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06/18/06 - NNHS Newsletter

"It's a wonderful feeling when your father becomes not a god but a man to you -- when he comes down from the mountain
and you see he's this man with weaknesses. And you love him as this whole being, not as a figurehead.”

- Robin Williams in Rolling Stone
(b. 21 July 1951)

Dear Friends and Schoolmates,   

   A very Happy Father's Day to all the daddies and granddaddies in our midst - and indeed to us all, as we remember our own fathers!  


BIRTHDAYS:

   Oh, Goody - we have another TWO-FER!!!

     Tim Whitt ('66) of VA and    Mike Leonard ('68) of VA are both celebrating their birthdays today.  Have a doubly-super day, Gentlemen!

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

   And Tim - where is your sister,    Bridget (Whitt Jones - '65) ?!?  She and I were such good friends at Magruder, and I love her dearly and think of her often - and miss her!

 


    From Tim Rogers (Hampton HS - '66) of VA - 05/24/06 - "Father's Day":

Hi, Carol

I so much enjoy your web site. I have been busy the past month with the passing of my mother-in-law. She was 84, so I haven't had anything to contribute to the site for awhile.

   We're very sorry to learn of that, Tim.  Please accept our deepest condolences.

I came across something I wrote three years ago about my father, John Rogers. I think a lot of the group could relate to what was written so I'm requesting you post it to the web site on or about Fathers Day.

Thank You,
Tim Rogers

 

 
  My oldest brother, Ronnie, asked me to write a little bit about our father as I remember him, and I discovered this could not be done without a preface.

PREFACE

 First I found it difficult to separate any one member of my family, because we were a FAMILY.

I was born in 1947, preceded by Jerry and Ronnie in that order. WE were THE ROGERS of Greenbriar Avenue (not to be confused with the Rogers on Claremont Ave). Through out my life to this day (56years later) when I speak of Mom and Pop or my brothers it is done so with pride. I’m not quite sure how this pride came about but like so other things, far more of Mom and Pop rubbed off on my brothers and myself than we realized until we were much older. As life dictates my brothers’ and I have somewhat grown apart, busy with own lives but make no mistake “blood is thicker than water”.

POP

My first image of Pop as a child is him getting off the bus at the corner after a day in the shipyard, with the lunch box in hand that Mom had packed that mourning. Dressed in Khaki shirt and pants, rain or shine. I don’t recall ever hearing him say he didn’t want to go to work until a few years before he retired (40yrs in the yard). When he got home from work and before Mom would call us to supper he would spend a few minutes looking over the house and yard to see what needed to be done and maybe give us kids a job to do the next day if it was summer or Saturday if in winter.

Being a product of the Depression, the job came first with Pop. This may be a little hard to understand today and was way beyond my comprehension as a child but years later as an adult I understood, in his mind without a job he could not provide for his family.

I don’t remember my father telling me that he loved me or that he was proud of me, it was just understood and never doubted! You see back then there was no such thing as a man expressing his feelings; this was the days of John Wayne.

The order of authority was the President of the United States, POP and then GOD, as I didn’t have to answer to the former or the latter for some years to come Pop had the final say. That is not to say I always did what Pop said, it just meant I had to be willing to except the consequences! I recall Mom and Pop having maybe two arguments in my whole life and they lasted about five minutes at which time Pop would say “that’s enough, end of discussion” and that was THE END. This may sound a little totalitarian but removed all confusion.

A few words about Mom must be said at this point, mom was Pop’s lieutenant. She took care of the day-to-day running of the household and was the primary teacher, and disciplinarian, dealing out rewards and punishment to us kids as needed, but if she said, “we will have to tell your father” we knew we were in BIG trouble. The woman was an absolute saint and had a very large influence on us, even on Pop. I could write a book on how to be the perfect mother and it would be based on our mom!

I do not remember Pop having many friends when I was a child. He was working a great deal in the 50’s and early 60’s and took great pride in the ships he helped to build. I do remember going over somebody’s house after church on Sunday who lived in Hilton Village. The adults would talk and my brothers and I would watch Wild Kingdom on TV. We also would go on a drive now and then by the Shipyard and the C&O coal piers. Boy wouldn’t that be exciting to kids today! Also we would visit some neighbors who had moved by the name Novaks (not sure of the spelling).

