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This page provides information from our classmates who have written about what has happened to them from graduation day until the present. Any 1960 Sunset graduate can send a current picture (if you haven't already done so for the Individual Class pictures page) and a brief one paragraph narrative (400 words or less) in a Microsoft WORD document to be included here to John@Bisons1960.net. If you have already sent a picture, all that is needed is the narrative. Female classmates need to be sure to include your maiden name as listed in the 1960 Sundial as well as your married surname if your name changed. If anyone wants to update the information on this page, just rewrite your narrative in a WORD document and send the update to the Website Manager (John Teer).
Patience is
important. It may take a few moments for all of the pictures to download
to your computer.
Judy Ann Richter Abbott
I
received my degree in education from TCU, where I met my first husband (Jimmy
Mulhollen’s roommate). We divorced after sixteen years and three great
children. I then proceeded to marry Mulhollen’s other roommate, who died three
years later. Mulhollen was beginning to feel nervous being around me, by the
way. I married Tony Abbott in 2000 (I immediately retired from teaching) and
between us we have seven children and ten grandchildren. I have drawn the line
at being his co-great-grandparent so he’s on his own for that birth in
December. We have an RV and enjoy traveling around the country, particularly
when it’s too hot/cold for golf in Dallas. I do volunteer work for some local
charities and spend any spare time I can find reading.
Larry Joe Adams
After Sunset I attended UTA and worked to support my
education. I entered the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War. I
married my wonderful wife, Kathy, in 1965 and she has put up with me for 45
years this November. We have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Shortly after
marriage my employer transferred us to Nashville, Tenn. In 1970 we were
transferred back to Dallas and I was recruited by Thorsen Tool Company where I
moved through a number of sales and marketing positions and left as President in
1989 to form my own company in partnership with Taiwan friends. We built several
factories in Taiwan and China and produced many of the private brand hand tool
lines you find at retailers today. I am very lucky to have traveled Asia (over
100 times to Taiwan and China), Europe and South America and speak, after 3
years of private lessons, pretty decent mandarin. My apologies to the late Mr.
Johns, who never could teach me Spanish! We did well, sold the company to
Danaher Corp in 1997 and I continued to manage the original company until I
retired in 2008. My wife Kathy, who has been an interior designer for our
entire married life, finally decided to start a retail store in Plano in 1989
while I was off in China starting my new company. In 1991 we purchased land on
Preston Road in Plano and built our own current store –Kathy Adams Interiors.
While I was traveling Asia, Kathy was traveling Europe buying antiques for her
new store. I was fortunate to meet her there on many occasions and we still love
traveling England, France and especially Italy. Since retirement I try to help
Kathy at the store, spend time playing golf, consulting with a couple of
companies in Taiwan, and enjoying all my grandchildren’s sporting events. My
son Neal –Baylor grad- blessed us with twin grandsons, now college sophomores
and who played on the Lake Travis High School two time state 4A champion
football team. One winning all district honors. My daughter Kelly graduated from
UT Austin and married the tight end on the 1990 team. Her husband Stephen played
a short time for the Buffalo Bills and NY Giants and with great intelligence
gave up football for a degree from the Wharton School of Business. They have
three son’s 10, 6 and 3. My daughter Khristy –SMU grad - is a critical part of
Kathy Adams Interiors. Life is good.
David Allen
After Sunset, I graduated from UNT with a BBA. At that time, I met Sandy
Schroeder, my wife for 46 years. I worked in the business world or six
years before entering the family hardware business. Allen True Value Hardware was in business
for 62 years. Some names you might recall as my customers
were: Judge Fite, JD Sivlis, Jack Roten, Byrom Rhome, HW Monroe, and
Paul Carter among many. Over the years, I also had the great pleasure of
making the acquaintances of many of your parents, and in some cases, your
grandparents.
Allen Hardware was sold January
2007, and Sandy has retired from teaching. We currently split
out time between Texas and Colorado enjoying the best of both
worlds. We are healthy, happy, and just letting the “good
times roll”!!
Sandra (Candy) Green Anderson
I worked
as computer programmer for IBM and Sperry Univac and technical staff for MITRE
in NASA space program after graduating from University of Texas in Mathematics
and Masters in Behavioral Science from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.
I started a software engineering company contracting to NASA for five years. I
married and have been living in Houston, Texas for over 40 years with two sons
and two grandchildren living in Lake Conroe area. Busy traveling and learning
Spanish with my grandchildren.
Betty Golden Arwine
I married Robert Arwine in 1963 and we had two children,
Clay and Janie. I started my work career at Sears Roebuck in 1960 and
worked with the company for seven years. I then began work for two years
with the Dallas Independent School District. Following that I worked in my
brother’s accounting firm, Golden, Dellinges & Redd, for 30 years.
Robert and I opened two postal centers in Mansfield during the last 11 years.
We have been blessed with three beautiful granddaughters during the past six
years.
Between working, traveling, and enjoying our
granddaughters, Robert and I stay fairly busy.
Robert L. Arwine
I graduated from North Texas State University with a
teaching degree and achieved a doctorate degree. After teaching, I became
a principal with the Dallas Independent School District. I married my high
school sweetheart, Betty Golden, in 1963 and and we have two children, Clay and
Janie. We have been married for 47 years. I retired from the Dallas
Independent School District in 1997 and Betty and I went into the postal
business. We opened two postal centers in Mansfield. We have lived
in the Waxahachie area for the past 10 years. We have three
granddaughters, Tori, Sophie and Lauren, all born within the past six years.
Janet Teresa Joyce Bessler
After graduation, I attended Arlington State
College then, which is now UT at Arlington, for 2 years and then decided to go
to work and make lots of money. Of course, that was a joke, but everyone learns
the hard way. Several years later, I married and my beautiful daughter, Cheryl,
was born in 1967. Unfortunately that marriage did not last and ended up in
divorce. I found my wonderful husband, Joe Bessler, in 1986 and we married in
1987. He has brought love and happiness back into my life and we have shared
many fun memories. After working for an electronics distributor for 44
years and working my way up to Corporate Credit Manager, I retired 3 months
ago. Now that we have both retired, we are planning to travel in the good ole
USA, as well as Europe and Australia and enjoy the rest of our lives together.
Sandra Nell Zacharias Bolton
Over the last 50 years? Lets see - I was
a stay at home Mom for several years. James and I have been married for
50 years as of September 3, 2010. We have two boys and two grandchildren.
But for the most part I have been in banking for 38 years. I retired in
2004, but was asked to come back part time in 2005. I am still working
part today and loving it.
Patricia Ann
Browning
After graduation, I attended TCU, where I received a BBA. In 1975, I
completed an MBE from North Texas State University in Denton. I began a
teaching career in 1964 and retired from teaching in 2000. I spent 35 years at
Spruce High School in Dallas. All those years I thought I was a teacher and a
pretty good one, but after retirement, I’ve discovered that I’m a bum! While
teaching, I met Dale Southworth in 1986, and we dated until his death on May 3,
2009. I returned home from a cruise to discover that he had passed away that
morning. I’ve adopted his daschund, Dusty, and he is precious and very loved.
I have an amazing set of friends. We love to travel, eat, play cards, and we
are all Ranger fans. I also met a great friend, Tom Smith, at church. He was a
principal in Rockwall, who is currently retired. We very much enjoy the time we
spend together. I work two days a week at Colonial Baptist Church. I am the
financial secretary. I love what I do there, and it gives me money to play
with. I only hope that all my former classmates enjoy life as much as I do; I’m
thankful for my education and friends from Sunset. God bless you all!
James E. (Jim) Bryan
After attending Arlington State, I worked for
several years in the data processing division of Taylor Publishing Company which
published our Sundials along with high school and college yearbooks for hundreds
of institutions throughout the U.S. I then joined the Dallas Police
Department in 1964 right after the Kennedy assassination and remained there
until December of 1975 when I was recruited into the oil and gas industry as a
drilling and production engineer. As the industry went through it’s
gyrations, I determined that I did not enjoy that type of "yo-yo" existence so I
returned to the Dallas Police Department in February of 1990 where I remained
until I retired in August of 2008…a street cop to the end. A number of
surgeries were necessary due to on-duty injuries, but all in all it was an
interesting 30 years. In 1984, I married my current wife, Sharron, who I met and
dated in 1969 when she was a flight attendant for American and I was assigned to
Love Field. It was well worth the 15-year wait! We have my daughter
Lori from my first marriage, and her family; Mike, her husband, and Evan and
Bryce our two fantastic grandsons. We live with our two English Setters,
Katie and Cappy the Wonder Dogs, who are very much a part of our family. We spend most of our year here in
Dallas, and several months of the year at our second home in the mountains just
outside of Estes Park, Colorado. After my retirement, I transitioned to
the Reserve Battalion of the Dallas Police Department and I teach several
in-service classes a month to police officers regarding dealing with encounters
with the mentally ill.
