THIS IS SURRATTS FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2010-4 OF APRIL 1, 2010

Hello Hornets:

Here are some items that might be of interest:

1.  TICKETS SELLING BRISKLY FOR ALL OF THE 2010 ALL CLASSES/FACULTY/STAFF EVENTS!  As previously reported, tickets are on sale for all three of the June 2010 All Classes/Faculty/Staff events.

The events are: (a) the Golf Outing to be held Friday June 25, 2010 starting at 9 a.m. at the Eisenhower Golf Course in Crownsville; (b) Surrattstock III to be held Friday evening June 25, 2010 from 6 to 11 p.m.; and (c) the All Classes/Faculty/Staff School Open House and BYOP Picnic to be held Saturday June 26, 2010 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Golf Outing tickets, which include the outing itself, a subsequent free round of golf at Eisenhower, and food and drinks, are a very reasonable $67.  Tickets for Surrattstock III are a mere $5 (definitely cheaper than Teen Club after factoring in inflation!), and tickets to the Open House and Picnic are $10, with guests under 18 free to Surrattstock III and the Open House/Picnic.

Unlike the Open Houses/Picnics held in 2000 and 2005, we won't be including food and drink in the $10 Open House and Picnic ticket price, so the 2010 Picnic will be BYOP (and we're hoping to have food and drink vendors on site selling their stuff -- more on that later).  Also, we're delighted to report that once again we'll be running shuttle buses from the School to the "Old School" (the building at Brandywine and Surratts Road) which will be open for tours to those of who have great memories from that old building.

There are two ways to buy your tickets.  First, you may send a check by mail using the form pasted below.  Second, you may purchase tickets on the Foundation's web site, at the "Events" button, at www.surrattsville.org.  Here's how you do that: 

a.  Go to surrattsville.org

b.  Click on "Events"

c.  Find the event you wish to attend (i.e., "Golf Outing," "2010 All Class Reunion" or "Surrattstock III"), and click on that event.

d.  Click on "Pay Now"

e.  Fill-in the information on the Pay Now page and click on "Review Order and Continue."  IMPORTANT NOTE TO THE LADIES: WHEN YOU COMPLETE THE FIRST NAME BLOCK, PLEASE TYPE IN YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAMES WHILE AT SURRATTSVILLE.  THAT WAY, FOR NAME BADGE PURPOSES, WHEN YOUR NAME COMES THROUGH THE SYSTEM, WE'LL HAVE YOUR CURRENT LAST NAME AND THE LAST NAME YOUR CLASSMATES WILL RECOGNIZE.

f.  IMPORTANT:  On the "Review Your Payment" section, again for name badge purposes, in the box called "Add Special Instructions to Seller," please type in your graduation year, or you years on the faculty/staff.

g.  Click on the "Complete Purchase" button.

h.  Check your email,  where you will find a receipt for your purchase.  Please print this off and bring it to the event.  This receipt is your entry ticket.

 
(Note that you'll need to repeat the above for each event you wish to attend, and for each person from your group attending each event.) 

[Ed. Note: Please don't forget to check in with your Class ORC to learn about any Class-specific event for your Class being held during the June 25 - June 27, 2010 weekend.  ORCs are listed on the "Classes" page on the web site at surrattsville.org.]

2.  GOLF OUTING DETAILS.  Here are some details from our Golf Outing co-chairs about the June 25 Foundation Golf Outing:    Eisenhower Golf Course, Crownsville, MD.  There will be a 9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start, Captain=s Choice (scramble).  $67 per person includes golf and cart, range balls, prizes and food and drinks at the awards reception immediately following the golf.  In addition, every golfer will receive free greens fees for a future round of golf at Eisenhower.  This event is open to Surrattsville alumni, family and friends.  Register your own foursome or sign up as an individual.  Payment can be made online on the Foundation's web site at www.surrattsville.org or by mail using the ticket order form below.  Any questions can be emailed directly to Alan Johnson (72) (ajohnson@DCHweb.org) or Lauren Foley (74) (Lmfriley@comcast.net). 

Many thanks to Alan and Lauren for all their hard work in putting together this great event! 

