George Bracey Gillow

You may recall, that in 2015 I posted a couple of messages on the automobiles on railroad tracks that I had traveled on when I lived in Chile in the 1950s.

I recently gave a presentation on automobiles on railroad tracks to a model railroad club. It covers vehicles in South America and the USA. Here is a link to a pdf of the presentation:

Potrerillos Track Cars (gillow.com)

I would be interested if anyone has ridden or driven the 1956 Pontiac Hy-Rail car at the Nevada Northern Railroad Museum.

Cheryl Couch (Loskota)

We received notice from Addie Maple that Terry Maple passed away on December 3, 2023

No other information was provided.  Terry had an amazing life and his accomplishments

regarding studies of primates, authorship of multiple books and overall management and 

business skills in revitalizing the Atlanta Zoo were quite admirable.  

He went from high school athlete. ASB leader, actor ( in How the West Was Lost) to

a well respected and admired man.  He will be missed by many.

Cheryl (Couch) Loskota

HHS Reunion Committee Member

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Jim Hawes

It was a very sad day to hear abut Terry's passing. He certainly made his mark on our world, with many fine contributions. I've enjoyed sharing thoughts and memories with him on this forum and in personal e-mails. A stark reminder of how fragile and precious life really is. We've lost a fine and gentle man. We will shed tears only for the people who never knew you. RIP our friend.

Jim

Gail Eileen Dillon (Boone)

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Adios Terry. You were always supportive of me during High School, especially during JV Football (thanks for going down a little easier when I tackled you in practice). Most of us are at the 77 point now (as in 77 Sunset Strip that ended in 1964 when we all graduated). Personally I would like to go back to being 17 and be planning another fun day and night in CV and TJ. And Terry, it’s super all of what you did for animals. For me it’s cats first, elephants second, dogs third, all other animals next, and lastly, at the bottom of hell’s pit, it’s politicians along with mosquitos and cucaraches. We will all meet again. Hasta la Vista Terry! Ciao, Jerry

Reykjavik, Iceland, August 2023 - Photo by Jerry Olivas

George Bracey Gillow

So sorry to hear about Terry's passing.  I got to know him via posts and messages on this site. I was very impressed with his accomplishments in life.  Also, I appreciated his interest in our local history.

Condolences to his family and friends.

"Life is but a brief moment in history lodged between two vast eternities." Blaire Cook

"One day a bunch of atoms became me. They stayed as me for a short time then went off to be something else, but never me again." Bill Bryson.

So it is important to live life to the fullest no matter what age you are. Terry Maple lived life to the fullest.

Kay Kozuye Ochi

I appreciate and echo the beautiful messages shared about Terry. He was a force, indeed. I cannot reminisce about Hilltop HS and the mighty Class of '64 without fond and hilarious memories of Terry Maple, BMOC. I'm smiling- thinking of his sharing at a class reunion about my pounding on his front door, chasing him down to get his column for the school newspaper. I, too, will process this loss by reading about Willie B. - Kay

Bruce Wilson

Sad news about Terry. Explains why I didn't hear back.

Terry and I were out of contact for a long time after high school andcollege, despite some similar academic interests.. We started communicating again when email arrived. Though we chit-chatted here and both were on FB (me after a long stretch of avoidance),we reserved out "serious" ruffling and unruffling of each others feathers for email.

I am gonna miss him and the challenges we gave each other, but

Well, it's always been my nature
To take chances
My right hand drawing back
While my left hand advances
Where the current is strong
And the monkey dances
To the tune of a concertina

It appears that this site is still buggy. Among other things, photo uploads aren't working (for me anyway).

 

Terry and Frank Fernandez were friends. Terry and I were friends. Frank and I were friends. All from the earliest days. Frank and I attended his birthday parties on East I Street.

Terry and I were the only ones interviewed about Frank's tragic murder, but I carried the ball.

I know who a couple of his girlfriends were and probably his best friend after Frank and I faded away (or more correctly Terry faded away for 'reasons'), but I choose not to say because these were private conversations.

I will say that he drew heavily on his brother Brian for guidance and inspiration. He also was greatly influenced by our sixth grade teacher Tom Hall, who we jointly tried to track down a number of years back (unsuccessfully). I also know what he truly aspired to, but don't start me to talkin'.

