bisonalumni.com Blog

Bison 2010 Keepsake Souvenir Booklet

Administrator — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:01:37 +0000

Keepsake Souvenir Booklet

For the

BISON 2010 All-School Reunion

July 2-5, 2010

Is being created right now… we need your help!

To: Spread the word

To: Share your stories or ideas

To: Advertise your business – it will be a great resource for what alumni all over the country are doing.

Attached is a Bison_2010_Souvenir_Booklet – please open and read the details – to see how you can help.

It is imperative that we receive responses as soon as possible!

Please continue to check our website: www.mccook2010.com

For

reunion schedule, registration and merchandise information

Schedule information is being updated regularly.

Bison 2010 Celebration “Bison Fever”

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:21:32 +0000

Do you hear it? Listen closely? It’s a thundering herd of Bison, off in the distance yet – but starting to round up – getting ready to head home to old familiar pastures. The pace is beginning to quicken – for the committees involved and for those of you who are thinking about coming to another “Historic” Bison All School Reunion! We are only ONE newsletter away!! It will be a once-in-a- lifetime event for many.

The steering committee is developing “Bison Fever” and we are hoping you will too! You are going to come, aren’t you? To help you catch the bison fever, check in at mccook2010.com We are so excited about this site. It is our very own website where you can connect with other classmates and friends and it will have updated reunion schedule and activities information. Encourage each other to sign up.

You’ll enjoy sharing memories at the Fox Theatre, cruising down Main Street and dancing “on the bricks”. Don’t forget the amazing classic cars that will be here, along with awesome displays of our classmates’ artwork and books they’ve written. There will be tours of McCook and the schools, a MNB Hot Summer Night Concert in the park, sporting events, a pancake feed and a BBQ before the Grand Finale of Fireworks.

Friends, classmates and neighbors you haven’t seen in years will be here to visit and reminisce. Have you heard yourself saying, “Life is going by way too fast, I wish I could just slow down and enjoy life a little bit!” This is the perfect time to do that – plan to come, stay for several days, slow down and enjoy! The memories you take home from Bison 2010 will bring a smile to your face for years to come.

We will be pulling weeds, sprucing up and getting ready to show you around town as honored guests. Is the house you lived in still standing? How about your old school building? You can’t make a U-Turn at the bottom of Norris any more but we’ll cruise the “new kids” route which still includes Norris Avenue! How fun for all of us, whether from here or from far away, to learn what has happened in the lives of others since our school days!

The detailed schedule, registration and merchandise order forms should be on-line at mccook2010.com. You can print and send in your information – or there is a registration form included in this issue.

It will be the ultimate tailgate block party! Come one, come all – Don’t miss it.

Wall of Fame Inductees

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:09:59 +0000

The Bison Alumni Wall of Fame Committee has announced their inductees to the Wall of Fame for 2009. They are Robert V. Beneda ‘58, and Sharon McDonald Morrison ‘55.

Robert Beneda ‘58, was nominated for the Wall of Fame for over 40 years of significant contributions to the structural engineering profession. A well-respected bridge engineer, Bob’s design work is visible all over Atlanta and extends throughout the southeastern states. He has also been responsible for safety inspections of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) facilities, bridges, rail stations, and tunnels.

In addition to a BS from UNL in Civil Engineering and an MS from the University of Iowa in Structural Engineering, he received a Value Engineering Certificate from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Value Engineering is a process whereby a team of engineers and other professionals (electrical, mechanical, structural, financial and architectural) study a project and propose alternatives to strengthen the project while reducing the cost. These degrees were used on a variety of projects throughout a lengthy and successful career including designing the cabled-stayed Talmadge Memorial Bridge across the Savannah River; representing Stanley Consultants internationally; designing pollution control retrofit for Union Carbide Corporation; and building a non-radiological wastewater treatment plant for Oakridge, TN. Perhaps his most unique project was the 5th Street Bridge – a park connecting two sections of the Georgia Tech campus seventeen feet above the Interstates 75/85 Downtown Connector.

While at McCook High School, Bob was in the band and a member of the Student Council. He started for the football and basketball teams. He worked as a carrier for the McCook Gazette and served on a survey crew for the Nebraska Department of Roads.

Today Robert is an active member in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the University of Nebraska Alumni Association and Georgians for Nebraska. He is a sponsor for the “Hook a Kid on Golf” summer camp as well as the Youth Football League of Tucker, GA. He served as a volunteer at the 1996 Olympics and ParaOlympics. His hobbies include: golf, Husker football, traveling, growing roses, helping his grandchildren, playing tenor saxophone, listening to jazz and reading.

He has received many honors for his work, including a paper presented to the American Public Transit Association in Washington DC in 1997. Yet according to Robert, one of his greatest accomplishments was “mentoring and tutoring the engineering all-stars of tomorrow.”

The second inductee for 2009 is Sharon McDonald Morrison ‘55. Sharon was a Bison Award winner at MHS. Her high school activities included first chair clarinet in the band and editor of the Bison yearbook. In college she served as editor of the Cornhusker yearbook and was selected outstanding journalism student at UNL. A member of the prestigious Mortar Board Society, she graduated with honors in 1959 with a major in Speech Pathology and a minor in English.

Twenty years later Sharon graduated with honors from law school at the University of Montana and began an illustrious career as a trial lawyer. She was the first woman elected president of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association as well as the first woman elected president of the Western Trial Lawyers Association of America. She was later selected for membership in the International Society of Barristers, representing the 400 top trial lawyers in America. She is a published author on legal subjects and has been a guest speaker to trial lawyer associations throughout the United States.

More recently, Sharon successfully represented pro bono an organization of Blackfeet Indians who sought to have Blackfeet language taught in public schools where evidence demonstrated improved academic performance of Native American children when the language was part of the curriculum.

Her other interests include: service on the Alpine Theater Project Board of Directors, the Whitefish Lake Institute Board of Directors, and an advisory committee to the Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Committee, which is an advisory committee to the city of Whitefish.

The Wall of Fame Committee is always looking to add to the pool of nominees. If you know of individuals who have been out of high school for at least ten years and who have contributed significantly to community and/or profession, please submit a nomination on their behalf.

Letters should include the candidate’s name, address and phone number if applicable, and graduating class year as well as a paragraph outlining significant contributions. Nominations must be signed and dated

Randy Andrews ‘73 joins the McCook Bison Alumni Newsletter as New Director

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:03:23 +0000

During the last year the Bison Alumni Newsletter Staff and Class Representatives have been preparing to transition to a new paid director. Randy Andrews ’73 was hired in early August and he and Cheri Myers Beckenhauer ’64 have been working together since that time. They will continue to work together through the Bison 2010 reunion, at which time Cheri will take on a much smaller volunteer role.

Randy is excited to be a part of the alumni newsletter and to be able to assist Cheriwith the production of the Fall newsletter. He is also glad to be working with the alumni database, correspondence and the upcoming 2010 all-class reunion. Randy is especially excited about and encourages alumni to use our two websites that are being utilized to generate alumni information: bisonalumni.com and mccook2010.com

Randy grew up in McCook along with his brother Steve’65 and sisters Susie ’68 and Judy ’75. His father, Howard, worked for the Bureau of Reclamation and his mother, Merlyn, worked at the Red Willow County Courthouse and McCook College cafeteria.

After returning to McCook in 2003, Randy married his high school sweetheart, Peg Augustyn ’74. He has a daughter, Shannon Pike, and grandson, Morgan, who live in Salt Lake City, UT.

Randy graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Business Administration. He worked in the insurance industry for over 25 years in Charleston, SC and Salt Lake City, UT as a Commercial Property and Casualty underwriter, producer and marketing representative.

