June 6, 2014

Ann B. Davis died last week.  I was hazily aware that she played housekeeper Alice Nelson in The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974.  I was busy teaching and grading papers during those years, so I may never have actually seen the show.  Some of us older folks have fond memories of her as Charmaine “Schultzy” Schultz on the Bob Cummings show, which ran from 1955 to 1959.

I loved this photo in this week’s LA Times of a 1950 bust of drag racers in the Los Angeles “river”.  It accompanied an article on the early history of drag racing.  Click HERE if you'd like to read it.

Jean Peacock Graham ’71 can’t remember how she acquired 1973, 1974 and 1975 Centaurs belonging to Gene Brooks ’75.  “They’re in only fair condition, but I'm loathe to just throw them away,” she said.  No problemo.  I emailed Gene in Albuquerque and learned that I was in possession of an invalid email address.  I quickly went to the web and came up with three phone numbers, the first two of which were no longer in service.  A lovely lady answered the third number.  It turns out I was calling Gene’s mom on her cell phone as the two of them were driving.  Gene called back on a land line a little apprehensively.  I quickly put him in touch with the other Jean.  She thinks the other Gene might have left the yearbooks behind in a rental property owned by her father.  All's well that ends well.

 “Hey, I just got your PB book,” writes Dave Sleet ‘61.  “You should tell others about it and put an ad in the newsletter.”  Thanks, Dave.  I’m sure you can find my Images of America: Pacific Beach on line.  If you’d like to support the author, and get your copy autographed, click HERE.

Award-winning chef Katherine Humphus is a 2006 graduate of Crawford — and the daughter of Robert Humphus ‘75 and Jo-Ann Harb Humphus ‘74.  She was featured in a nice article this week in the San Diego U-T.  Click HERE to check it out.

Melissa Varney (that’s her above), the 18-year old daughter of  Cathy Rule Varney ’61, has severe hypotrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and will need a heart transplant.  Cathy has set up a transplant fund.   “All donations are tax deductible and deeply appreciated,” says Cathy.  “If the fund brings in $5.00 that will be $5.00 more than we have now.”  If you’re doing the math and trying to figure out how Cathy came by an 18-year old daughter, it’s a bit complex.  Cathy married Grossmont grad Ron Varney and acquired three boys in the process -- Bryan, Brad, and Richie -- all of whom graduated from Crawford.  Melissa, in fact, is Brad’s daughter, who went to live with her mother after her parents divorced.  Says Cathy, “I took Melissa in when her mother was terminally ill and adopted her when her mother died.”  Contact Cathy at roncathvarney@aol.com if you have questions or go to www.cotaformelissav.com  if you’d like to help.

John McMullen has added names to the 6th grade faces from the 1957 Hardy Graduation photo — names like Marsha Madrigal, Gary Byrnes, Deborah Nichols, Zeller Waymire, Howard Toole, Mary Ann Roskos, Richard Christensen, and Gail Latham.  Janey Barrett and Joan Campbell are here too, but John’s not absolutely certain he’s got them right.  Go to the Hardy Elementary Page to see the results.  Or you can click HERE.

Wayne Zucker attended Hardy from 1959 to 1964 and shares all six class photos — but no names.  I’ll assume one of them is Wayne.  Click HERE to check out the big pictures.

Paul Governali Jr ‘70 was laid to rest this week at Holy Cross Cemetery, not far from his father Paul Governali Sr., 1942 All American Quarterback.  John Hermes says his classmate died April 17th of natural causes.  

May 30, 2014

Greetings and Salutations!!  How was YOUR week?  When I heard that Castro had been nominated as Secretary of HUD by President Obama, I wondered if he’d chosen Fidel or Raul.  Turned out to be Julian -- the Mayor of San Antonio.  I NEVER get these right.

“It’s looking tired and outdated,” said the headline in the U-T Building Section this week. Turned out they were talking about the Uptown District that replaced the old Sears store, the 1953 opening of which many of us recall with searchlights in the night.  The NEW center will be called HUB — Hillcrest Uptown Block.  I’m feeling a little tired and outdated myself.

