 |  |  |
| | |
PAGE 1
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
2009
Volume XXII CHRISTMAS 2009
From Our Chairman
It’s time to start making your plans to attend our next reunion, “Staying Alive at 75”, September 10-12, 2010. Yes, once again we get to see our old
friends and I do mean old. In a few months you will receive the reunion package which will outline the activities we have planned for you. Believe
me - it’s going to be fun. You will really like the Friday night party. Saturday is the dinner/dance at the Doubletree Hotel and on Sunday we will
have brunch and a memorial service. The hospitality room will be open on Thursday afternoon. That’s all I am going to tell you for now. Most of
the arrangements have been made for all three days, locations are set, and committees have been selected. However, we will need some
additional volunteers to help. If you would like to help please let me know. Write me at 11651 S. 74th E. Ave, Bixby, OK 74008 or email me at
plm35@yahoo.com. Enjoy this newsletter and take time to reflect on your younger days, the fun we had at Central and the memories that will last
for the rest of our lives. Take time to listen to that beautiful song “Memories”, think of the great times we had together and if it doesn’t bring a tear
to your eyes, I will be surprised. I am looking forward to seeing each of you there so don’t disappoint me. As for me personally, Judy and I still live
in Bixby. Everything is going well with our four boys; we have four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. I have been retired since 2000. I
enjoy playing golf with my friends and in various tournaments, woodworking, wood turning and working in the yard. I have had a few setbacks
health wise but still work out at the gym three days a week. I have really enjoyed working on the reunion. Stay healthy and may the years be good
to you. Looking forward to seeing you next year.
Phil Miller
Thank you for all your communications. I am sorry that I have not been able to come to any of the meetings. I am one of the founding faculty at
Oral Roberts University and the only one left teaching full time. I could retire but do not desire to do so for I love teaching. I was the founding
chairman of the Department of Business and retired as chair after 42 years and now only teach full time This gives a chance to travel the world with
my students and also my great nephews and nieces. After receiving my doctorate I did post graduate work at Cambridge University in England
which was a wonderful experience. I had Miss King as a teacher at Roosevelt with Bob Humphrey and a number of other classmates. I was in the
orchestra and played the tympani under Mr. Gates. Miss Tomlinson and Mrs. Stansberry were my English teachers. I plan to attend the reunion
and am looking forward to seeing many of my old friends. George Gillen.
Staying alive! How wonderful it is just to be around for another year or two. Hope everyone has not many health problems. With this government
we might be sent to the “don’t care for old folks” ward. Great year! I finally downsized from the big house I was living in to a much smaller one-story
home. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have to clean any more. Don’t you think I’m so clever to have waited until this year to put my house on the
market? Took six months but finally all is well. I so look forward to reading all the letters. You Tulsa folks please write also. We don’t get to hear
from you on a regular basis. You have done things and gone places that us outsiders don’t get to hear about. Genealogy is still my number one
interest. I don’t travel like I used to and the internet has so much more information. I now have 13 ancestors coming to America before 1700 and
three more are in the research stage. It’s still enjoyable to me and keeps the brain working. The last trip I made was to Quebec where Christmas
was delightful. This year I am going to Oregon to be
wine and think about old memories. Patsy GEMMER Braddock
Well who are you Pooch! (Ann - It’s a long story) I received a card from you today concerning the Central Class of 1953. I’ve been to a couple of
reunions and am seriously thinking about coming to the September 2010 reunion. I like the “Staying Alive at 75” theme.. Thanks for your hard work
for the Class of 1953. Ann ARMSTRONG O’Donnell.
How absolutely shocked I was to receive a phone call from a Class of ‘53 member, Rosetta Gandall Daniels, a few weeks ago. She lives in a
community next to me here in California! She had read my brief letter in one of the newsletters. We had a great visit over the phone. We are
living in Apple Valley, California in a gated community and life is wonderful. My husband, Dick, plays golf all the time. Our four children live
relatively close. I still play the piano and am planning on giving another concert in March 2010. We wish all of you a very blessed Christmas.
Beth FLEMING Woodin.
