bisonalumni.com Blog

Let’s Get This Party Started

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:37:12 +0000

Friday highlights include the MNB Hot Summer Night Concert at Norris Park and individual class gatherings. Saturday events include a Bison 2010 Cancellation Stamp Party, Alumni Art and Author book displays, sand volleyball, tennis, softball, free swimming at the city pool, Wall of Fame Recognition Program,a Classic Car & Toy Show and Dancing In The Streets on Norris Avenue from 9 p.m. to midnight. On Sunday the 4th, Grand Old Flag Celebration: pancake breakfast, “Salute to America and Our Military Veterans,” a McCook Educational Foundation Auction, Barbeque, and the Optimist fireworks display at the fairgrounds. Then on Monday morning, a Final Farewell.

There are many other special events including a motorcycle Fun Run and Dragging Main (Or as kids call it nowadays, “cruising.”). See the handbook for more information.

Some merchandise will be offered throughout the reunion but in limited quantities, such as original souvenir pieces of the MHS school gym floor you played on from 1955-93 designed by Gary Ginther, baseball caps, coffee cups, polo and t-shirts. All the items are reasonably priced, with an early purchase discount for shirts, caps, and cups until April 30. To be sure to get the item you want, order them at www.mccook2010.com or send in the form in the “Bison 2010 Handbook” included in this newsletter.

As the largest gathering of Bison alumni in the past ten years, the 2010 All-Class Reunion is something you don’t want to miss!

I’ll Be Seeing You!

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:35:53 +0000

If the July 2010 Bison All-Class Reunion had a theme song, it would be “I’ll Be Seeing You.”

Popularized during World War II, the lyrics capture what Bison alumni will be doing as they gather in McCook this year for the reunion on July 2-5: “I’ll be seeing you…in all those old familiar places…”

The stomping grounds of McCook will be overflowing with familiar faces. Committees have kicked it into high gear for all the events being planned, according to one of the organizers, Cheri Beckenhauer. Alumni are encouraged to check out the details in this newsletter and at www.mccook2010.com, the official headquarters of the event. The website has a complete list of activities, a way to register, purchase items commemorating the reunion, how to get in touch with former classmates or post a comment.

With the reunion only three months away, early registrations are encouraged; at $25 per adult and $10 per family member K-12th grade. This includes two meals, (pancake breakfast and barbeque), keepsake souvenir booklet and entry to all events. After April 30, registration is $30 per adult. Be sure to read the page about the souvenir booklet that is in this issue.

A special call-out is being sent to McCook area residents to help with accommodations. Call and offer to “Host A Classmate, Neighbor or Friend” in your home over the reunion, for someone who wants to attend but cannot find a place to stay.

There will be something to see or do every day of the event, in addition to groups of classes gathering for individual reunions. See the schedule included in this newsletter and check your “Class Announcements” for more information.

by Lorri Schaff Sughroue ’79

Where is Your Class Ring Today?

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:34:07 +0000

I truly do not know where my class ring is today but I do know where Shirley’s is. Here is our story.

Shirley and I were married about a year out of high school and were high school sweethearts. Since we were in the same class, we each had our own class ring that we had given to each other like so many others had done with their girlfriends and boyfriends. When we got married, our wedding rings were our pride and joy and the class rings went into the jewelry box, not to be worn often. Something that seemed so important and was fairly expensive during high school was drawing dust.

As the price of gold was going crazy in the early 80’s, I decided to take cash for my class ring. I did that with the idea of purchasing a ring that I would wear more often than my class ring. The gold cat eye ring I purchased soon continued down the same path my class ring did, drawing dust in the jewelry box. I should point out that during all these years Shirley kept her ring in her jewelry box, not being tempted by the cash. She liked the ring; however, did not wear it much.

Most of you that lived locally knew my father, Al Harder. As close as I can remember, he purchased a black onyx ring with a diamond in it sometime in the time frame when I was selling my class ring for cash. His ring was something he always wanted and he wore pretty much all the time. Almost five years ago my father passed away. At the same time my mother Erma had a stroke and had to be placed in a nursing home. When my brother Will Harder ‘65 and I were getting the house and furnishings ready to sell, we were looking at the jewelry of my parents. Will decided I should have Dad’s onyx ring.

Shortly after Dad passed away, we moved my mother to Wisconsin where Shirley and I made our home. This made it easy for us to see her daily and participate in her care plan. My mother passed away in November ’06, leaving some of her jewelry that my brother and I also divided.

Now what to do with the jewelry? Shirley and I found a local jeweler in Wisconsin that would do custom work. We took Dad’s ring and the other pieces we had acquired to see what could be done. I even took in the ring that I had purchased with the cash from my class ring. We were told that the onyx in Dad’s ring was very damaged and really could not be repaired without major expense. I was not looking for black onyx anyway and always liked the design of our class ring. I thought about calling Open Line in McCook to ask if anyone wanted to sell a 1969 class ring, so I could mount the diamond in the middle of it.

We ended up taking Shirley’s class ring in to the jeweler to be used as an example of what I wanted in a design. At the same time we took in other pieces. Shirley had a pair of earrings made, and we also had necklaces made for our daughters-in-law. They are special gals to us and were both very close to my parents. We started to go through the design process. Attached is a photo of my designed ring. The diamond in the center of the ring is from my father’s onyx ring. The white gold around the diamond is from my mother’s cocktail ring. The gold was to be reclaimed gold from my old cash purchased ring and Dad’s ring.

Now for the rest of the story! When Shirley and I went in to finally pick up all the new pieces, I was pretty excited about getting my new ring. The jeweler

brought out the new ring and it was outstanding. We were settling up the bill when we asked where Shirley’s class ring was that was to be used for the pattern. Oops! The jeweler had also used Shirley’s ring in the making of my ring as reclaimed gold.

