ONE MORE OFFERING FROM POET LAUREATE ALAN

Here is the last one for tonight - read on down for the background on this string of posts:

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE JACK'S FORK RIVER
                            for Stacie and Jess
      we joked
   like little house
 on the prairie?

      but why did you
   go down there
 so far away?

      you hate snakes, and every
   week, there are some copperheads
 under your front porch...

      it seems a half dozen
   coyotes are getting closer
 & eyeing your dogs...

      a black bear
   broke into your new beehive
 & made off with all the honey...

      while swimming in the river
   a water moccasin
 got in your shoes, on the shore...

      so what is there
   about it,
 down there?

      there is
   a silence
 coming in at dusk...

      where the haze
   & mist
 rise up from the river...

      as the fireflies
   move with direction, with their
 white, soundless, flight...

      guiding them
   where only they
 know where to go.

ALAN YOUNT, THE COUNT, SHINING STAR OF MUSIC AND POETRY - LEARN MORE

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas season and is looking forward to a healthy, happy New Year.  Seems we could all use a new year!  I wanted to end this year with more information about our KHS65 poet laureate, Alan Yount.  Alan has been featured in the summer 2018 issue of the magazine WestWard Quarterly (WestWardquarterly.com) and below you'll see the article about him as well as one of the poems featured in that article. This issue featured 4 of his poems, but they've published 4 others in the past.  In this issue he was Featured Poet, and with 50 poets in the issue, seems to me that says a LOT!  If you look further back on this blog you'll see more of Alan's poetry.  I think if you click on Snippets from Classmates you'll find them faster, not sure if I put that label on every post!  Alan is a very accomplished trumpet player, and if you attended KHS dances you probably remember his band...  if you wish to give him a shoutout you can email him at a red boat at centurylink dot net.

Alan and I share another connection in that our dads were both at McDonnell and we are pretty sure, corroborated by his mom, that his dad rode in my dad's carpool when he bought a Morris bus to carpool folks back and forth from Kirkwood to 'the plant'.  

I hope you all enjoy his poetry.  I'm not a poetry kinda girl, but I do enjoy his - I can usually understand it!!  

EVER TRY CALLING A CAT?

ever try calling a at?
...good luck with that.
what's the reason
why dogs can be called
and cats can't?
nothing against dogs...
but a cat is nobody's fool.
if you call a cat,
it will be wary, and walk away.
chase it 
and it will run away.
so just go about your day.
like finding happiness or love
a cat will surprise you.
someday the cat will
slip up & curl itself
upon your lap.
and for pete's sake
don't ever
yell out to a cat
like you would a dog
"here shep."

Click on the article to make it larger so you can read it :-)) ! Well sorry, if I make it smaller, it's too small, so you'll have to use the lower scroll bar side to side to read it all, sorry about that!  But it's worth the trouble...another KHS65 friend making us look sooo good!

Kathy Watts Stitsinger 1947 - 2018

Many of you won't remember Kathy, but she was at Robinson with us and a cousin of our KHS65 Classmate Bill Watts.  Bill attended a Christmas party not too long ago and brought along the class picture of my 2nd grade class.  I joined the class in February so had never seen the class photo!  I will be forever grateful for that.  Now he brings us the sad news of the passing of his cousin Kathy.  I remember her so well, an adorable girl, small, sweet, dark hair, delicate features.  She has left us too early from that dread disease pancreatic cancer, which takes so many, including both of my children's grandfathers.  I hope some of you will remember Kathy and think of her fondly.  Thanks to Bill for being in touch with us!!!

Go Here:  https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dayton/obituary-print.aspx?n=kathleen-ann-stitsinger&pid=191066266 for her obituary.

Merry Christmas from The Count

A Christmas gift - from our KHS65 poet laureate Alan (The Count) Yount: Alan has been published several times this year, not the least of which is in the WestWard Quarterly issue of this summer. He was their featured writer and poet in that issue and I share one of the 4 poems they published, the others will come later but here's his Christmas offering: 

Why Write a Poem, About a Quail?

why write a poem, about a quail?

somehow...
from some, unknown way,
there comes a reason, why words
just come to you.
when first...
looking at the shape
of a poem,
you think something is missing
then...
like a quail is startled,
while walking a hedgerow...
more words
fly out:
something taking flight...
somehow...something
is there now, on paper
that was not there...
...just a fleeting moment
...before.

Our class is so blessed to have such talented people who have been in our midst for so long. Alan sends Merry Christmas wishes to all of our KHS65 wonderful friends.

ANOTHER OF US GONE WAY TOO SOON - RIP MARY ANN DUEKER TROMBLEY

 Another of us gone too soon.  Thank you to Claudia Margedant Schleuter for letting me know.  I missed this because at the time we were out of town for over a week, so I didn't see the obits for awhile. Mary Ann lived right across from St. Joseph Hospital and was part of our Brownie and Girl Scout activities.  She was a good friend to many even back then.  May she rest in peace and love.

Obituary for Mary Ann Trombley

On Friday, July 29, 2018, Mary Ann Trombley, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all, passed away suddenly. Mary Ann will be forever remembered by her husband and best friend Ray, son Greg (Tricia), adoring grandsons (and the light of her life), Luke and Liam, sister, Cindy, in-laws, cousins, nephews, niece and countless friends.
She’ll be remembered for her huge smile, tight hugs, amazing laugh, kindness, generosity, love for her family and the ability to make most anyone she came into contact with feel like the most special person in the room.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 9, from 5-8pm., at Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood and a short service will be held on Friday, August 10, at 12:45pm at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with lunch and celebration of her amazing life to follow at Mike Duffy’s in Kirkwood.

