ALAN YOUNT KHS65 ON LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND ANOTHER FAMOUS NAME

Once again Alan is published on the blog JerryJazzMusician.com - and this one, like his others, doesn't disappoint.  Thank you Alan for sharing with us!!!!  

AN  ANECDOTE ABOUT  LOUIS  ARMSTRONG, TRUMPET PLAYER,
       FROM THE 1930’S: A  PROSE POEM, OR VIGNETTE.
by Alan Yount

                   growing up in st.louis  in the 1960’s
there were always                 several jazz stories
          going around      the jazz clubs      everyone knew.

                   it was during, the 1930’s depression
when the grand theatre                  was opulent then       
          it had oriental carpets           and crystal chandeliers.

vaudeville shows         came                   and bands played from all over.
louis armstrong            played many times      and once
          a twelve year old kid    named aaron      snuck in
the side door      to hear him play.

          the band    took a dinner break
and aaron followed them
                   to a burger place near by.

          louis  went up to
the carry out window   to place an order.
          aaron heard a voice       from inside
laying it down     “no service here
                   to no coloreds.”

          then all of a sudden    aaron found himself
standing on the street   right in the middle of the band.
          he couldn’t believe      he was really speaking …
“mr. armstrong … if you give me some money
          I will go back       and buy you all
some burgers.”

          louis then grinned at aaron
“thanks son … meet us up   on the stage
                   to the side.”

          when aaron got back
to the stage … he carried up
                    two paper sacks of food.

1. armstrong, waved him on up

and said “come into the wings.”    the two of them
                   sat together, sharing fries …

          then mr. armstrong said …   “I’ve got another idea …
when we go up on stage      & start playing
                   how would you
          like to come        out on stage with me
and sit in a chair          right next to me?”
                   “I might       need to lean
on your shoulder, o.k.?”

          aaron later thought      that this was
the most exciting thing             that had ever happened
                   in his life    at twelve,  for sure!

          of course        as this st.louis story goes
young aaron       was a.e. hotchner.
                   “hotch”       continued the knack
all his life        of befriending          famous people.

NEW EDITION of KHS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

I have taken the liberty of copying the brand new edition of KHS Alumni news here.  I can't seem to get Facebook to work correctly on my two KHS65 pages there, so here it is in full, see below the red line.  Of particular interest to me is the announcement of the re-emergence of Alumni Hall of Fame activities.  See the panel on the right side below.  Nominate someone who you feel is deserving!
Happy Spring...even though this says March 2018 I JUST received it a few moments ago on 3/30/18.

