I have to "toot" our horn for the Lufkin High School Alumni Association. The association gave 108 scholarships for a total of $103,000.00 to graduates of Lufkin High School. The total amount given at Awards Night from all donors was $2.25 million in scholarships to approximately 192 students. Executive Director Glen Arnold recognized the founder of the LHS Alumni Association, Annon Card. Walter Cooper, the oldest LHS alum from the graduating class of 1925, gave a scholarship for the eighth year. He will be 101 years young in July. The purpose of the LHS Alumni Association is to help students attend college, universities or technical schools who need and deserve it.
Carol Thompson has returned to Lufkin and is now the Special Projects Manager at the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil "Tommy" Thompson. Carol will oversee programs as the monthly First Friday Luncheon, Power Networking Breakfasts, Chamber Night Out and other activities.
The Soccer Sisters are the South Texas Youth Soccer Association South Texas Cup U12 State Champs 2007. These girls are 12- years-old and under and most are in Lufkin Middle School. They play the regular season in the Timberline Youth Soccer Association out of the Houston area in which they were first for the regular season. They placed 2 nd in the Eastern District Cup on May 5-6, and that is how they advanced to the State Cup tournament on May 12 & 13. On the team are: Lee Ann Duke, Natalie Denman, Vanessa Luna, Alannah Russell, Kayla Powell, Anna Catherine Alvis, Shelby Smitherman, Sara Levens, Katy McBride, Madison Bartlett, Alayna Bennett, Lauren Skelton, Amanda Rosales, Moriah Phillips, Savanah Radke, Laci Richey, Mollie Taylor, Jim Denman (head coach), Max Alvis (coach), Scott Skelton (coach) and Jermaine "England" McCarthy (trainer). This was the best Mother's Day gift any of the mothers could get from their Soccer Sisters. It was great. We are all very proud of them.
Also representing the girls 14 and under at the South Texas Youth Soccer Association South Texas Cup State Champs were the Lufkin FC girls soccer team that won State in their age group in Houston at Dyess Park. On the team are: Shelbie Calk, Jasmine Chipps, Andraya Escobedo, Brittany Gonzalez, Diana Hernandez, Cassidy Livin, Kortney Lovelace, Olivia Montgomery, Sarah Morgan, Katie Philp, Christina Ramos, Marisa Salazar, Josie Solis, and Crystal Zamora. The coaches were Veronica Hernandez and Miguel Zamora with the trainer Mike Fray. Susan Morgan told me that their team winning was the best present she could have received for Mother's Day for a second year in a row.
Joy and Charles Fredrick were in Fort Worth for the graduation of their granddaughter Allison Fredrick from Texas Christian University. Joy said the purple caps and gowns reminded them of LHS. Allison graduated with her Bachelor of Arts, Spanish major. She has been accepted into the Masters language program at NYU and will be studying next year in Madrid, Spain. Her parents are Meg and Jim Fredrick and all of Meg's siblings and their kids were in the fun group of people at graduation.
Austin McCurry, son of Jayne and Paul McCurry, graduated from Texas A&M with his degree in Agriculture Economics Food and Fiber. Those attending the Saturday morning graduation beside Jayne and Paul were Elma Alexander, Ann McCurry, Janet and Steve Stribling, Mary Ellen and Roger Borgelt of Austin, and Elizabeth McCurry. Saturday night they celebrated graduation and Elma's birthday. Austin will begin his job in Monroe, Louisiana June 1 with Duck Commanders.
Also graduating from Texas A&M University with his degree in Agricultural Leadership and Development was Jeremy Pittman. Attending graduation on Saturday morning at the Reed Arena were: parents, Debbie and Lane Pittman, Darlene and Rod Pittman, Jerry and Kay Highnote, Jennifer and Joey Kiser with Alex, and Lee Pittman. They enjoyed lunch with the president of Texas A&M, Ed Davis, at the dining room at Reed Arena where Jeremy was honored and the rest were treated as VIPs. The Commissioning Ceremony again at Reed Arena was after lunch and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson spoke to the group about how many had served in the military from A&M. Jeremy was in the Corps of Cadets for four years but did not receive a military commission due to medical reasons. He did receive the Leadership Excellence Award. Some other family attending the dinner cooked by Raymond Moore and Debbie Pittman were: Sharon and Russell Gipson with Kloe, Guy Gipson, Haley Gipson, Reba and Rodney Squyres. Darlene and Rod Pittman hosted breakfast on Sunday at their townhouse in Bryan. Their home on Southwood Drive here in Lufkin is for sale. They have been in the house for 33 years. Jeremy gave his grandmothers a silver boot charm.
