Provide free mammograms!

06/01/06 - NNHS Newsletter
Marilyn Monroe's 80th Birthday

“No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl.
All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren't.”

- Marilyn Monroe
(01 June 1926  -  05 Aug 1962)

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,   

   I love Marilyn, and always have.  Don't even try to tell me anything negative about her, or try to convince me that she wasn't murdered.  I'm not buying it.

   If you'd like to hear her sing, "Happy Birthday, Mr. President", try the links on this page:

http://www.marilynmonroe.com/about/music2.htm

 

BIRTHDAYS:

    If you see Bobby Yevak's ('65 - of VA) wife, Dawn, today, tell her Happy Birthday!  It seems to me she went to Hampton High.  Now if I could only remember her maiden name... and what year she graduated....

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

 

  From Bill Lee (Warwick HS - '54) of NC - 05/25/06:

Carol:

Thanks for including me on this mass mailing. Was surprised to see my recent correspondence with    Joe (Madagan - '57 - of FL) included. Per your request, attached is scan of my senior class picture in the 1954 WHS annual. Also, using your style, I should be listed as 'Bill Lee of NC' (not VA). Been in the Charlotte area since 1984........ 

   Ah, yes, well, I tend to "move" people around from time to time.  I'm always especially interested in moving them back to "the sacred soil of Virginia".  It must be psychological.....

   And as for your (YIKESARONI!!!) surprise appearance on the Newsletter, that harkens back to the very genesis of the Newsletter format.  It began with my trying to communicate with too many people at once, and falling upon desperate methods (which occasionally landed me in rather warm water)......
 

  
 

   Thanks for the senior portrait!

By the way, one thing our high school class has done for reunion booklets, class reunion announcements and the like, in recent years, is to show classmates' full names in bold caps, with married names (where different - so far, no boys have told us of any!) shown in upper and lower case. We also show nicknames (or a first name that they most often used 'way back when) in italics.

  
Fall of 1953    
     


We've found that makes it a lot easier to find people as we best remember them in listings created several decades (and one or more marriages) later. Identification of this concept comes late for adoption on your web site, I suspect, but it might be useful to you in - oh, say - 2015.

Anyway, for example, my wife is currently listed thus: JANIE LEIGH (Janie) SLACK Lee 

and I'm listed as WILLIAM ALEXANDER (Bill) LEE

Regards - Bill Lee

   WOWZERONI!!!  What a great system!  Of course, being the ridiculously compulsive obsessive freakazoid that I am, my chances of changing systems - even to a superior one - are shaky at best......

   I do appreciate the knowledge, however.   Maybe...........

   But I'd be forced (by my own twisted mind) to go back and change everything for the last six years.

   And I'd have to look up EVERYONE'S middle name, and .....

   What's that burning?  OOOOPS - I think it's coming from my head.............  Hmmm......

  

   From Steve Silsby (Ferguson HS - '72) of NC - 05/31/06 - "Victory Arch":

Carol,

Thanks for the great tribute to Memorial Day.

   Thank you, Stevie!  Glad you enjoyed it!

 
  Joe Madagan's ('57 - of FL) submission of the Victory Arch photo reminded me of the photos I took while visiting back home last December.  I've attached one image of the arch.  The surrounding park setting makes it a very pleasant spot to visit now.  It wasn't nearly so inviting back in the 60's and 70's.  You may have to dig around to find them, but there are some places downtown that have actually improved over our memories.

   I'll have to admit it, Steve.  As much as I rant and rave about the carnage that befell what used to be downtown Newport News, there are pockets there of great beauty - and you've certainly spotlighted some of the main ones here!

 
In the Daily Press photo, you can see the front of the Hotel Warwick in the background.  Notice the large shrubs and the marquee-style roof over the entrance.  Neither of those are there now, but the building is still looking grand, isn't it?  I still remember at about age 5 my first encounter with a rotating door at the Hotel  Warwick
 
In the background of my Victory Arch photo is the Federal Building which long served as the post office, with other government offices upstairs. 

   Are you trying to tell  me something here, Steve - something I probably don't want to hear???

