KHS65's TOM HOLLEY HAS A NEW GIG!

At our recent reunion, Tom told me about his new chain of retail stores, HERE TODAY.  Monday I had the opportunity to visit the one in Arnold.  What an adventure!  Easy to find, clean, neat, friendly, efficient employees and great prices on all sorts of STUFF!!!  What more can a girl want?  You can see their locations at www.heretodaystores.com, and see them at Here Today on Facebook.  A great way to save some money, support our classmate's venture and have a fun shopping experience!!! And you don't have to go to Walmart to save a few bucks.  Tom, we're excited for your new adventure, keep up the good work.  

And even better, yesterday morning Tom was the featured guest on KMOV's morning show with Claire Kellett visiting his new Lake St. Louis store...he was GREAT, I told him he should have been a stand-up comedian....

Alphabetical summary list of KHS65 Veterans

HONORING OUR VETERANS – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!

 In preparing a poster for our 50th Reunion Party, I made an alphabetized list.  Please see all posts in the Label VETERANS AFFAIRS for the details of the service of many of these classmates.  If you are aware of others, or if you wish to add to the information already posted, PLEASE advise.  

January, 2026 unfortunately many of our veterans have died.  I have updated this list, didn't do a final proof read yet, but I want to note that many of the deceased's listings have obituaries so scroll through the VETERANS AFFAIRS label and you'll find them OR go to the SEARCH box on the right side and type in the name, posts on that person will appear.

10/13/15 - Two new names have been added from our Reunion Weekend.   Those with * by their names, and maybe some I missed, were in attendance at our 50th Anniversary Reunion this weekend.  Thank you for being with us!  We recognized our Veterans with a poster bearing their names, red/white & blue ribbons for their lapels and a big round of applause at the beginning of our dinner Saturday night.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ****THIS LIST WAS UPDATED 1/31/2026

The late Bob Albrecht, Korea 1960s

Larry Allin, Combat Medic 1st Cavalry, Vietnam 68-69 
*Dale Andrews, 1st Cavalry Division, Viet Nam '66-'67

Buzz Angeli, USMC 66-59, E-4 Viet Nam class of '67
*Bill Bailey, Reserves, but I forgot which service!

Bob Baker, Army Viet Nam

Mike Bartholomew, 6 years USN, 3 tours to Viet Nam
The late Andy Bastman, Air Force Officer

The late Jeff Beardsley, non-combat death Viet Nam 1968
*Jim Bilhorn, US Army

Howard Boltz, Merchant Marine

Mike Bosworth, Lt. JG Navy, 70-72; Virginia Beach, & Newport, RI
the late Bill Bowden, US Army 2 years, one of which in Viet Nam

the late Phil Brown
Bob Buckles, Aviation Storekeeper, US Army, Cuba, FL, VA & Europe 

Mike Caldwell USAF Viet Nam era pilot of KC-135 mid-air refueling for 7 years. 
*Gary Carpenter, MD, Retired Army

the late Bob Casey, Naval Aviation with the National Guard

The late Barney Coman Joined the Navy in 1965. He was an Aerographer’s Mate and later transitioned to Photographer’s Mate serving 20 plus years, retiring as Chief Petty Officer
Toby Cotton, SP/5, Army, Korea - pictured on the front page of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, 5/24/15 - way to go Toby!

Jim Day, 1966-1972 Army National Guard, unit deployed, 1/2 to Viet Nam, he to  Ft. Sam Houston for medical training which he used then & continued post service, to include being a principal in Gateway Ambulance Service owned by a Kirkwood guy and to which I sold a computer system in one of my careers.  Small world isn't it? 

Ed Deatherage, Military, stationed in Europe

John De Ruiter, 70-72

Bill Easton, Army, Ft. Carson and other places, 7 year tour
John Emerson, 2 years in U S Army
*John Evans, USAF, 1st Lt.
*Dell Ferguson, USAF 66 - 70, to Pakistan, TX, Okinawa
*Jeff Frahm, USAF, jet aircraft mechanic
Larry Fulkerson, USAF 69-73, Staff Sgt., TX, OK, AK, SD

Butch Goodrich, Army Viet Nam 68-69

George Gottschalk, USN, 66 - 70, based at Portsmouth, NH Engineman E-4
The late *John Guyer, MO Natl Guard Sgt, E-5
The late Otis Harris, USN 66 - 70

