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Don Ellisor

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. I appreciate all these more than I can ever express to you all. God is good and is always in control. If ever I offended in any of you by words or actions, please for give me.

Teddie Jordan

 There is an obituary in today's Chronicle for Jim Montgomery, WHS class of '63. I always thought the world of Jim. We met playing little league baseball at age 11 and remained friends all of the way through school. I last saw him at one of their class reunions in the 90's , but sadly missed their last one. I'm sorry no one in their class ever gave them the gift that Jackie gave us in creating a class website, and the wonderful communicating and frequent gathering and catching up that naturally evolved from it.

Rest In Peace Jim, and Thank you to both Jim for your friendship, and to Jackie for your many gifts to us!

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Don, hope you have a speedy and full recovery.  Hey TJ, Didnt Jim have a sister named Jean?  I remember them from Oak Forest Elem school.   They lived acrross from the store there on Alba and Wakefield methinks.  Whilst still in elem school, Jean also suffered a nail to the heart flung by a lawnmower?  She survived, and they had the nail in a jar after her surgery and recovery.  Or at least my brains hard drive has that ingrained in there.  They were both very nice folks.

     Wish we could get the paper up here without having to drive somewhere to get it. I've tried it on line, and I'm so much better at "hard" copy than digical stuff.

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, yes Jean is one of Jim's sisters and Judy was the other. I think it was Judy who preceded him in death. I seem to remember them living on Curtin When we were on Overhill from '48--'57. 
 

And I'm just like you, I have always read a daily newspaper and there is something about going out and picking it up, sitting down with it and a fresh cup of hot coffee and reading it and holding and turning the pages. But mainly the chance to get a more in depth view of the "News" with some background and details!

Wayne Lake

Happy Veteran’s Day

Regards to all those who wore the uniforms and proudly served our country when called, those of you who have family members or friends that served, were injured, POW or paid the ultimate sacrifice and a special thanks to those Viet Nam combat vets who put it all on the line while so many of our generation were protesting against the war. This is one thing that we all can agree on regardless of the color of tie or hat we wear so fly your flags, don your old uniforms (well, maybe the hat still fits?) and celebrate your day.

Dancin’ with Dolphins,

Stay safe, wtl   

Bill Traill

Back at you Wayne for letting all the veterans know that we have not been forgotten. My heart also goes out to all who have lost someone in the fight to keep our Nation strong. God Bless !

Bennie Schielack

Don, praying your recovery passes very quickly. 

Wayne, thanks for recognizing Veterans. 

Bill and Beau, thank you for your service.

I thank Johnny Gregg, Leroy's brother, for his service.  Really sorry that he did not return from Viet Nam. 

This day is in memory of ALL veterans, alive and passed.  I was fortunate enough to find a "slot" in the Air Force reserves and spent 6 years working on C 119 and C 130 aircraft.  

While I was serving, I was serving with three people that I had know for many years.  One was a school mate from St. Rose, a fellow with the name of James Alexander.  Another was a youngster I was fortunate to be a neighbor of, Jack Bogle, WHS '65.  The third was my younger brother, Mark Schielack. 

A funny (to me) incident happened a few weeks ago.  While having lunch at our local country club on a really bad weather day, there was only one other patron in the restaurant.  We began conversing and some how we got around to military service.  I told him I boarded a bus for San Antonio on the 15th of January, 1967.  Some of you may remember that Sunday, as it was the first time the champions of the AFL and the champions of the NFL met in a game that was the first of what has become the most watched football game ever, the SUPERBOWL . . . . . 

Turns out the fellow I was visiting with boarded a bus to San Antonio on the 8th of January, 1967.  He spent his time on the flightline, while I spent mine in the hanger, pulling maintenance.  One of our service mates ended up being my personal attorney.  Turns out my attorney and my fellow luncher were best friends, joining service on the same day, and to this day, are still good friends. 

Truth is, it really is a small world.

Wayne, I've not given up on my mower yet.  I like to, whenever possible, fix my own mechanical devices.  That way, when something comes up broken, I know who's fault it is and I know who to blame.  I do have a friend in Needville who is a teacher there.  Her son just recently received a scholarship to Rice U for football.  Think Needville will be playing in the state playdowns, begininng Friday night.  