You may have seen Randy running on the streets and hills of McCook. He began running in 1983 to lose weight and quit smoking. It has been a constant in his life ever since, as he runs between 50 and 100 miles a week. He started running ultra marathons (100 mile races) in 2001 and has run 20 ultra marathons as well as 50 marathons.

McCook has always been special to Randy. He has fond memories of growing up here and hasn’t regretted moving back home. His responsibilities with the alumni newsletter will allow him to work with many people who share his passion for McCook and McCook High School.

Inauguration Flags Find Home at MHS

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:31 +0000

In our spring newsletter, we included an article that told about several MHS grads who were in Washington D.C. for the inauguration ceremonies of President Barack Obama. Now a bit of that historic day is preserved at MHS due to the efforts of one of its alumni members.

William Steinhour ’79 works for the Office of the Sergeant of Arms of the United States Senate. Our article told how Bill spent several weeks before the ceremony placing cameras to record the event. In honor of the historic day and to commemorate his 30th high school reunion, Bill requested and received two American flags flown over the Capitol on Inauguration Day. Steinhour hoped to present them to the MHS Principal Jerry Smith in person during his class reunion in July, but scheduling conflicts arose and he was unable to make it to McCook.

The flags have already been received at the high school, along with pictures that Bill took of the Capitol and several commemorative items that he purchased from the Senate gift shop. These flags were requested by Steinhour as a Senate staff member and not through the normal channel of a Senator’s office, so they carry the signature of the Acting Architect of the Capitol, and not a Senator’s signature.

Principal Jerry Smith was thrilled to see the flags arrive and all the other items that came as well. He is hoping to have one displayed in an American history classroom and the other in the commons area at the high school. Hopefully they will be available for all MHS grads to view during the 2010 All-Class Reunion. Thank you Bill!

Alumni Spotlight

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:52:34 +0000

Lt. Col. Nate Allerheiligen, ’88 recently took command of the 50th Airlift Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. In June Lieutenant Colonel Nate assumed the responsibility of leading some 235 men and women trained in the roles of pilot, navigator, flight engineer and loadmaster. His flight crews are deployed around the world flying the C-130H3 Hercules. They bring the Global Positioning System, glass-cockpit instrumentation, color radar and counter-threat systems to the tactical airlift arena. It is also the sole active-duty C-130 unit capable of performing airdrops in instrument conditions (clouds) by use of the All Weather Aerial Delivery System. The 50th has been on the leading edge of bringing new capabilities to Combatant Commands overseas through such technology as short-field take-offs, landings using Night Vision Goggles and the new Joint Precision Air-Drop System, which places critical re-supply bundles within yards of a target from over two miles in the air. After MHS Nate attended the Air Force Academy, earning a Masters of Air Mobility through the Air Force Institute of Technology. He has flown the T-37, the T-38, C-21A (Learjet) and other versions of the C-130, earning three air medals while accumulating some 3800 hours of flying time and is a Command Pilot. Nate, his wife Susan and six children, including identical triplets, live in Colorado Springs.

John Herron ’76 jpherron@ msn.com is a Master Sergeant with the Nebraska Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in September, 2008. He was a part of an agricultural development team that assisted farmers in improving farming methods, water and land conservation and animal health. The team introduced the first grain bins, donated by Nebraska farmers to the country. Training personnel to construct the bins provided a big step forward in grain storage. Another first was the introduction of walk-behind tractors and implements. When the team arrived, the Afghan farmers were still using oxen to plow and most of this work was done by young boys 6-12 years old. Some farmers were just throwing seed on non-tilled or barely tilled land in hopes for the crops to grow. The team spent countless hours teaching farmers different techniques in farming. Those receiving the training went back to their communities to teach others. A couple of the most successful methods taught were grape trellising and drip irrigation. The team had an excellent working relationship with Albironi University in Kapisa Province, Bamyan University in Bamyan, and Kabul University in Kabul. Classes presented to students and faculty will have a huge impact on the future of farming in Afghanistan. John returned to McCook in September and is back to work at his civilian job at Parker.

Few employees have the opportunity to work an entire career in their home town for just one employer like Jim Phinney ’59. He started working for McCook Public Power District (MPPD) after graduating from high school, and 50 years later he is at the top of the organization. Interrupted only by college, his career started on the ground floor unloading trucks and digging power pole holes by hand. He eventually started doing service calls, learning to climb poles and doing line work. In time, he got an inside job as a material man. He went on to purchasing, engineering and managing crews. In 1989, when the manager’s job came open, he assumed the position at the urging of his fellow employees. He was tested during the 1994 ice storm when over $6 million dollars worth of damage was done to the facilities. Over 160 men came to southwest Nebraska to rebuild the lines. MPPD system now has over 4700 customers with 2500 miles of line. Jim recently turned 68 and has no plans to retire anytime soon. He credits his employees and customers who pay their bills on time for much of his success.

Randall Lipson ’75 has been director of the Timber Lakes Camp & Retreat Center, a 265 acre retreat center, owned and operated by the Midwest District of the Missionary Church, since 2000. The Midwest district is comprised of 18 churches, including the Culbertson, NE Bethel Missionary Church. Timber Lakes Camp & Retreat Center at Williamsburg, Kansas, serves as a meeting place for church groups, clubs, organizations and a retreat for families. Randall and his wife Julie live on the grounds, that includes a full service dining hall, food concessions, lodge, sanctuary, sports arena and open-air pavilion. Activities include hiking, swimming, fishing, canoeing and field sports. It is open year round with a capacity of 291 beds to accommodate all sizes of groups to enjoy wonderful times of fellowship and spiritual enrichment. Timber Lakes is located just an hour from Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka, Kansas. Randall was a member of Boy Scout Troop 140 while growing up in McCook and attended Camp Opal Springs in Wellfleet , NE. He says that scouting taught him many leadership skills and started his spiritual search, as he learned to live by the scout motto and scout law. His sisters are Christine’73 and Diana’81. Randall can be contacted at www.timber lakescamp.org

McCook: Nebraska’s Hot Spot

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:49:25 +0000

This past year was one of new growth in McCook. Norris Park has blossomed with new trees, sidewalks and playground equipment. A beautiful bronze war memorial was dedicated and reigns as the park’s centerpiece. An original musical was written, produced, and performed by one of our own, Jim Harris ’73. The talents of McCook’s local musicians and actors were on display through many entertainment offerings.

Norris Park’s tall, century-old hackberry and linden trees were diseased and had to be replaced with trees recommended to be hardy for this area. Many citizens gave money for the replacement trees, consisting of burr oaks, maples, hackberry, white oak, pine, fruitless crab apple, and disease-resistant elm. According to Kyle Pothoff ’86, Public Works Director for the City of McCook, the citizen response was amazing and forward thinking. The trees will provide wonderful shade for future all-class reunions in 2020 and 2030!

A colorful and eye-catching addition to the park is the new “continuous play” playground equipment. There are two units for kids age 2-5 and 5-12. It consists of a spider web of ropes and brightly colored beams. There is no designated entrance so kids can use their imagination while perfecting their climbing and balancing skills. Two tons of wood mulch was placed underneath the equipment to soften children’s falls!

Other enhancements include new six foot-wide sidewalks with handicapped accessible curbing. An inspiring new war memorial spearheaded as an Eagle Scout project by Trenton Klimper and created by sculptor Sondra Jonson was dedicated during Heritage Days 2009 in a very moving ceremony attended by Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson‘59.

