2014 Summer

Newsletter

57 years ago, June 7th, 311 happy teenagers from the Class of 1957 marched across the platform in their white caps & gowns to receive their diploma from WHS after completing their course of study,brilliantly with above average grades, I'm sure. Speaking at our commencement were Jim Beebe, Kathy Crossno, Lee McCulloch, Dennis Reader. Clarice's father, Nelson Giberson presented our diplomas and we survived 4 grand years even with a principal named Crook. Go figure. At the end of the ceremony Adrienne Marmo led us in our school song, Black & Gold. The next day many of the guys in our class left for active duty in the armed forces. Several of our classmates got married, many picked strawberries or bush berries or pitted apricots to pay their way to college that fall. Life was a little less complicated back then. No student loans, you could actually work & pay your way to college, or get a job & pay your bills & live comfortably. Well here we are 57 years later, most of us celebrating our 75th birthday. I don't know about you but for me it was all worth getting up for each morning & I'm one proud Wildcat!

1 Years Ago, Osama bin Ladin was killed by our elite American forces in Pakistan.

26 Years Ago, Mark Eichorn, 1978 WHS graduate was named Rookie of the Year in basebalL His pitching years with the Toronto Blue Jays included World Series championships seasons of 1992 & 1993.50 Years Ago, Watsonville cable TV, seven channels for $4.60 a month.

50 Years Ago The first Mustang went on sale April 17.

50 Years ago, Dr. Kenf s daughter, Michelle was killed in an auto accident on Beach Rd. She had just been named Class of '64 top student.

55 Years ago, Golden Ricksha opened. They closed their business this month.

60 Years ago Hal Kolstad, WHS, class of 1953 played for the Red Sox as pitcher. He had 250 strike outs in 198 innings & 28 consecutive scoreless innings.

90 Years Ago the creaky, shaky, Giant Dipper turned 90 years old. Hmm, something older than we are...

100 Years Ago, work began on erecting the new skyscraper, the Lettunich building at the corner of Main & Third St., costing about $100,000.

100 Years Ago, Mr Judd complained of his family often being disturbed while watching films at the Opera House by the "hoodlumish traits of certain human hogs who infest picture shows" by trying fo impress those within earshot with their knowledge of the subject on the screen by keeping a running fire of comments.

WATSONVILLE NEWS

WHS grad Sliatithal Ferreyra was awarded the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship award. She gets a free ride through her PhD.

Baseball Hall of Tamer Harry Hooper played in the Major Leagues from 1909-1925 & also had a vital role in shaping Capitola. He played for the Boston Red Sox & Chicago White Sox. The exhibit "Take Me Out to Capitola"is on display at the Capitola Historical Museum. He was Babe Ruth's former teammate & served as postmaster in Capitola. He was the former owner of Sunset State Beach & gave it its name.

Sam Vestal spent three decades working at the Register-Pajaronian photographing U.S. presidents, celebrities & festivals & the ABC Trio. A documentary on his life is being planned from all of his photographs & film negatives from our county. Sam died at age 70 in 2002.

Whiskey Hill sprang into existence about the same time that Watsonville began to grow. By 1852, it was already a motley collection of rude shanties which catered to the vaqueros of the scattered along

the road. Whiskey Hill not only featured whiskey & "aquardiente" of the more volatile brew, but also

gaming tables, & hordes of randy women. The saloons & brothels were said to be among the most wicked & wild in the state. Now, it is called Freedom, CA.

ANNIVERSARIES

Jim & Shirley Gibson, 50 years, November 21 Marilyn Morgan & Carl Lewis, 55 years, July 24

NEWS: Coach Ron Myers returns to rebuild "Catz" football. Mr Myers started coaching in Watsonville in 1984 & coached the team for 7 years. He has since coached at Monte Vista High School

& Soquel High School leading their teams to several championships. Welcome back Coach.