3.  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SURRATTSTOCK III.  If you're planning to attend Surrattstock III on Friday June 25, and you'd be willing to donate a half-hour of your time to assist with the ticket table or the refreshment table, please send an email to the Surrattstock III coordinator, Stacey Fowler (87), at sfowler2@susangage.com. 

4.  GREAT MEMORIES OF FACULTY MENTOR.  We received this great email from Connie Ammann Rubin (72) in response to an item in last month's e-Notice:  "Hey Henry!  I loved seeing the message from Mr. Rank.  He was my homeroom teacher and was instrumental in getting me in the Job Problems class so that I could work half days.  I didn=t have a worker=s permit at the time and he took it on himself to take me to get one.  When we were returning to the school, we took a side trip to Hyde Field and he took me for a short spin in the plane.  I owe so much to that man and his buddy, Mr. Salvio, who led the yearbook staff.   If you have his email, would you let him know he is thought of often.   Thanks, Connie"  

5.  ... AND SPEAKING OF HYDE FIELD.  We received this interesting email from Tom Goodall (65):  "Henry:  Here is another site you may or may not have seen about Hyde Field.  Not being a native of southern Prince George's County, I really didn't have a lot to do with the Clinton area other than go to school there.  (Don't get me wrong, I loved it at Surrattsville, Schulers, the Ranch Drive-In and lots of other unforgettable memories, yada, yada, yada, but you know, the car always went the other direction on Route 5 most of the time).  Dad was a Naval Officer and we did a lot of traveling around the globe, but his final years in the service were spent in the D.C. area and we finally settled down in Camp Springs just outside Andrews AFB. I went through my junior and senior high school years at Surrattsville and learned that Hyde Field was close, but I didn't have any other affiliation to the airfield other than its proximity to the two schools. I've read your monthly newsletters and realized that Hyde Field was a "big deal" to the area and wanted to share this site with you and other interested readers.  Click on http://www.airfields-freeman.com/index.htm and click on Maryland.  Then click on Southern Prince George's County Airfields and you'll find a font of info about Hyde Field with photos and a lot of other interesting things. Best regards!  Tom" 

6.  MORE MEMORIES OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND.  Here's another interesting article from the series in the St. Mary's County Times written by Foundation Historian and Archivist, Shelby Lee Oppermann (79):   

"Archie Daze," by Shelby Oppermann.  I can=t believe it! Archie Andrews has finally proposed to someone after 65 years B and it=s Veronica, not Betty. How could this happen? Archie is choosing financial security over loyalty.  After all, Archie has had a hard time holding down jobs. Does the economy affect the world of comic book stars? This probably doesn=t mean much in the scheme of things, but as I was listening to this breaking news on NPR, I felt the urge to go buy an Archie comic. I guess that was the point. Hearing all this brought back warm memories of sitting curled up on my bed or under a tree enjoying every word and picture. Comic books, Slurpees and transistor radios were wonderful childhood summertime joys.

NPR did a funny little skit on the proposal event with Archie telling Veronica, @I know you=ve waited 65 years for this proposal, but may I tell you that you don=t look a day over 16.@ Veronica replied, AArchie, does this mean you=ll finally quit singing that song, @Sugar, Sugar@ after we are married?@ In the background, you could hear Betty screaming from outside the jewelry store window, AArchie, NOOOO!@ Archiecomics.com even has a blog for all of the Riverdale residents in the series.  Veronica is ARonnie@ on her blog.

Not that I have actually read a comic book in almost 40 years, but I loved them as a child, and had a huge collection. It helped that I grew up less than 3 mile from a 7/11 store. I had my almost daily trek by bike or foot to get a Slurpee, hotdog or candy.  The highlight was picking out which comics to get: Archie, The Fantastic Four, Batman or all.  At that time you could even buy albums at 7/11=s.  My first two albums were Mungo Jerry and Thoroughly Modern Millie. I wish I had saved some of those comics, but I gave them all away as prizes at my little (side yard instead of back yard) MDA carnival. Remember those.  It took several trips in my radio flyer wagon to bring all the comic books over to our extra lot.  (You might know that now as Joe=s El Rancho=s parking lot in Clinton).  I just looked the carnivals up for fun to see if they still promote them.  And, lo and behold, on the MDA news site there is an article titled AReturn of  rite of Summer B backyard carnivals@.  All the games I remember were there.  Even though they send you a carnival packet, it was encouraged that you use what games, sports equipment, and toys you had around the house. I even used the landscape. I can recall a tree that had this low, strong branch that I told kids they could ride up and down on. 25 cents a ride. What a great thing it was for kids to think up new ways to utilize old stuff. We were recycling then and didn=t know it. Well, you could also get 5 cents back on every Coke or Grape Nehi bottle then too. 