I thought Shirley might really be upset at losing her class ring, but she wasn’t at all. She put it into perspective saying that now my new ring can be a constant reminder of my mother, father and her every time I wear it. She couldn’t be more correct.

Shirley and I did not wear our class rings at our 40th class reunion, but I did have on my new ring that has great significance to both of us. Where is your class ring???? Shirley and I took early retirement recently. At that time we lived in Marshall, Wisconsin, a small town in the Madison area. Shirley was the Education Administrator at Herzing College and I was an Assistant Vice President of Claims for General Casualty. We now have relocated to Bella Vista, Arkansas.

by Gale A. & Shirley Frandsen Harder ’69

Around Town by Al Cuellar

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:31:44 +0000

Congratulations to the McCook Young Leaders who spearheaded McCook’s inaugural “First Night” held New Year’s Eve. There was a variety of family activities including the McCook Art Guild’s mask-decorating tables, musical performances at the Biéroc Cafe, Longnecker Jewelry and Memorial United Methodist Church. Music and laughter was the order of the night. Other activities included a dinner buffet, a mixed bag of stage acts at the Fox Theatre, singing and storytelling at the museum and a YMCA “Resolution Run” complete with hot cocoa! The highlight was a millisecond after midnight when a ball dropped from a crane parked next to the Keystone Hotel, signaling the start of 2010. Fireworks and music accompanied the New Year.

Don McCorkle ’96 and wife Brooke became franchisees for Computer Troubleshooters after finishing 10 days of intensive training. Their business is located at 110 South Federal Avenue.

Blaine Budke, owner of Tropical Tanners at 1006 West B, has introduced a new group of tanners that include Jody Stewart, Elexa Kotschwar ‘09 and Starla Teel ‘01, Tropical Tanners offers seven tanning beds, including one stand-up bed and a large selection of tanning lotions and moisturizers.

After winning the Hormel Business Plan Competition, clothing retailer “The Kloset” opened the doors of its much-anticipated boutique at 217 Norris Ave. Their motto is to sell trendy yet affordable clothing. Owners of the business include Stephanie and Jeffrey Dusatko ‘96 and Ashley Hagan.

Doug ‘57 and Jerry ‘58 Vap have closed their 75-year-old family store Vap’s Seed and Hardware at 112 East B. The store offered feed, seed, hardware, tack and art supplies.

In recognition of his 45-year newspaper career, Gene O. Morris was inducted into the Nebraska Newspaper Hall of Fame. Morris retired from the McCook Daily Gazette in 2008, serving three different stints with the newspaper. He served as sports and news writer and editor, managing editor and publisher. Morris will become the third publisher from the Gazette to be inducted into the Nebraska Newspaper Hall of Fame. Previous inductees from the Gazette include Harry Strunk, the newspaper founder and Allen Strunk ‘47, publisher of the newspaper from 1960 to 1987.

A long-standing empty building on West First and C Street has been transformed into a photography and dance studio by owners Cody ’01 and Amanda Hilker ’02 Dame. Spotlight Studios dance instructor is Nora Lobjandze. The studio is aiming for two productions each year to feature the talent of their students, there will be a smaller showcase production at Christmas and a full blown recital in May.

Quality Urgent Care is a new walk-in medical clinic, offering medical care during the evenings and weekends. No appointment is needed, and the clinic is located at 3 Bison Drive.

McCook Community Hospital is undergoing about $20 million of construction for a new patient and surgical wing, as well as outpatient treatment rooms. Phase I of the construction includes a new 25-bed wing, that will replace the existing patient “pods” built in 1974.

Buffalo Commons 2010

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:27:27 +0000

The Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival, June 11 and 12, will feature national storyteller, Tim Tingle, an Oklahoma Choctaw Indian, telling lively historical and traditional tales. Tingle is a renowned concert performer, an accomplished author and a popular keynote speaker. Anne and Pete Sibley, from Jackson, Wyoming will round out the musical portion of the festival. The Sibleys are the winners of the 2009 Great American Duet SingOff on NPR’s “A Prairie Home companion,” a spellbinding duo with the capabilities of taking the listener to places a full band could never dream of going. This year, several area and regional tellers will join in the fun at the Historical Fox Theater, the Museum of the High Plains, the Bieroc Café and Norris Park venues. The McCook Community College will again partner with the festival offering workshops presented by the featured performers.

For more information contact the website at www.buffalocommons.org, Mary Dueland’73 at 308-345-6163 and dmandue@ocsmccook.com , or the McCook Chamber of Commerce

Alumni Spotlight

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:25:41 +0000

Bob Anderson ‘70 Red Willow Films, San Jose, California

When you and your kids are watching “Eco Company” On Fox this year, you can say, “There is a McCook connection with that show! Eco Company is a 13-episode, half-hour weekly program hosted by teens, about teens doing environmentally friendly activities. Bob grew up in McCook and took art classes in high school that piqued his creative juices, leading to a career in journalism. He studied broadcast journalism at UNL with graduate studies at San Francisco State University. Over his career, he has held numerous television management positions including president and general manager of a San Francisco TV station. He has also managed programming, promotion, and creative services. Two years ago he started Red Willow Films, the production company which created “Eco Company.” With the FCC requiring each TV station to air three hours of educational and informational programming for kids a week, he felt this would be a good niche to fill. He also created a show called “In Wine Country” which has been airing on the NBC network for the last couple of years (Saturdays 4 a.m.), and another nationally syndicated show called “Your Green Life.” Interest in the environment isn’t anything new for him as his mother Virginia Anderson, tells us she taught him and sisters, Barb ‘66 Gaskins, Becky ‘69 Kinney and Mary ‘73 Dueland, the importance of turning off the lights and water. Catch “Eco Company” on Sunday mornings at 7 a.m. on Fox or check out the interactive website, eco-company.tv.

