Candida Bettinson (Jensen)

Oh, now I see that I did post something on our site.  Deborah Wendall Williams posted his obit here, and then I think my post was after I attended the funeral.  I knew there had to be something here....it's back on 6/18/14ish.

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Happy Father's Day Guys! Here's Bill the Fishing Guy....

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Paul, you're being mysterious again....

Dale Charlie Salazar

Funny stuff Char, but I was looking for a big fish story.

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.

She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, “I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!”. The four men didn't wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.

The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver’s seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition. 

She tried and tried, and then she realized why. It was for the same reason she had wondered why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12-packs of beer in the front seat. A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down.

She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.

The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing. He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.

No charges were filed.

The moral of the story? 

If you’re going to have a senior moment… make it memorable.

Richard C. Green

Coach Schwab was one of those people who was smiling eternally. If I ever saw him without a smile on his face, I can't remember. When I finally went and learned to drive (Drivers Ed, yeah?) I remember my older sisters, who both attended South, including Diane, who was a senior when I was a sophamore) both advised me on Drivers Ed. They both recommended I try to get Coach Schwab and of course I had no say in the matter whatsoever. Who did I get? The teacher who never smiled; the crabbiest old fart in the school. And now I forget his name. Was it Smith? Thick heavy glasses, an old many in his late 60's, like we're all gonna be soon. He always wore a suit and tie. And he certainly lived up to his reputation. Every day I walked down to the cars, I looked at Coach Schwab to see if that smile was still there and of course it always was. Smith never figured out how to smile though. Schwabb should have taught him. Smith sure knew how to holler and yell at us student drivers though. I remember in the first week, we drove to Liberty park and among other things, did figure 8's backwards.

Later on, I was driving and was told to get on the freeway at 13th South and head north. He told us previously that he would try and mix us up by telling us to do things that we shouldn't do, and he'd kick it in neutral when we were going down a steep hill around the capitol, stuff like that, so as I got on the freeway and he said "Now, I want you to put your blinker on to go right, then look over your left shoulder, I thought: This is it. He's trying to get me to goof up by telling me something totally bass ackwards. I mean, whoever heard of putting your blinker on to go right, then looking over yor left shoulder? But as we all know (NOW!!) that was one way to do it there then because you entered the freeway with traffic on both sides of you. So I put my blinker on to go right, and I'm doing 70 (as ordered sir!!!!) but afteer putting my blinker on to the right, I looked over my right shoulder, figuring he was telling me wrong. "Are you trying to kill us?" And I mean he was YELLING. It was great. I was still in my lane, there wasn't a dangerous situation as he led me to believe. If it was busy, yeah, but still, I bet the pucker factor in the back seat was at least 10.

When we got back, Schwab was getting out of his car and he was smiling. Smith was as crabby as ever. I managed to survive. And I thought about his teaahing us to drive every time I was driving around the capitol while working in the Crime Lab. I'd go down all those steep streets and remember Smith kicking it into neutral. We were supposed to brake, and steer to the right. With me, it took him so long to get it in neutral, I was ready for two blocks. And I passed. Smith even smiled. ONCE.

Later, when I was driving one of the old detective cars in the Crime Lab (a mid 90's Ford Taurus with a digital MPH readout) as I drove to a traffic acccident on Bangerter and 2100 South, I thought of Smith telling me "The speed limit is 70, not 65; get it up there. And I also wondered if the digital speedometer would show 100 or 00 if I went that fast? Well, one way to find out. No one around me. No one ahead of me. I put the pedal to the metal and up it went. "Okay Mr. Smith I'm doing 70, plus a little bit more for good measure." I said aloud to no one. When I hit 100 it read 100. WOW. It really does show speeds above 100. Why?  

When I arrived, all the cop said was: "Boy you sure got here fast."

"Yeah. Not much traffic."

I've always wished the three or four of us that took Drivers Ed together could drive somewhere together, perhaps to lunch or dinner somewhere and talk about all the crap we all endured, all the close calls, and find out if anyone ever saw Smith smile? I'm gonn a go check the yearbook. 

Paul Michelsen and I rode 120cc Kawasaki street legal dirt bikes together back in high school and we're gonna have another ride sometime this summer. My 1975 AMF Ironhead Sportster (Harley bought them out again) only cost me $60 at an auction but it runs very nicely now. And Michelsen?  He has to show off. You'll never believe the bike he bought. I forget what it is but it's VERY NICE. So ladies, expect us to show up at your doorstep so you can come along and tell us stories as we go. Drive by all the junior high schools, all our old houses, SHS, where else? Remember who got a job at that McDonald's when they built it? I do but I forget his name. Better yet, we'll meet at the old school and go from there. Any of you ladies own your own motorcycle? See, I own a Harley so, if it ain't a Harley, it ain't a motorcycle. This photo was taken in 1990.

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

I had Coach Schwab for Driver's Ed. We happened to end up with 4 girls in the car and you would think that Schwab would have behaved himself. NO! He set out to show his rauchy side. I don't think I've ever heard so many dirty jokes and chauvinistic comments in my life. But I enjoyed myself and always looked forward to Driver's Ed.

