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01/17/08 - NNHS Newsletter -
Benjamin Franklin's 302nd Birthday

"He that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night."

"Does thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of."

- Benjamin Franklin
(17 Jan 1706 - 17 Apr 1790)

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,

Did you remember today's Famous Birthday?!? Of course you did!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/01-17-07-NNHS-Ben-Franklins-301st-B-day.html

HOMEWORK (repeated from last year):

http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin

http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/rotten.html

http://www.benfranklin300.org

http://www.constitutioncenter.org

BIRTHDAYS:

Happy Birthday today to Chuck Anspach ('60) of NC! Happy Birthday tomorrow to Eileen Rash Vaught ('57)!

Many Happy Returns to you both!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html

From Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA - 01/15/08 - "Billy Graham's Suit":

Do You Know Where You're Going????

BILLY GRAHAM'S SUIT. ( I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS AS MUCH AS I DID )

Something heartwarming - nice to see this kind of mail!

Billy Graham is now 86 years old with Parkinson's disease.

In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor.

Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, 'We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.'

So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.

"The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.'

"Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

"The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.'

"Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'''

Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.

"You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this:

"I not only know who I am .. I also know where I'm going."

May your troubles be less, your blessings more,
and may nothing but happiness, come through your door.

What a great story - thanks, Joyce!

From Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA - 01/15/08 - "Autism - A Way We Can All Help!!":

Dear Friends, Family and Classmates,

My cousin sent me this. His son, age 4, has Autism.

Fortunately his son is in a special program and it has made a world of difference. Autism was once seldom heard of, now it's seems like we all know someone who has a child with Autism. While his son is greatly improved, he will never be cured.

Please view this video and send to everyone you know...every little bit will help....thanks!

The band, Five for Fighting, is generously donating $1.00 to Autism Speaks for *each time* the video is viewed. The funding goes toward research studies to learn more about autism. When you have a moment, please visit the link below to watch the video and pass it along to your friends and family.

They are aiming for 10,000 hits, but hopefully we can help them to surpass this goal!!!

http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214

God Bless You All

Joyce Cahoon

Oh, WOW. I personally know four young boys and one little girl who are autistic. Even so, I had no idea it was such a widespread problem.

Y'all take a moment to watch this beautiful video. Thanks so much, Joyce! Our best to your cousin and his family!

From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 01/16/08 - "The thimble":

One day, when a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river, her thimble fell into the river.

When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, "My dear child, why are you crying?"

The seamstress replied that her thimble had fallen into the water and that she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family.

The Lord dipped His hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with sapphires.

"Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked. The seamstress replied, "No."

The Lord again dipped into the river. He held out a golden thimble studded with rubies.

"Is this your thimble?" the Lord asked. Again, the seamstress replied, "No."

The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble.

"Is this your thimble ?" the Lord asked.

The seamstress replied, "Yes."

The Lord was pleased with the woman's honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.

Some years later, the seamstress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water. When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her, "Why are you crying?"

"Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!"

The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney. "Is this your husband?" the Lord asked

"Yes," cried the seamstress. The Lord was furious.

"You lied! That is an untruth!"

The seamstress replied, "Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding. You see, if I had said 'no' to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt. Then if I said 'no' to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said 'yes,' you would have given me all three. Lord, I'm not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT'S why I said 'yes' to George Clooney.

And so the Lord let her keep him.

The moral of this story is:

Whenever a woman lies, it's for a good and honorable reason, and in the best interest of others. That's our story, and we're sticking to it.

Signed,

All Us Women

Great rationalization - thanks, Shari!

From Joe Drewry ('58) of VA - 01/16/07 - "Basketball Memories - NNHS and VT":

David Teel, Sports Columnist for the Daily Press, had an article in this mornings paper that brings back memories of the basketball exploits of NNHS great Chris Ellis ('64) and the last basketball game that the Hokies won in Charlottesville (January1968).

A Microsoft Word version of the article is attached or the article can be viewed at:

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-now-teel0115,0,3874378.column

You may recall that Chris was the youngest of the 3 Ellis brothers that starred at NNHS during one of its most celebrated basketball eras. Older Brother Nelson (Moocher) and middle brother Donald (NNHS58) also started for NNHS teams that were Virginia State Champions.

Several interesting items that David Teel mentions in his article.