My most vivid memory of that building was my halting steps up to that second floor to register for the draft when I turned 18.  The stately eagle over the entrance to the Federal Building brings to mind the Owls above the entrances of Hampton's George Wythe Elementary School (located behind Bill's Barbeque).  Wythe was a junior high when my mother (Dorothy Harton Silsby, HHS '42) attended it.
 

  
 
Victory Arch Hotel Warwick  
       
   
Federal Building    
       
       

   GASP!!!  Steve, your images are awesome!  The detail is incredible, and your composition and lighting are exquisite.  I hope I didn't destroy their integrity too much by compressing them as I needed to do for the site.  I have, of course, preserved them in their original form in my files.

   I ran out of time (again) before placing them on their respective pages, but I didn't want to delay sharing these with everyone.  I'll finish that as soon as I can.

  

You seem to have caught up on your photo backlog, so I'll start sending you a few of what I have each week or so.

   SUPER - Thanks!!!

 
Be happy!
 
Steve Silsby, FHS '72 (sort of) 

   I'm working on it, Sweetie!  I seem to be taking two steps forward, and one backward, but I'm making progress (I think...).  Thanks so much!

 

  From Richard Marshall ('66) of VA - 05/31/06:

Carol,

You really are something special for all the work you do so the rest of us can walk down memory lane.

I told you before about my time in England during the Cuban "thing" but prior to that we were stationed in France .As a totally uninterested teenager I was thrust into history. To all the people that complain about this country and anything else that doesn't suit them............."have a nice day, somewhere else". I stood on small hill looking over the multitude of crosses that dotted the Verdun battlefield.

My grandfather walked those very hills, and fortunately for me he came home, as an underaged enlistee; he lied to fight. Wounded in the Argonne Forest, he had a stiff leg that never slowed him down or gave him a reason to say he couldn't do something. I was named after him. Let those complainers stand over a tombstone of a real action hero (try seeing your own name on it) and whine. That is the reason we enjoy that day off, because of him and all those real Hollywood heroes. Please never let the next generation get even a small chance to forget.

How's that for some flag waving? I'm proud of it.
 

            Once again, thanks for all your work, Richard Marshall '66

   Well, Honey, it's just a hunch, mind you, but I doubt anyone is ever going to wonder where either of us stand on this issue!  WILD GIGGLES!!!  And I'm proud of it, too!

   I'm still most astonished when I encounter someone who has no feelings at all on this subject, one way or another, but are simply disinterested.  I'm reminded of a scripture, Revelation 3:16:

          "So then because thou art alukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will bspue• thee out of my mouth."

   I still think a twice yearly viewing of 1943's The Human Comedy should be required of every student, citizen, and resident (legal or otherwise) of this country.

   Not that I ever get all riled up about things........

   Thanks so much, Richard!

 

  From Sheila Smith Moler ('64) of VA - 05/31/06:

Carol: 

Thought you would enjoy this......I did!!     Sheila

http://www.frontiernet.net/~jlbeam/specials/remember/remember.html

   I do indeed enjoy it, Sheila - and remember all of it!

   Thanks!

  From Cookie Phillips Tyndall ('64) of VA - 05/31/06:

I don't know what is going on with the choking on steak phenomena. The same thing happened to my daughter-in-law last weekend. Once my son realized she was choking, her performed the Heimlich and the steak immediately flew out. One of her friends was choked on steak this week and it took her husband two tries to dislodge it. I guess this is another good justification for giving up the red meat. The Heimlich is indeed a lifesaver.

   I don't know why things tend to appear in strange groupings as they often do, Miss Cookie.  Perhaps its to get our attention???

   Thanks for sharing this!  Life is often scary....

  

  From Tom Norris (Hampton HS - '73) of VA - 05/31/06: "Re: High School USA"

Hi Carol ....

In reply to the questions about "High School USA", the first reference to Hampton is not HHS, but "North and South, Hampton too" in reference to Northampton and Southampton County High Schools (they needed something to rhyme with the final "Hampton" which is good 'ol Crabtown High.

