Dec. 28 - Happy Birthday Wilbur Shirey!

Dec. 24 - Happy Birthday to Mary Lee Valimont Fulesday!

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A belated Dec. 4 Happy Birthday to Bonnie Wilson Hartsock

Happy Birthday, Bonnie!  Next year we'll be on time.

Dec. 5 - Happy Birthday Carol Evans Peterson

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Dec. 2 - Happy Birthday, Penny Hile McCracken!

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Wes Shimmel recovering from health issues

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Our dear friend and classmate Wesley Shimmel was admitted to the Clearfield Hospital recently due to health problems but is now recovering at his home in Clearfield.  

Wes says he would be delighted to receive phone calls and cards from his CAHS classmates.  His cell pnone number is is 814-762-3662. 

His address is: 

Wesley Shimmel
Apt. 707
222 Leavy Ave.
Clearfield, PA 16830

Take care, Wes!  We hope you have a strong recovery.

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Nov. 30 - Happy Birthday, Helen Newpher Spencer!

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Nov. 25 - Happy Birthday, Sandra Merrifield Milligan

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We don't have a photo to share with her classmates, but we do wish her all the best for her birthday and during this festive holiday season.

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Nov. 18 - Happy Birthday, Karen Shirey!

Wil and Karen at a 400-year-old wine cellar in Europe.

We have adopted Karen as one of our own - or, maybe she has adopted us.  Whichever, she always shows up at our class meetings, and pitches right in at our big events.  Happy Birthday, Karen!

Nov. 16 - Happy Birthday, Orvis Kline!

Nov. 13 - Happy Birthday, Jim McKenrick!

Tom O'Day, Jim McKenrick and Herb Maney enjoy a laugh at the 70th Birthday Celebration.

Today is Sandra Unch Williams' Birthday!

Sandy at our 70th Birthday Celebration with Ed Powell, left, and husband Fred Williams.

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Happy Birthday - Beverly Caldwell Law - Oct. 31

Happy Birthday - Ed Carns - Oct. 27

Update on classmate Chuck Nelson

Just called Chuck to find out how he is doing. He is doing great.

He says since he retired six months ago and turned off his email to go fishing, he hasn’t looked at it since. I’m sending him some snail mail and invited him to the April meeting.

- Tom O'Day

Mr. Barnes passes away

George W. Barnes, 7th and 8th grade health teacher when we were in Junior High School, passed away on Wednesday, October 19.  Following is a portion of his obituary notice in Gant Dailey:

Born in Williamsport, PA to a union master carpenter and his wife and was the eldest of 14 children.  Mr. Barnes was a World War II veteran serving in France and Germany until he was shot in April 1945. He was the recipient of two  Purple Hearts, and the Bronze Star for combat leadership. After the war, he graduated from Lock Haven University, where he met his wife, Minnie Belt.

Mr. Barnes later earned a Masters degree in education from Penn State, and spent his working life with the Clearfield and Moshannon Valley School Districts.

Mr. Barnes was inducted into the PA Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 for his longtime dedication to the youth of Clearfield.

Instrumental in bringing Little League to Clearfield youth in 1949, he was also a part of the planning and building of the community and country club swimming pools. A man of high integrity, he instilled in his children and lived his life with a strong work ethic, a sense of right and wrong, and an acceptance and tolerance of all people.

                                                                                                                                                          

Happy Birthday, Suzanne!

Suzy with Bev Caldwell, Bill Betts and Jimmy Stewart at her 16th birthday party.

Today is Suzy Sherkel Nagle's birthday!

If you happen to see her on the street or in a restaurant, bar or ice cream parlor, wish her a great one.

Editor's note:  Birthday greetings are now a regular feature of the CAHS blog.

Our classmate Keith Crowe passes away

Sad to report our classmate Keith Crow has passed away. Following is a portion of his obituary notice from the Breeze Courier, Taylorville, IL.

Keith H. Crowe

Sept. 14, 1940 - Oct. 3, 2011

Keith H. Crowe, 71, of Taylorville, IL passed away at 2:30 p.m. Monday, October 3, 2011, at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, Taylorville.   He was born September 14, 1940, in Adrian, PA, the son of Thomas E. and Jennie Croyle Crowe.

He married Nancy E. Thompson on October 19, 1961, in the Christian Church at State College, PA. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was a traveling evangelist, missionary abroad and local minister. Surviving are his wife, Nancy; daughters: Debra (Bob) Williams of Union, Ohio and Denece (Thom) Dodson of Montrose, CO; and five grandchildren.

