Alumni Sandstorm ~ 03/14/05
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15 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Betty Hiser ('49), Jim Jensen ('50)
Glenda Winston ('53), Wally Erickson ('53)
Marguerite Groff ('54), Tom Tracy ('55)
Margo Heiling ('57), Larry Mattingly ('60)
Jim Yount ('61), Ann Engel Schafer ('63)
Earl Bennett ('63), Marie Ruppert ('63)
Maren Smyth ('63 & '64), Gary Behymer ('64)
Kathy Feaster ('75)
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BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Diane Dvorak ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Marcia Wade ('67)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mary Horton ('75)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Millbauer ('77)
BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Betty Hiser Gulley ('49)
To: Jim McKeown ('53) - even though I know your mother and met your
father several times I never met any of her family. My prayers are for
your entire family but especially Tom and his wife.
There was some talk recently that someone wanted to make a separate state
of Eastern Washington. When I first went to work on the Project my boss
had been raised in the Lewiston, ID area. He told me that in the early
1900s a group of people got together and tried to make a state out of
Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington and part of Idaho and name it the
State of Lincoln. According to him they tried several times but couldn't
get anyone to vote on it.
-Betty Hiser Gulley '49er - south/government Richland - Coolish last
night but the sun is out today. Broke several temperature
records in the past week. No rain though.
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>>From: Jim Jensen ('50)
To: Ralph Myrick ('51)
Re your posting of 3/12/05 regarding Clovis and environs. Nope!
Didn't send my email from Clovis. Since my wife, Alliene, grew up there
and we still have family there, I view the Clovis News Journal internet
version every day.
I was stationed at Clovis AFB, later Cannon AFB, 1954-1958. I too
attended ENMU off and on, but didn't secure a degree as you did. It was a
great educational oasis... on the small side... intimate environment. My
favorite professor was Dr. Rebecca West. Had two classes with her: "Main
Currents in American Thought" and "Modern British and American Poetry."
Truly enjoyed both the course material and her method of imparting
knowledge. One of her comments made a profound impression upon me:
"Wisdom begins when one first comprehends how much one doesn't know."
Since all of my classes were at night I met a lot of school teachers who
were catching up on professional development courses. Wallace Austin
(Clovisite transplanted to Artesia) a high school teacher and Dorothy
Chambers (from Deming) a graduate and student teacher (at ENMU) I came to
know fairly well. My brother-in-law, Dutch Thatcher, took his masters in
education at ENMU.
Haven't followed the Greyhounds... sorry.
To: Gary Behymer ('64)
Your picture postings of 3/12/05 were great! I had no idea the
Palouse had such eye appeal. I always thought of that area as either dry
as dust or covered in wheat. That big hill in the background of the first
picture is mysterious... sort of out of place. There must surely be a
geological term that describes the "hilly" formation, but I don't know
what it is. Thanks for sharing.
Bomber Cheers,
-Jim Jensen ('50)
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>>From: Glenda Winston Shaeffer ('53)
To: Jim McKeown ('53)
Thanks for letting us know about Darlene and Tom. I'm keeping all of
you in my prayers and ask you to tell them that I'm thinking about them.
Tom and Darlene have been through so much these past few years, and what
a loving brother you've been.
Although I couldn't come to our fiftieth reunion I did get the photo
and the book about everyone and enjoyed so much looking at and reading
about the great class of '53.
Please update us on Darlene when you know more.
-Glenda Winston Shaeffer ('53)
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>>From: Wally Erickson ('53)
To: Jim McKeown ('53)
Re: Tom's wife Darlene
Thanks for sharing about Darlene's ('54) health. They definitely have
our prayers and thoughts
To: Betty Hiser Gulley ('49)
Re: Original Safeway Store
You asked about Mac (the manager of Safeway). His name was Donald
MacElrath... everyone called him Mac. His wife Dorothy was also the
bookkeeper at the store. I remember her saving old "Indian head" pennies
and other old coins while counting the money. She must've had a great
coin collection after doing that for all those years. They had no
children. I remember Mac taking a stocking cart and NCR cash register to
the back of the store onto the loading dock on Friday's between 5 pm and
7 pm. Mac sold only cases of beer and full cartons of cigarettes off the
loading dock. This was done for the workers in the area so they wouldn't
have to stand in those long lines inside the store. It helped take some
pressure away from the front check stands (there were only four).
