63rd Reunion Recap

 
 

To enjoy photos of the reunion, please click here!

The pictures were taken by Janie McPhail, Linda Phelps McKee, Tommye Blair Toler and Bev Murphy Wells. I hope this attachment is not too large to reach you.

Bev Murphy Wells came the farthest as she traveled all the way from The Villages, Florida. Bev is one of our world travelers who usually makes every reunion event. Folks came from Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Ft. Worth, Georgetown, Meridian, Temple, and all around the Waco area. Larry McMurray and Neysa were in attendance. Larry had a triple bypass only 9 weeks earlier and seems to be doing great with his recovery. Jim Monnig had to cancel because he still works and was involved with a big trial. Some of our graduates were on walkers, one had a broken toe, some had bad backs and feet…. but that did not stop any of us from the fun and fellowship with our classmates.

You were missed if you did not get to come ..and we might have talked about you! All good, of course.

63rd Reunion – October 10, 2023

Enjoy these photos from the 63rd Reunion.  Tommye Toler took these and wanted to share them with everyone.

Click on the small thumbnail and that will open a full-sized photo.

 

WHS ’60 – 63rd Reunion

 
The 63rd Reunion will be October 10, 2023 (Tuesday) at the Baylor Club located in McLane Stadium- Waco TX. The time will be 2:00 pm-8:00 pm. MARK YOUR CALENDAR. Remember, YOU are responsible for anything other than the meal at the Baylor Club.

1 Mixer
From 2:00-4:00pm will be the mixer. There will be a cash bar…you are responsible for paying cash at the time you get your drink(s). The cash bar will be open for the whole event 2:00-8:00pm. There will be chips/dip and fruit for appetizers.

2. Meal
The meal will be served buffet style at 4:00pm. You will have a choice of steak, grilled chicken, or honey salmon. Roasted red potatoes, green beans, tossed salad, and fruit salad will also be served on the buffet. Coffee/tea/water will be included with the meal.

3. After the meal- 8:00 pm
Whenever the meal is over, there will be additional time for visiting. At 8:00pm, the PARTY IS OVER and lights out. You are on your own from this point forward.

PLEASE CONTACT ROBERT WILSON for RSVP. Robert has been kind enough to set all this up so the least we can do is RSVP.

Robert Wilson
Email: rwilson60waco@gmail.com
Phone or text: 210-287-9490

Graduate Luncheon

There is so much to report after the quarterly luncheon yesterday, this calls for a Special
edition.

First of all, the luncheon was a big success!! 38 folks were in attendance even though we only
had one week’s notice. At our 60th reunion there were 42/43 in attendance so you can see
how great the turnout was. Little Red announced that he is in the process of planning a 63rd
reunion that will be held in mid-October. It will only be for a meal—anything else would be up
to each individual who attends to make his or her own arrangements. Details will be
announced when things become more finalized as everything is in the “early, early” stage.

More information and pictures here!

Waco Town Crier – August 2023

It has been so hot in Texas, there is not much else to say. We need rain so badly and a break from all this heat. Waco has had 24 days of over 100-degree temperatures with 11 straight days of the blistering heat. Waco is still on water rationing as Lake Waco is still very deficient. Everyone, please stay hydrated and protect yourselves from the sun. Excessive heat like this is supposed to be dangerous for the elderly.
Jeanne
 
Here’s the August Town Crier

  • From the Editor
  • From Our Graduates
  • Updates
  • Regarding Jeri Borne Guyton’s Gardening Expertise
  • For Rita and Ed Burnett
  • Regarding our Deceased List
  • August Birthdays
  • Work History by Howard Dudgeon
  • Did You Know?
  • Pictures
  • Humor

 

60th Reunion Wrap-Up

From Robert Wilson:

Hello, to everyone.

The WHS Class of 1960 reunion has come and gone.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it a success and it was. To those who donated their time and money, we could not have done it without your support.

All who attended really enjoyed each other’s company.

This was a big one “60” it will never be again.

I am so sorry that many of you could not attend for various reasons, mostly personal health or spouses health. But we have to expect it when we stop and think about our ages.

I am hopefully optimistic about the “65th”.

We had 42 on the Tuesday and 43 on the Wednesday. That is after about 20 had to cancel.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Pictures provided by Linda McKee, Tim Lasseter Latta, Betty Luedeker Gatlin, Bev Murphy Wells and Norma Cissell Smith

60th Reunion!

Classmates! Spouses! Friends!

The 60th reunion is a GO!! Download the registration form.

Please note the dates are October 6th (evening) and October 7th (morning and evening).