Staying alive at 75! Who could have anticipated there would be so many of us around? We miss those who are gone and some of us who
probably should be (Like myself) if it weren’t for modern medical devices and the pharmaceutical business. I certainly never expected to still be
here. I’m trying to live three lives and have a painting exhibition coming up at the end of November, www.joannclayton.com. I’d like very much to
know if any of my Central art friends stuck with it. If you are reading this, send me you address or let me know. That includes people like me who
came back to it later in life. Has anyone ever figured out how to answer people who ask “How are you?” without either lying or giving some boring
answer. I usually laugh and say “I’m here!” My 104-year-old friend died recently and her life helps me appreciate how times have changed. She
was active professionally, contributing to professional journals until six months before she died. She was blessed to have good friends and family
around to help. So I wish everyone in the Class of ‘53 another 30 years with your wits about you and loved ones to help you. My good wishes and
love go out to those who are facing difficult situations. PS I succeeded in losing 60 lbs. last year. Please tell me I look wonderful!!
Jo Ann CLAYTON.
I am still enjoying retirement here in Springfield, Mo. even though my address is Ozark, Mo. In June Nancy and I celebrated our 50th Anniversary
with a wonderful party planned by Nancy and Cindy, one of our daughters. All of our family were here for the celebration. We are very proud of
our children and grandchildren. Our oldest granddaughter graduated from the University of Texas in May and got a job in London, England which
means several trips to London a year. We have a grandson at Arkansas University, two grandsons who are doing well in a Christian school outside
of New York City and two granddaughters who are in school here in Springfield. This fall Nancy and I went to Germany. Both of our family trees
can be traced directly to Germany. Nancy’s father was born in Germany and came to the states at the age of six.months. Golf occupies our time
when the weather cooperates and when the weather is bad we like to read good books and plan dinner parties. Donald Back.
Since I have not corresponded with you about my history since graduation, I have decided now is the time. In 1957 I married Kathleen Murphy, a
1955 Tulsa Central graduate and we subsequently had two daughters. I graduated from Tulsa University in 1959 with a BS in mathematics and
immediately joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard to satisfy my military obligations. My ten-year career in the National Guard included one year
of active duty in 1961-1962. After completion of the active duty tour, I was awarded a commission as a Second Lieutenant and served in the Guard
until 1969, attaining the rank of Captain. In 1963 I was hired by IBM as a System Engineer. My career was spent in Tulsa, Kansas City and then
back to Tulsa where I remained employed for almost twenty-four years until I took early retirement in 1987. Upon retirement, IBM rehired me to
work in their Large Systems Marketing Training program. After one year in Dallas, I took a job in Tulsa with Microage as a Corporate Accounts
Marketing Representative. That career lasted six years and I subsequently worked part time for various computer related businesses until I totally
retired. In 1990 I married Janis Finley and we have enjoyed traveling. We have been to the Bahamas, Italy and Jamaica as well as the continental
US. My favorite is Jamaica where we have been several times to play golf. My outside interests include fast pitch softball, competitive skeet
shooting and, in more recent years, golf. The newsletters that you send me have always been interesting and I recognize that they do not come
without cost, therefore I am enclosing a contribution. John McKinney.
Yes - there is still a pulse. As most of you know I have Parkinson's disease. It limits me to very little of what I was able to do ten years ago. I’ve
lived in my house for over forty years. I did my own yard work and house work and worked on my family tree in my spare time. In January 2007, I
was blessed with my first grandchild - Mia Zoe Roth. I have another on the way. Both of my children are gainfully employed and I feel very blessed
about that. Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and many blessings in the New Year. Alice WILBORN Roth.
Hi Pooch. Here’s a little wampum. Hope to make the reunion. Next September will be my 55th year at Merrill Lynch. Best to everyone.
Bonnie BARBOUR Perida.