It was a fun car to be in. I can't quite remember who else was in the car - I want to say Rosanne Guido was one of the other three. Tell me if this wasn't you, Rosanne. One day Schwab had allowed us to listen to a radio station we preferred - we were enjoying it immensely. Then The Doors came on with Jim Morrison singing "Touch Me, Baby....". Rosanne yelled "What?" and was utterly scandalised. The rest of us laughed. She must have led an even more sheltered life than I did.

I guess around the capitol and down Gravity Hill though city creek must have been one of the usual routes. It was winter and Schwab decided whoever was driving needed to learn how to drive out of a snow drift. I think it was Rosanne. She drove straight into the snow drift as instructed then he told her how to drive out of it. It didn't work no matter how hard she tried. He switched seats with her and tried to drive out of it himself - no go. Luckily he had a shovel in the back and proceeded to dig us out while the 4 of us stood around watching. When we got back to South he had to write us all excuses for being late to the next class.

I do believe I got an A in the class, passedf my Driver's Test the first time and still know how to parralel park.

Sue Kelson (Butcher)

Thanks for the Marty Robbins' post Paul.  He was my father's favorite and I have such tresured memories every time I hear his songs; come to think of it, he's one of my favorites as well!

Richard C. Green

Dale Charlie Salazar

So many memories jogged here.  I thought Marti Robins was Mexican when I was a kid because of the song El Paso.  Oh Well????  He still maintained a high level of respect and admiration in my family as one of the finest at Country.

Coach Schwab.  Took wrestling for one year until he caught me in the parking lot with someone special.  But we did stay friends.  I took driver's ed from the old guy. I didn't remember his name.  I got slapped on the arm a number of times through that and wanted so dearly to slap him back.  Sue Kelson and Sue Gustavason called me "peanut" through that experience.  I kinda liked that.

Yes Mr. Green I did admire the Ford Galaxy but there was nothing like Larry Stettler's GTO with tri-power.  He put it into the backend of a Vette in senior year putting Russ DeKorver's head through the windshield.  Just glad I wasn't with them that night but that car was never beaten off the line on State Street.

And between Freshman and Sophomore year of college Stettler and I bought motor cycles.  I had a very hot Suziki 500. Mean for a two stroke.  It died a quick death at the backend of a Mustang in the fall of 71.  My wife tells me I can have my Harly but I would need to live someplace else with it.  I prefer my wife over a Harly(?)

Deeann Loveridge (Reynolds)

OH MY, Richaed!  The nightmare of driver's ed.  I hated driving and still do.  Just was not ready for it then and today, nobody is ready for me in our little silver Honda.  The worst experience I remember was driving to Liberty Park.  After making the right hand turn from 5th east onto 9th south to enter the park from the north side I was going a little too fast and didn't straighten the steering wheel out as fast as I should have.  The three guys in the back (sorry, can't remember names) started screaming, our teacher was stomping on the brake, and the people waiting for a bus on the park lawn ran for cover.  But, hey we all lived.  

The last experience I remember (after we had been driving for a while) was travelling down a stretch of road, maybe Redwood Road in the old days, where the speed limit frequently changed, and that was the test.  I found all of the speed changes but remember one of the guys whispering to someone in the back seat, "How fast was she going?"  

I apologize to all in my driver's ed. car.  But we all lived through it and no accidents that I can remember.  Close calls don't count. 

Jeff Chivers

Richard, Good recollections of Mr.Smith, my driver's ed teacher as well.

I remember well my first day in driver's ed when we went to Liberty Park, and the old man (relative to our age at the time) exclaiming to me as I took my first turn behind the wheel,  "Looks like you've been doin' some drivin' before - just enough to make you dangerous.  I'll have to unteach everything you think you know before you kill us all."

I don't think he was totally successful in that attempt.

Mr. Smith - most memorable quotes:  

"Feeeeeeeeeeeeeed it!!"  when he wanted he wanted you to go faster.

"Red means stop . . . yellow means stop . . .  green means prepare to stop."

And the most memorable (as indicated by Richard)  "Hell boy!!!!! Are you trying to kill us?!?!?!?

Richard C. Green

Where did we drive on the freeway when onee of us got on, then it was just straight as an arrow as we all took turns doing 70mph to please Smith. And I'm gonna be laughing all day about: Red meeans stop; yellow means stop, green means prepare to stop." No one believes me when I tell them that. I remember taking my tesst with Smith and I was driving around th downtown area, even parallell parked in front of 451 S State. Then I got done and Mr. Smith says: "Well Mr Green, I don't know if you can drive or not. You didn't make any lefthand turns." Yes sir, Mr Smith was one of those peole I never wanted to see again. Driving backwards in Liberty Park was fun though.  

Not that it matters, but the only song I like sung by Marty Robbins is "El Paso." 

Now, if you want to talk about John Fogerty and his song that mentions BUCK OWENS, and how he salutes him each time he sings that song, I agree. I listen to Buck Owens. AND John Fogerty, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, and many more. I went through Big Band ,like a dose of salts. Benny Goodman is the best. Oh yeah, Mark Knopfler. 