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hi All,

I guess this fits into the just curious category as well as “can’t remember” regarding Terry. I did consider myself a good friend of Terry’s and always liked him. I know he hung with a different crowd than I did, but I can’t remember who he was good friends with, i.e., his best friends. Also, who were his girlfriends? These could have been Rosie and Shayne—although I always thought Rosie and Shayne were my girlfriends—but they didn’t see it that way 😉. My memory of Terry is mostly at Hilltop, at Hilltop activities. I rarely ever saw him, for example, at CV Gym Dances, Swiss Park Dances, Coronado Beach Parties, and never in TJ. Maybe he was doing his school homework, which is what I should have been doing, instead of trying to impress other people as well as myself. Just curious here—maybe someone can enlighten me on who Terry’s best friends were?

Ciao, Jerry

Susan L. Frise

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Bruce Wilson

Hi Madeline:

Very nice thought. I finally joined Facebook and I do some of that in that arena.

Take care

Bruce Wilson

Bruce Wilson

HILLTOP DRIVE ELEMENTARY 

SEEMS TO BE THIRD GRADE

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Feliz Año Nuevo Hilltop Class of ’64—best class ever!

Some of us have moved on to the promise land, but there is still many of us cheering. For whatever reason I seem to be remembering alot, maybe too much, about the mostly ‘good old days’ in CV and my many friends. Anyway, I've been on a ‘creative’ writing spree for the last so many years and may have another cover story in San Diego Reader tentitvely titled Scared, Shackled, Shots Fired – How a night out in Tijuana went real wrong. I wish that I would have had, or one of my equally poor friends, would have had some sort of camera (or could have afforded a photo from one of the locals) so that I would have some pictures from my adventures, and misadventures, in TJ and Mexico, but it’s all in my noodle. Does anyone have any TJ or Baja Mexico photos they could share from around 1963, 1964, or 1965? Just post them here, or send them to me directly at drolivas@hotmail.com. If anything is used by the Reader credit would be given, of course, but, sorry, no dinaro. Bev I remember you showing me, perhaps you sent something to me, of you sitting in the Hotel Nelson with some of our friends. Photos from the Long Bar, Hotel Nelson, El Patio, Jungle Club, Aloha Bar, or … would be great. Bruce, NO photos from your favorite places like the Blue Fox (upstaris stage) and Chicago Club 😊. Thanks everyone, and let’s keep the fiesta going!

Ciao, Jerry

Bruce Wilson

Jerry: I never went to the places you mentioned which you apparently did attend..

My list is: The Long Bar, The Jungle, The Bakery, The Nelson, The Bull Ring, El Hussongs, El San Miguel, El Erica's parents house, El Orly Hitchcock's trailer, La Mision,  are about it. There was the little bar a couple blocks from the Long Bar where we went and played dominos with the old guys on Sunday morning

So you are soliciting photos for another fiction piece?

I have some in my private reserve. Terry, GK and I appear in one.

I won't embarass you here (for now any way) about what this means.

BBCCJ - LOL! - YASAP

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hola Bruce and All,

Never fiction with me—always “just the facts …” (like Joe Friday); and my two cats verify and cross-check everything I write. As far as being embarrassed, I live being embarrassed, so I’m used to that.

For regular visits to TJ in the early and mid 1960s, I may have you (Bruce) confused with John Moore. If I remember correctly (certainly I remember correctly) John was biased towards, let’s just say, unusual type of shows in TJ, but I won’t say any more about that.

Any photos anyone might have of the streets or bars of TJ in the early or mid 60s would be great to get. Meanwhile, here are a couple of links to recent stories I have published:

https://www.newenglishreview.org/articles/mrs-tar-sleepwalking-and-talking/

https://www.goworldtravel.com/scotlands-outer-hebrides/

It’s all good--enjoy!

Ciao, Jerry

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hola All, I often say, “I would love to go back to my Hilltop (and shortly thereafter) days (and nights); but this is one night I could have skip:

https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2024/jan/31/cover-tijuana-jail-break/

And to catch up on a couple of other of Jerry’s strange stories see:

https://www.goworldtravel.com/scotlands-outer-hebrides/

https://www.newenglishreview.org/articles/mrs-tar-sleepwalking-and-talking/

Ciao, Jerry

George Bracey Gillow

This June it will be 60 years since we graduated from high school. It occurred to me that in the year 1964, high school classes of 1904 were having their 60-year reunions.

The following is a link to a presentation I did comparing the changes the class of 1904 witnessed in 60 years to the changes our class of 1964 witnessed in 60 years.

This is a large file and can take a few seconds to download.

http://www.gillow.com/images/60_year_1904_to_1964_to_2024.pd

Robert Eugene (Bob) Beckwith

I’m working on some information about our Mexican borders since our Idaho Congressman, Mike Simpson, has asked for opinions.  What I’m missing and need help with; Does anyone have information, data, as to why so many people are leaving their homelands to walk, hike, crawl, north to the American Border?   I have my guesses and that’s about it.