After breakfast on October 7th, there are no scheduled events, except for the Golf Outing, until the dinner that evening. (Tim Latta will lead the golf outing. If you wish to play golf, please contact Tim.)

We have a block of rooms at the Hilton Waco, with a price of $125.00 per night. There are several other hotels in close proximity to the Hilton Waco but we have no contract with them for rooms.

We hope that you and your guest will attend this Reunion. We have tried to keep the cost as low as possible and still provide an enjoyable Mixer Welcoming Evening, a breakfast the second day and enjoyable dinner with music by Ralph Sparks. There will be plenty of space for visiting as our dining room is at the end of the hall.

We encourage you to get your reservation in as soon as possible. Reservations are due by September 1, 2020. The first 10 paid reservations will receive a Door Prize the night of the 7th at the dinner.

Any questions or comments, please contact Robert Wilson or Ken Baker.

We hope you will make e3very effort to come to the 60th reunion. We want to celebrate our early years together and continue our friendships.

P.S. If the reunion is cancelled, all reservation money will be refunded.

SPECIAL EDITION – 58th Class Reunion

We certainly had a good time celebrating our 58th class reunion.  We missed all of you who were not able to make it.

A big, big thanks to Tim Lasseter Latta (our fearless leader), Malissa Starnes Baugh (our co-leader and one who continues to bless us with her organizational skills- name tags, keeping up with registration, all the money and our head-count, paying all the bills, ordering the cakes, napkins, etc.),  Howard Dudgeon (furnishing us with the Memorial Books of our dearly departed graduates) and Janet Hurta (our adopted graduate and wife of Glen Hurta who has kept our directory for more years than I can remember).  Special Thanks goes to Gayla Miller Webb and Linda Phelps McKee (who both have been responsible for our decorations for what must be every single reunion we have ever had and to David McPhail, Karen Shinault and all those who were on the telephone committee:  you did an awesome job!!  Without each of these folks, our reunion would not be what I have heard some folks say:  the “best reunion we have ever had”.  It takes a village….and unless you have ever worked on the reunion, you have no idea just how demanding it is.

A cold front came through Waco with rain….a lot or rain…. so much rain that golf was rained out.  Although the weather was cold and damp outside, inside the Phoenix room our graduates were wrapped in the warmth of love and friendship, reliving times when all of us were young and carefree.   Folks came as far away as from Buffalo NY,  Florence SC, Paris TN, New Mexico (5 different graduates from NM), Louisiana, and Indiana.

The food was wonderful, Ralph Sparks (class of WHS 59) entertained us with oldies on his keyboard, and the camaraderie of all was unsurpassed.  I could not believe that so many 76 year-olds could get out on the dancefloor and “cut a rug” as they did.  Ralph was supposed to play for about 15 minutes or so….but popular demand turned that into one hour.  In our hearts it was like we were once again enjoying our teen-aged classmates at a sock hop.  Sweet memories.

There are several who want a 60th reunion—especially since we are the class of ’60.  However, there is no leader so if you want a final reunion, someone is going to have to step up to the plate and organize it.  Otherwise, the 58th was our final hoorah.

Again, so glad to have seen everyone and so sorry we missed you if you were unable to make it.  Robert “Little Red” Wilson, has his take on the reunion which is in the comments sections.  Robert has always been so great to bless us and our food each and every time we meet.  It is only fitting for him to close this special edition with his AMEN.

58th Reunion … Last Minute Information


Details

Our 58th Reunion will be on Tuesday, October 16th, and Wednesday, October 17th, at The Phoenix Ballroom in Waco.

Tuesday Evening, October 16th 5:30-11:00 p. m.
5:30 EVENING MIXER
6:00-8:00 HEAVY HOR D’OEUVRES and DESSERTS

Wednesday Morning, October 17th 9:00-11:00 a. m
9:00 COFFEE/ TEA BAR
9:30-11:00 a. m. HOT BREAKFAST/BRUNCH BUFFET

Wednesday Evening, October 17th 5:30-11:00 p. m.
6:00-8:00 DINNER BUFFET (Roast Beef OR Tilapia)

(Cash Bar available at both Evening Events)

Cost

Cost per person for dinner ONE EVENING: (Tuesday OR Wednesday): $35.00 each
Cost per person for dinner TWO EVENINGS: (Tuesday AND Wednesday): $65:00 each
Wednesday BRUNCH (included at NO CHARGE with one or two day ticket). Brunch ALONE is $35 per person!