My Dad, Mike Erickson, was the Meat Manager at Safeway. It was a full
service meat market; he made lots of friends behind the meat counter
(special cuts, etc.). I was a box boy (we used boxes because we could get
more stuff into them) for a short year. We weren't allowed to take any
shopping carts out of the store to take groceries to the car... the carts
were there for customers only. Sometimes, the customer would have to wait
for an empty shopping cart... yep, there was even lines to get a cart.
Oh, bye the way, the parking lots where on the side of the store... not
in front... duhh! This store did so much business, the customers would
park across the street just west of CC Andersons (later the Bon).
You're right about not selling wine in the stores then. I don't
remember the bottle exchange; but, I do remember sorting empty bottles in
the back room... that was not fun work. The Grocery stores were closed on
Sundays then. Several years later the grocery stores opened for Sunday,
they weren't able to sell any alcohol beverages on Sunday. I don't
remember the exact year when the stores were able to stock wine. Not
anywhere close to the varieties now in Supermarkets. Some Supermarkets
have wine stewards.
Sorry, to drag this on for so long in answering your question. But,
it brings back some fond memories for me and others.
-Wally Erickson ('53) ~ Just got back from the Washington Coast for some
R&R. So I have some catching up to do on the Sandstorm. We're
having beautiful weather here in Coeur D' Alene, ID; no snow and
we'll pay for it big time this summer.
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>>From: Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
To: Jim McKeown ('53)
Thanks for letting us know about your brother Tom's ('53) wife,
Darlene Card McKeown's ('54) health problems. I can assure you that
prayers are most certainly being said for her. I'm sorry to hear that
she is so ill. What is the name of the hospital she is in? I would
like to send a card. Hopefully she is able to read any cards that she
receives. Please keep us posted on her condition.
To: Class of '54 gals
This coming Friday (3/18) is our monthly lunch. Same time, same place
(noon - Granny's). I've been told of one attendee from out of town. I'm
not telling who, but we always enjoy her visits. Let's have a really good
turnout for her.
-Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54) ~ Richland where the weather is
beautiful!
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>>From: Tom Tracy ('55)
To: Jim McKeown ('53)
Please extend my best thoughts to Tom. You and he were heroes of
our class of '55. Our prayers join with all the many others for him and
Darlene. We have great memories of watching you both play in so many
sporting events. You were both fine examples for your younger classmates.
All the best to you.
To: The Magnificent Class of '55
Hope to see some of you in Richland on the 19th... I want a piece of
the 50 year old floor. It should be well-seasoned.
Today, almost 50 years to the moment, our Bomber Team defeated the
No.1 ranked Lincoln High team of Seattle in the UW "Hec" Edmundson
Gymnasium in Seattle at the State Tournament. It seems like yesterday.
Happy 50th year to the memory of the great win for the best guys you
could bring together to form a loyal team: Thanks a million John Cowan,
Denny Olson, Norris Brown, Bernie Qualheim, Derald Mitchell, Lonnie
Whitner, Denny Olson, Chuck Curtis, Dave Forrest, Tilbert Neal, Bill
Johnson and Robbie Hatfield. You were great guys as team mates. I'm
grateful to Art Dawald for letting me play on your team!
Our UW Fraternity which Lonnie Whitner (RHS' great center) and I
joined had a fraternity party 25 years later in Seattle. Four of the
Lincoln team members who were had also been members, attended and when
they saw Lonnie and I they smiled and said You Merciless, #%&~, Richland
Bombers!!! They hadn't forgotten the score and I'm sure it still stung.
They were good sports and we had a fine party.
Now someone is taking down the gym where we practiced, played,
attended concerts, held special events, assemblies, graduation
ceremonies, competed in the Two Bits, Four Bits, Six Bits cheering
competition and other glorious events. We remember well the thundering
welded steel floors that reverberated under our stomping feet and
supported us and our white Converse tennis shoes.
To all Bomber classmates who love fast break basketball and want to see
the slow game disappear... you might appreciate the following comments:
Running up The Score
Who's been Running Up The Score? Who's afraid to "Run Up The Score"?
What will people think if you run up the score on their team? Is it a
shameful thing to Run-Up-The_score against an opponent? How thoughtless
to "shame the opposing coach by Running Up The Score". What does "Running
up the score" mean?