Marilyn Bogisich writes from their home in Aiken, SC that they survived the winter ice storms even though their back yard looked like a war zone. Many large pines & other trees were broken in two, shrubs & smaller trees torn apart. It reminded her of the tornado they were in when they lived in Dunwoody, GA, pure devastation. They even had a small earthquake in the middle of all the chaos. Their plans for the near future is to move to Decatur where their daughter Deb lives.

Janet Tindall's granddaughter Jessica Mattos attends Concordia University in Portland, OR. She has received many honors since her graduation from Aptos High School in 2011 where she was awarded MVP-Female Field Athlete all four seasons, Ail-American Athlete 2 years in a row, competing in the shot put, hammer, javelin & discus. She is currently number 2 in the nation for discus. She was All- State academic athlete 2012-2013. She graduated from Hartnell with honors. She is majoring in nursing, following her brother Jason's footsteps.. Her parents are Doug & Kim Mattos.

JoAnn Flores is great grandma to Gwendolyn Rose Parkam born April 26, weight 8 lb. 3 oz. Her parents are Jason & Emily & brother Andrew.

Harold Kelsey was born May 7. He is 77 years old, been married 57 years, one of 7 sons, graduated in 1957 from WHS, 57 years ago. It's been a good year for Harold.

Don Beukers left CA., Feb. 18th in their motor home with expected return in mid Aug. They are spending time doing Revolutionary period & Civil War history. They will cover the New England states, across the Great Lakes, over 10,000 miles, keeping the fueling stations in business at 6 MPG.

Donald Armstrong announces the arrival of his 8th grandchild to his youngest son, Charles. Charles will graduate from medical school in June then onto a 3 year primary care physician residence in

Wichita, KN with his wife Ashley & family. Don's golf game is going ok, shooting in the low 80's. He is still consulting & getting paid for his advice, trying hard to stay up with the latest computer

technology.

Jim Gibson visited his daughter & grandkids. In Sept. they will cruise from Montreal to Boston, spending a week in Boston, Newport & New London in celebration of their 50th anniversary. In Nov their whole family will meet in Solvang for Thanksgiving.

Maria Miskow's family is growing by leaps & bounds. She has 10 grandchildren, 5 boys & 5 girls, & a great grandmother to 10, also 5 boys & 5 girls. Number 11 is due in Aug. She is still working at Central CA Alliance for Health in Scotts Valley where she has worked 14 years. She loves her job & working even though way past her retirement.

Marilyn Morgan is pleased to announce the wedding of her grandson, Zachery Lewis to Kelsey Van Ginkel on May 24. They were married in Fallbrook, CA. on the bride's family avocado ranch. It was a

beautiful setting on the island of a lake. They are so happy to welcome Kelsey into the Lewis family. They will also be welcoming their first great grandchild, a boy, into the family in July to parents,

granddaughter Natalie & her husband David.

Edna Reimer & her grandson drove to Ashland to see two wonderful Shakespeare plays after his freshman year at Eugene. He is taking 22 hours at the U of O with all A's & was number 1 in his business class of 520. He is a great kid. His high school brother was in the play Guys & Dolls, making grandma proud. Edna is heading to Cleveland for an all day seminar as speaker.

Glen Kitnoto writes that he too a spring RV trip to Montana. As drought-stricken Californias, they enjoyed frequent rain & snow in beautiful, "big sky" country. The fishing was good at several spots on the Missouri River. After 3 weeks, they swung back to Oregon. From there, Glen & his brother flew to Sitka, AK for a week of salmon, halibut & rock fishing. "Hey, someone had to fight those fishes". It was a memorable adventure.

Girls!!! Mark your calendar for June 28,2015 for our fourth Fabulous Fifties Girls Lunclieon at Severinos. More information will be sent later this summer.

