Saturday, October 20, 2007

......LHS News......
Originally sent Oct. 20

I am sorry to report the passing of '59 classmate Beverly (Lucas) Wiles, 67. Beverly passed away on Oct. 12 at her home. She had cancer and that is all the information I have been able to get. I did not see a local obituary and I do not know where she was living. She does have a sister - Sue (Lucas) Hogue who is class '55. So very sorry for the family loss.

Also passing on Oct. 18 was Eileen Mercadante, 61. Eileen, originally of Norman, was wife of John Mercadante, class '63. Eileen also had cancer. Services will be this Monday, Oct. 22 at First Presbyterian Church in Lawton, 10:00am.If the name sounds 'familiar'....Johns folks - Carmen and Helen Mercadante - owned and operated Dantes Italian Restaurant many years here in Lawton. Both are deceased, however, Carmen was brother to Rose Bianco who is still operating Biancos Italian Restaurant at the original location on 2nd street. Opened in 1952. So sorry to hear of Eileen passing.

And another loss, Maurice Coover Elledge, 94, of Lawton. He passed Oct. 19. Services will be at 11:00am on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home Chapel, 632 SW 'C' Ave. Maurice is father to Peggy (Elledge) Long, class '54 and Chris Elledge (wife Debbie) ...not sure of Chris' graduating class - early '60's?

From what I am receiving, Roy Sullins, continues to improve after a very serious car accident. I was told that Roy was class '55 but did quite well and graduated in '54!!! His wife is Sue (Carr). We certainly wish Roy all the best in his recovery.

Please join me in remembering all these with illness and loss in your prayers.

On a lighter note folks....I secured a real 'treasure' this past week. A 1912 LHS Yearbook!!!! Bought it at an auction, out of Tennessee. I am so excited as it is just a wonderful 'archive' of LHS history. I will be sharing pictures and other items from the book with you. So ironic just after Marcille reported seeing a 1904 or 1905 copy of a LHS Yearbook. I hate that this copy has had small water damage...but overall and considering age, it's in good condition!

A lot of the art work was done by one of the seniors that year - Donald (Don) Blanding. The name leaped off the page when I read about the book as I grew up reading Blandings Vagabond House - probably one of the more 'famous' of his written and published prose and introduced to me at an early age by my father, a lover of (some) verse.

It is a 'cord tied' book - no commercial binding - cover is a heavy construction type paper and the pages are done on a nice quality glossy paper. Blanding did the cover art work (see pix on the right). Ads from several businesses of the day. Not unlike later yearbooks.

Several names also spurred recognition - Ned Shepler (freshman that year) went on to start the local newspaper - the Lawton Constitution, still operated by his grandsons; Fay Babbitt, Mary Wolverton, Jay Keegan, all Seniors. I am quite sure 'we' attended school some decades later with offspring of these early LHS grads.

Group picture of the Juniors, Sophmores, and Freshman classes and a group picture of the class of '06. Also, the football team, basketball team, etc. Will be sharing these great photos.

The forward in the book reads:

"The Editors of the LORE present the result of their labors, hoping that they have succeeded in creating an eloquent memorial of their love for old L.H.S., their pride in her achievement and their belief in her glorious future."

To the Classes that Follow
This book is dedicated by the
Class of 1912

Beautiful weather in the home town!!!!! Been outside soaking it up! Regards to all.... Georgia

Saturday, October 13, 2007

......LHS News......extra!
Originally sent Oct. 13

Zearl Harmon was Dep Supt in charge of personnel. His wife, Ellen was principal at Eisenhower Grade school. Both were super individuals.
Mary Ann (Goode) Pursley - '57

A clarification on the Harmons: Zearl was a Central office administrator at Shoemaker Center and his wife, Ellen, was principal at Eisenhower Elementary until she retired in 1981. Marcille (Covey) Southerland - '52

Hi Georgia - thought I'd reply and touch base. Jerry and I are doing fine - he went to the OU/TX game yesterday and, of course, it was great. I decided that it might be a little warm for me so I very generously gave up my ticket to one of Jerry's sons. Regret I didn't go. Jerry said it got pretty warm but wasn't as bad as we thought it might be. We continue to love living here in OKC. We are very involved with our church and have made some wonderful friends through the church. Take care and hope all is well. Love, Kay (Pavillard) Otis - '59