Steve Stone ‘72 found his Oak Park 6th Grade Graduation program while going through his retirement papers.  I’ve posted it to the Oak Park Elementary School page.  Click HERE to check it out.

I got so caught up in the Memorial Day festivities I forgot to upload the May 21, 1964 Pacer, which features a nice little biography of Will C Crawford.  I guess it’s now the Golden Anniversary -- plus one week -- Pacer.  

“Mac” McLaughlin, pictured here in the 1961 Centaur, passed away May 1st — six days after his beloved Eleanor lost her battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  They were living in Georgia near their daughter Carol McLaughlin Bachman.  Services are tentatively set for the weekend of July 24th at Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church.  I'll keep you posted.

John Dovey ‘64 passed away May 18 after a lengthy battle with cancer.  Click HERE to view or sign the on-line guest book.

I’m not sure who Bonnie Blackwell is, but she has informed me of the passing of Michael Paul Ziliankoff '65 at Fort Bragg, California on July 27, 2011.  It’s still possible to sign the guest book.  Click HERE.

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SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!!  BE THERE — OR BE SQUARE!!
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May 23, 2014

I’m trying to think happy thoughts this Memorial Day Weekend as I recall folks who did not return from Vietnam and am sharing this photo I took of Ron Davidson in the swimming pool at College Village Apartments, probably in 1967.  Some of you had him as a coach at Horace Mann.  He left teaching to join the Marine Corps.  I drove him to Camp Pendleton when it was time for him to ship out.  He was killed on August 5, 1968.  I hope you can make your way to the “Colts Who Died in Vietnam” page and watch the video put together some years ago by the Crawford AV class.  Enjoy your weekend.

Billy Woods ‘65 shares a couple of Horace Mann Intermural photos.  I think that’s 8th Grade Softball on the left and 9th Grade Football on the right.  Click on the red links to see bigger photos with caption.

Have you ever wished you could buy your way out of exercising?  Scott Shewmaker ‘74 says the old Crawford track will soon be razed and a new facility will be constructed across the street.  He and Yale Strom (that’s him in the front row third from the left) have organized a 24-hour marathon that will begin at 8 AM tomorrow morning May 24th.  If my math is correct, it will end at 8 AM on the 25th.  This will be a fundraiser for the Athletic Department.  Scott says they held several of these in the mid-’70s during the time Crawford’s Cross Country team was a regular CIF champion.  He’s encouraging classmates from the ‘70s and ‘80s to stop by, suit up and hit the cinders.  I think older folks can just bring a folding chair and their wallet.  You might bring a thermos of coffee after darkness falls.  Click HERE to email Scott or HERE to email Yale 

Hey Gary Juleen!  Doug Kvandal ’66 sees your Dennis Mitrovich '67 and raises you one. The photo above shows the band “Sequoya”, with Dennis on the right playing guitar, next to Joe Dyke ’65 on trumpet.  Doug is on the far right behind the Hammond B-3.   Says Doug, “We played mostly big venues as warm-up for the likes of Boz Scaggs, Neil Young, Gabor Szabo, and Sha-Na-Na.”

John McMullen ‘63 shares his 6th Grade class photo from Hardy Elementary.  I think he said Zeller Waymire was #2 in Row 2.  I believe John’s the last one in Row 3.  Surely we can fill in the names on this one.  Click HERE for the enlarged version.

Rod Dunbar ‘64 passed away from cancer in Norfolk, VA on November 4, 2011.  Rod served three tours in Vietnam in search and rescue with the US Air Force.

Just a reminder for those Facebook users who don’t want to get off the couch and turn on the computer, you can access the Colt Corral on your smart phone or tablet.  You may have to search for Crawford Colt Corral. 

May 16, 2014

How hot was it yesterday in Alpine?  Stephanie Rose Petersen doesn’t care. The ‘74 graduate is on an Alaskan Cruise.  “Brrr,” was all she said.

Kathy “Ka’chi” Lobo ‘65 is looking for a 1960 Horace Mann Cougar.  Here's the cover of Bob Richardson’s 1958 Cougar just to put you in the mood.  If you have a 1960 Cougar but don’t want to part with it, perhaps we could copy it and post it to the web.