ALAN THE COUNT YOUNT IS AT IT AGAIN, THIS TIME A WWII ERA POEM AND BILLIE HOLLIDAY

Alan has had another poem published on jerryjazzmusician.com, the jazz blog.  Here is the link, and be sure to scroll down to a different photo of him.  I think his previous one about Charlie Parker is my favorite but they are all great!  If you scroll back a bit, maybe to September, you'll see that one, and it has a nice comment by one of our classmates, Alan's fellow musician and bandmate, and alto sax musician par excellence   - two wonderful music makers in our collective midst.
Enjoy! And THANK YOU Alan for bringing your artistry, of both types, to your KHS65 pals.

Janet Louise Zopfi - beloved KHS65 graduate gone too soon !

I have posted Janet's obituary on Facebook but it appears I forgot to post here.  We are so sad to be losing these friends and classmates.  I guess we can't be surprised as we age, but it really is very sad and besides, we all seem to be wondering the same thing, where have our lives flown?  Janet was very much loved by family and friends.  Our classmate Pat Moisio remained friends with her all these years and visited her not long before her passing.  It is so gratifying to know that even as we are dying, we are surrounded by our beloved KHS65 life long friends.  See her obituary for more information and thank you to Pat Moisio for alerting us to her illness and death.
See this link for her obituary

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?pid=190655867

SADLY WE LOST YET ANOTHER CLASSMATE, RIP STEVE FICK

Thank you to Fred Henry for sending me the results of a recent search he did for his very good friend Steve Fick.  I will see if I have some of the correspondence I had with Steve in fairly recent years and if I have it, will post.  Gone way too soon!  

"Stephen H. Fick, 69, of Concord, MA, passed away peacefully surrounded by friends March 2, 2017 following a stroke. Steve was born in Ames, Iowa. His family moved to Kirkwood, Missouri during his childhood. Steve graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1965 and from the University of Michigan in 1969. Steves last careers were in information technology and he worked for several companies that designed publishing software. Steve spent nine years of his retirement living in Concord, MA. Steve was an avid bicyclist and he enjoyed spending time in nature and exploring the conservation lands in Concord. He also enjoyed gardening at the Concord Hugh Cargill community garden and volunteering regularly for several organizations. He is survived by his brother David of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Steve leaves many friends in the Cambridge and Concord areas and especially in the New England Mata Amritanandamayi community. Friends are warmly invited to a graveside gathering on Sunday, October 22, 11:00 am, in the newer section of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, 361 Bedford Street, Concord.

Published in The Concord Journal from Oct. 14 to Oct. 26, 2017  Reading Fred's email and the obituary reminded me of a great correspondence I had with Steve awhile back.  He began by commenting on and augmenting my veteran posts during the time up to our 2015 KHS65 reunion.  If you remember, we were looking for information on all our Veterans to honor them at the Reunion.  Steve sent me information on and contact info for several KHS65 veterans.  Additionally we got into writing some sports stories, herewith one from January 6, 2015: 

"I remember that well. Richard Hodill and I were among the many who got a great

laugh out of seeing Mike [Bosworth]make those shots. 

Incidentally if you happen to have a copy of the yearbook from our junior year and

take a look at the page about the cross country team (as constituted in the fall of

1963, that is), you can see a little joke that Richard Hodill and I played on Miss 

Butts, who was the yearbook advisor. Rich and I were both in her Journalism class,

in which the yearbook was produced. There had been a tradition among the yearbook

staffs from year to year, of playing a small joke on her while still aiming to 

create a very high quality yearbook. An opportunity fell right into our laps. 

Coach Lenich, who did not know Mike Bosworth from football because Mike was not a 

football player, nevertheless knew him, although not well, from gym class. 

To our amusement, whenever Coach wanted Mike's attention, he always called him

"Boswell". So Richard and I listed him as "Boswell" in the yearbook. We told Miss

Butts for months that we had put a mistake in the yearbook, but she never found it." After actual publication we explained to her what we had done, and why. She didn't cut our grade or anything."

           :There were several emails during the October '14 to June '15 period, mostly about veterans and their locations, experiences, etc.  And a bit about the KHS65 sports scene.  Do scroll back to this time-frame to reread or read for the first time, our sports history is such fun!

BASEBALL SEASON MAY BE OVER BUT IN KIRKWOOD KHOURY LEAGUE WAS A HIT

From our classmate Bruce Antle comes a wonderful memory.  The photo isn't great, but he'll try to get a better image... even if you weren't a baseball fan in grade school, check this out, a great story!  I've posted the scan of the article Bruce kindly sent just today, I'll try to fix it up so it is larger to view on the blog when I get a chance...THANKS again Bruce!  Happy Fall to everyone!

BASEBALL SEASON 1958 Khoury League with the Only Woman Manager in Kirkwood

It was the summer of 1958.  We were all in the fifth grade, most of us attended Keyser Elementary School on Geyer Road.  I played second base and outfield. Lew Williamson and Gary VonDerheide were my best friends.  They would also play second base and outfield. I was pretty good at fielding because my dad would always play catch with my brother and me.  He would throw us grounders as well as high flying balls. I wasn’t much good at hitting. Probably because we didn’t practice hitting, the picture window of the family room would have been within range.