Jim Harris ’73 and his brothers JT ‘55, Bill ’57, Bob ’63, & Bert ’69 financed and brought Jim’s original musical tribute, “Civil War Voices”, to the Fox Theatre for the western Nebraska premier on February 21. The cast of 18 actors and a small orchestra that included a grand piano played by Vicki Harris, Jim’s wife, was enjoyed by a full house. The script was based on correspondence from Jim’s great-great Uncle Joe. The score was arranged by Mark Hayes, Kansas City, an internationally known composer. Jim authored the play to present a balanced account of the human emotions that accompanied the American Civil War, 1861-1865.

Southwest Nebraska Community Theatre Association (SWNCTA) produced The Rainmaker last fall. This touching story tells of a family who prevails through difficult times during the “dirty thirties”. Bison Alumni Cast members included Ethan Poore’08 and Carson Kain ’08 with set design by Chuck ’59 & Dian Keene ‘61 Trail. Also presented by SWNCTA during the summer was Cinderella, showcasing 53 student actors from the McCook area and starring Laura McCarty.

McCook Community College presented the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” at the Fox Theater. Some of the Bison Alumni cast members included Phil Lyons ’74 & Kay Flaska ’52.

The McCook National Bank summer concert series, Hot Summer Nights, included a Stratton performance by The Oberlin Area Concert Band performing a variety of songs including waltzes, polkas, patriotic songs, and marches. Concerts at Norris Park included crowd favorite, Blackwater Haze, the classic rock and country band; the Kearney-based band YIKES, who played a mixture of musical styles; and the Boulder Acoustic Society with their unique sound from the soaring violin and jazz accordion to the wild percussion and creative bass.

The 2009 Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival in June was a hit starring a lineup of musicians and storytellers: Dovie Thomason, Finders & Youngberg and headliner, Bil Lepp.

“Green” growth and culture was in abundance this year!

By: Randy Andrews’73 and Peg Augustyn Andrews’74

Getting Giving Back

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:46:47 +0000

Reality is a tough nut. Last spring I learned that if a parent(s) has a job to go to and can not afford child care, the street becomes the babysitter. Another dose of reality: in some countries families live at the dump.

I traveled to Mazatlan, Mexico, with three close friends to volunteer at their five orphanages. We joined a group of 40 others with an organization called Tres Isles Orphanage Fund. Not one penny of donations goes to salaries or administration. The budget is beyond tight: $150 has to feed 35 kids for a week!

One day per year our bus pulls up to stage a rather poor version of the TV show Extreme Makeover! After lunch there was always a fun interaction with the kids: kite flying with new kites we brought to replace the black trash bag kites they used; ice cream treats; baseball games; and assembling new mattresses with new sheets with your hand held by a child.

The last day we helped assemble 250 small lunches and boarded a bus to travel to the local dump. Mazatlan is a large city (700K metro area) and the dump is the highest mountain of trash that I have ever seen up-close and personal. It is one of those things you have to see to believe: families do indeed eke out an existence living in the trash. As you can guess, the bus was swarmed by people because it was Thursday and lunch comes on Thursday. Drop in the proverbial bucket indeed. Too much reality.

by Heidi Molsbee Englade ’65 henglade@yahoo.com orphanagefunds.org

A Very Special Reunion

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:42:43 +0000

Several MHS classes held their reunions during Heritage Days weekend last month, but one of them was a little more special than the others. First of all, it wasn’t a class that graduated in a year ending with “9”, this class had never had a reunion before, and 100% of the surviving classmates were in attendance.

The reunion took place in the sitting room at Hillcrest Nursing Home, where resident Esther Nielsen Wissbaum ‘28 hosted Eleanor Suess Harris ‘28, who now resides in Auburn, Alabama. These two ladies are the sole surviving members of the MHS Class of 1928 and the oldest surviving alumni members that we have. Esther is 99 and looking forward to celebrating her 100 birthday next May, while Eleanor is still a spring chicken at the age of 97, having skipped kindergarten when entering school causing her to be younger than most of her classmates. She will turn 98 on April 4, 2010.

Two of Eleanor’s sons, J.T. ‘55 and Jim ‘73 Harris, along with her granddaughter, Susan Harris ‘83 Broomfield, and I were lucky enough to sit in on this 81-year class reunion and ask questions of these two ladies about their classmates, life in high school back in 1928, and what has happened to them since graduation. Jim filmed much of the reunion and Susan was the official photographer. These women were absolutely amazing as they could recall with great detail their classmates, teachers, and life in McCook before the Great Depression.

The Class of 1928 graduated 65 students, losing one classmate to death before graduation. John Murray died in November of their senior year, after a short illness. Esther remembers going to his family’s house, where his body was laid out, to pay her last respects to him. The class annual is dedicated to his memory.

Eleanor and Esther could recall each of their classmates and remember something about their personality. Tom Colfer, his brother William, and Eloise Real came over from St. Pat’s school and were “sharp as tacks”. Elmer Metheny, Harold Lawritson, and Dean O’Connor were considered very handsome by Esther, while Eleanor considered Don Thompson (future State Senator) and Harold Hadley as nice looking. Ruth Levine and Gladys Wright were remembered as being popular and outgoing, while Eloise Real was very smart and studied a lot. Both ladies laughed when they recalled Harold “Shorty” Coleman, the class clown who was always amusing his classmates with his antics.

Several teachers were also discussed at the reunion. Eleanor was a music student, who was lucky enough to be one of the 15 members of Leo Kelly’s band. She loved Miss Tipton, who taught music and chorus, and learned a lot from Alice Thuman, the journalism teacher. Esther recalled with great admiration, Helen Hoyt, her commercial teacher and Miriam McClelland, history professor. Both ladies mentioned Mr. Frank Weiland, their science professor. He would give out very long assignments, and the students were convinced that he didn’t really read through their papers. One time Eleanor handed in a paper for his chemistry class and included the poem “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” in the middle of it. Mr. Weiland never mentioned it to her at all, proving the students’ theory in her mind!

The gals also talked about themselves and some of the shenanigans they got into. Esther told us that she and a female cousin would go to the Carnegie Library to study, but they would actually meet up with their boyfriends there and take off to hang out with them. Esther’s young paramour, Floyd Gillen, was the best-behaved boy she knew, but this didn’t help much when her uncle decided to follow the girls to the library one day and peeked in to see them with the boys. Thus ended the rendezvous at the library! Eleanor remembers a dance hall that was on B Street, and one night she slipped out to attend a dance there. Her parents found out and came to the hall to retrieve her, declaring that she was much too young to be at a place like that. Parents always have a way of ruining a young girl’s fun!

Both Esther and Eleanor still have their high school annuals, which they brought with them to the reunion and graciously allowed us to look through. Written by the journalism class and published by the McCook Tribune newspaper, these books give us a delightful glimpse into what it was like to be a high school student back in the 1920’s. Pictures of the girls with their marcelled hair and knee-length dresses, and the boys in their wool suits and letter jackets, reveal a dress code and style much different from that of today’s high school students. The annual tells about the Senior-Junior Watermelon Feed that ended in a battle with watermelons being hurled at each other (the seniors won!) and the Senior Hard-Time Party where they came dressed as bums and hobos and dined on candied apples, doughnuts, cocoa, and lollypops.

A feature of the annual that I loved was where a short summation of each senior was written by the annual staff and placed under their picture. Eleanor’s was “Still they gazed and still the wonder grew, that one small head could harbor all she knew.” and Esther’s was “Modest but nice – what could be better?” Frieda Yost had the declaration “I chatter, chatter, chatter on forever”, leading us to believe she was very talkative compared to Jacob Uhrich, who was tagged with “If silence is golden, I’m a millionaire”. The Last Will and Testament of the Senior Class is in the annual, where Roy Greer “leaves my blond hair and good looks to Ermil Sines ‘29, hoping he will make the same good use of them that I have” and Hermie Hegenberger “bequeaths one dozen of my girls to Harold “Shorty” Poush ‘29, still retaining one dozen of them for myself”.

