From Bill Biggs (11-22-2011): My daughter was selected as the Kansas Teacher of the Year. She will spend the next year representing Kansas at national events, visit the President and Congress - big deal regardless of political views, visit and tour the Houston Space Center, and compete in the National Teacher of the Year competition. She received a $4,000 check, a ring from Jostens, a rental car plus gas to use in "official" business, and a lifetime payment for 11 hours per semester at any college/university of her choice. Her husband is starting a new business and is gone much of the time. Martha and I as grandparents will assume many of the responsibilities for helping with the grandkids. - Bill
From Marcia Lankford (11-5-2011: I just want to thank you all for the great SMN Memory Book. I've spent hours going through it, and it's almost made up for my having to miss the reunion. Beautifully done, and killer nostalgia. Best of everything to you all. - Marcia Lankford
From Charlene Hanusch (10-3-2011): WHAT A WEEKEND!!! (Our 50-Year Class Reunion) 2 hour time change is tough on this old lady -- BUT, the weekend was worth it! Friday night we had our Family Reunion (so didn't get to the "Fancy One" one in Lee's Summit). The Weather was PERFECT! Sunny, no rain, and in the 70's all weekend !!! Saturday Noon, Nancy Kirchhoff had invited about a dozen to a lunch at Cheesecake Factory in the Plaza. I walked in and found the whole group -- and they paid me the biggest compliment "Hey, Charlene's here!" You see, so many had changed I had trouble recognizing them, but apparently they knew this and introduced me to everyone (with maiden names, of course). Terry Dyke moved people around so he could sit by me with his wife across and Judy Grohne on the end -- with Carolee Large on the other side of me. (Recognize those names?). Linda Musser was there also. The Evening Reunion was one of the best for location (IN Mission!) and room for so many people! AND, I wore my Pep Jacket (with lots of compliments) as did Bernice Wigglesworth! For the "class picture" I took mine off and held the front side and Bernice held the back side while we stood in the front row! For the buffet dinner, Carolyn Turner (and her hubby) saved me a place with Nancy Kirchhoff on my other side, (since we were at opposite ends at the luncheon.) The old brain did fairly well recognizing familiar faces (ignoring the white and gray hair). Jim Crossen opened with typical Jim Crossen comments. AND, since he had been president of Pep Club, we all sang the Shawnee Mission North Song! (I actually danced with him later, since we had grown up together at Trinity Church). Also danced with Terry Dyke, Mat Haug, Bill ?, and a couple others. Mat is an incredible dancer -- he and his wife were stand-outs whenever they took the floor. My best experience was when I walked over to Connie Hartner (who was greeting her long ago neighbor, Lois Croskey) -- and she grabbed me and hugged me! You see, we spent 6 years in grade school as bosom buddies and rode the public bus to and from school (1/2 hour each way). Marcia Lankford, one of my close friends, was on the list but did not show up. (BUT, I do have her e-mail address!) But everyone was SO SUPER FRIENDLY, whether I remembered them or not! (As soon as I send this, I'll remember a whole bunch of others and their stories -- you know how that is.) The Memory Book is stupendous! There were SO many people there I really didn't get to "do all the rounds" as I had at the 45th. Until then, "Proud and brave our Alma Mater, Shawnee Mission NORTH!" - Charlene
From Bill Biggs (9-18-11): Just returned from a banquet honoring the Kansas Teacher of the Year Region 3. My daughter, Tiffany, was selected as secondary teacher of the year. The district includes Douglas, Johnson and Wyandotte counties. Two years ago my wife, Martha, was a semi finalist for the region. - Bill
From John Evans (8-18-11): I will be attending my first ever reunion and I am excited to see everyone. - John
From Roberta Hinckle (8-16-11): I so wish I could attend (the 50-year reunion)...my husband is quite ill and so I won't be able to see everyone. I will be thinking of all of you and plan on ordering the memory book. Best wishes for a successful reunion. - Roberta
From Jim Evans (8-2-11): Sorry that I have been hard to keep up with, but I traveled around the world several times with the Air Force for 35 years, and then worked for Mascot Oil (SUNOCO) for 15 years. I liked San Antonio Texas the best as I traveled, and my wife did also. I told her when it came to retirement I would hang my hat wherever she wanted, and it was San Antonio, Texas. - Jim
(6-5-2011): Following are thoughts from some of our classmates regarding the passing of our fellow Classmate John Sulley:
* When I first moved to Kansas City at age 3 when my father returned from the war, My family lived directly across the street from John. He was literally my closest friend in those days. Even thought we both moved, we stayed close and car pooled all through high school. Since he was a year older (barely- Dec 12th), he could drive before others and we rode every where in his fabulous 53 Studebaker during our sophomore year. We traded a few e-mails recently, one about the 50th reunion. I knew his health wasn't good but am still in disbelief and expected to see him this summer and at the reunion. For me, this is a big loss. -Bill Gradinger