What Are the Odds?:

Chris Allerheiligen Kleckner ‘85, wrote from Eden Prairie, MN to say “What Are the Odds?Recently I married John Kleckner ‘86 in McCook. I posted announcements with the wedding details at my work, Methodist Hospital, a Minneapolis suburban hospital. I was approached by Adrienne Nielsen Zhang ‘00 and was told she, too, was from McCook. We talked for a while, trying to figure out if we knew the same people. Unfortunately, we didn’t as there is just a little age gap between us. We did find it fun that of the 300-plus nurses at Methodist Hospital, two just happen to be from the same town in western Nebraska.

This event reminded me that when I was in nursing school, I was paired up with Kathy Wirth Giddings ‘72 for a communication exercise. We were talking about where we were from and soon discovered we were both from McCook. And, like with Adrienne, we talked for a while, trying to figure out if we knew the same people, and well, there is that little age gap between us.”

Wheel Of Fortune Winner

How many times have you watched Wheel of Fortune, thinking to yourself, “I can solve that puzzle!” Kasey Clapp ‘05, not only was given the opportunity to be on the game show October 27, 2009, but knew enough answers to be the overall winner for the night! Kasey is a University of Arizona student studying microbiology and chemistry. By solving puzzles with the answers “komodo dragon” and “Scoring a last minute touchdown”, Kasey won $17,955, which included a trip to Mexico. Kasey commented he was very comfortable on the stage and the producers liked “energetic, smiling contestants.” It certainly looked like Kasey was at ease and his effervescent personality was enjoyable to watch. No doubt many of his McCook teachers weren’t surprised by his success!

Barney Magrath’74 & The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:22:12 +0000

Barney was born in Philadelphia, PA where his father Dr. Joseph Magrath’46 was stationed as a meat inspector for the US Army during the Korean War. Joe and his wife Kathleen had six children Michael ’72, Barney, Matt ’75, Sheila’77, Larry’79, and Monica. They attended St Patrick’s Catholic School and McCook Junior and Senior High School.

Barney’s love of sports began in McCook where numerous coaches and mentors, such as Hank Dicke, Dennis Stubblefield, Daryl Bonow and Milt Tenopir encouraged him in baseball, basketball, track and football. Milt handed him a football scholarship to a JUCO in Kansas in 1974, but skiing in Colorado held more allure. One week after graduation, Mike Miller’74 and Barney drove a 1972 Mustang 2+2 coupe to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to become ski bums.

After 10 years of skiing the slopes in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Idaho with no major injuries to his body or mind, he decided to pursue higher education. He moved to Laramie, Wyoming with his wife and young family to pursue a career in Astronomy and earning a B.S. in Physics.

It was at the Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO) that he began learning how to operate all kinds of equipment in the harsh weather common to most mountaintop observatories. It was also in Laramie that an encounter with Hailey’s comet in the winter and spring of 1986 began a lifelong fascination with observing the solar system. He began a nine month photography project that eventually led to seeing the comet traverse the unearthly night skies of New Zealand’s South Island.

In 1988 he wrote an article for Astronomy Magazine that outlined the future directions of ground-based astronomy. His research on this article led him to conclude that he wanted to be on the Island of Hawaii where the largest and most advanced telescopes in the world were being built. In 1990 he was hired by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) on Mauna Kea as a mirror coating expert. This arcane s wp-image-311" height="225" src="http://bisonalumni.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/vol36__CanadaFranceHawaiTelescope-300x225.jpg" title="vol36__CanadaFranceHawaiTelescope" width="300" />kill was, and still is, a mixture of art and science. It was here that he helped introduce the idea that large mirrors could be cleaned efficiently and scientifically. As the manager of the mirror coating lab, he was involved with coating most of the large mirrors on Mauna Kea.

He was also a team member on numerous innovative observing instrument projects. Observing instruments are large, expensive, and delicate cameras that are placed at the focus of telescopes. These cameras are the basis for keeping a modern observatory competitive with such heavy-weights as the Hubble Space Telescope.

CFHT instrumentation teams were the first to combine high quantum efficiency CCD array detectors, in both the optical and the infrared, with adaptive optics technology.

In 1999 Barney chose to pursue his interest by moving to an even larger telescope on Mauna Kea-The Japanese National Large Telescope project (JNLT). This 8.2 meter primary mirror telescope is the first scientific facility for Japan outside of its borders. It is a huge facility in size and personnel. As he tried to fit in, it became clear to him that he was finding himself distanced from the love of astronomy that had brought him into the field. Instead of being involved in nightly discoveries at the summit he was involved in daily maintenance of air compressor systems. It was time for a change!

In 2008 Barney decided to shift gears and begin a new chapter. He began teaching astronomy at the University of Hawaii in Hilo (UHH). He also began to develop a digital camera system, of his own invention, to take images and videos of the moon.

Last summer Barney and his wife Sarah relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico. “This is a perfect place to re-invent yourself” Barney says. “I have a position in the ski school at Ski Santa Fe, a decent sized ski hill 30 minutes from town, and I am scheduled to teach astronomy at Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) in the summer of 2010”.

If you want to experience another aspect of Barney’s work you can visit his website; magrathphotography.com

Peace Lutheran School

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:10:22 +0000

In the Fall 2009 issue of BAN, we mentioned the obituary of Ella Baumbach Ford ‘38 and how it stated that she had attended Peace Lutheran School in McCook. I was totally unaware of the existence of such a school and asked if any of our alumni knew about the school or its history. Thank goodness many of you did and were kind enough to clue me in about the school’s history.