Baccalaureate services were held for the Class of 1928 in the Methodist Church. Following an address to the class, the school’s mixed chorus presented a musical number, “I Hear America Singing”. Graduation was on May 25, 1928 at 8 p.m. in the Temple Theatre. Both ladies remember the place being full, with most of the town coming out to attend. Eleanor played her violin before the diplomas were handed out by the superintendent, G.L. Burney.

Although they weren’t close friends in high school, Eleanor and Esther have kind words for each other. Esther recalls that Eleanor was very talented in many areas, and was an amazing musician. Eleanor is very appreciative of all the work that Esther has done as their class representative and staying in touch with classmates through the years.

Esther showed us her senior class ring, which she paid $10 for back in 1928. All the class rings for McCook students in that era had the same emblem, allowing MHS grads to identify each other out in the world. Esther plans on donating her ring to the High Plains Museum, which brought a huge smile to Eleanor’s face, since she was one of the founders of that museum.

As the reunion drew to a close, Jim was able to tape Esther singing the 1928 class song. Her voice was clear as she sang the verses written by classmate Margaret Finn - “Swiftly our school days are fleeting, soon we’ll say goodbye. Leaving our classmates forever and memories of teacher so dear. And o’er us all there comes stealing, a sadness we cannot bear. For now we are leaving Old McCook High School, leaving the school we cherish to you. We hope, dear Juniors, you will respect her and to her colors you’ll ever be true.”

Eleanor and Esther had such a great time at the reunion that they hope to have another one very soon. Esther invited Eleanor back to McCook on May 18th, when she celebrates her 100th birthday. Eleanor didn’t know if she could make it for that event, but did promise to come back next Heritage Days and come out to see Esther then. I’m hoping that I get invited to their 82nd class reunion. Maybe I’ll even bring cocoa and doughnuts, so we can relive the “Hard Time Party” they attended over eight decades ago. You’re all invited to come too!!

Peach Lutheran Church?

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:40:35 +0000

The obituary of Ella Baumbach Ford, Class of 1938, really caught our attention recently. According to her funeral notice, Ella was born at home in McCook in 1921, baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook and graduated 8th grade from Peace Lutheran School, before going on to graduate from McCook High School in 1938.

This is the first we’ve ever heard of a Peace Lutheran School in McCook and wondered if any of our alumni members remember the school or even attended it. How long was it in existence? Was it located in the Peace Lutheran Church? Any light you can shed on this would be appreciated. Send your memories of the school to pdlyons @gpcom.net or webnut2008@h otmail.com

Ella went on to have a notable life, selling magazines across the country right out of high school and working in a war plant in Cleveland, OH during World War II.. After the war was over, Ella returned to McCook where she met and married her husband, George Ford, and worked as a receptionist at the Keystone Hotel. In 1964, George and Ella moved to Wichita where she became one of the city’s first female mail carriers.

Back To School 1967-Style

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:38:50 +0000

A recent cleaning spree in the MHS Business Office unearthed some information that gives us a glimpse at what was going on in our school system over forty years ago. Business Manager, Rick Haney ’80, found a clipping from the August 12, 1967 McCook Daily Gazette at the back of a file drawer that contained information about the school year that was about to start. Rick was kind enough to bring it to us so we could share the information with you. For many, it’ll bring back a lot of good memories; for others, it will leave you marveling at some of the differences between then and now.

School in 1967 didn’t start until September 5, after the Labor Day holiday, although the football team began practice on August 21 in preparation for their first game at Holdrege on September 8. The school day began at 8:40 and the dismissal bell rang at 3:30. Elementary students had 55 minutes for lunch and could go home if they wanted. For the first time in the school’s history, junior and senior high students had a closed campus for lunch. Their lunch time was 35 minutes in length, and they could either bring a sack lunch or eat a hot meal at the cafeteria for 35 cents.

Enrollment at the senior high was expected to hit around 600. The incoming sophomore class numbered 210, while 175 seventh graders were coming into the junior high, creating a small decline in enrollment there. The only curriculum change in the system was the addition of orchestra in elementary and junior high grades, with Mrs. Opal Buchta being the instructor.

Other new instructors starting that fall were Lois Mitchell, East Ward; Ronald Clark – principal, Marilyn Lichti, Jo Keeler, Betty Woods, Central; Carol Schafer, West Ward; Virginia Clark, Ilene Langhoff, Arnold Pierson, Stanley Schwartz, junior high; and senior high teachers: Joseph Augustyn, Joyce Beideck, Stephen Bell, James Cassey, Gale Cook, Gary Johnson, Evelyn Mousel, Jerry Williams, Hugh Thomas, and George Yuthas. The article also listed the names of the new hires at McCook Junior College and one of them, Dallas Talkington, later became the ag instructor for McCook schools.

The superintendent of McCook Schools in 1967 was Earlyon J. Lamberty. For the first time that fall, McCook junior college had its own president, A.W. Kuper. Previously, this duty was also fulfilled by the public school superintendent.

In The Halls

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:34:35 +0000

This year, 2009 got off to a fast start at McCook High School, with many members of the student body participating in sports and other activities. For the second year in a row, the boys’ basketball team earned a spot at the state tournament, where they lost to top-ranked Ralston by a score of 68-57. Six Bison wrestlers qualified for the state wrestling tournament. Two of our wrestlers placed third – Nate Morgan at 112 pounds and Chris Schleeman at 215 pounds – and the squad placed 14th overall.

Junior Whitney Korgan placed seventh in the 50-yard freestyle finals at the state swimming meet with a school record time of 24.66 seconds. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Madeline Shaddock, Jayde Aufrecht, Sydnie Stamm, and Korgan placed 15th with a school record time of 1 minute, 46.03 seconds. The same girls swam the 400-yard freestyle relay, placing 18th with a school record time of 3:59.88. The girls’ tennis team finished the regular season with an 11-3 dual record. Hannah Swanhorst made it to the quarterfinals of the state meet as a No. 2 singles player and McCook’s No. 1 doubles team of Brianna Watkins and Jessica Jankovits and the No. 2 doubles team of Kelsey O’Dea and Amy Been also made it to the quarterfinals before being eliminated.

McCook claimed two first-place showings in the Class B girls’ state track meet and finished fifth overall. The 3200-meter relay team of Tara Powell, Kelsea Geschwentner, Emilyne Nichols, and Jessa Sughroue finished first with a time of 9:35.386, which also earned them the All-Class gold medal in the event. The 1600-meter relay team of Whitney Korgan, Powell, Joanna Bryant, and Sughroue finished first with a time of 4:05. The McCook boys’ team placed 20th in Class B competition with 14 points.

The boys’golf team made its first trip to state as a team since 2006. Joe Vetrovsky led his teammates with a 159 over the two days and finished a single stroke out of medal contention.

The McCook High School newspaper staff captured their fifth consecutive Class B Championship in the NSAA State journalism competition. McCook’s FFA floriculture team members, Ben Schilling, Kayla Messinger, Katelyn Fritsche and Allison Dupler will represent the school and Nebraska at the national FFA competition in October.

Matt Berry and Jordan Baumbach were crowned 2009 Color Day Royalty. First attendants were Stephen Smock and Bailey Lauer, while Sarah Wilcox and Aaron Ruppert were second attendants.