He was born September 14, 1940, in Adrian, PA, the son of Thomas E. and Jennie Croyle Crowe. He married Nancy E. Thompson on October 19, 1961, in the Christian Church at State College, PA. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was a traveling evangelist, missionary abroad and local minister. Surviving are his wife, Nancy; daughters: Debra (Bob) Williams of Union, Ohio and Denece (Thom) Dodson of Montrose, CO; and five grandchildren.

- Submitted by Joyce Moody Fletcher

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Bette Lou's husband Bill Shull passes away

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Sarah Lyons Poole e-mailed me Tuesday afternoon to say that Bette Lou Welsh Shull's husband, Bill, had passed away.

Bette Lou had called Sarah this past Saturday to inform Sarah of Bill's death.

According to his obit on the internet, he died suddenly of heart failure on Sept. 28, 2011, at a hospital in Milford, DE. He was 74.

They were married in 1959, had 4 children, and 6 grandchildren.

His funeral service was held Oct. 2nd

I'll be sending a sympathy card from the Class of '59.

Bette Lou's address is:

23126 Deer Run Ct.
Denton, MD 21629

- Joyce Moody Fletcher

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Linda Smith Dale came up with this gem - from 1945

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This page from The Progress in April 1945 is dim, but it's worth clicking on and identifying a number of our classmates and other childhood friends.  In an unfortunate sign of the times, the children's parents (with one exception) are identified only by the father.

Thanks, Linda!

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Oct. 1 Committee Meeting: Why are these folks smiling?

Judi Rolley White is happy to finally turn over the role of chairperson.  Tom O'Day is glad to finally wrest control of the unruly group. Tom, in his inimitable leadership fashion, gives a full report on the day's activities and decisions further down the blog.

Bonnie Henchbarger Powell gives a wink and a nod to the fun and frivolity.

Wilbur Shirey is delighted no one suggested him as the new chairperson.

Joyce Moody Fletcher wonders why the group can't get serious.

Sandy Unch Williams and Joanne Shimel Magnuson take detailed notes in case they are needed in court.

Peggy Jo Knepp Thompson and Dennis Mollura let it all wash over them.

Tom anxiously awaits the results of the secret ballot for chairman.  If it doesn't go his way, he will invoke the "hanging chad" rule for recount.

Judi wonders why Tom is making it all so formal.

Karen Shirey makes dinner reservations at Moena.

Ed Powell takes it easy.

It's good to be the King...uhhh Chairman.

A portion of the dinner crowd at Moena.  From left, Dan Mollura, Denny White, Judi Rolley White, Joyce Moody Fletcher, Bob Thompson, Peggy Jo Knepp Thompson.

-  Photos by Karen Shirey and Dennis Mollura

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Chairman O'Day summarizes Oct. 1 meeting

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October 8, 2011

The CHS Class '59 Committee met Saturday, October 1st, 2011 at the Shaw Public Library.

Results of that meeting:

1. Tom O'Day will serve as chairperson for the 2011-2012 period that ends October 2012.

2. The next meeting will be Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 1:00 PM in the Shaw Public Library Conference Room.

 3. The annual summer class get-together will be Saturday, August 4, 2012 at Parker Dam.  Details will follow in the spring.

4. At the April meeting each year, a new chairperson will be appointed for the following year.

5. The committee formally adopted the stated purpose or mission:

To maintain contact with classmates for the purpose of continuing to nurture, celebrate and support our friendship in happy and difficult times”:

Methods we will use to achieve our mission:

1. Plan a summer function each year for the class.

2. Send birthday cards to classmates from the committee each year. Special occasion cards also will be sent when information becomes available.

3. Continue the chsclassof59 Blog on the Internet (www.chsclassof59.blogspot.com)

4. Obtain as many emails of classmates for faster and less expensive communication.

Committee members with specific responsibilities:

1. Birthdays and Special Occasions- Joyce Moody Fletcher- jmoody@atlanticbb.net

2. Emails and Change of Addresses- Wil Shirey- wshirey@pa.net

3. Blog Information to be Placed on the Web- Denny Mollura- dmollura1@verizon.net

4. Any of the Above Information to be Passed On- Tom O’Day- today1@nc.rr.com

5. Secure Parker Dam picnic site- Judi Rolley White (completed) - chiefdenny@earthlink.net


A Message to get out to all Classmates:

Our committee meetings are open to all classmates. One does not have to assume any responsibility. Simply come by to the meeting to observe, participate or just have some fun with old (former is a better word) classmates. And if one does not like to meet, join us for dinner at a local restaurant around 5 PM after the meeting.

