WAGNER - CLARK AB - CLASSES 75-80

Wagner Community Loses a Great Guy - Brian Pullings '77

It is with a heavy heart that I relate the news of the passing of one of our own. Brian was an all around great guy. He was one of the class of 77's powderpuff coaches and we couldn't have asked for a better guy to lead our motley crew. He was a big guy with a laid back attitude and a ready smile for everyone. I'll always remember him on his motorcycle and his steady and gentle nature. His older brother, Bob, was kind enough to tell us about Brian and what he'd been doing after Wagner.

I'm writing to let you know that my brother, Brian Pullings, passed away on Valentine's Day. Apparently he had a major heart attack and died within minutes. He was living in Fort Vermelion, Alberta, Canada where he worked as the director of St. Theresa General Hospital and was buried in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Brian leaves behind his wife, Angela, and two daughters from a former marriage. Erin is 23, single, and is studying nursing in Columbia, Tennessee. Annalise is 16, a junior in high school and lives with her mom in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Our family did two tours at Clark; Brian also attended 2nd and 3rd grades there and graduated from Wagner in 1977. I attended Wagner from the fall of '67 through the spring of '69. Here’s a synopsis of Brian’s life after Wagner:

After graduating and coming back to the States, Brian went to (then) Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos for a while. He then relocated to Dallas and worked for Coke-Cola before enlisting in the Air Force sometime in 1979. His specialty was crew chief and he was stationed in Del Rio, Texas, RAF Bentwaters, UK and Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he separated from the service in 1986.

From there he went back to college in Hobbs, New Mexico and completed his R.N. Degree in 1988 or 1989. For most of the 1990’s Brian lived and worked as a nurse in Hobbs, NM, Lubbock, TX, Clovis, NM, Monroe, LA, and some little place in South Dakota. In 1999 he wanted to go even further north and within the next year or so got his work permit and moved to Canada, specifically Fort Vermilion, Alberta.

He lived there with his wife Angela on their 80 acre farm. Hay grew wild on the place, but true to my brother’s nature he let neighboring farmers come in and cut his hay and take it with them...for a price. Naturally, a much reduced price - but it worked out well for Brian. At least he didn’t have to bet people anymore that he’d eat balut like he did in elementary school!

If there was anything close to a passion he had besides nursing, it would have to be cooking. And wine. Truly, a self-made gourmet and wine buff. And for those wondering, his preferred board of fare was Mexican, and his favorite wine was cabernet sauvignon. Folks I’ve talked to who knew and lived around Brian (including his old high school friends) tell me they remember these things about him: that he was laid back, never stressed, and always smiling...trademarks of his since he was a baby.

Our parents and all of our families are getting through this terrible time through very strong faith. Our separation from one another is temporary. I hope everyone’s memories of Brian in this life are as great as mine. By the way, whenever you do get to the pearly gates, the guy with the grin on his face standing behind St. Peter will be Brian. Chances are good he’ll have a few more stories and jokes to pass on. God bless all of you and your families.

Bob Pullings ‘71
To contact Bob click here

Pictures: #1 - Brian's Senior Picture #2 - Brian (always with his helmet) hanging out at the O'Club pool #3 - Brian and his highschool sweetheart, Cheryl Morris '79 #4 - Brian with Brian Goodwin '77 on the rec. rugby team  #5 - Brian on his motorcylce on 50's spirit day.

Wagner Memories - Steve Hester '79

Steve was in the P.I. from 1976-78. Kathy Reed was his art teacher and he had 3 pieces of art published in the "Sun Four" art book that was sold throughout Asia. He also did the large wood carving that was on a four foot pedestal in the school office, and from what he understands, it was there until they closed the school.

He joined the Army while in the P.I., went to Guam to sign up and ended up in Frankfurt, Germany. After three years of active service, he moved back to Greenville, South Carolina. Steve worked for a big construction company that moved him all over the southern states. After all that, he ended up in Greenville yet again! He started a house painting business 15 years ago and really loves his job! He shows off the houses he paints like he shows off his artwork.

Steve still finds time to do his art. A painting titled "Rearview" will be in the award winning author Jonathan Maberry non fiction book out this year called "Zombie C.S.U". Another titled "Time Travel" was published in a calendar two years ago. He’s also a musician and has posted some videos on "Youtube" of original songs he and a friend (Terry Shelton) have written - Just type Steve Hester to view them. A small sampling of Steve's artwork and his contact information can be found on his business page in the left sidebar.

What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? I was very upset about having to move again after only 16 months in Columbus Ohio. About the time we were told that we were moving to the P.I. there were news stories about finding “Cavemen” that were still living like Neanderthal men. Then we went to the “Head Start” program telling us all the dos and don’ts, Marshal Law etc. I thought Good Grief! Where in the world am I going to?  The first day was a little intimidating - I was afraid to go very far from the apartment. Then someone told me about the craft center and that’s where I stayed for the rest of time I lived in the apartment. My sister, Beth, and I met a couple of people on base who were leaving about the time we found a house off base. Same thing happened when we moved into the house, the person I met was leaving in 2 weeks; after that I kind of just gave up on meeting people. The first day of school was very strange; I had never seen a High School like that before. Everyone was very nice including the teachers, something else I found odd. There were no school gangs, bullies, or teachers with bad attitudes, etc. - just people going to school. It took me a while to get use to everything, but after a while I got use to things the way they were.

What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there? The first thought I had was how poor the people were and how poor their living conditions. I couldn’t believe how hot and humid it was. I liked our house - it was the nicest one we’ve ever lived in plus we had a great house girl and yard boy. Riding the trikes and jeepneys was fun. I couldn’t believe how much you could do with just a few dollars.

Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? I missed the states a lot when I first got there. I had a lot of great friends and was involved in a lot of things in the states. Plus I had a girlfriend I missed.

Who were your good buddies? John and LeaAnn Fletcher, Lori Willmam and several others I can’t remember. I still stay in touch with John Fletcher. Lori and her daughter came to Myrtle Beach five years ago and spent a week with my family and friends.

Where did you hang out? On the hill across from the school. The craft center, bowling alley and John’s house. We also hung out with some of the local people.

Who was your favorite teacher? Mr. Carmone - He was very laid back and easy going. There were a few more - just can’t remember their names.

Did you have a part time job - what was it? Didn’t know you could have a job there.

Did you have a crush on anyone? No. I was in love with my girlfriend back in Ohio.

Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? I‘ve never been to a reunion.

Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? Yes. It completely changed my way of thinking. I always thought we were poor compared to a lot of people in the states. After living there it humbled me to say the least. My overseas experience didn’t start or end with the P.I. One thing I’m the most proud of from being a brat and living in foreign countries is the fact that I never judge people or groups of people.

Pictures: Top - Steve Hester's painting titled "Biker". Middle - Steve Hester today.

Wagner Memories - Myrna Nickelsen '78

What can I say about the chick who started all this? Well, she's sharp as a whip, unafraid of controversy, erudite, creative, extremely organized, and loyal to her friends. In fact, Myrna values her friendships more than anyone I know - which is why this Wagner site and the Wagner 75-80 reunions are so popular and still going strong. So, my kudos to you, girlfriend! Read on for Myrna's Wagner memories.....

What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? Before Nina took over the job of keeping this website fresh, I posted all kinds of stuff, so I was hesitant to fill out this questionnaire for fear I’d be redundant. But knowing firsthand what a tough job Nina has to try to get material for the website – I’ll do it, hopefully coming up with stuff I hadn’t written previously.

We’ll start with Clark. Unlike most Wagnerites, I didn’t “land” at Clark. I was already in the P.I., so I was instead “driven” into Clark through the Main Gate in 1969 when I was registered at Virgil I. Grissom by my aunt, Rose Hepner (then Nickelsen), and her then husband. What struck me was how clean and perfectly manicured everything was. I froze the first day of school since I’d never before been in an air-conditioned room. I was also struck by the ice cold single serve cartons of milk that were delivered to the classrooms just before lunch. I’d also never before seen a playground.

My introduction to Wagner High came after only one year (my first) in the U.S. Pam Grice Hogan argues with me about whether or not I was ever really shy, but I was so shy that little registered from my freshman year. I wanted to be invisible that year because all the other girls were fully developed, while I still looked like a pre-pubescent girl (some would argue that’s still the case).

What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there? Nothing surprised me about the Philippines until 1986 when, after 10 years of being in the U.S., I went to spend Christmas with family. It was on that trip that I realized how memory can differ from reality, which I found to be rather stressful. It took me two weeks to get over the culture shock when nothing should have been surprising. John, on the other hand, had no expectations and thus enjoyed the experience from day one. What I loved about being at Clark during the 1976-77 school year was the time I spent with friends.

Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? There wasn’t really much for me to miss because prior to the 1976-77 school year, I’d really only lived in the U.S. for two years (8th grade, 10th grade). What I missed most were my two friends from San Antonio and the ability to babysit for money. (Who needed a babysitter when everyone had housegirls?) That was about it.

Who were your good buddies? Gosh – having spent most of my school years at Clark makes this a tough question. Listing only those who became Wagnerites, in the 4th grade, I was friends with Suzette Fisherman. In the 5th grade, Pam Grice Hogan became “my best friend forever.” In the 6th grade, it was Heidi Young Johnsen; she and I, along with two others formed the “Groovy Girls Club” with weekly 10 cent dues. 7th grade – after Pam left, I mostly hung out with Gina Crynes Burges. In 9th grade, Pam started having boyfriends, so she was always occupied. Heidi, by then, had joined God Squad and thus had a completely different set of friends. Nancy Hogue and I spent countless Saturdays riding our bikes from Plaridel and circle the base. We’d go up the hill from WHS, circle past the golf course to the BX, sometimes ride to the stables – then back off base. It was a great way to kill an entire day. Later that first year at Wagner, I became friends with Karen Trevino, Teresa Teator, Beth Lamoreaux, Gabe Montes, and Gary Miller.

In 11th grade, I spent a lot of time with Karen, Teresa, Liz Wilson, Cindy Weir, Pam Grice, Larry Jones, Mike Smith, Brad Muhr, and David Wilson. John Ward also managed to always be around – maybe because he lived a house or two down from the Trevinos. I also spent a lot of time with Julie Overby, Leslie Gilchrist, Joni Humphreys, Susan Corey, Julia Sutherland, Tish Wrentmore, Julie Muhr, and later, Gigi Hensley, and John Aylward.

That same year, I, along with Teresa and Karen, briefly joined the Catholic Youth Group just so I could go on a trip to Corregidor with Tina Villareal, Bridget Kitson, Pam, and the Cubellos. Pam was mortified that I quit the group immediately after the trip. Teresa and Karen stuck around a little longer because they didn’t want to be as obviously opportunistic as I had been. So during my junior year, with whom I hung out depended largely on what I was doing. There were so many people to like at Wagner!

Where did you hang out? When I was doing “bad girl” stuff such as underage drinking, it was at Kahuna’s Hut – usually with Gigi, Julie, or Joni. When I was hanging out at the Bowling Alley to see who was there, I was with Karen, Teresa, Liz, Pam, and Cindy. When we were hanging out as a group that often included the guys – even slumber parties – it was usually at my house. The other places I’d frequent with different people were Vertigo’s, Italian Village, and the Bobbitt & Kelly Theaters.