Somebody somewhere in Maryland is listing my old comics on EBay right now. Once in a while I think, ABoy, I wish I had those comics still. They must be worth quite a bit of money now.@ But, then I think I did the right thing by having the carnival. I was trained to give toys away.  I woke up one Saturday morning to find my Father walking across the street to our neighbor=s house pulling my wagon filled with toys and games. It was quite a shock to a little kid. But, Daddy, in his calm way explained that the couple=s grandkids didn=t have many toys, and would enjoy these so much.  You didn=t argue with Daddy, he was just practical, and was not one to put much stock in possessions.

Both my sons enjoyed comic books, and we would have fun finding comic book stores to explore.  I was a mean Mother, and didn=t allow video games.  They were so deprived.  My Mother, Grandma Dearest, bought them Nintendo 64, but I wouldn=t allow them to bring it home.  They had to play it at Grandma=s.  She was wicked in her way. A trip to Grandma=s by themselves for the weekend meant trips to 7/11 for donuts, candy, a stop on the way back for spaghetti makings at Nick=s, and then a stop at Shuler=s Restaurant to get some lottery tickets.  Then back at her house it was hi-test coffee, Nintendo, and five dogs.  What more could a kid want? It seemed normal to them. 

I really hope that Archie reconsiders and proposes to Betty instead.  He=s just going to get hurt with Veronica.  Can he really only want beauty queen looks, money, and shallow conversation B in other words be a kept man?  I just heard an answer for that question from the other room.  I think I need a security blanket and an old comic to curl up with.

To each new day=s adventure, Shelby.  Please send comments or ideas to: Shelbys.wanderings@yahoo.com

[Ed. Note:  I'd forgotten all about those back yard MDA carnivals!]  

7.  SEEKING LOST HORNET.   Debbie Small Smith (82) is trying to locate classmate Roland Lee.  Please contact Debbie at Debbie.Smith@mail.house.gov if you have any information that might be helpful.

 
8. CLASS OF 60 TO HOLD FIFTIETH REUNION.  The class of 1960 will be holding their 50th Class Reunion at the Holiday Inn in Solomons, MD on Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 6 pm to 10 pm.   Contacts are:  Dick Wildes, 301‑373‑5858, buffalodick@md.metrocast.net; Becky Moyle Hintze and Benson Perrie, 301‑475‑0132; and Diane Kirchmer Black, 301‑392‑0992. 

9.  COMPUTERS NEEDED FOR SCHOOL.  As many of our readers will recall, when the Foundation was first established, our first big project was to arrange for the donation to the School of over $250,000 worth of computer equipment.  Ten years have passed, and that equipment is now obsolete or at the end of its useful life.  Therefore, we have started a second drive to acquire computers (and related peripherals) for the School.  If you have contacts at any employer or other organization that donates "gently used" computers to non-profits, please contact me at hsmith@smithdowney.com.

Note to federal government employees:  many federal government agencies have little-known programs for the donation of "gently used" computers to 501(c)(3) entities like the Foundation.  If you are a federal government employee, please consider asking around at work to see if your agency could make a contribution toward this very important Foundation initiative.

10.  BOOMERANGS AVAILABLE.   The Foundation has a limited supply of yearbooks from 1991, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.  If you'd like one of these yearbooks (which are available for $15 including shipping and handling), please send me an email to hsmith@smithdowney.com.

11.  POSSIBLE 80/81 REUNION.  The Classes of 80 and 81 are planning a possible reunion for June 2011.  They need a contact person for the Class of 80.  Please contact Teresa Blandford Pepper at teresa@dlpinc.net to provide contact info.