Inclement weather forced the 2009 graduation ceremonies to be held in the high school auditorium, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the 118 students who received their diplomas that day. Ryan Hardin and Sarah Jo Wilcox received the school’s most coveted “Bison Award”. Five students were honored for earning straight A’s throughout high school: Amy Been, Olivia Walter, Matt Carriker, Sarah Wilcox, and Molly Peck.

Summertime found many MHS students still involved with school activities. Choir director Sandy Weigel and 45 members of the varsity choir spent three days in New York City at the end of May. The choir sang Broadway hits and patriotic songs on Liberty Island and at the Lincoln Center, along with touring New York and watching a Broadway play. Cathy Jones, MHS science teacher, nine of her students, and a teacher and students from Cambridge High School participated in NORE – Nebraskans on an Oceanographic Research Education – in late May and early June. They stayed in Costa Rica where they worked at a turtle preserve, took supplies to a settlement of Bribri Indians, and observed a butterfly farm and organic farming operation.

Insuring The Future of the Newsletter

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:29:51 +0000

The “Insuring the Future Fund” pays for office and salary expenses necessary to make the newsletter a reality. Donations are tax deductible. Gifts of $35 or more will receive a receipt from the Nebraska Community Foundation. Please make your checks payable to McCook Community Foundation and designate “Insuring the Future” or “In Memory of:” or “In Honor of”. Mail to: Bison Alumni Newsletter, P.O. Box 665, McCook, NE 69001

Gifts given to “Insuring The Future”

Jon Dawson ‘53, Gwendolyn Drake Quick ‘45, Roger Derr ’55, Betty Murphy Coba ‘54

Richard Kraft ’57, Dennis Confer ’68, Jerry Bauer ’67, Bill Lages ’54,

In Memory of: Given by

Raymond Lebsack ’35………………………………………………… Eleanora Lebsack Galloway ‘37

Lillian Lebsack Smart ‘39

Norma Lebsack Crocker ’53

Margaret Hesterwerth Fynes ’36…………………………………….. Arvilla Hesterwerth Archer ‘44

Corvin Alstot ’41…………………………………………………………………….. Jack ’41 and Mary Moss

Alice Moffitt Baltazar ’42………………………………………………………… Olive Moffitt Sadler ‘40

Dick Phillips ’45………………………………………………………………………………………….. Betty Phillips

Orville Mockry………………………………………………………………………………………….. Class of 1948

Gene Stewart ’50 ………………………………………………………………. Joanne Walters Dueland ‘53

Jerry ’51, Stu ’58 Jaeger ………………………….. Eugene ’51 & Charlene Nicholson ’56 Jaeger

& Frank Bower ’53

Mary Orin Holst Avery ’53……………………………………………….. Goldie Edwards Paolazzi ‘55

Bob Campbell ’57 & Earnie Hackenkamp ’57…. LoAnn Campbell, William Schultz ‘62

Mike Russell ’62………………………………………. Class of ’62, Mary Jo Wagner Baumfalk ‘62

Cliff ’61 and Cathie ‘61 Gochis Gibson

Fred’62 & Donna Holloway’62 Janisch

Martin’62 & Diane Markwad ’62 Hime

Tom ’62 & Nancy Eifert ’67 Buresh

Carl “Butch” Campbell ’62……………………… Class of ’62, Mary Jo Wagner Baumfalk ‘62

Marty ’62 & Diane Markwad ’62 Hime

William Schultz ‘62

Carl “Stan” Mohr ‘64……………………………………………………………………………….. Class of 1964

Kim Hackenkamp Hartman ’78………………………………………………………… LoAnn Campbell

Classmates ’58 Deceased…………………………. Class of 1958 (Corrected from spring issue)

Judy Bahl Cappel, Gail Bonar Howard, John Budd, Bob Burham,

Geraldine Cappel Palmer, Judy Carpenter Andrews, Judy Daniels,

Gary Davidson, Linda Harmon Boone, Karen Hayward Frecks,

Stuart Jaeger, Robert Jensen, Carl Lawver, Jordon Martin, Karen Meager

Jon Messer, Eddie O’Berg, Shirley Padgett Kohler, Fred Plourd, Sara Rathbun Reiners,

Don Sailors, Cleo Scott Koester, Rodney Shepherd, Jim Welch, Robert White

With apologies from the director for missing these names in the last issue.

McCook Educational Foundation

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:25:43 +0000

The McCook Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization created as a source of support to enhance educational opportunities for students at McCook Public Schools. Anyone wishing to contribute to this organization or needing more information should contact Al Cuellar at acuellar@swnebr.net or 308-345-2393.

Gifts given for Scholarship Endowment Fund

Shirley Blank, Grant Strunk ’77, Gene Weedin, teacher

Safeco matching funds for Wayne Rothmeyer ’58,

Rita Loop Reiman ’69, Mark Latta, Kathy Abbey Wallen ‘71

    Gifts given to the McCook Educational Foundation
       In Honor Of:                                   Given by:
Peg Augustyn Andrews ‘74    ……………………… Maribeth Augustyn, teacher

In Memory Of: Given by:

Carrie Corey ‘84 ……………………………………. Neal ‘56 and Mary Lee Mohr ‘59 Corey

Thelma Wilcox Randolph ‘31 …………………………………………………………. Al Cuellar ‘56
Jessica Ortiz Wolf ‘49

Jaime Mendoza and Ron Mousel

Alma Willis Stephens Galloway ’30 ………. ………..Gregory and Susie Hutt ‘65 Trupp
Gunnar Blanke ‘64…………………………………………………………………… Norma W. Blanke

Donations for Band Uniforms

Charles Peek ‘60

Donations can be made to scholarships sponsored by the McCook Educational Foundation. They are: Nancy Prosser-Weedin Scholarship, Phillip M. Johnston Scholarship, Myrtle Ashton Scholarship, The Strunk Scholarship, The Douglass Scholarship in memory of Harry and Irma Douglass, the Leo and William Kelly Music Scholarship, the Dr. LaVern R. Blank Scholarship, the Dan Wallen Agriculture Scholarship and Don Marvin Scholarship. Other donations will be appreciated.

Send donations to: McCook Educational Foundation Inc.

P.O. Box 782 McCook, NE 69001

In Memory

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:19:18 +0000

We express our condolences to the families of these alumni. If you wish to send condolences, please feel free to contact the class representative of these people. You may read more information about many of these deaths on-line at www.mccookgazette.com

Dorothy Somers “Dot” Britt – Teacher

Rita Lawrence Bauer – Teacher

Maurine Skoda – Teacher

Loy “Sarge” Teter – Teacher

Gale Cook – Teacher

Barbara Kelly, Teacher

Ray Lytle

Ruth Matson Moreau

Charlotte Wilcox Rogers

Elsie Wesch O’Dea

Wilma Norton Hayden

Doris Payton Grossman

L. Sue Weskamp Black

James “Jim” Adams –1930

Thelma Wilcox Randolph – 1931

Frances Real Bailey – 1934

Helena Lunn Koon –1935

Margaret Hesterwerth Fynes – 1936

Letha Burton Hoffman – 1937

Oma Davis Stott – 1937

Jerry Bagan – 1938

Ella Baumbach Ford – 1938

Arylene Chilton Marsh – 1938

Frances Hyatt Theener – 1939

Jacqueline Hopper Smith – 1939

Stanley Randel – 1939

Warren Benjamin – 1941

Alice Moffitt Baltazar – 1942

Josephine Little – 1943

Lorraine “Tootie” Roth Hoffman – 1944

Darlene Blake Wagner – 1945

Donald Harr – 1945

Colleen Carpenter Palmer – 1946

Hans Kalinski – 1946

Betty Rowland – 1949

Gary Smith – 1950

Jim Stearns – 1950

Gene Stewart – 1950

Kenneth Bower – 1951

Glen W “Bud” Lytle -1952

Janet Crook O’Brien – 1957

Larry Lusk – 1959

Carl “Champ” Rossitto – 1959

Ira Zimmerman – 1961

Carl “Butch” Campbell – 1962

Michael Russell – 1962

Carl “Stan” Mohr – 1964

Colleen Grant – 1965

Robert N. Knedlik – 1969

Janice Keeler – 1982

Nathaniel R. “Nate” Trask – 1994

Jason Brown – 1996

Derek G. Bodeman – 2001

Amy Jo Stone – 2009

Park Happenings

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:18:21 +0000

Recent pictures of additions to McCook's Parks.