Much happens between these news bites and it has been awhile since I’ve penned one. Life has a continuing way of providing both sweet and
bitter repasts but for the most part it is great to be this “young” and to be able to sit up and take nourishment! I jest because I can’t complain about
my health (Plan to go skiing at Winter Park this Thanksgiving). Mary Ann and I celebrated our 50th in June 2008 with about 80 friends and
relatives here in Castle Pines, Colorado. My Dad passed away in December 2008. He was 95 and had lived a good long life but I still miss him. I
joined a 55-piece concert band a couple of years ago which has an associated 22-piece jazz band and they asked me to play with them. Having
much FUN doing that. I began participating in a jail ministry at the local Douglas County jail about 2 years ago and even though I was very
apprehensive at first, after the first night, I was walking on air! It has been wonderful being a “tool" of the spirit and am having much fun doing that.
Mary Ann and I have a new Grandson who turned ONE this past July - that makes 5 total. We spent 10 days with him and his sisters doing
Colorado things last August, including trying to teach an eight year old Granddaughter and her six year old sister how to cast a fly rod on the South
Platte river! We both are very active in our new church of two years plus and dearly love the people. Better stop so I can save something to talk
about at the next reunion. God bless the class of 1953! Roy Koerner.
Merry, Merry Christmas - We are expecting our first great Granddaughter in January. My computer goes on the blink where I have to unplug it and
restart but it still works. The house and yard are getting to be in a repair mode but they still look good. I have cleared the huge tree that fell
through the wood shop shed and repaired and painted it. I’m burning the wood in a fire pit, which I built. I continue to see health problems loom for
both Karol and me however we are coping. I still try to teach the best men’s Sunday school class. My friend in Belarus got a birthday card to me
exactly on my birthday. World politics and local corruption are a mess yet Huntsville is growing with NASA, an Army base and a biomedical Health
center. Our grandchildren are in college or in the military. We are coming into the season of remembering and loving. Christ came to abide with
us so we could hug, hold and touch God. Hope your family can do the same. The class of 1953 has provided us with so many memories of great
times to remember. I want to be alive to see if we are “Staying alive at ‘75” Take care of yourself and smile a lot for 2010 is the year of the Tiger
(Chinese). If you come to Grand Cayman in February we may see you there. Garvin Emanuel.
Hi classmates! A very good year for the Averys’. When you’re still alive, it has to be a good year. Events for us include 16 days in the hospital for
a heart incident. Pacemaker and defibulator implanted and am going to therapy 3 days a week. Daughter is going to get married in Leeds, UK,
where she is studing for her PHD. We are flying over for 15 days and will spend Thanksgiving with them. Still married to the greatest woman in the
world and we are coming up on our 37th year. I want to wish each and everyone a happy holiday season and a happy new year! Looking forward
to the reunion where we can interact. Bill Avery.
We were blessed to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary this past June. Time whizzes by - doesn’t. Our four children surprised us with an
Alaskan cruise and California vacation - a perfect trip. In a few weeks we will be moving to a new house with no stairs, not far from we have lived
for 38 years. We have been redecorating and updating for some time. Lots of memories in the old house yet with God’s love and presence there
are new ones yet to come after we move. Our new address will be 1808 Mockingbird, McAlester, OK 74501. Love, joy and peace to all.
Grace DUDLEY Wiezorek.
Greetings to all from the Ladds. All is well with us and our children and grandchildren. I like the theme of our coming reunion “Staying Alive at 75”
- a good idea. I see a number of the guys at the monthly breakfasts. Besides the “Fish stories” it gives us a chance to catch up on some of our
classmates - too many of whom we have lost. Despite the current economic conditions and our service men and women fighting for our way of life, I
still think we still live in the greatest country in the world. We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! May God bless all of
you. Bob Ladd
Still playing softball - win some lose some but haven’t been rained out in a long time. Four world championships in the last five years - Can’t win
em all. Still can’t find my golf clubs. Water-skied this past summer and plan to hit the slopes when we get a little dusting. I played miniature golf
the other day but kept losing balls. Hope all is well with everyone and hope to see you next year. Best wishes and have a happy holiday.
Jim Tate.
Married to Sharon Hall for 53 years as of August 10, 2009. We have two children and one grandchild. I am alive and well. Clarence Osborn.