I don’t want to give the impression Pop was some kind of dictator or something, he was not, but like his love, his authority was never in question

Around age 7 or so I went to help Pop do some work on someone’s house who was always referred to as Uncle John. This is where I was introduced to the flashlight and folding rule and had it explained to me they were tools and not toys! They were still neat to me. Somehow I never seemed to be able to hold the flashlight where Pop wanted it. I discovered this to be a common problem with kids of that age when my own kids came along.

1956 was a banner year for the Rogers, we went to South Carolina to visit relatives, also

The family, (Mom, Pop, Jerry and I) went fishing together near Jamestown that year; I don’t think Ronnie was with us as he was at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. That was the only time Pop and I went fishing together. 1979 I took Pop to see the movie, “Midway” I though he would like it as several of the ships involved in that battle he had helped to build. He enjoyed it but commented, “There was too much cursing”. This brings us to another subject, cursing. Cursing was not allowed and I think I was 16 before I heard Pop say anything besides an occasional damn. He was working on the lawnmower and having cut himself, called it a S.O.B.

Pop didn’t seem to have a lot of time for us kids, like going to Little League games with Ronnie or Jerry or anything that was interesting to me because he was always working, but he more than made up for it with the Grandkids when he retired. A quirk of Pop’s was to clean the floor furnace in the house we lived in as kids every Saturday mourning. I think this was done to get Jerry and me out of bed because he would clean it even in summer! 

There were things about Pop that you had to admire; he never did things halfway, they usually were done with over kill. Although he had only a ninth grade education he was a foreman for many years in the Electrical Dept. at the Shipyard, he struggled nights studying and smoking a lot completing Navy Basic Electronics and Nuclear Power school. When the school was over he put the cigarettes down and never touched them again. After he had been retired for sometime Mom became sick and was in a coma for weeks, Pop stayed by her side the whole time until her death. The strength and dedication he displayed couldn’t be match by any other man.

Pop wasn’t perfect; he didn’t care much about sports and didn’t have what most would consider a hobby. He did raise chickens and rabbits for a while. I think this was a carry over from the war when the meat was needed, so after the war I guess it was a hobby. Nothing went in disrepair so maybe that was a hobby also. He volunteered his time to the church and was voted Man of The Year by the local Rotary Club for his time and help given to others.

Pop died December 16, 1985, at his eulogy I cried like a child because it wasn’t until that moment that I realized a hero had died. That Hero was our Father!

Pop, we love you and miss you greatly!!

Tim

 

   Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Tim!  It's certain to evoke many cherished memories of our own
fathers.


  From Me ('65) of NC - 06/17/06:

   As I was preparing today's Newsletter, I was struck with the very clear impression that today as we remember our fathers, an excellent way to pay them tribute would be to submit their names and images for inclusion on the Famous Military pages.  If their only claim to fame was fathering you, and they never did another single thing in their lives, that's reason enough.  Please give it your careful consideration. 

   Thank you.

 


    From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 06/16/06:

I saw these on eBay and thought you might be interested.

D

 
 
         
         

 
 These are lovely old images, David!  Thank you so much!    I posted them on the Veteran's Administration Center at Kecoughtan page, which having been created on 05/19/03, was one of the earliest entries in our OOSG collection:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/OOSG-S-Z.html

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

   Thanks again, Sweetie!

 


  From Me ('65) of NC - 06/17/06:

   While I was working on this Kecoughtan page, an old question that has haunted me for years crept back into my mind.  I probably asked it before, but there are so many of us now, we have a greater opportunity of finding answers to practically any of life's questions.

   When my daddy worked at Kecoughtan, one of his associates was Dr. James F. Connor (who later served as one of Daddy's honorary pallbearers).  Dr. Connor's son, a fresh graduate of Hampton High School, was departing for college.  This was probably in the fall of 1956, though it could have been as late as 1958 (but I doubt it).  He had a record player and a large collection of 78's that he no longer wanted - Bing Crosby, Dick Haymes, The Mills Brothers, Dinah Shore, Perry Como, etc..  I was the elated recipient of the whole splendiferous collection, some of which I even still might have.  Possibly.  "Possibly maybe."

