Classmate Andy Powers, profiled in the last newsletter as lost, has been found. The following is an excerpt from a long letter in which Andy brings us up-to-date. A hydroelectric engineer, Andy and his wife currently reside in S. Pasadena, California.

"Early in 1964 [while serving with the Peace Corps] I had to fly from Miri to Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. At the airport I met another Peace Corps volunteer (PCV). When we had to change planes in Sibu en route, we went into the modest coffee shop for a soft drink while we waited. Soon afterwards a plane from Kuching arrived and amongst the passengers was a young Caucasian man I immediately realized I had met somewhere, but couldn’t place. I introduced myself saying I was from Fresno, California. He indicated he recognized me, but couldn’t place me either and decided it must have been in Fresno. His home was in Germany but he had spent a year at Fresno State. We soon realized we had shared mutual friends in Ray Colby and Rodney Conti. He told me he had stayed with the parents of Dennis Widman that year, while Dennis was off at college. About that time our flight was announced and my fellow PCV and I said goodbye and I boarded the plane for Kuching.

Once the plane was airborne, my companion PCV asked me, "Did Dennis Widman go to dental school at Northwestern?"

"Yes," I replied, dumbfounded by his question, "how is it you know that Dennis Widman went to Northwestern?" We had chatted earlier and I knew he was from Kentucky, and had gone to college there also. It turned out his best high school buddy had gone to Northwestern and was Dennis’ roommate. When he had visited there one weekend, he had stayed in Dennis’ room since Dennis was also out of town for the same weekend, but they had met before he left to return to Kentucky!"

Mary and Shirley, two elderly widows in a Florida retirement community, are curious about the latest arrival in their building—a quiet, nice-looking gentleman who keeps to himself.

Joke

Shirley says, "Mary, you know I’m shy. Why don’t you go over to him at the pool and find out a little about him. He looks so lonely."

Mary agrees, and later that day at the pool, she walks up to him and says, "Excuse me, sir. I hope I’m not prying, but my friend and I were wondering why you looked so lonely."

"Of course I’m lonely," he replies, "I’ve spent the last twenty years in prison."

"You’re kidding! What for?"

"For killing my third wife. I strangled her."

"What happened to your second wife?"

"I shot her."

"And, if I may ask, what happened to your first wife?"

"We had a fight, and she fell off a building."

"Oh, my," says Mary. Then, turning to her friend on the other side of the pool, she yells, "Yoo hoo, Shirley. He’s single!"

 For those of you who had a hard time figuring out those ‘old folk’ on page three of the first newsletter, here goes: (top photo) Kay Winter, Lee Greiner, Carol Neumann Betush, Sandy Surfield Ward, (center left photo) Pepper Show, Keith Bush, (center right photo) Jon Adams, (bottom photo) Aldo Marciochi, Clyde Brough.

So in July of this year, J.D. took off from his home in San Diego on his big red Honda motorcycle to brave the Mojave desert heat. The two report they had a great time checking out old photo albums and reminiscing about their head-on bike crashes at Roeding Park, sand lot football, paper routes, camping trips, battling Latin in Ruth Larabee’s class, and swimming at DeVaux’s.

After touring the area around Mammoth, J.D. headed north on Highway 395, enjoying the great open spaces and beautiful landscapes. Onward he traveled, through Oregon and all the way to Redmond, Washington to visit with friends. On his way back, J.D. stayed with classmate Joe Barbano and his wife Patty for almost a week in Medford, Oregon. Also, while in Medford, J.D. spent time "working out’ at the home gym of an old friend, five time Mr. Universe, Bill Pearl.

J.D. tells us he also keeps in touch with other FHS buddies, Roger Nuttall, Keith Bush, Wally Upton, and Brian Hoyt.

My husband Bob, and I observed our 40th wedding anniversary last May. To celebrate, we traveled to Hawaii in July for a great two-week vacation. While spending a week at Kona-Kailua on the big island, we stopped by The Korner Pocket Bar & Grill, located in scenic downtown Kealekeua (just a few minutes from Kailua), to have a short visit with Judy Angelo Mann.