Who was your favorite teacher/class? Gene Edgerly’s speech class was a hoot! We had seriously rowdy people in that group – Mike Smith, John Ward, BT Uptmor, Rob Welsh, Tammy Tapman, Pam Grice, etc. We were constantly laughing. No one was spared from good old-fashioned ribbing after every speech. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that we all looked forward to that class. I also loved Byron Wood’s biology blue class – so much so that in the 11th grade, I was one of 4-6 students in his advanced biology class.

And I loved Vern Harmelink and his journalism class, even despite the regular all-nighters at Mepa Press that we endured every two weeks to produce the 12-14 page Falcon Crier. I loved that class so much that not only did I go on to major in journalism, but I can also still name most of the 13 who worked on that paper with me despite it being so many years ago: Mike Smith, Larry Jones, Craig Young, Peter Shusterman, John Aylward, Debbie Petrizzi, Pam Grice, Brad Gammons, Betsy Irwin, Robert Gonzalo, and Sam Larioza.

And finally, I think my love of world history was sparked by Dick Saddlemire's history class during my freshman year. I also took a psych class from Pat Saddlemire, and I remain fascinated with the subject to this day.

Did you have a part time job - what was it? I had a PVOT job the summer after my freshman year. I worked at the hospital, weighing active duty personnel. I was offered bribes on a regular basis to record a lower number than what registered on the scale.

Did you have a crush on anyone? I’ve answered this before – so I’ll skip this one.

Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? The friendships I’ve made or rekindled through the reunions have been my rewards for all the trouble and work of putting them together. Rekindling is to be expected, but there are people in my life now who would be absent were it not for the reunions. Through the earlier reunions, I’ve become really good friends with Kim Wrentmore, Travis Wallington, Josie Tan, Gene Edgerly, Byron Wood, and Mary Billett (Denver) – none of whom I knew at all at Wagner. I also became buddies with B.T. Uptmor and Dake Vahovich.

Through the San Diego reunion, I’ve formed close friendships with Mark Anderson, Ed Welch, Nina Pierce, and Yolanda Fisherman. I’m also enjoying getting to know and forming friendships with Judy Seals, Cindy Fisher, Antoine Holmes, Joey Montes, Chrys Atwater, Jason Roosma, and Elin Pierce.

It’s worth noting that I really disliked Ed and Mary during high school – obviously for no good reason. The point of noting this is that I’ve learned through the reunions that with a little effort and openness, forming close friendships with people we knew only by name or perhaps didn’t even like in high school is not only possible, but it’s also a process that occurs at breakneck speed because of the shared Wagner experience. These friendships have been possible, in part, because I have one rule when I attend these reunions: spend very little time with friends who are already deeply embedded in my life. After San Diego, for example, Karen Trevino, who’s practically a sister, noted that I spent maybe five minutes with her. She was right, but I figured that since we talk at least once a week (often more), it seemed silly to spend all my time with her at the reunion. I knew that soon after we’d each get home, we’d be on the phone rehashing what we each did with others.

So while it may sound like a strange rule, I’ve found that it’s the only way that new friendships can form at the Wagner 75-80 reunions. Oh – and then follow up. Stay in touch. Phone calls and emails are cheap. So next time, I strongly advise “reaching out and touching someone.” I promise that if you do, the next time you’re asked this question, you will end up listing your new friends.

Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? Again, this question is not exactly applicable to me since I am basically an immigrant who didn’t come to the U.S. or become a citizen until age 13. What I do know for certain is that I am a better person for having been fortunate to have had certain friends in my life, a good number of whom I either befriended at Wagner or through the reunions. (To read Myrna's After Wagner story click here).

Pictures: #1 - Myrna's Junior Pic #2 - Myrna with fellow members of the Mepa Press crew in '78 - Debbie Petrizzi, Mike MacIver & Brad Gammons #3 - 78'ers Brad Muhr, Myrna & Mike Smith in 1977 #4 - Larry Jones & Myrna in 1988 #5 - Myrna & Clarissa Esquivel '80 in 1983 (Myrna didn't meet Clarissa until living in Texas & then introduced her to her husband!) #6 - At the San Diego reunion in 2006 with hubby John and other members of the class of 78 - Leslie Gilchrist , John Ward, and Cindy & Patti Kuehling.

Wagner Memories - Gabe Montes '77

Gabe is one of the people I've gotten to know through the Wagner reunions. He's one of the nicest guys I know and is a big supporter of this site. Gabe always is ready to help out when needed and it's much appreciated. His wife, Jane, has almost as much Wagner spirit as Gabe does. After all, anyone who would willingly partake of the Filipino delicacy, Balut, more than deserves to be an honorary Wagnerite!

What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? When we arrived at Clark in 1975, I wanted to turn around and go back. We had just landed and as the plane door opened, I felt a rush of HOT air. It was very early and in the morning and a humid 90 degrees. It took some getting used to, but going back to Clark as a teen was a very memorable experience.

I was definitely looking forward to attending Wagner HS. We were stationed at Clark when I was in 3rd and 4th grade. I can remember our bus passing WHS on the way to Grissom Elementary School and thought... one day I'd like to go to that school. Eventually, I did!

What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there? Nothing really surprised me about the Philippines. There were good and bad points. Being Filipino and having lived there before, I understood what it was like living in a third world country. We definitely made the best of it while we were there. When we found out we were going back to Clark, the first thing I thought about was that I wouldn’t have to clean or do dishes anymore. We had to help do all that! Also, I met so many cherished friends, old and new, from Wagner. We all still keep in touch. Can't say that about my other high school prior to Wagner, Alamogordo Mid-High, outside of Holloman AFB.

Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? I did miss the four seasons. Although when Dad got stationed in Washington (the state), I quickly got tired of the snow and freezing weather. The Philippines had two seasons, wet and dry. Hanging around on base was pretty much like the US.

Who were your good buddies? Let's see, I remember hanging out with Gary Miller. When he left, it was Mike and Steve Scott, Bobby Gonzalo, Marie Bissell, Cathy Forren, Reva Sneed, Leslie Fontanilla, Carol Villaluna, the Carrasca's, Fumar's, Oronos', Fisherman's, Covas', Hanford's, Ramos', Lostica's... the list goes on.

Where did you hang out? On base, it was the bowling alley, tennis courts, BX, base pool, Bamboo bowl, Bobbitt and Kelly Theaters, Kelly Cafeteria. Off base, Diamond Subdivision (where we lived), various clubs around the area on any given weekend - LOL.

Who was your favorite teacher/class? My favorite teacher was Mrs. Saddlemire. So much so that I took three of her classes in one semester. Mr. Shrupp and Mr. Hilgers were cool too!

Did you have a part time job - what was it? I worked in Merchandise Control for a $1.00 an hour. I remember working with Ann Piasecki. Those were the days.

Did you have a crush on anyone? We had lots of beautiful ladies at Wagner... Ok, lets see - there was Dolly Aquino, Michelle Conkel, Shirley Foster, Connie Taylor. I was fortunate to even date a few of them.. LOL!

Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? I've made many new friends because of these reunions and we do keep in touch.

Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? Most definitely. Living in the Philippines and experiencing another culture (even though I'm a Filipino raised in the United States) was very enlightening. More importantly, coming from a military environment, I am more accepting of change and can adapt more easily. I get the urge to move every once in awhile and miss those days when Dad would come home from work and tell us "we're moving!" All the excitement of someplace new to explore, make new friends and even run into kids I knew or saw from another base.

Additional Comments: looking forward to reading the responses to these questions..... Oh, and to the next reunion!

Pictures: Top - Gabe's Senior pic #2 - Richard Shusterman, Gabe, Karen Trevino (seated), Dona Jo Shusterman, Gabe's wife Jane, Doreen Trevino, Diane Seabolt, Yolanda Fisherman & Gina Crynes #3 Gabe with Patricia Saddlemire #4 Gabe with Mark Anderson and brother Joey. To read Gabe's After Wagner story click here. To check out a recent family picture click here. To contact Gabe email him.

Free DC Reunion Trip Contest Update

Since quite a few newbies are checking out the site, I think it's time to remind everyone again about the Free Trip to the D.C. Reunion contest (Click on the link to read the details about the contest). The DC Reunion committee launched this contest to keep the web site fresh and to encourage as many folks as possible to contribute. After all, Myrna created this site to help keep us in touch with each other, so the more that contribute, the better!

The first post was three years ago - January 5, 2005. Since then we've added 354 posts, 110 After Wagner stories and 16 business pages. And we've had 1,223 comments. As of today, this site has had just over 173,000 hits. There are an average of 147 hits per day and around 920 hits per week. Not bad for a little overseas alumni web page! To get additional and varied input, I've been emailing folks with surveys about Turning 50 or their Wagner Memories. We appreciate those of you who have sent in responses and especially those who also send along pictures! If you'd like to fill one out and haven't gotten an email, just email us! And we'll be sending out even more surveys to lure folks out of the woodwork! There's no escape....buuuuwaaaahaaahaaa !!

As of today, Jon Barnhill is still in the lead in the contest with 53 points. Dana Williams is 2nd with 41 points and Gabe Montes is 3rd with 30 points. All those points will give them a better chance to win the drawing for the Free Trip. I've attached the Contest stats to date - pull it up to see where you stand. Obviously, those that submit their After Wagner Stories or an article get a significant boost in points.

So think about that Free Trip to the Next Reunion when you get emails asking for your input and take a few minutes to send us those responses, pictures, Wagner updates, etc. If you have something cool going on in your life, send it in - we love to hear about it! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks to all those wonderful Wagnerites who have sent in updates, pictures, survey responses and taken the time to comment - YOU'RE the reason Myrna, Mark and I do this. Thanks to all who put up with my incessant nagging for articles, pictures and updates with equaminity or at the very least, resigned humor! I've gotten to know some pretty cool people better through all this.

And last thing - please hit the comment tab and say hi to those folks who are submitting stuff to let them know that you remember them or would like to get to know them better at the next reunion. And if you're in touch with other Wagnerites, tell them to check us out. That's what this site is for!

On a related note, Gaye Perkins '74 informed us that Eddie McCord '76 is doing better and at a rehab facility. Check out the original post for contact information.

February Birthdays!

The Wagnerite birthdays will be posted each month so you can give your buddy a call and wish him or her a Happy Birthday - especially if it's the BIG ONE! I've added any email addresses I have in our files and the WHOA directory, but many of them are out of date, so I can't promise that your message will go thru if you email them.

Please help us keep our records up to date and email us and WHOA with any change in your email address! And if you keep in touch with someone and know their new address, send it on!

Happy Birthday today to Allen Wykle and a Humongous Happy 50th to my "After Wagner crush" & a guy who still looks great in tennis shorts - Jason Roosma!

Happy Birthday this month to:

1975

2/6 Gayna Bernhardt Petrolino 2/7 Angelo Kostopoulos, Shannon Dennett 2/9 Gary McClellan 2/18 Renny Cui  2/23 Jo Ann Thoreson Hallstrom  2/27 Michael Ratcliff  2/28 Holly Tillett Schell

1976 (The Big 5-0's!)