Jerry and others, as we share our TJ stories, I’m amazed that there wasn’t a migrant flood then.  Why now?

Any info or date would be so appreciated.

So, all will know, during High School, I totally missed the TJ seen, after, not so much so.  And didn’t have a camera then, now I do.

Good to be in touch. 

Bob

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Wow wee, very well-done George! Memories really started flowing when I went through that presentation. Question: Was that our Hilltop Class of 1964 picture? I thought I knew everyone in our class, but I’m not sure who those people are/were. A few of my observations are: I wish I had that 1957 Chev; the cheap Western Airlines, LAX to Mexico City flight, Noche Tecolote (I was on that DC-10 flight many time); and I am still thinkin’ Walter Cronkite for President!

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the generations before us, the Greatest Generation, but we were raised mostly by the Silent Generation, our parents. We Baby Boomers all had a bit of wildness, but our parents were mostly heads down serious, get through the depression, go to war (and win), raise them kids, retire, and die shortly thereafter. Maybe our parents, all in all, had a better life than us.

The big question that’s rather hard to answer, and that’s full of personal values as well as how we individually interpret things, is: were we as Americans ‘better’ off in 1904 or 1964? And what about 1964 or 2024? Let’s see, it was that scary horseless carriage in 1904 and now 120 years later it’s that scary AI. At least you could see that horseless carriage coming, but with AI …

Ciao, Jerry

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Hey Bob and All,

The whole southern boarder immigration issue is a touchy and sensitive subject.

The issue as I see it is that primarily people are trying to get to the US to better their, and their family’s lives, along with fleeing dangerous situations. The data seems to be clear on this, especially from immigrant personal interviews research, i.e., talking with immigrants. Yes, crime, gangs, terrible health condition, political repression, wars, and climate changes all fit into reasons for people wanting to get to America, and the same is true for undocumented immigrants to Europe

For sure there were undocumented immigration in the 60s, but it was much, much less in scale and certainly in overall numbers. Also, it was somewhat tolerated as a means of cheap labor, and we did have the more formal bracero (guest worker) program then. And personally Bob, I don’t remember anything about a problem with undocumented immigration in CV or San Diego during our High School days.

There is a lot of data on recent immigration that is being collected but, in my judgement, it is important to be careful of what the news says because they seem to have their own agenda and those damn statistics can be wild and crazy.

If you drill down on these websites there appears to be a lot of, I believe, accurate data: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/ and https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters. For San Diego County specifically there is a variety of data to be had regarding all aspects of undocumented immigrants. It’s kind of hard to sort through all of these, mainly because there are so many data points.

Okay, my solution to the mass undocumented immigration issue: First, you got to weed out the bull about all the undocumented immigrants are criminals and are bringing drugs to the US. Sure there is some of this, but only a very, very minor amount of immigrants are criminals or drug mules. Second, this stupid talk about “poisoning the blood” and other nonsense is ridiculous, insulting, and dangerous—because it breeds racism and hate. Definitely there is a need for a more humane way to efficiently and effectively handle the current massive amounts of undocumented border crossings. The core solution, in my humble assessment, to slowing all the inflex of undocumented immigrants to the US (and Europe) is you got to go directly to the source and overtly help make the conditions less terrible. No, this won’t change things overnight but good to get going now so over time this mass immigration issue won’t be nearly as big an issue. And one last word of wisdom from Jerry. Based on my few times living overseas and travels, people really don’t want to leave their cultures—language, customs, families, friends, etc., i.e., these undocumented immigrants really DON’T want to come to the US!

Ciao, Jerry  

George Bracey Gillow

Jerry,

I don't have small pictures of our class of 1964.  I used a picture that I got from the Internet that did not identify a particular school.

I think the best times to live in the USA were our years probably until about 10 years ago. But even in the 21th century there are a lot of people who are not doing well. Some due to poverty, health problems and/or racism.

Jerry Olivas, EdD

Yo All and Feliz Cinco de Mayo,

Some of you may be able to relate to this story I wrote for the UCSD The Guardian, Lifestyle section (use link below). Actually, UCSD is where I earned my undergrad degree. I think I still owe them some money—so this story is my way of giving back or …

The story is ‘fairly’ true. It was probably Cinco de Mayo 1963 but may have been 1964. I do remember who the motorcycle pyro person was as well as who the horseman was. I also remember who the two CV brothers were—we all knew them, but they didn’t go to Hilltop. Okay to make a guess at the two brothers, but I can’t confirm or deny . Enjoy.

Ciao, Jerry

https://ucsdguardian.org/2024/05/04/cinco-de-mayo-memories-wild-times-in-baja/