12.  CLASSES OF 69-74 REUNION.  The Classes of 69-74 are holding a multi-Class dinner dance event, at the Ft. Belvoir Officer's Club, on the Saturday evening of the All Classes/Faculty/Staff events (June 26, 2010).  Please contact Leslie St. Clair (70), ASAP, at lesliestclair@yahoo.com if you would like to purchase tickets. 

(Class of 69-74 members also should check-in with their Class ORCs -- listed on the Foundation's web site at www.surrattsville.org at the "Classes" button -- for information on any other Class-specific events happening during that weekend.)

Because of an impending deadline, please contact Leslie immediately if you'd like to purchase a ticket to the great event at Ft. Belvoir.

13.  COMBINED 60-65 EVENT.  We received this update from Class of 62 ORCs Len Owens and Jerry Spence: "The Classes of 60‑65 are working on a Combined Classes 60‑65 Reunion with events on Saturday evening (dinner) June 26, 2010 and Sunday afternoon (picnic) June 27, 2010.  Locations still to be determined.  Please contact your Official Reunion Contact (contact info is on the "Classes" page of the web site at www.surrattsville.org) for more information.  Best Wishes, Len and Jerry"

14.  SURRATTS FACEBOOK PRESENCE UPDATE.  The "Surrattsville Alumni" Group on Facebook has over 1100 members, and the various Class-specific Groups are growing, as well.   (For example, a "Surrattsville 1973" Group was started recently.)  Please consider joining these free on-line communities as a way to keep in touch and to stay informed.

15.  ACHIEVEMENT AWARD NOMINEES SOUGHT.  This is the time of year when the Foundation Board seeks nominees for the Foundation's annual Achievement Awards.  Photos and bios of past years' absolutely outstanding Achievement Award recipients can be found on the Foundation's web site at http://www.surrattsville.org/achievement/index.shtml.  If you know of a member of the Surrattsville community who you would like to nominate for a 2010 Award, please send me an email at hsmith@smithdowney.com.

16.  CLASSES FROM 75-85 ERA PLAN JOINT REUNION EVENT.  We received this announcement from Evan Vutsinas, the Class of 76 ORC: "Hornets:  We hope ALL Hornets are planning to be in town for the All Classes Reunion in June. For those SHS classes that haven't already planned a Saturday evening, June 26th, event for their group, we have an exciting opportunity to offer. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball team is working with many of the ORC's from the classes of '75 ‑ '85 (but ALL uncommitted SHS classes are also WELCOME to join in!).  The entry fee of $20.00 per person for the Crabs' game vs. Somerset on Saturday 6/26 will pay for  parking, a general admission game ticket to the Picnic/Party area AND a 2 hour ‑ unlimited dinner buffet including soft drinks. The gates open at 5:35PM and the first pitch will be about 6:30PM.  Many of the Class ORC's listed below are also working together to include draft beer in the $20.00 per person fee. What a deal!!! 

In addition, members of the SHS family will be throwing out the first pitch and other members will be singing the National Anthem. The SHS Class that sells the most tickets will also be invited to select a few members to take (throw?) batting practice with the Blue Crabs! If you are an ORC for your SHS class and would like your class to join in this fabulous opportunity, contact Cindy Shelton Ryan, '75; Evan Vutsinas, '76; or Debbie O'Clair MacKenzie, '84 for further details. The SHS Classes that have already committed to participate in this awesome event are listed by ORC below.  Join us!

Cindy Shelton Ryan, '75  cshel855@comcast.net
Evan Vutsinas, '76  EVTiger@comcast.net
Teri Pepper Dimsey, '77
Mike Anderson, '77
Jeanne Hoffman LaRoque, '78
Marilynda Macquade, '79
Teresa Blandford Pepper, '80 & '81
Karen Keys LeValley, '81
(Still searching for '82)
Becky DelVillar Levin, '83
Gary Stallings, '84
Debbie O'Clair MacKenzie, '84  debbiemackenzie45@yahoo.com
MaryBeth Klick, '85
Cyndi Baker Fraley, '85

Here's how to order and pay for YOUR tickets!