RALPH SHUGART

IN 1957, RALPH was attending MPC when he decided that college wasn't for him, hated to study & homework. He quit school & joined the Air Force. He hoped to learn a trade in aircraft maintenance to

use after his tour of duty. He did basic training at Lackland AFB, TX. Upon completion he was sent to Clark AFB in the Philippines, where he served as crew chief on F-100D aircraft & inspection docks for

6 months. He returned to the states in 1960 & was assigned to the Transient Alert Team at Nellis AFB, NV. He completed courses in Aircraft & Jet Engine Mechanics & received his license & certification.

He planned to work for Northrup Aviation but had an interview with a smooth-talking retention office & qualified for the Officer Candidate School. After he graduated in Dec. 1961 he was

commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, then was off to Aircraft Navigator School at James Connolly AFB at Waco, TX for 9 months, then to Mather AFB, CA for Bombardier Training School for another 9 months. His first assignment as a navigator was to Langley AFB, VA, where he flew in C-130B aircraft Their primary job was to support Army Paratroopers of the 82nd & 101st Airborne Divisions. Their

squadron went on temporary duty for 90 days to Panama, France, England where they flew all over South & Central America, Europe & the Middle East hauling goods for the embassy's & AF.Ralph

presently resides in Bainbridge Island, WA. with his wife Yvonne.

IN MEMORY OF EARLING HUNTER & ELDON ROTH

EARLINE HUNTER McKINZIE died March 11 in Newcastle, CA. She & her husband enjoyed RVing & traveled to 49 states. Due to her declining health they sold their RV & lived in a lovely condo in Newcastle. She was the mother of three sons, Steve, James, Mike and one grandson. She leaves her husband Mac; her sister Diane & brother Eddie, her three sons & grandson, close high school friends Yoshie Yoshida, Yvonne Baldwin, Rachel Zuniga & Rose Leuvanos.

ELDON ROTH passed away May 21. He was a devoted husband, father & friend. Eldon started working at age 8 at Alladin Nursery, the family business. He was a Boy Scout & 4-H leader/ involved in the county fair, making the world a more beautiful place. Eldon was preceded in death by his parents & sister Doreen. He is survived by his wife Susan, brother Les; daughter Heidi; son Jon; his grandchildren & dear friends, Bud & Kathy Mann. Twenty-one of our classmates attended the memorial service plus 21 other WHS friends.

IN MEMORY OF RON STALEY

MR. STALEY died Dec. 23, leaving his wife Elsie after 64 years of marriage. Mr. Staley came to WHS after graduating from San Jose State University, taking the position of basketball coach & teacher. He

retired after 36 years . In the summers he ran the Staley Swim Ranch where he taught thousand of children to swim. Mr. Staley leaves his wife, Elsie; sons Loren & Brian; grandchildren Kristen, Tim &

Matthew.

Virgil Duncan's wife, Irene died Dec. 26. She was born in Watsonville & attended Moreland Notre Dame & Moreland Notre Dame High School She enjoyed traveling with her husband Virgil, of 53 years. Irene is survived by Virgil; son David; two granddaughters, Katie & Nora.

Dan Pini's brother Aldo died March 4. Aldo was a 1945 graduate of WHS. He worked for the

Watsonville Post Office for 30 years. He is survived by his children, Debbie, Steve, James & Dan; sister Mary; brothers Ron & Dan; seven grandchildren & 20 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes; daughter, Donna.

Dean Wood, class of 1955, died March 21 following a long illness . He was born in Watsonville to Dr. & Mrs. Wood. He earned his degree at Harvard & graduated from Columbia University with a medical

degree in 1963. Dean is survived by his wife Karen; daughter Wendy & son Jeff; grandson Lucas; sisters Jane & Valerie.

Our classmate, the late Don Straceners mother Maryetta died March 28. She was born in Alabama, 95

years ago. She & her family moved to Watsonville 1948. Maryetta leaves her husband Alvin Jackson; son Doyal; daughter Darlene; her daughter-in-law Barbara Stracener.

Leonard Ogden died in Mountain View on March 28. He played football & baseball at WHS,

graduating in 1953. He married his Freedom School sweetheart, Shirley Brooks. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughters Linda, Cindi & Annette. He worked at Height's Market & was a business owner.