Doug Hayman 
The late Joseph W (Bill) Heister, US Army Spec 4; 2 time Purple Heart awardee
*Earl Herweck, USCG, 1966-70, EMI, based in MD, served as ice breaker

Scott Heuer, Air Force Band with Alan Yount
Brian Higgins, USAF Reserves in 1975 (I found out somehow he went to military school)

Richard Hodill Naval ROTC at Northwestern then time in service 

John Hines

*Steve Huber, Captain in USAF, navigator trainer, pilot training, electronic warfare officers school.  Duty in Guam and Thailand
Jim Huddleston,  67 – 70  US Army, in Ethiopia & elsewhere

The late Charles Huebner, US Army
The late Bill Illing, 4.5 years in Hawaii on shore duty; worked in mental health activities related to drug & alcohol abuse and 1 year outpatient clinic duty

Eric Johns

The late Russ Jaeger

*Tom Justison USAF 1966-1970, serving in TX, MS & Okinawa, trained in broadcasting & air traffic control; in ’75 Sgt traveling with USAF singing group

Todd Kamp, US Army 

Denny Keane, U S Army, 4 years in Germany
Rick Kohler, USAF 4 years, Staff Sgt, E-5
Bob Kraus, USN, gunner's mate, 2nd Class Petty Officer, 66-70Tim

Tim Lapping, USAF/Crypto 9/4/67 inducted
Gary Lasadose, USN on the USS FD Roosevelt
Nick Lattimore, US Army, Captain, Ft. Hood, Viet Nam & Ft. Bliss

Mark Lawler USN

Al Lawrence US Army, Viet Nam 68-69

Lary Lazier, Army Reserves (and a recent retiree of the Kirkwood Fire Department where he served us well for many years)
Art Leavens active duty USN Reserve 70-72, OCS, 1^st LT jg, 3 deployments

Dave Lewis, US Army, 3 years in Germany
Jim Livesay, USAF 4 years, Turkey & Minnesota
Russell Magee, 1st Lt., Viet Nam, Bronze Star & Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry

Nelson Mann, 1st Lt, 1969-72 

The late Tom Marenholz service info unknown
The late Mickey Marietta, Jr., 1975 Navy Air Reserves; he saw all of Europe, the North Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean & every port from ME to TX.
*Ron Masters, USN, Dentist; Jungle Survival School with USMC in Panama Canal Zone.

*Ken McBride, USMC, Jan 66 to Jan 68; Vietnam starting in DaNang and ending in DucPho.

The late Doug McKelvy, 4 years, 1st Lt., 3 years in Germany; worked on NATO bases with German Luftwaffe & Dutch Army for 3 years.  He currently reposes in peace at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery here in St. Louis County.
*John Michener, US Army 2 years, stationed in Germany

Bill Mikko 
The late Richard Mills, USMC, trained Quantico, served in DaNang, South Viet Nam and Camp Pendleton, Sgt E-5.
Jim Moriarity, US Army, 1970 Mekong Delta
J. David Mueller, USAF Academy 66-70, in 1975 was Captain stationed at Mather AFB, CA & served in Viet Nam

The late Gene Muir, US Army SPC-4, now living in the greater St. Louis area 

Rusty Nelson, USN 

Charlie Nemec  

Ray Noll, USMC 4 years, 1st Lt, Infantry Platoon Commander/Air Controller Quantico & Pendleton, Western Pacific

The late *Jim Olson, KS Air National Guard  

*Bob O'Neill  USA crewchief CH-47 Chinook; 82d Airborne Div. Joined Reserves, 1986 back to Ft. Eustis, VA. UH-60 Blackhawk school; one of 1st Hawks at beautiful downtown Kuwait international airport

Alan Painter, 4 years on the USS Enterprise, CVAN-65.
The late Austin Parham was in the National Guard

The late Jim Persons, USN
Ron Persons, USN 1969-70, stationed in the Western Pacific, similar to Ray Noll, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Hawaii, Korea & Philippines
Mike Pigg, Airman 1st Class, Alaska, Guam and Stateside duty
Mike Pollman, US Army, 2 years as a flight engineer and was a helicopter pilot
The late *Ric Porte, USN, 2 years in Viet Nam.  

