Bruce Wilson

Congrats:

I came to running later in life (1972 and consistently for 42 years thereafter). In fact when Pruett sent us out to run the cross country course Fred Workman and I hid in the bushes. I was pretty fast in the back-pedaling part of windsprints. Fred ditched these once also, diving into the huge cardboard "pom-pon" box stored in the gym and remaining till they were over.

Anyway, to get to the point (OK - Bea) I did not pay much attention to running sports in high school, so here is my belated congratulations to Messers Longerbone, Link, Holmes, Cowherd, Murray, Ogden, Blakely and Jensen for their win in the Aztec Invitationals.

Feel free to post up your best 10K times. I scratched out a 36:36 in the seventies which I was proud of, not exactly having the distance runners build.

Treasa Struble (Skiles)

In the late 70's, while living in Atlanta, I took up running. It was a self-preservation move. Mike had started running in local 10Ks each weekend, and I'd drag the boys along and end up holding the sweat shirts and other gear. I decided if I didn't want to be a coat rack, I'd better put on the running shoes. After we moved to Detroit, the marathon bug hit me. The men of the family and I would run shorter races, but I really wanted to do a marathon. So, I set a goal and bested it (I can still recall most of the race course of the Detroit Free Press International Marathon). That record stood for 27 years--MIke had run two marathons and Brian had run two marathons at much slower speeds. Then, inevitably, Brian broke my marathon time (How can a son do that to his mother?). He didn't just break it, he crushed it. Though I was disappointed--not too much--I was thrilled that he had improved his time. This year was a culmination of MIke and Brian's efforts--they BQ'd and ran Boston in April  2014. It was a magical time for them as runners and me as a spectator. Son #2, Kevin, has taken up ultra marathon events and recently completed the UTMB (Ultra Trail Mount Blanc) in Chamonoix, France. Until recently, I competed in local races and Senior Olympic events--often placing in the top three of my age division. Injuries now side-line me, but I'm hoping to recover enough to once again compete in shorter races. My times are not impressive--but the smile would not leave my face the year I won my age div in the La Jolla 5k, or the year I completed the Triple Crown. Run on!

Bruce Wilson

My times are not impressive--but the smile would not leave my face the year I won my age div in the La Jolla 5k, or the year I completed the Triple Crown. Run on!

My uncle and his son were cops in Detroit. It's good to be able to run there.

Keep on smiling Treasa. Kudos to mom first and kids. Afterall who brought them into this world?.

My first 26.2 was the "Heart of San Diego Marathon". Started in Coronado and we got to run over the bridge. Very last time I saw my friend Dave Chalmers.

Bruce Wilson

This one is dedicated to my spinning partner.

Richard Thor (Dick) Holmes

Ok, Bruce, you asked for running times!  Your 36 minute 10k is impressive, around 5:45 minutes per mile which is quick by any standards and likely placed you in the top 5% or higher.   10Ks were a favorite for years in San Diego and thousands of runners would show up for the events.  Now it's split a little with the bike rides and the triathalons in San Diego.   My best 10K was just a little over yours, 39m07sec at Balboa Park, 1979.  Some steep hills but all in all a pretty fast track.  John Link had the fastest mile time that I know of, 4:00.2, just barely missing the magic 4 minute barrier when he ran for SC.  I could only muster a 4:13 mile for Navy - I would have been just starting the last straightaway when John finished.  Jim Longerbone and I both ran Freshman Cross Country for Navy (Plebe year), and I continued on with track and cross country for 3 years.  But the race I'm most proud of came when I was 50 years old and ran an all-comers track meet in Jacksonville Florida for active-duty Navy.   I was the oldest out there by far lining up for the 2-mile run.  But they didn't know I had all that training from the HHS and the Aztec Invitational in 1964, and I used every bit of my old-age and trickery and came away a medalist.  Not bad for a 50-year old against the 20's!   Thank you Ken Anderson!!  

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Yep Jim, you hit it right on.  I had Mr. Bookbinder.