Judy was running the entire show as her husband Paul was vacationing in Alaska! It’s a cute place with a very nice dining room and features a very extensive menu. One of the specialties is the Barbecued Spare Ribs with Judy’s Special Sauce! Judy rolled her eyes when we asked her how she liked being the proprietress of such a venture! I concluded everything was "okay" unless the surf was up. Then, the employees just don’t show up for work! Such is the Hawaiian way!! Bottom line: if you are planning a trip to our western most state, do plan a visit and diner with Judy and Bette Ann Jones Ranagan. Bette Ann and Judy are neighbors. We ran out of time and were not able to see Bette Ann—next time for sure! Nancy Van Galder

My thanks to Bob Ahrens who found me. Actually Bob and I worked for the same employer (Comptroller of the Currency) and have kept in contact over the years. My wife, Theresa, is a FHS graduate too, class of ‘60, maiden name, Austin. Richard Schmidt

Herb Morrison came out and we visited the Olympic Training Center here in Colorado Springs. Was the first time Jan and I have been there. The next day we went to the maintains and fished. Herbie caught a large trout, claiming it was at least two feet long. He got it on shore but it broke his line and flopped back into the water with the $3.00 lure hanging off its lip. The next morning I caught a 4.5 lb trout and we ate it for breakfast. Sunday we met up with Doug and Glenda Hayes and went to an artists’ fair in Manitou Springs. Remembering stuff that happened a long time ago, we laughed until we cried. Jef Ferguson

Looking at the 40th reunion pictures brings back lots of memories! Sorry I wasn’t able to attend, but now that we’re retired (as of April, 1998), we’ll make the next one! How many of you remember the Union 76 station at Palm & McKinley? If you do, I was the good looking guy pumpin’ gas there!. Hell, still ain’t too bad looking’ for an old guy either!!! Jack Brown

Dick Van Galder and his wife Nancy have retired to Florence, Oregon, and would love to see friends from the Valley.

If you were a member of the first graduating class of Fort Miller Junior High, you’ll remember you never did get a chance to attend the new facilities—until graduation day. That first year, when Fort Miller had yet to be completed, "we held classes on the Fresno High School campus, but we were still considered Fort Miller junior high students. The new school was finished just in time for graduation day. So although we didn’t get to go one day to the school, we got to graduate from the auditorium at Fort Miller." Jackie Haworth

Yes! I see a lot of Judy Angelo. She and her husband Paul live right around the corner from me here in Kealakekua. Their restaurant is just down the street and a convenient stop off after work for a "pau hana" beer. Paul is running for a seat in our state house of Representatives so has been campaigning. Judy & I stand on the highway in the early morning and hold "Elect Paul Mann" signs and wave to motorists. This sign waving is a real Hawaii tradition. Only in Hawaii is it legal to deliberately distract motorists as they drive by..." Bette Ranagan

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Hooters

Today I sat down and made several phone calls to classmates in order to bring my computer records up to date. I had some wonderful discourses with a number of great people who went to school with both you and me. There were some who remembered me and others who did not. In all cases I had delightful conversations with all of them. My thanks to Barbara Alavezos, Toni Kiemele, Fred Rowley, Judy Baker, Carol Davis, Charlene De Mar, to name but a few, for filling my day with long, interesting and chatty conversations.

Because of my many conversations with classmates over the last two years, I am reminded that there are a lot of unfortunate people out there who have been shortchanged through life. Some of our classmates have been very blessed while others have not Some enjoy an abundance of money and others do not. Some have good health while others suffer tremendously. One of our class-mates has had several major and minor heart attacks since the middle of his twenties. A couple of our friends have had illnesses that caused memory loss. Others have spouses who have been shortchanged on the good fortune side. The list of problems is lengthy.

At times, we need to put aside our own sense of invincibility and importance and remember that others might be in need. Admittedly, 40 and more years is a long, long time but true friends last forever. We all have had many wonderful friendships throughout our youth from grammar school to high school. Now some of our classmates could use our help and understanding. Most would simply like to rekindle old relations and renew friendships. Some could use more, not necessarily money, but the renewal of old friendships with conversations, kindness and a sense of belonging and concern.