The late John Prill, 27 years, 6 months, 4 days; USCG, retired as Chief Warrant Officer 4

The late Jerome Rawlings, Army, Sp 4, MP killed in action, Pleiku, 1968 put his name in the search box on front page for articles about his service.

Rocky Reece, US Army, Mannheim, Germany
Bill Reynolds, US Army #-5 in VA, Hawaii and CTR
*Ric Roberts, retired Career Navy, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class, many duty stations. 

Jim Russell, US Army, 69-71 Viet Nam; interrogation specialist & Vietnamese linguist in military intelligence. 

Jim Scheidt, US Army, Viet Nam, 67-68
*Judge Gary Schmidt, 1st Lt., Viet Nam
Richard (Dick) Schmidt, USN, Norfolk, Boston, Newport & 6 month cruise around South America 

Ervin (Scotty) Scott

Jamie Sehl, US Army 1968-73, Chief Warrant Officer, 2 tours Viet Nam, 69 & 73.  Flight training & pilot school instructor

Bob Shank, US Army 2 years, Viet Nam as a spy!
Wick Short, US Army 3 years, 1st Lt.
*Paul Silman, USN 66 - 70, stationed at Pearl Harbor
Clay Singleton, ROTC Scholarship; US Army 1st Lt., 1st Armored Div; Germany
Bill Snyder, USAF, Staff Sgt, 1969-73, 2 years Korea & Japan
The late Linda Stevens, RN., US Army Nurse Corps 69-70

The late Reed Stites, U S Army 1966-70, 2 tours in Viet Nam, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
*Don Stream, USN, stationed MD, FL, Sicily and Iceland, 4 years, E-5
*Dean Swisher, US Army, Heidelberg, Spec 5
*Steve Swofford, US Army 1970-71
Gene Talley, 1966-1970, duty in Okinawa "in the service"

John A. Thompson, USAF Academy & Air Force service 
The late *Jack Toman, Army Band, 1966 to 1973 traveled extensively- see obituary & Alan Yount post 11/13/14
Dan Truman, USN

The late Byron Vermillion, U S Navy

The late *Nelson Wainwright, U S M C 

The late Jim Waters -died Oct. 2004, [buried Jefferson Barracks] of agent orange exposure in Viet Nam

*Bill Watts, US Army, Nuclear Weapons School, member of Nuclear Emergency Team for S E Asia, Ft. Ord, Sandia Base, NM & Okinawa

Tom Webdell 

*Frank West, USAF 65-69
Rich Whelove, "...took a sabbatical [from college] under the auspices of Uncle Sam to Tonsun Hnut & Ft. Sill with a side trip to Bangkok."  

John Winkler

The late Alan Yount, 6 years trumpet player, Natl Guard Band 68-74, & USAF Band, see post of 11/13/14 and his obituary. There are also more posts about him in this Veterans Affairs category.

 

 

Reunion tidbits

Sending all our biggest get well wishes to Linda Girard Day who is having a tough time now....she needs our good vibes and prayers.  It looks like she won't be able to join us for the party, but we hope JD might be able to pop in and at least take home some gossip to cheer Linda a bit...GET WELL LINDA!!!!

There will be a funeral reception on FRIDAY at P J's in Kirkwood from 2 to 5pm.  If you are planning to go there, be aware the parking in that part of town is a bear, so just be patient; parking on the surrounding streets (no meters), and other lots is available, just drive around a bit.  I'm sure the public part of the restaurant will have normal clientele, the reception will be in the adjoining space, so don't stay away if you are yearning for a great P J Burger, just be aware...

Remember we are having a cash bar, and also while your wallets are open, we're having a few Silent Auction items - no not ski trips to Aspen, or a new car, but some KHS65 memorabilia, think t-shirts and mugs, teddy bear w/ Kirkwood shirt, some nice ceramic steins, one KHS Alumni and one of a Kirkwood landmark, can coozies, just some fun "stuff" - money going to Class Reunion kitty.

LATEST LIST OF ATTENDEES - 50TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION

Charlie Stevenson is coming from MONTANA!!!  YEAH, and thanks to JD for encouraging him!!!!  Todd Kamp and Paul Silman are joining us too.

Here is the latest list of attendees for all events of our Reunion weekend.