   Two records which I definitely do not have were probably my favorites.  They were of some woman whose name I cannot recall singing Irving Berlin songs - "Remember", "All Alone", "Always", and "What'll I Do?".  I quickly memorized them, down to and including her styling and phrasing.  She had a deep voice, which was quite uncommon for a female recording artist of this era.  It was low and seductive, not unlike Julie London's.  But it wasn't Julie, of course.  Nor was it Jo Stafford.

   The question is, "WHO WAS SHE?"

   I am 98.3% sure these were either on the RCA Victor label, or on the Decca label.  I will know her when I hear her.  Yes, there will be a prize.  And yes, I'll even pay up.

   Thanks!

 


From Carrie Forrest Fox ('52) of VA - 06/16/06 - "B & M Drive-in":

Carol,
 
In speaking of the B&M Drive-in on Kecoughtan Road I know what the initials stood for.   The owners were Mr. Brown and Mr. Manning, thus B&M. Just thought I would clear that up for you.

   Thanks so much, Carrie!   I posted your remarks on the B&M page, and then made the cover page which    Bill Lee (Warwick HS - '54) of NC suggested:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/all-drive-ins.html

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/B-M-Drive-In.html

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

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/W-S-Drive-In.html

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/green-acres.html

     http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/sidney-lusts.html

Keep up the good work. You are amazing and also all that contribute to your newsletter. I think I am the only one from NNHS class of 1952 on board. I sure have enjoyed reading 'bout others, some of whom I well remember.
 
Take care,
 
Carrie Forrest Fox

   Thank you again, Carrie!    It just gets more fun, doesn't it?

 


    From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 06/16/06:

And speaking of Monfalcones .... did I ever mention that my mother's uncle, Charles Evans (1885 - 1937), married Bertha Monfalcone (1891 - unk), d/o Joseph and Lassere Monfalcone of Baltimore. It seems that the family lived for a time in NN, which is where Bertha connected with Charles. They married in MD, ca. 1912, and resided there.

Incidentally, Greenlawn Cemetery in NN has a large number of Monfalcones.

D

   You did, indeed, Captain, but I was reluctant to mention that yesterday as I was unsure of the exact relationships.  And I do vividly remember all the Monfalcones we saw as we were traipsing through Greenlawn Cemetery almost three years ago, searching (vainly) for    Mrs. Eunice Leyland's grave.

   Thank you, David!

 


  From Jane Monfalcone Simmons ('61) of VA - 06/17/06 - "Monfalcone family at NNHS":

There are so many members of the Monfalcone family in NNHS I can't begin to count.  My sister (Delores '57) my dad (Edward R.), his brother (Alfred W.) and two sisters (Florence and Jane) plus all his uncles, cousins, Monty, George, John and on and on.
 
One interesting point, my grandfather Alfred M. Monfalcone (once mayor and 28 years as city council member in NN) was in NNHS when they voted on the colors of Blue and Gold for the school.  I don't know what year that was, but since my grandfather was born in 1890, it should have been around 1905.
 
Just some trivia.
 
Jane Monfalcone Simmons '61

   SO cool - I love trivia!  Thanks so much, Jane!

 


    From Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA - 06/16/06 - "Dick Lamb": 

For    Glenn Dye ('60 - of TX):

Dick Lamb is still doing radio here in Norfolk. Has a morning drive-time show on 92.9 The Wave.  He returned after a hiatus after he sold WWDE a.k.a.2WD

http://www.adclubhr.com/scholarships/silver/archive/lamb.html

http://www.440.com/namesl.html

Glenn can still hear Dick by pushing the "Listen Live" link on the station's web page:  http://www.929thewave.com/podcast-info.htm

D

   What fabulous news - and what a treat for us all!!!  Thanks so much, Brown Eyes!

 


  From the President of the Great NNHS Class of 1965, Joe Wingo of NC - 06/17/06:

Oh dearest Carol,

Do I ever agree with your opening quote. Kisses are way too valuable to not be shared! .......
 

Love, Joe

   Well, Joe, I'm so glad you agree with me!  Life is just way too short not to be filled with hugs and kisses and love and kind words!

