POET and MUSICIAN Alan Yount is at it again!

WOW our KHS65 Poet Laureate Alan Yount is honored with his 8th poem published at Jerry Jazz Musician the jazz musicians' website par excellence.  This is Alan's 118th published poem too!  Gosh!  The new one was JUST published yesterday, so we are privileged to see it when it's hot off the presses.  With a title like "
Listening to Charlie Parker, Play Jazz, In the Dark
     For Charlie Parker with Strings"
it's no surprise it's about Charlie Parker, and Alan thinks it hits a "universal note about people listening to music."  

Alan would be interested in working with a classmate who might want to publish a chapbook of jazz and music poems.  Jack or Judge G, your names come to mind.  He's easy to reach, just send me a note or write to him at aredboat at centurylink dot net.

Congratulations again to Alan - he's spending his retirement very productively!!!  WAY TO GO, yet another KHS65 member making us all look sooo good!
Sunday, GEE, I just saw my own FB page post - I have NO idea where that photo of a Yount headstone w/ horn came from!!!  Alan is alive and well!

More Bob Albrecht, please see this post and two earlier this month.

Here is another from Roy Herrera (see earlier post below for more info):

"1976  Tall Sailing Ships from all over the planet sailed into New York

Bob had to see it. Yes he showed up from halfway across the country.

And yes he had a front row seat.

Sitting in a tree on the very southern tip of Manhattan in Battery Park.

Bob had a special enthusiasm about life.

Roy Herrera"

Roy has spent many years living in Brooklyn, not far from the Bridge...LVR

The late Bob Albrecht made such a difference, more information coming in.

Thank you to Roy Herrera and Kathy O'Neil Lang we are getting some wonderful information about our late (June 25, 2018) classmate Bob Albrecht.  I was waiting to post until I could come up with an obituary but so far I haven't found one, but this information may be more valuable anyway.  Check this out and then come back again to read the rest below this link.  If anyone has anything to add please email me!  Be sure to scroll down for another great article about Bob!

https://dentoncountyhistoryandculture.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/whos-who-in-denton-county-bob-albrecht/

Roy Herrera and Bob were in the Army together in the 1967-1968 timeframe.  Bob went in at Fort Gordon in the spring of 1968, and went to Korea.  Jeff Frahm, Roy and Bob were pals and here is an email of January 4, 2001 from Bob to Roy,quoted here with Roy's permission:

"Hay Roy,

Me and the kid, Alden, were thinking about a trip to my sister Dee's house in

Leadville Colorado.  Lost track of Jeff Frahm when he went to Co. a number of

years ago.  Thought we might invade his space.  Horse ranch in the mountains.

I ended up trying KHS.com and sure enough piece of cake.  While I was at it,

where is Roy, the last I heard from a newsletter, under the bridge. 

    Jeff is in Co. with his 2nd wife, class of 77, horses and dogs and all

of that.  Just had 2 boys in the last 1 1/2 years.  He is doing fine and back

in the slot machine business, via the net and UPS from the mountains north of

Ft. Collins, CO.

    Me, Iam in a relaxed mode on the historic preservation.  Fixing old

house museums.  I get paid some to write about it, but mostly I save the old

materials and do the old methods, copper, slate timbers, etc., that nobody

else is doing.  I figured that if I studied and paid the dues I could be one

of those elite dudes with the knowledge to save those special buildings. 

Well, I got there and it's lonely.  There is no such profession.  Everybody

hires contractors that remodel with minimum wage crews.  The state has a list

of about 2 qualified guys and I am one.  No work from that.  Other things I

have done that would surely bring in the work.  Wrote an article for the Old

House Journal, Got a distinguished service award from the Texas State

Historical Commission (2 a year given out), wrote a book, studied in England

for a summer, Nobody cares.  I am tired of pushing on it, so I have semi

retired, this way when I make no money, it is a hobby.  That felt good, I

knew that it was somebody else's fault, good to see it in writing.

      Gretchen just got married and has a new kid, that is right.  She is now

Gretchen Vasquez.  Alden is out of High School but still no interest in

further education, work or even a hobby.  He is living with his Mom and

borrowing her car.  I now have less strings that any time in the last 20

years.  The Harley is still around.