 
1. Go to the Blue Crabs website at www.somdbluecrabs.com

2. Click the AGroups Log In Here@ button, which is located on the left hand side of the homepage, about 2/3 of the way down in a big box by itself.

3. Enter your login code, which will be ASHS@ and the last two digits of your graduating year.

a. For example, the graduating class of 1976 would have a login code of: SHS76. (case sensitive)

4. Click ABUY@, enter the number of seats you wish to purchase, and then click the ABUY TICKETS@ button.

5. Click AConfirm Order@ and set up an online account when prompted to do so.

We have confirmed that Coach Lew Jenkins and Mike Cady will be on hand to throw out the first pitch and we have also offered to RC Green, Marie Grouby and Margaret Harris.  If you have any questions about your class joining in, send me an e-mail:  EVTiger@comcast.net"  

17.  ORC GROUP ON FACEBOOK.  Thanks to 76 ORC Evan Vutsinas, a Facebook Group for the Official Reunion Contacts from each Class has been established.  Please send Evan an email at EVTiger@comcast.net if you are an ORC and you haven't joined this Facebook Group.  Or, go to  "Surrattsville HS Class ORC's" on Facebook and enter a request to join.  Evan asks that, when you put in the request, be sure to tell him specifically what SHS Class year you represent.

Thanks to Evan for establishing this convenient means for the ORCs to compare notes and share ideas.
18.  UPDATE ON A HORNET WORLD TRAVELER.   A number of our readers have been following the adventures of Rix Mills (62) over the last several years.  We're happy to report that Rix is out of harm's way after a lengthy term of work in Afghanistan, but as you'll see from this recent note we received, Rix still seems to have a nose for finding the "interesting" spots on the globe:  "Henry:  Just a note to say that I am alive and well in southern Chile after the rather devastating 8.8 degree earthquake here on Saturday morning.  The epicenter was about 350 miles to the north of where I live in Puerto Montt which suffered about a 5 degree series of shocks.  I live on the 10th floor of a new apartment building and we had a lot of rocking and rolling from the shockwaves and aftershocks but fortunately no damage other than frazzled nerves.  I was here during a similar magnatude earthquake in 1960 and that memory was upmost in my mind, especially being in an untested 17 story building overlooking the city.  I don't think that this is what I had in mind when I returned from Kandahar, Afghanistan in September!  But, I have never shied away from danger, obviously, and seem to have the luck of the Irish on my side at least.  Rix"

[Ed Note:  The earthquake caused Rix to be unable to fly to Memphis for his Dad's 90^th birthday.  Happy 90^th from the Surrattsville community to Rix's Dad!]

19.  YOU HAD TO HAVE BEEN THERE,  ACCOKEEK STYLE.  Just when one thinks Accokeek can't get any more famous, one receives an exchange like this one from Dana Shifflett (70):  "Henry - An e-mail exchange between my brother Steve and me:

>From Steve to Dana:  "Dana:  Next time you find yourself with too much free time on your hands, google "accokeek + holy grail" and be prepared to be entertained, if not enlightened.  This link pops up, among others: http://www.ourstrangeworld.net/index.php/main/article/guardians_of_the_grail/. 

The Wikipedia entry for "holy grail" also mentions the Accokeek angle (?!?), as well as the competing legend that the grail is stashed away somewhere in southern Minnesota.  If the locals don't know where it's been stashed, it's probably because it is hidden in plain sight, in the beer cooler at the back of Keller's market, next to the Colt 45 and Olde English 800.  I sure never heard about this growing up, but I think it even beats my brother Dana's faux translation of "Accokeek" as meaning "the fish are dying" in the local Native American language.

I guess if the 'keek's gotta be known for something, it might as well be something other than Beretta's Saturday Night Specials and a really big sewage plant.  Now I have yet another reason to regard "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" as the best movie ever.  Steve". 

