GCHS-South Class of 1979, where has 30 years gone?

Laura (Kelly) Harris

2009-08-14T11:20:00.004-05:00

After graduation I didn't know what I wanted to do when I grew up so I started out attending SIUE and lasted one semester. It just didn't feel right, so I quit and decided to moved on. My lifelong friend Robyn (Cionko) had gone to Arlington Texas to a small private college, and after talking to her a few times, I decided to join her. My parents where going through a nasty divorce so I decided and see what Texas had to offer. Reluctantly, but my Dad finally agreed to finance the venture and I was on my way.

Interior design was never something had I thought about, but I did enjoy the classes and found that I did well in school. I stayed there for a little over a year, but after awhile I felt I needed to be home to help my Mom and Dad cope with their divorce issues. Unfortunately, I did not finish my degree.

Upon my arrival home, my Dad asked what I wanted to do next. I didn't know. He was able to get me a job with Madison County which I did not care for and did not stay with very long. My Dad had bought the old Eddie's Tavern while I was away in Texas, so when he asked my to start doing the bookwork for him I took the opportunity of having my Dad as my boss, and quit at the county. However, I was still unsure of my place in the world.

A few years passed, and one evening while listening to a band my brother was in, I met Allen Harris. He had gone to North high school and played soccer there and at BAC, but was four years older than me so I didn't know him in high school. We hit if off instantly, were inseparable, and married six months later. I had to kiss a lot of frogs before I met Allen, but that was 26 years ago, and I wouldn't do it any differently if I had it to do all over again.

We have two daughters, Jolene and Kelly both of whom make our lives complete. They were both all around athletes, so our lives were filled with; smelly socks and tennis shoes, basketballs in the back yard complete with a hoop and court, cheer leading poms, tennis rackets and you name it. There were also catholic school functions, prom dresses, sister rivalry, boyfriend problems and many, many memories I will be forever grateful for. They are both well functioning young adults now, have graduated from college and are making there own path. We are very proud of both of them. I am currently helping (and paying for) Jolene's upcoming wedding and I'm sure Kelly will follow shortly.

I have worked as the bookkeeper at Granite City Township for the past 16 years. Prior to that, Allen and I had a general contracting business which we opened and closed after 10 years due to an injury Allen had while working as a paramedic/firefighter at the fire department in Granite. His injury consequently disabled him from the fire department. He has since taught for the past 15 years at Grigsby Middle School and was a soccer coach at the high school and with the Elks. We also recently began "flipping" houses as a past time after we became "empty nesters". It's a lot of work, but truly rewarding at the end of a project. I think design has always been my unknown passion because I have been involved with it in some capacity since I left college many years ago.

We currently live at Holiday Shores in Edwardsville in yet another home we built for ourselves. We love the lake and all it has to offer, and have met some good friends. We are looking forward to retirement and if all goes as planned that will be in seven short years. And yes, grandchildren will be great when the time comes, but for now we love to travel and simply hang out.

I have really enjoyed reading the blogs of others, and look forward to seeing old (not intended literally) friends at the reunion. It certainly doesn't seem possible that we have been out of school for 30 years ! ( I keep saying it, but it just doesn't sound right !) But for me, it's been a very good 30 years. I feel blessed to be able to sit here and write this blog, as some have not been so lucky. I also count my lucky stars that my life has turned out the way it has. Even with some adversity through the years, and a few regrets, I have to mimic my Dad's words as he said them just before he passed away..... "It's been a good run" .

Friday Baseball Game

2009-08-11T11:17:00.002-05:00

John Shable and I bought 4 tickets to the Cardinals game Friday night. Wondering if any out of town Alumni would like to go. We have one ticket unclaimed. Cost $50. Normally a 70 dollar ticket. We will be sitting in Section 139 Row 3 right by Albert! May have another ticket if Shannon Glasgow can't make it....

