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"The Class That Likes Each Other"

The 2003 Reunion was greatly successful last Saturday, October 18 at Journey’s End Ranch.  The phrase "The Class That Likes Each Other" originated from Ted Coffey's wife who described all of us that way.  I like the phrase and wonder if that should not become our slogan. 

What follows are some personal observations about the reunion.  I hope no one is offended, for no offense is intended, just having fun. 

General Remarks

The idea for the reunion came from Jim Nunn and Bob Starnes, who were having lunch (I was there) year before last and decided to organize something.  Last year the get together was ad hoc, but this year was how it should be.

Jim and Bob started the idea and were in charge. In addition, Bob Starnes was persistent in locating lost souls and recruiting attendance.  Jim Nunn provided, at his expense, the portable toilets and placed the streamers on the road (is there a relationship there?).  Leigh Parker provided sorely needed communication skills and monitored the e-mails.  Bob Rowland started late, but came on strong at the end so that without all four of them, the reunion would not have been anywhere near as successful.   They all provided hard work behind the scenes.  My contribution was fairly small - I opened the front gate and mowed the yard.

Bob Rowland's work was amazing.  All of the name tags were his work product.  After all the trash bags were assembled late Saturday evening, Bob hauled them off (to who knows where).  My only request was that he take the trash bags somewhere back to Grayson County , which he assures me that he did.  Lord only knows where Bob deposited the trash bags.  I suggested to Bob that if he were stopped by the Sherman police, that he use Julie's name in vain, saying that it was her trash or trash from the Mayor's party, or something like that.  Fortunately, Bob was not caught illegally dumping trash. 

Because four guys basically organized the reunion, a certain flavor emerged.  One of our female classmates remarked, "You mean that I'm coming to an event organized by four men?"  Well, yes, that's basically what happened.   Thus, we were short on flowers and candles on the tables, napkins rings (or napkins for that matter), and white wine.  Ambience was provided by God and Mother Nature.   Nevertheless, there was a significant amount of testosterone at the reunion, for which I am thankful. 

Considering what I've been through in the last few years, I needed a big dose of testosterone.  No need to go there, though.  Call or write if you want to know what I'm talking about.  Let's leave it at this:  the reunion did me a world of good, therapeutically speaking.

The band's involvement and leadership was provided by Larry Crews and Steve Chase.  While the Coachmen have a fairly glorious past (see below) and Steve has been our music leader and his leadership was in evidence again on Saturday, Larry's skill and talents were the key to us being able to pull off the feat of playing together after 37 years.  What a guitar player he is. Thanks so much Larry and Steve.  Did you notice how we would all stand around asking Larry and Steve for the key of the song?  In the old days, when it was just the five of us it would be the same drill with Steve.

Art's willingness to be a fool one more time added a special touch.  More about Art and the panties below, but for now, Art's reprise of Elvis from the 1986 reunion was extraordinary.  As Art said in 1986, "I've been making a fool of myself every since high school, so why stop now."  Amen brother.  See discussion of Art below for some special remarks.

Brief History of The Coachmen

Some or you might not know the history of the band. 

During our high school years, particularly our junior and senior years, the Coachmen were the most prominent rock n' band in North Texas (north of Dallas ).  By the time we graduated, if I might say so, we were cooking.

This reunion was the first time since 1966 for Mark, Bob, Wayne, Steve and me to play together.  We practiced twice, once in early September and again Friday evening before the reunion.  Any yet, we were able to play.  For the five of us to play together again was particularly memorable.  We have so many memories.  We spent so much time together.

Thanks to Larry Crews for providing the leadership on the music; thanks to Steve Chase for coming from San Antonio and bringing (or renting) his Hammond Organ, which was special.  Thanks to Wayne Rickman from coming from Ponca City , OK , where he is a junior high school teacher.  Mark, Bob and I are generally around, but Mark deserved thanks for renting and bringing the PA system.  Philip Crews should be applauded for showing up and playing with this bunch. 

I've not had this much fun in years.  Playing rock n' roll is quite a rush.

