THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2006-7 OF JULY 1, 2006

Hello Hornets!

Here are some items that might be of interest:

1.  CLASS OF 66 REUNION PLANS.  The Class of 66 is finalizing its 40th Reunion plans for the weekend of September 29 - October, 2006.  The reunion dinner/dance will be on September 30, 2006 at the Solomon's Holiday Inn.  Please contact Norman Myers at normjr@md.metrocast.net if you have any information on Class of 66 grads or their family members.  (The Class also has a website site at www.surratts66.com where you can update your contact information and get more information about the reunion plans).

2.  FOUND RING SPURS OTHER THOUGHTS.  In response to the still-unclaimed Class of 71 ring found in an elementary school playground in Heidelberg Germany, I received these other emails:

"Hey Henry:  I was reading about the lost class rings and thought I would write a short note on mine.  It was lost in Civista Hospital many years ago, but I just thought I would ask.  It has the green flat stone with an S under it, 73 on the side and my name inside it.  If anybody hears anything on it I would very much appreciate the info. Thanks gang, Debbie Watson IODINE13@aol.com."

"Dear Henry:  I have great interest in the story of the lost Hornet insignia ring.  Mine too, has gotten away from me, and although I initially knew where it went, I feel it may be lying in a swamp in South Vietnam, but do not know for certain. At any rate, if it should ever turn up, it has the blue stone with the crest, and the PAB initials inside. It is from the grad year1968. For some reason I find I have been thinking of it often lately. Sincere regards, Pamela Buckingham (68), pabuckingham@planet-save.com"

3.  UPDATE ON SURRATTSTOCK MUSICIAN'S PERFORMANCE IN ITALY.  As previously reported, Surrattstock performer Don Stapleson (72) recently led workshops and performed solo and with ensembles at the Alba, Italy Music Festival.  The Festival has a link at  http://www.albamusicfestival.com, with Don featured blowing sax in the upper left corner of the front page!  We've also added that great photo to the Photos page of the Foundation's web site at www.surrattsville.org.  Congratulations to Don on these great international experiences!

4. ... AND SPEAKING OF SURRATTSTOCK PERFORMERS.  Surrattstock performers Ray Gibb (72), Richard Clifton (72), John Previti (72), Roger Owens (73), Reggie Graham (72) and Tom Maddox (72) performed at the Colony South Hotel over the June 9 and 10 weekend.  A number of Hornets were in attendance to enjoy this reunion of very talented Surrattsville musicians.

4.  WPGC LEGEND LIVES ON/CLINTON HISTORY INFO. The Foundation's unofficial internet spotter, Wayne Tatum (74), sent these web links that might be of interest to you history buffs out there.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPGC_(AM), and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton%2C_Maryland.

5.  TANGLEWOOD MEMORIES (AND PHOTOS).  For some time, we've featured some interior photos of Tanglewood Elementary on the web site at www.surrattsville.org.  Thanks to Charlie Rodgers (70), there's now an additional, exterior shot of Tanglewood on the site.  Charlie also shared these sweet memories of a simpler time: "Henry:  I appreciate the photographs of Tanglewood's interior on the web site. A few years back I took this photo of the playground area.  We were still attending the school when the playground equipment in the far back was installed.  None of the basketball hoops in this photo were there when we were.  There were two 7 foot high baskets that even we could stuff.  The softball field is out of view here.  There was a backstop to the far left.  Tanglewood was the center of our neighborhood pickup sports.  We likely spent more time at the school playing sports than during our six years of actual elementary school attendance.
In college I wrote a cultural anthropology paper about our culture of pickup sports over the years. How the culture changed from our trying to make the the tough decisions at to whether we would play professional baseball or football, to years later just trying to make time from our family, wife, and kids to play a single game during Thanksgiving break when most of our childhood friends would return home from across the country. We would head home, drop our books (and homework!) and go right back up to the school to play softball, football, or basketball.  One family of softball pitchers holds a unique record.  Wayne, Harvey and Larry Mullings were pitchers in our summer playground games.  Over a span of eight or so years I saw each of them throw a wild pitch that cleared the backstop. I believe Wayne was of the Surrattsville class of 1964?  Harvey was in the class of 1969. Larry was likely in the class of 1973?  Charlie"
 
6.  FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR the 50-10 CROWD.  This interesting article by Norman Carmichael (65) recently appeared in the Columbus Dispatch on June 24, 2006.  I'm sure many of us can relate! 