ap

Dennis Turck

2009-08-11T10:02:00.003-05:00

Following graduation, I attended SIUE, and then joined the US Coast Guard, where I served for 12 years (in Kentucky and Virginia as a Search & Rescue Instructor). I got married and had two boys (Josh, now age 23 and Matt, now age 21 – currently in Navy Boot Camp). Shortly after leaving the Coast Guard and returning to the Granite City area, I went through a divorce. The best thing that came out of that situation, was reuniting with an old high school friend in the grocery store (Mary Paterson), and then marrying her on Valentine’s Day in 1998. Mary has three children (Amy, age 29; Donny, age 26; and Phillip, age 17). So, our combined family consists of 5 children, and now 5 grandchildren.
Our family enjoys camping, swimming and vacationing – we’ve been on 8 cruises together, have went on two all-inclusive vacations (Negril, Jamaica and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico), several trips to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, several trips to Las Vegas, a couple of trips to California (Long Beach, Ventura, San Francisco and Sacramento), a couple of trips to Miami, Florida, and a couple of trips to New Orleans. I have also traveled for work (to Washington, Indiana and Kentucky).
When we’re not working or vacationing, we are usually attending Granite City High School sporting events (football and track). We even went up to Chicago, Illinois with a group of parents and teachers for the Varsity Football Playoffs in 2007.
I previously worked as a Branch Manager for a temporary labor service, until I had two heart attacks and started having seizures which keep me from being able to work/drive. I am currently under doctor’s care, but hope to regain my health soon.
I attended our 10 year and 20 year class reunions, but was not able to make our 25. I am looking forward to our upcoming 30 year class reunion, and being able to see everyone again.

Attending

2009-08-02T13:40:00.004-05:00

Lisa (Waltenberger) Maurer
Mignon (Moerlien) Fetterhoff
Lorraine(Peach) Knox
Cindy (Kofahl) Lamkin
Shannon Glasgow
Rocky Lupardus
Shawne Duenning Justine
David Oliver
Becky (Foote) Havener
Lori (Jones) Weber
Tammie (Newton) Brewer
Angie (Griffey) Bigham
Carla (Francis) Synak
Karen (Doty) Beasley
Mark Whitehead
Mary (Earney) Whitehead
Greg Altenberger
Kimberly (Dittrich) Deist
Cherie Hahne
Jodi (Alexander) Bennett
Joseph Petty
Susan (Prokopich) Montgomery
Kathy (Hadly) Rozycki
Margaret (Lovins) Brandt
David Throne
Eldon Hubble
Richard Buecker
Pamela (Roberts) Roberts
Cindy (Mueller) Milton
Glenda James
Vicky (Barnstable) Tognarelli
Lynn (Blum) Wilson
Jan (Purkey) Cook
Kit (Walmsley) M0rrissey
Ed Knowles
Chris Coleman
Donald E. King Jr.
Elizabeth Mullen
Anita Fernandez
Pam (Brokman) Stein
Dana (Harris) Ponder
Dianna Conley
Sherri Diller
Ronnie Langford
Vernon J Thomas
Christina (Mink) Humphrey
Lydia (Crews) Rohn
Lenora Gaye Norris
Paul Blattner
Kathy (Lawson) Hart
Jodi(Harrington) Arnett
Scott Arnett
Greg Laub
Beth (Worthen) Parente
Sherri (Walker) Austin
Keith Malench
John Six
Brenda James
Cheryl (Conaway) Balsai
Fred Schuler
Judy (Hartman) Mudro
Laura (Werths) Buehrer
David Mendoza
Gina ( Johannigmeier ) Dowdy
John Prazma
Jerry Harrington, Jr.
Carol (Lange) Macios
Ron Downs
Janet (Hartman) Werner
Todd York
Laura (Kelly) Harris
Elaine (Kayich) Sneed
Kirk Potillo
Thomas Hansen
Jeff Blasingame
Christy (Hayes) Lackey
Kathy (Barnes) Wehling
John DeRuntz
Gary Vogeler
Colleen McCabe
Bob Stegemeyer
Robert O'Bear
George Whaley
Al Yount
Darren McGovern
Shari (Gosnell) Schafer
Deborah (Pfeiffer) Henke
Barb (Wood) Moore
Sharon( Guenther) Gonzalez
Sandra (Weathers) Batiste
Jackey (Chapline) Timman
Melinda (McCallister) Duniphan
Dennis Turck
Kathy (Longos) McKinney
Alex Paz
John Shable
Marilyn (Moehu)Weissman
Michelle (Reznack) Fitzgerald
Paula (Bogosian) Costillo
Andrew Costillo
Karen (Teitloff) Buzzell
Kris McGovern
Doug Cook
Beth (Smith) Kovach
Daniel Mendoza
Joyce (Mangan) Heiman
Vicki (Johnson) Royce
Ken Fuller
Sandy Dietz
Sandy Robinson Kovalik

Larry Johnson

2009-07-21T13:14:00.003-05:00

I've been living in Belleville with my wife Kris since 1985. We have 2 boys, freshman and junior in university. They are brilliant, like their mother. Kris knew what her future career would be as of junior high school and she attained it right on schedule. In contrast, I wandered from field to field. In GCHS, I decided I would become a pro-musician due to 4 fun-filled years in the band. Not being one to blaze a trial, I followed two of our class's true musicians from school to school. After a year in music schools, I eventually realized the talent and dedication required and that I was short on both counts.