Mark Wright and Wayne Rickman started first playing and learning the guitars together, say around 1961.  I always have had a set of drums since I was in elementary school, so that when Mark suggested I join in, somewhere in 1963, I was easily persuaded.  In 1964, Bobby Starnes wanted to play too, so he purchased a bass guitar and off we went.   As a historical point, Mark and Bobby's instruments came from Larry Crews' father, Claude, who ran Montgomery Wards in downtown Sherman .  They purchased a Silvertone guitar and bass.  Quite basic instruments.

Steve Chase was recruited during our junior year, as I recall, and his musical ability exceeded all of ours put together.  I quit the high school marching band after my sophomore year and Mr. Sonnenberg was unforgiving.  But rock n' roll was more remunerative and fun than the school band.  No doubt on that point.

Once we began, we did not stop playing until graduation.  During the last two years, we played just about every weekend somewhere.  We played everywhere in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma .  Many evenings, our performances were like something out of the Blues Brothers and the chicken wire scene.  Those German Catholics in Muenster and Lindsey could certainly party.  Of course, we played at the Sherman Youth Center often, a SHS assembly, sock hops, and after the game dances all over.  Great Scott, what memories.

One night, we were returning from playing at Lake Texoma Lodge across the Denison Dam.  I was riding with Bob in his maroon Chevelle.  Bob was stopped for speeding and we were asked to follow the policeman into the Durant police station.  Neither of us had sufficient funds for the ticket, but the police let me deposit my drums for collateral and allow us to return the next morning to pay the fine and retrieve my drums, which we did.

The dances were fun, but the breaks were great too.  Girls attending the dances would want to dance with us during the breaks.  I believe the operative word here is Groupies.  In case you were wondering, we had quite the adventure. One particular evening, I was dancing with a college girl, who was physically impressive, shall we say.  Talk about missed opportunity.  I knew I had something significant on my hands, so to speak, but I was ill-prepared to take advantage the opportunity.  Every since that moment, I have thought about the importance of taking advantage of opportunities coming one's way.

The highlight of our years together, perhaps, was playing at Louanne's in Dallas , thanks to an arrangement provided by The Five Americans, a particularly fine band from Dallas, who were managed by Wayne's older brother.  In case you do not know, Louanne's was the premier dance place in Dallas where any band worth their salt appeared.  It was located on the southeast corner of Greenville and Lover's Lane in Dallas , about where the Central Market is now.  As an historical note, I took Linda Hughes to that event in my Dad's Chrysler.  I was feeling good that night, I'll tell you.  I'm still amazed that Linda's mother let her go with me to Dallas .   Viola always thought I was worthless and told me so.  Only in the last couple of years has she indicated to me that she thinks possibly I'll turn out okay. As the country and western song says, "You are always 17 in your home town."

Another consequence to the band playing so much is that none of us attended a high school football game after 1964.  We were always playing somewhere on Friday nights.  Would someone tell me if we missed anything? 

After high school graduation, Steve joined up with Art Shuffler, John Qualls, Stanley Brooks and Wayne Perrin to form the Upper Level at Grayson College, and they played for the next two years and became quite good.   When I was home from college, I would spend a lot of time with these guys, and I'll testify to the fact that there was some serious partying going on in an around the Upper Level.  Goodness sakes.  You wouldn't have believed it.

Mark, Wayne and now Larry Crews, along with Bill Jones from the 1967 class, had a band or bands in various configurations, and played mostly in clubs just north of the Red River in Oklahoma . I sat in with them a few times. They were also quite good. 

Elvis

We were treated to a special appearance by Elvis, a/k/a Art Shuffler.  Art was reprising his role from the 1986 reunion, when Art appeared in an apparently authentic Elvis sequined jump suit (circa 1969) and all the rest.  This year, Art did not have many requirements for his willingness to appear and sing Elvis songs, except that he expressed hope to me that one or more women would be kind enough to toss their undergarments at him.  In fact, he specifically asked if I could arrange for Alice Presley (Agee) to throw her panties at him.  I asked Alice when she arrived, but she asked, "What makes you think I have any on?"  To say that I was stunned is an understatement.  Anyway, Diane Grogin and some others made special arrangements for a supply of these undergarments to be available and suitably thrown at Art. 