    I got some Long Horn cattle out there mowing the 20 acers but the track

builders are moving in on me.  I do not seem to have a whole lot of burning

information, been doing the hermit thing. 

Oh, Gretchen and Alden for that matter went to NY NY a couple of years back. 

Can't belive Cheri sent Alden to visit Gretchen in NY.  There was some talk

about a Roy hunt in NY, but it never materialized.  Gretchen was modeling, a

couple of jobs didn't cover the costs.

OK, you are it. Bob, the foe"

Shelby Stout, wife of Beloved Teacher Art Stout, passes away

Just yesterday I learned of the death of Shelby Stout on June 8th.  She was the mother of Art Stout III and grandmother of 3.  She and Mr. Stout were owners of Country Surf Swim Club in Des Peres for a long time and 60 year residents of Kirkwood.  Her Memorial Service was the 19th.  Memorials requested to the Humane Society.  Our classmate Bob O'Neill and Art are particularly good friends and we thank Bob for alerting us to Shelby's death.  While I was not a student of Mr. Stout's, I know many of our classmates were and really thought he was a great teacher.  Condolences to him and their son and grandchildren.

BOB ALBRECHT affected the lives of MANY in his TEXAS SURROUNDINGS, an amazing life ended way too soon.

Amazing is all I have to say, enjoy this article about our late classmate Bob Albrecht.

http://www.postsignal.com/single-post/2018/06/28/Lowbrows-owner-died-as-he-lived

Cheri was a KHS girl too, class of '66 I believe, am working to verify the year.

FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE FROM A KHS65 SON

Our KHS65 Poet Laureate Alan Yount (The Count of 1960s Band fame) has once again been honored by Jerry Jazz Musician website with a front page poem for Father's Day.  I think you'll enjoy it, even if you're not a father!  Way to go once again Alan!!!  And Happy post Father's Day to you, and many more!

photo by John Cobb and Morgan Naies

SITTING  ON  TOP  OF  MY  DAD’S  TOMBSTONE
                   For My Dad, Thomas Yount


sitting on the top of my dad’s tombstone
          … in sedalia, missouri,
I was thinking
          of how much
we practiced
         our horns together.
you played clarinet
          and I was on the cornet.
It seemed forever
          we practiced:
all through grade school and junior high,
          you played so great.
I never thought
          that I would ever catch up to you.
but your playing,
         taught me your desire, to play better.
sitting there,
         on top of his tombstone:
I played a few notes, on the cornet
          of the song “back again.”
and I was thinking of
          and hearing
a great jazz legacy
          passed on
from my father
          to his only son. 

KHS Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame - NOMINATIONS NOW IN ORDER

From the latest newsletter of the  KHS Alumni & Friends Call Summer 2018 - the nomination form is on the alumni website, URL below.

 

Outstanding Alumni and Athletic Halls of Fame

 

The Kirkwood High School (KHS) Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame Selection committees are now accepting online nominations for the Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame and the Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

The purpose of the Kirkwood Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame is to honor men and women who have achieved success in some recognized field of endeavor and who would serve as appropriate role models for future Kirkwood High students.

 

The purpose of the Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor and recognize men and women athletes, coaches, or community members who have made significant contributions to KHS athletics.

 

Honorees will be recognized in Spring 2019. The ceremony for the Athletic Hall of Fame will be held February 9, 2019. The ceremony for the Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame will be held March 30, 2019.

Individuals inducted in the Halls of Fame are listed on the alumni website.at https://mo49000011.schoolwires.net/Page/2944.

 

A NOD TO VIET NAM, A KHS CLASSMATE AND MEMORIAL DAY

From our good KHS65 friend Alan Yount, poet, horn player and bandmaster extraodinaire,  comes a new poem which will be honored in an online publication for Memorial Day.  Kudos to Alan for continually succeeding in having his work published!  I have more of his work to post, just recently able to find time for some of my long-neglected fun activities.  You can visit the journal at:  http://militaryexperience.org/as-you-were-vol-1/ and on the 28th you should see Alan's poem leading off the poetry section.  Note the nod to Craig Schmitz, another Kirkwood boy killed in Viet Nam.

On this Memorial Day, as always, wishing the best for all our classmates who have and continue to serve our country.  Thank you for your service!