So I took the road for which I was more suited, and followed another friend into engineering. After working nearly 10 years at McDonnell Douglas in electronic engineering doing kind of sciency stuff, I jumped on the internets bubble for another 8 years as a 'consultant'. Which is a high faluttin' word that really means 'contract laborer'. For the last 6 years a couple friends and I have been working under our own company. Life's been good.

Wish you all well,

Larry Johnson

Susan Prokopich Montgomery

2009-07-05T12:01:00.005-05:00

Life after High School

Let’s see, after high school, I had BIG plans. I was going to sponge off my folks, get a job, buy a really cool car, and go clubbing with my best friend Mary. Five months later Mark Montgomery motioned for me to pull over and invited Mary and me to join him at Pere Marquette. While there, he was trying to move a big log and his pants split. I was a goner and a year later, we were Mr. and Mrs. Mark Montgomery. We were financially independent, Mark was happy since he got to drive my cool car, and I went clubbing with my husband, his brother and his brother’s wife instead of Mary. I was still on track.

When I gave birth to our first child Benjamin in May 1983, my job and clubbing lost their appeal. As the youngest of four who never babysat, I had no idea how to be a mother, but I was determined that he would survive. A friend told me I should have named him Velcro because he was always on my hip. As if motherhood wasn’t enough of a challenge, I found out the man I married was an atheist. Who knew?

Foolishly, I decided to become June Cleaver. I cooked exactly like my mom, burnt fried chicken, roast as tough as a hockey puck, and tuna casserole so dry you had to pour milk over it before it could be swallowed. Mark decided to teach me to cook and I was the world’s worst student. Plus, he was frustrated because he really wanted me to set Ben down every once in a while.

Okay, I decided I would take on the task of seeing to Ben’s spiritual education. Mark wasn’t too keen on the idea, and he promised to boycott any children’s program in which Ben participated. Like the housewife challenge, I rolled up my sleeves and committed myself 100%.

Pretty soon I could crank out a weekly menu’s worth of meals that were fairly edible so I started teaching Mission Friends to children ages 2 – 5. Mark was true to his word, boycotting Ben’s baptism and he also shared his beliefs of evolution with Ben. As I got a little better at this homemaker stuff, I became more involved in the church, teaching both the 1st and 2nd grade class and children’s church. With my 30th birthday around the corner, it was time to add to our family. In January 1991 during a horrible snowstorm, our daughter Rachel was born.

Now we had two beautiful children, I was lucky enough to be able to spend all my time with them since Mark was an excellent provider, my meals were still improving, and I began what would become a long run teaching 5th and 6th graders at church. On the home front, I was ready to tackle flower gardening.

When it was time for Rachel to go off to school I discovered your children could go to parochial school even if you weren’t Catholic. Rachel started Holy Family School and I did something I hadn’t done in 16 years—I got a job.

I chose a gas station down the street because I could start after I took Rachel to school and end my day when I picked her up. I was close to home so Ben could stop in to see me whenever he wanted, I didn’t have to invest in a wardrobe, and when Rachel was on school breaks, I could switch to evenings so she could be with daddy--no babysitter worries.

Trouble takes many forms. As it turned out trouble came to us because I was competent at something--ordering inventory, stocking shelves and waiting on customers. Who knew?

In a fairly short amount of time, I became a shift supervisor, then got a promotion and began working in the oil offices in Edwardsville as the administrative assistant to the CEO. Rachel went into daycare after school, Mark took over the cooking (thank God!), I managed to keep up with the laundry, but the house fell apart. As the result of pressure from my job, an unhappy family, the loss of my father, and the adjustment of my mother’s new marriage, I suffered from a lot of stress and an enormous amount of guilt.