James Kenyon (Ken) Clardy
I’ve been married to Lynn
(Linda Walden, Sunset class of 1962) for 46 yrs. We have two daughters,
Jennifer Beaman & Jina Beaman (sisters married brothers); five grandkids: Zach
(12), Miranda (12), Emily (9), Ashley (9) & Jake (4) Beaman. My employment
includes: 13 yrs Medical X-Ray, Sales & Service; 11 yrs RV Industry, Sales,
Service & Management; 10 yrs Lawn & Garden Dealership, Management. Currently
Owner of Kens Engraving (guns & knives) (DallasEngraver.com). My civiv
contributions are: 25 ½ yrs Fireman, retired Asst. Chief; 2 yrs City Councilman;
2 yrs City Planning & Zoning Commission. I am an Air Force having served in
Korea and during the Vietnam era. I have been active in the Boy Scouts serving
for 23+ yrs as an active scouter in various positions; Scouters Award & Key,
Religious Award, District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award, Dan Carter Beard
National Masonic Scouter Award. I have been a member of the George B. Dealey
Masonic Lodge #1312 for 42 years and serve as the Treasurer. I am a DeMolay
Life Member. I am a Sunday School Teacher in my church and a past Board Member.
I have been a Certified Lay Speaker with Certified Instructors certificate for
23 years. I am also a Life Member of Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers
(PTA) and a Member of Arlington’s Cordbusters Band.
Mary Emma Brunner Cloud
I attended Arlington
State College for a year and then moved to Colorado. While working at a bank I
met my husband, Doug. Our common interest? The Beatles! We moved back to
Dallas as soon as I could talk him into it and we became avid Cowboy fans. So
far so good. We had three children, bought a house and chased the dream. We
moved to Houston to go into the real estate business but even after some
success, we felt something was missing. We made a decision that affected how we
would live the rest of our lives. We decided to live for God instead of
ourselves. It made a huge difference in how we brought up our children and how
we lived our lives! Our children are grown and they all live nearby. We have
five grandboys, one of which we are raising. We’ve had Jake since he was five
and what a ride! We got into Boy Scouts and became leaders, (in our 60’s) and
went camping, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, etc. He is a senior this year
and will achieve the rank of Eagle Scout soon. He’s also a gifted musician.
Who knew? My husband still works in real estate and I work for the Humble
Independent School District in their Discipline Program. We’ve gone to the same
church since 1975 and Doug teaches a Sunday School class. Jake plays guitar for
the youth and just started playing in the main service. I feel very blessed to
still be alive and kicking. Fifty years isn’t so very long, now that I think
about it. And I don’t even feel like an antique!
Carol June Jahnke Costa
We moved away from Dallas shortly after my
graduation to Lincoln, Nebraska. My dad was transferred. It turns out it was
also where I met my first husband. Actually he lived across the hall (what
luck). He was a pilot in the Air Force and due to military circumstances we had
to postpone our wedding. We eventually were able to "tie the knot." Our first
blessing came in 1964 with our son (Randy). He is married with one daughter
(Brittany). They have lived and worked in Florida for three years. Then the
second in 1967 was our daughter (Kim). She is married with two daughters (Domonique,
24) and (Autumn, 7). Yes, from the same husband. Domonique was just married
in May to a Navy man and lives in Florida. The second installment began in
1972. My first marriage unfortunately did not survive military life, We
remained friends until his passing in 1999. I was very fortunate to find
another great guy (and not bad on the eyes either) and we married in 1974. He
had his own construction company (now retired). Of course he built our
home and it is lovely. It's too big for us now but we haven't decided
exactly what we want to do. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that he also had
become the recipient of his three boys in 1972, when they were 10--9--8. I must
be honest and say it was not always the Brady Bunch, but we worked it out.
That is about the end of my saga, but I also hope the beginning. I was
diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2009. It has now spread to the lungs. Nothing
seems to have worked so far, but I am extremely hopeful. I have been blessed
with not having too many side effects. I did however lose my hair (as you can
see in the picture. I guess my vanity is showing.) Now that you are
bored to tears, I will close by saying I hope all is well with you and yours. I
would love to hear from you. My e-mail address is
cscarolc@comcast.net.
Jane Elizabeth
Caudle Crouch
Just a note to update you and our classmates about the last 50 years! Jim and I
married just before he began Baylor Law School. I had finished undergrad in 3
years so I could support us by teaching: 3rd grade for 1year, 1st grade for 2
years. Then, we moved from Waco to Hamilton where we've been ever since. He
practices law and I am executive director of the Hamilton Economic Development
Corporation. We have one daughter and 3 grandchildren who live in Belton.
Between teaching and economic development, I first volunteered and served on lots of local
committees and ended up chairing most of them. Then, I discovered state
government and for 12 years worked as a staffer at the State Capitol. Had an
apartment in Austin and came home on the weekends--our daughter says we had a
modern marriage then. Not sure what she'd say about that now. After more than 40
years here, I can tell you for sure that Hamilton is a great place to live and
has been very good to us.
Mary Blake French Crouch
I left Dallas the day after I graduated from Sunset
and moved to Virginia, where I went to the College of William and Mary as an
undergraduate and the University of Virginia for graduate school. I met my
husband, Richard Crouch, at William and Mary; we have been married 45 years and
have two children and three gorgeous grandchildren. I worked my way
through college as a columnist and reporter for The Virginia Gazette and have
been a journalist ever since—writing and editing newspapers, newsletters and
magazines. For the past 17 years, I have been editor in chief of ARMY
Magazine. I also taught writing at George Washington University and
English and American literature and women’s studies courses as adjunct faculty
of the University of Virginia for 20 years. Richard and I have spent part
of almost every week of our lives together in rural Virginia, restoring old
houses (a seventeenth-century house near Williamsburg, an eighteenth-century log
house in Loudoun County, and our 86-year-old house in Arlington, VA) and trying
to be good stewards of the land. Most of our volunteer work focuses on
historic preservation and environmental projects. A photography hobby has
grown—with photos in a dozen shows at the National Press Club in Washington,
D.C., and at juried art shows—mostly of landscapes in Italy and France and rural
Virginia. Great Memories: Hiking on the Na Pali Coast of Kauai with my
family, hot air ballooning with my mom and sisters, hiking in Olympic National
Park with cousins, sensing and nearly seeing the silence in the rain forest in
Puerto Rico, holding our newborn grandchildren and singing them to sleep, being
interviewed and quoted in the New York Times, making an annual pilgrimage since
1995 to Monet’s garden in Giverny, dining in Edinburgh Castle, getting lost in
Venice, and living in Ste. Maxime. Life is good!
Darlene Brooks Dollar
I attended North Texas University in Denton after I
graduated in January. I met my husband, Don Dollar, and we married in
1968. He adopted my daughter from another marriage and seven years later,
we had a daughter. I was a stay at home mom for many years and really enjoyed
that part of my life.
We bought a home in Garland and I still live there. Don,
unfortunately, died at the age of 46. I worked for many years and then retired
at 55 to help my brother take care of my parents. I am now enjoying
my daughters and grand kids (two teenage girls and two little boys) traveling
some and attending soccer games and high
school football games.
Brenda Brock Folsom
While still in college, I
married my high school sweetheart, Sam Folsom. We raised two wonderful
daughters together, Beth Folsom Van Amburgh and Dr. Rebecca Folsom. Both are
teachers and very successful in their chosen fields of Elementary Education and
Music Education. Beth is the Principal of La Rue Elementary School in
Midlothian ISD and Becky is a Professor of Music at Boston Conservatory of
Music. We have two granddaughters, Rachel Van Amburgh and Hannah Van Amburgh.
We still enjoy going to theater, opera, and dog shows as Sam is a licensed judge
for the American Kennel Club. Professorially, I have worked in the field of
Elementary Education for forty years. I have taught most of the elementary
grades, and have held several administrative positions. I retired from public
school education in 2003 as Principal of Mt. Peak Elementary, Midlothian ISD.
Currently, I am an Adjunct Professor at Texas A&M-Commerce teaching elementary
education classes and supervising student teachers.