Charlene Krebsbach Clark ‘64 was effusive in her praise after I posted her updated reunion flyer, then allowed as how there were two last-minute changes:  the Marriott reservation phone number (877-622-3056) and Web Site

I couldn’t resist this ad from the May 17, 1964 KCBQ Top 40 List.  I think I went to the Ice Capades at Glacier Gardens, but had no clue — and find it hard to believe — that they appeared at Westgate Park.  By the way, “Love Me Do” was the #1 hit that week.  You can read both pages if you click HERE.

1964 classmates Bob Boone and Ron Layton, with the rest of the team in the background, are pictured in the May 23, 1964 San Diego Union after capturing the San Diego CIF Baseball Championship the day before.  Ron Layton submitted the clipping.

Gary Juleen shares a photo of his band “Cheryl and the Progressives”.  We’re not sure of the date, but Colts in the band are — from right to left — Dennis Mitrovich ‘67, Mike Hoover ‘65 and Gary Juleen ‘64.  Cheryl was from Chula Vista and the rest of the band went to Mount Miguel.  I'll publish the rest of Gary's letter in the June 12-page alumni newsletter.

Sandy Liflander says her 1959 classmate Mary Lou Smith Erwin died on May 9th.  A memorial service will be held tomorrow (May 17th) at 11 AM at Living Faith, 7225 N Coyote Springs Rd in  Prescott, Arizona.  Click HERE to sign the on-line Guest Book.

Reid Cooper sends word of the recent passing of Margie Poe Snipes.  Click HERE to read a remembrance from Margie’s son Jonathan. (You'll need to scroll down a bit after you get there).

May 9, 2014

I didn’t know there WAS an Academy of Law at Crawford.  The Class of 2016, led by teacher Steve Luttbeg ‘66, will be part of a mock trial at the Jefferson School of Law, Hon. Dwayne K Moring presiding, on Thursday, May 15th, from 5:15 to 7 PM -- and you are invited.  A bus will leave Crawford at 4:30 PM or you can park downtown at the Padres Parkade.  The Jefferson School of Law is located at 1155 Island Ave.  The trial will be in Moot Court Room 219.  Click HERE to email Steve Luttbeg if you have questions.

The May 7, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer is an 8-page extravaganza, featuring ads for prom corsages, the Land of Odin, and the International Rod-Custom Show at the Electric Building in Balboa Park.  It also contains the ASB Election Sample Ballot.  Click HERE to check it out.

Char Krebsbach Clark ‘64 has asked me to share the above “flyer” with you, I believe to remind members of the Class of ‘64 of their 50th Anniversary Reunion coming up in September.  You can find a larger version on the Reunion Page of my Crawford web site. 

Shirley Strum ‘65 is off to Africa to study baboons — for the 42nd time.  Click HERE to read Monday's article in the San Diego U-T and HERE to read Shirley's UCSD Faculty biography.

Billy Wood went to Euclid and Horace Mann and now lives in Norman, Oklahoma.  He is still hoping to connect with his childhood buddy Donald McCormack ‘65 (that's him up above).  I think we tried once before without success, but maybe someone out there can help — maybe you know of a sibling that can aid in our search.

May 2, 2014

I wonder when Jack in the Box started offering French Fries, ‘cause this 1968 photo says French Fried Potatoes on the menu.  This is the Jack’s at PB Drive and Mission Blvd and that’s ‘67 Mission Bay High grad Lynn Perryman giving Jack a big kiss.  Click HERE to peruse a larger version of the photo on my Jack in the Box web page.

Lee Cook ’66 and Chris Hillman pose for a photo at Adams Avenue Unplugged last Sunday. Chris, who played with the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas and Desert Rose Band, asked for copies of Lee’s songs Bostonia Ballroom and Texas Bounty Hunter, from the 2013 Lou Whitaker movie.  Chris said he played at the Bostonia Ballroom in the 1960s.

Dan Burton ‘66 shares a photo of the 1963 Horace Mann 9th Grade Football Champs.  Maybe you can help identify some of the winners.  There’s a bigger photo you can access if you click HERE.