Mel Unger wrote to tell us that a ministerial student served the congregation of Peace Lutheran Church for one year in 1911-1912. At this time a parochial school was started in the church building. In 1923 an additional room was added to the back of the church building (at the same location of the current church – corner of East 6th and E) to house the school. The teachers that served over the years were Mr. Balder, Isabella Schultz, Oscar Firnhaber, Anna Kauffeld, Ruth Guselmann, Alice Ahlschuede, Harold Meerkatz, Fred Walters, Walter Nars, Wilber Wehmueller and Walter Marlock. Over the years, the attendance average was 57 students. The school continued until 1940 when it was closed.

Virgil “Dutch” Huff ’44 sent me the following memories of his time at the Peace Lutheran School. It is a touching story, especially his desire to attend McCook public schools and to participate in their activities.

The Peace Lutheran Church School provided the reason for the Henry Huff family to move to 411 East 5th Street in the year 1929. Our family had lived at 114 West 7th Street. The oldest child, Dorothy Huff Carleton ‘36, had to walk across town to attend the Peace Lutheran School. In 1928 a tornado destroyed the northwest corner of McCook, and housing was at a premium. In the search for a house, one of the principle conditions was that it would be near the church and school so that Dorothy would not have to walk the 16 blocks to the school.

The schoolroom attached to the back of the church must have been built around 1912. This one-room school extension could have been no more than 24 x 28 feet with a wood/coal burning stove located near the entry. This hall space provided entry to the school building, the church and to the church basement which had a bathroom and lunch table area for the use of students from across town and farms. The north wall of the school consisted of a row of windows quite high as one had to stand to look out. The south wall was an extensive chalk board, and the east and west walls were used for posting notices and student artwork, etc. The floor was made of wood and was oiled to keep the dust down. The teacher took care of the janitorial duties which included keeping the stove heated in the wintertime. The parking area between the school and the minister’s parsonage provided an area for recreation at recess time. There were several swings and two teeter-totters on the east side.

When I first attended the school in the early 1930’s, Ella Baumbach Ford ‘38 was an upper classman in the 7th and 8th grade, and I remember her well. At that time the teacher was a female and conducted class for all eight grades. The school was crowded and the ‘twin-knee desks’ across the north wall were filled as were the single seat desks in rows running north and south in the room. There were about 30 students at the most, and by the time I finished the 8th grade in 1940, there were 13 students attending. I was the only student in the 8th grade, my friend, ‘Auch’ Neil Fidler ‘45, was the only one in the 7th grade and the 11 younger ones, including my sister Marilyn Huff Budde ‘49, were scattered through the lower grades. My grade school experience was extremely disappointing when classmates abandoned the school along with my brother Amor ’44 and attended the public school. My mother would not allow me to attend the public school because I hadn’t been confirmed. The minister provided religious training for the 7th and 8th grades in preparation for confirmation. For the last several school years the teacher was a male, and if my recollection is correct, he was paid approximately $35 a month. The school was supervised by the County Superintendent of Schools, Asa Wolfe. The school, not being considered in the city domain, fell into the category of rural schools, and therefore was obliged to follow the rural school regimen. One of the principle classes was Nebraska agriculture. We had very few text books all of which were outdated and well worn, but in the last year we received a ‘new’ book from the County titled ‘Nebraska Agriculture’. I remember thinking it was a beautiful book. This subject was required curriculum for all county rural schools, and I had to absorb Nebraska farming instructions to graduate from the 8th grade.

During my last year at Peace Lutheran Church School I managed to obtain a ‘McCook Junior High School Student Activities Card’ which allowed me to attend the football games. And every time there was a school assembly with educational programs, I skipped the church school and attended the junior high school programs. It made my last year at the church school bearable along with reading 88 books from the public library. The 8th grade was anything but challenging, as I had sat through seven years listening to each of the classes recite their lessons, and there was nothing new that the teacher could present as a challenge for me. The day I entered the McCook Junior High School was one of the happiest days of my young life.”

LaVonne Orman Clapp ’48 also attended Peace Lutheran School as it was nearing the end of its existence. She and her sister Dorleen Orman Ward ‘43 went for two years before the school was closed. LaVonne remembers there being one teacher for all eight grades and that he taught religion for about 30 minutes first thing in the morning. She recalls that students brought their lunches and they would hurry to eat so they could go outside and play. One of their favorite games was to play “Annie Annie Over”, where one team would throw a ball over the church building to be caught by the team on the other side. LaVonne remembers that the school shut down due to the fact there weren’t enough students to keep it going.

That section of McCook must have been ringing with the sounds of children during the school day, as East Ward, St. Patrick’s Catholic School, and Peace Lutheran School were within a few blocks of each other. We are glad to now know about Peace Lutheran School, which helped many of our MHS alumni get their early educational start in McCook.

by Diane Wilson Lyons ‘76

Lady Bison Track Website

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:06:55 +0000

Steve Clapp ‘71, Head Ladies Track and Field Coach, has asked us to share the following information with all female track alumni members.

Lady Alumni Track and Field Athletes:

Check it out! Here is the link: Go to www.mccookbison.org – click athletics, then click track and field under women..

Distance Coach Brent May has added the title of webmaster to his other

responsibilities. Please check out the above site as it is very well done. By request we now have a blog page. No one can post directly to the page, as they will need to email Coach May and then he will post it. If you want something blogged, email to bmay@esu15.org

In The Halls

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:02:40 +0000

A new school year also brought a new superintendent to McCook Public Schools. Grant Norgaard has taken over the head position from Dave Schley, who served as an interim superintendent for two years. Grant is a 1990 graduate of North Platte High School and served as a principal at Dundy County Schools and Columbus Public Schools before becoming a superintendent at Leigh Community Schools in Leigh, Nebraska. Grant, his wife Michelle, and their children Victoria and Hayden, moved to McCook in July where they quickly settled into the community. It was a cooler start to the school year for the staff and students at the junior high as air conditioning was installed during the summer and in place before classes began. There are many classrooms in the 43-year-old school with no windows, so cooling and ventilation was often a major concern at the start of the year.