SPEED SURFACES IN ST. LOUIS

No, I don't mean fast cars, drugs or any such, I mean Jim Herb of Lowell, Michigan.  I'll never be able to stop calling him Speed, but he does now go by Jim.  He and lovely wife Jan were in St. Louis on July 11th on their way down to Branson for a vacation and Jack and I picked them up at their motel and we had a great dinner at P J's in Kirkwood.  Juicy burgers and fries, beer, a bit of wine, and great conversation made it a very fun evening.  Then of course we drove around Kirkwood seeing some old haunts.  We went by his house on Flower Hill Court in Glendale, and as we drove in that area he pointed to many a house remembering the names of our friends who lived there...as I recall mostly girls!  Imagine that!  That neighborhood has held its beauty over all of these years with lovely landscaping, well-kept

homes, and so forth. Isn't this just SO Kirkwood?  Jan is Jim's second, younger, wife...he's one of our classmates who has been educating children for decades!  But their last has now flown the nest so they can relax and enjoy life a bit more freely.  Having lived in Pittsburgh for some years, they are big Pirates fans so we had some good sports conversations.  Thanks for a great visit Jan and Jim, let's do it again sometime. You should come to town next month!  It's not too late.  My treat at PJs!  FIND JIM ON FACEBOOK - Jim Herb w/Greenridge Realty - he has some interesting interior design pix on his page as well as real estate "stuff"...check it out!
 

ANOTHER TOPIC I HAPPEN TO LOVE - KIRKWOOD ARCHITECTURE - SOMEWHERE SPECIAL

I have written about this topic in the past, in fact for years.  There is something so special about this architecture with its glass blocks, glazed tiles, garage doors, and the

unique layout of the setting.  Now of course it's gone, but classmate Roxie Guels Rassi sent me this article recently and I can't resist....but I will also tell you, at the Museum of Transport in Kirkwood, you know right on Barrett Station Road south of Big Bend, you can see a part of the facade rebuilt.  It is nestled in the room with some very cool cars which are not-to-be-missed features of the Museum.  While you are in town, a trip there will be mind-blowing ~ it's grown SO much since our childhood.  Our classmates Dave Beardsley and Bob O'Neill give abundant time as volunteers there, Bob's having been at it for over 50 years!!!  And now we've roped in my hubby Jack.  My son automated their Friends database while he was still in High School.... I remember going there with my dad as a child.  And NO, I did not smooch in the train tunnel but I know some of our classmates did!  At any rate, Coral Courts Motel was a landmark in Kirkwood for a long time...and I love asking our classmates, "Do YOU have a Coral Courts story?"  Thanks again Rox for the memories....

Another Viet Nam Veteran story

Please make time to scroll down and visit my several posts regarding our class Veterans.  As we prepare to gather for our 50th Anniversary Reunion, let us remember all of our friends who gave so much.  This article is from the Kirkwood Advertiser (called The Advertisers in the heading) on June 27, 1968 and courtesy of ever-devoted KHS65 member Roxanne Guels Rassi, who we can thank in person because she is attending our reunion.  I've just added a new label, Veterans Affairs, so you can quickly go down the right side to the list of labels and click the link to Veterans Affairs and you'll see all the posts with this label.

STORIES FROM OUR MATES, I LOVE TO GET THEM!!! CHECK THIS OUT!

Our classmate Lary Lazier has retired from a long and stellar career as a fireman in Kirkwood...my late husband's great grandfather was one of the very first firemen in Kirkwood, so the department is a favorite Kirkwood 'thing' of mine.  Ken McBride and Lary have been buds for a long time, as Ken recently reminded me the photos here are from 35 years ago, as he says "YIKES".  These are from November of 1980.  Another reminder from Ken is that the pole dancer is now 50 years old - wonder if she's still dancing?

Herewith Ken's commentary:  

Lary and I used to like establishments with cheap beer and 'interesting' patrons. Originally the cats were his then he pawned them off on me since his new wife would not allow him to bring them along. They were never declawed and were very much bad boys, destroying a lot of furniture, street fighting, and, of course getting us kicked out of  the upscale establishment shown in the picture.  

Checkout the hair-do and 50s ashtray!  Thanks Ken and Lary for sharing - always fun to see our friends having FUN!  Have to wonder what was the fate of Goliath??  Come to the reunion and ask Ken!