At registration time, we were told, “No team if you don’t have a coach or a manager.”  

John Harris’s mother, a fifth grade teacher at Manchester school in the Parkway District, not wanting to disappoint her son and the boys, spoke up. “If they would allow a woman to take on the office, she would do it.”

She would be the only woman Khoury League manager in Kirkwood.  She recruited Mr and Mrs Vern Schmidt who volunteered to be coaches for the boys.

Sponsored by the Kirkwood Western Auto, the team finished second in the Bantam C League that year.  

Pictured: Front Row - Cheerleaders Kathy Pierce, Mary Sue Fillo, Nancy Beckman

Middle Row -  Bruce Antle, Lew Williamson, Gary VonDerheide, John Harris, Steve Huber

Back Row - Larry Lazier, Denny Liddle, Warren Orlick, Mike Kramer, Mark Lawyer

Standing in back- Manager, Mrs. R.A. Harris

Also on the team but not pictured were, Dickie Schmidt, Eddie Sunder, Larry Reutter, Pat Erwin and 
David Mueller. There were also two more cheerleaders Cathy Modray and Carol Summers who
either could not be present on the day of the picture or were out of town. 

It is mind-blowing that very many of these people are still in touch with one another and with our class. I don't know Larry Reutter, Pat Erwin and David Mueller, but you Keysor kids probably do. Carol Summers moved to Massachusetts before we hit KHS and now lives in California. Her parents and mine were best friends, my parents being the god-parents of her little sister. She's only been back once, for a reunion in the 90s, or maybe 2000. Larry Lazier is still here, a retired Kirkwood Fireman who had a great career right here 'at home'. We think Dickie Schmidt was Richard Charles Schmidt of our class, not Rick Schmidt as I speculated earlier. We have no information on R C Schmidt at this time. I have lived near or not far from Manchester School for years! It's still a beautiful red brick building, now housing a popular bridal shop. Cathy Modray was just with us a couple of weeks ago at our mini Reunion at Karen Lowe's home in Kirkwood....

THANK YOU again Bruce for sharing your memories!

LOTS OF RED & WHITE IN OUR LIVES, CHECK THIS OUT!

I don't know the year this was taken, Junior High I'm pretty sure.  Back row l to r:
Priscilla Flint, Sandy Schneider, Georgann Meinhardt, Lynn Blackwell, Pat Dunbar, Sue Croce, Mary Ann Dueker, Chris Kleemeier, Kathy Staten.  Bottom l to r:  Sandy Sullivan, Sue Kraft, Joyce Moller, Susan Merritt I think, Gail Sutton, Jamie (Jamieson) Linton, Sharno Merritt I think, Pat Corpening, Sherri Stiff, Joyce Leslie Ker :-)). Sharon please correct me if I got you two mixed up :-)) 

I don't know the year and I don't know why I was never a Candy Striper, I later spent 10 wonderful in the hospital biz! We all lived close to the then St. Joseph's Hospital on Couch Avenue.  Mary Ann Dueker lived literally across the street.  We were all in the same class at KHS65 & at Robinson School and many of us in this pic in the same Scout troop. Mrs. Meinhardt, Mrs. Ker and Mrs. Stiff were our leaders, maybe others but those are the ones I remember best. Mrs. Stiff taught us how to play Bridge! Staten, Sutton, Linton and Stiff all moved before we graduated, although Sherri not far, in fact barely out of the Kirkwood School District. The Suttons went to the church I, Mollers and Krafts did but we lost track of them years ago. Flint, Corpening, Blackwell, Dunbar, Dueker, Meek, Moller, Sharon Merritt, Stiff & I are still here unless someone has moved recently. Croce still in Missouri. Georgann is in FL, Ker in oh darn, I think Arkansas? Kraft in MN, Anyone know where any others are, I'd love to know?

When I was working on this, I was thinking about Lynn, Joyce and Georgann living in those wonderful homes on South Geyer Road and it reminded me that the other day I was coming home through Kirkwood and noticed that 1117 S. Geyer is being torn down - likely to make way for an ugly McMansion ...  luckily there are very few of those situations on South Geyer which is a good thing.  Go here:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/1117+S+Geyer+Rd,+Kirkwood,+MO+63122/@38.5643498,-90.4160149,3a,75y,320.26h,90.77t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sV-H6PeGNsG1gLzmGn7WLrA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x87d8ce7ec70a190d:0x1ff55e45247aa568!8m2!3d38.5644691!4d-90.4164761
to see the house that's going...it's across the street and down a block or so from Lynn and Georgann. 

KHS63 MEMBER JOHN C. NASH, A NOTABLE KIRKWOODIAN AND FRIEND OF KHS EVEN IN HIS DEATH

Perhaps many of you in KHS65 will remember Pam Dalton.  If not, check out the Yearbook, she's on page 173.  Tri-Hi-Y president, Student Council, Call circulation manager, Gold K and a Commencement Speaker.  She is also well-known among the girls for having been the steady girl of John Nash, KHS63.  She was fortunate to have been able to visit John at Princeton our Senior Year.  As it turns out that visit was a pivotal time in their relationship.  Fast forward to now.  Pam and John went their separate ways but reconnected in recent years.  Pam was able to visit John a couple of times, once just before his untimely death earlier this year.  I was fortunate to know Pam after we moved to Harwood Hills mid-Junior year, and we rode back & forth to school sometimes.  I so enjoyed a great visit with her and Karen Schurig in Dallas a couple of years ago, see my Facebook page. 