Gerald A. Foster
After
graduation, I attended ASC for a year and a half, then enlisted in US Navy
Reserves and worked on a commercial laundry route. I went on active duty to Navy
school in Illinois. I was assigned to The USS Mansfield DD-728 stationed in
Long Beach ,CA, where we were deployed to Viet Nam and based in Japan. Other
ports were Hong Kong, China and the Philippine Islands. I then returned after
six months and married my present wife, Diana, who was from a Navy family.
We have been married 45 years and have three daughters and five grand children.
I've worked in the electronics industry, built aircraft at LTV for the Navy and
the Air Force and finally settled in the field of Automotive Air Conditioning
working in engineering research and development. I am now retired and
taking life easy keeping busy with church work and family.
Mary Ann Isom Franzke
After
graduating from Sunset, I went to North Texas and honestly majored in
sororities, fraternities, and parties. What zany, fun-filled four years;
however, I did manage to maintain a decent grade point average and graduate.
The following summer I married and moved to Germany for three years where I
taught in the American schools and traveled throughout Europe at every
opportunity. Every day opened new doors and enriching adventures.
Upon returning to the states and settling in San Antonio, I began a traditional
phase with a starter home, two car garage, a dog and the birth of two precious
baby girls. I wished I could have stopped the clock in this cherished
phase. My challenging phase soon followed when Gretchen and Gwen were two and
three. Here, I began life as a single mom, teaching during the day and earning
a master’s degree at night and summers on a scholarship to Trinity University.
For the next twenty years, I held various positions under the umbrella of
education as I raised the girls amidst the usual demands of motherhood and car
pooling. Now came a very satisfying phase as the girls were experiencing
success: Gretchen received a Ph.D. from University of Texas at Dallas, and Gwen
graduated from Texas A&M. This occurred while I enjoyed my role as
Principal of Oak Grove Elementary in the North East Independent School District.
When I least expected it, I met the perfect husband for me, one that shared my
same beliefs and values. Chuck Franzke had been a widow for three years
and had recently retired as C.E.O. of Dillard’s of the Southwest. The last
seventeen years have been wonderful. We have traveled all over the world
and have enjoyed the joys of grandchildren. I am involved in caring for
grandchildren, serving on boards, organizing charitable galas, continuing
education, volunteer work, and exercising regularly. Frequently we house
Spanish speaking foreign students from a local university where I serve on the
Development Board. To sum up my life, I have found blessings from God in
every part.
Nancy Patchen Freeman
As I look back on my life, I recall so many
things I am grateful for. One highlight is the many friends from Peabody,
Stockard and Sunset. Their friendships gave me a great foundation to go out and
explore life. Another piece of my foundation was one marriage. I got
to experience all the “good” things of material America, including working in
the corporate world and raising a wonderful son who lives
in California. I'm the grandmother of three wonderful boys.
After working in corporate America, I discovered I was bored: “What’s next?”
In order to experience a different culture and mindset, I went to Spain and
studied Spanish at the University of Madrid—an incredible hard-work, fun,
enlightening year. Back in California, I met a famous Indian guru who was
touring U.S. So I packed up and went to India to check out that mindset
and culture. I was totally fascinated and ended up collecting information
and writing the biography of the guru, Swami Chinmayananda. I also studied
Sanskrit and homeopathy—fascinating subjects. Then I lived in New York
City and Vermont, definitely new mindsets and cultures. I loved exploring
both the urban world and the green tree and white snow world of New England.
Later I returned to India for a three year journey, discovering rural
countryside. I wrote a journal of the places I visited, people I met,
conversations, histories, and challenges. Deemed “too much material and too
overwhelming” to be commercial, I learned to create websites and put it on the
Internet. My adventuring self then moved to Arizona—which is a maze of
incredible realities from alpine forests to cactus thickets. However, a
local mining company was polluting the water supply in the small town I had
settled in after having lived in Sedona, Phoenix and Tucson. Therefore, I used
my website skills to post the pollution data and was able to nudge the mining
company into cleaning up their mess (after 4 years and 2 public hearings).
I am a confirmed pacifist and have been able to help a group of disabled
veterans, Vets for Due Process (Vets have a special court that does not honor
due process), by creating and maintaining two websites for them. Now I am
making an attempt to get back to the “me” I enjoy most: Star gazer; rainbow
chaser, hiker, tree hugger, butterfly raiser. I am in the process of
creating a project to interest and engage suburban elementary school children in
connecting with and enjoying nature.
Lynda Sue Kennedy Garner
I have been married for
almost 24 years to my sweetheart, Jim. Together we have 5 children and 10
grandchildren, who all live within a 2 to 3 hour drive. We moved from Grand
Prairie to a small community just outside of Cooper seventeen years ago and we
both work in Paris. Jim brags that he only has one stop sign between home and
his shop. I am a legal assistant for a bankruptcy attorney and Jim builds
things out of sheet metal for a local construction company. We attend a small
Methodist Church in a community called Tira where out of a membership of 39 we
have an average attendance of 20-24 people. There are five couples in our
church who have been married over 50 years and that is a real inspiration. We
enjoy our jobs, working around our place and entertaining the kids and grand
kids and don’t plan on retiring any time soon.
Roland Alvin Haedge
After graduation I live a lot of life. I was
able to obtain my education as follows: 1960-63: Texas Tech. Got
hepatitis Dec ‘63, dropped out & returned to DFW. 1964-65: UT
Arlington. 1965-68: Texas Tech, BA Psychology. 1968-70: Texas
Tech, MA Counseling Psychology/Vocational Rehabilitation. 1976-77:
Masters in Public Administration, East Texas State College, Commerce, TX.
My military service included: 1966-68:
Army ROTC at Texas Tech and then 1970-72: Ft. Gordon, GA: Signal Officer
Basic Course; Ft. Mammoth, NJ: Communication Center Operations; Ft. Hood, TX:
Social Work Officer, Mental Hygiene Clinic, Darnell Army Hospital; Long Binh
Army Base, Republic of South Vietnam, Drug Abuse/Rehabilitation Officer, 1st
Signal Corps, awarded Bronze Star medal. My civilian employment has
included: 1964-68: U. S. Post Office, Dallas and Lubbock while attending
UT Arlington and Tech. 1972-75: Consultant in Vocational Rehabilitation,
Saigon, S. Vietnam. Worked for World Rehabilitation Fund, Inc. (WRF), who had
contract with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to build
Vocational Evaluation Centers for physically disabled Vietnamese. Worked with S.
VN Ministry of Social Welfare. 1975-88: U.S. Dept of HEW/HHS, Regional
Personnel Office, Dallas, TX. Worked as LR Specialist, Classification
Specialist, EAP Administrator, Regional Training Officer, Personnel Section
Chief. 1998-2005:
Adjunct Faculty, taught American Government and Psychology at various times at
University of Phoenix Online; Brookhaven College, Dallas; and Tarrant County
Community College, South Campus, Ft. Worth. 1988-Present: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), worked in Human
Resources and Training as Chief, Regional Automated Systems Section.
Implemented HR Manager and Regional Automated Training System applications
nation-wide in all IRS offices. Director, Personnel/EEO Training Institute,
responsible for all personnel/EEO training for the IRS. Supervisor, Personnel
Services Training Office. Presently, Systems Operations Team Leader for the
IRS’ Learning Management System, Plateau Talent Management System, version 5.8.
Used for all training within the IRS. On the personal side of life since
graduation, in September of 1973 I married Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen, a.k.a. Dora,
who also worked for WRF. In December of 1974 I went to Guam (delayed honeymoon)
with Dora for her to take the citizenship test and become a naturalized U.S.
citizen. I then flew back through Hong Kong so she could get a Visa for entry
back into Viet Nam. In April of 1975, we took the last Pan Am 747 out of Saigon
just a few days before the North Vietnamese tanks rolled in. Dora was 4 months
pregnant with our first son. During the time period from July 1975, Dora
and I had three boys. Our older son attended UT Arlington & Medical School at
UT San Antonio. He is now an Anesthesiologist in the Army, married, living in
Hawaii and expecting his first child soon. He spent six months in Iraq in
2009. Our middle son went to the Air Force Academy, served 5 years active
duty, got out, returned to DFW and started his own business designing web
pages. Our youngest son also went to the Air Force Academy, played on the
tennis team for four years and was assistant tennis coach one year. He is
married and has one son born last January. They are now stationed at Masawa AFB
in northern Japan. Dora and I enjoy playing tennis and working in and around
our home in Arlington, TX where we have lived in since 1979. We
attend the Kadampa Buddhist Meditation Center in Arlington.