Richard C. Green

Oh, and Mr. Salazar, I never really got into cars until I was in my senior year at Coconino High School in Flagstaff, Arizona. Then, my best friend drove a 1966 Chevelle SS 396 with a 780 Holley carb, headers, a Hurst shifter, and when hee put it in 2nd gear, he COULD, if he wanted to, get both front wheels off the ground. One night, he took me out to where the racing was done, on the way to the ski resort where the road was straight and flat. There was a GTO, a '67 I think, with a 389 and a  nice carb, and it sounded good too. Well, they both wanted to find out which one was faster. The lady stood out front, then dropped both arms and off we went. Dave (my friend in the Chevelle with me) took it up to 60 in first gear before he shifted it into 2nd and when he did, that GTO went from right next to me to 3 lengths behind us, and iit just got worse. But the fastest cat in Arizona, no lie, was a 1968 Nova with a stock 350 engine in it. The guy who owned it said he thought that every now & then, they make a car that's just perfect and it drives that way too, and he thought that's what he had. He went up against everything they made, and beat them all. 426, 427, 428, 429. Some of them came all the way up from Phoenix. They'd all pop the hood of that Nova and shake their head at the line and sayy somethiing like "You're gonna get killed pal." because they were driving a Corvette or a 426 Dodge, but that Nova got off the line and down the road so fast, no one ever caught him. Then he went in the Navy. Boy were we mad. But, that was Arizona. How did you ever survive your growing up years? All those crashes amaze me. Of course, that's what I expected in Drivers Ed.    

Deeann, the north entrance of Liberty Park was different back then. I think it went straight ahead, but you could also make that righthand turn. Is that the wwayy it was when you had everyone screaming? Because they changed it sometime so you HAD to turn right. I'm trying to imagine what you'd do that would have everyone screaming. Funny now, but then, with that exxtra brake pedal.........WOW  

Mary Benson (Bendixen)

The stories about drivers ed brings back memories.  Scott Seare and I were in the same class with Mr. Smith.  We had just had a lesson that day on leaving a note on a persons unoccupied car if you bumped, nicked or scratched it with your car.  So off we go to the City and County Building to learn how to park.  Angle parking....easy peasy, right?  I hit the car to the right of me as I was parking (it was too close, ok?)  Without skipping a beat Mr. Smith hollered,  "Get the H__L out of here, quick!"  Great lesson Mr. Smith.  BTW it was just a bump....ever so slight (as I remember.)

Richard Smith

Mary, did the car you bumped happen to be "blue"?

Lol

Mary Benson (Bendixen)

By George, Richard, I think it was! Ha!  Was that yours? And what were you doing at the CCB at that time of day may I ask?

Vickie Harrison (Nelson)

Kathy Thatcher and I hoping to find a couple of classmates to play golf with on Saturday. Phylis are you still concidering golf?

Deeann Loveridge (Reynolds)

Richard, I was not yet entering the park, I was making the right turn from 5th east onto 9th south.  Just a few feet from the corner there was a bus stop.  After you make the turn and if you keep turning the steering wheel right, you go over the curb, onto the grass and head for people.  Really not a good idea but it did get everybodys' adrenaline going.

I remember Mr. Herman and doing the blood typing.  Do you remember that we had to know the blood types of our parents?  Well, I was adopted and used the blood type information of my adoptive parents.  However, you cannot get my blood type from an O+ father and a B+ mother.  I had some explaining to do on that one.  Good thing I knew about the adoption.  That could have opened up a very big can of worms!

Jerald DeGraw

OK, Cubbies, just got in from El Paso, where Marty & I have been in hiding from the Law, not to mention Hussein ( oh, wait, he IS the LAW :-) After riding in the rain, with Paul, on our scooters, I figured there was no more reason to head back to Texas, as there is, now, a witness ( several, if You count the Firefighters ). SO, You dogs, where were You, last Saturday ? :-( I DID enjoy conversing with four of Me Mates ( guess who ? :-), even when Randall Peterson told me He was wondering when the 'nice young men in their clean white coats' would be coming to take me away ( as the three of us [guess who ?] downed Our cookies y vegies ). I totally enjoyed His comment, and wondered the same thing as He :-) WOW, have I got BIG news for Y'ALL, but it's not about Mr. Magelby, Dowie, Robyn and Her Cow, Jeraldine and ?, doing 8's while driving down the Freeway...BACKWARDS ! Oh, no, it's MUCH bigger than that......  

Charlotte Warr (Andersen)

Jerry, you're back! And more enigmatic than REM lyrics. Yay!

Jerald DeGraw

Ha, Char, GREAT follow-up message ! :-)

  ---- Looking-For-A-New-Hideout-Ridiculously-While-Wearing-Tight-Fitting-White-Jacket

Richard C. Green

Bart Croxford

I think Mr. Smith's first name was Cy.  I remember driving up State Street and he always yelled at us for being in the intersection when the light turned yellow.  I never could understand that one.  I guess he wanted us to stop or speed through before it turned yellow.  I think he helped coach the Sophomore football team and he was just as ornery.