I have three versions of the Virginia song ... the original LeGrand release (which Dave put on his reunion CD) and TWO Atlantic releases ... and all three list the schools slightly different. I got an Atlantic 45 off eBay which includes Booker T. Washington .... the other two versions did not.

Ya can't crush a crab ....

Tom the Babe

   Well, there you are, Tommee! Somehow I thought you'd have even more background information on this subject - and I was right!  Thanks for sharing it, Babe!

 

  From Gloria Woolard Price (Hampton HS - '65) of FL to    Dave Spriggs
('64) of VA - 06/01/06:

Thanks, Dave, for the history on "High School USA."  I knew who Gene Vincent was, but certainly didn't know he was a local and never heard of the Blue Caps or Bubba Facenda.  It was great reading!  And another thanks for acknowledging that my hearing is okay and Hampton HS was mentioned twice.  GO CRABBERS!!  

   Isn't it amazing that the things we learn here were so often right in front of us all along - and we never even knew it??

   I'll admit it, too.  I was unfamiliar with all that history until a couple of years ago.

   Thanks, Gloria!  Now I don't feel all alone!

 

From One of my Famous Marines -    Herb Hice of MI, who served in the Pacific Theater
during WWII - 05/31/06 - "Dear Carol, Not a joke, this really works":

Dear Carol,

If you or friends have a little trouble reading E-Mail, follow directions listed below. Most E-Mail that I receive is large and it won't get larger; this is for E-Mail that comes in small print.

Your Friend,
Herbie


Great keyboard trick! This really does work -- try it. PLEASE READ!!

This very good information is for dear friends that need glasses to read! It is a very important email!!! This is especially for everyone over 50 whose eyesight isn't what it was. I just found out about this. Thought I'd pass this on. It's very useful when trying to read small e-mail print (especially in the early hours).

If you hold down the Ctrl key on your key board and turn the small wheel in the middle of your mouse, the print size will change - it will either get larger or smaller - depending on which way you turn the wheel. Pass this on to other friends who may find it very useful.

   This, of course, would depend on your computer's mouse.  My little mousie  is sans wheel, so I'll need to try this on one of the other house 'puters.

   Thanks, Herbie!  I believe you've probably provided someone a great service with this information!

 

REUNION REMINDERS:  

   Reunion information is ALWAYS posted very near the top on the front page, and on the Reunion Page section:

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

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-page.html

   Henceforth, it will be repeated here, lest you forget:
 

  

YOU ARE INVITED!!
 
The NNHS Class of 1957
will hold its annual picnic
on Saturday, June 3, 2006. 

The Picnic will be held at the Newport News Park Shelter #19 from 11:00 AM till dark.  
The menu includes homemade Bar-B-Q and all the other good fixin's as well as specialty desserts made by members of the class.

If you would like to renew old friendships, send a check in the amount of $10 for each attendee made out
to "NNHS Class of 1957" to:

 
W. D. Dangler, 318 - 57th Street,
Newport News, VA  23607

AND CHECK THIS WEB PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION - 05/10/06:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-class-of-1957.html

 
 		The Super Open Reunion
sponsored by the NNHS Class of 1961
 in honor of their graduation 45 years ago will be held
on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at the Radisson Hotel, Hampton, VA at 6:30 PM. There will be a social hour/dinner, at a cost of $65 per person.

On Sunday, July 2, 2006, there will be a Sunday morning brunch, also at the Radisson, for the cost of $20.

If you attend both events, the combined cost will be $75.

  The Radisson is holding a block of rooms until June 14 for $139 plus tax. 

CONTACT Jane Monfalcone Simmons
at janesi722@cox.net or 757-898-5009
 AND CHECK THIS WEB PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION - 03/26/06:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-class-of-1961.html

 
The Great Open Reunion sponsored by the NNHS Class of 1966
in honor of their graduation 40 years ago will be held on Friday, September 29, 2006 from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM at RJ’s Restaurant, 12743 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA.

