Hello Carol,        6-20-14

 

Below is some additional information for the Paul Gresham Obit (newsletter for 5-9-14).

 

Feel free to edit.

 

Fred W. Field NNHS Class of June 1945
 

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

I first met Paul Gresham in the fall of 1938.  After completing my four years at Woodrow Wilson primary, I had entered the 5-low level at Walter Reed intermediate.  The 5th grade was made up of three classes with students coming from Bankhead Magruder, Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington primary schools.  My own class consisted of those from Woodrow Wilson plus a sprinkling from Washington and Jefferson. 
 

Although Paul was in one of the other classes, I got to know him early for two reasons: First, he had such a dynamic personality that everyone in proximity quickly became aware of him.  Second, he was the grandson of Mom and Pop Gresham, owners of the extremely popular confectionary located just across 25th Street from the school.  Paul often spent his lunch hour helping his grandparents with the crowd.
 

We both entered NNHS in Sept. 1941. Paul and I tracked along at the same grade levels all the way through high school until just before our scheduled graduation for June 1945.  At that point he chose to stay over for the Fall semester to play one more season of football.  His graduation was with the class of Feb. 1946.
 

He is prominent in his class Anchor having been a husky 195 lb. tackle Letterman for seasons 1943, 44 and 45. 

       He shows up on the Class Senior Census: 

        Sure to say - “Repeat that.” 

        Admired for - “Athletic ability.”

        Always - “Reading a newspaper.”

 

My last meeting with Paul was in late 1947.  I had just finished my Navy enlistment.  Paul was waiting for a bus at the corner of 25th and Wickham.  He was wearing the very distinctive uniform of an Army 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper.

   

On Dec. 19, 2001, my first cousin, George C. Wiatt (1915-1921) died and I learned from the obituary that Paul Gresham was one of the pallbearers.  That news quickly put me in touch with Paul.  We exchanged several letters in the next two years. 

 

Later I learned from another cousin,       Jeanie Lankes (Hampton HS - ’72 - of VA), that she had lived very close to Paul on Chesapeake Avenue.  Following are some of her recollections.

 

Fred W. Field,  NNHS Class of June, 1945

 

 

Hello Fred,

 

During my school years, we were neighbors with the Greshams. We were on Chesapeake Avenue, and they were on Braddock Road, overlooking Robinson Park. I knew his children, and still stay in touch with his daughter Robin.

Mr. and Mrs. Gresham moved to a house in Chesapeake Avenue in later years, about three houses down from ours.
 

Paul was in a serious bridge group with my father,  John “Bud” Lankes (Morrison High School Class of 1933) (06 Apr 1917 - 30 Jan 2010), and my uncle, George Wiatt. They played weekly. Dad thought the world of Paul and even though I didn’t know him all that well, he seemed like a sterling person.

 

Jeanie Lankes, HHS Class of 1972.