The Bison football squad claimed a 7-4 record before their season ended when they fell to Aurora in the playoff quarterfinals. Two of the losses were to Aurora, who went on to win the Class B state championship. Coach Jeff Mollring announced that he was retiring from coaching after this season. He has coached high school football for 31 years, 10 of those at McCook. In 2006 he was named the Nebraska Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with the McCook squad.

The girls’ cross country squad made it to the state meet, where they placed seventh. Freshman Emily Tolliver and sophomore Jessica Sughroue placed 11th and 12th respectively and received individual medals.

The girls’ softball team had an amazing comeback at district play to make it to the state tournament. After losing their first game in the B-6 District tournament, they won the next five straight games to claim the district title. With the wind chill factor, none of the games were played in weather that was above freezing and one game was suspended until a snowstorm blew through. Unfortunately the girls’ luck didn’t hold up at state as they lost their first two games and were eliminated.

Junior Connor Larson capped a perfect season by winning the No. 1 singles division at the 2009 Class B Boys’ State Tennis Championship. Larson had lost in the state championship match each of his first two years of high school competition. The McCook squad finished third in the Class B state meet team standings.

Our school’s FFA floriculture team won bronze plaques at the national FFA convention in Indianapolis, IN. The team, consisting of Katelyn Fritsche, Kayla Messinger, Allison Dupler, and Ben Shilling ’09, earned the right to represent Nebraska in the national championship after placing first in the state competition in Lincoln last April. Ben was unable to attend as he was away at college.

2009 MHS Homecoming royalty members were Queen Jessie Armstrong, King Corey Paz, first attendants Natalie Sis and Riley Haney, and second attendants Katie West and Austin Edwards.

by Diane Wilson Lyons ‘76

Insuring the Future of the Newsletter

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:59:33 +0000

We appreciate more than you know all of those who have contributed to the future of the Bison Alumni Newsletter! With that being said, we still need support from others to provide a modest salary, office space, photo copier, computer, printer, internet and telephone expenses. We hope to be in an office space of our own, in the renovated Keystone Building in the Summer of 2010! We estimate our expenses to be around $600 a month.

Update on “Insuring the Future” Since the Fall newsletter, we have received 125 donations for $6475.00! Here is the break down by decade:

The 30’s: $ 128

The 40’s: $ 1438

The 50’s: $ 1663

The 60’s $ 2241

The 70’s $ 755

The 80’s $ 240

The 90’s $ 25

The 00’s $ 0

Others: $ 120

In Memory of:

Eloise Real Skidmore ’28

Charles Real’61

Jim Adams ’30

Dona Wilcox Hughes ‘55

Thelma Wilcox Randolph ’31

Dona Wilcox Hughes ‘55

Lillian Goodenberger Hickey ‘32

Alan W. Hickey

Francis Real Bailey ’34

Charles Real’61

Beryl Wright ‘38

Loraine Wright Walters ‘38

Cass of 1944

Walter Aman ’45

Ruby Aman ‘44

Neal Fidler ’45

Otis Clasby’51 & Mary Clasby

Max Nelms ’46

Shirley Muffley Wallen’46

Don Rhoad ’46

Shirley Muffley Wallen’46

Eugene Pade

Class of 1948

Janet Hodgkin Bowker ‘48

Rea & Pearl McCarty

Otis Clasby’51 & Mary Clasby

Larry McCarty ’51

Class of 1951

Otis Clasby ’51 & Mary Clasby

Janice Eisenbarth Waddell ’51

Frances McCartney Kasl ‘51

Deceased 1951 Classmates

Charlotte Rowberry Meints ’51

Janice Eisenbarth Waddell ’51

Gloria Larreau Messinger ’51

Class of 1951

Charlotte Rowberry Meints ’51

Janice Eisenbarth Waddell ’51

Frances McCartney Kasl ‘51

Patty Jean Murphy Duesberg ‘55

Jeanne Boyle Oldweiler ‘55

Janet Crook ’57

Keith Crook ‘54

Byron Bruswick ’58

Class of 1958

Beverly Search Woolwine ’61

Eleanor Riggs Myrberg ’61

Janet Decker Turley ’61

Frank Nothnagle ’68

Sue Coady Doak’68

Donna Karp Wickizer ’72

Sue Coady Doak ’68

Janice Keeler ’82

Class of 1982

Jackie Tuttle ‘93

Anonymous ‘93

In Honor of:

Cheri Myers Beckenhauer ’64

Lisa Beckenhauer Pomajzl ’97

Gifts Given to “Insuring The Future”