Alumni & Friends eCall March 2018
KHS Celebrates Two State Champions Mock Trail Team Supported by Alumni     The Kirkwood High School (KHS) Mock Trial team won the Missouri High School State Mock Trial competition held the weekend of March 23-25, 2018 at the Eagleton Federal Courthouse in St. Louis, MO. Approximately 50 schools from across Missouri participated, with many schools fielding multiple teams. Three teams competed from KHS formed from 21 students who participated, practiced and competed over a 5 month season. Each team presents both sides of a case in preliminary competitions. Schools in Eastern Missouri tried their cases against other teams in the St. Louis County Courthouse in January and February.  The top 16 schools then competed in Eastern Regional Competition. The top 10 schools from the Eastern Region moved on to the State Competition for a total of 16 teams.   KHS will represent the State of Missouri at the National Mock Trial Competition to be held in Reno, Nevada May 10-13, 2018.   Members and sponsors of the Kirkwood High School Mock Trial Team are: Teacher/Attorney-Coach Lucas Ravenscraft (KHS ‘03), Attorney-Coach Josh Jones (KHS ‘02), Jenna Dyroff (Junior), Colin Thompson (Senior), Meredith Lang (Junior), Attorney-Coach Jim Reinert, Attorney-Coach Luke Stobie (KHS ‘03). Back row, left to right: Alex Talir (Sophomore), Dominic Bottom (Senior), David Decker (Senior), Gianni Fioretti (Senior), Tim Knight (Senior), Teacher/Attorney-Coach Peter Stragand.     Kirkwood High School Girls Basketball Back-to-Back State Champions   Saturday, March 17, the Kirkwood High School (KHS) girls basketball team won the second basketball state championship in school history in a 67-50 victory over Kickapoo. The players, coaches and team continue to receive recognition awards.   Team members are; Ashley Anderson, Natalie Bruns, Jayla Everett, Olivia Giardino, Melissa Hartmann, Rachel Jacobs, Katherine Jozwiakowski, Emily Kreidler, Abigail Ludbrook, Rylee Mulvaney, Sarah Musson, Coriana Proemsey, Jaidah Stewart and Makayla Wallace. The team is coached by Monica Tritz and Brad Sutterer.   Honoring Coach John Weiss Invitation to Annual Dale Collier Track Meet John Weiss was a member of the Kirkwood High School Track and Field coaching staff for 28 years. His love and commitment to student athletes was unwavering, and he would not accept compensation for his work with the boys and girls track teams.     Coach Weiss was a graduate of Washington University and all four of his children attended school in the Kirkwood School District. He loved sports and participated in track events, including pole vaulting, until the age of 76. He won numerous medals including several gold and silver medals at the Senior Olympic events throughout the United States.   Coach Weiss was a very popular and devoted coach. He was passionate about giving back to the community by sharing his knowledge with young athletes. He coached youth ice-hockey for more than 20 years, pole vaulting at Kirkwood High School for 28 years and volunteered at various summer camps for children. Coach Weiss passed away on August 13, 2017.   Coach Weiss’s former students, colleagues and the current athletic and high school administration will recognize Coach Weiss at the annual Dale Collier Invitational on  April 21, 2018.     Kirkwood School District Administrative Services Center Community Relations and Development 11289 Manchester Road Kirkwood, MO 63122   Ginger Cayce, Chief Communications Officer   Lisa Wade, Communications Specialist   Amy Bullmer, Alumni Coordinator	Quick Links Our Website Donate Now Email Us Upcoming Alumni Reunions   1953   September 2018 1963   September 22, 2018 1968   September 21-23, 2018 1978   July 6-8, 2018 1988   June 2, 2018 2008   Nov 23-24, 2018   For more information, visit the calendar on the  alumni website. KSD Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame     We are finalizing a date for our combined Outstanding and Athletic Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony.   The committee is now accepting online nominations for the Alumni Hall of Fame and the Athletic Hall of Fame.   Individuals inducted in the Halls of Fame are listed on the alumni website.   Nominees must have graduated in 2009 or prior.   Update your Info...Please take a moment to customize your account:   Did you know we now have the ability for you to log in to our Alumni database to customize your account?   By updating this information, the alumni office can customize communication to you and make sure you stay informed about class reunions, alumni activities and school events.   To get started, you will need to activate your account by visiting the alumni website.    Already have an account? Then you are just a few steps away from customizing your profile:   First, please log in, and click on "my profile."   Next, by the word "base," click on the edit button. You will navigate to more detailed account information. Please update this information by selecting the boxes for the schools you attended. Then make sure your graduation year is correct.   Finally, please select the boxes for the elementary school or middle school you attended, and select the activities and/or teams in which you were a member.   Thank you!
Please visit our website at www.khsalumni.org. Make a donation to Kirkwood School District students.

BULLYING AT KHS - EVEN IN OUR DAY

I am sure all of our classmates who use any social media, watch TV news or read newspapers know that the subject of bullying is a current, often-discussed problem.  I have an idea, unsubstantiated, that not many of us in our closed, warm, healthy childhood environment in Kirkwood experienced much bullying.  I did - my first few days as the new kid in Miss Clark's 2nd grade class were spoiled by a guy whose name I forget, he didn't go up thru the grades with us, who called me "Nestles" - he was black, I was from a KS school where I had no black schoolmates, and it embarrassed me.  He quit doing it, I got over it, I haven't forgotten it but it certainly did not affect my mental health then or ever after.  It wasn't really bullying anyway, it was teasing to call attention to my "newness".  But you likely get my drift. BTW my best friend in that class was Mattie Hall, who sat right by me and we were friends for years.  She right away offered me her extra pencil and some paper on my first day in class...mom didn't think to send any along with me that day, go figure!