All you runners out there.  I am impressed!  It is really something to run that far and that fast.  I remember that Hilltop had an outstanding track and cross country team.  And Dick -- I love hearing stories of the old guys showing up the young ones.  I started running in my 30s and ran one half marathon.  Then the accident as seen above occurred (with severed Achilles), and I just never got back into it.  Dennis and I took up cycling instead, and still cycle to this day.  In fact, on the day of the reunion, Phil and Renee Gaskins, Tom and Diane Finley, and Dennis and I went for a little 20 miler out to Coronado.  Anyone else out there like to road ride?  We are always up for some company.

Madeline Bazzel (Hooper)

Hey Rosie I had a partial torn achilies tendon last year and my balance is still a little off.  How long did it take for you to feel back to normal?

Bruce Wilson

Hey Dick:

Looks like Link is the man. How frustrating that must have been. I would have asked for a "do-over". :}

My "best time" course was flat as a pancake and I had the benefit of the former cross country (high school) champ of Michigan pacing me. I just matched him stride for stride and he taught me that you have to vary that stride over the course so you don't fatigue out. I never had the benefit of getting coached by Ken.

Good for you whipping up on those youngsters. Age & brains -  a good combo.

I guess you've heard the story of our famous Chula Vista miler (3:59.4 mile at San Diego's Balboa Stadium on June 11, 1966). A sad story indeed.

I'm still looking for that magazine cover photo of Vernus Ragsdale.

Oh yeah & Ken. I invited him to one of the get-togethers (via a note left at the YMCA), not sure whether or not he even got it. Next time I bump into him I'll try to get an email address. I'm sure he would like to hear from some of his proteges.

Rosie:

I have updated the spreadsheet with your info and some that I was able to find in the memory page from folks' posts. I need to validate it and do a little more looking on-line at which time I'll get it to you.

Bruce Wilson

OK one more speed story then I gotta go before I get in trouble with Michele.

Steve McKinney, the hang glider pictured on Mt. Everest back upstream is the first person to  exceed 200 km/h on skis.

I never actually met him (wish I had because he was a great person), but I did see him in action up at Mammoth. Right off the top, straight down in a tuck, no turns. An amazing thing to see.

Sad end for Steve too. He crawled into the back of his VW to get a little sleep before driving on and was rear-ended and killed as he slept. How ironic.

July 1976, Cervina, Italy. The the Kilometro Lanciato World Championships: ABC sports commentator Bob Beattie asks then speed-skiing world record holder Steve McKinney, "What's the worst thing that could happen to a speed-skier?" McKinney didn't even pause: "You could be slow."
 

That's Steve on the far left. How I wish I could have been on that expedition (trip around Lake Tahoe, 1978).

Gail Nisbet (Sutherland)

After reading and viewing Rosie's motorhome "escape from death" experience I thought I would provide my experience from long ago...I am also amazed I am still here.

I married a Marine in Dec of "65.  We got orders for Camp Lejeune, N. Carolina soon thereafter. My son was born there and when he was 7 mos old, I asked my husband (Jay) if he could request a move back to San Diego. I really wanted my son (and myself) to be near my folks. 

We had just bought a (small) house full of furniture and a new 1966 Comet Cyclone (Beautiful Burgandy). We had to pay for the move because we requested it...so..we rented a U-Haul trailer and hitched it up to our new car...and away we went. We had the crib mattress across the back seat (get the visual) and we drove up to Alexandria, Va to say goodbye to his parents.

Soon, we were off again, but did not get far.  Just outside Wheeling, W. Virginia, we were heading down a fairly steep hill on the interstate, a heavy load "pushing our car" a little too fast, and at the bottom we were hit with a very strong wind whipping through this low point.  Alll of a sudden I realized we were in trouble.  Out of my peripheral vision I saw the side of the trailer. Jay yelled "hold on". Luckily, I was holding my son (imagine if he had been laying on that crib mattress). 