From Pam, and John's family, comes the following obituary.  An amazing person who left Kirkwood High School $100,000 in his Will, to do good things for the children of KHS.  The school is still deciding exactly how to use it in John's honor and memory to benefit the Kirkwood students of today.  Obviously John, like so many of us, felt he had a wonderful beginning in the Kirkwood school system.  Pam sends her greetings to our classmates and we are looking forward to the next class of KHS Hall of Fame for which we'll see to it that John is nominated.  Herewith a review of John's accomplishments, most of us will have a connection to his life's work, read on!  Thank you Pam for your friendship then and now.  Thank you John C. Nash for being part of our lives in so many ways.

John C. Nash died March 6, 2018 in Los Altos, California. He had lived in the Bay area for 35 years, largely in Redwood City.

John entered the Princeton Class of ’67 from Kirkwood, Missouri High School [KHS63] in suburban St. Louis where he had been Student Council Vice-President, class Vice-President, and class valedictorian.

At Princeton John majored in mathematics after first preparing for the psychology department. As he wrote in our 50^th Reunion Book, he discovered math was his true interest so spent his sophomore summer catching up on the courses he had needed as preparation for the math department. He roomed with Roger Rudolph, Bob Grant, and Dave Paul in 4A Holder Hall and was an active Elm Club member, the club’s ace pool player and competitor in the inter-club tournaments. He was also a member of Whig-Clio, the James Madison Humorous Debating Society, and the Stock Investment and Analysis Club.

After graduation John went to Stanford for graduate study getting his M.S. in mathematics in 1970 and Ph.D. in 1976. He then taught math at the University of California Santa Cruz from 1975-78, and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, from 1978-83. At the end of 8 years in academia John switched careers to join the private technology industry which was amidst the great computer and digital revolution of personal computing and enterprise systems. He moved back to the San Francisco Bay area and what became Silicon Valley working for a small software design firm from 1983-86, a subsidiary of Xerox Corp called Versatec Corp. When the smaller firm was absorbed by Xerox, John decided to leave to again find a small firm in which to work freed from the large bureaucracy of American corporations. The firm he started with at the time had only 100 employees but grew into its own large business, Adobe Systems. John began as a staffer but rose to become the company’s Principal Scientist which permitted him to often work independently outside the bureaucratic organization doing, as he wrote for the class, “development {of} software for a number of Adobe’s graphics products.” He retired in 2005 having helped establish one of Silicon Valley’s, and our world’s, major indispensable computer business tools.

In retirement John continued his hobbies including collecting rare books from the 1930s Los Angeles genre of crime and detective novels of Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett , and James T. Cain, and he pursued his love of cooking, hiking, and watching the film version of  '30s crime stories in the Hollywood “Film Noir” genre.

John is survived by a stepson, Jason, stepdaughter Rachel, and two sisters Diane Schultz [KHS58] and Sue Stoltz [KHS66]. The Class of ’67 is proud of this technology pioneer, who contributed so much to the digital and information economy of the past 4 decades and we are greatly diminished by the loss of a brilliant mathematical innovator and engineer. 

If you would like to contact Pam, please let me know.   

More on the late Bob Albrecht

I just ran across this blog entry which I do not believe is the same as my earlier posts, for which please scroll down/back a bit to this summer.
Check out :
 https://dentoncountyhistoryandculture.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/whos-who-in-denton-county-bob-albrecht/

Barbara Whelove obituary

Rich Whelove has been a great teacher (I think professor is the proper term) and many other things; his dad was a railroad aficionado and knew some of our classmates through that hobby, one of those being Bob O'Neill who alerted me to the sad loss of Rich's wife recently.  Rich was friends with several of our KHS65 members over the years after high school and college abds such a nice guy!  We send our blessings to him and his family at this sad time.  His daughters are darling, I met them at Rich's mom's funeral here in Kirkwood not too long ago.  Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.  Here is the obituary from the Fulton, MO paper:

Barbara Ann Brazos, Nov. 19, 1950 — Sept. 21, 2018

• Submitted by Memorial Funeral Home
• Sep 25, 2018

Barbara Ann Brazos, 67, of Fulton died Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., in Columbia.

Barbara was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, to John and Rose (Gose) Brazos.

Barbara was a devoted wife, mother, sister and grandmother. She never met a stranger and touched souls with her humor. She had a nurturing, maternal instinct and brought this to everyone she met. A psychiatric nurse of over 30 years, she cared deeply about mental health, positive parenting and treating people well. Most of all she loved the people closest to her — her husband, children, grandchildren, brothers and friends; she would drop everything to spend time with them.

She extended this love to all creatures, big and small. As a lifelong lover of animals, her horses, dogs and cats were near and dear to her, many of which she gave a home as they were abandoned. Her passion for people and animals was matched by her love of the arts. In her spare time, she could be found watercolor painting, weaving, creating stamps, playing musical instruments, beekeeping or growing fruit trees and flowers. Her works reflected the beauty she saw in nature.