Quitting my job a year later, I went to work for Vicki Johnson Royce and her husband John answering phones and setting up house showings—no pressure there. Unfortunately, it was too late. The die had been cast, the ill-feelings were still there, and by then I was completely miserable and terribly depressed.

In October 2001 I walked out of a 22-year marriage, leaving behind my beautiful garden, my clean home, and even my two kids. My best friend Mary took me in, and I began the pursuit of the fastest divorce of a long-term marriage in history so I could get my kids back. In January we were officially divorced, and I found a house to rent on St. Clair Avenue that was close enough to school that Rachel could walk. I was sleeping on an army cot without a single curtain on a window, my food was kept fresh in a cooler outside my kitchen door, everything I cooked came off a camp stove or an electric skillet, and my son Ben was so angry with me that he stayed with his dad. Talk about tough times.

Leaving Royce, I went to work for a temporary agency. The pay was good and the benefits were non-existent, but I desperately needed a work history. I bought a mattress and springs, a refrigerator, a stove, curtains, and a dryer. Eventually I got my current job working for a federally funded program at a local community college. My house was becoming a home, but Ben still angry with me. He went from being a wild child to a man living dangerously.

Time is the great physician and, in time Ben got the help he needed. He now owns his own home, has a wonderful job, and recently began school. In three years he hopefully will complete an apprenticeship program and become a machinist. Rachel graduated high school and will begin her freshman year next month at Benedictine University. She has decided to use her artistic talent to work with troubled kids as a career. After I got my present job, I bought my rental house and earned my associate’s degree in management. I started my bachelor’s but I stopped when I started focusing on Rachel’s college life.

At present I’m trying like the dickens to get a government job in Springfield, but that is proving to be more difficult than I thought. Rachel will be living with my mother until I can get a job there. Along with Mom, I have other family members living in Springfield waiting for me. In time I hope to join them.

So, as it turns out, there was life for me after divorce. Who knew?

Donna Smallie Klopfer

2009-07-02T10:37:00.002-05:00

The last 30 years- I worked at National Supermarket until they sold to Schnucks in 1995. I then back to school and got a Associate Degree in Hotel/Motel Management and for the last 12 years I have been the manager of the Hampton Inn/Collinsville. I was married for the first time in 1983 to Tim McGrath and had daugher,Whitney who is now 21! We divorced in 1995 and I remarried in 2001 to Jack Klopfer from Alton. He had a daughter who at that time was 24. We all now live in Glen Carbon with both daughters and a 2 year old granddaughter. Picture attached is in front of my nephew's tour bus when they openned for Santana last year.

Bruce Monahan

2009-07-01T13:15:00.002-05:00

Hello fellow allumni of GCHS South! Alex was kind enough to send me an e-mail directing me to the reunion blog (Thanks Alex!). It appears I was part of a list of missing allumni (funny I don't feel missing). You probably will remember me as being the guy in class sitting in the next to the last row .. you know? ... fourth one from the left? ... the knucklehead facing the wrong direction (story of my life!). So, thirty years since graduation .... Wow! Where has all the time gone? It seems like it was only yesterday ... I remember ... I was doing my laundry ... oh wait a minute that was yesterday (cue rim shot). It's actually been great reading some of the blogs that were posted here. It's good to see that with all the trial and tribulations some of you have encountered, that you have all come out on top. I guess since Alex asked for more blog entries that I would add my "life story" to the mix as well. Warning ... the following is full of lame attempts at humor ... read at your own risk.