2/3 Brad Van Duker  2/9 Mark Rohrlick  2/10 Bob Ferguson, Lorna Rodrigues Frazelle  2/11 Earl Chenault  2/12 Tom Maurer  2/18 Kerry Roberts, Donna Young Yeadon  2/20 Jason Roosma  2/21 Susan Kitchenmaster 2/22 Ray Sharkey  2/24  James Wilson, Alexandria Orgain Kelley, Anthony Montes, Lynn Jones Reid 2/25  Donna Lamoreaux DiGiacomo  2/27 Cindy Duke, Therese Phillips Cosson

1977

2/4 Allyson Miller, Michael Williams  2/6 John Selmer  2/9 Frank Randall  2/12 Bernard Jones, Darrell Jamison  2/20 Allen Wykle, George Hall  2/22 Cynthia Zeller Garcia  2/25  Salli DiBartolo

1978

2/1  Valerie Thoreson Baird  2/7 David Caldwell  2/9  Debbie Meurer Colpitts, Debbie Dubuc Phillips  2/10  Robin Garber  2/13  Dake Vahovich, Maria Johnson Price  2/14 Steve Alexander   2/21 Dean Spiller   2/22 Leo Endel, Shirley Cavanaugh Ciurleo  2/26 Sandra Scheffel Humphries 

1979

2/9 Phyllis Rodgers Rogers  2/10  Cheryl Akers Rogers  2/11 Donna Bomgren Ashley  2/23  Jim Tallman  2/24  Catherine Castle Diaz  2/25 Dymphna Sharpe

1980

2/2 Sue Ann Banks Thompson  2/10  Rick Gonzales, Cyneathia Anderson Phillips 2/14 Steve Anderson  2/15 Jordan Hollingsworth  2/16 Susan Hobby Helton  2/17 Rosalinda Castro Roberts  2/18 Ingrid Jackson Stifler  2/27 Peter Trevino

Wagner Memories - Barry Willis '75

Barry and his siblings lost their dad while stationed at Clark. Lt. Col. William Willis, Commander of Flight Operations, and Med Tech TSgt Denning Johnson (father of Sandra '76), along with many others, lost their lives in the crash of the C-5A during Operation Babylift. I will always remember the day, because Sue Eby and I were sitting in Spanish with Barry's brother, Mark, when Mr. Taft came to pull him out of class. Barry found out while away on the senior trip.

Although I knew I lived in a military environment, I never once considered that one of my friend's fathers were actually in harm's way. I know that Barry and his siblings are very proud of the part that their dad played in rescuing orphans from Vietnam. And to me, it's important to note one of the many good deeds that our military does that so often goes unnoticed by the media. Lt. Col. William Willis and TSgt. Denning are memorialized on the Vietnam Veterens Memorial in Washington D.C. (Panel 1W Rows 122 and 121) Those going to the next reunion will be able to pay tribute in person.

These days Barry is happily married with no children and works for University Health Systems, Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Eastern North Carolina. He's the Team Leader for the Network Team and in his spare time runs a little boat on the Pimlico River to do some fishing down by Harker's Island. He likes to hang out at the beach and do some scuba diving now and again. And he admits to going a little "middle-aged crazy" and hanging out at Lowes collecting miscellaneous tools. It must be a guy thing! Here he updates us on his good Wagner memories...

What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? I liked it very much. Had been there in 4th grade before.

What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there? The climate and the size of the base. Yardboys, tennis courts & golf courses. And, of course, the people.

Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? My older brother, Bill. Blue Jeans. Milk and Eggs.

Who were your good buddies? Doug Falcon and Dean Sandeen (both ’75)

Where did you hang out? Too often, that Pizza joint just outside the gate (Italian Village). Pools and school.

Who was your favorite teacher/class? in no particular order...
Mrs. Sleight - Art
Ms. Munn - Speech
Tony Carmone - Shakespeare / Literature (one of the best!)
Biology with the really nice gentleman – (Bernie Carlson or Byron Woods).

Did you have a part time job - what was it? No. Who was that lucky? The "cute little people" had all the jobs.

Did you have a crush on anyone? (We're all grown up now - it's okay to spill the beans!) Yes. No it isn't.

Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? N/A - Still haven't gotten to a reunion

Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? Yes. I’m more thankful for our standard of living.

Additional Comments: Thanks for all you folks do to keep us in touch. To contact Barry, click here.

Pictures: #1 - Barry's Senior picture #2, #3 & #4 Barry doing his favorite thing and his favorite fishing spot. North Carolina seems to be the place to be!

Wagner Memories - Rudy Soto '80

Rudy Soto lived at Clark for one year (12/78 - 12/79) and came to Wagner halfway through his junior year and left halfway through his senior year. He ran cross country and track along with his younger sister, Teresa '82. He also had an older sister, Dorothy. He still remembers competing in the 5000 meter run in Manila Olympic Stadium in 1979 and taking Carol Luttrell '80 to the Junior/Senior prom in Manila. Carol and Rudy both taught English to other kids at Wagner. These days Rudy is a Correctional Sergeant in the Arizona Department of Corrections and lives in Eagar, Arizona with his wife, Inger (originally from Denmark), and his seven year old son, Ben.

What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? I landed in sticky hell - even in December.

What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there? Nothing surprised me! What I liked the best was: PVOT at the Elementary school and Motor Pool and coaching soccer with Melissa Berry.

Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? Family back home, Freedom, and Foods I loved.

Who were your good buddies? Melissa Berry '82 & Duncan Weir, '82.

Where did you hang out? At Melissa's house and my house off base.

Who was your favorite teacher/class? Speech, I do not remember the teacher (Edgerly).

Did you have a part time job - what was it? PVOT was the about the nearest thing to a job I had.