In later years, she adored spending time with her grandchildren and passing along her love of animals and art. Barb was also an extremely strong and passionate individual who gave herself and her time for the betterment of the community and the world. Her spirit and joy live on in all the lives she touched.

Barbara was preceded in death by her mother, Rose Margaret; father, John; and brother Blaise.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Richard Whelove; daughters, Ona Whelove of San Francisco and Asia Honeysuckle (Denard) of Phoenix; grandchildren, Adeline, Brandon and Independence; siblings Bruce Brazas (Jan) of Batavia, Illinois, and John Brazas of Rochester, New York; stepbrother Kevin West (Deborah) of Ashland, Missouri; nephews and nieces, Jeremy, Ryan, Shawn, Megan, Shannon and Amy; and stepmother, Helen.

If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to Prairie Chapel UMC, 3700 County Road 227, Fulton, MO 65251.

POET and MUSICIAN Alan Yount is at it again!

WOW our KHS65 Poet Laureate Alan Yount is honored with his 8th poem published at Jerry Jazz Musician the jazz musicians' website par excellence.  This is Alan's 118th published poem too!  Gosh!  The new one was JUST published yesterday, so we are privileged to see it when it's hot off the presses.  With a title like 
"Listening to Charlie Parker, Play Jazz, In the Dark
     For Charlie Parker with Strings" 

 it's no surprise it's about Charlie Parker, and Alan thinks it hits a "universal note about people listening to music."  

Alan would be interested in working with a classmate who might want to publish a chapbook of jazz and music poems.  Jack or Judge G, your names come to mind.  He's easy to reach, just send me a note or write to him at aredboat at centurylink dot net.

Congratulations again to Alan - he's spending his retirement very productively!!!  WAY TO GO, yet another KHS65 member making us all look sooo good!
Sunday, GEE, I just saw my own FB page post - I have NO idea where that photo of a Yount headstone w/ horn came from!!!  Alan is alive and well!  Here's the poem!


charlie parker
sits on the end
of my bed
holding his alto sax.
and for pete’s sake!  mr. traps:
buddy rich was also there,
getting his drum kit ready
by the end of the bed.
then ray brown’s there
and making a move
to pick up my old kay bass
with birds eye maple!
and somehow the violins
have snuck in by the door
followed closely
by mitch miller on oboe.
… an oboe has an estranged sound.
(the word oboe … almost sounds
like the sound, when it’s playing),
but it definitely works itself in.

listening to jazz
in the dark at night
there’s a different dimension
bringing together all the notes …
so much closer
and closer.
and then all of a sudden
you … are … there!
playing along
with all of them.

More Bob Albrecht, please see this post and two earlier this month.

Here is another from Roy Herrera (see earlier post below for more info):

"1976  Tall Sailing Ships from all over the planet sailed into New York

Bob had to see it. Yes he showed up from halfway across the country.

And yes he had a front row seat.

Sitting in a tree on the very southern tip of Manhattan in Battery Park.

Bob had a special enthusiasm about life.

Roy Herrera"

Roy has spent many years living in Brooklyn, not far from the Bridge...LVR

The late Bob Albrecht made such a difference, more information coming in.

Thank you to Roy Herrera and Kathy O'Neil Lang we are getting some wonderful information about our late (June 25, 2018) classmate Bob Albrecht.  I was waiting to post until I could come up with an obituary but so far I haven't found one, but this information may be more valuable anyway.  Check this out and then come back again to read the rest below this link.  If anyone has anything to add please email me!  Be sure to scroll down for another great article about Bob!

https://dentoncountyhistoryandculture.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/whos-who-in-denton-county-bob-albrecht/

Roy Herrera and Bob were in the Army together in the 1967-1968 timeframe.  Bob went in at Fort Gordon in the spring of 1968, and went to Korea.  Jeff Frahm, Roy and Bob were pals and here is an email of January 4, 2001 from Bob to Roy,quoted here with Roy's permission:

"Hay Roy,

Me and the kid, Alden, were thinking about a trip to my sister Dee's house in

Leadville Colorado.  Lost track of Jeff Frahm when he went to Co. a number of

years ago.  Thought we might invade his space.  Horse ranch in the mountains.

I ended up trying KHS.com and sure enough piece of cake.  While I was at it,

where is Roy, the last I heard from a newsletter, under the bridge. 

    Jeff is in Co. with his 2nd wife, class of 77, horses and dogs and all

of that.  Just had 2 boys in the last 1 1/2 years.  He is doing fine and back

in the slot machine business, via the net and UPS from the mountains north of

Ft. Collins, CO.

    Me, Iam in a relaxed mode on the historic preservation.  Fixing old

house museums.  I get paid some to write about it, but mostly I save the old

materials and do the old methods, copper, slate timbers, etc., that nobody

else is doing.  I figured that if I studied and paid the dues I could be one

of those elite dudes with the knowledge to save those special buildings. 

Well, I got there and it's lonely.  There is no such profession.  Everybody

hires contractors that remodel with minimum wage crews.  The state has a list

of about 2 qualified guys and I am one.  No work from that.  Other things I

have done that would surely bring in the work.  Wrote an article for the Old

House Journal, Got a distinguished service award from the Texas State

Historical Commission (2 a year given out), wrote a book, studied in England

for a summer, Nobody cares.  I am tired of pushing on it, so I have semi

retired, this way when I make no money, it is a hobby.  That felt good, I

knew that it was somebody else's fault, good to see it in writing.