Weddings

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:53:16 +0000

Do you believe it? Who is married? You must be kidding! :)

Lorie Hoyt & Jay Prestes ‘84

Chris Allerheiligen’85 & John Kleckner’86

Julie Mansfield ‘85 & Scott Farwell ‘85

Gina Roedel ’89 & Shane Hatch

Christy Roberts ’92 & Travis Lindsay

Lora Wendling & Chris Symington ‘93

Misty Vaughn ’99 & Wesley Nichols ’00

Brooke Berls ’99 & Aaron Seller

Ann Hitt ’99 & Tracy Rodriguez

Jennifer Ruggles & Brandon Hoyt ‘99

Afton Myers ’00 & Nicholas Ralston

Lori Bortner ’00 & Patrick Harding

Sara Beckenhauer ’01 & Dave Hageman

Erin Rittman & Jesse Jordan ‘01

Melissa Hruby & Ty Lafferty ‘02

KT Smith & Tyler Bieck ’03

Christy Musselman & Jacob Tucker ‘03

Ann Koch & Matthew Serbousek ‘03

Bridget Hammond & Jason Bryant’03

Nichole Keough & Adam Kotschwar ‘03

Erica Reitz ’03 & Jeremy Zywiec

Amber Baker ’03 & Paul Hernandez Jr.

Chantel Olson ’04 & Justin Ele ‘04

Lindsey Dame ’04 & Kyle Frick

Cristina Richendifer ’04 &

Christopher Conour

Jill Oiler ’04 & Nick Howard ‘05

Tausha Escher ’05 & Drew Wilson ‘05

Amy Lucas ’05 & Cody Wherley

Kate Wolford ’05 & Jacob Wawrzynkiewicz

Whitney Fagot ’06 & Anthony Purvis ‘06

Whitney Pierson ’06 & Isaac Weyeneth

Jessica Fritsch ’06 & Nathan Huebert

Jessica McMurtrey ’07 &

McCallan Chadwick

Maggie Sanders ’08 & Jack Latta ‘07

Thank You

Administrator — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:33:14 +0000

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!

Thank you to the following people for donations of TIME OR MONEY to this volume of the Newsletter. If names have been inadvertently missed, please send a note to us and we will get it in the next letter.