Richard “Dick” Schrupp ‘64 passed away unexpectedly on March 22 according to his brother Jim ‘61.  Click HERE to read a complete obituary and sign the guest book via the Colt Corral link

April 25, 2014

Looks like I'll be making my third trip to Bank of America in an attempt to get them to close Mom's checking account.  Now, the suits in Tampa, Florida say I never sent them a formal request.  No, they can't handle it in the branches anymore, although I've been told I need to go there to get the proper form.

I couldn't resist sharing yesterday's Bliss cartoon.  That's the Grim Reaper getting what I assume is a deep tissue massage at the chiropractor.

Gary Juleen ‘64 sent me a nice story and some snapshots of he and the late Phil Bonwell ‘66.  I’ll publish them in the June Alumni Newsletter.  In the meantime I’ve posted this shot of Phil and Gary on the Cars We Drove To School Page.  They’re departing the Juleen home at 4142 Vista Grande enroute to a surfing adventure in Ocean Beach.

Sandra Harrison Barlau ’60 wanted to know how her second great-grandmother, Mildred Timbers, became a slave.  The result of her research is a two-volume work, Some Slaves of Fauquier County Virginia, published by Heritage Books.  The books are also available on Amazon.

Remember Circle Arts Theatre out at Highway 395 and Clairemont Mesa Blvd?  Our family saw John Raitt in “Oklahoma” and waited for him after the show. The man was wearing lipstick and rouge!!  Anyway, this ad is but one of the many treasures in the April 23, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer.  Click HERE to read the entire issue.

Marla Quinci ‘75 passed away suddenly on April 17th.  She was a resident of Davis, CA and has two children — Olivia and Grant.  Marialyn Sardo ‘73 sent me a remembrance, which I’ve posted on the Class of ‘75 Obituary Page.  There is no on-line Guest Book or, as far as I know, scheduled memorial service.

April 18, 2014

San Diego State Student Darryl Grier is working on a group project on 6th Grade Camp and its recent lack of funding by San Diego school districts.  If you went to 6th Grade Camp you could help him out by answering a few questions.  Click HERE to email him  -- and time is of the essence.

Remember The Needle’s Eye, off Sunset Cliffs?  Me neither.  Luckily Clarence Wetherill , father of Kent Wetherill ‘62, took a picture in November 1953.  It later succumbed to the forces of nature.  Click HERE to see an enlargement.

San Diego Basketball Prep Stars Bill Walton and Larry Blum '63 crossed paths last month at the University of San Francisco gym.  Click HERE to read the story.

Nathan East ‘73 checks in with the good news that his new CD is #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts.  “Trying to keep San Diego on the map,” he adds.  Nathan credits Crawford stage band teacher Dennis Foster and Gunnar Biggs ‘71 for his interest in music.  Click HERE to watch him on the Tavis Smiley Show.

When Terri Quinlivan Parham ‘66 offered to send me an issue of the Horace Mann Cougar Times I readily agreed.  I did not know it was the 14-page 1963 Graduation Issue.  She said her husband went to a lot of work to scan and email it.  I know I went to a lot of work to upload it.  Click HERE to check it out.

April 11, 2014

Susan Marshall Gordon ‘64 is the Crawford Foundation secretary and is desperately hoping someone out there has grant-writing experience and can give her some help.  Call or text her at 619-865-3410 or click HERE to email her.

Nancy Alba Conney ‘63 poses with one of her rescued Red Tail Hawks.  Her Skyhunters non-profit rescue center was featured in Tuesday’s U-T.  The facility is open to the public by appointment and will be added to this year's Sage and Songbird Festival and Garden Tour out of the Viejas Outlet Center May 2-4. (Photo credit: Peggy Peattie/UT San Diego/ZUMA Press)

Too cute!!  Here’s a 1949 Golden Arrow Dairy calendar featuring Ted Hazelewood ‘63 and sister Dianne Hazlewood Buchanan ‘65.  Click HERE to see an enlargement.  I'm pretty sure it was 1949 when the milk on our Spring Valley porch froze and pushed up the bottle top.

Sandra Hendrick Rhoads passed away March 6th of Cancer.  Services are being held this morning at 10 AM at the Church of the Nativity, 6309 El Apajo Rd, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.  Click HERE to read more and sign the Guest Book