We should be in Giddings for Boling's first playoff game of the year.  Hopefully more to come this year . . . . . 

Tomorrow, I go online to pick out our seats for UH Basketball . . . . . so looking forward to BB season . . . . . well worth the drive into town . . . . .

Lynn Wren (Burkhardt)

Hope to see you there.  We are excited they moved Kyler up to varsity, loved watching him play last year.    Have missed the JV games since Rodney, my daughters husband, is the Junior High Coordinator and also coaches 7th & 8th grade football.  Kooper my youngest grandson is manager.  Friday night lights is a family affair, Varsity Kooper is Tee and Ball boy and my oldest gransson Kade films with the tall camera in the end zone.  We will all be in Giddings on Friday night.  On another Waltrip note Coach Kevin Urbanek - Boling Athletic Director and Head Coach wife Diane graduated from Waltrip a very long time after we did...small world. 

A huge thank you to all our vets your service was and is appreciated.

Don Ellisor

Good morning Waltrip Rams! For all of you that served in the Armenian Forces, A huge God Blees and keep you. We will never forget what you have done for our country and us. Surgery recovery continues. Thanks for all the kind words and mostly for your prayers on our behalf. Shirley is a saint as those woh know her will testify. God is good all the time!

Teddie Jordan

Lynn I rememember James (Jimmy) urbanek who played football and was about a year or two ahead of us. 

To all of our classmates who served in the military, thank for your service and for your contributions to our country and for our independence and for our freedom!

Sweetie Marbury '65

Veterans Day is so special to all of us. We salute our classmates who served and remember those who did not come home. 

Lynn Gregory (Ferraro)

So sorry of hearing of Sandra Lee Cole's passing. She was wonderful, and apparently lived a very full life. 

James King '65

What I recall about Ms Lee was she introduced our class to Brother Dave Garner’s parody of Tragedy of Julius Caesar in Ms Barden’s English class. Anyone experience that?

Lynn Gregory (Ferraro)

James, I always knew Miss Lee was a great person, but I didn't realize how cool she was. Not everybody was into Brother Dave. Thanks for sharing. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

       Happy M day to youse youtes!       Brother Dave Gardner?  "James lewis, get away from that wheelbarrow, you know you dont know nothing about machinery..."  That ol boy was insane!  Had a couple of his albums along with Justin Wilsons, who had a cooking show on 8 methinks, sometime back.   "hoo mahn, hah guaruntee..." or woids to that defect.

     I could tell right off that it was Monday, because of the M on my 7 day vitamin pill thingy.
Pretty sharp eh!  We're very fortunate that all we have to take are vitamins and the like.  Well, I have to take a "metro...something or other'  for what Doc Frrrrrahnkensteen  (notice how I rolled my Rs)  calls "essential tremors".   I call them "my shakey pills", which seem to me to not be all that effective, but what the heck, could be woise eh hoser!   

     The days and nights are very interesting up heah in the Chalps, sto say the leeast..  Got into a fight with my pillow, over the weekend.  Well, we didnt fight over "the weekend", but during the weekend we fought.   I have 3 pillows, and dont like any of them, but got into a fight with the smaller of the 3.  Woke up and the pillow case was plumb off, and there was blood strewn about.  Oh, not alot, just enough to let me know "I bled". 

      I could understand a little bloodshed if I had gotten into a bruhaha with a rose bush... which is perzactly what I did yesterday.   I thought I'd help Diane out whilst she was in the big city, by innocently "deadheading"  the roses in Dianes rosegarden when one of those bad girls grabbed me and would not let go.  Like ol brer rabbit, the harder I fought, the stuckier I got.  

     I had my P hone with me, and was just a sillysecond away from calling 911, seriously!   After having thought about it at length, say anothe silly second,  I decided against it.  Can you imagine what that woulda sounded like...

    Operator:   "911, what's your emergency?"

Me:  Uh ma'am, could y ou send someone out to **** lane in Chappell Hill?
I seem to be stuck in my wifes rose garden"!

operator:  Ok, well then what's the emergency, you have a heart attack"? 