My Life Story
I am originally from my mom (I'm sure we can all relate to that) and forcibly evicted from my first home after just nine months and sent to live in a grand old place called "the world". So I ventured out on my own with nothing more then a bottle, a rattle, and a god-awful smell coming from my diaper. I spent my formulative years at Parkview Elementary where I excelled at eating crayons and banging erasers. And yes, all at the same time. Somehow I graduated from there and moved on to Coolidge Junior High. Crayon eating was highly discouraged by them, so I had to move on to something else. I tried sniffing glue but almost drowned a few times (I guess they didn't mean Elmers) ... so I excelled at eating paste and licking my fingers. Somehow I also graduated from Coolidge and moved on to GCHS. I spent the next four years dealing with pimples, random body hairs, and the embarrassment from the pitch of my voice fluctuating three full octaves everytime I said something. Good times ... good times indeed. I guess I was a middle-of-the-road student. Was I athletically gifted? - Nope. How about academically inclined? - More declined then inclined I would say. Popular? - I guess many people thought my last name was "who" because they would always say "Bruce who?". Perhaps I was a "ladies man"? - wait, wait ...let me catch my breath because that one cracked me up. So what did I do in high school? Well, somehow I ended up in the theater department. This was strange because my acting talent was once compared to Keanu Reeves trying to do Shakspeare, but somehow I stayed with it. After graduation I then did a stint at SIU until it came to my second year. I was trying to prove the theory that pure osmosis could be used to gain a higher degree of knowledge withough actually attending classes ... um? ... I'm still working on trying to get that theory to work. I sure wish they would have offered a degree in "Student Center". Shortly after my abrupt college run I moved to Florida where I have been ever since. About ten years ago I doodled some cartoons and staked my corner on the world wide web with a site called "pencilwedgees". For about the past five years I have been a freelance cartoonist/3-d animator. As soon as I make another 999,999 more dollars I will become a millionaire. But for right now I guess I can be labeled as a "dollaraire" (before taxes). I guess I will shut up now. If you have read everything to this point then I must say congratulations and I'm sorry that you are having a really slow day. I won't be able to attend the reunion this year unfortunately. Maybe in another ten years I will have the opportunity. By then there should be flying cars and teleportation pods scattered everywhere ... and perhaps my osmosis theory will be perfected by then. Best of luck to everyone and have a great time at the reunion party ... oh and if anyone takes any photos of allumni highly inebriated and passed out in the corner or any of them dancing with lamp shades on their head, I would really like to see them. Take care everyone ... Bruce

Ronald P. Cline

2009-07-01T07:29:00.003-05:00

Don't know If I'll get to attend the 30 year reunion this year, but would love to hear from some classmate of GCHS class of 1979. I currently live in Houston TX, and still come back to Granite from time to time either to see family and/or on business. Now here is a little about myself and what I've been up to.... After high school I went into the US Army as a Military Policeman. I spent the entire time (3 years) in Germany, and loved it, while traveling and seeing most of Europe. Then after my Military service I went back to college and completed a Business Degree. I then went to work for Conoco Oil, which has now merged with Phillips Oil, so it's ConocoPhillips Inc. these days. I'm currently a Statistical Analyst for ConocoPhillips and travel throughout the US on business. I spend a lot of time working in Los Angeles CA and Savannah GA, which is where we have 2 large lubricant facilities. Anyhow..., its really not all that exciting, but it pays well, and I enjoy the travel. I stayed single until age 33, when I finally got married for the first and only time, we had no children, therefore I continued to be the child. Still enjoying outdoor activities and sports with a little adrenaline rush, such as motorcycles, flying, white water rafting, snow skiing, and scuba diving, back packing, horseback riding, etc... Anything that keeps my heart pumping so I can feel young again. In fact..., I just got back from Breckenridge CO, where we did some hiking and horseback riding in the mountains. Love to hear from you...

Guess who's car.....

2009-06-30T21:51:00.004-05:00

Just liked the vanity plates of one of our alumni......

Amazing what you can find by Google.....

2009-06-30T13:10:00.004-05:00

http://www.pencilwedgees.com

Bruce Monahan's website. I emailed him.....

Missing Alumni List

2009-06-29T11:19:00.014-05:00

Please email me (lxpaz@yahoo.com) any information you have on our missing Alumni.
I found we will bold and italicize the name in red.