1. The story of the NNHS 1964 team defeating W&M in a scrimmage.

2. Chris was a Parade All-American the same year as Lew Alcindor.

3. The VT Hokies were 4-0 against the UVA Wahoos during the Chris Ellis years (1967-69).

4. Chris Ellis played guard when the Hokies made it to the NCAA Regional Championship in March of 1967. VT lost to Dayton, who then lost to the Alcindor led UCLA Bruins in the National Title game.

I don't know how much of this history is available in the Virginia Tech archives, but we need a way to archive this kind of NNHS history. The last graduating class was 1971 and we need to archive our history and stories before it is lost.

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Fond memories of Hokies' win 40 years ago

David Teel

6:36 PM EST, January 15, 2008

Chris Ellis savors his basketball memories: Leading Newport News High to an undefeated state championship season; advancing to an NCAA regional final with Virginia Tech; trying out for the ABA's Kentucky Colonels.

Tonight, Ellis will recall a less glamorous, but no less satisfying, moment. It's an anniversary of sorts. A ruby anniversary.

Forty years ago this month (January 1968), Ellis and his Virginia Tech teammates defeated Virginia in Charlottesville. The Hokies have not won at U.Va. since, a drought they'll attempt to end tonight when the rivals collide at John Paul Jones Arena.

As you probably realize, Tech's famine does not approach Clemson's 0-for-52 at North Carolina. For 24 seasons, from 1976-77 through 1999-2000, the Hokies and Cavaliers met at neutral sites, most frequently in Richmond and Roanoke, once each in Hampton and Norfolk.

Still, Tech has lost nine straight in Charlottesville, three since reuniting with Virginia in the ACC.

"I don't remember much (about the 1968 game), to tell you the honest truth," Ellis said from his Richmond-area home. "But I do know we're the last Tech team to beat them in Charlottesville."

Ellis' sketchy recollections aside, it sounds like a heck of a contest. Neither team led by more than eight points, and Stan Kerrick's three free throws in the final 20 seconds lifted the Hokies to an 84-82 victory.

"An old-fashioned barn-burner from start to finish," Bob Moskowitz wrote in the Daily Press.

Ellis, a junior guard, scored 12 points, one of six Hokies in double figures. Benched in the first half, he returned to the game with nine minutes remaining and promptly made two long jump shots to tie the game at 69.

During his three-year varsity career -- those were the days of freshman ineligibility -- Ellis was 4-0 against the Cavaliers. The teams met twice his senior season, in Blacksburg and Salem.

"It was a heated (rivalry)," said Ellis, 63 and retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation. "I was drilled when I got to Tech that we did not like U.Va."

A 1964 graduate of Newport News High, Ellis had his pick of college programs. He led the Typhoon to a 25-0 record and state title as a senior and joined, among others, Lew Alcindor on the Parade All-America team.

Late in that championship season, Ellis recalled, Newport News coach Warren Mitchell feared the team was developing a big head. So he arranged a clandestine scrimmage at the school against William and Mary.

But W&M apparently didn't teach the lesson Mitchell wanted.

"We beat them twice," Ellis claimed.

Despite dozens of scholarship offers, Ellis quickly chose Virginia Tech. He led the Hokies in scoring as a senior in 1968-69, averaging 19.7 points, and played significant minutes during the landmark season of 1966-67.

After defeating the likes of Duke, Purdue and Wake Forest during the regular season, Virginia Tech made the 23-team NCAA tournament field as an independent. The Hokies bested Toledo and Indiana to reach the Mideast Regional final, where they lost in overtime to Dayton and All-American Don May -- Dayton advanced to the national-title game, falling to UCLA and Alcindor.

Following his graduation from Tech, Ellis was drafted in the fifth round by the NBA's Chicago Bulls and in the sixth by the ABA's Kentucky Colonels. He tried out with the Colonels, but multiple ankle injuries derailed his career.

Ellis doesn't attend many sporting events, but last February his next-door neighbor invited him to Virginia's home game against Florida State. It was, Ellis said, the first time he'd returned to Charlottesville since that night of Jan. 6, 1968.

"I went to see the new John Paul Jones Arena," Ellis said. "I wore my Virginia Tech jacket."

Tonight, Ellis will watch on television as his alma mater plays in JPJ. He said he might even wear that Tech jacket.

The chances of a Hokies' victory? Well, the Cavaliers are a modest favorite, but this is the ruby, or 40th, anniversary of the game that even Ellis has forgotten.