>From Dana to Steve:  "Steve:  You didn't know this?  I saw the grail in that barber shop when I was a kid.  The barber sterilized his scissors and combs in it.  He's the one who told me that folks (like Methusula) lived longer in biblical times because they were barefoot and therefore grounded.  I hope that puts to rest any stories about it hanging on the rack at the M&M tavern or being the reason Calvert Manor water tastes so good (it's really wine).  And whaddaya mean by "faux"?  Our beagles found dead fish everywhere.  When Leonard Calvert commented on the odor, Chief Wannas said "accokeek".  That's why they settled at St. Mary's.  Dana"
I guess if the 'keek's gotta be known for something, it might as well be something other than Beretta's Saturday Night Specials and a really big sewage plant.  Now I have yet another reason to regard "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" as the best movie ever.  Steve"

20.  SURRATTS COOKBOOK UPDATE.  Here's an update from Leslie St. Clair (70) who, together with Diane Cooke "Cookie" Boyd (71) is putting together the Surratts Cookbook to be offered for sale at the All Classes events:  "Henry:  Regarding the cookbook, I am extending the deadline for submittals to June 1.  The sooner I receive them, the easier it is for me time-wise to get them typed using the software the publisher sent me. I am getting really great recipes so far; unique and diverse recipes that are just blowing me away.  I've made a few already myself and have not been disappointed.  So, folks, please keep them coming. There will be a display set up at the alumni events and at the multi class reunion for 69-74.  We will take orders the entire month of July and then can send the book out to the publisher.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far -- not a boring recipe in the bunch!  Leslie"

21.  SURRATTS HISTORY, CON'T.  We received these beautifully put, and unique, memories of Surrattsville from Paul Gwynn (49):  "A Tribute to Surrattsville.  In 1936, I entered school at five years of age in Lolita Kline’s first grade.  Her husband was T. S. Kline, principal.  They enjoyed lunch together every school day.   In the second grade, Polly Benbow was the teacher and also a first cousin and she failed me.  In this grade, on Fridays, I was able to enjoy the accordion playing of our maintenance man, Jimmy Hawkins, and looked to forward to a break from schooling. 

In the third grade Ms. Testamen was harder than the previous teachers.  She required script to be more legible, numbers more exact and presentations up to par.  Between second and third grade, there were occasions where I learned to use 4 pencils writing, “I must not talk in class” 200 or more times.  This messed up my writing for years.  Fourth grade started with Miss Vivian Bound, and she became Mrs. Vivian Edelen. (She attended the 2005 class reunion)  She is quite a lady!  We played softball and kickball at recess.  Fridays were sometimes movie days in the auditorium with shows such as “Frank Buck Brings Them Back Alive” and Shirley Temple movies.  In this grade, Jimmy Hawkins was carving softball bats from young pine trees for us to use.  Funds for sports equipment were scarce.

In the fifth grade with Miss Wright, we were all more coordinated physically and mentally.  The seeds of “need to know” took root.  This was a great class and I now looked forward to school.  The sixth grade was taught by Miss Marjorie Earnshaw, who later became an aunt by marriage.  We were elevated to Shakespeare, Roman and Gothic architecture, music composition, crossword composition and history.  My mind was broadened more in this grade than any other.

In the seventh grade, Mrs. Fred Garner took us on.  Prep for high school began.  Cliques formed, politics entered, sports became more competitive, dress more demanding and a complete transformation of our minds took place.

We entered high school with enthusiasm. Challenges included having homeroom teachers, classroom changes each period, striving to join clubs, and students arriving from Camp Springs. By this time John Bond was principal and teachers included E. Lang, T. Bunten, E. Bullis, D. Comby, Y. McFadden, Mrs. Sapp, Miss Hubbard, Miss Sauerwein, Mrs. Duke, D. Woodburn and Mrs. Shuler Johnson.

We became sophomores in 1945-1946.  This year studies were more intense, social status became relevant, friends in upper class more idol-like, romances flourished, and alliances formed for life.  In August of 1946, my mother was killed in a head-on car collision.  I lost three lower vertebrae which kept me out of school for the 1946-1947 year.  Mr. Bond, teachers and school friends kept me going.

 School policy changed from an eleven year stretch to a twelve year program.  The school colors changed from burgundy and gold to green and white.  When I reentered school for the 1947 to 1948 year, former classmates were now seniors.  It was decided that my senior studies would be with them.  So, after a missed year, I had no junior studies and was now a senior, but not going to graduate.