WHY DOES THE NIGHT LAST SO LONG

  

the same dreams

sometimes happen over and over …

          in high school

          kissing a girl for the first time:

          the porch lights suddenly go on.

at college, after studying all night:

          falling asleep

          I miss the final.

late for an interview:

finally get there

          I find out it’s the wrong room.

my young daughter, who I still smell

her fragrance, from hugging me:

          slips away, and

          disappears down a crowded street.

some nights, floating

up and out of bed

smothered in covers …

          and I can’t cry out.

down here with craig schmitz

(my high school dance band drummer)

who was killed in vietnam:

          we are forever clawing up a muddy hill

          somewhere north of da nang.

it’s three a.m.

you think you’re awake?

or asleep?

a voice tells you:

          there’s nothing

          you can ever go back to again

          and change in your life

          even in your dreams.

why does the night

                             last so long.

 

If you wish to contact Alan, please let me know, I hesitate to publish his contact info online due to horrible increase in spam and annoying phone calls to which we are all subjected these days.

KHS65 LOSES ANOTHER OF THE GOOD GALS

I have recently been thinking of some of our class literati and plan to post some items written by our classmates.  Jane Edwards (Willis) Wand was one of the authors I plan to quote, and now I have just learned of her recent death.  When I return from the trip to New England I am currently enjoying, I'll get more literature from our classmates posted.  Meanwhile, here is Jane's obituary.  Oh so sad, look at all those kids and grands who will miss her loving ways!

Obituary for Jane Edwards Wand

Jane Edwards Wand, 70, passed away peacefully in her home in Springfield Mo with her husband, Mark, and her children by her side on May 16, 2018. Jane was born July 16, 1947 in Marshall, MO to the late William David (Sam) Edwards and Suzanne (Croswhite) Edwards. Jane is survived by her husband, Mark Wand, her sister Mary Morris of Denver, Colorado, her 7 children: Kevin Willis (Mattia Coleman) of Springfield, David Willis of Springfield, Mary Kathryn (Chris) Brammer of Albuquerque NM, Helen (Lance) Williams of Springfield, Jacob (Jenny) Wand of St. Louis, Andrew (Jamie) Willis of Springfield, and Erica Wand of St. Louis, and her 12 grandchildren Kristen, Christian, Cameron, Billy, Gavin, Suzanne Jane, Evynne, Rowan, Myrtle, Molly, Farrah and Benjamin, and her many nieces and nephews.

Jane graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1965, where she was a Girl Scout and played field hockey, and also enjoyed journalism and writing for the school newspaper and yearbook. Jane was an exchange student in the Union of South Africa her senior year. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and African Studies from Northwestern University. Jane later earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with emphasis in English. Throughout her life Jane had a wide variety of jobs, including working as a teaching assistant in the Anthropology Department at Northwestern University, a short stint in the production department at Rolling Stone Magazine, and owning a Sign Painting business. After moving to Springfield in 1986, she held various sales and marketing positions with Springfield! Magazine and the Springfield Business Journal, and rehabbed houses in MidTown Springfield. She was also active in PEO, and recently served as president of her chapter. Of all her jobs, Jane would say her biggest and most important job was raising her seven children, and their many friends who called her ‘mom’ too.

Jane loved the smell of the river and enjoyed spending time at Lake of the Ozarks with her beloved husband, Mark. The day they met he had a canoe on his car, and she knew she was in love! Together they sailed around the lake and went on driving adventures through the woods in his Willy’s Jeep. Her admiration of the outdoors started during her Girl Scout years, and from bird watching to hiking, rock hunting, and sitting by a bonfire she shared her love of the outdoors with all who visited, especially her children and grandchildren. She also took pride in showing her grandchildren the wonderful indoor things that she loved such as reading, crafting, cooking and baking. Jane was an avid reader, typically reading multiple books, magazines, and articles all at the same time. Jane will always be known for her big smile, easy conversation, and caring heart. She is someone who truly made everyone feel like somebody.

The memorial visitation will from be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a Rosary Service to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday May 22, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Memorial Mass will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday May 23, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Fr. Tom Kiefer celebrant. The committal service will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Springfield, MO under the care of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home.

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com .

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.