Me:  No ma'am, I'm tangled up in the roses, and the thorns are holding on to me, and I'm bleeding".

operator:  "Well what do you want me to do, call Martha Stewart?  Is this a prank call?  That's a crime you know!"

Me;  "no, this is a for real call, I am stuck in the rosegarden, and bleeding, well, dont think I'll bleed to death, but I'm having a heck of a time getting a loose from these rosebushes from hell, and I've got to get out to give my dog 4 pills at 3 oclock"

Operator:  "Sir, do you have some pruners in your hand?"

 Me:   "yes ma'am I do"
 Operator;, "well then, why dont you just cut the branches that are holding you back"
Me;   "ARE YOU NUTS?  If I do that, I'll need emergency service for real and sure. Ok, sorry to have bothered you, I think I can manage"
Operator: Ok sir, have a nice day"

     Fat chance of that happening! ! ! !        Well anyway that's how that phone call woulda gone had I made it.   Fortunately I was wearing a loose wrangler shirtjac, and manged to extricate my arms from it and vacate the premises aka rose garden.  (wasnt there a song..."I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden...")  Aint that the truth! ! !

     So now I'm out of the rosegardenfromhell, bleedin like a stuck pig, maddern a wet hen...(has anyone ever seen a "stuck pig", or a "wet hen"? I havent)  Well, you know what I mean.  I need to get my shirt out of there, it looks like one of the scarecrows my beloved has made and attached to the gates.   You know, I've almost shot those scarecrows on numerous occasions, becasue they really dont belong there,  they are life size, and at night, looks like someone movin about.

     Of course when Diane came home lastnight, she asked me, "what's your shirt doing in the rosebushes...."     then she thought about that statement, and said,    "never mind".     At least I didnt run the tractor into the cement pond, ok?

     Never a dull moment up here at the Wannderosa.   What a beautiful day today, we had 39 this morning and 77% humadidity, why I mention the humadidity, is because at 3 oclock yesterday,  Jacks 2nd pill adminstering, the humadidity was 14% ! ! !   I've never in all my borned days, ever seen the humadidty that low.   

     Here's another thing, I was sitting out by the pool yestiddy, on the deck, that I built, smokin a stogie, listening to Janis Ian, (another story her), when I noticed dozens of buzzards circling about, low and high.  I had to check on Jack, because one day this past other time, Jack was laying in the yard, and a buzzard was on the ground not moren 2 feet away from him walking towards him.  I disabused that ol buzzard from it's notion of having Jack as a meal.

      Anyway to lengthen an otherwise short story,  I noticed up around 4 or 5 thousand feet, a white bird.  I saw the sun glistening off it's wings and body, then all of a sudden, there were hundreds of the white birds, not in a V, but at differeing heights and flying helter skelter, hither and yon, to and fro, all mishy mashy and wishy washy, otherwise in full out circling disaray. 

   The were coming from the north, and as I mentioned, way yonder on up there, bout 4 or 5 thousand feet, well above the buzzards.  When they got directly overhead, they disappeared, I mean gone, vanished, as in no longer there.  The day was as today, clear and no clouds, so they couldnt have gone behind one.      You know what I'm thinkin dontcha?  Yup ANGELS ! ! ! !   Wonder what they were doing?  I'm still here, so they didnt come for me!   Darn! 

     I'll save Janis Ian for another day....is that cheering I hear?   Oh fine!
Keep the sun at your six and "ride boldly ride..."
Your frien and resident rose bud, bud!  Cephus R a rose by any other name esq  

Wayne Lake

Who-da-thunk-it? that we would still be suffering in place at Thanksgiving when Johnny et al back in March made the correct call to postpone any fling ding. Well here we are….but, there is a light at the end of the tunnel thanks to some very hard working scientists who have developed low risk, highly effective, vaccines and we of all people are fairly high on the list for getting a dose or two. So far, so good as I have not heard of any of our classmates that have contracted COVID-19 and that says something about who we are.    

RIP John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker (Paige Talley’s Ambergis Caye Belize drinkin’ buddy) and Larry Joe Taylor even though the amped up, glitzy, botox ridden and light show CMA failed to mention their passing.