The trailer jack knifed and the force of it flipped the car upside down.  This happened so fast!!!!! We were NOT wearing seat belts. We lay crumpled among broken glass and I must have had a death grip on my child.  I remember people right outside the car telling me to hand my child out through the broken window and as I released him, he let out a wail and screamed his lungs out. Then they pulled me out. I remember a man saying "put her head lower than her feet"....I was probably going into shock. After a few minutes??  I got up and wandered over to a broken (formerly new) chair and sat on it in it's 3 legged state. All our stuff was scattered across a 4 lane highway ,(Rosie....you can probably relate)as the trailer burst it's seams.  My Kenmore washer bounced down the highway...and it went on to work for quite a few more yrs. None of us suffered more than a few scratches....miraculous...considering no seat belts.

I will never get over the fact that the towns people took such pity on this young couple that they paid for the cleanup, storage(until my husband could sift thru, repack, rent a truck and drive back to San Diego...my folks flew myself and their grandson home) AND our 1 night stay in a hotel room. Many years later, this is what I most remember...the kindness of strangers.

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

Hi Madeline,

I was pretty much back to normal in about 6 months, but I was a "little bit" younger.  I am noticing that as we get older, we don't seem to bouce back as fast, which is very frustrating.  I went to the gym and worked out the entire time I was in a cast.  I 'm sure that helped.  I'm sure you will feel back to normal in no time, but you may have to work a little harder at the PT.

Merrie, 

It sounds like you have a guardian angel watching over you as we did.  It was miraculous that ALL of you came out of it without injuries or permanent residual effects.  And the kindness of strangers -- people really show their goodness when someone is in need.  I know the folks who happened upon our accident laid out a blanket and started collecting our "stuff", which was a lot because we had just begun a month-long trip and there were 6 of us. Dennis even got his gun back!  There were too many other kindnesses to mention.  So glad you are still with us!

Gail Nisbet (Sutherland)

Rosalee May (Rosie) O'Day (Mason)

.Thanks to Rosie for allowing me (Paula Burkey Litchfield)  to slip in to your blog.  Congrats on a fabulous reunion--I loved both events--- and will steal all your fine ideas for our class of '65 reunion next year.

It was important to me to attend, not only to spy for our class of '65 committee, but to send you some info. about Bob (Litchfield)  in this blog forum, since he was on your list of unknown dates of death.   

Bob died in 2001 at City of Hope (a comprehensive cancer center in Duarte, by Pasadena) after two bone marrow transplants to cure him of nonhodgkins lymphona.   He fought the good fight for two and a half years the way many of you told me he played first base:  he gave it all he had!

Yes, it was indeed a brutal turn of events after 30 exciting, most happy  years of marriage.  But, this horror truly had many silver linings.   Bob lived every nanosecond of life fully and was constantly full of passions, vitality, ideas, and plans for a lifetime.   We have 2 beautiful daughters (Kate & Rosalind--Bob loved and taught Shakespeare) and now have 5 gg children.

Bob's life work was teaching (high school, community college, college) and I must brag that he was just the best.   Many former students are still in touch with me and often pay tribute to him for shaping their lives.

Also noteworthy is that Bob worked summers for the National Park Service in Glacier National Park, Montana, on their "bear management team".  (He use to quip that he thought they said "beer management" when they invited him to sign up! ) We loved those years.

After transitioning from the park service, Bob started taking high school students to Europe to see the best art museums in the world and also to hike the Alps.   

Bob's life was incomparably rich, albeit cruelly cut short in his prime.  He lives on in his students, his own children,  the hundred some trees he planted here in our Lakeside yard and his contagious passions and enthusiasm.     Carpe diem, friends.       Paula  (Burkey) Litchfield 

Gail Nisbet (Sutherland)

Terry Lee Maple

Bob Litchfield also lives on in the memories of his HHS teammates. We had an outstanding baseball team in 1964, Metro League Champions with only one league loss. Bob was the Most Valfuable Player on this team for his timely hitting and his flawless fielding. He was a modest, hardworking athlete who was appreciated by all of us. As the second baseman I played next to Bob in the field and enjoyed his steady demeanor and will to win. He was never intimidated by an opposing pitcher and his tenacious attiltude was inspiring to all of us. Because my sister-in-law taught with Bob and knew him well, I followed his career as an educator. He was truly outstanding at his craft and influenced a generation of young men and women. Bob Litchfield's story is one of the most significant achievements of an outstanding class. His legacy will last an eternity. It was wonderful to see you, Paula. Thank you for attending our reunion on behalf of your dear husband Bob.