Confirmed Attendees (as of October 12, 2018)

Ken and Scoot Baker
Lynette (Muchow) and Jarod Baugh
Malissa (Starnes) and Rex Baugh
Louann (Hilton) Brady
Jeanell (Buida) Bolton
Crozier and Rita Brown
Steven Brown
Rita (Coates) and Ed Burnett
*Tom and Thylis Chambless (Tuesday evening only)
*George Compton (Tuesday evening only)
James and Gia Coone
Al Ctvrtlik
David and Anita Dibb
Howard Dudgeon and guest
Bob and Carolyn Easter
*Janice (Massengale) Foster (Tuesday and Wednesday evenings)
*Ken Freeman (Tuesday evening only)
Betty (Luedeker) Gatlin
Jeanne (Holland) Harman
*Anitra (Harrell) Henrion (Tuesday evening and Brunch)
Susan (Harkness) Hill
Gwen (Ewing) and Wayne Hodges
Kay (Albright) Hofer
*Sue (Welborn) and Bobby Hopper (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
*Karon Shinault Jackson (Brunch only)
*Hal Johnson (Tuesday evening and Wednesday Brunch)
George and Glenda Karahal
*Joy (Rogers) Keele and daughter Suzette Wofford (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
*Joyce Virginia (Brock) Kilgo and Lisa Frenette (Tuesday evening and Brunch)
Tom Kittlitz
Charlotte (Suttle) Kleibrink
*Cathey (White) Land (Tuesday evening
and Brunch)
Tim (Lasseter) Latta
*Mickey and Melody Lavy (Wednesday Brunch
and evening)
*Angie (Plemons) Lehman and Larry Hartsel (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
Pat and Carol Malone
Bill and Jeanette Markum
Don Matkin
Jim Maxwell
*Don McClellan and Carol Zwan (Wednesday evening only)
Dorothy (Bryan) McCook
Linda (Phelps) and James McKee
*Mary Beth (Cash) and Don McMahon (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
Larry and Neysa McMurray
David and Janie McPhail
*Jim Monnig (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
John (Moon) Mullen and Guest
Judith (Hamff) Murphy
*Babz (Wester) and Larry Musser (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
Jane (Berry) and Art Neece
*Frank Neel (Wednesday evening and maybe Brunch)
Sandra (Wooten) and Don Overholser
David Peeples
Mickey (Lade) and John Perkins
*Terrell Reagan (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
Joe Riley
*Gary and Donna Roberts (Gary-all events and Donna-Brunch only)
*David and Lesley Rosen (Tuesday evening only)
Christian Ruebeck
Carol (Adams) Scarborough
Suzann (Bettencourt) Scott (cousin of Carolyn Taylor, Class of ’61)
Marvin and Ruth Schutza
Charles Sligh
Rod and Cheri Sommer
Norma (Cissell) and Wayne Smith
Kay (Phillips) and Ralph Sparks
Aubrey Stringer and Phyllis Wieser
Carolyn Taylor (Rayburn)
Tommie Ruth (Blair) Toler
*Randy Turner (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
Vince and Betty Tusa
Nena (Hunt) and Bob Wallace
*Mary Ann (Shilling) Watt (Brunch only)
Gayla (Miller) and Rodney Webb
Bev (Murphy) Wells
*Dorothy (Horton) and Raymond Wilcox (Wednesday Brunch and evening)
*Charles and Apala Wilson (Wednesday evening only)
Robert (Little Red) Wilson
*SuEllen (Golden) and John Wilson (Wednesday evening only)

* Ones not attending all events
Total: 121
Classmates: 75
Spouses and guests: 46

What if I’d like to attend but haven’t made a reservation?

You need to act quickly. Call Malissa (254-217-2918) by MONDAY, October 15th, and let her know. She’s already turned in the final numbers to the caterer and it’s not fair to him (or to Malissa) to keep adding people. Sometimes the caterer brings extra but that can’t be guaranteed.

Waco Town Crier – October 2018

An adapted version of “The Town Crier” sent by Jeanne Harman on September 26, 2018.

From Our Fearless Leader

“Greetings to all of our WHS Class of 60 classmates. The countdown has begun. In less than a month, we will gather at the mothership (aka The Phoenix Ballroom) for our 58th class reunion. The excitement is building and the plans are final. There is still time to register, but it’s running out. If you still need a registration form, please let me know by phone or text (817-600-4734) and you do text, don’t you? Email Malissa Starnes Baugh or call (254-217-2918).

Malissa has been working so hard on name badges so that we will be able to identify each other! This is a huge group endeavor. Please join us for fun, news of friends and a stroll down memory lane.

Looking so forward to seeing each and every one of you.”
Tim Lasseter Latta

From Our Graduates

“It was wonderful to hear from Asa. She’s had a full and rewarding life. I admire all that she’s done.