Today I received a Facebook private message from our classmate Jon Mangold, who was with us for awhile at KHS but then moved so did not graduate with us.  Through Social Media, Jon got in touch with our class through me and we are friends on FB.  We comment back and forth from time to time, but today's message was different.  He was reaching out for a platform, and in light of the current environment in our society, I am delighted to provide it.  Please read the following essay if you will, by Jon.  The person who was guilty of bullying Jon is no longer living, so we are using his name.  Of course he is no longer here to defend himself, but I print the story to give Jon a way to share his experience and point up the sad result of bullying.  Yes, it's too late for us to guide our own children away from that behaviour but perhaps not too late for us to influence others in the unfortunate results of bullying  If you wish to contact Jon, he is Jonathan Mangold on Facebook.  

"Hi, Leslie.  The recent shooting in Florida has caused me to think about how I was bullied in school. As a junior, I sat in front of Jim Moulder in Art Stout’s math class. Jim liked to flick my ears during class. I never knew when it would happen, but it happened every class and it hurt. We sat far enough forward in the classroom so others had to have seen what was going on but no one said anything. I never told Mr. Stout what was going on. I could’ve asked to be moved, but that would mean I would have to tell him what was going on and I was afraid I’d be even in more trouble with Jim and his big friend who sat behind him than I was already. I was terrified. I couldn’t sleep thinking about what might happen to me the next day. I’ve only recently become aware of how this has affected my relationships with men—particularly men who are bigger than me. I am hypervigilant around bigger men and find myself trying to ingratiate myself in hopes that they will not terrorize me. Had I owned a gun then, I might have gone to school and shot up the place. Being bullied is that bad. This is serious business, probably worse now than then. If you see someone being bullied, don't just stand there. Say something. Tell someone. Do something, for everyone's sake.  I don't want anyone to get the idea that I harbor thoughts of shooting anyone now!  I didn't then, in fact It never occurred to me to retaliate."

-- 

Thank you Jon for sharing this experience with us.  While for the most part I believe, from 50+ years of being in touch with our classmates as we have aged (I HATE that word), that within reason and some variations, most of us led pretty charmed lives as kids growing up in Kirkwood.  But stories such as this remind us that not everyone lived that charmed existence.  I hope others will read this and be moved to share their stories, or at least give thought to the subject!

PATTY HAMMER HOBIN LOSES HER HUSBAND

I noticed a very short obituary in a recent Post Dispatch issue and the surname was very familiar.  From my database I realized the deceased was the husband of our classmate Patty Hammer.  I did some sleuthing and found the obituary for Larry Hobin.  I tried to post this on Facebook but for some reason I can't post anything on either of my KHS65 FB pages!  Gotta love Facebook.  I doubt the address in our 50th Reunion book is accurate but one can send condolences through the funeral home.

Obituary for Laurence D. Hobin

Laurence D. Hobin, 72 0f Bonita Springs, FL died Thursday, January 18, 2018 at his residence. He was born December 7, 1945 in St. Louis, MO, a son of the late Ralph C. Hobin and Dorothy Jones Hobin.
Laurence served in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a truck driver in St. Louis for Anheuser-Busch and then as a fire fighter in Wisconsin.
Surviving are his beloved wife Patty Hammer Hobin; son Tyler (Elouise) Andreas of Naples, FL; daughter C.C. (Harry) Brody of Chicago, IL; son Tanner (Jennifer) Hobin of St. Louis, MO; daughter Caitlin (Jeff) Dickerson of Chicago, IL; 8 grandchildren; brother Patrick Hobin of Lake of the Ozarks, MO; and sister Gayle Schroyer of St. Louis, MO.
No services are scheduled at this time.
On line condolences may be left by visiting www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com
Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home & Crematory. Family owned and operated since 1978.

THOSE PASSING ON

It is always sad to report the death of our classmates, but luckily I have not learned of any additional deaths recently.  For several years now I have been reporting on the deaths of our classmates' parents, especially when they have lived particularly long lives. Having lost my parents 23 years ago, I am always envious of those who were able to keep theirs so much longer.  Now we are losing parents who are at or near the 100 year milestone, what an achievement.  I wanted to share a few tidbits here, being a bit behind due to having been sick with double pneumonia for several weeks.  I THINK I am on the mend, and so glad to be back to my real life!  Please do let me know if you learn of any deaths of note related to our classmates.  