"Numbering comes of age for 50-plus or -minus:

Ive never really worried about my age.  It has always just seemed to fit.  And the guy looking back at me from the mirror doesnt scare me.  I was OK with reaching 40 and even 50, never bemoaning or lamenting my advancing age as so many people seem to or, at least, as the milestone birthday cards tell us we should.  Both were so innocuous that I didnt mind them.

With 60 in sight now, I admit feeling some trepidation.  I mean, when you hear a news announcer say, So-and-so, a 60-yearold driver from . . . ," you dont think of a sharp, vibrant, active person, do you?  Of course you dont.  I was discussing the matter with my son the other day when his wife, in the background, came up with a perfect solution for those baby boomers who are readjusting their views of themselves. "He is not going to be 60," she said plainly. "He is going to be 50-10."  Brilliant, isnt it?

Like the French system of numbering, which uses 60 as a base for the two decades after (75 isnt 75; its soixantedix-cinq, or 60-15), this idea uses a convenient base one with which most people in my generation are comfortable.  Forget the "50 is the new 40" malarkey. Most of us were just fine with 50 being 50.  Yet 60 is a different animal.

Now, we neednt worry: We can be 50-10, 50-12, even 50-25 without crossing into 60 territory.  What a psychological breakthrough!  Given that were living longer, more healthful lives, such a numbering system makes sense.  But why stop there?  I am fortunate enough to have an excellent general practitioner who helps me take good care of myself.  The problem: He is much younger than I am almost too much younger.  With a new 50-plus system, he becomes, instead of 44 (a guess), 50-minus-6.  Wonderful, huh?

He and I are on the same base line. How delicious: no more old fogies or young upstarts.  After 39 (there must be some progression toward 50, or our kids will live with us forever), we all become 50-somethings.  Whether the "something" is a positive or negative number is irrelevant.  Were all the same age kind of.

My sons, ages 32 and 28, will keep counting upward until they hit 40, when they will be my age sort of.  Cant you envision how neat that will be?  Members of Congress are always looking for headlinegrabbing causes, especially ones that affect a large and voterfilled demographic such as boomers.  Marriage and flag-burning amendments seem to have fallen flat, creating as much, or more, anger as they do support.  Prohibition upset more people than it excited.  And how can English be the official language when even those who use it dont speak it very "good"?

This cause, though, would have few opponents.  A constitutional amendment changing how we number ages would pass Congress and two thirds of the state legislatures in record time.  You know it would.  So Im starting my campaign right away.

After my nap."


I hope you're all having a great start to your Summers!

All the best, Henry Smith (71), hsmith@smithdowney.com


IN MEMORIAM

WALT TATUM (70) passed away on June 17 in Hansville, Washington.   He had a kidney transplant in the mid-nineties, suffered from health problems in recent years, and died of congestive heart failure.  He is survived by his son Brad, ex-wife Cheryl, and the Tatum clan: Madeline, Bill, Wayne and Susan, and mother Beverly Simpson.  Walt worked as a contractor for home construction and owner of Tatum Construction and Enterprises in Alaska. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, guitar playing and the Alaskan outdoors. He also enjoyed spending time with his friends in Alaska.  Memorial donations should be made to the Northwest Kidney Centers Foundation.

GLENN MARTIN (76)  passed away on June 29, 2006 in a work accident.  He is survived by his wife Stephanie Wood Martin (74), his sister Laurie Martin Roberts (74), and other family members.  Glenn was a great supporter of, and volunteer at, Foundation activities.  On Thursday, July 6, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., there will be viewings at the Lee Funeral Home in Calvert County, MD.  On Friday, July 7, at 10 a.m., there will be a service at Lee Funeral Home in Calvert County, MD.  On Friday, July 7, at 5 p.m., there will be an internment in Kilmarnick, VA.  The family may be contacted through Laurie at robertsla@saic.com.



MANY THANKS TO THESE 2006 CAMPAIGN DONORS!

Steve Profilet (71)
Carol Tisdale Whitsell (64), In loving memory of her sister Jeanne Tisdale Burke
Vivian Bounds Edelen (Faculty, 1938-1942)
Robert Brewer (67)
Henry Smith (71)
Donna Rae Smith (70)
Bill Harris (71)
Patricia Becker Oles (71)
Linda Dorsey Blum (66)