A decree once went out from a local school superintendent and his
declaration became a Commandment. Thou Shalt Not Run Up the Score.
His outrage plagued coaches who had to compete against slower, less
experienced, lazy, untalented opponents and inept opposing coaches who
sometimes spent too much time watching Hoosiers and not enough time
teaching technique and building self-confidence. Vows were taken from
athletic directors and coaches in the community, "I don't want any
coaches running up the scores against opponents and having to listen to
complaints from parents about this matter". "Friends-don't-let friends
Run Up The Score' discussions prevailed.
Revealing unexpected talent and skill must be considered
inappropriate to such Moms and Superintendents. No more high school
Moms phoned him declaring deliberate high scoring margins between teams.
His concern for not wanting to have mad Moms upset because upset baby
boys were saddened through exposure to highly talented performances of
opposing teams.
The administrator went beyond the pale of sensibility and if followed
would be equivalent to enforced 'point shaving' by coaches; an offense
that can cost one a jail term in college or professional sports. The
School Board erroneously named an old school facility after that
Superintendent but fortunately the community recently demolished it.
How dare a coach unleash all the talent possible from his team? What
was he thinking? In that certain moment, one reflects on discrimination
against talent, good coaching and excellence.
Think about applying that to competitive performances for High School
Orchestras.
Listen to the talented orchestra leader remind his accomplished
students "When we get to the chorus, be sure to play slightly off key so
the band from Kitty Breath Creek Township doesn't feel intimidated and
experience bed-wetting or other psychologically serious maladies because
we ran up the score' or performed outside their level of expertise.
I recently heard a woman chastising a coach and screaming at him for
running up the score. Upon asking her if she was a player's Mom, she
quickly snapped "Absolutely not.' She was the Mother of the losing coach.
We recall the former Notre Dame coach's Lou Holtz comment. "At a
halftime break during my first year coaching I walked toward the locker
room and confronted my coach from the year before who was playing against
us. "What do you mean by running up the score on me"? He quickly told me,
"It's your job and that of your team to stop us from scoring, not mine
and don't you forget it." Rest assured Lou didn't call Mom or our former
Superintendent.
One thing for sure. We Bomber fans love our young players of today
and know they always perform to the best of their ability. Being a Bomber
might not be everything, but assured that it's way out in front of
whatever is in 2nd place.
Bomber Cheers, best wishes and good thoughts.
-Tom Tracy ('55)
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>>From: Margo Heiling Barron ('57)
Re: Class of '57 Lunch, Saturday, March 19, in Richland
Just a reminder of the lunch scheduled at 3 Margaritas (aka Las
Margaritas) at 627 Jadwin in Richland at 12 Noon, next Saturday, March
19. Please send me an e-mail to reserve your place. If you're not sure
you can make it and on Saturday find your schedule is open, you're
welcome to just show up; the restaurant usually isn't busy at that time
on Saturdays. The event is also on the Bomber calendar (link at the top
of this page) if you want to respond later in the week. If you know of
any classmates who do not read the Sandstorm, please pass the word.
-Margo Heiling Barron (Class of '57 Ahead of our Time)
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>>From: Larry Mattingly ('60)
I got a little hasty with my erase button and so can't recall who
brought up the tunnels at Hanford. In the mid '60s when I worked at
Hanford, we were out near the foot of the mountain on the Hanford side. I
saw what appeared to be a tunnel entrance with a heavy door. It was right
into the mountain, near the SE corner. When I asked around about it I was
told it was "52L". Supposedly it was a place where managers of Hanford
could go in case of an attack or other emergency. I was told there were
food supplies and beds for 30 people, along with power generators, water,
air filtration, and so on. For a number of years there was a light near
the door and you could see it from highway 240. I haven't seen that light
for many years.
Saturday the 12th I was teaching a pyro class at a fire station in
Beavercreek, OR and looked up from my lunch just in time to see Mt. St.
