, but had a great time people-watching from the comfort of my $199.00 Costco genuine leather executive swivel chair.

The Annual Mark 4 Reunion and Barbecue will take place on Sunday, May 26th, from 1-4 PM.  Joan Antofte Augsberger, Alan Novidor, Gary Orlansky, Phil Catalfo, Rick Simons, Mark Elson, and Randy Blackwood will be rocking to the oldies — and perilously close to the pool.  If you’re interested in attending this back yard pot luck, email Alan Novidor or call him at 510-910-0219

Yale "Fiddler on the Roof" Strom '75 has been named a KPBS "Hero of the Month".  Click HERE to read the article.

Boy, the 6-page May 9, 1963 Golden Anniversary Pacer is chock full of interesting stories -- and there are articles on not one, but TWO, hot cars owned by Colts.

Word came this week of the passing, on May 7th, of Marlene Reeder Thorne '60.  You can read a little more on the Class of '60 Obituary Page.

Looks like I may be brunching on Costco hot dogs and lunching on Costco pizza.  Turns out Arcadia Publishing wants me to sit on folding chair for THREE HOURS today at the Morena store autographing my book on Pacific Beach.  Sounds frighteningly like being pilloried in the public square in Colonial Massachusetts.  I'll be there with my quill and inkwell at 11 AM.  Sounds like I'll be limping out sometime after 2.

There's an article in this week's Los Angeles Times about folks who spend time in the eastern Sierras trying to match still photos from old movies with the exact location where the scenes were taken.  You may have to do the same thing with the F. E. Patterson shot of Spring Valley above.  He also took the 1905 shot of Kendall Street pier featured on the cover of my book above.

Now receiving the Fry Day emails are Vowen "Vo" Clark '60 and Gary Mitrovich '76.

Walter Pease '64 sends word of his father's passing on April 19, 2013.  Coach Gerald "Jerry" Pease opened Crawford in 1957 and remained through the 1961-1962 school year.  You can learn more on the Faculty Obituary Page.

You may recall that Bob Richardson '61 went over to the dark side a while back.  He apparently ran out of photos to share with us AND joined Ancestry.com   The good news is that he recently took a road trip to the central valley to see his sister Margaret and came back with a couple of 1956 cheesecake photos of Margaret and her classmate, the late Barbara Hobart (above).  Click HERE to see an enlargement.

Dick Draz also coached at Crawford, but for WAY longer than three years.  He and his wife are getting ready to move from their abode of 45 years and Ken Burton '72 is the recipient of some of Dick's water polo memorabilia.  Click HERE to see if you can identify some of the folks -- or the year taken -- in three CIF victory photos.

Ay Caramba!!  There is no mention of Cinco de Mayo in the May 5, 1972 Pacer.  There IS an article entitled "Prejudice is a disease".  Maybe I better read it.  

When I was a kid we told people we lived in East San Diego.  When pressed, we'd admit that it was actually Normal Heights.  Turns out there really WAS an East San Diego, and Gary Mitrovich has written a book about it.  Click HERE to order a copy.  Click HERE to see Gary on Ken Kramer's About San Diego.  Click HERE to read about Gary's career as a cop.

Imagine plopping down in your easy chair and turning on the television only to see yourself.  Luckily that didn't happen to me 'cause Nancy and I stayed a little longer than we'd planned at the Amigo Spot last Thursday.  Several of you wrote to tell me you'd seen me do my "Garnet, Darn It" bit, which I think is about 20 years old.  Judging by my glasses, it may be older.  If you'd like to see it go to Ken Kramer's About San Diego.  It's near the end of the 30-minute piece.

I was looking at this photo of three Douglas TBD "Devastators" when it occurred to me that I could share it with my Colt buddies as a San Diego Photo.  I'm almost certain the photo looks north to La Jolla Shores from east Pacific Beach.  WWII buffs know that all of the Devastators at the Battle of Midway were shot down by the Japanese.  One of the planes in this photo was there.  The two others were lost earlier.  Click HERE to learn more -- and see the BIG picture.

Coming in from out of the cold were Barbara Adams Ek '66 from Everett, Washington, Frank "Butch" Hiller '71 from Rancho Mirage and Harold Goot '76 from Marion, Illinois.  You can find them on their respective email pages.  Judy Sisler Pedro '66 has moved from Norman, Oklahoma to Berkeley, California to be closer to her daughter.  THAT must be an interesting cultural change.

Rolly Fanton, Anita Smith, Doug Wied, Donna Genaro, Janice Hillis, Barbara LeSage, Richard Bray, Terry Hudson, Rick Herrmann and Charlie Tate.  Track Star, Senior Sketch, Heap of the Week, May Coed, Wedding Gown Model, Honored Journalists, Music Festival Winner.  You'll have to read the April 25, 1963 Pacer  to figure out who earned which honor.

I believe the 5th Annual Senior Awards Day program is the last of the Crawfordiana loaned to me by Ann Roskos Roffelsen '63.  Enjoy!!

They're BA-A-A-A-A-CK!!!!  Ron Klein is returning to the Amigo Spot with his First Thursday followers.  Holy Cow!!  It says 5 PM in the above marquee from Nancy Miljas.  That's almost too early for me.  Let's see, I guess that would be May 2nd.  See you there.

Nancy and I may be brunching on Costco hot dogs next Friday.  Arcadia Publishing has asked me to show up at the Morena store at 11 AM on May 3rd to autograph copies of my Images of America: Pacific Beach book.  If you can't make it you can purchase a copy off my web site.