I think this is my all-time favorite Far Side cartoon. I'm reminded of one of my gifted 7th graders who was curious how a microphone worked, so he took it apart -- about an hour before the heavily-advertised Student-Faculty play.
I've been immersed in old San Diego photos for the last 60 years,
so it's always a treat when I come upon something new. This one
knocked my socks off. That's the ruins of the San Diego Mission
in the foreground, and Ward Road and Texas Street canyons at the
rear. Click HERE
to see an enlargement and a little about the picture's
provenance.
A folding service-station street map from our youth. Hold on a
second! Spanish Bight still existed on North Island? This thing
is a LOT older than I thought. Click HERE
to follow my clues and make your own guess.
I wondered if any future Colts might be in this picture of Euclid
Elementary First Graders spotted on Facebook. Turns out the
answer is yes. I'd already posted it on my Euclid Elementary
page. Click HERE
to check it out.
I had reached August of 1962 in my Clairemont history research in
the UT archives when this ad leaped off the page. For a long
time, when I drove by on my way to Crawford, the marquee
advertised "Cream-filled Long Johns", which my 6th grade brain
always found amusing.
Dennis Woodard ’64 passed away July 19, 2025, after a long
struggle with COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. A native San
Diegan, he attended Mesa College and enlisted in the Marine Corps
Reserve. Once a Marine always a Marine! Dennis's favorite use of
time was to travel with his wife, Jane, of 48 years. They enjoyed
many places, especially those with a beach — Cabo San Lucas,
Hawaii, Tahiti, and Ja - maica. If fishing was involved, he was in
heaven! Probably, their favorite trip was Africa, an Ultimate
Adventure! Dennis had a quiet, yet confident energy, not afraid to
shake things up! He had a great love for all critters.
Jim Flynn ’65 passed away unexpectedly on September 14, 2025.
After graduating from the University of San Diego, he was
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and served
a tour in Vietnam. Upon his return, he was sent to Texas as an
Inspector-Instructor at the Dallas Reserve Training Center, where
he met and married his wife Josie. Jim next went to Basic and
Advanced Artillery School in Fort Sill Oklahoma, followed by an
overseas assignment in Okinawa, He returned to the states for duty
at the Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, then went to the
Pentagon, where he served as the Aide to the Chairman of the Joint
Chief of Staff, General David Jones. Selected to be Assistant
Naval Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, he spent a year
at the Danish Language School and the Defense Intelligence
College. On his return to the United States, he was assigned to
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, taking command of the First
Battalion,10th Marines Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Next came a
one-year tour in Panama, serving in a drug interdiction
assignment. Returning from Panama, Jim was chosen to be the
Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks at 8th and I in
Washington, DC — the Oldest Post in the Corps. Jim, Josie
and the kids called it their Camelot. After Camelot Jim
went to Headquarters Marine Corps as the Military Secretary to
General Carl Mundy, Commandant of the Marine Corps. Jim retired
from the Corps in 1995, then spent 17 years with General
Motors/General Dynamics Land Systems Defense. In 2012, retired
from General Dynamics, Jim and Josie moved to a resort community
in Loudon, Tennessee, near Knoxville. Here Jim enjoyed golfing,
playing poker, boating on the Tennessee River and eventually
purchasing three different RVs — each bigger than the last, Never
far from the Marine Corps and its culture, Jim was on the board of
several USMC organizations and maintained close contact with
members of his 1972 Marine Corps TBS 2-70 (Basic School) group who
enhanced life with frequent reunions and "remember the time"
stories from the past. (FYI -- I had to edit out a lot of Ed's
accomplishments to get the obituary down to THIS size|)
Gary Mathis ’75 passed away unexpectedly in his sleep at home on August 27, 1925. Born in San Diego, Gary grew up alongside his sister, Patricia “Patti” Mathis Miller. He attended San Diego State University, returning several times to continue his education in computer programming. Gary began his career in public service as a reservist with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department before transitioning into the automotive industry, where he started as a parts driver and worked his way up to parts and operations manager. Later, he pursued his passion for technology, moving into software development for automotive sales. In 2016, he retired to devote his time and care to his beloved mother. Gary lived a full and adventurous life. As a teenager, he was active in DeMolay and later became a proud member of the San Diego Free Masons, the NRA, and local shooting groups. His hobbies and passions included woodworking, golfing, baseball, running, cooking, baking, traveling, NASCAR, and, true to his nature, “all things fast.” He will be remembered for his quick wit and humor that often landed him in trouble, his thrill-seeking spirit, and his endless conversations with anyone willing to listen. Known for wearing shorts year-round, Gary had a larger-than-life personality, a deep well of knowledge, and a generous heart.
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