30 Ada Olson Remington; 36 Loren Troester; 38 Edward Harris, Ruth Carlson Besel; 40 Ila Best Stramel; 41 Patricia Powers Evans, Allene Yust Clark; 43 Bernadine Wilcox Harris, Robert Burnham, Gwen Morgan Burnham; 44 Ruby Thurston Aman, Charles Dack; 45 Suzanne Leininger Beithon, Robert Dike, Elva Myers McBride; 46 Donald Felling, Tom Kiplinger, LeRoy Bell; 47 Mary Ann Wagner Wall, William Bunstock, Don Hein, Leslie Cambell; 48 Bruce Bailey, Dorthy Teel Brandt, Joseph Hyde; 49 Jack Winner, Marian Roberts Thomas, Beatte Schlueter Godrey, Charles Wolfe, Lee-Ellen Creasman Matzke, Donald Hill, Mary Lou Weskamp Harned; 50 Dora Mathews Olbert; 51 Eldon Reynolds, Leora Norman Murphy, Rose Metz Garey, Wilda Hanke Willis; 52 Donald Roberts, Marla Sutton Kutz, Alice Hiatt Harpst, Lesta Dinnel Jaggers; 53 Wanda Rowland Tarallo, Lane & Nancy Hubert Miller, , Jack Lytle; 54 Sandra Wells Kaizen, Keith Crook, Jay Schnoor, Louis Ludwig, Ted Perry; 55 JT Harris; 56 Al Cuellar, Ann Jorgensen Maas, Sharon Johnson Schomberg, Shirly Reinek Shafer, Rosa Rodriguez Castle, Margaret Schutte Lockhart, Lloyd Benjamin, Al Cuellar; 57 Elaine Schoor Jewell, Kay Rathbun Oglevie, Larry Rich, Deanna Peters Anderson, Judy McDonald Kelly; 58 Judy Chinn Wortley, Cherrith Hill Wiseman; 59 Mary Sue Hormel Harris, Nancy Carroll Boyer; 60 Ron Schillereff, Ann Braun Drew, Tom & Susan Sautter Cox, Diane Volentine Hayes; 61 Anita McBride Faddis, Janet Decker Turley, Ronald Olberding, Jeannette Bauer Ferguson; 62 Bob Zicafoose, Gretchen Trimble Olberding, John Wagner; 63 Robert Harris, John Scott Gibson; 64 Gary Brown, Diane Reiners Marlatt, Donna Lehl Baum; 65 Harley Heskett, Mary Budig Myers, Steve Andrews, Carla Miller Teel, Mary Tincher Kalb; 66 Barbara Anderson Gaskins, Linda Heskett Witte, Lana Hughes Assyd; 67 Viola Austin Heskett; 68 John Winnepenninkx, Kathy Augustyn Robles; 70 Steve Beideck, Mark Fletcher; 71 Gary Loop; 72 Merrilee Rutledge Sissel; 73 Gary Clatterbuck, Deb Lepper Clatterbuck, Gera Gettman Beideck, Susan Hull Andreoletti, Diane Sekavec Sink, Susan Graff Deaver; 75 Mark Graff; 76 Kevin Jass; 77 Patty Bowker Jass; 78 Jay Harris; 80 Kim Christie Henggeler; 85 Laura Kelley Erskine; 87 Carmen Sawyer Bond, Kenneth Dugger; 88 Chad Baum, Carrie Henry McIntosh; Staff and Faculty: Michael & Peggy Rasmussen, Sharon Bohling,

If you have not yet responded to the Fall newsletter request, please consider doing so now.

Make checks payable to McCook Community Foundation and designate:

Insuring the Future, In Memory of or In Honor of someone. Please include your name,

maiden name, and class year. Mail to: Bison Alumni Newsletter, PO Box 665 McCook NE 69001

McCook Educational Foundation

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:55:49 +0000

The McCook Educational Foundation has begun taking donations for the improvement of the technological equipment in the classrooms for the McCook Public Schools. We would like to purchase four adjustable flat panel carts, four mimio Pad Overviews, four large TVs (52 inch) and a Class Pack of 24 QClick RF Classroom Response Systems. This would provide one system in each of the four McCook Schools. Cost for each system is $4,800; thus $19,200 is needed. If you are interested in donating, please send to the address at the end of this article. Donations are tax deductible.

The Foundation will hold an auction at the Bison 2010 Reunion to help raise money for this equipment. Items to be auctioned will include an engraved guitar from the Country Stampede, signed by Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton, donated by Wayne Rouse ’71 and a gift basket from Wagner Ford (Chris ‘85 & Annette Kool Wagner ’85) as well as other valuable items. Auction items will be on display during Bison 2010 registration at the McCook Junior High cafeteria previous to the auction. We are looking for other auction items if you’d like to contribute.

Gifts given for Scholarship Endowment Fund

Grant Strunk ‘77

Donations
Ross Halsey ’81, Lori Watson, Colton & Sheila Hosick

McCook Educational Foundation Scholarship funds accepting donations 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 the Donald Marvin Agriculture Scholarship. All donations are appreciated.

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 or needing more information should contact Al Cuellar at acuellar@swnebr.net or 308-345-2393. Send donations to: McCook Educational Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 782, McCook, NE 69001

In Memory

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:33:06 +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 Blair Lytle