KHS NATATORIUM NEWS - INVOLVES OUR REUNION !!

An additional bit of excitement for our reunion weekend.  KHS65 member Tom Walker reportedly will be with us at the reunion, and it's his parents mentioned here. Continue reading below for notes on our Stellar Senior Swim Team:

From the Development Office at KHS ~
"Dear Friends of Kirkwood High School,

The Walker Natatorium is nearing completion. We have our fingers crossed that the last several swim meets (Sept. 29, Oct. 6 and Oct. 8) for the Boys Swim & Dive Team will be held in the Walker Natatorium.  The Girls Swim & Dive season begins November 9  and the Water Polo season begins February 22.

EXCITING NEWS: An anonymous donor has established a challenge! The donor will match dollar for dollar every donation - up to $100,000 - given to the Legacy Fund for the Walker Natatorium! Every dollar given to the Legacy Fund will be used to assist with maintaining the Walker Natatorium.

The challenge officially starts when we "turn on" the water to fill the pool (target date is September 12), and the challenge will end on October 10 at 10 am - the date of the KHS Class of 1965 reunion tour of Kirkwood High School. The KHS 1965 Boys Swim Team was the first Swim Team State Champions! [Our reunion tour of the school will also be the "ribbon cutting" for the new pool since KHS65's swim team won the first state championship!]

Please help us meet the challenge and "fill the pool" by making a donation to the Legacy Fund for the Walker Natatorium. Donors who give $3,000 and up will be recognized on the Major Donor Wall within the Walker Natatorium. All donations over $100 will be recognized within the Walker Natatorium. Our goal is to raise $3 million to establish the Legacy Fund and use the interest earned from the fund for general operational costs such as utilities, water testing and balancing and equipment inspections. In future years, the funds may be used for equipment repairs and replacement.

The dedication for the Walker Natatorium is in the planning stages. Detailed information will be sent in the very near future.

Included in this e-mail is information related to the history of our aquatic teams. We believe it is important to remember the coaches, parents and community members who have always supported our student athletes in the aquatics.

Please join us and consider making a donation during this exciting time in history. You can go to www.walkernatatorium.org, call or text 314.600.7773 or email ginger.cayce@kirkwoodschools.org.

It is THE YEAR OF THE POOL!

Ginger Cayce
314.600.7773
Kirkwood School District
Community Relations & Development

Kirkwood High School Aquatic Teams History

Girls were not allowed to play in sanctioned competitive teams until the passage of Title IX in 1972. Girls began competing on the boys team in 1973, and in 1974, female only teams were formed. The girls swim team was added during the 1974-75 school year after a group of female swimmers successfully advocated for a team.

It was Coach Wilson Stocker [who died 4/22/15] who stepped up in 1975 and volunteered to coach the first KHS Girls Swim & Dive Team. Coach Stocker did not receive monetary compensation for his efforts, but his memory is held in high esteem by many female athletes.

In 1962-63, the first Boys Swim & Dive Team was formed. The three state champion titles were all coached by Coach Wilson Stocker, 1965, 1966 and 1972! Swimmers who swam for Coach Stocker were known as "Stockers Strokers."

The first Co-Ed Water Polo Team was formed in the fall of 1996. The first coach was Richard "Hoot" Newman."
From our 1965 Pioneer :
SWIMMERS SPLASH TO STATE VICTORY
We had an undefeated (9-0) season  as Coach Stocker predicted!
KHS set 2 records in the State Meet, the 200 yard medley relay team of Gary Birum, Bob Casey, Chuck Comfort &  Dan Clark posted a new mark of 1:48.1 and team captain [the late] Bob Casey captured the 100 breastroke with a 1:06.0. 
Other KHS65 members of the team were:  Rusty Nelson, Wylie Dawson, Charlie Stevenson, Andy Bastman, Lee McLaughlin and Craig Conway [currently known as Mr. Lee Bennett just in case you didn't know  :-)) ]

R I P Otis K. HARRIS, KHS65

Another KHS65 classmate has passed away, please go here 
to see the Webster-Kirkwood Times obituary for Otis who died August 5th.  So sad to be losing these classmates so young; I know we all send his family sincere condolences.