And the color ruby is close to maroon, right?

Thank you so very much, Joe! I added this to our Basketball section:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/SITE-MAP.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/BASKETBALL.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/BASKET-B-64.html

From Glenn Dye ('60) of TX - 01/16/08 - "Jambalaya Kid":

If you can turn up your sound and prepare to be entertained, this kid is great.

How cute is this!? (He's 4 years old)

http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=2763

WOWZERONI!!! This is one adorable, talented little guy! Thanks, Glenn!

From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 01/16/08 - "Laughter Is Cheap Medicine":

Laughter Is Cheap Medicine

I know a couple who works in the pharmaceutical industry. He is a sales representative and she is a pharmacist. When asked what they do for a living, he is quick to reply, "She makes drugs and I sell them."

I believe it was Lord Byron who said, "Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." And they're finding that to be true - quite literally.

A woman diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis wrote to me and talked about how painful the disease had become. Debra said that no drugs would touch the devastating pain. "At times I prayed to die because I did not think I could go on this way," she said. But in two and a half years she weaned herself from most of her medication, which had reached a high of 21 pills a day. This is how she did it.

"I began seeing a doctor who gave me the most important prescription that I ever could have received," she said. "He excused himself from the room. I watched him walking back and forth in the hall; he seemed to be in deep thought."

The doctor came back in with this prescription: he told Debra to get some funny movies and to begin laughing. If she didn't feel like laughing, then she should smile. If she didn't feel like smiling, she should smile anyway! He said that it would increase endorphins in her brain and help with her pain.

She did just as he suggested. She smiled constantly. Her children teased her about the fake smile, but she told them that it was going to get rid of her pain. And it did. Of course, not all of her pain is gone, but her newly acquired habit of laughing and smiling has made it manageable without all of the drugs.

Today, Debra is never seen without her smile. She says that she would not even feel normal without it.

Laughter really is cheap medicine. And it's a prescription you can fill right now.

~ Steve Goodier ~

I know from personal experience that this is absolutely true; it's just difficult to remember at times. Thanks so much, Shari!

From Glenn Dye ('60) of TX - 01/16/08 - "Play and Enjoy":

You got a friend in me!

http://www.terrisfunny.com/movies/afriend.swf

GIGGLES!!! Thanks so much, Glenn, this is cute!

From My Niece, Shari, of VA - 01/16/08 - "older and wiser....?":

		WILD GIGGLES!!! Thanks, Shari!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

1. Friday and Saturday, May 16 - 17, 2008 - NNHS CLASS OF 1958

Y'all take care of each other! TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll Always Have Buckroe!

Love to all, Carol

==============================================

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

==============================================

Carol Buckley Harty
219 Four Ply Lane
Fayetteville, NC 29311-9305
910-488-9408

Philadelphia Freedom

- Elton John

I used to be a rolling stone
You know if the cause was right
I'd leave to find the answer on the road
I used to be a heart beating for someone
But the times have changed
The less I say the more my work gets done

`Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom
From the day that I was born I've waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man
Yeah gave me peace of mind my daddy never had

Oh Philadelphia freedom shine on me, I love you
Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine a light shine a light
Shine a light won't you shine a light
Philadelphia freedom I love you, yes I do

If you choose to you can live your life alone
Some people choose the city
Some others choose the good old family home
I like living easy without family ties
Till the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me
Right between the eyes

"Philadelphia Freedom" midi courtesy of http://www.hamienet.com/6053.mid
at the suggestion of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 01/09/06
Thanks, Dave!

"Philadelphia Freedom" lyrics courtesy of http://www.lyrics007.com/Elton%20John%20Lyrics/Philadelphia%20Freedom%20Lyrics.html
also at the suggestion of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 01/09/06
Thanks again, Dave!

Painting of Benjamin Franklin courtesy of http://www.thp.uni-koeln.de/natter/physwelt/f03_08.html - 01/09/06

Etching of Benjamin Franklin courtesy of http://www.sciencetrek.net/franklin.htm - 01/09/06

Benjamin Franklin Autograph used to form Divider Lines courtesy of http://www.fadedgiant.net/html/franklin_benjamin.htm - 01/09/06

Quill Pen Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://resources.bravenet.com/clipart/dividers/22 - 06/14/04

Animated Tiny Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!

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