LINDA KAROL HUEBNER
Linda was the widow of our Robinson School and KHS65 classmate Charles Huebner.  She died December 5 living in Maryland Heights.  Charlie didn't participate in our reunion activities but I did meet Linda years ago. I believe she worked at The Frame Factory at which I did a lot of framing and I noted her name badge, and her unusual name, and chatted of course, and it turned out that she was married to Charlie. She was a Lindenwood graduate, and there are no children listed in her obituary.  They were very active in the Southside Imperial Dance Club and the greater St. Louis swing dance community for many years.  She was also a founding member of the Jimmy Buffet Parothead Club. They traveled all over the world, loving St. John's, VI especially.  There was a memorial service at Bopp on January 6.  Perhaps some of you have some connection to her and/or Chuck, as he was apparently known, through the dance interest.

HELEN HENRY BURTCH
Mrs. Burtch of course was our classmate Polly's mom who died January 5 at the age of 97.  She had 5 grands and 8 great-grands.  She was a member of the founding docent group at St. Louis Art Museum, an avid golfer, an accomplished needleworker and a longtime member of the Jane Austin Society of North America.  Her full obituary is here:
http://www.luptonchapel.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=2057467.    Our condolences to Polly and her wonderful family.  Polly has 3 children and 5 grands!!!  Lucky girl!

ROBERT C. HOLT, JR.
Mr. Holt passed away at age 96 on  December 31st.  His daughter, Sharon, was in our class and I shared a class or two with her.  Mr. Holt was with the St. Louis Post Dispatch for 40 years retiring in 1995.  He was a photographer who captured scenes and activities around town for all those years as well as into his retirement.  His special interest was our wonderful Zoo. I can only imagine the photo of Phil the Gorilla having a beer with George Vierheller!  Phil was and still is my favorite attraction at our zoo.  If you haven't seen his statue, it is reason enough to visit the Zoo, but check out the flamingos as long as you're there!  Mr. Holt was a World War II Veteran having served as a pilot in the South Pacific, and having been awarded flight wings by both the Army and the Navy.  His full obituary is at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=robert-c-holt-bob&pid=187761940
Our condolences also to Sharon and her family, another of our classmates whose parents had long, meaningful and full lives.

HOTEL JEFFERSON IN THE NEWS AGAIN

I realize not everyone attended our Senior Party after graduation, but I did and remember it well.  The Hotel Jefferson has a checkered history and has been shuttered for ages; every time there is a new proposal to reopen it, I begin dreaming of a class reunion there just for nostalgia's sake!  In recent years there have been several plans put forth to refurbish/reopen/reuse it but none has come to fruition.  Here is an article about the current status.  This article says it was published 12/21/17 but I am looking at the 12/22 paper and the lead article in the Business Section has this article and the photo.  A Marriott would be great, but as the lead article on 12/22 points out, there are already a LOT of hotel rooms in St. Louis, and if all 9 current proposals came to be, there would be 1200+ additional hotel rooms downtown, and can we really support that?  Many people, including me, think not.  We just don't have the draw we once did...anyway, I thought some of you might find this of interest if you follow any of our local "issues".

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/jefferson-arms-developer-looks-abroad-for-cash/article_dc3bc718-60ac-5a67-a4f2-e6538f8424a2.html

ALAN YOUNT'S MEMORIES JOG THOSE OF BRUCE ANTLE - MUSICAL MEMORIES GALORE!

I recently received a wonderful message from Bruce which he has given me permission to share.  I am always so gratified when the memories or information from one classmate prompts contact from another!  And it's especially pleasing to know some of our classmates actually read what I write!  Thank you all for that!  Here goes Bruce's article:

"It is amazing to me the names of the people I either didn't know or can no longer remember, yet still sound vaguely familiar.  Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for what you do on your blog.  I do check it out every couple of months.  Like this morning, for some reason I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and said, oh, what the heck.  I have been working on our own family genealogy and as I sat down at the desk with my laptop for some reason thought I would check your blog to see if there was any new news regarding classmates.  Sorry to hear about Jim Olson.  I do not remember Jim, at least I don't think so.  I could tell you had become good friends.