Nancy Kennedy (Werber)

Message to Paula: I wish I would have known you were at the reunion, I would have loved to catch up.  Your parentsand my parents (Bill & Dorothy Kennedy) were good friends.  It has been so many years since we last saw them in Bonita.

Michele Ruth Walter

++++ from Bruce and I Paula

Bruce Wilson

Hi Paula

The strongest memory I have of Bob is that quirky little smile of his. I'm sure you saw it a lot. Your description of his life reminds me of my sister, who struggled quietly with type 1 diabetes her entire short life. My "tree production" has only been about half of Bob's, but I know what you're talking about.

Edit:

I've been trying to conjure up an  image of Bob without that smile. Unsuccessful so far. Help me out here, wasn't he always "Bobby" in junior & senior high school?

Bruce Wilson

OK, so I have the only M.D. from our class down as John Link. Two lawyers: Tom Hayes and Judy Peters. I know there are some dentists in the class (Mallinger, possibly Obershulte). There seem to be a lot of folks who are/were teachers in some fashion or other.

Any additions?

Michele and I were talking about the lack of money orientation when we were growing up. I hardly knew what anyone's parents did for a living and only a vague understanding of what my own father did.

My two brothers became attorneys and my sister was a very highly regarded school teacher. I kind of fell into the computer field and did reasonably well, such that I could retire early when my mom's health required it and not be overly concerned about money.

For fans of either pedal steel or the Grateful Dead that's Jerry playing pedal steel..

Christine Elaine (Kris) Hoover (Sweet)

I was also impressed by the number of our classmates who spend some of their time in various South American or African countries contibuting to the welfare of the people there. 

Jim Hawes

Bruce,

Steve Williams is also a dentist. Last I heard he was in Maui. I know Judy Peters was also with the San Marcos school district (Superintendent?), I saw her at a graduation ceremony at San Marcos High School years ago.

I have been impressed by all the class members that earned their PHD's AND all of the ones that became teachers. Hopefully some of the teachers had Mr. Rice and not Mr. Bookbinder! (Sorry Rosie!)

I would vote for keeping this site around for a while. Maybe some of the Lurkers (like myself earlier) will join in with comments about themselves and former classmates.

Cheers,

Jim Hawes

Treasa Struble (Skiles)

I, like Kris, am impressed with the many ways our class has contributed to the welfare of others. Volunteering in the inner city or traveling abroad  to emerging nations, our class has made its mark. Our compassion and energy are boundless. May it always be so.

Bruce Wilson

Treasa: You and Michele's mom (and I) agree.

Steve Williams and I took Swimming together at SDSC. He was a lifeguard at OB, before becoming a dentist. The last time I saw him was at the 1984 reunion and at the time he was living in Point Loma. I haven't heard a peep from him since.

Do folks recall, that back in the day, recreation classes were required in college. Besides Swimming I took Track and Field (got to throw a javelin, no pole vaulting). Dr. Kasch, a pioneer in  touting aerobic exerecise's benefits, required that, in order to pass, one had to run 12 (twelve) minutes without stopping at any pace. I found it hard to do.

Sadly, Dr. Kasch died April 8, 2008, at age 94. He was Professor Emeritus at San Diego State University and a pioneer in heart rehabilitation, physical fitness and exercise physiology.

( - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/utsandiego/obituary.aspx?n=frederick-w-kasch&pid=111627774#sthash.xmrBuurj.dpuf)

Andie (Joan) Ault (Harvey)

Judy Peters Ruzich was an award-winning counselor at San Marcos High School, now retired.

Gail Eileen Dillon (Boone)

To Bruce and others, I think Brad Neal is also an M.D.