So many reasons to give thanks this year; friends and family, good health, great medicine, pleasant fall Texas weather, hobbies that keep you busy and out of the fridge and the Waltrip64 web site that Jackie gave us and Beverly has been so kind to maintain.

Looking forward to when we can travel, go out to eat/drink beer and gather our clan to hug necks, shake hands, kid each other and reminisce about the good ol’ days in person.  

Have a Happy and Safe Turkey Day regardless of who with, how many and where you spend it, wtl

Don Ellisor

Good morning class of 64. It has been three weeks since my triple by-pass surgery. The Dr.s say all is going as planned and I am beginning to walk more frequently and further distances. Thank you all for praying for me and Shirley during this challenge. If ever any of you are facing this surgeryy and need someone to talk to, pray with or generally just someone to hug, I am available. 
pray for our nation and be kind to all. Regardless of how you voted, God is in charge and is not surprised by the elections outcomes.

Rodger Reynolds

Don, thanks for the update. Glad to hear that you are improving. God is good all the time.

Rodger

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Good Sunday mornin to all youse youtes. The Rosemandu of Chappell Hill, here!   Continued good recovering to you Don. You're on your way to start training for a marathon. 

     Truth be told, life is a marathon isnt it!  Some of us, and speaking solely for myself, are slower than others, much slower.  I remember when whoever coach I had for PE,   timed us in the 100yd dash.  Clock is still running for me.  I never understood why, even though we all have same legs, sort of, that one person is faster than another. 

     They say that "heart" makes all the difference sometimes.   That might be true on equal footing, no pun intended, but when it gets down to it, it's your legs that do the running, not the heart, althought it's the heart that  sees that the job gets done, however fast or slow.

    I wonder what my  " time" in the 100  was back in them good ol days.  For somereason, 11 seconds comes winging in from the infinite, but it was probably more like 14 seconds.  If they'd a had some biscuits and gravy at the tape, it'd be more like 1 second or faster.

     Speaking of which, I made from scratch biscuits and gravy this mornin in honor of another blessed Sunday.  Plus had 20 minute grits, (no self respectin southerner uses instant grits, ah take pride in mah grits),  ham and eggs, coffee and more coffee.

    Remembering back to the days when the families got together at my grandmothers house on Plateau st and at the bottom of South Oak in Little Rock, Ark.  All the womenfolk were in the kitchen and of course the menfolk were gathered in the parlor, smokin cigarettes, cigars and pipes, IN THE HOUSE! ! ! !  Anyway, I hung out in the kitchen just in case something needed tasting for salt or someother reason.  I knew where my bread was buttered!

     Listening to the women chattering in the kitchen, NO ONE ever mentioned anything about makin something from "scratch", because everything was always from scratch, and that included vegetables from the garden not from a can.  Dont recollect seeing any of the ladies using measuring tools or timers of any kind.  I HAVE TO HAVE MEASURING CUPS AND SPOONS ETC... and about half dozen timers and watches etc I'm not a good judge of quantities or time!

    Anytime anything was mentioned about making something from a "box", was if someone else had done it..."mama, did you hear that Miz Linquist made a cake for Mildreds birthday party, "OUT OF A BOX"???? To which my grandmother would reply, "laaawwww chile, that just aint natural, a cake from a box.  What next, taters from a box?  I hope I taught you girls well enough not to cook from no box". 

     If something calls for 1 cup of flour, then I measure to the exact cup, and not a farthing over or under,  same as in time, except I've learned to set the timer "short" rather than on the recommended time, such as my CC cookies.  Never leave them in longer than 8 minutes, and usually start taking them out around 6 or 7. They do continue to bake on the hot cookie sheet,  even out of the oven.  I like my CC cookies SOFT ! ! !

   There seems to be "mandates" on the number of people you can have over for thanksgibving, some states its just 2 and up to 6 in others.  You can have 30 people at a funeral....so, we're having a funeral for our pet turkey, and in lieu of flowers, bring a side and or a dessert, there, that ought to solve that problem.   (where do all the so called "experts" come up with the numbers they mandate? Is there a gov.com site for them? Do they have a handy dandy "pocket" guide?)  Of course with the powers that be, it's "do as I say, not as I do".  