Dorothy Abernathy Olsson

Phyllis Payton Kotschwar

Robert “Bob Lepper

Rita McKillip Phares -1934

Richard Hansmeyer – 1935

Rita Schaaf Woods – 1935

Robert “Lindy” Lenhart- 1936

Loretta Steckmyer Felker

Eleanora Lebsack Galloway – 1937

Dale Corder -1941

Lois Grver Roa 1041

Lois Gruen – 1941

Ed Roth – 1941

Virgil Schilz – 1942

Darlene Kennedy Morris – 1942

Bill Trehal -1942

Barbara Brooks Schiek – 1944

Dr. Jack Bradshaw – 1946

Max Nelms – 1946

Don Rhoad – 1946

Ann Baumgartner Laughlin – 1950

Larry McCarty - 1951

Gloria Larreau Messinger- 1951

Jacki Markwad McKillip – 1952

Donald Dale Hamilton – 1953

Patricia Murphy Duesberg- 1955

Dick Mitchell – 1956

Byron Brunswick – 1958

Jerry Lee Norman – 1960

Beverly Search Woolwine – 1961

Will Harder – 1965

Mike Foley – 1965

Marilyn “Sue” Hamilton Ruppert – 1966

Frank Nothnagel – 1968

Donna Karp Wickizer – 1972

Starlyn Hilker Ott – 1980

Karen Dicke Reiners – 1985

Weddings

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:31:08 +0000

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

Jennifer Lukich ’89 & Robert Becker

Jessica Bowers & Ryan Hallowell ’93

Nakisha Bennett ’96 & Christopher Whetton

Tory Kleist & Monte Fletcher ‘99

Kendra Wallace ’99 & Scott Lafferty ‘98

Kristen Harr ’00 & Jonathan Lancton

Sara Cappel ’00 & Mark Jarding

Rebecca Hock ’00 & Brian Friess

Kimberly Pfeiffer & Kyle Kunkee ‘00

Jill Fahnholz ’02 & Dan Wilson

Cristy Cook ’02 and Joshua Laya

Jennifer Green & Matthew Musgrave ‘03

Jessica Watkins ’05 & Adam Johnson

Vanessa Holliday ‘05 & Stephen Guthrie ‘03

Tiffany Jones ’05 & Christopher Corbett

Emily Anderson & Aaron Nix ‘05

Bryn Vapenik & Clay Jordan ‘09

Thank you

Administrator — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:25:35 +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, Sharon Bohling, Maribeth Augustyn, Joyce Foth Beideck 30 Ada Olson Remington 31 Dorothy Fitch Nicholson; 32 Mary Austin Horendeck; 34 Donald T. Rowland; 35 Russell Dowling, Phyllis Olson Marsh; 36 Loren Troester, 38 Edward Harris, Ruth Carlson Besel, Bernadine Traphagan Malcolm; 39 Helen Dutton Allen; 40 Ila Best Stramel, Evelyn Frank Morgan; 41 Ardis Randel Vukas, Paula Schultz Dinnel, Allene Yost Clark, Patricia Powers Evans; 42 Patty Ferguson Eisenhart; 43 Robert and Gwen Morgan Burnham, Bernadine Wilcox Harris, Ruth Bamesberger Shields; 44 Charles Dack, Ruby Thurston Aman, Shirley Axelson Johnson; 45 Elva Myers McBride, Millie Clapp Housley, John Hubert, Suzanne Leininger Beithon, Neva Wright Schneider, Bruce Swanson, 46 Tom Kiplinger, Shirley Muffley Wallen, Leroy Bell, Donald Felling, Floyd Bales, 47 Don Hein, Luanne Beneda Haller, Eileen Ackerman Hubert, Leslie Campbell, William Bunstock, Mary Ann Wagner Wall, Verna Billingsley Barnett, Jerry Beideck, Phyllis Clapp, Rosalie Teel Weskamp; 48 Dorothy Teel Brandt, Janet Hodgkin Bowker, Joseph Hyde, Ivan Schmid, Bruce Bailey, Joan Hoyt Gilliam; 49 Don Hill, Mary Lou Weskamp Harned, Lee-Ellen Creasman Matzke, Charles Wolfe, Marian Roberts Thomas, Beatta Schlueter Godfrey, Jack Winner, Donald Hill, Donna Holmes Butler, Clara Lebsack Adams; 50 Mary Ellen Wakefield Monzon, Dora Mathews Olbert, Phyllis Dinnel Wilcox, Nancy Bridenstine Wilhelm; 51 Charlotte Rowberry Meints, Wilda Hanke Willis, Otis Clasby, Leora Norman Murphy, Janice Eisenbarth Waddell, Rose Metz Garey, Jean Blake Evans, Eldon Reynolds; 52 Alice Hiatt Harpst, Marla Sutton Kutz, Donald Roberts, Peggy Appleyard, Lesta Dinnel Jaggers; 53 Lane and Nancy Hubert Miller, Jack Lytle, Gary Gierhart, Barbara Ninemires Klein, Clara Cruver Bales, Wanda Rowland Tarallo, Joanne Walters Dueland, Norma Lebsack Crocker, Carol Johnson Kelley, Marlene Chinn Rogers, Marlene Reiners Foster, Pat Rogers Schmid; 54 Sandra Wells Kaizen, Ted Perry, Louis Ludwig, Keith Crook, Jay Schnoor, Ethyl Logan Siegfried; 55 Jeanne Boyle Oldweiler, Darlene Lepper Cuellar, JT Harris, Lila Schafer Johnson, Richard Johnson, Dick Trail; 56 Ann Tondreau Trail, Rosa Rodriguez Castle, Margaret Schutte Lockhart, Lloyd Benjamin, Ann Jorgensen Maas, Al Cuellar; 57 Bill Harris, Kay Rathbun Oglevie, Bev Dinnel Rhea, Judy McDonald Kelly, Walt McGuire, Deanna Peters Anderson, Virginia Uhrich Brown, Elaine Schnoor Jewell, Andrea Nicholson Bower, John Hanson, Larry Hoyt, Claudelle Kennedy Oren, Dick Thieben, Otto Weigel, Larry Rich, Jerda Thompson Garey, Doug Vap, Dale Hofman, Ruth Ann Kunkee Hackenkamp; 58 Cherrith Hill Wiseman, Sharon Dowling Felker, Judy Chinn Wortley; 59 Wally Derr, Sally Stephens LeClerc, Karen Strayer Nichols, Nancy Ball Kepler, Jan Eckhardt Rich, Jim Phinney, Mary Sue Hormel Harris, Nancy Carroll Boyer, Donna Peters Sailors, Mary Lee Mohr Corey; 60 Ronald Fritz, Diane Volentine Hayes, Tom & Susan Sautter Cox, Ann Braun Drew, Ron Schillereff, June Benjamin Davis, Pat Wakefield Fredde, Sharon Schow Derr; 61 Eleanor Riggs Myrberg, Charles Real, Ronald Olberding, Janet Decker Turley, Anita McBride Faddis, Jeannette Bauer Ferguson, Chuck Campbell, Eleanor Riggs Myrberg, Jean Reynolds Parry; 62 John Wagner, Gretchen Trimble Olberding, Joe Burns, Jim Thompson, Donna Holloway Janisch, Mary Jo Wagner Baumfalk, Tom Buresh; 63 James Mitchem, John Scott Gibson, Robert Harris, Carol Cheney Lashley, Peg Decker Bell, Dick Cappel; 64 Charley Lofton, Cheryl Burns Hamrick, Donna Lehl Baum, Gary Rothmeyer, Gloria Shepherd Mefford, Diane Reiners Marlatt, Cheri Myers Beckenhauer; 65 Linda Leibrandt Taylor, Susan Traphagen Yates, Mary Tincher Kalb, Harley Heskett, Judy White Anderson, John Anderson, Carla Miller Teel, Steve Andrews, Mary Budig Myers, Phil Pate, Dick Rima, Pam Gull Schilz, Ed Sughroue, Steve Batty; 66 Kathie Trupp Cappel, Lana Hughes Assyd, Linda Heskett Witte, Barbara Anderson Gaskins, Cliff Davis, Doug Owens, Sandra Gallatin, Karen Bales Rima; 67 Viola Austin Heskett, Rodney Hill, Nancy Eifert Buresh, Betty Krieger Brush, Pat Burns, Jean Harmon Hallowell; 68 Bill Madron, Kathy Augustyn Robles, Lynda Budig Baumbach, John Winnepenninkx, Sue Coady Doak; 69 Linda Aldrich, Debbie Kreiger Jenkins; 70 Mark Fletcher, Steve Beideck, Cathy Robinson Brown; 71 Gary Loop, Steve Clapp; 72 Merrilee Rutledge Sissel, Terri Housley Stevens, Dale Dueland, Anne Unger Confer; 73 Susan Graff Deaver, Pam Clapp Harsh, Gera Gettman Beideck, Gary Clatterbuck, Susan Hull Andreoletti, Diane Sekavec Sink, Deb Lepper Clatterbuck, Randy Andrews, Dave Winder, Steve Butler, Mary Anderson Dueland; 74 Peg Augustyn Andrews, Nancy Lewis Frecks; 75 Marilee Langhoff, David Pohl, Mark Graff, Tim Monzon, Dari Olson Tucker; 76 Kevin Jass, Lynn Melchert, Lana Currie Richter, Diane Wilson Lyons; 77 Kelly Bowker Jass, Roger Stupka, Linda Bacon Wallen, Donna Roberts Stone; 78 Jay Harris, Lisa Koetter Einspahr, Jerry Calvin; 79 Robin Frick Calvin; 80 Brad Carpenter, Kim Christie Henggeler, Judy Nickerson, Denise Garey Ringenberg, Camy Eggers Bradley, Lanae Hoyt Fritsch; 81 Joe Bond, Kelly Warren Soden, Joe Bond, Evelyn Thieben Baumann, Ross Halsey, Deb Henn Hofman, Wally Hampton, Al Cuellar, Leila Hoyt Koetter; 82 Brenda Anderson Hayes, Cindy Chitwood Pohl, Sara Wiemers Rippen; 83 Kristy Ziemann Pollnow; 84 Tammra Bradley Decker; 85 Laura Kelley Erskine, Annette Kool Wagner; 86 Terri Dack Skolout, Tracy Lucas; 87 Carmen Bond, Kenneth Dugger, Julie Vlasin Kent, Ann Guthrie Teel; 88 Carrie Henry McInosh, Chad Baum, Kerri Davis Unger; 89 Tracy Eaton Burkey, Daniel Troester, Wendy Hampton Gillen, Chanin Huegel Monestero; 90 Larissa Liebrandt Fagundes, Jeanette Cappel Wonderly; 91 Michelle Chancellor Henrickson; 92 Jason Loop; 93 Joanne Pick Barenberg; 94 Stacey Alberts Aguilar, Jeff Psota, Sara Newlon Pearson, Lora Nemechek Eldred, Brianna Davis, Sarah Newlon Pearson, Garrett Nokes, Stephanie Hays Stevens; 95 Jessica Mondero Albers, Jonathan Bargen, Carmen Irwin Lervold; 96 Amy Vontz Kehler; 97 Lisa Beckenhauer Pomajzl; 98 Brian Symington; 99 Cassie Miller Spencer; 00 Anna Dueland Hunnicutt; 01 parent rep-Shari Goodenberger; 02 Laura Lyons Plas; 03 parent rep-Cindy Pohl; 04 parent rep-Russ Ankersen & Kim Lyons; Branigan Dame; 05 parent rep-Diane Lyons; 06 Andrea Soden, Julia Lyons & parent rep-Sarah Wiemers Rippen; 07 John Swanhorst;