Carol Renee' Abbott - Thanks Angela Fink
Robbie H. Arms
May E. Arney
Gary W. Arnold
Karen Sue Arnold
Ann Christine Baker
Cindy L. Baker
Robin L. Barnes
Joseph A. Barren
Diane Lynn Barton -deceased
James Everett Belcher
David Wayne Bell
Sandra Lee Bellar
Rose Michelle Boelling
James L. Borth
Sharon K. Box
Timothy Brodeur
Tony F. Broyles
Paula Kay Bryant
William A. Bullock
Tracey M. Burcham
Diana Burns
Phyllis Anne Burns
Elita L. Cionko
Lawrence Lee Clay
Tracy Lynn Clutts
Tammy F. Coleman
Curt Joseph Collins
Vicky B. Colp
Ronald D. Converse
Sheryl L. Cook
James A. Cottrell
Terri A. Curtis
Gerald M. Davis
Martin L. Davis
Bill R. Dixon
Sandra Kay Doss
Grant W. Douglas
James R. Down
James A. Ellis
David Leo Elmore
Richard Donald Elmore, Jr.
Kimberly L. Flaugher
Barry Eugene Forshee
Gena Fox
Steven Ray Frederick
Alfred Edward Fuller III
Jamie L. Garrison
Jeffrey Gass
Dwight Jeffery Gassett
Mickey Lee Gerstner
David B. Gorsich
Joseph G. Gorsich
Steven Dale Grady
Robert Christopher Graf
Cindy Marie Granger - deceased
James C. Griffin
Patricia C. Griffith
Rebecca G. Grimes
Sharon Sue Guenther
Joyce Ellen Gushleff
Ruth Ellen Hagen
Jerry A. Hall
Kathy Lynn Hall
Walter L. Hall
Evelyn Loretta Hardester
Stephen Scott Harmon
Kennet Dean Harper
Randall Wade Harris
Thomas Hugh Harrison
Sandra Colleen Hash
Eugene A. Hatfield, Jr.
Christopher Jay Hillmer
Robert Douglas Hinds
Joyce Marie Hogue
Charles D.Hozian
Keith R. Hudgins
Mark F. Huelsmann
Terry Eugene Hunter
Douglas James Hutchings
Dennis Jeffrey Ishum
Deborah S. Jacobs
Phillip J. Jaime
Tony Lee James
Robert Kevin Jarman
Kimberly A. Johnson
Gregory S. Jones
Lydia Helena Kachigian
Dana Lynne Keeling thanks Brenda
John Kelly
Donald E. King, Jr.
Richard Alan King
Richard John Koishor
John A. Kwiatkowski
John Paul Lance
Helena Marie Langley
Erik A. Larsen
William Fredrick Laswell II
Tammy Ann Lazar
Floyd Y. Lee
Alan W. Legate
Robert E. LeMaster
David Aaron Lilley
Lawrence L. Lockhart III
Kenneth R. Mains
Sherrie Lynn Mank - Thanks Shawne
Robert James Mann
Steven Allen Marlett
Danielle Antoinette Mathenia
Christina Linda Mathis
Jeffery A. Matzen
Melinda Sue McCallister
Glenda Joan McClanahand
Kimberly Ann McKinney
Vicki Lynn Meador
Ten Lynn Meagher
Barbara L. Miller
Jill F. Miller
Kevin R. Millsap
Anita Marie Milton
Scott Alan Mitchell
Linda Modlin
Bruce Alan Monahan
David A. Moore
Judith Lyn Moore
Robert D. Mosby
Muriel E. Moseley
Michele Marie Mudd
Angela C. Nance - thanks Susan Montgomery
Debra Lynn Nation
Jack Nelson
Janet A. Nelson
Nancy Sue Nieciecki
Gary L. Nodine
Dallas E. Nunn
Sherry Lynn Olsen
Randy Dwayne Owens
Charles H. Pabst, Jr.
Thomas Alan Parrill
Karen Jean Paschedag
Rhonda Marie Patton
Charles K.Payne
Tammy Elaine Payne
Brian Keith Pemble
Paul M. Perdue
Jed M. Perkins
Floyd Duane Peterson, Jr.
Michael Anthony Pickett
Laura K.Pinnon
Martha A. Portell
Tammy S. Pounds
Regina K.Proffitt
Dennis Pryor
Patricia Jean Pulley
Michael Randall
Dawn Renee' Ray
Rebecca Lynn Rea
Rebecca Elaine Rice
Jeffrey Alan Rill
Leslie Joan Roberts
Leah Ellen Rogers
Mary E. Romine
Wayne P. Royer
John Rodger Ruhl
Cheryle A. Rushing
Tammy Lynn Russell
Dale W. Sanders
John A. Schafer
Anita Gail Schmidt
Judy Ann Schrieber
Connie Lee Scott
Michael Joseph Sertich
Annette Setzer
Starlene Anita Shemwell
Conrad Allan Shepard
Debra F. Shepard
Kenneth P. Shepard
Gwendolyn S. Simpson
Donna L. Smallie - found Ron Downs
Jacqueline Smith
Lisa Marie Smith
October Eve Smith
Vernon D. Smith
Joseph Spain
Louis J. Spohr
Donna Lynn Starbuck
Linda Kay Starnes
Robert A. Stephens
Karen Charleen Steward
Peggy Sue Stuart
Twynette Sweet
William W. Talley
David Alan Taylor
Lori Ann Taylor
Michael Dean Thomas
Gary Wayne Thomason
Kathryn June Tongay
Kathryn Anita Towery
Rose Ann Trester
Lisa Ann Tripp
Kerry Dean Trobaugh
Elizabeth G. Unfried
Theresa Susan Van Horn
Sandra Marie Vasiloff
Mark A. Vizer
Deborah A. Ward
Ronald D. Ward
Bryan K. Warren
Roy A. Weathers
Sandra Ellen Weathers
Merna Kay Webb
Rebecca Wells
Mary E. White
Jeffrey Eugene Whitten
Dale L. Whittenburg
Dawn Alicia Wood
Dale R. Worley
Susan Wrischnik
Aaron L. Wuehler
George Gregory Wyatt