      Gretchen just got married and has a new kid, that is right.  She is now

Gretchen Vasquez.  Alden is out of High School but still no interest in

further education, work or even a hobby.  He is living with his Mom and

borrowing her car.  I now have less strings that any time in the last 20

years.  The Harley is still around.

    I got some Long Horn cattle out there mowing the 20 acres but the track

builders are moving in on me.  I do not seem to have a whole lot of burning

information, been doing the hermit thing. 

Oh, Gretchen and Alden for that matter went to NY NY a couple of years back. 

Can't belive Cheri sent Alden to visit Gretchen in NY.  There was some talk

about a Roy hunt in NY, but it never materialized.  Gretchen was modeling, a

couple of jobs didn't cover the costs.

OK, you are it. Bob, the foe"

Shelby Stout, wife of Beloved Teacher Art Stout, passes away

Just yesterday I learned of the death of Shelby Stout on June 8th.  She was the mother of Art Stout III and grandmother of 3.  She and Mr. Stout were owners of Country Surf Swim Club in Des Peres for a long time and 60 year residents of Kirkwood.  Her Memorial Service was the 19th.  Memorials requested to the Humane Society.  Our classmate Bob O'Neill and Art are particularly good friends and we thank Bob for alerting us to Shelby's death.  While I was not a student of Mr. Stout's, I know many of our classmates were and really thought he was a great teacher.  Condolences to him and their son and grandchildren.

BOB ALBRECHT affected the lives of MANY in his TEXAS SURROUNDINGS, an amazing life ended way too soon.

Amazing is all I have to say, enjoy this article about our late classmate Bob Albrecht.

http://www.postsignal.com/single-post/2018/06/28/Lowbrows-owner-died-as-he-lived

Cheri was a KHS girl too, class of '66 I believe, am working to verify the year.

FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE FROM A KHS65 SON

Our KHS65 Poet Laureate Alan Yount (The Count of 1960s Band fame) has once again been honored by Jerry Jazz Musician website with a front page poem for Father's Day.  I think you'll enjoy it, even if you're not a father!  Way to go once again Alan!!!  And Happy post Father's Day to you, and many more!

photo by John Cobb and Morgan Naies

SITTING  ON  TOP  OF  MY  DAD’S  TOMBSTONE
                   For My Dad, Thomas Yount


sitting on the top of my dad’s tombstone
          … in sedalia, missouri,
I was thinking
          of how much
we practiced
         our horns together.
you played clarinet
          and I was on the cornet.
It seemed forever
          we practiced:
all through grade school and junior high,
          you played so great.
I never thought
          that I would ever catch up to you.
but your playing,
         taught me your desire, to play better.
sitting there,
         on top of his tombstone:
I played a few notes, on the cornet
          of the song “back again.”
and I was thinking of
          and hearing
a great jazz legacy
          passed on
from my father
          to his only son. 

KHS Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame - NOMINATIONS NOW IN ORDER

From the latest newsletter of the  KHS Alumni & Friends Call Summer 2018 - the nomination form is on the alumni website, URL below.

 

Outstanding Alumni and Athletic Halls of Fame

 

The Kirkwood High School (KHS) Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame Selection committees are now accepting online nominations for the Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame and the Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

The purpose of the Kirkwood Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame is to honor men and women who have achieved success in some recognized field of endeavor and who would serve as appropriate role models for future Kirkwood High students.

 

The purpose of the Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor and recognize men and women athletes, coaches, or community members who have made significant contributions to KHS athletics.

 

Honorees will be recognized in Spring 2019. The ceremony for the Athletic Hall of Fame will be held February 9, 2019. The ceremony for the Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame will be held March 30, 2019.

Individuals inducted in the Halls of Fame are listed on the alumni website.at https://mo49000011.schoolwires.net/Page/2944.

 

A NOD TO VIET NAM, A KHS CLASSMATE AND MEMORIAL DAY

From our good KHS65 friend Alan Yount, poet, horn player and bandmaster extraodinaire,  comes a new poem which will be honored in an online publication for Memorial Day.  Kudos to Alan for continually succeeding in having his work published!  I have more of his work to post, just recently able to find time for some of my long-neglected fun activities.  You can visit the journal at:  http://militaryexperience.org/as-you-were-vol-1/ and on the 28th you should see Alan's poem leading off the poetry section.  Note the nod to Craig Schmitz, another Kirkwood boy killed in Viet Nam.

On this Memorial Day, as always, wishing the best for all our classmates who have and continue to serve our country.  Thank you for your service!

WHY DOES THE NIGHT LAST SO LONG

  

the same dreams

sometimes happen over and over …

          in high school

          kissing a girl for the first time:

          the porch lights suddenly go on.

at college, after studying all night:

          falling asleep

          I miss the final.

late for an interview:

finally get there

          I find out it’s the wrong room.

my young daughter, who I still smell

her fragrance, from hugging me:

          slips away, and

          disappears down a crowded street.

some nights, floating

up and out of bed

smothered in covers …

          and I can’t cry out.

down here with craig schmitz

(my high school dance band drummer)

who was killed in vietnam:

          we are forever clawing up a muddy hill

          somewhere north of da nang.

it’s three a.m.

you think you’re awake?

or asleep?

a voice tells you:

          there’s nothing

          you can ever go back to again

          and change in your life

          even in your dreams.

why does the night

                             last so long.