Thanks to all of you for helping make the planned functions over the past years a success. I hope to see all of you at the April 2012 meeting along with additional classmates.


Tom O'Day

Orvie brings Joyce Amon back into the picture

Saw this photo on the blog (see below) and just couldn’t resist taking a quick try at helping Joyce (Amon, front row, far right) rejoin the group!!

This was just a quick “photo shop” try at fixing some of the flaws.

I’ve racked my brain trying to remember this photo and the best I can come up with is Ed Pavlinsky was the photographer early in our soph year ('56-'57) and I think he took it. I was “in training” and his assistant until about mid- November, when I took over as the camera guy, and Bob Lingle came on board to help out. 

We had some 4x5 film holders that were from WW1 I think and several of them “leaked” light. I finally started keeping track of what pictures were taken with what holders and found 3 of them to be “bad”. Had to smash them and tell Pop Weidner they got stepped on at a “shoot” outside the Auditorium (of home rooms) and broken! He wasn’t going to let me throw them away!!! Curious as to how this pic “got out”. Normally – we showed them to Pop and he kept them.

Maybe he gave them to Betty.

- Orvis Kline

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Reunion memorabilia decorate Old Town Dairy

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As Judi Rolley White reported earlier, we have donated the photo board and a framed copy of our 50th-year reunion souvenir booklet produced by Suzy Weisshaus Speicher to the Old Town Dairy in Clearfield.

The photo board and framed booklet now occupy prominent places in the Dairy, which also displays other memorabilia and photos from the 1950s in Clearfield.

You will recall that a photo of the huge mural at the Dairy graced the front cover of our 50th Reunion booklet.

Photos by Judi Rolley White

Note from Judi: 2011 wrap-up meeting days away

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Hello everyone,

Just a reminder .. .the 2011 wrap-up meeting is Saturday October 1st at 1:00 in the conference room at Shaw Library.

This is an important meeting to elect a chairman ..volunteers now step forward !!...... and to look ahead to the up coming "Good Old Fashioned Picnic" on August 04,2012 at Parker Dam pavillion #2. Remember the great times that we had there!

The chair transition will be swift and painless because the only thing to be done for 2012 is to set the meeting dates and to see that the different committees are functioning as needed. Additional issues will be presented by the new chairperson. We also need a chairperson to take the 2013 seat, if you all vote to continue our get-togethers.

If you can't come, have someone call you on a cell phone so you can take part and give your input.

Until Oct. 1st, take care, drive carefully,and think about volunteering.

- Judi Rolley White

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Wil and Butch meet on the Continental Divide

Wil Shirey, left, and Alton "Butch "Davis

Recently Karen and I were on our way to Calgary, Alberta, Canada and had to switch planes in Chicago.

We landed at O'Hare and had just completed our one-mile hike from concourse C to concourse F. We walked into the Air Canada waiting room when I saw this hand waving in the corner like some kid in Annie Kochis' Latin class who actually knows the answer. 

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And guess what? It was the kid in Annie's Latin class who usually knew the answer and went on to teach Latin for many years in York, Pa. Alton "Butch" Davis and his wife Carole were on their way to Calgary to join the same bus tour of the Canadian Rockies on which we were registered. 

Butch and Carole were traveling with friends and we were meeting friends in Calgary so we didn't spend a lot of time together on the tour but it sure was fun when we did. Some of our classmates" ears had to be burning.

Incidentally, the mountains and glaciers around Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise were magnificent. We also passed by the ski jump from which "Eddie the Eagle" tried to soar during the '88 Winter Olympics. The only "bison" we saw was Butch, but we did see bears, elk, big horn sheep and mountain goats. If you haven't been there, you might want to add this trip to your "bucket list."

Just for proof, I've added a picture of Butch and me at Logan Pass in Glacier National Park in Montana.

See you all next summer at Parker Dam.

- Wil Shirey

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2011 wrap-up meeting set for Saturday, Oct. 1

Fall is upon us, the leaves are turning, and it's time for our 2011 wrap-up and planning meeting.  Mark the date and please join us:  Saturday, October 1. from  1:00 to  3:00 p.m. at the Shaw Library conference room.  As is our custom, we expect that a group (we hope everyone) will plan to have dinner together that evening.

One of the primary agenda items will be to select a new chairperson for 2012.

Come alone or bring your spouse, your friend or your significant other .... just come and plan on putting your two cents in ... it is your class and we'd love to have everyone participate in the discussion.