Jerry Edsberg passed away April 5. He was a hardworking father who devoted himself to his family & friends. He leaves behind sisters Margie & Shirley; children Debbie, Steven, Kim & seven grands &

eleven great grand children.

Andrea Caoile's sister Lene Tagami died April 27 in San Jose. She received her nursing degree & began her career at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in the ICU & promoted to Asst Nurse Manager of the ER. She leaves her mother, Judith; siblings Andrea, Robert, Frederick, Richard, Alan.

WHS, HALL OF FAME, 2014

Jess Tabasa, class o£ 1956 grew up in Watsonville & attended Linscott, Mintie White, E.A. Hall & WHS. KAPATID, the community, were the Filipino families that he was raised with near Bridge

Street He attended Linscott, Mintie White, E.A. Hall & WHS. The 100-200 block of Main Street was his world. He worked at the family restaurant & later, at Daylight Market, Young's Men's Store & the

Chrysler Plymouth dealership, all on Main Street Jess graduated from San Francisco State & returned to Watsonville to teach at E.A. Hall until his retirement.

Betty Sue Henry Bjur, class of 1957, was born & raised in Watsonville. Her parents moved to Watsonville from Oklahoma & Texas straight out of a scene from Grapes of Wrath. As a migrant child her family followed the crops from town to town as she moved from school to school. Finally her parents got a permanent job in Watsonville, that was a great day in her life, no more changing schools every 3 months. She was very involved in music during high school, singing in die ABC Trio with Dr. Kent as her teacher & mentor. With his encouragement, she started her life-long career teaching music. She taught at MacQuiddy school & Thornley School for the Deaf, started a choir called the Sing 'N Sign Singers made up of hearing & hearing impaired children for 13 years. She sang with over 3000 students during her career. Imagine doing what you love everyday of your life.

Ed Banks, class of 1966 received his degree from Sonoma State, served as a Naval Reservist, stationed in Hawaii. Ed has been in the insurance profession since 1972 in Watsonville. Ed's community service includes Little League, YMCA, PV Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Watsonville Firefighter's Asso., Grand Jury & the "reading "buddy program at E.A. Hall.

Robert Espiritu, Class of 1980 & earned his MBA in San Jose State graduating in the top 5% of his class. He has worked all over the U.S. & AU. He resides in Phoenix & is very active in the Hispanic

organizations & an advocate for the Hispanic community. He has had the privilege of meeting Presidents Barak Obama & George Bush, Hillary Clinton, John McCain.

FRIEND OF THE WILDCATZ, NORMAN HANEY

Mr. Haney was born in 1927 in Coalinga. He was an average student that excelled in athletics. He joined the Navy on his 18th birthday spending 2 years in China. After his service was completed he realized he needed a college education & received his degree from Fresno State on the GI Bill. He began teaching at WHS in 1950 & taught 39 years. He loved coaching sports. He noted in his speech to the student body that Watsonville had the finest students & nicest young people you could find anywhere, When his students excelled in their studies & activities, he supplied them with plenty of Tootsie Rolls.

A personal note: I was so surprise, shocked & honored at being selected to the WHS Hall of Fame. What a great day it was speaking to the student body & later at the alumni dinner. At first when I realized I had to speak to the student body, I was filled with horror as the last time I was in front of the student body in 1956 I was singing with the ABC trio Rudolph the RED Nose Reindeer. In the middle of the song, Tommy Molina threw rolls of toilet paper which unraveled across the gym floor. Not a fun experience & I never forgave him. I must say, these kids were much better, no Tommy's in the crowd. They were so quiet & respectful It was so fun sharing the stage with Mr Haney. After his speech, which was hilarious, he whispered in my ear & said, the class of 1957 was always my favorite class. And that's the truth!

Happy graduation to all & have a great summer.

Betty Sue Henry Bjur

GTObjur@charter.net