Waco Town Crier – January 2023


I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and may you have a safe, happy and healthy New Year! Christmas was rather a deep freeze for a lot of us so hopefully no one had any burst pipes or loss of electricity.

Most of our new year’s resolutions are usually just good intentions, so…

“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions!”
– Joey Adams

And here is your January issue of the Waco Town Crier. Topics this month are:

  • My Thoughts for You
  • From our Graduates and Friends
  • Additional Info about the Jim Rankin Story
  • Whatever Happened to … RC Cola
  • Did You Know …
  • Updates
  • Pictures
  • Humor
  • Now Here’s An Idea
  • Food For Thought in 2023

Happy Birthday, Class of ’60

 

On July 12th, a Birthday Party was held for WHS Class of ’60. Since most of the graduates will turn (or have already turned) 80 this year … and it had been a while since there had been a class gathering … it was a great excuse to get together. Thanks to Robert Wilson for hosting the gathering.

And, if you’d like to see pictures of the event, you’re in luck. You can download them by clicking here.

Rick Rescorla – A Note from Pat Payne

 
 
 
Dear Friends,

As many of you know Patty and I were invited to the White House to witness President Trump present the Presidential Citizens Medal posthumously to Rick Rescorla. His widow Susan accepted the medal and then gave it to Rick’s son Trevor.

This link will take you to a YouTube video of President Trump’s presentation and Susan’s talk.

A few things about the presentation:

  • Prior to the presentation the President met privately with Susan, Rick’s children and a couple from Cornwall, England where Rick was born. Just Google Rick Rescorla for more info on this remarkable man.
  • Patty and I are in the 2nd row directly behind Susan and her children – right in front of the podium. Why such good seats? When the doors opened to the East Room the first person in was…you guessed it…Patty!
  • The young woman sitting between us is Blaire Evans (white top), 20 years old from Houston. Turns out my son’s best friend from college is her father. Blaire is a junior at the University of Texas and actually receives college credits for interning one semester in D.C. The University rents about 25 apartments for the young women to live in a safe and healthy environment. Also Blaire has worked in Senator Ted Cruz’s Texas campaigns and he helped get her placed in the White House. We learned a number of interesting things from Blaire – the administration is working on a soon to be released health plan, that all the Trumps are really tall, the ladies are like 6 feet, speak multiple languages, that the President is quit humorous plus a lot more. She has contributed to predicting debate questions and responses. Sits in on White House workgroups on selected topics. Was involved in the Austrian President’s visit. Talk about getting exposed to some interesting stuff! After graduating she is thinking law school, back to DC to work on the Hill and eventually running for office. WOW to be 20 again and your entire future in front of you!! It was invigorating being around a young person full of energy and optimistic about the future. In fact there were a number of younger staffers around with that shine in their eyes and a spring in their step.
  • You have to look hard for the top of Patty’s head of blonde hair.
  • Susan Rescorla is frail and normally uses a cane. Notice how attentive the President is to helping steady her.
  • Rick’s (and my) Army Vietnam friends were asked to stand and be recognized as were a group of NY Firemen. Boy were they fun!!
  • The whole thing was run with precision. The people in uniform are Military Attaches and helped on the WH tour prior to the presentation.

There are number of interesting things but I need to take some time to digest it all and write a story to memorialize it.”

Regards,
Pat

A Side Note from Jeanne Harman

As most of our graduates will remember, in 1965 Pat Payne and Rick Rescorla were both in the Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam. Many times since then Pat has spoken and written about his high esteem and respect for Rescorla. Attached you can read a copy of a talk that Pat gave to the Pelican Bay Rotary Club in Naples where Pat resides. This was given in 2016 at their Memorial Day meeting.

In Pat’s words, “The main focus of the talk was a fellow Lt. named Rick Rescorla….a great American hero. Rick’s life really is an inspiring story and part of it deals with the Ia Drang.”

The book, We Were Soldiers Once … And Young, was written about the battle of Ia Drang; Rick Rescorla is shown on the cover. And a movie, starring Mel Gibson, was made.

This past summer while at the library I ran across the DVD of We Were Soldiers and checked it out. I was awed to think that one of our graduates was actually in this battle and survived! The music, “Mansions of Our Lord”, that is played in the movie is so moving and beautiful. If you are so inclined, I would say get a copy of the movie and watch it. I told Crozier Brown about the movie and he also got a copy and felt pretty much as I did. It is a very intense and moving film. I asked Pat about the accuracy of the film and he said that trying to cram about 5 days of combat into 2 hours prevents the events from being completely accurate. However, Hal Moore, (main character played by Mel Gibson) was very involved in its filming and Hal felt the events were representative. Pat said that after the movie was released, several of the male actors came to their Ia Drang reunion and Pat got to meet them. Pat said all were “good guys and Sam Elliott was special!!”

Jim Woodson at Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden

Our famous artist, Jim Woodson, has an exhibition in Dallas at the Valley House Gallery and Sculpture Garden. The reception is Saturday, May 4th. Exhibition is through the first week in June. Mark these dates on your calendar.

Who knows, you might even run into George and Laura Bush while there.

Details

Where: 6616 Spring Valley Road
Dallas, Texas 75254-8635

Phone: 972-239-2441
Fax: 972-239-1462

Email: gallery@valleyhouse.com

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (call on holidays)

Jim’s Website: www.jimwoodsonart.com