Staff & Faculty, Al Cuelar,Maribeth Augustyn, Joyce Foth Beideck 31 Dorothy Fitch Nicholson; 32 Mary Austin Horendeck; 34 Julia Gillette Mattley, Donald T. Rowland; 35 Russell Dowling, Phyllis Olson Marsh; 38 Bernadine Traphagan Malcolm; 39 Helen Dutton Allen; 40 Olvie Moffitt Sadler, Evelyn Frank Morgan; 41 Jack & Mary Moss, Ardis Randel Vukas; 42 Patty Ferguson Eisenhart; 43 Betty Young Hohn, Ruth Bamesberger Shields; 44 Rev. Richard Harr, Arvilla Hesterwerth Archer, Shirley Axelson Johnson,; 45 Betty Phillips, Jean Frank Reed, Gwendolyn Drake Quick, Millie Clapp Housley, Wayne Messinger, John Hubert, Darlene Blake Wagner; 46 Adolph Kalinski, Shirley Muffley Wallen; 47 Donna Young Messinger, Eileen Ackerman Hubert, Verna Billingsley Barnett, Jerry Beideck, Rosalie Teel Weskamp, Ken Frick; 48 Lois Carlson Calvin, Ivan Schmid, Joan Hoyt Gilliam; 49 Leo Randel, Elaine Fritz Haussler, Donna Holmes Butler, Clara Lebsack Adams; 50 Jack and Norma Stevens, Marjorie Shields McMurtry, Sally Brown Woolen, Eugene Pryor, Bob Desmond, Phyllis Goodenburger Davis, Eunice Clark Messinger, Joyce Foth Beideck, Nancy Bridenstine Wilhelm; 51 Deloris Hupf Nielson, Eugene Jaeger, Janice Eisenbarth Waddell, Jean Blake Evans; 52 Venee Kramer Heimerl, Robert Traphagan, Peggy Appleyard; 53 Joanne Walters Dueland, Jon Dawson, Norma Lebsack Crocker, Carol Johnson Kelley, Marlene Chinn Rogers, Marlene Reiners Foster, Pat Rogers Schmid; 54 Bill Lages, Betty Murphy Coba, Ethyl Logan Siegfried; 55 Goldie Edwards Paolazzi,Roger Derr, Harold Davidson, Lila Schafer Johnson, Richard Johnson, Dick Trail; 56 Velma Lauer Kircher, Charlene Nicholson Jaeger, Al Cuellar; 57 Keith Stewart, Marilyn Lenhart Geier, Ann Janishch Eller, LoAnn Campbell, Richard Kraft, Dick Thieben, Otto Weigel, Larry Rich, Jerda Thompson Garey, Doug Vap, Dale Hofman, John Hanson, Ruth Ann Kunkee Hackenkamp; 58 Dixie Neiman Hill, Ellen Kennedy Wetzbarger, Ken Reynolds, Steve Vontz, Ray Gragg, William Frasier, Patricia Patrick Streit, Erin Soderberg Clark, Gerald Gale, Linda Peterson Bauer, Robert Beneda, Charles Jordan, Diane Kleckner Murphy, Karon Mizell, Darrell Bonar, Robert Propp, Mary Beth Jorgensen Branca, Jacolyn McLeland Sheehan, JoAnn Burton Troyer, Renon Andrus Blum, Don Kepler, Kenneth Miller, Wendell Peters, Darwin Thompson, Avis Sheldon Ulrich, Marilyn Ulrich Michel, Nancy Jewell Tarnutzer, Ward Huet, Ruby Henshaw Taylor, Wayne Rothmeyer, Geraldine Cross Murray, Jacque Russell Olberding, Pat Andrijeski Foley, Darlene Dueland Stewart, Judy Chinn Wortley, Sharon Dowling Felker; 59 Carolyn Matson Wallace, Bob Thompson, Yvonne Rice Tickles, Gene Meints, Honey Lou McDonald Bonar, Andy Weskamp, Charlene Miller Weskamp, Bonnie Harris Smith, Charlene Moffitt Shrum, Jan Lusk Mahon, Jocelyn Welch Sheldon, Mary Roedel Vander Molen, Marilyn Blum Wurst, Susan Elliot Witkowski, Gilbert Unger, Gayle Goolsby Wegener, Mike Peters, Pat Burgher Gillispie, Anna Lehman Owen, Wally Derr, Sally Stephens LeClerc, Karen Strayer Nichols, Nancy Ball Kepler, Mary Lee Mohr Corey, Jan Eckhardt Rich, Marcia Madron Overton, Barb Propp Musgrave, Jim Phinney, Donna Peters Sailors, Honey Lou McDonald Bonar, Jeremy Daniels, Marilyn Callen Jezek, Eldon Parde; 60 Bev Clapp Premer, Connie Carlson Bennett, Fred Janisch, Pat Wakefield Fredde, Sharon Schow Derr; 61 Cliff & Cathie Gochis Gibson, Steve Walker, Jean Reynolds Parry, Bev Search Woolwine; 62 William Schultz, Martin Hime, Diane Markwad Hime, Joe Burns, Jim Thompson, Donna Holloway Janisch, Mary Jo Wagner Baumfalk, Tom Buresh; 63 Carol Cheney Lashley, Peg Decker Bell, Dick Cappel; 64 Cheryl Burns Hamrick, Gloria Shepherd Mefford, Cheri Myers Beckenhauer; 65 Dick Rima, Colleen Grant, Pam Gull Schilz, Steve Batty; 66 SandraGallatin, Karen Bales Rima; 67 John Barna, Mary Wolf Ellingson, Nancy Eifert Buresh,Teresa Cohen Helmick, Cherril Smith Serdy, Linda Haller Clark, Terry Holocomb, Betty Krieger Brush, David Bridgmon, Mark Heskett, Bob Anderson, Yvonne McBride Austin, Julia Glenn Vejnovich, Candy Stevens Feller, Kathleen Meyerle, Dewey Raburn, Craig Larmon, Larry Seibrandt, David Backer, Denna Berry Sekyra, Roger Kunkee, Tom Weskamp, Ron Myers, Alan Goodsell, Lynda Austin Francis, Viola Austin Heskett, Jerry Bauer,Sue Grafton Sommer, Nancy Eifert Buresh, Lee Ann Lytle Roth, Bill Greene, Doris Davidson Seghi, Lanny Thomsen, Mary Jane Lentz, Karen Nielsen Martin, Dallas Ross, Jean Harmon Hallowell; 68 Lori Lebsack Backer, Terri Swanson Goodsell, Dennis Confer, Terry Hallowell, Susie Andrews Thomsen, Sue Coady Doak; 69 Gale & Shirley Harder, Becky Anderson Kinney, Jackie Roedel Kuhr, Debbie Kreiger Jenkins; 70 Steve Beideck, Cathy Reid Barna, Cathy Robinson Brown; 71 Daniel Lynch, Charlie Augustyn, Steve Clapp; 72 Marilyn Huff Augustyn, Mike Gonzales, Terri Housley Stevens, Monica Conroy, Jim Glenn, Doug Grant, Anne Unger Confer; 73 Karen Lytle Seibrandt, Gera Gettman Beideck, Randy Andrews, Dave Winder, Mary Anderson Dueland; 74 Peg Augustyn Andrews, Mike Morgan, Nancy Lewis Frecks; 75 Barb Tuttle Lynch, Diana Koetter Wilkinson, Wendy Henthorn Boukal, David Arterburn, Joan Modrell, Jill Haag Morgan, Marty Wilson, Greg & Dannette Burke Stelmach,Kelvin Miller, Rosemary O’Neil Dack, Frank Hassler, Ron Simmonds,Bob Hilker, Kevin Swartz, Gary Rupp, Tony Bennett, Deb Voda Mellen, Marcia Haller Glenn, Shannon Cross Pevoteaux, Dari Olson Tucker; 76 Mike Siverly Larson, Dee Dunworth Doyle, Lana Currie Richter, Diane Wilson Lyons; 77 Kirk Messinger,Kelly Moore Simmonds,Roger Stupka, Donna Roberts Stone; 78 Lisa Koetter Einspahr, Jerry Calvin; 79 Becky Willis Felker, Robin Frick Calvin; 80 Lesa Hein Clifford, Deb Manning, Shirley Maris Riener, Chad Suiter, Scott King, Peggy Ruppert Messinger, Gina Quinn Dorwart, Mark Wilcox, Susan Yamamoto Lewis, Jane Hime Clifford, Ann Hofman Fornoff, Barbara Hartman Berkevich, Greg Kuntz, Bob Schneider, Edward Anderjaska,Bruce Keenportz, Tamala Stuhmer Murphy, Deanna Foster Donohue, Michelle Morris Spieker,Denise Garey Ringenberg, Camy Eggers Bradley, Lou Ann Steward Hoehner, Dean Hilker, Kris Johnson Cook, Lanae Hoyt Fritsch; 81 Wally Hampton, Evelyn Thieben Baumann, John Palic, Al Cuellar, Teresa Ellinger Wells, Leila Hoyt Koetter; 82 Kent & Michelle Mason Johnson, Lori Steward,Deon Leitner, Cindy Chitwood Pohl, Sara Wiemers Rippen; 83 Kristy Ziemann Pollnow; 84 Neal and Amy Wiemers Randel, Shelly Olson Pierce, Barbara Thompson Norton, Pamela Ely Oman, Tammra Bradley Decker; 85 Annette Kool Wagner; 86 Terri Dack Skolout, Tracy Lucas; 87 Mike Roth, Josh Rowland, Brian Loper, Valerie Johnson Foster, Linda Goodenberger Bos, Matt Wiemers, Sharon Colling DeVries, Karen Davidson Bush, Lonnie Kinne, Janella Duffield Hager, Ann Guthrie Teel; 88 Kerri Davis Unger; 89 Aaron Vap,Daniel Troester, Wendy Hampton Gillen; 90 Corey Meisenbach, Ryan Mousel,Alicia Caton Vap, Jon Graff, Lisa Hinz, Andi Mollring Mann, Bill Korb,Tiffanie Maddux Hans,Lori Kinne Stein, Regina Andrijeski, Seth Denney, Stephanie Vap Marrow,Mary Gillen Pavel, Lisa Dusatko Mroczek, Thomas Adams, Jeanette Cappel Wonderly; 91 Michelle Chancellor Henrickson; 92 Jason Loop; 93 Joanne Pick Barenberg; 94 Shawna Jordon Michaelis, Amanda Mousel Sutton, Andi Ambrose Cappel, Brian & Terra Ellerton Michaelis, Michelle Marr Vavra, Stephanie Hays Stevens; 95 Amy Ahlers Downing, Elizabeth Turner Beal, Regina Shields, Billie Elliot Cole,Jessica Fargen Walsh, Gina Huffaker Lanik, Wade & Traci Gonzales Wilkinson, Ryan Peters, Adam Hock, Mandy Leaman, Angel Webb Fleming, Carmen Irwin Lervold; 96 Amy Vontz Kehler; 97 Lisa Beckenhauer Pomajzl; 98 Brian Symington; 99 Vanessa Lytle, Valerie Friehe Tonkin, Brooke Berls Seller, Marc Rasmussen, Kami Brown Foster, Becky Berry Wiemers, Amber Hubl, Brandon Hoyt, Cassie Miller Spencer; 00 Anna Dueland Hunnicutt, parent rep-Russ Ankerson; 01 parent rep-Shari Goodenberger; 02 Laura Lyons Plas; 03 parent rep-Cindy Pohl; 04 parent rep-Russ Ankersen & Kim Lyons; 05 parent rep-Diane Lyons; 06 Julia Lyons & parent rep-Sarah Wiemers Rippen; 07 John Swanhorst; Jr High Student Council & Sponsors- Chad Lyons, Kristin Blume; 13 Patricia Mitnik, Hollie Eiler, Jacqui Hager, Jake Schlager, Collin Messersmith, Brooklynn Trew, Riley Allen, Madison Chitwood, Austin Cherry; 14 Mack Alspaugh, Austin Wright, Courtney Bradley, Mallory Koepke; 15 Hayley Werkmeister, Hannah Esch, Shannon Buck, Taylor Geisler, Bryce Lyons, Darvis Williams, Trevor Matson; Others: Arthur Lashley, Foundations members that helped: Stephanie Gunter – McCook College Foundation, Kathy Shaffer –YMCA, Leon & Phyllis Kuhlen – George Norris Foundation, Ken Foster –College and Hospital Foundation, Terri Shipshock – Community Hospital Health Foundation, Norma Stevens – McCook College Foundation, Jim Ulrich – Community Hospital, Ken Allen – YMCA, Virginia Clark – Hillcrest Foundation, Jack Clark – Hillcrest Foundation, Don Harpst – McCook Community Foundation, Bev Dodge – YMCA, Shelly Walker – YMCA, Jean Beideck, Sheila Berls, Dannette Miller – Community Hospital Health Foundation.