Looking ahead to next year, we tentatively have scheduled a Good Old Fashioned Picnic on Saturday, August 04, 2012 at Parker Dam Pavilion #2, from  12:00 noon until ????.   This is the Saturday of Fair Week, so those who wish to take in the last day of the Fair, see the entertainment  (and win the car) can have a full and enjoyable day.

The earliest one can reserve a pavilion is 11 months to the day prior to the scheduled event.  Our Chairperson,  Judi Rolley White,  arose early that day, hopped on her computer at 7 a.m. and made the reservation at the earliest possible moment. 

To keep everything simple with little or no workload for our classmates, the picnic will be an informal affair with no planned menu or scheduled events.  Just bring your family,  food, drinks, and table service, perhaps a covered dish to share with classmates, and plan on having a great time visiting and sharing a good time together. Remember, no alcoholic drinks allowed in state parks.

Thanks, Judi, for being your usual on-the-ball self. We appreciate all you have done in your two years at the helm.

Thanks, too, to Joyce Moody Fletcher, who continues her hard and never-ending work keeping our class roster and records up to date, sending cards, and making sure that everyone is informed of what's going on with our classmates. Thanks also  to Joyce Amon Michaels, Joanne Shimel, Sandy Unch Williams and Linda Smith Dale for helping to plan and pull our events together.

50th-year  Reunion picture board and booklet now on display

Our picture board from the 50th reunion  is now on display at the Old Town Dairy along with framed pages of our class booklet produced by Suzy and Terry Speicher. Why not plan to stop in, have lunch, and rekindle the fond memories of our high school years and 50th reunion.

You will recall that the drive-in mural at the dairy was featured on the cover of our 50th reunion booklet.

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Give me a "C"! Give me an "H"! Give me an "S"!

Here's a nice photo of our cheerleaders from (we believe) 1957.  From the files of Betty Lou Welsh, who sent it to Sarah Lyons, who sent it to Judi Rolley, who sent it to the blogmeister. 

Front row, from left:  Pat Rummings, Sandy Nicolas (sp?), Betty Lou Welsh, Jane Winslow, Joyce Amon.  Unfortunately, the camera had either a light leak or the back was opened prematurely, washing out the right side.  Sorry, Joyce. 

Back row:  Mary Helen Kepner,  Judi Rolley, Joyce Billotte, Sarah Lyons. 

Judi believes the photo was snapped as the cheerleaders were taking their positions for a formal shot, probably by Orvie Kline or Bob Lingle. Orvie can tell us whether he remembers the moment.

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70th Birthday Celebration a great success

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Hello everyone,

First, I'd like to thank all who so graciously assisted me during the "get ready" for the VERY SUCCESSFUL 70th celebration. Thank you all so much.

Our wrap-up meeting will be on the 1st of October at the Shaw library .... that's Saturday , Oct. 1st at the Shaw library from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. or so. We have a lot to discuss and decisions to make.  We have positions to fill and future events to plan. Please attend and pass the word to all classmates who are not currently active meeting members.

If you have questions, please call or e-mail me.

See you when the leaves are in full color!!

- Judi Rolley White
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Karl Nagle photos from the 70th Birthday Celebration

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"This group picture is not the one that I will be sending to everyone," Karl says.  "Trying to get 45 seniors to pay attention is worse than getting a bunch of kindergartners to sit still."  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

"Put that right over here," says Sam Lansberry as he and wife Sandy host the Friday evening bash at their beautiful country home in Woodland.

Bob Rose and wife Kathy McGarvey Rose. Class of 1961.

Ed Powell, husband of classmate Bonnie Henchbarger Powell, Sandy Unch Williams and husband Fred Williams.

Wil and Karen Shirey bring some delicious shrimp cocktail to share with the crowd.

Suzy Sherkel Nagle and Orvis Kline share a chuckle over some class photos.

Trina Snoke Evans holds court with Anne Bartley Aughenbaugh, Penny Hile McCracken and Diana Rumery Greene.

Eugene Smith and wife Charlotte chat with Dave Michaels, husband of classmate Joyce Amon Michaels.

Tom O'Day, Jim McKenrick and Herb Maney enjoy a laugh.

Judi Rolley White, Tom O'Day and Harrison Price.

Foreground:  Suzy Sherkel Nagle and Sandy Shaw DeCasper.  Background:  Gloria Rice Henneman and Judi Rolley White.



SHOOOOOOT!

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One of the great things about our  Class of 1959 get-togethers is that we get to share in some of the great Clearfield Area High School moments that we may have missed.

At our 70th birthday party, I had the opportunity to speak with Tom Hartsock, Class of 1953, who is married to our classmate Bonnie Wilson Hartsock.  During the course of our chat, we spoke of our late, great wrestling coach Art Weiss, Sr., who passed away in May.  We discussed Art's coaching style and how he quietly communicated with his wrestlers.