Did you have a crush on anyone? Melissa Berry

Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? Duckie (Debbie Goldey '76) is a good friend.

Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? Yes

Additional Comments: I was sad to leave Melissa, but glad to be back home in the USA. Just not Texas!

Pictures: #1 - Rudy's junior picture #2 - Rudy hanging in the hallways in 1979 #3 - Tending to those blisters after a cross country race #4 - Rudy with wife, Inger, and son, Ben, on a visit to Santa. You can contact Rudy by email.

Happy Valentines Day!

by Nina Pierce Baker '77

Yes, I know it has become another crass commercial holiday. We're bombarded with ads for weeks letting us know that if we don't run out and buy, buy, buy jewelry, flowers, cards and candy that we're failures. But I like to remember the sentiment behind the holiday. The way we used to celebrate it when we were kids. The scent of paste, the rough texture of construction paper, the lacy paper hearts, the intense concentration as our little hands labored to work those dorky scissors into cutting out a heart to give to our loved ones.

And as we got older, the trading of tacky little valentines with everyone in your class. The candy hearts that said "Be Mine". I remember being so grateful when teachers started making kids trade valentines with everyone else, because I would finally get more than a few. You know how it is when you're a military brat...you've just moved again, and unless you're one of those really outgoing kids, you've made about three friends. And when my kids were in elementary school, I reveled in reliving those times. Yeah, I'm weird like that.

Although the holiday has gotten extremely consumeristic, I still love Valentines Day. It doesn't take expensive jewelry or a bouquet of roses to make me happy. I still treasure those homemade cards my kids made me years ago the best. Because it's the thought and effort that counts. And we have too little of that in this world today. It's too easy to take for granted the love of a partner, a child, a friend. To me, this holiday is just a reminder to reach out to those you care for and say a little thanks. Thanks for being part of my life. So reach out today and give those you love a phone call, an email, a homemade card, a hug, a flower or two. And to you, my Wagner friends old and new, I say thanks for your friendship. Happy Valentines Day.

In the News: Eddie McCord '76

Word reached us today that Hal "Ed" McCord Jr. '76 suffered a broken knee and collarbone, along with various cuts and bruises, when his Cessna crashed near the Florida State campus in Tallahassee, Florida. If you were to see the pictures of the crash, you'd agree that it's amazing he is alive. Ed went to Wagner for his freshman year in 1973 and was active in SGA. He now works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was traveling from Maryland to Pensacola, where he was expected for a Monday meeting, his father Hal McCord Sr (retired USAF pilot) said. For a complete article about crash click here. To check out some old PI pictures of Eddie in Clyde Zuber's (75) photo album on the WHOA site, click here.

Gaye Perkins Parnell, '74 sent in this update on Feb 20th:

Hal did have surgery on his knee (it was somewhat off the leg from what my sister said) and he has been moved to a Rehab Hospital. His birthday was Friday (Feb 15th). I'm sure he'd rather forget this one and hope for a better one next year!

His address is: HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tallahassee

Attn: Hal McCord, Jr.
1675 Riggins Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
850-656-4800

Mrs. Nestle - Commemorating a Full & Fulfilling Life

By Don Detwiler, '80

Frank Atwater ’76 recently informed me that Ora "Polly" Nestle passed away November 24th 2007. She was living in Pasig City at the time and her brother, Frank Bizzell, was with her when she died. She had suffered a stroke sometime earlier. She was cremated and her brother brought her ashes back to the States - her family will hold a service for her sometime this spring in northern Mississippi.

Polly taught math (Math 1, Algebra 1, Accelerated Algebra) at Wagner for many years. From what I can see from past yearbooks, she taught at Wagner from 1973 – 1978. She lived in the PI for many years and also taught at Sangley Point Naval Station (John Paul Jones School) in Cavite before it closed in 1971. Irene Greenwalt says that one of Polly's reasons for coming to Clark was the opportunity to search for the remains of her older brother Richard Bizzell, a POW from the fall of Bataan/Corregidor who died in 1943, possibly at the Cabanatuan prison camp (the one featured in the movie "The Great Raid"). His body was never found.

Polly and her late husband, Mark, whom she married in 1959, owned several properties that brought them a lot of wealth, but the Philippine government limited their access to them, which is why she continued to live there after Clark closed. I was not in any of her classes, but I remember her from the math/science club... she accompanied us on some of the trips to Manila for the competitions with Faith, IS, and George Dewey. We'd visit the shopping centers in Makati before heading home, and I think she tried to slip us a few pesos to get something to eat!

Polly Bizzell is survived by brothers Frank and Lee, and several nieces and nephews. She was the daughter of Ira D. Bizzell and Vinnie Caldwell and was born January 10, 1923 in Strayhorn, Mississippi. Polly enlisted in the U. S. Navy WAVES during World War II, and was stationed in Washington, D. C. and New York. After the service, Polly graduated from Millsaps College, in Jackson, Mississippi and began her long career as a math teacher. She taught in Drew, Mississippi and Pensacola, Flordia before embarking on a worldwide tour of teaching spots in the military dependent school system. This took her to Japan, Newfoundland, Germany, French Morroco, England, and the Philippines. Polly took up bridge while working for Jacoby, the bridge "master" and enjoyed the game many years with her international friends in Manila.

Pictures: #1 Polly in the 1975 Wagner Yearbook, #2 Polly in 1959. #3 Polly & her husband, Mark. #5 Polly, the party girl, circa 1976. Photos courtesy of her brother, Frank Bizzell. To contact Frank click here.