Helens blow some ash and steam to 15,000 or so feet. That afternoon when
I finished the class, I drove to Ocean Shores to do a fireworks display
for a convention. Just as I arrived there I heard on the radio of an
earthquake that was said to have knocked out some power in Seattle. A few
minutes later, about 7:45, a bunch of us on the beach watched the biggest
meteor any of us had ever seen light up the entire area and land in the
ocean slightly SW from Ocean Shores. It was a monster, and was bright
green and pulsed brighter three times before disappearing, apparently
into the Pacific. Years ago I saw a meteor go down near the Olympic
Mountains. A couple of days later, in response to a newspaper article, I
sent a compass line on a map to a Prof at the UW. Months later I got a
letter of thanks. My compass line and that of another person well to the
North of where I was, put him close enough to find the meteor strike
point and recover several pieces. Driving home at nearly 2 AM Sunday
morning, I kept thinking about the earth and the rest of the universe
doing it's thing, with no regard for mankind.
Last Thursday I made a quick trip to the Tri-Cities for lunch with a
client at the Pasco Red Lion and then was off to Yakima area to drop a
proposal to a potential client. I had stopped at the Tesoro station on
Van Geisen for gas and as I went inside I heard someone honking their
horn. I stopped and asked myself, was that women honking at me? Then I
realized, blue pick-up and small dog... yep it was Patti Jones Ahrens
('60). We talked a few minutes and I had to run, but it was fun to run
into someone you know in a town of strangers, even though you grew up
there.
Spent most of the day today looking at maps and trying to analyze
what fireworks displays we may not be able to fire because of the
drought. We could loose a few displays but it doesn't look too bad so
far. A shutdown of all fireworks in Alaska last year by the governor just
before the 4th was a disaster for that business. But the fire danger was
extreme.
Will be in Japan next month to present a technical paper at the
International Fireworks Symposium. It will be at a hotel on Lake Biwako
near Osaka. My business partner in that separate venture will be in
heaven as he loves sushi. I am told there is an American style restaurant
near the hotel so I won't have to go hungry as I did on one of my trips
to Japan. On that trip I was the guest of a Japanese businessman at a
small inn near Fuji. I could not eat most of what they served and I lost
several pounds in 4 days. The cities are crowded, but I love the country
areas of Japan. Any Bomber Alums in that area?
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly ('60) ~ From home near Tacoma and while it is only
mid March I am behind in yard work already.
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>>From: Jim Yount ('61)
To: Class of 1961
Re: Getting older
This year, most of us in the class of '61 will be turning 62. Being
eligible for Social Security helps take the sting out of getting older, I
guess. But another neat thing happens: we're eligible for a "Golden Age"
(don't you just hate the name?) Passport, giving lifetime free access to
all National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Corps of Engineers,
Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service sites with admission fees
(includes passengers in your vehicle). This costs a ONE TIME fee of $10,
and is good for the rest of your life.
Since we live 15 miles from an entrance to a National Park, we use
the parks a lot. Today, I was advised by a local ranger to sign up for
the card as soon as possible. Reason? The program is being considered for
canceling, as part of budget cutting exercises. You really don't want to
pass this one up, if you have an active outdoor lifestyle.
-Jim Yount ('61) ~ Where we're having gorgeous Summer weather, but the
mountains are WAY too dry.
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>>From: Ann Engel Schafer ('63)
Re: Portland Area March Bomber Luncheon
http://richlandbombers.com/lunches/Current-PDX/00.html
We had a good turnout for the March luncheon with three new people
attending. This was our last luncheon at the Thunderbird {formerly the
Doubletree}. The May 14 luncheon will be held next door at Shenanigan's
at Janzen Beach Red Lion (formerly the Doubletree).
Our three new people were Peg Wellman Johnson ('66), Paul Ratsch ('58),
and Barbara Crowder Hopkins ('55). The others in attendance were Alan
Porter ('67), Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54), Don Andrews ('67)',
Ron Holeman ('56), Leslie Swanson Holeman ('59), Jo Heidlebaugh ('74),
Lola Heidlebaugh Bowen ('60), Ann Engel Schafer ('63), Fred Schafer ('63)
and Mary Heidlebaugh (Bomber mom).
-Ann Engel Schafer ('63)
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>>From: Earl Bennett ('63)
Judy:
Thanks a heap. I assume the "lower gym" is the one that opened for
business in 1964, the year after I graduated. I also assume the old boys
gym, where I learned the phrase "wouldn't that just frost your balls"
at the feet of Fran Rish, is long gone and not available under these
programs - naturally that would have been my first choice. But I do
remember dancing with the beautiful girls' PE teacher in the girls' gym,
as well as a lot of Friday night dances, so that would be an acceptable
alternative. Let me know if my assumptions are wrong, and how to get a
piece of the girl's gym floor if I am right.