    I dont think anyone is coming over for T day this year, just be me n the little woman and 3 dogs and a cat, oh and Harry the lizard that lives in the window in the Ram Daince hall.   

     Diane retrieved my shirt from her rose garden, none the worse for wear.  It was actually one of my all time favorite denim shirts with the pearl snaps.  Love that shirt!  I also have another denim shirt with buttons, made by  ROEBUCKS.  Yup, that shirt is probably oldern me, if that's possible. 

     Only problem with having one shirt with snaps and another that looks just like it, with buttons, is that sometimes in my haste to shed my clothing and jump in the shower, I just rip open my shirt front, like superman, and that works fine with snaps, but it's hell on a  shirt with buttons.  I dont know how many times Diane has had to sew the buttons back on my ROEBUCKS shirt, but moren oncet.  

     Nice overcast day today, just wish it would rain a smidgen.  Our dews are so heavy up here, that one is probably equal to a good quarter inch shower.  We also have a lot of foggy mornings.  For A while I was puzzeled over that occurance, but the longer I thought about it, it finally dawned on me...WE LIVE IN THE BRAZOS RIVER VALLEY! ! Mr Clausen would be so proud...or not!  

    Any of youse youtes been up to the White River in Arkansas?   They have a lot of fog, which I experienced, and there's picture postcards of it, and it's called "whipped cream" fog. That stuff is so white, almost looks like snow.  Diane and I took our boys up there a couple times to fish the "river".  Everyone caught rainbow trout, but me. Of course I wasnt serious about fishing as much as I wanted the boys to experience pulling a rainbow trout out of the white river, and they did in spades. 

    I'd heard a zillion stories from my dad and granddad and uncles about how they could just reach in the water of the White river and the Buffalo River and come out with a handful of rainbow trout.  If they'd a said "ready to eat", I'd a believed that too.  There's something about being on a flowing river, or next to it that just peaks the adventurous streak in a boy...of course,    MARK TWAIN ! ! ! 

    Well, I'll make this short...TOO LATE EH HOSER...! ! !

Keep the sun at your six and "ride boldly ride..."

Your frien and resident river boat captain, Cephus R Floatin esq... 

Ronna Brand

 Beau I love your reasoning in having a funeral for the big bird, so you can invite your clan to the paying of respects🤩

I am truly thankful for many blessings this year-all my loved ones staying healthy is up high on the list.  I was thinking that another of my many gifts are the lasting friendships with members of the Waltrip 1964 graduating class!!!!  I would say we are all blessed in that regard!,  Stay safe and well, friends!  I hope to see y’all soon!

Johnny Sheffield

Question of the day:

what do you remember on this day in 1963.

From Tony maddox

Answer:

1. President John f kennedy was assassinated:

2. Waltrip won the Houston football city championship. 
 

Johnny 

Beverly Hengst (Allen)

Well, I am a day late and a dollar short, but I clearly remember November 22, 1963.

I was an office aide and was walking down the hall when the announcement about John Kennedy was made.  I could not believe what I heard and looked into a couple of classes.  It was evident by the reactions, I had heard correctly.

I remember having to attend the football game that night since it was still on and I was a Guard member.  I believe we played Sam Houston.

Jeannie Vickery (Swanson)

November 22, 1963 - Doug McCuen walked in my bookkeeping class and told Mrs. Peek that President Kennedy had been assassinated...the entire class was in a state of unbelief.

Beau Wann, Jr.

       I was in Mz Hawkins arts and crafts class when the announcement came over the PA just shortly before 1 oclock, or 1:04.      Yall remember her, easy going, sweet and just  a delight and joy to be with, plus she praised you to no end with whatever goofy thingy you made in her class.

    She was so upset, as one would expect, she was crying, which pretty much got the rest of us somewhat misty eyed,  and upset, again as one would expect.
Dont really remember what happend the rest of the day.  

Don Ellisor

We played Bellaire. I still don't know why we played that game after the events of the day.