 

If you wish to contact Alan, please let me know, I hesitate to publish his contact info online due to horrible increase in spam and annoying phone calls to which we are all subjected these days.

KHS65 LOSES ANOTHER OF THE GOOD GALS

I have recently been thinking of some of our class literati and plan to post some items written by our classmates.  Jane Edwards (Willis) Wand was one of the authors I plan to quote, and now I have just learned of her recent death.  When I return from the trip to New England I am currently enjoying, I'll get more literature from our classmates posted.  Meanwhile, here is Jane's obituary.  Oh so sad, look at all those kids and grands who will miss her loving ways!

Obituary for Jane Edwards Wand

Jane Edwards Wand, 70, passed away peacefully in her home in Springfield Mo with her husband, Mark, and her children by her side on May 16, 2018. Jane was born July 16, 1947 in Marshall, MO to the late William David (Sam) Edwards and Suzanne (Croswhite) Edwards. Jane is survived by her husband, Mark Wand, her sister Mary Morris of Denver, Colorado, her 7 children: Kevin Willis (Mattia Coleman) of Springfield, David Willis of Springfield, Mary Kathryn (Chris) Brammer of Albuquerque NM, Helen (Lance) Williams of Springfield, Jacob (Jenny) Wand of St. Louis, Andrew (Jamie) Willis of Springfield, and Erica Wand of St. Louis, and her 12 grandchildren Kristen, Christian, Cameron, Billy, Gavin, Suzanne Jane, Evynne, Rowan, Myrtle, Molly, Farrah and Benjamin, and her many nieces and nephews.

Jane graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1965, where she was a Girl Scout and played field hockey, and also enjoyed journalism and writing for the school newspaper and yearbook. Jane was an exchange student in the Union of South Africa her senior year. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and African Studies from Northwestern University. Jane later earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with emphasis in English. Throughout her life Jane had a wide variety of jobs, including working as a teaching assistant in the Anthropology Department at Northwestern University, a short stint in the production department at Rolling Stone Magazine, and owning a Sign Painting business. After moving to Springfield in 1986, she held various sales and marketing positions with Springfield! Magazine and the Springfield Business Journal, and rehabbed houses in MidTown Springfield. She was also active in PEO, and recently served as president of her chapter. Of all her jobs, Jane would say her biggest and most important job was raising her seven children, and their many friends who called her ‘mom’ too.

Jane loved the smell of the river and enjoyed spending time at Lake of the Ozarks with her beloved husband, Mark. The day they met he had a canoe on his car, and she knew she was in love! Together they sailed around the lake and went on driving adventures through the woods in his Willy’s Jeep. Her admiration of the outdoors started during her Girl Scout years, and from bird watching to hiking, rock hunting, and sitting by a bonfire she shared her love of the outdoors with all who visited, especially her children and grandchildren. She also took pride in showing her grandchildren the wonderful indoor things that she loved such as reading, crafting, cooking and baking. Jane was an avid reader, typically reading multiple books, magazines, and articles all at the same time. Jane will always be known for her big smile, easy conversation, and caring heart. She is someone who truly made everyone feel like somebody.

The memorial visitation will from be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a Rosary Service to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday May 22, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Memorial Mass will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday May 23, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Fr. Tom Kiefer celebrant. The committal service will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Springfield, MO under the care of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home.

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com .

ALAN YOUNT KHS65 ON LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND ANOTHER FAMOUS NAME

Once again Alan is published on the blog JerryJazzMusician.com - and this one, like his others, doesn't disappoint.  Thank you Alan for sharing with us!!!!  

AN  ANECDOTE ABOUT  LOUIS  ARMSTRONG, TRUMPET PLAYER,
       FROM THE 1930’S: A  PROSE POEM, OR VIGNETTE.
by Alan Yount

                   growing up in st.louis  in the 1960’s
there were always                 several jazz stories
          going around      the jazz clubs      everyone knew.

                   it was during, the 1930’s depression
when the grand theatre                  was opulent then      
          it had oriental carpets           and crystal chandeliers.

vaudeville shows         came                   and bands played from all over.
louis armstrong            played many times      and once
          a twelve year old kid    named aaron      snuck in
the side door      to hear him play.

          the band    took a dinner break
and aaron followed them
                   to a burger place near by.

          louis  went up to
the carry out window   to place an order.
          aaron heard a voice       from inside
laying it down     “no service here
                   to no coloreds.”

          then all of a sudden    aaron found himself
standing on the street   right in the middle of the band.
          he couldn’t believe      he was really speaking …
“mr. armstrong … if you give me some money
          I will go back       and buy you all
some burgers.”

          louis then grinned at aaron
“thanks son … meet us up   on the stage
                   to the side.”

          when aaron got back
to the stage … he carried up
                    two paper sacks of food.

1. armstrong, waved him on up

and said “come into the wings.”    the two of them
                   sat together, sharing fries …

          then mr. armstrong said …   “I’ve got another idea …
when we go up on stage      & start playing
                   how would you
          like to come        out on stage with me
and sit in a chair          right next to me?”
                   “I might       need to lean
on your shoulder, o.k.?”

          aaron later thought      that this was
the most exciting thing             that had ever happened
                   in his life    at twelve,  for sure!

          of course        as this st.louis story goes
young aaron       was a.e. hotchner.
                   “hotch”       continued the knack
all his life        of befriending          famous people.