UPDATE:
Since or 50th reunion I have made some significant changes in my life. In 2012 I got divorced from my wife of 37 years. We raised 3 boys, however, when the empty nest came along we seemed to grow further apart. In 2013 I married Jo Ann Smith. She grew up in Ft. Worth and has lived in Burleson, TX for the past 30+ years. She worked in Education for 38+ years as a first grade teacher, counselor, assistant principle, and diagnostician before retiring. Since retiring she has been active in the Texas Retired Teacher's Association (TRTA). She served as local president of the Burleson Chapter and as president of District 11, composed of 22 local districts in the north central Texas area. She also served 6 years on the Burleson School Board. In 2014 I retired and bought a house in Burleson on the 15th fairway of the Southern Oaks Golf Course and enjoy playing golf every week. I also work as a Marshal on the course one afternoon a week. Together, Jo Ann and I have 6 grandchildren. They are the joy of our lives. I really like retirement. If anyone wants to play a round of golf give me a call.
Betty Jo Shefield Hardy & Murray
Kenneth Hardy
After graduation from Sunset, Murray and
Betty Jo both entered Baylor University. Murray's major was religion and Betty
Jo's was elementary education. They married in June 1962 right after completing
their sophomore year. Both earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor. After
graduation, They moved to Ft. Worth and Murray entered Southwestern Seminary.
While there he earned a Master of Divinity degree. Later, while the Senior
Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Anahuac, Texas, Murray earned a Doctor of
Ministry degree from Southwestern Seminary. During our many years in the
ministry, they lived in Hearne, Conroe, New Caney, and Anahuac, Texas before
moving to Arizona. Betty Jo taught school in most of those towns in which they
lived and finally retired after 33 years of teaching some very precious
children. Murray is still working part-time as a chaplain at the Prescott V.A.
hospital and also teaches their adult Sunday School class. The highlight of
their lives have been their children and grandchildren. They have three sons -
Kenneth, David, and Chris. The four grandchildren are Joanna (11), Josh (11),
Erica (9), and Jessica (8). They are the apples of their eye and love to be
with them. Last Christmas when they were all in Colorado, they had great fun
taking the four grandchildren to Santa's Workshop at the North Pole. Then the
next day it snowed so much that everyone went sledding. Over the years, Murray
and Betty Jo have attended all but one of the Sunset reunions and have enjoyed
each and every one. It's wonderful to see old friends again, although they wish
they lived closer and could get together with them more often.
Dorthea Jean Watkins Hill
I
graduated from The University of North Texas in May 1964 and married Gary Hill
(SOC 59) in August of that same year. We have two children (both graduates of
Abilene Christian University) and four granddaughters. Our lives have led us to
live in Lewisville, Richardson, McKinney, Garland and Horseshoe Bay. Out of
state we have resided in Detroit, Washington D.C. and Bentonville, Arkansas. In
Texas, I taught school in Lewisville and Mesquite, out of State in Dearborn,
Michigan and Fairfax, Virginia. My primary career has been that of a mom and
support for my husband who has served as an executive with Texas Instruments,
EDS and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. We presently live in Bentonville where Gary
recently retired as Vice President and Global Ethics Officer for the Wal-Mart
Stores. We have traveled extensively and recently completed travels to China (a
trip all should make) and Hawaii. Our trips to Australia and New Zealand were
amazing, but the time we met up with my lifelong friend Mary Ann Isom in London
was the best! Can you see us laughing and making jokes about two little Oak
Cliff Girls together in London? Life after Sunset has been very good!
Ruth Ann Burris Hill
Can it be five
decades? How did my life go? Well, here are some of the pieces…. After Sunset
it was Baylor for a BA and journalism studies, and then months living and
touring in Europe where the travel bug bit me so hard enough I’ve never
recovered. I’ve roamed the world a lot and reported professionally on the
business and pleasures of travel for the last 20 years - first for newspapers
and magazines - now online too. Next trip in October: Israel, second time
around. Once place to read me:
www.christianworldtraveler.com.
I’ve lived and worked most of the past 50 years in the Washington, DC area.
Originally got here as a press assistant for Senator Ralph Yarborough after
Europe, then spent some time in the telecommunications private industry as an
editor. Then, it was nearly two decades in the studio photography business with
my former husband. It was during those years we reared son Brad, who is now a
Virginia business owner himself, and the father of my two little grands, Clara
and Laura. We all live in Northern Virginia. In case you are wondering, the
nation’s capital is not all partisan rancor and politics. It’s filled with
fascinating people from all over the world and I’ve met a few of them. I love
all the history and electricity that crackles in its veins. And because I live
in the midst of Civil War history next to the Manassas National Battlefield
Park, I’m surrounded by America’s heritage. Sunset days seem a long way back,
but I am looking forward to the fun of looking back and catching up with
classmates! Here’s to another five decades!
Michael A. Jenkins
I’ve always had a love for
music. When I was fourteen I started working as an usher at the Dallas Summer
Musicals. Charles R. Meeker, Jr., the original producer, was my mentor at the
Music Hall. I studied stage design which took me into the development and
planning of Six Flags Over Texas, where I was vice president of entertainment
and new projects, and participated in the development of all the Six Flags
parks. I co-produced the CBS national telecast of the Miss Teenage American
Pageant for six years and was co-producer of To Broadway With Love at the
New York World’s Fair. I am presently the President and Managing Director for
the Dallas Summer Musicals and the President and Founder of Leisure and
Recreation Concepts (LARC). Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) is involved in more
than 20 productions annually (both produced and presented). DSM Management
Group operates four theaters and has a training school that has had more than
1,000 students in the last five years. I have worked to take musical theater in
Dallas to a new level of excellence and popularity, understanding that “show
business” is about being creative and putting on the show but also running the
show as a “business.” I recently produced on Broadway the new Flower Drum
Song; Brooklyn, the Musical; Sixteen Wounded, Jay Johnson: The Two
and Only, Boeing-Boeing, Legally Blonde, Guys and Dolls, 9 to 5,
Vanities, Memphis and many shows are now in development. LARC is a design
and consulting firm for the entertainment industry that includes theme parks,
water parks, special event productions, aquariums and a variety of other
attractions. I completed a two-year term as President of the National Alliance
for Musical Theatre and continue to serve on the Board of Directors. I am a
participating member of The Broadway League and the Independent Producers
Network, and am on the Board of Directors of Silverleaf Resorts. I am a
founding member of the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College; and serve on
a number of civic Boards including the American Heart Association
(past-chairman) and Variety Club of North Texas. I also am an advisor to the
Dallas Cowboys and other major corporations.
William (Bill) Boyd Kibler
I have lived most of my
life here in Dallas, Texas. I have made a living in the construction industry
for 39 years. The greatest part of my life has been my family. My wife Ann and
I were married in 1986. Ann has a daughter, Allison and I have a daughter,
Kelly and a son, Kirk. Kelly and her husband, Tom, have a daughter Lucy and a
son Dylan. Kirk and his wife Tracy have two daughters Lilly and Beatrice and a
son Beck. We all live in Dallas so frequent visits are easy! Kirk and Kelly’s
Mom Jean, lives in Dallas as well, so our grandkids get plenty of attention from
grandparents. My son bought my business in 2003 so I am semi-retired and now
trying to learn how to play golf. I think I am losing the battle, but I won’t
give up. I enjoy getting together with some of my Sunset friends every January
for golf and hunting in west Texas. I also enjoy the constant chatter of the
Bison email group; a group of about 25 Bison that reconnected about five years
ago and share both the good and bad experiences of life while growing old
together. Ann and I are members of First United Methodist Church and have many
good friends in our Sunday School Class, including Marshall Wilson and Hazael
Hale Taylor.
Larry Lynn Kinney
After graduation, I spent too many years at UT
partying and after a sojourn at William and Mary graduated from UT-Arlington.
I married a southern belle flight attendant and had two sons who are single and
never been married, of whom I’m very
proud, but who apparently intend on being their own children’s grandpa.
They are young and full of promise. I
am presently divorced after 31 years of marriage, semi-retired from the oil and gas business and living in
the Clear Lake area of Houston, a literal stone's throw from NASA. I still
fondly remember the State Fair of Texas and those street car rides across
Dallas.