Tom, an outstanding football player and wrestler, recalled the January 1953 bout with undefeated Canonsburg in the third meet of the 1953 season,  Emotions were high with a lot riding on the outcome. 

The Bisons were coming off an undefeated 1951-52 season and riding a 12-meet winning streak.  Canonsburg had a similarly impressive record with four future state champions in the lineup.  Both teams ruled their districts - Clearfield in District 6-9 and Canonsburg in the powerful Western Pennsylvania District 7.  These were not usual opponents.  In those days, Coach Weiss scheduled his teams against the best in the state. 

To top it off, the meet was taking place before 2,000 rabid wrestling fans at Clearfield's  National Guard Armory. 

As the meet was winding down, Canonsburg led 19-16 with one bout to go - Tom Hartsock vs. Gene Smittle at 185 pounds.  The outcome was anything but assured . Tom was tough but so was Smittle, who was undefeated with falls in his two previous bouts.

Weiss, as usual, was calm and direct, saying only, "You know what you have to do, Tom."

Not so with the team's high-strung, outstanding returning state champion, Johnny Johnston, who had scored a fall at 128 pounds.  "Listen to me, Tom.  Listen to me." Johnny shrieked.  " I'll tell you what to do.  Don't listen to anyone else.  Listen to me!"

Of course, implicit in Johnny's message was:  Don't listen to anyone else, not even Coach Weiss.

As the crowd roared, Tom opened the bout with a takedown and back points and led 6-0 at the end of the first period.  Things were going well but the situation was still tense.  He needed a fall. A win by decision would only tie the team score.  Up to that point, he had not heard a peep from Johnston.

Tom chose the top position to start the second period, and Smittle immediately made his move in an attempt to reverse or escape.. 

All of a sudden, Tom heard a piercing scream:  SHOOOOOOOOT!

Right on cue, Tom shot the half nelson and crotch, put Smittle's on his back, and scored the meet-winning fall at 1:10 of the second period. The crowd went wild and Tom was mobbed by his teammates and fans.

"When I came off the mat, I was happy but a little shaken," Tom said. " I asked, 'Did I do all right?, John? Did I do all right?' "

"You were great," Johnston said. "You did just what I told you."

The next day, The Progress headline read "Hartsock's Fall Nets 21-19 Win for Clearfield Matmen"

(Thanks to Mona Mollura Croyle for digging out this Progress sports page.  Click on page to enlarge.)

"Johnny wasn't too happy about that," Tom said.  "In fact, I think he was pretty upset.  I guess he thought he should have had the headline."

Epilogue:

Gene Smittle recovered to win the PIAA championship at 185 pounds the following year.

Tom Hartsock married our beautiful classmate Bonnie Wilson.

Tom wins again.

- Dennis Mollura

Photos from the 70th Birthday Celebration

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Early photos from our 70th Birthday Celebration.  Lots more to come from Chief Photographer Karl Nagle.

At the Friday night bash at Sam and Sandy Lansberry's, from left, Fred Williams, his wife and our classmate Sandy Unch Williams, Barbara Read Carns, and Joyce Moody Fletcher.

Biaggina Accordino Haas, by candlelight.

Joanne Shimel Magnuson

Barbara Read Carns, Joyce Moody Fletcher, Mick Hoover, Bob Rose, his wife Kathy McGarvey Rose, Judi Rolley White.

"Don't take my picture," warns Peggy Jo Thompson Knepp.  Too late!

Peggy Jo and Pat Kinkead Cutler share a moment for the photographer.

Suzy Sherkel Nagle and Rosemary Mollura

"It's about this size," Sam DeCasper tells the group. His wife and our classmate Sandy Shaw DeCasper appears to know better.

Now Sam tries to sidle up to Gloria Rice Henneman.  The weasel!


Sandy demands an explanation.  Notice how she's intimidating Sam as he pulls back as far as he can.

Joanne Shimel Magnuson, Joyce Amon Michaels and Judi Rolley White call out the door prize winners.  The prizes were plant centerpieces in beautiful decoupage baskets created by Judi's mother, Mary.

Norm Kyler, our classmate and friend.



Paul and Gloria Rice Henneman

Tracy Erickson, daughter of Dennis and Rosemary Mollura, with sons Tyler (left) and Tim.

Karl Nagle, as aways, doing his usual fine job of recording all of your events for now and posterity. Watch this site for Karl's great pictures.

- Photos by Dennis Mollura

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