On Saturday, September 30, 2006, meet at 11:00 AM at Newport News High School (now Huntington Hall) for a tour of the high school and gym.
Parking is available next to the gym on Huntington Avenue.
On Saturday, September 30, 2006 from 7:00 PM to midnight,,the grand affair will be held at Point Plaza Hotel, 950 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, Newport News, VA, 757-599-4460.

CONTACT Dee Hodges Bartram at dhbartram@cox.net.
 AND CHECK THIS WEB PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION - 03/15/06:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-class-of-1966.html
 

The 60th Birthday Celebration
for Members of the NNHS Class of 1964
will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2006, 7:00 - 11:00 PM at Spirit Events, 12672 Patrick Henry Drive,
Newport News, VA 23602.

INFORMAL "SOCK HOP" (WEEJUNS AND BLEEDING MADRAS, IF YA GOT 'EM), CATERED FOOD, ADULT BEVERAGES, MUSIC, DANCING, BIRTHDAY CAKE 

CONTACT Dave Spriggs at nnhs64@cox.net
 AND CHECK THIS WEB PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION - 03/27/06:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/60-BIRTHDAY-1964-B.html

 

  
The Grand 50-year Reunion
of the NNHS Class of 1956
will be held on Friday, October 20, 2006 at the James River Country Club, Newport News, VA from 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Cost is $56.00 per person, reservations required by Aug. 1.

On Saturday, October 21, 2006 at 7:00 PM, a casual get-together will be held in a Hospitality Room, Country Inn & Suites on Route 17, Newport News, for all classmates
who wish to attend. 

CONTACT Judy Leggette Elliott at jandcelliott@aol.com
or 757-868-1111
AND CHECK THIS WEB PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION - 04/19/06:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-class-of-1956.html
"Dinner" Planning Meetings for
The Class of 1962!

They would love to have as many of their classmates as possible to participate in the future as they plan the details of their upcoming 45-Year Reunion!!  Please plan to join them at their next meeting.

If you did not receive an announcement, they do not have your address. 
Please email Pat Floyd Pride at patnnhs@cox.net
or Brenda Amos Williams at typhoonmom@juno.com
for directions, and so that you can stay in touch. 

Visit Brenda's 1962 Web Page:
 http://geocities.com/typhoonmom1/

AND CHECK THIS WEB PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION - 05/10/06:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-62-planning-mtgs.html
 

  

  From Stacy Dorn ('64) of VA - 05/22/06 - "Happy Day" (#6 in a series of  9):

Hope every day is happy for you :)

Have a Blessed Day

I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here

than a whole truck load when I'm gone.  THESE ARE FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

  
 

Oh, what a pretty brooch!

Thanks, Stacy!

 
     
     

    Y'all take extra good care of each other!  TYPHOONS FOREVER!

                          Love to all, Carol

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

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

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

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



Candle in the Wind
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin;
Music by Elton John, 1973
 

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe

A No Brainer:  Candle In The Wind

"Candle in the Wind" midi courtesy of http://www.sternton.com/midi/rockpop.htm
at the suggestion of Dave Spriggs ('640 of VA - 05/24/06
Thanks, Dave!

"Candle in the Wind" lyrics courtesy of http://www.eltonography.com/songs/candle_in_the_wind.html 
also at the suggestion of Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 05/24/06
Thanks again, Dave!

First Image of Marilyn Monroe courtesy of http://www.claudiocaprara.it/archives/Marylin%20Monroe89.JPG - 05/29/06

Second Image of Marilyn Monroe scanned and cropped from Marie Clayton's Marilyn Monroe: Unseen Archives
(Paragon Publishing Co., Bath, UK: 2003), p. 6, a book in the webmistress' personal collection
(because she's such a big Marilyn fan) - 11/09/05

Peach Zigzag Divider Line courtesy of http://www.wtv-zone.com/nevr2l82/bars26.html - 11/28/05

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

Anchor clip art courtesy of Steve Silsby (FHS - '72) of NC - 12/14/05
Thanks, Steve!

Animated Birthday Cake Courtesy of Gathered Gifs at http://members.tripod.com/~B123/cd/cake12.gif - 04/15/04

Back to NNHS Newsletters - 2006

Return to NNHS Class of 1965