Betty Seale shared with me that she is having an estate sale on May 24, 25 and 26 at 641 P.D. Selman Road off highway 69 south. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are four individuals' things for sale.
David Hicks is the most energetic person that I know. He is with Coldwell Banker Donovan Real Estate. Inc., sells and buys antiques and has estate sales.
Gloria Ogden and her son Gary Ogden from Arlington had a mother/son day in Woodville at Gloria's Grammer family old home place. They dug up bulbs and are anxious to see in the spring what they will have. They also enjoyed lunch at the Homestead in Hillister.
Susan and David Williams spent Mother's Day at Crystal Beach where they enjoyed a meal at Stingeree's.
I have an old Victor adding machine that has sticky numbers. Does anyone know where I can take it to be cleaned?
Katherine Goodwin, daughter of Kay and Phillip Goodwin, graduated from Texas A&M University with her degree in interdisciplinary studies (which to us old folks is education). She is interviewing in Lufkin and wants to teach in the primary grades. Attending graduation along with Kay and Phillip were their children Elizabeth, Robert, and Hannah Goodwin, Allison and Jonathan Green, Ben Rolf, Sue and Max Rolf. The group celebrated all day Saturday.
Happy Birthday: Lilliam Estrada, Glyndon Shives, Arlin Grimes, Rosemary Blackstock, Julieanne Rhodes, Rick Pezdirtz, Elena Campbell, Pat Ritchey, Andrew Moore, Jack Hudgins, Louis Bronaugh, Penny Ippolito, Cheryl Arnold, and Evan Taylor Dorman.
Happy Anniversary: Mike and Enid Hunter, Jim and Meg Frederick, Willie and Corky Dragoo.
I saw Vance and Sue Roberts at the Lufkin Mall from a distance while Karla Yates and I were having a sandwich at Di Doughs.
Elizabeth and Don Hearne's granddaughter Courtney Hearne, daughter of Cheryl and David Hearne, is a college intern for the Wichita Falls Roughneck baseball team for the summer working in promotions. She will be a senior at Baylor in the fall. Trey Hearne, son of Cheryl and David, is pitching for the third year for the Palm Beach Cardinals. Courtney and Trey Hearne's other grand parents are Jeannene and Newt Courtney.
Christopher Davis, son of Karen and Lyn Davis, is playing for the Bakersfield (California) Blaze, which is a minor league team for the Texas Rangers.
The 24 Annual Expo Anniversary Party was well attended with over 540 reservations. Some in the crowd were: Jack and Mary Jo Gorden, Renee Thompson, Steve and Jan Porter, Linda Parker, Sadie and Jimmy Allison, Kittie and Mike Davis, Reba Squyres, David and Elizabeth Perkins, Lisa Wise, Nan Alsbrooks, Heather Kartye, Glenn and Brenda Sullivan, Bobby Dan and Monica Hightower, Alys and Billy Ray, Andrew and Mary Moore, Doug and Mary Russell, Danny Merrill, Joe and Peggy Sue McElroy, Charles Arnold, Glen and JonAnna Arnold, Anita and Chris Caraway, Damon and Gail Lazarine, Barbara and Ray Polk, Todd and Kara Stracener, W. A. Dempsey, Buddy Millican, Charles Ervin, Rodney Landry, Holly Gonzales, Bill Royle, Tom Swingle, Johnny Jackson, Debra and Richard Ruckman, Kenneth Jeffrey, Mary and Tom Duncan, Jim and Margie Brody, Dot and Doc Hughey, Denton and Jo Ann McCoy, Joe Ann and Edgar Burton, Raymond and Carol More, Benjamin Moore, Alan and Kathey Moore, Brian Moore, Kelley and David Moore, Judge Barry and Lynn Bryan, Judge Bill and Beverly Ball, Judge David and Virgia Walker, Judge David and Martha Wilson, Mack and Marie Carnes, Hugh and Linda Anderson, Barbara and Peyton Mathis, Terry and Susan Morgan, Vince and Julie Treadwell, James Flournoy, Clyde and Eva Dickens, Dana Smithhart, Todd Kassaw, Jerry and Kay Highnote, Bob and Tony Brown, Carol Thompson, Cathy and Meb Todd, Len and Phil Medford, Susan and Larry Sumners, Clay Berry, Richard Youngblood, Debra and Jerry Huffman, E'Lisa and Jim Hurst, Doug and Susan Ashburn, Richard Collmorgen, Tamesha and Paul Root, Trey and Brigettee Henderson, Mary Martha Henderson, Sharon Henderson, Larry Davis, Jamie Davis, Rose Boyd, Barbara Thompson, Van Watson, Oscar Dillahunty, Roy Carroway, Mike and Cindy Taylor, Newt and Jeanenne Courtney, Joey and Jeff Southern. Debbie and Jayme McFarland from Louisiana brought the crawfish and helped Raymond Moore cook them.