Vicki Avis Fulghum Leaden
50 years, really? This is a kindergarten
reunion I’m sure! Anyway, it’s been a good ride. My path included a BA in
Math from TCU in 1963 followed by 3 years teaching high school Algebra &
Geometry in Ft. Worth while working on getting 30 credit hours to get certified
for teaching. Efforts to use my TCU computer training were not productive
in TX, so, while spending the summer of 1966 in NYC, I decided to try the Big
Apple and took a trainee spot with Univac. After 35 years with Univac,
Citibank and three major NY Medical Centers, I decided to retire and just enjoy
the City for a while. In 1968, I met and married Danny Lawler, a
delightful golf pro from CT who taught nationally. He was half leprechaun
and we had 22 marvelous years together before he died in 1990.
Unfortunately, I was not able to have children of my own, but my present
husband, John, has filled that gap with his 13 children, 27 grandchildren and 10
great-grands. We currently live in Sarasota, FL and summer in CT. In both
places we are fortunate to have a friendly, active parish and condo community.
In our Sarasota parish I use the 22 years of liturgical training I received at
St. Patrick Cathedral in NY and also help with sacramental calls and concert
scheduling. My health care background now finds it’s outlet at our local
hospital as a volunteer supporting various ancillary functions one day a week.
Joe Long
I have two daughters and three grandchildren. I
retired several years ago after completing 41 years as a criminal investigator.
Twenty-seven of those years were in Law Enforcement. I was a guest Instructor
at the Texas Department of Public Safety Academy in Austin and Sam Houston State
University specializing in Credit Card Abuse. I have been a
semi-professional musician since I was fourteen and have played with several
major recording artists. At the age of sixteen I learned to fly and
continue to this day as a pilot and aircraft owner. My wife is also a licensed
pilot. I have lived in San Antonio since 1986 where I met my wife, Gayle.
We love to travel in our Airstream trailer and spend three months each year
traveling across the U.S. We have also traveled extensively with our
aircraft. Until recently we have enjoyed downhill skiing but have since retired
from this activity.
We live
on a small farm in Saint Hedwig just outside San Antonio and enjoy the country
life with our two very spoiled cats that also travel with us in our Airstream.
Marshall Earl Martin
I have taught at Southern Methodist
University, the University of Dallas and given lectures in several other
universities and seminaries, but nothing materialized for me at the time to
pursue an academic career so I did something else. My Ph.D. is from the
University of Leiden in the Netherlands, (1976), in The History, Languages
and Archeology of the Middle East.
Bill Matthews
I attended Texas A&M where I found my wife and sweetheart, Linda McGuire, and
obtained a BA in Math. Married in ’64, 1st child, a boy, born in
’65, another son in ’70 and a daughter in ’75. We moved to Irving in ’65 and,
with the exception of a 3 years assignment in Rome, Italy, have lived here ever
since. I joined IBM in ’68 with various job assignments that have taken me to
most of the states as well as several countries in Europe, South America and the
far east. I retired at the end of 2007. We have two grandchildren, a boy and a
girl. We have enjoyed taking tours to Egypt (took a ship down the Nile), Alaska,
Panama, Western Mexico and a Christmas Market trip on the Danube. My current
hobbies include Genealogy and building a model train layout. Linda enjoys
quilting and the grandkids.
Paula Dell Carter McCulloch
The
years have gone by fast for me and I have been blessed. Sunset High School
was a good foundation for my life. I loved the school, our teachers, the
band program, the dance band, all the things we did. I spent the
next seven years at SMU getting a degree in accounting and law. I took the
bar exam and the next weekend married Andy McCulloch. I instantly became a
step-mom to his four children, ages four, six, nine and ten (three girls and a
boy). What was I thinking? Now we have been married 42 years. Soon
after we married we added a son and daughter to the group for a total of six
kids. We were members of Northwest Bible Church while the kids were growing
up. As empty nesters, we attend Highland Park Methodist Church here in Dallas
and we have ten "very dear to us" grandchildren. We had quite a busy schedule
with car pools, kid's sports, school trips, and church. Our children have
significant Texas A&M and University of Texas rivalries that make it fun these
days during football season. For the last ten years or so we have earmarked the
Thanksgiving Holiday as a time to gather the family and plan some kind of
outrageous activity to encourage family solidarity. One year we had our
version of the Amazing Race. Some of our hit Thanksgiving activities were
Turkey Bowling, Marshmallow Gun fights, a Scavenger Hunt, and a Miniature Golf
Tournament in the backyard. I will fill you in if you ask me about these
events at the reunion. I have worked during my marriage practicing family law
on my own in North Dallas and still have an office only blocks from our home at
the intersection of the LBJ Freeway and Hillcrest Rd. I specialize in
Family Law and that turned out to be a joy for me, as I like to be in a
Courtroom and I like working with people one on one. My husband is
Scottish and we have enjoyed a tradition of playing up that heritage for the
family. Andy worked as a lawyer also, but he is now retired. He is a great
photographer and computer geek. When I have free time, I love to spend it will
family, travel, dabble with water colors, attend concerts and go to museums.
My younger brother also attended Sunset seven years later than we did. He
is Jimmy Carter. I kid him because he has the same name as a former
president. He became a lawyer also and we practice law together these days
in the same office along with my daughter, who acts as our paralegal.
Everyday it is a pleasure to go to work in such a nice environment. I have not
done any bungee jumping, sky diving or mountain climbing. But, I am always
ready for adventure. By the Grace of God these years have been wonderful.
Kenneth Wayne McGill
Let’s see how much I can remember of my life worth telling. After
graduation, I spent five good years at
Arlington State College. I was there for the name change to The
University of Texas at Arlington but missed the squabble over the name of the
football team and other sports and related activities. It was the Rebels back in
those days but to be politically correct it was changed to the Mavericks I
think.
I have worked in financial institutions, for construction
companies (hello Bill), and spent the last productive years of my employment as
the Managing Principal of a large public accounting firm in
Dallas. I retired in April 2008 and have had a ball since. I love
fishing and hunting and have some great
pictures and stories about both. My wife, Sharon, and I have four
children. I have two girls and Sharon
has two boys. Between them and their spouses, we have nine
grandchildren who are all very close.
Bertha Anita Majors Miller
Anita Majors Miller
now lives in Fairview, Texas. She is married to Donald E. Miller (Class of
1959). Anita has retired from teaching and is now enjoying the leisure life of
working in the yard.
Patricia Jeanette Bowland Parsons
We can't possibly be old
enough to be preparing for our 50th reunion! Seems only yesterday we graduated
and went our separate ways. I only made it as far as Denton for college and
then for only a year. I would have two children cheering me on when I finally
did graduate from North Texas University with a BA in English several years
later. I returned to Dallas to work at the old Texas Bank & Trust at the
corner of Main and Lamar. The bank entered me in the Miss Downtown Dallas
contest and, surprisingly, I won. It was a wonderful year of representing the
City. After that I left the business world to marry and start my family. Julie
arrived in 1964, followed by Jay in 1968. I sold real estate in the area for
five years which satisfied my need to get out of the house and around people
while the kids were in school. Unfortunately, my marriage failed. I
eventually remarried and moved my family to Midland, Texas. I worked for the
First National Bank and moved with my boss to ClayDesta National Bank. There I
was recruited by Clayton Williams to be his personal secretary. It was an
exciting time in my life. After I moved back to Dallas, he ran unsuccessfully
for Governor against Ann Richards. Another divorce left me single again. I
worked as secretary to Raymond Hay when he was the CEO of LTV Corporation, and
after his retirement I was hired as a legal secretary. My career culminated
when I retired from Jones Day in 2007. At Jones Day I was secretary to the head
of litigation and was a member of trial teams that defended corporations all
over the country. We never lost! I met my current husband, David Parsons,
at a singles Sunday School class and we married 13 years ago. Finally, I have a
soul mate to grow old with. I have five grandchildren and two
step-grandchildren. They are life's rewards. We currently are living in our RV
and working for the City of Grapevine as fee collectors for the nine city-owned
boat ramps. We also work occasionally at the British Airways Lounge at DFW
airport where we have met some wonderful people. Our retirement home on a lake
in East Texas is on the market for we have fallen in love with Grapevine and
hope to settle here permanently. It was great to see all my Bison buddies at
the Reunion. I think we are so blessed to have each other and such great
memories.