* We all share in John's passing. May John rest in peace and his family come together to celebrate his life. -Joyce Whitfill (Caven)
* I am deeply sadened by his death. I have been in contact with him for about 2 years and was so looking foreward to seeing him and his wife in September. I do still plan on coming to the reunion. -Ciana Buckmaster
* I am saddened, shocked, and reminded how brief this life on earth for all of us. In sorrow and hope -Sue Sparlin
* Damn. Speechless. Very sad. -Kirk Dyer
* I have so enjoyed his e-mails which mostly reminded me of our childhood. I am so sorry. -Diane Hunt (Kinlund)
* It seems only a week or ten days back John was expressing joy over the arrival of their first grandchild. They waited a long time for that baby; it is tragic John had so little time with the baby. John's legacy will endure. I can't get over thinking about that baby, and the fun John would have... -Bruce Younger
* Gail and I are so sorry John has passed......altho, new vigor, body, life....May he be celebrating new life... Please pass along to his family how special he was to the class of 1961 -Betsy LaFollette & Gail Snyder
* John was dealt a different hand... played it pretty damned good, and wore his courage well. Johnny... we all had GREAT respect for ya - ya never gave up...... never. -Tom Dailey
* I'm very sorry to hear about John's death. 'what a shock. Nina and I are thinking of attending the 50th reunion, very good chance that we will. -Mat Haug
From Carolee Large (3-11-2011): I lived in Fort Worth from graduation until 18 months ago, when I moved to Weatherford. I went to TCU, married, had two great kids (aren't they all?), taught school and was school librarian for a total of 32 years, divorced, worked for James Avery, a Texas handcrafted jewelry company, and re-retired a year ago. Weatherford reminds me a bit of Mission when we were growing up--a small town on the move, close to the city but not too close. I really look forward to the reunion in September! Hope to see you all then--and maybe hear from some of you before. - Carolee
From Kirk Dyer (3-9-2011): A jolt to hear this (Gary Bates passing). Gary Bates and I grew up on the same street, Rosewood, in Roeland Park. Went kindergarten through SMN graduation as pals. Bill Cook lived on the next street over, Burch, Percival, Nolder, all nearby. I still drive the neighborhood when I visit K.C. There's a photo in our study of Gary, my father, and another kid, Dave Rollert, all sitting on go-karts in our driveway, circa 1959. After high school, Gary enlisted in the Air Force and I joined the Army. We wrote back and forth for a few years but it drifted off. Saw each other for the last time at the SMN 20th reunion gathering. Gabbed about motorcycles, military, families, etc. About a week ago I thought I should begin looking up high school chums I haven't talked to in decades and just say hello... I didn't do it... I should have. - Kirk
From Jody Richardson (3-4-2011): Thanks for contacting me and sending those photographs (link to our class web site). It was wonderful to see everyone. Hope to see everyone later this year. - Jody
From Donald Knowles (2-28-2011): You may or may not remember me (Don Knowles). I attended Roseland Grade School, Old Mission Junior High School, and one year at SMN before my father was transferred to Tampa, FL with TWA. I spent my last two years of high school at Clearwater High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Germany for 2 1/2 years. Started St. Petersburg Junior College and was hired by TWA in 1964. Have worked in the cities of Las Vegas, Denver, St. Louis, Tampa, Charlotte, Kansas City and am now working for American Airlines here in Orlando, FL. I also work at Walt Disney World (Disney's Magical Express & Disney Cruise Line) at the Orlando International Airport, and if anyone is down this way, please give me a call, it would be great to see you. Found the web site and have been reading and viewing the pictures; and it brings back a lot of memories. Have been to a couple of Clearwater High's reunions and most of those classmates all went to grade school, junior high school and high school together; so other than a few close friends, it's kind of a drag attending those reunions. Would love to attend the SMN-1961 50th reunion and see a lot of the folks that I went to school with over the years. I know it's still months away, and not sure what my work schedule will be, but will try and get a few days off and head that way. Please keep me updated on the reunion plans, and please pass along my best wishes to all..... - Don Knowles
From Kay Alexander (1-18-2011): I attended the 10-year reunion. Then I was divorced and remarried so with my new name I got lost from the reunion lists. I live in Largo, Florida and have been here since 1978. I just retired in June after teaching for over 40 years in Kansas, New Jersey, and Florida. I taught in Grades 3-6 and in the last 10 years have been a Technology Coordinator in an elementary school here. I have 2 sons and Charles has a daughter. Between us we have 7 grandchildren. Charles is retired from the Pinellas Co., Florida, Water System. Please add my name and information to your reunion list. My husband and I will definitely be there. I'm excited about attending. Now that I've retired, we can travel at that time of the year! I've attached a picture of the two of us in our front yard. - Kay
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