Your posting of the JerryJazzMusician [Alan Yount's poetry has been published there twice lately, see earlier posts here] brought back my own horn playing memories.  At Keysor and North I played Alto Sax.  Lew Williamson was 1st chair in band at North, I was 2nd chair.  My music teacher at Mel Bay's encouraged me to enter into a music contest called the "Five Penney Music Contest" named after the movie of the same name starring Danny Kay who played trumpet in the movie.  I played NOLA and for my age group and instrument won first place which was my one and only musical claim to fame. For first prize I think I got a $15 gift certificate from Mel Bay's Music Store and a "Five Penney" record album.   Mel Bay's son, Bill Bay, asked me to join his band, to which my parents said no.  Doc Williamson was our family's dentist and prior to my musical accolade I thought I wanted to be a dentist because he was always complimentary after a visit.  My parents thought keeping me on a track of dentistry was a better option than musician. The music teacher at North asked me to join the orchestra as the only saxophone player, which I did, although he asked me to insert a mute to soften the tone. I was also asked to perform on stage at the high school during some kind of talent show.  Bobbie Jo Leech accompanied me on the piano.  I wonder what happened to Bobbie Jo? [she was living in Florida as is Bruce currently.  I'm not sure if she's still there.]  I believe she also played trumpet in band at North.  I got so nervous on stage, somewhere in the middle of NOLA I forgot where I was, as I had memorized it, and Bobbie Jo somehow  picked up on my memory loss, and either caught up with me or filled in the blanks, she was just great and a real life saver.  Either way it was my last semi-professional performance.  

Looking back, I wish I would have continued playing the sax in high school.  I would have enjoyed playing in the marching band at halftime.  It would have been a better option for me then football.  I did try out for football in 9th grade.  I thought I was a pretty good quarterback, at least in our neighborhood.  For J.V. made third string but at 5'8" and around 100 lbs. was no match for the bigger guys.  Jim Ballard wanted to learn out to play the sax and I gave him some instruction sheets and tips. He picked it up immediately and really became a great saxophone player and I believe part of the KHS marching band.

Just last week I asked my daughter who has five children (two who are in college, two in high school and one in middle school) if any would be interested in my sax, which I hadn't played in many years?  She replied, no, but wanted to hear me play as they are coming for a visit to warm, sunny Florida over the Christmas break.  I pulled it out of its case, not knowing if it would even play, if all the pads were hard and needed replacing?  Surprisingly it did play.  Not surprisingly, it was very hard, not the pads, me.  After several days I might be able to play Silent Night, but NOLA, not a chance."

A bit later I received another fun message from Bruce:  

"Alan Yount's memory of his great grandparents' house stirred up some additional ones of my own.  

The House on Woodlawn

My mom was always proud of being a KHS girl.  Of course, in her days Kirkwood High was as we know Nipher.  She moved to Kirkwood from the city in 1925 at the age of 12.  Her father, Percy Wall or P.H. which was for Percival Herbert built the house or at least his company, Wall Construction, built the house.  It was red brick with black mortar, a special request by her mom, Sadie. The house was located on the "other side" of the Ferguson-Kirkwood streetcar tracks, just down the hill and on the same side as the stately residences that lined the street north of Adams (Lockwood)​. It was across the street from the Kirkwood.Country Club (later renamed the Woodlawn Country Club.)  When golfers would tee off from the #3 tee, balls would often land in their yard. Today streets with the name of Par and Bogey are a little reminder of the past. The street [Woodlawn Avenue] from their house up to Manchester had not yet been paved and in the winter they would help to oil it.  Heavy rains or wet snows would cause cars to get stuck and for a modest fee there were always a few neighbors still with horses and wagons to help in their distress. My grandfather lived in the house for almost 40 years.  When it was sold the new owners painted the brick white and built on top of it.  They couldn't believe how thick the foundation was.  Wall Construction was a commercial builder.  They built schools, factories and breweries.  Very little evidence remains of the street car tracks next to the house.  As boys my brother and I used to collect a few spikes from the area.  Last summer I got out of the car just to prove to myself of its existence, and although most of the area has long since been turned into roadways, houses and lawns, I could still see and walk next to the ditch where the bed of the track use to be.  The one picture we have of the house was taken during the winter. The second is as it currently looks."