Kay Foster Peltier
Hi there everyone. Gosh, I can't
believe that 50 years have gone by since we all graduated. It seems to
have passed so quickly. I was so excited to be able to see all of you at
the Reunion. We
had have such a great time. I graduated in June and Married the man of my
dreams in August, 1960. We just celebrated our 50th. and it has been a
wonderful life. We have 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
We have truly been blessed with such a wonderful family. We lived in Dallas
until 1966 and moved to Memphis. We moved back to Dallas in 1970 and then moved
to Huntington Beach, Ca. in 1977. We lived in Calif. until 1990 and moved to
Seoul, Korea. We were there 2 1/2 years and then moved to Singapore. We were
there for 2 1/2 years and then to Minneapolis, MN., then to Detroit, Mi. Lee
retired in 2000 and we moved to Tyler, TX. We have been here ever since. We
have done a lot of traveling in our 50 years. We are very involved with
our church in Tyler. We attend St. Mary Magdalene in Flint. Lee and I are over
the Welcoming Ministry and enjoy it so very much. We are also over Couples
night out which is once a month. We are kept really busy. I also
volunteer at the food pantry at our church and it is a great way to be able to
help those less fortunate and who are struggling during this time. I have
had a very full life. I am very fortunate as I had quadruple bypass surgery in
2004 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. I am truly a survivor and
lucky to be around. Life is very good. I read all the bios and it is
amazing what all of you have done with your lives so far. I feel very honored
to be in your company.
Joseph (Joe) Reynolds
I married Caroline Campbell in August of
1964. We had one son who’s a physicist and
mechanical engineer in California.
After
Sunset I went to Austin to the University of Texas. Other than two summers back
at my folk’s house, I’ve lived in
Austin since. We’ve always been in the central city.
I went to UT planning on a Physics career, but due to a quirk of administrative
process I ended up with a Math degree.
Then I was one of the first graduate students in Computer
Science, and got a Computer Science masters
with Electrical Engineering as a secondary
focus. I never finished the PhD.
I started working at a UT spin-off in 1963
while still in school, Tracor, which is a defense
contractor that became Austin’s first Fortune
500 company and initiated much of the
technical focus in town. I did applied research for 40 years. Along the way we
did some fun and innovative things; doing the research to allow development of a
lot of technology. I did a lot of
human factors and computer-human interaction work that led
to the displays you saw in “Hunt for Red
October”. The list is too long for here.
We’ve done a lot of precinct level politics
and election support. Right now we’re
election judges for a couple of precincts. We’re the guys who check your ID and
get you to the voting machines. We’re
active in neighborhood activities. I’ve been an officer in the neighborhood
association [not like a condo board,
in Austin neighborhood associations work on zoning
and planning issues. We have 3100 families.] and I am active in holding
the city staff to count for how they
perform their duties. I just ran the neighborhood July 4th
Parade, the 51st.
We had 1500 to 2000 folks in costume and on floats celebrate Independence Day
with Amy’s Ice Cream, Cup Cakes,
JimJim’s, and speeches by politicians. For fun I fly my hot air balloon [and
lead a bunch of stuff like FAA Safety Seminars in
that area.] This summer we’ll fly around Austin, but also at
Fredericksburg; and the first Saturday
in August we’ll fly over Lake Travis. We’ve been going to Albuquerque for
Fiesta since 1984.
I have season tickets to UT baseball games and
we’ll make some Astros and Ranger
games. I’m welding some yard items, a
trellis, and ‘bottle tree’ to get ready to do any welding
needed when a buddy and I build an electric
dragster. And, I’m building some JA
processor based instruments. Some will control kinetic art that
a ballooning friend and I are doing. We’re
currently working on a water cannon that looks like an
Archerfish.
Recently I’ve been working on the house. I
just finished replacing the door handle on my
1991 Mazda RX-7. July 10 I set stages and
tents for a Nicola Tesla birthday party. Tesla pretty much invented modern
electric power and radio. His most spectacular invention is
the Tesla Coil which makes lightening. At the
birthday party we had a band that uses the
spark front from a pair of 10ft coils as ‘speakers’ for the music.
Mary Caroline Campbell Reynolds
I married classmate Joe Reynolds in August of
1964, after I graduated from college. We have one son, Kurth, a physicist
and mechanical engineer working for Synaptics, in California.
After Sunset I went to Rice Institute in Houston to become a
Chemical Engineer. After two years I
decided to change to chemistry major and graduated from Rice
University, with Tommy Mosby, Doug Kleinman,
Joan Dale Roberts and Earle Hembree, in 1964.
The following summer I worked at Mobil’s
field research lab in Duncanville, then married Joe and started at
University of Texas graduate school in Chemistry
because there were few jobs for chemists in
Austin. When Kurth was
young, I was treasurer of the Co-operative Nursery School, and
when he started kindergarten, I returned to
graduate school in chemical engineering at UT.
I took a spring (really winter in South Bend
IN) semester in 1977 to attend an National Science Foundation program at
Notre Dame to learn the basics of
environmental law and engineering. Before I received my degree in Chem. Eng.
I started working for the State in solid waste facility regulation. It
gave me the opportunity to read and,
subsequently, write the agency’s comments on the new EPA Hazardous Waste
Rules. I worked with consulting firms in
waste management until ’91, working w/ CH2MHill in Dallas and
Woodward-Clyde in Houston in the ‘80s, after Kurth started college in
California. Then I did a stint with Dupont’s Environmental
Remediation Service in Houston until
’93, when I returned to Austin to start my own firm, CR Solutions.
Through all, Austin has been home. My education includes:
Rice Institute/ Rice University, B.A.,
Chemistry, ’64; University of Texas at Austin, M.A., Chemistry, ’73 and
University of Texas at Austin, M.S., Chemical Engineering, ’79. My professional
associations include: Registered Professional Engineer in Texas; Member
of American Institute of Chemical Engineers;
Chair and Vice-Chair of Austin Section, ’82-84; Treasurer, Environmental
Division, ’85-’90; Chair and Vice-Chair of
Environmental Division, ’90-93; Treasurer, Women’s Initiative,
2000-present; Chair, Professional Development Committee, 2005- present; and the
National Commission for the Examination of
Engineers and Surveyors, Chemical Committee, 2004 – present.
When Kurth was young, I was treasurer of the Co-operative Nursery School.
When Kurth started kindergarten, I
returned to graduate school in chemical engineering at UT.
Most all of my career has been in the public
arena. Working for or with state agencies to evaluate and clean up waste
spills or to properly operate waste storage
and disposal sites. Several times I have been expert or fact witness in
public hearing or in civil trials. Recently,
I have begun, more and more, to assist my neighbors and
acquaintances with reading City ordinances
and writing good business letters or making phone calls to get problems
addressed in our neighborhoods. I urge
everyone to find out what your City ordinances say. It may not be exciting
reading, but you’ll find that your
neighbor cannot shoot a compound bow at your
back fence to entertain his friends on a
Saturday, or any other, night. He cannot run a business that piles its
trash on his parkway every day of the week waiting
for the Big Pickup Day garbage day that only comes every 3 months. He
cannot park his 18-wheeler on the front lawn or park 6 junkers on the street
until he has time to run them in the destruction derby. There are many more
hidden gems in there for you to find.
I enjoy traveling for business and
adventure. NCEES brings me to Clemson for four days every spring and fall
so that I can experience a second spring each year and see leaves turn in the
fall. I love to read, mostly non-fiction. If you haven’t read it yet, get
Three Cups of Tea, a truly fascinating story of what one
person can do to change the world. A special
adventure was attending Notre Dame in 1977 to learn about
environmental law and engineering. I drove up
by myself and stayed with a friend of
the family. I quickly learned to wipe the snow from the windshield and how to
drive on the icy bridge over the river every day. Thermals and hat, scarf
and gloves were my best friends for lasting
through one of the coldest winters on record there. It was 20° the night
before I arrived. I still play my
clarinet with the all-volunteer Austin Symphonic Band. Well,
actually, I bought a new clarinet some years
ago. I’ve played with the band for over
25 years and have many friends there. We play for Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day at the Zilker Hillside outdoor
stage and for 4th of July in Round Rock and Old Founders’ Day
at Bastrop. It is a thrill to see the pride and enjoyment of
the public during the patriotic concerts and
fireworks. The band also plays three indoor concerts during the winter
and we have been invited to play for Texas
Bandmasters Association and three times for the MidWest Music Clinic in
Chicago. Once we had Frederick Fennell drop by rehearsal and guest conduct!
We usually have the composer of the pieces we
are playing drop by and answer questions or make suggestions about
his/her intentions. Earlier this year, the band played at the Eisemann Center for the
meeting of the Association of Community Bands. You can see most of our concert
in the Video Gallery on our web site.
There is also an audio gallery that is quite extensive. To hear us play,
go to:
http://www.austinsymphonicband.org. I am still consulting some; I enjoy
working with clients. I am active in AIChE activities at national meetings.