Jr High Student Council & Sponsors- Chad Lyons, Kristin Blume; Hayley Werkmeister, Travis Wallen, Madisyn Garcia, Megan Wilson, Taylor Geisler, Steve Hoffman, Paige Terry, Vince Lyons, Skylar Noe, Joe Schlager, Hunter Blume, Kristin Blume, Elizabeth Blume Others: Elise Aguilar, George Wortley, Howard Kool, Janet Kool, Terri Shipshock, Jean Beideck, Mary Pate, Gerri Jardine, Arthur Lashley Jr., Sheila Berls, Michael & Peggy Rasmussen

NEWSLETTER STAFF INCLUDES ALL Class Representatives, John Hubert ‘45, Ivan Schmid ‘48, Jean Blake Evans ‘51, Pat Rogers Schmid ‘53, Al Cuellar ‘56, Sharon Dowling Felker ‘58, Pat Wakefield Fredde ‘60, Cheri Myers Beckenhauer ‘64, Dave Winder ‘73, Mary Anderson Dueland ‘73, Randy Andrews ‘74, Peg Augustyn Andrews ‘74, Terri Farber Winder ‘74, Lana Currie Richter ‘76, Diane Wilson Lyons ‘76, Camy Eggers Bradley ‘80, Wally Hampton ’81, Scott Bieker ‘88, Jessica Grafel Verbas ’94, Matthew Winder ’07, Kerrilyn Symington, Jerry Beckenhauer, and all the advertisers in this issue.

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!