The following year, 1948, 1949, I was in a junior class with students younger than I was, and I thoroughly enjoyed this position.  My future wife was in this class. I was able to transport sport team from school to school, and had a ’48 Ford and several girl friends to cruise around with. My father was the dealer of Clinton Motor Co., Inc., so from time to time; I had a vehicle to enjoy.

In 1949, I graduated with accolades – first, last and all positions in between – the sole member of the class.  An acceptance to Duke University in Durham, N.C. made me grateful for the Surrattsville experience.  My college roommate and I joined Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity in our sophomore year. 

I married Bertha Mary Russell (Mary Jo) and went to work at Clinton Motor Company. In June of 1951 I   returned to Surrattsville as the driver of bus 15.  This bus had dual exhausts and a radio for the benefit of driver and students alike.  In 1968, my father sold the business to me, and I became the dealer for 10 years.

My wife and I raised ten children.  One son died at 15, and my wife passed in May of 01.  Eight of our children graduated from Surrattsville.  Thanks, Surrattsville.  Paul Gwynn, 49" 
 

I hope this e-Notice finds you many of you already forgetting the winter of 2010!

All the best,  Henry Smith (71)

In Memoriam

CAPT. FRANK DENDIS, age 81, of Pass Christian, Mississippi passed away Monday, February 22, 2010 at Select Specialty Hospital in Jackson, MS.  Prior to moving to Mississippi Frank, Geri and family lived in Clinton for over 20 years. He was very active in sports as a long-time Football and Baseball coach for the Clinton Boys Club. When not coaching he was always on the sidelines of Mike’s baseball and Brian’s football games.  He was an active Basketball referee in PG County for the Boys club and later the junior high, senior high, and some college games.

Prior to moving to the Gulf Coast with the Naval Oceanographic’s office, Frank had worked in Washington DC at the Naval Shipyard, the Naval Weather Observatory, and later in Suitland, MD for the Weather Bureau.  Capt. Dendis had lived on the Gulf Coast for 33 years and was a long time charter boat captain of Top Gun and Top Gun Too. He retired from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office and was an US Navy veteran of WWII.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Geri Dendis of Pass Christian; sons, Frank M. (66), (Brenda Hughes Dendis (70)), of Chesapeake, VA, Brian R. (71) (Kelly Chambers 74) Dendis of Fredericksburg, VA and Andy (Shannon) Dendis of Ridgeland; daughter, Marylyn, (72) (Mike) Albritton of Panama City, FL

RICHARD KREMPASKY (66), age 61, an administrative judge with the Department of Veterans Affairs' Board of Contract Appeals from 1990 to 2007, died March 9 at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital after a heart attack.  Judge Krempasky was a Federal Railroad Administration lawyer from 1978 to 1990, after an early career in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.

He retired in 1998 from the D.C. Army National Guard at the rank of lieutenant colonel. Richard William Krempasky was born in Washington and raised in Prince George's County, where he graduated from Surrattsville High School in 1966. He was a 1970 graduate of the College of William and Mary and a 1973 graduate of the University of Maryland law school.  He was a resident of Fairfax County's Oak Hill community, where he was active in his homeowners association, and a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston. He enjoyed fishing on the Chesapeake Bay.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Ramona Oshetski Krempasky of Oak Hill; four children, Katrina Krempasky of Oak Hill, Rachel Krempasky of Fairfax County, Laura Sherman of Herndon and Richard Krempasky of Centreville; two brothers, Joseph Krempasky of Lewiston, Idaho, and John Krempasky of Greenbelt; and two sisters, Elizabeth Krempasky of Denton, Md., and Alice Peach of Virginia Beach.

[Ed. Note:  The Class of 66 website at www.surratts66.com has personal memories of Richard.]