Joe and I are election judges in our
precinct, making sure all the computers run smoothly and educating our neighbors
about how the precinct convention works. Austin is known nationally for
the professionalism of our County Clerk and the election worker training and
polling system. Joe and I are getting the yard back into shape after the couple of years
we worked on the new addition w/ the office over the garage.
We get to Dallas several times a year to
visit with my Mom and Dad who keep busy, but usually find a bit of time
to come to Austin and visit us.
Jerry Rhome
Married to a great woman Carmen. Have four children and 6
grandchildren, retired, living in Atlanta, GA
healthy and happy, and I love all my Bison friends.
Elizabeth (Liz) Ann Young Roper
After graduation, I attended college in Texas at Southern
Methodist University. I moved to upper east Tennessee in 1969 and
eventually received my degree in accounting. My husband and I raised two
daughters one of which still lives in Tennessee and the other in Wylie, Texas.
I have four grandchildren. I divorced in 1984 and remarried in 1985. We now
have a blended family. My husband, Wendell, has two boys and 4 grandchildren.
We relocated back to Texas in 2003 and I am employed as a staff accountant at
Cambium Learning, Inc. in Dallas.
Katerina (Trina) Papachroni
Smporou
I was an Exchange Student to
Sunset in 1960 from Volos, Greece. My maiden name is Papachroni. While at
Sunset, everyone knew me as "Trina". In August of 1960 I moved from Dallas back
to Volos. After my final year examinations in High School, I applied for
studies at the "Athenian Tecnological Institut" in 1961. For three years I
studied: Art History, Grafic Arts and Architecture and Design of Interior Space.
I was encouraged to specialize in Furniture Design. At the same time I
attended evening painting classes. Beginning in 1964 I worked in ROLOI Art
Gallery where the best Greek painters and sculptors displayed items of 'EFIRMOSMENIS
TEHNIS' (Applied Arts). During 1965-1966 I worked in the highest selling
woman’s magazine at the time, "GYNAIKA”, in the department of Graphic Design.
In December of 1966 I returned to Volos and married Paris Smporos (pronounced
Sboros in Greek), who is a pharmacist. Paris and I rejoiced when our son,
Vassilis, was born in July of 1968. He went to school in Volos and later
studied Physics at the University of Athens (BSc Hons) for four years (1992),
then MSc in Medical Physics (1994) in the University of Aberdeen, UK and his PHD
in ‘Ultrasound imaging’ at the University of Edinburgh (1999). During the
period of 1974 through 2001, I was employed by 'The National Organization of
Handicrafts" (EOMMEX). My job included all promotion of traditional arts’
heritage made in Central Greece, and involved design, execution of art- and
craftwork, and training of artists and craftsmen. In addition, I organized
national and international exhibitions. 2001-2006: Following the closure of
EOMMEX I was offered a job in the Archaeological Museum of Volos, where I was in
charge of the archiving that included the generation of authentic reproduction
designs of excavated objects. I retired in 2006 after 34 years when my career
was interrupted for the first eight years for my family. My son married Theresa
Valtin, originally from Frankfurt, Germany. They live in Edinburgh Scotland to
this day. In 2008 I visited Dallas and Sara Sue Hunt's Family for the first
time after 1960. All of these years we were in contact (including with her
parents) and they had visited several times Greece. In January of 2010, my
grandson, Elias Paris, was born in Edinburgh. For those who would like to write
to me, my mailing address is: Dimitriados 265, 38221 Volos, Greece. It
has been a GREAT experience to me to live among you for a year and I recall
those memories with much love. Thanks to Susan Heth’s family, who first invited
me, and to Susie Hunt’s family where I finally lived. I spent a MARVELOUS YEAR.
I thank each one of you for being my school mates. May you all be as healthy as
possible and I hope that you are pleased with your life since 1960. May we all
be proud of the good moments and wiser from the bad moments in our lives.
Anna Meistrell Symank
I've lived in Irving
for 45 years. I have been married to Milton Symank for 48 years and we are
looking forward to our upcoming 50th Anniversary in two years. We have one
daughter, Melisa Martin, who lives in Coppell, TX. We also have three
wonderful grandchildren. Our granddaughter, Lauren, graduates from college
in 2011. Grandson Blake is a Junior in college, and grandson Garrett
will graduate from high school 2011. I love gardening and photography.
I have retired from the business world, but have worked as a substitute for
Irving ISD for the past 8 years. We attend
Our Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Irving. I head up an effort, Showers of Blessings, at my
church offering Free School Supplies to Children in Irving who need assistance
with them. This year we have 330 students who will receive Free School Supplies.
I'm still living and learning.
Hazael Maurine
Hale Taylor
The first four years after
graduation were spent getting my BS degree at Texas Tech. In 1964 I married
my former husband, Wes
Taylor, and then spent the following two years living in Bryan-College Station
teaching school. In early 1966 we moved to Ft. Worth where I was a typical
housewife and the mother of three precious children - a boy and two girls...you
know, PTA, Cub Scout den mother, Camp Fire leader, etc., but also active in many
local community organizations and my church. I attended classes at
the University of Texas in Arlington in those days. My husband worked for
the Texas Electric Service
Co. In 1986 he was transferred to Dallas to become the president of Dallas
Power and Light and we had to move to Dallas. About that time all 3 children
started universities, so I went to work again as a school teacher in De Soto,
Texas and in the Dallas Independent School District. During this time I worked on my Masters Degree in Library
Science at University of North Texas and became a librarian. My goal had been
to be a public library reference librarian....never made that goal. Dallas is
closing its libraries most of the days of the week for the next budget year so I guess
the Lord knew best for me! Still life has been fun and I love every minute
of it. Dallas held its challenges, but they were just mountains to climb.
I am now retired and wonder why I can't seem to slow down and enjoy the roses!
Have the rocking chair [facing east to watch the moon come up], but it just
gathers dust cause I can't find time to just sit in it. But that day will come
I am sure!
John Franklin Teer, VIII
After graduation I met my lovely wife, Carolyn, while I was working as a radio
announcer. After marrying this wonderful woman, I went back to school and
earned my B.A. with a double major in Speech and English, an M.S. in Counseling,
an M.Th. in Theology (three year seminary degree) and my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. A lot of
things were happening in my life during the time-line from graduation to the
present. Along the way, Carolyn and I had two great kids, Jennifer and Jeffrey
and we now have seven grandchildren. I've been a Deputy Sheriff, taught high
school, a radio announcer and was a school principal. I still maintain currency as a
Commercial Pilot, FAA
Certified Single and Multiengine Flight Instructor and Advanced FAA Ground Instructor. I have
been an amateur radio operator for over fifty years. I was ordained a United Methodist minister
in 1965 and served as the pastor in United Methodist churches for nine years
before entering the U.S. Army as a Chaplain. After twenty years in the Army
(I’m one of the Viet Nam era veterans you hear about), I moved to Harlingen,
Texas to a position with one of the hospitals as the Director of Clinical
Pastoral Education. I held the same position in the Army at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center just before retiring from military service as a Lieutenant
Colonel. After fourteen years
at the civilian medical center in Harlingen, I decided to enter private practice
as a psychological therapist and counselor. Although I’m “officially” retired,
I still maintain a small private practice to keep my skills sharp. During the
nineteen years I have lived in Harlingen I have also served as the volunteer
Chaplain for the local police department for ten years and then decided to
change positions to become a volunteer chaplain for the Texas Department of
Public Safety (Highway Patrol). In 2007 I was recruited to become a volunteer
chaplain for the FBI. Little did I know that I would have to again have a Top
Secret Clearance as I did during my latter time in the Army. The FBI
background investigation took eighteen months. Alas, they decided after the long
investigation that I was “squeaky clean” and didn’t pose a threat to national
security and I was assigned to provide chaplain coverage for the FBI agents in
the Rio Grande Valley. Each year I spend two weeks at the FBI Headquarters
Academy in Quantico, Virginia providing chaplain services for the FBI Academy
and other FBI personnel. I split my time now between my small private practice
and the FBI. Of course, Carolyn has priority in my life and
always comes first above all else. We celebrated our 52d wedding
anniversary in 2014. I can never say that I’m bored and don’t know
what to do. The Lord has truly blessed me in many ways in my life.