Tara Watson, daughter of Ann Watson and the late Dr. Bill Watson, is engaged to Jonathan Polk, son of Dr. Aaron and Debbie Polk of Nacogdoches. Jonathan, who is in Denver, Colorado, will finish his residency in general surgery in June 2008, take his board finals in August and the wedding will be September 27, 2008.
Jackie Zimmerman has her own Communications business at 115 Gaslight Blvd. in the building owned by John Stover. Her employees are Casey Clark and Erin Bryan. Mike Zimmerman has been teaching journalism for 11 years at Lufkin High School, and people still think that he is at the Lufkin Daily News.
Bob and Tony Brown have been attending grandson Grayson Weiss' baseball games in Katy. Kohl Matcek is the pitcher for their White Sox team. He is the grandson of Nancy Chancellor who the Browns have seen at several games. This is a small world. Nancy has remarried and lives in Fulshear, but I could not find out her new last name. They were playing for first place the night of the Expo Party, and Tana called to tell the Browns that the White Sox had lost to the Mets in the 10 and 11-year-old league.
Talk about surprises of surprises!!!!! On Thursday afternoon, two figures came around my house and down my driveway behind poster paper shaped packages. It was my daughter Nancy Herde and my "birthday buddy" granddaughter Sarah Herde with Julie and Rocky Morris. As they all have told the world, I was speechless when I saw Sarah and Nancy. We had planned a 70th birthday for me which I knew, but all of the family except me had known since January that Nancy and Sarah were coming to surprise me. We have had a wonderful week end starting with lunch on Friday at Mar Teres Tea Room for Tamesha Jumper, Carolyn New, Patsy Hines, Nancy and Sarah, Julie and me. Billie Cardwell was not able to join us, but we went to visit her after lunch. On Friday afternoon Nancy wanted to visit Old Union and Garden of Memories cemeteries. Son-in-law Rocky had brought food cooked and in seal-a-meal bags for the group for the entire weekend. Ernest and Julie did breakfasts, and I just had a wonderful time. Saturday night the weather was again perfect at the Moore Farm for my wonderful family and friends to celebrate with me this very special occasion. Ernest, Rocky and Ern Jr, cooked fish for the crowd and Julie organized it. Rocky had made a PowerPoint presentation on the computer of pictures of me from almost birth to now with music. It was the entertainment of the night. My brother Bill said that he did not know that I had had so many different hair styles. It is fun to remember folks that have been a big part of your life, and they are included in this video. We all need to take one day at a time and be thankful, and this made me so thankful for everyone. Sunday at the First Christian Church, the Reverend Mike Hunter acknowledged the sanctuary flowers for my birthday given by my children and grandchildren. Then Nelda Morrison started playing and the congregation sang Happy Birthday to me. I was almost in tears by this time. Sarah was 8- years-old and very wise for her years. We all had a wonderful time and even had some shopping time at Wal-Mart for some "Texas" things to send back home to Connecticut to the rest of the grandchildren. Grand children and children are special and I had all with me except the Charlie Jumper family. They called and emailed, and it was a perfect weekend.
Thanks to everyone for the beautiful cards. I did not get too many ugly ones.
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