Wagner Memories - Ed Welch, '77

Ed and I are very much alike in some ways. We both look at life with a sardonic eye and have a bit of a sarcastic wit. During his senior year, with his girlfriend, Lori Neese '76, back in the states, he amused himself by annoying me on a regular basis. There's a certain "bandana incident" that I will never live down, thanks to him! After many years of no communication, we have become friends again because of the last reunion. And I have to say that despite being a pain in the ass in high school (I'm sure he'd say the same about me!), Ed has turned into a man that I admire and respect. He's still married to his high school sweetheart, they've raised two beautiful daughters, and they're both devoted to physical fitness. Here are Ed's Wagner memories.....

What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? It was not very good. I guess I was a little predisposed to not like it based of the briefings we received prior to going. Stories about people getting their hands cut off for jewelry and people being sold into slavery did not make life in the PI seem too enticing. We lived off base in Villa Angela at first. The concept of living in a house with a metal roof surrounded by a cement wall with broken glass on top of it was not very welcoming. Initially, I did not think it was much like paradise. It was hot; there were giant bugs, not to mention the goats and roosters strolling around the neighborhood. The school bus had slide up wooden windows with metal screens. We had to go the water station to pump drinking water and, unlike subdivisions like Carmenville, we were not very close to the base (from what I remember) and there were not a lot of American families out there. The first couple of months there, I didn’t even see much of Clark. We flew into Manila and we lived off base. We’d go on base for water, gas, the commissary and to the O’Club pool. While at the pool, it seemed like they had Clapton’s “I shot the Sheriff” on a continuous loop, over and over again!! I wanted Clapton to shoot me!

Wagner, the school that I came to love, did not have a high initial approval rating either. After the prison bus ride there, we unloaded to this place that was all outside, with lockers barely big enough to hold a lunch bag and a couple of books and all this crazy painting on the walls. It was like nothing I had ever seen! The fricken cafeteria wasn’t even connected to the school; this place was a far cry from the campus of “Room 222”!!

What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there? That I ended up loving it there. It’s hard to say what I liked best about living there. In no particular order, the friends I made, the location (having Baguio, Long Beach or Subic Bay and Grande Island so close), the community, the weather, the food, the night life, the school, the sports, everything…

 

Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? Tube socks, it was hard to get good tube socks there. We went back to the States on vacation after our first 2 years there and I had a ton of orders for tube socks to fill. Not mention, McDonalds. It was the concept of the States more then anything, everyone talked about getting off “The Rock”. If I only knew then what I know now…

Who were your good buddies? Due to PCS’ing, there were 2 time frames. The first year or two it was Jeff Jacobs, Pat Early and Danny DeCroes. That blended into the last couple of years where my buds were Dave Wellman, Frank Fontenot, Joe Avalos, Mark Anderson, Grey Brooks and BT Uptmor.

Where did you hang out? After school it was the Olympic Pool, base gym or sports of some kind. After hours activity is a time frame question as well. The 1st year or two, I’d get dropped off at the Teen Club. We’d hang out there for a while then end up off base at Italian Village, a bar that had a Led Zeppelin cover band (I forget the name maybe it was the Halfadi) or The 3rd Eye. The next year the bowling alley was the drop off point or initial destination. Then it was off to any or all of the following: Vertigo, Kahuna’s Hut, Philippine Disco, Mars Hill, the Bamboo Bowl for a Midnight movie, and the occasional party out at the stables or a house party. Who could forget HOG? That was always a blast!

Who was your favorite teacher/class? My favorites were Ms. Munn (Speech I and II), Ms. Sleight (Art) and Mr. Carmone (College English). I did not have any classes with the Tuckers, but had a blast with them in the Musical Reviews!

Did you have a part time job - what was it? Sort of, but the income was not reportable. Besides that, one summer to keep Dave Wellman and me busy (in between our junior and senior year, Lori and Emily Wilson just went back to the states), my dad hired us to work at the VOA site. All we did was drive around the facility in a golf cart and shoot M16s.

Did you have a crush on anyone? The only true crush was my freshman year (1974), was on a senior girl named Shannon Smith.

Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? Myrna and Nina, I probably teased them more than talked to them at Wagner. Because of their involvement in the reunions, I’ve come to know, like and respect both of them immensely. Mike O’Brien I sort of knew at Wagner. Unfortunately, I knew his dad better than him thanks to some of my activities. Mike and his wife Kathy live a few miles from me. I never knew it until the Denver Reunion. We hang out now. In part because of the reunions, I have become much closer to Mark and Liz Anderson. I was friends with them then, but we are much closer now. They are good people!

Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? Undoubtedly, it made me more acceptable and adaptable to change. It kept us isolated from a lot of crap as well. I think of it as our own version “The Wonder Years”.

Additional Comments: I couldn’t imagine going to high school, having more fun or meeting better people in any other place.

Pictures: #1 - Ed's senior picture #2 - Ed & Lori at the '76 Jr/Sr prom #3 - Dave Wellman '77 and Ed in 1976 #4 - Frank Fontenot '77, Joe Avalos '78, Doug Hetzel '78 and Ed at the San Diego Reunion #5 - Dave Wellman, Ed & Gray Brooks in 1976 #6 - Ed and Lori on a trip to Cancun last summer #7 - Mike Smith '78, Lori and Ed at the San Diego Reunion 2006. For Ed's After Wagner story click here. To read about his trip to Cancun click here.

Wagner Memories - Valerie Moore Andrews '77

Val was one of my best friends in high school. We spent hours hanging out together in after school activities, listening to the Steve Miller Band, and, of course, discussing boys :) She's one of the sharpest and nicest ladies I know - and I know quite a few! She went to college at Duke through ROTC and served a stint in the Air Force, working as a software engineer before completing law school.