The inside of the Dome was unfinished which was a letdown to anyone making the climb to the top. You entered the dome by stepping onto a platform as alas! ...no finish on the floor either. If you missed a ceiling joist you went through to the building below. Does anyone know what was under the Dome? Can someone find out? Someone PLEASE take this on as a project as I have been curious all these 50+ years since I was there. My own guess, and I said guess, was the stage of the auditorium because the curtains and backdrops needed a very high space to be raised into.....sounds good to me even if it is a very old idea.To anyone who has visited a dome such as the dome at the Oklahoma state capitol building which is finished knows how beautiful it is .... forget that picture as concerns our unfinished Dome at LJH the windows were dirty...were they ever cleaned? One window was cracked and the smaller of the two cracked pieces had fallen out and pigeons had discovered the Dome Loft of Higher Education. The surprising thing to me was that there were very few birds in residence...maybe they wanted running water. The view since the School was situated on a hill - ok a very small hill - was of the panorama of downtown Lawton circa 1956-57 which was the way all of us remember Lawton. All the downtown was still in place no Urban Destruction invented yet. Of course the view was only enjoyed by the intrepid few who could walk the ceiling joists around the Dome from window to window. Best of memories to one and all. Share them with us now, we'll be in the Historical Society soon enough as it is going now.Thanks Georgia for all the work you are doing and for all the memories you've shared with us. It makes a person feel like a teenager again. Frank Hatch - Denver Colorado, class of 59

Thanks for the update about Dan Green. I have been praying for him. My son Raymond is in Iraq for his third tour of duty now and all of our Military are uppermost in my prayers now. Love and prayers,
Gloria (Lamb) Ervin - '59

Received this email story w/photo (not available here) from Susan (Hankins) Ellington - class '56 - living in Los Alamos, NM. btw....Susan is big sister of Duffy (Hankins) Gilbert - class '60.
Story: Yvonne Coombs, Kay Scott, Myrna Kay Daley, Glenda Stanton, Barbara Odom and Mary Jane Osborne met Saturday, Oct 6, 2007, in Albuquerque, NM, for the 2007 Balloon Festival. On that same day, Larry Hargett drove to Albuquerque from Los Lunas and met the 1956 LHS alumni at the Coach's Sport Bar and Grill to watch the OU/Texas football game televised from Dallas.
While there, Kay called J. W. Hunter (Lawton) who was surprised to talk to the group in Albquerque.
On Tuesday, Oct. 9, the women drove to Santa Fe and Mary Thompson joined them to drive to Los Alamos to have dinner with Susan and Newby Ellington and also look at grade school and junior high school pictures.
Wednesday, Oct 10, Mary Jane, Barbara, and Susan met the other women at the Sanctuario in Chimayo to visit the historic shrine and church. Mary Jane, Barbara and Susan had lunch at the Rancho de Chimayo and toured a back road or two before heading back to Pojoaque, NM, to drop off Susan, while the other women headed to Taos to be tourists at the Taos Pueblo and Los Trompas before heading back to Chimayo via the High Road for an evening dinner at the Rancho de Chimayo.Barbara and Mary Jane head back to Albuquerque, Lawton, and Houston on Thursday, while the other women head back to their respective homes on Friday after first stopping in Logan, NM, near Tucumcari, NM, to visit Paul and Gwen White. (A tornado hit in Logan this last Spring/Summer and did some serious damage; Gwen says they were spared.) Susan

Love it! Sounds like major fun!!!!! Thanks Susan for sharing with us!

Appreciate all the comments & photos! I hope all will join me in keeping those classmates with health problems in prayers as well as those serving our country in various locations around the world! God bless them all, God bless our USA! Georgia
......LHS News......
Lots of news...will be an 'extra' right behind this!
Originally sent Oct. 13

Sorry to report passing of Milton T. Nunn, 59, of Lawton. Milton passed on Oct. 6. He was 1967 grad of LHS and brother of class mate Bryan Nunn. Services were in Lawton this past Wednesday.

Some info on Roy Sullins who was involved in a very serious car accident several days ago. Do not know for sure what class Roy was in but he attended the class '56 - 50th reunion. An email (below) from Doyce indicates Roy is in Austin. This is from Roy's daughter Terry a few days ago:

Roy is still in stable condition and all his vital signs are good. They are planning on doing a tracheotomy on him tomorrow to secure a good airway and to continue to support his breathing with the ventilator. He is still on the ventilator and he is breathing some on his own in addition to the machine settings. He is still very medicated and will open his eyes but we do not get any indication that he is aware we are there or what has happened to him. He does respond to the nurses commands on moving his toes and sometimes his fingers. We are grateful he is doing as well as he is and hope for no setbacks. We all appreciate your support and concern and prayers. It has meant a lot to all of us in the family. I will keep you updated in the future. Sincerely, Terry (daughter)

Hello Georgia, just writing to remind everyone of the Oklahoma Centennial Parade in Oklahoma City, Sunday, October 14th, hope to see everyone there. Coincidentally, I bumped in to Sharon and Andy Anderson, showing there Model A Ford at The Good Guys Auto Show at the Texas Motor Speedway, huge show. I never had met them before, but enjoyed the visit. We discussed you and how much we enjoy your service to all of us about Dear Old LHS.
Headed to Austin now, and hopefully can look in on Roy Sullins, while there. Tom Wells has been keeping us updated on his condition.
Thanks! Doyce Grayson

Doyce with the Lawton Rangers will be riding in the parade which is at 2:00pm Sunday afternoon in downtown OKC.

