Old (longtime) Friends

     As the late George Younce, Jake Hess and others of the Gaither group have sung, "old friends, after all of these years, just old friends, through laughter and tears, old friends, what a find, what a priceless treasure, old friends, like a rare piece of gold, my old friends, make it great to grow old, old friends, with all I will hold to, old friends."
    Yes, it must be that time of year, time to renew with longtime friends.
     At midweek, a group of BHS/SHS 58ers met at the Tic Toc for lunch and a visit to the new Boone Freedom Rock; then starting Friday through the weekend, the classes of 1961 met, and, most recently, the ladies of Boone Sacred Heart had their annual get-together.
     Here's a review......one-by-one:
     (1)  Loren Frazier of the l958 classes wrote, "28 of us had a nice lunch at the Tic Toc last Wednesday. For those classmates who were unable to attend the lunch, if you live in Boone or nearby, and haven't been to the new Tic Toc yet, you should give it a try. Pat and I had dinner there Tuesday evening and then lunch on Wednesday. The food was excellent and the staff did a great job."
     Those who attended the 1958 event were Loren and Pat Frazier; Anna Longhenry Nelson and Larry Boehm; Sue Martin Woolsoncroft and Roy; Harold Blaskey and Sharon; Ruth Askland Bowes and Fred; Carolyn Ades Durham and Sid; Pauline Bergloff Halupnick and Larry; Kay Turner Richmond and Gary; Delores Headley Miller; Ray Gragg and Joyce; Jon Abrahamson and Monna,; Beth Fangman Maulik and Roger; Jim Louk and Lynn; George Eckstein; Larry Adams and Ed Mondt.
     Fred Bowes is actually a 1956er, Lynn Louk a 1959er and Larry Adams a 1965er. 
     (2) As part of several weekend activities, the classes of 1961 were at Seven Oaks late Saturday afternoon and evening. The old Kornerman gratefully received an invitation to attend this reunion and I did go out for an hour or so late Saturday afternoon. It was great to see so many familiar faces.
     At random, here are a few of the Kornerman's remembrances of that visit.
     One of those who invited me, Verne Lyon, met me at the front door and Art Elsberry and Richard Lind were helping out at the entrance table. Said hello to Barbara Murken Gmelch of San Francisco and Booneites Phil Larson, Marv Lestina and Allen Crandell.
      I pulled up a chair and sat with longtime friend, Mary Shaler Day of Des Moines radio fame. She's still working for the Des Moines Radio Group of stations but is living in Ames. Not only have we both been heavily involved in radio work, Mary's mother, Signe Shaler, worked at KWBG when I was just getting started in that business and she was a great inspiration/mentor to me. Also, in my early radio days, when I was broadcasting all kinds of Toreador athletic contests both home and away, oftentimes, Mary and the other BHS cheerleaders would ride to those out-of-town contests with me. I asked her to name all the cheerleaders who were passengers of mine and she didn't hesitate to name off probably seven or eight others who made those trips at some time or another. I admit it. Yes, I was paid by the school to provide that transportation, but it was also lots of fun to hear those lovely young ladies in conversation.
     Suddenly, the Boyd's Dairy girls appeared. They very much remembered their very good customers and that I, one of them, was particularly smitten with those chocolate/marshmallow shakes and malts. Never did get over that habit. Anyway, Ann McDermott Shult, now of Doss, TX., was the first to appear, followed by Boone's Linda Boyd Bravard herself.
     Among those who stopped at the table for a "hello" were Tony and Sandra Burke Crandell of Lamoni; Tom Burke of Belmar, NJ; John and Susan Kueck of Minneapolis; John Poyzer of Colorado Springs and Karen Hicks Oliver of Boone. John Poyzer was the first baseman on a Boone Babe Ruth all-star baseball team I managed that finished as state runnerup. Oh yes, John and I remembered that.
     Sitting across the table was Lonette Alber Bebensee of Mansfield, TX. Being the music buff I am, I had to ask about Richard Alber, a cousin of Lonette. I remember Richard as a great musician.  Of course, his parents had a music store in Boone those many years ago. Lonette said that Richard is retired in Vegas after a long career as a trumpeter with numerous bands, including many of the famous big bands of the 50's.
     As I departed, I visited with Carl Saubert of St. Charles, MO.; Hud Lainson of Des Moines; Nancy Parkinson Ford of New Hope, MN. and Nan Hicks Ripley of Nevada. Nan is heavily involved in horticulture and has a fantastic garden at her home. At least that's what I've heard from friends who are members of the Boone Garden Club. They have visited her place. I worked with Nan's sister, Bette Hicks, at KWBG in those early years. Bette was exuberant to say the least, she knew the music of the day that appealed to the younger crowd and had a big following as a radio D.J.. Nan told me that Bette lives in Colorado Springs in retirement after working several years as a secretary at Capitol Records in L.A.. That job allowed her to meet up with lots of famous musicians and I'm sure she enjoyed that.
     Thanks much to the class of 1961. The Kornerman really enjoyed the opportunity to visit with longtime friends.
     (3) Finally, I received a report that about 40 Sacred Heart ladies from various classes had their annual visit at the Tic Toc last weekend and again, that restaurant received a good review..........good food and the management was very kind and efficient according to those in attendance.
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Bob Whitaker, 89, Phoenix, AZ., BHS-45. His dad was Dr. Ben Whitaker. Bob passed away earlier this month. Survivors include his wife, Joanne.......Rita Aspengren, 87, Boone.........Doris Good Smith, 81, Boone........Gerald LeMaster, 90. Grew up on a farm near Woodward. Woodward HS. With his late wife, Betty Lou, Gerald farmed near Granger.
Betty Silvey, 87, Boone. Formerly of Stratford. Stratford HS-47. Farmed with her late husband, Garnet, near Stratford.
K-----K
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