Mary Ellen
Cross Vidar
Wow – so much
has happened in 50 years. Sitting down to write this might actually be
therapeutic! First of all, went off to Texas Tech, pledged a sorority – majored
in Music – the whole nine yards. But the next summer married Dick Click who had
been at TCU. We thought we couldn’t live without each other – so married and
went back to Lubbock. He finished school, and I got pregnant and had a
beautiful son, then a few years later a second son. Fast forward to Dick and I
unfortunately splitting up after ten years, and me moving to the CA Bay Area
with my two sons. Loved living in CA, married a great guy who had a love of
travel as I did. We have been fortunate to be able to travel quite a bit… from
diving on the Great Barrier Reef to Safaris in Africa to trekking in SE Asia to
name a few. It’s difficult to say what has been my favorite. I’ve loved it
all! Ken and I moved from California to Montana 16 years ago to develop a
7,000-acre residential equestrian ranch community. We both were RE Brokers in
CA, so we transferred these skills to Montana and worked this development for
years. I fulfilled a dream of having my own horses. (Showing & selling property
on horseback is a real kick!) There are thousands of acres to trail ride,
including a great river to traverse. We of course learned to fly fish – I even
have my own waders! We are still in Montana, but I’m now retired, and spend
most of the winters now in either the Riviera Maya at our place in Mexico or
with friends in warm climates. I’ve skied most of my life, and MT is a skiing
mecca, but my skiing days may be at an end. I was in a near-fatal auto accident
a few years ago, breaking nearly everything in my body. I was in the hospital
for two months, had many surgeries, lots of rehab, etc. I’m doing very well
now, but not riding horses or skiing anymore. However, I DO have nine
grandchildren who occupy a lot of my time! I still love to play the piano, and
I’m back to golfing again, but can’t say I’m breaking any records there! I’m
healthy and just happy to “keep on keeping-on!”
Robert Wacaser
I went to Arlington State College and got a
BS in Math in 1964. I went to UT Austin and received an MA in Analysis
(Abstract Algebra) in January, 1966. I taught a semester in Alice, then a
year at Stephen F Austin and then spent the next 3 years teaching at Kumasi
Academy in Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa. Returning home in 1970, I taught in
South Central Los Angles spending the summers at UCSB in a NSF program that
resulted in an MEd in Teaching Computer Science in 1973. I returned to
Dallas after my father died in 1974. I was interviewed at DISD by our old
principal at Stockard who remembered me from the Projector Club.
Recognizing my need for adventure, he suggested SOC and I taught math and
computer science there until 1979. I was also in the Naval Reserves and
taught at El Centro in the evenings. In 1979 I decided to go into industry
and worked in CADD/CAM as a systems analyst and project manager for
Computervision. In 1986, I started my own business, Designing Software,
Inc. I wrote value added software for CADD systems, consulted and taught
an occasional class in AutoCadd, Computervision and related programming
languages. I went back to teaching in 1997 after my mother became ill and
I could no longer travel like I needed to. I taught at Spruce and Woodrow Wilson
until 2009 when I retired. I don't know what I'll do next. I plan on
just chillin' until I'm 70 or so. I have a friend who returned to Ghana recently
to help run a school there. I may join her later on if my health remains
good.
Juanita Faye
Hargis Wagener
I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Home
Economics from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M, Commerce) in 1964.
In 1965, moved to Corpus Christi, and taught Homemaking for twelve years at Roy
Miller High School. A need to move forward sent me to graduate school at
Oklahoma State University where I received a Master of Science degree in
Clothing, Textiles and Merchandising in 1978. Moving back to Dallas, I taught
10 ½ more years at David Carter High School, leaving in 1988. I met future
husband (a neighbor), Walter Wagener, a retired Navy journalist, in 1985, and
married on September 11 1987, becoming a wife, mother and grandmother that day.
During the 90s, Walt was asked to conduct the Public Relations for a Blue Angels
Air show at the former Naval Air Station, Dallas. Later he was asked to edit
the Sky Ranger, the base news magazine. I began doing the advertising
layout for a Parents Without Partners magazine. Later, Walt edited
The Sentinel, a newspaper for military retirees, and I assisted him by
editing the photos and emailing the copy to the publisher. The paper was
published for seven more years. Currently, we edit another newspaper, The
Chiefs, for the Chief Petty Officers Association. Each of these newspaper
stints has given us opportunity to travel around the United States meeting many
interesting people. Sewing was always my favorite past time but since
being married to Walt, I have other interests -- archery and target shooting. I also
enjoy photography and doing things on my MAC. I have made many DVDs for family
and friends. We have 3 daughters, 5 grandchildren and 2 great
grandchildren.
Earl Weaver
I joined the Navy after graduation and in 12 years I served aboard two Diesel
Electric Subs ( USS Spikefish SS-404 & USS Grenadier SS-525 ), 1 Destroyer ( USS
Bristol DD-857 ), one Rescue and Salvage Ship ( USS Bolster ARS-38 ). As a
salvage diver I served two tours in Viet Nam, one tour in the Philippines, and
my final tour with the "Man In The Sea Program" in San Diego doing saturation
diving and made several deep dives including one to 650 ft. I left the Navy in
1972 and joined the San Diego Police Dept for three years. I came back to Texas
and worked for my Dad running the refining department of SWEST Inc, refining
gold and silver. It was there I met my third wife, Becky, and we now have been
married 32 years with four kids and four grandkids. In 1980 I opened a SCUBA
diving store in Plano called Divers Training Center. In 1995 I retired from
diving and became a biker. I joined the Viet Nam Vets M/C in 1999 and still ride
with them today. I am retired and 100% disabled with the VA and I live in the
Red River Valley on 26 acres in a log home - The closest thing to paradise I
could find.
John Donald Weete
After graduation from
Sunset in 1960, fellow classmate Buddy DeVore and I went to Cisco Junior College
where we played football. I transferred to Stephen F. Austin State College in
Nacogdoches after the first semester where I roomed with fellow Bisons Kent
Scott and John Beall. I received my BS and MS degrees there and then moved to
Houston where I received my PhD at the University of Houston in 1970. After
graduation, I did post-doctoral research at the Baylor College of Medicine and
then became a Staff Scientist at the NASA-affiliated Lunar Science Institute in
Houston where I did research involving lunar soil during the Apollo Program.
From Houston, I moved to Auburn, Alabama where I was a Professor and Associate
Dean for Research in the College of Science and Mathematics at Auburn
University. During my tenure at Auburn, I held invited and visiting
professorships at universities in Canada, Switzerland, and France. I have
authored two books, published numerous book chapters and scientific articles in
the field of plant and fungal biochemistry and hold several U.S. patents. While
in Auburn, I met my wife Jennifer of 32 years. We have one daughter, Anna, and
two grandsons, Rhys and Taylor. Anna graduated from Auburn University with a
degree in international business and works for a bank in commercial lending in
Birmingham, Alabama. I retired from Auburn University after 25 years with
professor and associate dean emeritus status to take the position of Vice
President for Research and Economic Development and President of the WVU
Research Corporation. One of my responsibilities at WVU was to serve as the
federal relations officer to the West Virginia delegation in Washington, D.C. I
was in the Capital Building on 9/11. Retiring from West Virginia University
after nine years, we returned to Auburn where I took the position of Executive
Director of the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation with the
responsibility of developing the new Auburn Research Park. In addition, I serve
as the Assistant Vice President for Technology Transfer and Commercialization
for Auburn University. Although we grew to like Morgantown, WV very much, we
always planned to return to Auburn. The opportunity for us to be closer to our
grandsons and for me to do something I enjoy attracted us back in 2007. Looking
back, I have had a very enjoyable and rewarding career that has allowed me to
teach and do research, and to travel and live in various countries where I
collaborated with outstanding scientists. In addition to my family, one of the
things I enjoy most is hunting, fishing, and golfing with fellow bison from the
class of 1960 each January.
Derwood Winfree
After leaving Sunset, I attended Centenary College in Shreveport, LA. I
transferred to UNT after two years and finished my degree in Liberal Arts (That
means you had lots of different courses and did not specialize in anything.) I
enlisted in the Naval Air Reserve and guarded our country’s coastline in Florida
for a short period of time. I met my wife while we were both working at the
Dallas Public Library, and we married on October 22, 1965. She remains my
trophy wife. I entered the financial services industry in 1966 and I have not
completely retired from that. We have lived in Dallas, Waco, Houston, Chapel
Hill, NC, Edmond, OK , Norman, OK and now we are back in Richardson, TX We have
two children and four grandchildren. I sing in the choir at First United
Methodist Church, Richardson and I serve on a few committees for charity and of
course the 50th reunion.
Cordell Woods
After Sunset I went to UT Austin. While in
school I discovered computers and eventually hired on with Control Data Corp. In
1967 they transferred me to
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