NEWSLETTER STAFF INCLUDES ALL Class Representatives, John Hubert ‘45, Wayne Messinger ‘45, Ivan Schmid ‘48, Jean Blake Evans ‘51, Pat Rogers Schmid ‘53, Al Cuellar ‘56, Sharon Dowling Felker ‘58, Sharon Schow Derr ‘60, Pat Wakefield Fredde ‘60, Cheri Myers Beckenhauer ‘64, Anne Unger Confer ‘72, Dave Winder ‘73, Mary Anderson Dueland ‘73, Randy Andrews ‘73, Peg Augustyn Andrews ‘74, Terri Farber Winder ‘74, Lana Currie Richter ‘76, Diane Wilson Lyons ‘76, Camy Eggers Bradley ‘80, Janella Duffield Hager ‘87, Scott Bieker ‘88, Matthew Winder ’07, Kerrilyn Symington, Jerry Beckenhauer, and all the advertisers in this issue.

It’s Nicer In Nebraska

Administrator — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:15:51 +0000

by Froma Harrop who is from Rhode Islandand is a columnist for Creators Syndicate. Our thanks to Froma for giving her permission to reprint this story. We found this article on www.ruralnebraskaliving.com; a site you should checkout. This website includes information about livable small towns, rural success stories, articles and essays (like the one below), great places to eat, many resources and things to do, all in Southwest Nebraska

I recently returned from a two-week vacation in Nebraska. When I tell that to friends on the East Coast, they ask, “Why there?” This is their shorthand for a longer question, which is “What’s in Nebraska, if anything?”

To many Americans living outside that cubist collection of Great Plains states, Nebraska is a total blank. It is the heart of flyover country. Drivers who race across it on Interstate 80 think it’s flat and boring. As one friend who traveled that 450-mile stretch put it, “Nebraska never ends.”

Actually, this was my third trip to Nebraska in five years. I go there to do some reporting and see friends — but mostly for pleasure. Nebraska for me is the land of decompression. It’s zero traffic, polite young people, adults in no big hurry and lunch bills in the single digits. It’s days spent driving scenic back roads through farm and ranch country, much of it rolling hills. (No, Nebraska isn’t all flat.) It’s coming across tiny towns that time and the new economy seem to have forgotten.

This is one of the least Americanized places in America. These are probably fighting words in a state that sees itself as the most American of all. But I’m not talking about patriotism or work ethic or other traits that Nebraska has plenty of. I refer, rather, to Nebraska’s escape from most of the depersonalization, mindless sprawl, congestion and ugly strip development that plague America’s population corridors.

Yes, there is modern ugliness at the edges of the bigger cities, notably Omaha and Lincoln. But one can drive through entire counties in Nebraska and not see a single big-box store. They’re too thinly populated to support a Wal-Mart (otherwise, there would be one). Cherry County, for example, is bigger than Connecticut but has only 6,098 people; Connecticut has 3.4 million.

You roll into pretty little towns, unspoiled by prosperity. They post populations of 42 or 98 or, big time, 450. You wonder what goes on in hamlets with only a gasoline pump and tiny grocery for commerce. What’s it like going to a regional high school with fewer than 100 kids?

I’m well aware that these pastoral settings suffer their share of addictions, violence and other social dysfunction. Many are hurting economically and losing population. Those thoughts add sadness to a trip through a beautiful, depopulating region like the Republican River Valley: It’s hard to fathom that people are actually leaving these pretty towns.

Because Nebraska isn’t all built up, you can stand where history happened and feel the emotions — especially out West (buttes here, not cornfields). Up on Scotts Bluff, you look down at the endless Platte Valley and imagine the Mormon pioneers pulling their handcarts over 1,000 miles to Salt Lake City. At historic Fort Robinson, you can reconstruct some of the Indian tragedies — the Cheyenne Outbreak, the death of Crazy Horse, the Ghost Dance — on a landscape little changed from the late 1800s.

Even at obvious tourist attractions I didn’t spot many “foreign” plates from states like California, New York or Texas. Nebraska scenery lacks the glamour quotient of the Rocky Mountains or Grand Canyon, which draw visitors by their own power.

Nebraska’s premier natural wonder is awesome in a more subtle way. The Sand Hills are the largest dune formation in North America and a sight unlike any other. Let’s just say that a drive through this eerie dunescape on an empty two-lane — Nebraska Public Radio in your ear — will put you at unity with the jazz universe.

These are the things that I tell friends who’ve been to Europe 12 times and fly to the other coast for long weekends — but have never touched down in Nebraska. That’s why I like to go there, and why I’ll go again.

Alumni Spotlights

Administrator — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:14:18 +0000

McCook Alumni changing the world…

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Artist
Chris Brown 94,TigerDemonCub@aol.com of Mission, TX, teaches Art I, Art II, and portraiture/figure drawing and is a baseball and strength coach in a high school in South Texas. Chris has been chosen as the official artist for Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He will be doing a portrait of every person who is inducted into their hall of fame. This years class will have eight people going in which includes NFL running back Marshall Faulk. He is looking forward to working on the portraits and also getting to meet the people at the ceremony in June. Chris played baseball in college at Cowley County and Northwestern State University, where he was honored as the first ever First Team All-American in school history at Cowley. He then played on two Southland Conference Championship teams and set the school record for strikeouts in a single season (which still stands after ten years) at Northwestern State. Chris was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played for two years before signing with an Independent Pro team for five more seasons. In 2001 an Edinburg, TX team moved him to Texas. He played six years professionally all together. He retired after the 2003 season, and was a pitching coach for two more seasons with the Edinburgteam. His website is www.artleby.biz/christopherbrown.

Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame
Kugler 75, a McCook businessman and balloon pilot, was inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame during the banquet of the Nebraska Aviation Symposium, January 29th in Kearney. John has competed in the International Coupe Gordon Bennett Gas balloon race and many national and local ballooning meets. Hes taught numerous people from around the USto fly hot air and gas balloons. Most notable of his students was the late Steve Fossett, who went on to set numerous aviation world records, including the first solo round-the-world balloon flight. Kugler Co. is a McCook-based regional farm fertilizer manufacturer, which led to Kuglers assistance in pioneering the use of anhydrous ammonia as a lifting gas for gas balloons. Kugler, his brother Mike 78, and their late father Russ started flying hot air balloons locally in the late 1970s. Gary Sines 68, of Jefferson City, MO, the son of Kugler Oil Company employee John Sines, suggested to Russ that hot air ballooning could be an exciting pursuit for his adventurous sons and the rest is history. The pioneering Kuglers led in making it a colorful spectacular sport that we know today, and John, rated as a Commercial Balloon Pilot and Instructor, has made his mark in the sport the world around.