NEW EDITION of KHS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

I have taken the liberty of copying the brand new edition of KHS Alumni news here.  I can't seem to get Facebook to work correctly on my two KHS65 pages there, so here it is in full, see below the red line.  Of particular interest to me is the announcement of the re-emergence of Alumni Hall of Fame activities.  See the panel on the right side below.  Nominate someone who you feel is deserving!
Happy Spring...even though this says March 2018 I JUST received it a few moments ago on 3/30/18.

Alumni & Friends eCall March 2018
KHS Celebrates Two State Champions Mock Trail Team Supported by Alumni     The Kirkwood High School (KHS) Mock Trial team won the Missouri High School State Mock Trial competition held the weekend of March 23-25, 2018 at the Eagleton Federal Courthouse in St. Louis, MO. Approximately 50 schools from across Missouri participated, with many schools fielding multiple teams. Three teams competed from KHS formed from 21 students who participated, practiced and competed over a 5 month season. Each team presents both sides of a case in preliminary competitions. Schools in Eastern Missouri tried their cases against other teams in the St. Louis County Courthouse in January and February.  The top 16 schools then competed in Eastern Regional Competition. The top 10 schools from the Eastern Region moved on to the State Competition for a total of 16 teams.   KHS will represent the State of Missouri at the National Mock Trial Competition to be held in Reno, Nevada May 10-13, 2018.   Members and sponsors of the Kirkwood High School Mock Trial Team are: Teacher/Attorney-Coach Lucas Ravenscraft (KHS ‘03), Attorney-Coach Josh Jones (KHS ‘02), Jenna Dyroff (Junior), Colin Thompson (Senior), Meredith Lang (Junior), Attorney-Coach Jim Reinert, Attorney-Coach Luke Stobie (KHS ‘03). Back row, left to right: Alex Talir (Sophomore), Dominic Bottom (Senior), David Decker (Senior), Gianni Fioretti (Senior), Tim Knight (Senior), Teacher/Attorney-Coach Peter Stragand.     Kirkwood High School Girls Basketball Back-to-Back State Champions   Saturday, March 17, the Kirkwood High School (KHS) girls basketball team won the second basketball state championship in school history in a 67-50 victory over Kickapoo. The players, coaches and team continue to receive recognition awards.   Team members are; Ashley Anderson, Natalie Bruns, Jayla Everett, Olivia Giardino, Melissa Hartmann, Rachel Jacobs, Katherine Jozwiakowski, Emily Kreidler, Abigail Ludbrook, Rylee Mulvaney, Sarah Musson, Coriana Proemsey, Jaidah Stewart and Makayla Wallace. The team is coached by Monica Tritz and Brad Sutterer.   Honoring Coach John Weiss Invitation to Annual Dale Collier Track Meet John Weiss was a member of the Kirkwood High School Track and Field coaching staff for 28 years. His love and commitment to student athletes was unwavering, and he would not accept compensation for his work with the boys and girls track teams.     Coach Weiss was a graduate of Washington University and all four of his children attended school in the Kirkwood School District. He loved sports and participated in track events, including pole vaulting, until the age of 76. He won numerous medals including several gold and silver medals at the Senior Olympic events throughout the United States.   Coach Weiss was a very popular and devoted coach. He was passionate about giving back to the community by sharing his knowledge with young athletes. He coached youth ice-hockey for more than 20 years, pole vaulting at Kirkwood High School for 28 years and volunteered at various summer camps for children. Coach Weiss passed away on August 13, 2017.   Coach Weiss’s former students, colleagues and the current athletic and high school administration will recognize Coach Weiss at the annual Dale Collier Invitational on  April 21, 2018.     Kirkwood School District Administrative Services Center Community Relations and Development 11289 Manchester Road Kirkwood, MO 63122   Ginger Cayce, Chief Communications Officer   Lisa Wade, Communications Specialist   Amy Bullmer, Alumni Coordinator	Quick Links Our Website Donate Now Email Us Upcoming Alumni Reunions   1953   September 2018 1963   September 22, 2018 1968   September 21-23, 2018 1978   July 6-8, 2018 1988   June 2, 2018 2008   Nov 23-24, 2018   For more information, visit the calendar on the  alumni website. KSD Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame     We are finalizing a date for our combined Outstanding and Athletic Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony.   The committee is now accepting online nominations for the Alumni Hall of Fame and the Athletic Hall of Fame.   Individuals inducted in the Halls of Fame are listed on the alumni website.   Nominees must have graduated in 2009 or prior.   Update your Info...Please take a moment to customize your account:   Did you know we now have the ability for you to log in to our Alumni database to customize your account?   By updating this information, the alumni office can customize communication to you and make sure you stay informed about class reunions, alumni activities and school events.   To get started, you will need to activate your account by visiting the alumni website.    Already have an account? Then you are just a few steps away from customizing your profile:   First, please log in, and click on "my profile."   Next, by the word "base," click on the edit button. You will navigate to more detailed account information. Please update this information by selecting the boxes for the schools you attended. Then make sure your graduation year is correct.   Finally, please select the boxes for the elementary school or middle school you attended, and select the activities and/or teams in which you were a member.   Thank you!
Please visit our website at www.khsalumni.org. Make a donation to Kirkwood School District students.