I was not going to send a letter....Nothing exciting going on around here. Then Ed called me frantically from the living room. By the time I got there
the excitement was over. He had watched a Bob Cat jump over our four foot stucco wall, walk across the yard and jump back over the fence on the
other side. I didn’t get to see the cat. We later found out it was a mountain lion! Now this city girl is afraid to go outside and is ready to move back
into the city! As a side - our neighbor’s dog is missing. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May God bless all of you and give you
peace that passes all understanding. Cherie REYES.
My bride of 50 years (51 when we’re at the reunion) Carol and I plan to attend the “Staying Alive at 75” reunion, but I’ll only be 74 and she will only
be 72. Hope you guys in charge will let us kids participate in the festivities if we show a proper ID at the door. My bride and I are University of
Texas graduates; however, we promise to be reasonably civil about the recent OU and OSU football games. Gordon Ross.
It’s been a busy year for the Caverlys in Mexico, MO. Dave and I traveled to Warm Springs, GA for the International Post-polio Conference. I never
was a patient there but the history of the facility during the 30’s and 40’s with Roosevelt there made the experience very impressive. Then in May, I
joined other classmates for our 50’th reunion from Washington University in St. Louis. I graduated later than everyone because of a five year
program. In July, Dave and I drove to Louisville, KY for the International Gathering of Presbyterian Women. Twenty five hundred women sing and
speak with joy and praise. We were able to stop at the National Quilt Museum on our way back. Sitchery is art on the wall in quilts - a must see if
you enjoy fabrics art. Our daughter, Barbara and her two sons (9 and 12) moved from the Dallas area to Columbia, MO, just 35 miles from Mexico.
We are enjoying having our family close to us. Our oldest grandson is a freshman at the Citadel in SC and is bald for a year! Our son John, in
CO, went on a mission trip to the headwaters of the Amazon in Peru. I’ve had some health issues this year with heart arrhythmias off and on. A
major heart procedure in St. Louis has hopefully taken care of this problem. We are enjoying our gardening, our church activities and our two
grandsons and daughter - frequent visitors. Next year will be a year of reunions for us - one in NH, in VA and in OK. We hope to see you in
September. Blessings to all of you. Nancy HOTZ Caverly.
Health wise, 2009 has been an up and down year for Ruth. However, she’s doing considerably better than most, including her doctor, ever
imagined. Her faith and her never-give-up attitude has made the difference. After being bedfast from July ‘07 to July ‘08, she’s determined to stay
on her feet. I’ve managed to avoid any health issues and for that I feel more than blessed. Since July ‘08 I’ve been doing a monthly column titled
“100 Years and counting” for “The Vintage” - a magazine published by Senior Life Services. The series will continue in 2010 but probably only 4 to
5 times during the year. As the title implies, it highlights Tulsans who are at least 100 years old. I’ve learned some valuable lessons while
interviewing. These delightful folks....guys, women outlive us going away! Our first real outing since before Ruth’s surgery in ‘07 was a December
group outing to Branson to take in a bunch of shows. Unfortunately the newsletter deadline doesn’t allow me to report on how we handled the trip.
Jack Welsh.
Not a lot of news from us - which is not a bad thing. Enjoyed visiting daughter Lisa and her family in Atlanta in October. Enjoyed a trip to Dallas for
a National Assistance League conference. I stay busy with volunteer work for them, bridge clubs and being Treasurer with an investment club -
lately, a very humbling experience. I wish all of our classmates a happy holiday season and appreciate being kept up on everyone's news.
Carol ROOF Bethell.
Hi classmates. I’m looking forward to our next reunion. Bob and I had a great train fall foliage trip in the East this fall. Enjoyed the scenery and
visiting the Corning Glass works and the Culinary Institute of America as well as a couple resorts. Last fall, Pat Trench and I went to Ireland with the
El Segundo seniors. Great scenery, great food and lovely horses ( Be sure to ask Pat about the whale watch ride). Thanks so much for us to be
able to continue to enjoy reunions, Mary GARDNER Wilcox.
| Musical Rendition of Memories by Barbara Streisand |