The only time I was ever in the Dawald gym - isn't that what they
named the lower one? - was a game during the Christmas break my first
year at WSC. Of course, Ray Stein ('64) performed with his usual genius,
and the game was so lopsided they started putting in a lot of second
stringers. Fred something was really a football player who barely made
the basketball team, and his usual job was hatchet man when a foul was
needed to create a potential turnover. The whistle blew, and his hand
went up immediately, he was so accustomed to being at fault, but the ref
was actually pointing at the player he was guarding. So, he folded his
arms across his chest and walked to the free-throw line with a sheepish
grin on his bowed face. Not enough of a memory to make me want to put it
in my house.
I think you graduated before we had the fund-raiser, probably my
senior year, where they sold "deeds" to a square foot of the old boy's
gym floor, which included a map to identify the actual location on the
floor. The "deed" gave you the right to stand on that square foot during
the lunch hour (in socks, of course). I bought two and sent one as a gift
to the girl from Grandview I had a crush on that year - met her on a
Lutheran youth group trip to PLU. I wonder if she still has it ... we
corresponded through my four years in the Air Force, her brief marriage
and having a daughter, saw each other a couple of times when I got back
and went to UW, then lost contact.
Regards, ecb3
-Earl Bennett ('63)
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>>From: Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63)
We need a miracle and Bomber prayers for my nephew, Nick Ruppert (son
of John Ruppert ('67) and Elaine Roberts Ruppert ('67). Nick is a student
at Arizona State and a really great young man. On Thursday night as he
was crossing a street in the Phoenix area he was the victim of a hit and
run driver. He is in a coma in the hospital and the prognosis is not
good, but he has overcome tremendous odds to reach this point. Please add
a prayer for him to your prayer chains.
-Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63)
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>>From: Maren Smyth ('63 & '64)
Re: Iditarod Update - Checkpoint #20 (of 27) - Unalakleet
www.iditarod.com/ and/or www.cabelasiditarod.com/
www.buserdog.com/buserdog/
2 teams have arrived in Unalakleet.
#1 Sorlie arrived 3/13 20:45 AKST - 12:01 enroute time @ 7.50 mph
#2 Buser arrived 3/13 22:53 AKST - 12:00 enroute time @ 7.50 mph
Sorlie is 1st to leave Unalakleet 3/14 00:11 AKST
The websites I've been watching BOTH show Buser in 1st place and
Sorlie in 2nd place, but I think the order is reversed... time will tell.
The Race Trail into Unalakleet, aka "Unk", has been moved off the Unk
River and onto the banks of the river due to overflow. The decision was
made after strong, warm SW winds created the overflow. Unk (population
882) is situated on the coast of Norton Sound and is the gateway to the
Bering Sea where mushers can expect sudden storms and high winds.
The team in front now can change in a heartbeat.
Stay tuned...
Bomber Cheers,
-Maren Smyth ('64 & '64) ~ Gretna, LA
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>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
Re: Palouse Photos
I had serval inquiries on the two Palouse photos that were posted
the other day. They were done by Michael G. Furner ('68)... a
professional nature and wildlife photographer. (...an artist in my book!)
One was taken from the summit of Kamiak Butte looking North and the
other one was taken from Steptoe Butte looking South.
-Gary Behymer ('64)
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>>From: Kathy Feaster Alley ('75)
Re: '75's 30-Year Class Reunion
August 12-13, 2005 -- Save the date! At the Shilo Inn in Richland.
At this time, the committee is looking for current addresses of our
classmates. Please send me your address (and of others in our class
you may have) as soon as possible. More information is available at
RichlandBombers.com -- scroll down til you see the "Reunions" listed and
click on the '7i6 reunion dates. We are looking forward to seeing you in
August. Spread the word!
The Committee: Ron Marsh, Terri Devoir Larson, Pat Noland, Meg Lujan
Soldat, Kathy Lucas Lee, Kay Simpson, and Kathy Feaster Alley). Contact:
Kathy Feaster Alley at loves2garden57@hotmail.com
-Kathy Feaster Alley ('75)
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Funeral Notice
>>Lloyd Carter Russell ('67) ~ 12/4/48 - 2/19/05
http://RichlandBombers.com/FuneralNotices.html
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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