These days Valerie lives in Boston in a century old farmhouse with her hubby, Hale, and daughters, Rebecca and Natalie. She's a cancer survivor and the legal counsel for a pharmaceutical company specializing in Hepatitis C and Cystic Fibrosis research. Her job and her daughters' activities keep her pretty busy. Val and Kim Wrentmore '77 knew each other before Clark and were best of friends in the 7th grade while both were at Warren Roberts in Georgia. And she still keeps in touch with John Aylward, her academic rival at Wagner! Here she updates us on her short stay at Wagner......

What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? Getting off the plane was like walking into a big warm sponge! I remember thinking that people at Wagner were really friendly.

What surprised you the most about the Philippines? What did you like best about living there? I don't know what surprised me back then. Thinking back on it now, I guess I'm surprised that Wagner was as much fun as it was. I loved everything about it - the activities, spirit days (remember the 50's days?), clubs, classes, the feeling of belonging. I still don't understand how it managed to be such magic.

Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? I arrived at Clark in the middle of my junior year, so I felt for awhile like I was missing that all-American high school experience - football games, popular culture, fashionable duds, certain foods. It didn't take me long to get over it, though, and even to this day, I miss some things Filipino (warm weather, lumpia, daily fresh pineapple, Wagnerites . . .).

Who were your good buddies? I was only at Clark for 18 months. Buddies included Nina, Teri Self, Gigi Hensley, Marianne Vick (where is she?!), Ginny Navas (I dated her brother Harvey for awhile during Junior year - we would bake cookies and she introduced me to Joan Baez and Judy Collins), Mike White, Jon Barnhill, Craig Young, Sharon Hetzel (we've known each other since 2nd grade), Sue Ross, John Aylward (my mother called him "the fixture") and of course, since he somehow managed to be buddies with nearly everyone, Dake.

Where did you hang out? I was so, so, so sheltered! My dad was an MP - I don't remember hanging out anywhere! God Squad. School. The O Club pool. That was about it.

Who was your favorite teacher/class? Mrs. Saddlemire's psychology class. Also, of course, Mr. Wilder and chemistry. Funny how much influence they had on me without me even knowing it - I double-majored in chemistry and psychology as an undergrad!

Did you have a part time job - what was it? I have a vague recollection of working at the Commissary. I'm pretty sure I was paid $1.00 per hour, and worked a grand total of about 20 hours. Spent it all on M&Ms at the BX.

Did you have a crush on anyone? (We're all grown up now - it's okay to spill the beans!) I'll never tell.

Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? Not really, but I have re-connected on a whole different level with the people that I knew back in high school.

Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? I'm not sure it did. Instead, I think my experience continuously makes me wish that I was a better person. When I lived overseas, I could see how much there was to do in the world and what a rarefied, privileged life I live. Now that I have a family to raise and bills to pay, I don't feel like it is possible to tap into the side of myself that saw how much there is to do. I'm inspired by the number of Wagnerites who are doing so much good in so many corners of the earth. I'm still waiting to find my calling and do some real good somewhere. I hope in my next decade.

Pictures: #1 - Val's Senior Pic #2 - Val and Marianne Vick '77 before a pep rally #3 - Val in November 2007 #4 - Dake Vahovich '78 giving Val a big hug at the San Diego reunion dinner cruise #5 - Val with her '77 buds, Kim Wrentmore, Dana Williams, Nina Pierce, Teri Self, Gigi Hensley & Debbie Hilliard at the San Diego reunion. #6 - Val with hubby Hale & kids Rebecca 12 and Natalie 9 on last summer's vacation to Maui.

Wagner Memories - Steve "Flipper" Barnes, '75

Steve left the PI before I arrived at Clark, but we both swam on the swim team and played water polo (I'm sure he was much better at it than I was!) In fact, he was there for the swim team's inception as an official sport for Wagner. Here he updates us on his memories of the Wagner days and what he's been up to since then.....

What was your first impression of Clark and Wagner? As we got off the plane all I could think of was that is was December and I was all sticky! The school was alright ~ no real impressions from the first. I grew to love the whole aspect of Wagner though...

What surprised you the most about the Philippines? The congeniality of the Filipinos was cool. What did you like best about living there? I'm not sure if it was the place or my own stage of life, but everything seemed to be easier, more free, etc.

 

Did you really miss anything from the States and if so, what? At first I missed the TV shows that I would regularly watch, but then I just went outside and hung around with my friends and it was even better.

Who were your good buddies? Most of my closest buddies were on the base swim team with me from '73-'74. Of course I can hardly remember anyone's name at this point, but here goes… Peter and David Anderson, Sheryl and Krystal Payne, Cindy and Janice Hamman, Lisa and Kim Roach, all the Gaude' boys, Dake Vahovich, Shauna Gould, Paul Rank, etc. I also knew Mark Santacroce (and his mom, the nurse).

Where did you hang out? If we weren't swimming then we were on the parade field (spinning bottles?)

Who was your favorite teacher/class? Ms. Dulak - she had that 'Brenda Vacarro voice-thing' going ~ very sexy! Oh, and she taught math or something...

Did you have a part time job - what was it? Nah, maybe that's why life seemed so free and easy.

Did you have a crush on anyone? I fell pretty hard for Cindy Hamman early on, but all along I would have to say that Sheryl Payne was my closest friend ('though I would have liked it to be more).

Have you become closer to a Wagnerite that you didn't know well in high school because of a reunion? I don't know about getting close, but I really enjoyed the time I spent in San Antonio a couple of years back with the reunion group. I wasn't able to attend the reunion, but did get down for the BBQ the night before it all began. I ran around with Ross Clardy, The Sevenandt sisters (Wendy & Holly), Jude Jeter, etc.

Do you think your experience living overseas made you a better person? I like to think that is has enabled me to