At the appointed time, a few among the more enthusiastic women fans appeared with particularly fashionable underclothes, which were tossed toward Art.  He received them in true Elvis fashion, wiped his brow and adorned himself with as many of the clothing items as were possible.  What style. 

The women screamed and generally acted as they would were Elvis actually appearing.  Thanks to Art, one more time, the occasion was all quite exciting and fun.

The thing about Art is that I've been watching him do this sort of thing for over three decades.  At Art's 50th birthday party, which was held at R.J. and Susie Witt's house in Plano (where were they anyway?), I walked through the kitchen at one point, and virtually everyone woman at the party was standing around Art, hugging on him, kissing him on the cheek, and so on.   I told Art then I was fairly appalled at his display.  But on the other hand, girls have been clustered around Art for as long as I can remember.  For Art to be possessed of so much - well, what it is? - does not seem quite fair, but whatever.

Our Mayor

Our Mayor appeared at our reunion.  If I might say, I was noticing how fine Julie is looking, and perhaps I might say, fetching.  Henry Kissinger once said that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.  Well, Julie is looking good, if not more than good.  I would venture that politics agrees with her.

I feel a certain liberty at remarking about my long-time friend Julie.  Our mothers were close, but then Julie's mother, Ruth, only had about 1,000 or so very close friends.  When mother and dad would travel, I would be delegated to one of two places, either the Rowland or the Ellis household.  If you don't understand what that means, imagine staying overnight in a house with Bobby, Randy and Ricky Rowland or Johnny, Julie and Henry Ellis.  As an aside, my mother would return from a visit to the Rowland household, which was an amazing place, and remark that she was concerned that since Bob Rowland was the youngest, she was concerned that he wouldn't make it.  Anyway, having known Julie for a very long time, I am assuming the right to comment about her.

Julie was Mayor of Sherman once before, in the mid-1990s, my father, who was mayor himself a long time ago, remarked that he considered Julie one of the most capable mayors Sherman had ever had.  Dad was not especially generous with compliments, so it is to Julie's credit that her excellent job as Mayor was noted.  I believe I speak for all of us in saying how proud we are of Julie.

Homecoming Queen

Eddie was there, but Glenda was recovering from a recent operation.  Sorry she could not attend and hope her recovery is smooth and quick.   Perhaps it is because Glenda was not there and I have not seen her in a long time, but after last Saturday’s reunion, I want to recast my vote for homecoming queen.  I am now voting for Pat Sewell Buchanan.  My goodness, what a sweetheart!

Spouses

An award should be given to the spouses who attended, those who were not SHS graduates.  To come to this group’s reunion and be an outsider deserves a special prize.  Thanks for everyone coming.

There is a part of me, however, that would like to ask the husbands of the girls in our class to not attend.  Being polite, however, I will not make that suggestion.  Nevertheless, for those girls who came without their spouses, thank you.

Then, there are the ex-spouses of SHS66 graduates, who also SHS graduates.  Fortunately, everyone appeared civil.  Thanks for the absence of conflict, though a good screaming scene would have added to the excitement of the reunion. 

Conclusion

There is so much to say, but I'll stop for now.  I could talk about the best looking girls, the worst looking guys, and so on, but suffice to say that the richness of being together was extraordinary.  When I think about knowing many of my classmates since Fairview Elementary, first grade (Miss Denton's class) and continuing through high school, I realized how blessed it is to be in good health and have the opportunity to say hello one more time. 

Everyone carries around the stuff of life.  Health issues, financial obstacles, personal challenges of all kinds, and so on, but for one brief moment, our community friendship comes together for a joyous afternoon. 

My father would be most pleased to know that his ranch and now my ranch, is being used for a wonderful and fun occasion such as this reunion.  I'm most pleased to be able to host this event now and in the future.  

Alice and I were talking Monday after the reunion about improving it.  If anyone has positives or negatives, tell us and we will try to improve next year. 

"The Class That Likes Each Other."  Yes, that describes us about right..

Wm. D. Elliott

October 22, 2003