   And that's another reason I keep urging y'all to attend as many reunions as possible!

   Thanks, Sweetie!

 


From Roberta Hilsdon ('70) of GA - 06/17/06:

Carol,
 
Thanks so much for remembering my birthday.  This newsletter rocks! 
 
Roberta

   Certainly, Roberta!  I'm glad that I actually remembered it!  It's just sooo embarrassing when I forget!

 


    From Eric Huffstutler (Bethel HS - '75) of VA - 06/17/06 - "TV Logos for 1965":

 
1950's 1965 1965  
       
  
   Thanks, Eric!    These are a perfect addition for that new page:

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

 


  From Me ('65) of NC - 06/17/06 "Station Logos":

   I had found these local station logos earlier, but wasn't certain how I was going to use them.  Also, I was more than a bit annoyed at not being able to find one for WVEC-TV which I was certain dated from the same period:    
       
       
http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/television.html  



ALERTS:  

  From Dee Hodges Bartram ('66) of VA - 06/13/06:

Carol,
 
Just a reminder about the cost of the 1966 reunion.  It will go from $50 per person to $60 per person July 2nd.  Please let people know about the increase (it was in the original letter).  We have catering and other financial deadlines to meet, as all reunions do, so we need to have the money as soon as possible from those that are going to attend.
 
Thanks!

   Thank you, Dee!  Sometimes we forget!  So don't forget!  You DON'T want to miss this one!
 

 



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:
 

 

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, NN, 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.

CO
NTACT 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
 

 


  Joe Madagan ('57) of FL - 06/17/06 - "From the Garden" (#1 in a series
of 6):

Hi, Carol:

I just wanted to share his unusual blossom on the Aloe Vera plant which I placed in my yard last year. It had been in a pot for 8 years and never bloomed, but this year it is a different story.

Always,

Adonis

   WOWZERONI!!!  That's incredible!  I had no idea that Aloe Vera plants bloomed - ever!  Thanks, Joe!

   
  Saturday, June 17, 2006, 10:02 AM  
     


   Y'all take 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

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




My Father's Eyes

- Eric Clapton


Sailing down behind the sun,
Waiting for my prince to come.
Praying for the healing rain
To restore my soul again.

Just a toerag on the run.
How did I get here?
What have I done?
When will all my hopes arise?
How will I know him?
When I look in my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.
When I look in my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.

Then the light begins to shine
And I hear those ancient lullabies.
And as I watch this seedling grow,
Feel my heart start to overflow.

Where do I find the words to say?
How do I teach him?
What do we play?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That's when I need them,
That's when I need my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.
That's when I need my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.

Then the jagged edge appears
Through the distant clouds of tears.
I'm like a bridge that was washed away;
My foundations were made of clay.

As my soul slides down to die.
How could I lose him?
What did I try?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That he was here with me;
I looked into my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.
I looked into my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.

My father's eyes.
My father's eyes.
I looked into my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.


"My Father's Eyes" midi courtesy of http://www.johncfish.com/summermusic.htm - 05/26/06

"My Father's Eyes" lyrics courtesy
of http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/My-Father's-Eyes-lyrics-Eric-Clapton/7B1847A04BDBFF71482568770030D3C7 - 05/26/06

"Happy Father's Day" Title clip art courtesy of http://www.patswebgraphics.com/father/Fd-tile.html - 05/26/06

"Happy Father's Day" card courtesy of http://www.xenus.com/postcard/father.htm - 05/26/06

Thin Blue and Red Divider Line lip art courtesy of http://www.wtv-zone.com/nevr2l82/bars3.html - 06/16/06

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

Crab clip art courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/agent99bm/ - 10/02/05

Navy Seal clip art courtesy of http://www.onemileup.com/miniSeals.asp - 05/29/06

Bruin clip art courtesy of Eric Huffstutler (Bethel HS - '75) of VA - 03/22/06
Thanks, Eric!

Marine Corps Seal clip art courtesy of Herbert Hice of MI - one of my Famous Marines who served in the South Pacific during WWII.
Thanks, Herbie!

Army Seal clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 05/24/06
Thanks, Al!

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

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