The Fresno High School class of 1957 has often been referred to as "one big happy family." Let’s make this a reality. Please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone (if you need a number, we may have it and with the recipients approval, we will give it), write a letter, drop by or send an e-mail message of friendship today. Who knows what each of us may need in time and by giving of ourselves, we may become even more fortunate than we already are.

Don Hyberg

The Lunch Bunch began its first hastily organized meeting September 1 in beautiful downtown Sanger, home of classmates Rita Mollison Evans and Nancy Nixon Gibbs. Also attending were Jackie Breckenridge Rogers, Patti Hayden, Barbara McMurtry Rodriquez, Annalee Erickson Meyer, Valerie Anderson Hill, Linda Jacobs West and Elaine Parnagian Sudjian.

Arriving early, one carload of chicks dragged the main, then stopped to shop while waiting for the festivities to get started. In the back room of DiCicco’s, the talk turned to memories of those days of naiveté when the ribald jokes went right over our heads, and remembering our gym clothes and locker numbers were among our biggest worries. Discussion strayed to ex-husbands and half remembered affairs of the heart. And then, all too soon, the nostalgia train was back at the station and we were stepping out into the glaring sunlight of present reality.

The next excursion will be held on a Saturday in Fresno, the one after that in Madera, and is open to all FHS Class of ‘57 females. Call Elaine Sudjian if you want to be included in the next fun-filled trip down memory lane.

A Look in the Rearview Mirror

submitted by Pete Mehas

On September 13, 1954, our sophomore year, The Owlet featured the following stories:

The welcoming day assembly will be held today on the south lawn announced Bob Andresen, Student Body Vice President. Welcome speeches will be presented by Ted Slocum, Student Body President, Mr. George C. Holstein, Principal, Mr. John Solo, Vice Principal, and Mr. Dick Neal, Dean of Boys.

Hernando’s Hideaway has been selected as the theme of the first student body dance which will be held in the library. Tommy Smith is to provide the music and the cost is 75 cents a couple and 50 cents stag.

Warrior registration takes place in gym. FHS is one of the few schools in California that used the method of student selection of teachers in registration.

Roos Brothers advertised peggers, twill denim and cord from $4.50 to $6.95.

Coffee’s Boys Shop nylon stretch socks: $1.00

Mid Valley Sports center gym clothes special: Girls $6.30 and Boys $5.25.

ADDRESS CHANGES:

Roy Abel - P.O. Box 1071, Hayden Lake, ID 83835

Irene Carey - 7052 La Cima Ct., Citrus Heights, CA 95621

Marjorie Farrens - 4326 E Brentwood, Fresno, CA 9303

Robert Hansen - 9633 Gavin Stone Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89128

Barbara Hartwig - 21475 Rd 24, Madera, CA 93638

Doug Hayes, 8624 Wildrye Circle, Parker, CO 80134

Julie Heston - 172 Clothespin Bridge Rd., Webster, NH 33033-7725

Richard Johnson - 1930 Tuolumne Dr., Reno, NV 89523

JoAnne Jones - 1037 S Chestnut Ave., Fresno, CA 93702-3907

Martin Kaufman - 14212 Banbury Way, Tampa, FL 33624

Bud Kelley - 8326 N Bond Ave., Fresno, CA 93720-2110

Donna Lauder - 2641 Brentwood, Carson City, NV 89701

Ken Reed - 135 E Illinois #112, Spearfish, SD 57783

Jim Renning - Sept ‘98 to June ‘99: 25 Hunnewell Ave., Newton MA 02158

Donna Rinquest - P.O. Box 956, Coalville, UT 84017-0956

Gwen Rogers - 3315 Timberview Ct., S.W., Issaquah, WA 98027

William Spencer - 65 Germantown Ct. #220, Cordova, TN 38018

Melinda Stephens - 2101 Woodlake Dr., Santa Rosa, CA 95405

David Wamhoff - no longer known