It was great to hear from some of our classmates. Sondi, you are very talented. Thanks for sharing about your talent with us. Maybe you could share more with us if you sent a video or recording. How about it? I’d love to hear you play.

I’m looking forward to our 58th reunion. It may just be the last time we are all together at our ages and with our disabilities. I am blessed to be in surprisingly good shape for an old woman! 😊 I pray for all of you who are struggling with hardships. May you each find healing, peace, comfort, and strength.”
Tommye Blair Toler

“Our daughter, Lana, could use some prayers. She was in a car wreck, not her fault, and broke her arm above the wrist and the air bag seems to have caused her hearing to sound like a tunnel. This could be temp or permanent. Please pray for healing and return her hearing. Her arm is healing after surgery. She will be off work 3 to 4 months.”
Sandra Wooten Overholser

“Mickey (Lade) Perkins is in HEB HOSPITAL Room 203 due to pain under rib cage since Thursday night. (Sept 20). They have not been told from what source or when she will be released to return home. She does need our prayers.”
Phyllis Brook

“I will not be attending this year due to some pre-scheduled tests and doctor appointments and am sorry I cannot come to visit everyone.. Hopefully will be able to attend for the next one.”
Jeannie Dickerson

Regarding Hurricane Florence

“We were stationed in Raleigh NC, and we never had anything like that while we were there. We visited most of those coastal areas while there—and they were beautiful, with amazing beaches.”
Clara Sue (Griffis) Arnsdorff

Update on Massey Foundation

Formed by Jan Massey’s family, in accordance with her wishes

Check the website for upcoming events and attractions.
And
Follow on Facebook

Show and Tell

It is my distinct honor to recognize Jim Woodson this month. I cannot begin to tell you the talent that this man possesses; therefore, I am going to let his website do the job for me.

After graduating from Waco High, Jim obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 1965 with a major in painting. In 1967, earned a Master of Fine Arts degree, major in painting, from The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. Currently, Jim is Professor Emeritus of Art, Texas Christian University after having taught there for 39 years. Jim spends a lot of his time in New Mexico where he gets a lot of his inspirations.

Jim’s resume is absolutely mind-boggling! Give yourself plenty of time to check out his website. One of the most interesting things I learned in doing my research on Jim was the fact that he was one of the three private instructors for President George Bush when the President decided to try his hand at painting. The whole interview with all three instructors is at this link. It is an hour-long interview but I found it to be most interesting and it explains the part that Jim played in Bush’s artistic growth.

Jim sent me a picture of a portrait which he painted from a photograph of President Bush. I have included it with a few examples of Jim’s work. Jim explains that he is not a portrait painter (landscapes are his forte) but just how many times have you seen that little grin on the face of George Bush? I think Jim nailed it, don’t you? Jim told me that President George Bush included this portrait in an exhibition that was held to introduce Bush’s portraits of wounded warriors.

A TCU magazine in 2013 had a very good article about Jim. It mentioned that Laura Bush owns a Jim Woodson painting. The article also mentioned some of Jim’s life in Waco and beyond. You can read the whole TCU article at this link.

In the Ft. Worth, Texas Magazine in 2016, an article on Jim states that he was appointed Texas State Artist of the Year (2D) by the Texas State Legislature and the Texas Commission on the Arts. This designation is the state’s highest recognition for excellence in the arts. That article can be read here.

Jim’s life has surely been diversified, rewarding, and interesting. Jim says that “his health has been pretty good and his life has also been good.” Just like all of us, Jim wonders, “where has the time gone?” Now, go grab yourself a cup of coffee or a coke, sit back for a bit or a long time, and absorb yourself in the talent of our very own WHS 1960 graduate.

6- Randy Farrar
7- Gregory Howell
9- Marvin Schutza
15- Betty Barkley Flowers
16- Charles Edward Wilson
17- LuAnn Hanna Lund
Beverly Summey Gritter
18- John Ferguson
David Walsworth
21- Ken Baker
26- Anitra Harrell Henrion
29- Tim Lasseter Latta

Pictures


A “blast from the past” photograph. Tommye Ruth Blair Toler, on the right, recently found this picture taken in 1962 when she was a student nurse. You will recall she retired from nursing in 2005.

 

 

 

John and Tim Lasseter Latta have recently returned from vacationing in Big Bend. They visited the McDonald Observatory, hiked and were awed by the Chisos Mountains. Tim said they saw three bears up close (yikes!). They are already anxious to return. When they lived in California one of their favorite haunts was Yellowstone so I imagine they will become more and more familiar with Big Bend, but hopefully, not with the bears.