I love these stories of our childhood and especially those also about Kirkwood.  If YOU want to send some memories, please do and I'll post them.  And thanks to Alan Yount for his sharing of his memories which inspired Bruce to be in touch too! 

 

William Lee Hedrick leaves us too early

Jim Day was kind enough to contact me to let us know that Bill Hedrick died on December 10, 2017.  Here is an obituary that Jim wrote up for us in the absence of a published one that I could find.
Thanks go to Jim for being so kind to keep us posted on classmate activity.  Bill and Rusty Nelson were good pals, so I wonder if it was Rusty with whom Bill joined in the buddy system.  Thank you again Jim!

"William (BILL) Hedrick lived in Rosebud, MO. Graduating from Kirkwood High School he joined the Navy with the Buddy System, serving our country in the U.S. NAVY.  He served in VIET NAM from 1965-69 receiving medals for his service during his time there. Bill was involved in the recovery of APOLLO 10 & APOLLO 11.  He earned a degree in design engineering and, working for MONSANTO, Bill designed and developed machines to assist in the paint industries.  He eventually left MONSANTO to work within his family business and upon his retirement Bill was able to continue his avid love for golf, and his enjoyment as a master mechanic." 

 

CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A PICKLE

In October I was at Bopp Chapel attending visitation and the memorial service for the mother of a friend of mine.  She had been a music teacher here in St. Louis and my friend an alum of Ladue High.  I wasn't expecting to see anyone I knew other than my friend's Aunt whom I have known for some time through a mutual friend and my business.  So, I'm sitting in one of the pews in front of the lady whom I know and as I turned around and chatted with her the two ladies sitting next to her joined the conversation.  Somehow or other growing up in Kirkwood came up, imagine that, one of the ladies said something about the "Pickel Girls".  Despite the fact that sometimes I think I am getting senile, something triggered in my brain.  I looked at the darling lady who had said she'd been a teacher in Kirkwood for awhile many years ago, and I asked where and she said Nipher, I said when?... she began to calculate and I said,"wait, Nipher - Art - Miss Pickel" and then even her first name fell out of my mouth!  Charlotte Pickel, art teacher during our years at Nipher!  Well  ~ of course we had a great time discussing teachers, the fact that I did NOT have her as a teacher, which is a good thing, she would have remembered me if she had taught me for my totally unartistic self!  And we reminisced about Mr. Beltz, Dr. Wagner, other art teachers, etc.  She left Kirkwood, married, spent 11 years in Omaha teaching and along the way, not sure of the time frame as I didn't make good notes, she taught at Ladue, Webster and Parkway West Jr.  She and her sister are both retired, and enjoying life.  She is chipper, adorably cute and perky, smiles a lot!  Just an older version of the way I remember her as a short, perky teacher!  
One just never knows who she'll run into at Bopp Chapel...and what memories will be triggered...a great thing about blooming where you're planted as Mary Engelbreit admonishes...

Rock Star with a Connection to KHS65 - well sorta!

For someone who spent over 12 years in the computer biz sometimes on-line stuff goes over my head.  Yesterday while working quietly at my desk, I went on Facebook for some specific reason, and as those funky dropdown things sometimes do, an OLD message from my good pal Ric Porte fell into my view.  I have no recollection of ever having seen it before, so maybe I hadn't.  I don't do the "chat" stuff very well...at any rate what he told me in that message was that our classmate Janet McCleary Sheldon, who died 7 Sept 2004, had a very famous son, one rapper named Mac Lethal - who knew?

Well not me, because I'm not into rap or rappers and things named lethal give me the creeps.  But I made a quick note of the info and just took a few moments to google around.  Well, good grief, Mac is a big deal rapper!  He has his own Wikipedia entry which puts him above a lot of people I know!  SO, may I recommend you google Mac Lethal...you'll find YouTube videos, stills, tons of music, and all sorts of posts about Janet's son David McCleary Sheldon, aka Mac Lethal.  Nice to know that our classmates' children are making inroads of their own, even if their parents don't live to see them succeed.  Mac was only 23 when Janet died.  And please don't send me zillions of messages, like, "Gee Leslie we've known about him for years, where've you been?"  I've been right here, just not on the rapper scene!