Really good article in this past Sunday Oklahoman (Oct. 7) on Pete Costilow who grew up in Lawton and I believe a 1964 LHS grad. Married to high school sweetheart - Irene, 3 sons including set of twins!
Pete is assistant air traffic manager at Will Rogers World Airport in OKC and holds rank of General in OK Reserves.
Pete is a friend of my brother George - class '63, P.R. Ramey & others in high school. Later he & George were SAE at OU. Pete had a sister - Lenore (Costilow) Riley (deceased) also a LHS grad - about 1954. Good article & color pic - page 3-D.

For those of us who bemoaned the closing of the Wildcat Cafe located in Ramon's Flowers...viola!~ Now open under name of Gerald's Early Bird and new location at 406 Lee Blvd. (directly across south from old SW Hospital).Same cooks, same great food. Open M - S, 6:30am ~ 2:00pm. It's a busy place! Get there early if you want the 'special'!

Yea!......cooler air finally arrives in OK!!!!! Feels much better!!!! Hate to miss the parade on Sunday but it is also my Mom's birthday and have BIG party planned. Mom admits to 39! After that, anyones guess! Regards to all........ Georgia

Sunday, October 7, 2007

......LHS News......
Originally sent Oct. 7

Guys, I've been gone a little and way too busy, so playing catch-up with some 'news'.....

Noted the passing of Elsie (Gardiner/Gardner) Hearns, 61. Elsie passed away Sept. 20. She was a grad of LHS, have to be about 1964? Also a graduate of Cameron. She is survived by a son and a daughter.

Some may have known Ruth E. (Coryell) Whitten, 94. She passed away on Sept. 22. Ruth was a 1931 grad of LHS and received a degree from Cameron. I remember her husband Lindsey Whitten who was associated with one of the banks here for many years. He passed away in 1990. Ruth is survived by two sons and a daughter.

And most - especially those who grew up here - will remember Paul McClung, 83. Paul died Sept. 30 after a long bout with cancer. Paul was a very colorful 'character' with an award winning career in journalism that spanned some 35+ years. Paul wrote for the Lawton Constitution and after retiring in 1987 he taught at OU, then worked as Director of Public Information at Cameron.Upon retiring at Cameron in 1995, Paul went to Byers (north) Texas and worked the family cattle ranch. Paul won many awards for his writing and was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1996. He said he enjoyed 'both careers' - writing and cattle - very much. Service was in Byers this past week.

This (good news) update about a week ago from Luther Green (class '57) on his grandson Dan who was injured in Iraq:
We our very happy to say that Dan has finished his third surgery. We will not get to see him for another couple of weeks because his company is due home on the 5th or 6th and he wants to be there to see all of his buddies. We have talked to him by phone and he is happy with the surgery. His doctor said he would like to do a little touch up in about three months but told Dan that his nose looks so good that Dan probably would not let him. It is just so wonderful that he is home and is doing so well. The attached picture is not a recent one but we wanted to send it anyway. Thanks to each and everyone of you for all your prayers and concern for our hero.
BJ & Lou Green

Most of you will remember teacher Zearl Harmon in Jr. High. Think he taught shop and went on to be a principal at one of the grade schools. Just to let you know he just very recently moved to Colorado to be with his son and family. His wife has Alzheimers and is in a care facility in CO. We certainly wish him well.

Pictured below is picture of Andy Anderson with his 1929 Model A Ford. Andy is hubby of '59 classmate Sharon Kay (Cummins) Anderson. They are into antique cars and were at Cache this week-end for Wild, Western Days!!!
(pix may not be available?)

Book recently out, "Forty Years a Legislator", University of Oklahoma Press. Book complied from personal papers & documents belonging to Elmer Thomas. Thomas was grandfather to classmates (siblings) Koehler Thomas, Meredith (deceased) and Bill Thomas. All LHS grads.

Usually we go out to eat after church on Sunday, but home cooking sounded good to both of us today. Of course I cooked!!
While washing up dishes, caught part of the 1955 movie, Love is a Many Splendored Thing - William Holden, Jennifer Jones - along with the very popular song that was theme for movie. Brought back some fond 'school days' memories. ....sigh!

btw...did note, NO scene with Jennifer Jones cooking and washing dishes!

We have classmates who continue with serious health problems, please join me in keeping them in prayers.

Still pretty hot/humid here...waiting on a "cold" front today - using that term loosely! Don't think will cool down much. Saw they had 8" snow in Truckee, CA! Hope its headed this way.... Regards to all..... Georgia