RUTH B. AFFRON SELLNER passed away January 12, 2010 after a fall with complications of a broken leg.   She was born on a farm where Andrews Air Force Base currently is now in a farm house approximately where the base hospital is now located.  She attended and graduated from Surrattsville Junior-Senior High School in 1936.  She met her husband Charles William Sellner (Oxon Hill High School) in the front of Bell's United Methodist Church and they were married there.  She attended Strayer College and had various jobs including working for the Procurement Office for the D.C. Government.   Even though she worked she was extremely active in the Camp Springs community including teaching Sunday School for 70 years and having the children's choir for more than a decade at Bell's United Methodist Church.  Other activities included china painting with her friend Mary Watson Crowley (class of 1937) as the instructor, Camp Springs Home Makers, Bethel Class and Quilting with the Bell's UMC Quilters.  She was extremely supportive of us, her girls, in 4-H Club, bowling, softball, piano lessons and various school activities.  Both of our parents made sure we got to all the rehearsals and performances of the Surrattsville Jr. Sr. High School Band under Mr. John Mathena and the Surrattsville High School Chorus under Ms. Jean Morehead.   She was able to live in her home our father had built for her and we feel blessed to have  had a mother like her.  Bonnie Jo Anne Sellner (58) Charlene Sellner (63) Nancy Sellner Costello (Crossland HS 1966)

MANY THANKS TO THESE (EARLY) DONORS TO THE 2010 CAMPAIGN

 
Bob Marr (71)

Debbie Cox Marr (72)

Steve Profilet (71)

James Coffren (68)

Margaret Edmondson Loveless (39, and former School Nurse), In memory of Truman S. Klein

Dan Bayne (71)

Linda Dorsey Blum (66)

Vicki Forsht Williams (65, and former faculty), In memory of Eugene Colgan and Mildred Biedenkapp)

Susan Curtis Sturgill (65), In memory of Greg White (65)

Vince Antonioli (69)

Terry Zinneman Antonioli (70)

Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54), In honor of Band Director John Mathena

Victor Negron (71)

Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. (60)

Janet Goddard Sullivan (54)

... AND MANY THANKS TO THESE DONORS TO THE 2009 CAMPAIGN

Steve Profilet (71)

Bob Marr (71)

Debbie Cox Marr (72)

Teri Pepper Dimsey (77), In veneration of my classmates turning 50 this year

T. Summers Gwynn III (64), In memory of BillGwynn (64)

Ann Weaver Pelle (71)

Donna Rae Sturtevant Smith (70)

Henry Smith (71)

Jeanine Carroll Maclary (73), In Memory of Her Brother, James R. Carroll, Jr.

Vicky Simontacchi Young (57)

Linda Dorsey Blum (66)

Arvid Andresen (65)

Judy Gordon Mentlik (65), In Memory of Greg White (65), David Shriver (65) and Laura Chovan (former faculty)

Ellen Talbert-Miller (61, former Faculty and Administration), In memory of Lillian Holland

Dan Bayne (71)

Tom Travis (72)

Sally Travis (72)

Rick Tazelaar (73)

David Kraus (65)

Paul Monaghan (59)

Coach Lew Jenkins (former Faculty, 1967 - 1993)

Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54)

Judy Miller (70)

J. Paul Rickett (69)

Gloria Blandford Rickett (71)

Janet Goddard Sullivan (54), In Memory of Mildred Wheatley (34)

Melissa Gilcrest (69)

Jeanine Carroll Maclary (73), In Memory of James R. Carroll, Jr.

Patricia Becker Oles (71)

Valerie Parker Allard (73), In Memory of Cathy Lally Freitas (73)

Beverly Statler Thrift (69)

Dennis Thrift (71)

Mike Gifford (84)

Joan Penn Revis (61)

Homer Revis (56)

Denise Hope (72), In Memory of Robin Danielson (72)

Anne Noyes, Former Faculty

Brenda Karnes, Former Faculty, In Memory of Millie Biedenkapp

Dave Weber (65)

Chuck Teubner (64)

Judy Gordon (65), In memory of Joe Midziolek (65)

Scott McWhirt (71)

Nancy Oursler Schillings (65), In memory of Mildred Wheatley (34)

Nancy Miller (67)

Anonymous, In memory of Andrew P. Mosier, Sr. And Patrick Maddox (76)

Anonymous, In memory of Col. F. R. O'Clair

Anonymous, To celebrate the nine O'Clair children who attended SHS

Vicki Forsht Williams (65, and 29-1/2 years on faculty), In memory of Eugene Colgan, Laura Chovan, and Col. Fite