John Six

2009-06-29T07:44:00.002-05:00

As you all know I was born a poor black child. I went to a school that was so bad (McKinley) that they wanted to tear it down first, but instead the hospital bought it. That will tell you a little about our hospital. Hanging around with friends like Todd York, Mignon Morlien, Steve Burns, Randy Owens, Cheri Hahne, Bob Stevens, Terry Hunter, and the list goes on..... the future looked pretty grimm. But somehow most of us turned out alright, even though we were raised sucking fumes from the mill, even on our playground. Between the mill and partying with Lefty Linhart through the years, I now only have 3 brain cells left. (BUT THEY ARE THE GOOD ONES!) Now I am very happily married to my wife Jean. with 2 crazy boys named John and Joe. I own my on small business called Creative Concrete Design and it is finally good to be king (at least at work).

Unable to attend

2009-06-26T10:21:00.001-05:00

Unable to attend:

Jeff Parker - kids in school
Robin Pilch Kasten - son in baseball tournament

Attending

2009-06-26T10:15:00.013-05:00

Attending:

Alex Paz and wife Diane
Shanon Glasgow and Christiane
Ron Eaton and wife
Lee Champion Conrad
Rocky Lupardus
Johns Six
John Prazma and wife Diane
Karen Doty Beasly and Husband
Joyce Mangan Heiman
Mignon Morlien Fetterhoff
Shawne Duenning Justice and husband Darrell
Danny Mendoza
Lori Jones Weber
Lisa Waltenberger Maurer and husband Gene
Ed Knowles and Fiance'
Sherry Diller
Sheri Walker Austin and Husband Mike
Susan Prokopich Montgomery
Keith Malench
David Oliver and wife Lisa
Cherie Hahne
Kim Dittrich Deist
Mark Whitehead
Mary Earney Whitehead
Becky Foot Havener
Tammie Newton Brewer and husband Randy
Angie Griffey Bingham and husband Dave
Carla Francis Synak and husband Mark
Joe Petty and wife Laurie
Jodi Alexander Bennett and husband Robert
Kathy Hadley Rozycki and husband Tim
Margaret Lovins Brandt and Juan Jose Ortiz
David Throne and wife Rose
Eldon Hubble and wife Maggie
Richard Becker and wife Kristi
Cindy Mueller Milton and husband Alan
Glenda James
Vicky Barnstable Tognarelli and husband Joe
Lynn Blum Wilson and husband Mark
Pamela Roberts Roberts and husband Bobby

Meeting at the Elks Club June 28th, 2009 (We need your help!)

2009-06-25T20:41:00.004-05:00

We will have an envelope stuffing pary at the Elk's Club in Granite City on Sunday the 28th, 2009 at 6:00pm. Click on the link below to view a copy of the flyer we will be sending out.
Reunion Flyer
Feel free to stop by to help out or just to say hello....
Also if anyone needs a recent photo for facebook I will have my camera with me.
ap

Cindy (Kofahl) Lamkin

2009-06-12T13:34:00.003-05:00

My blog is probably going to seem a bit boring to some. I have not travelled to exotic places or had exciting jobs. The furthest we have traveled is Disney World. I married my high school sweetheart, Steve. This August we will be married 26 years. I worked in the banking field for 13 years. When we had our daughter, I wanted to stay home with her. A few years later we had a son. Sunny is 16 and Steven is 13. When Sunny started kindergarten, so did I. For the past 11 years, I've been a kindergarten aide at Mitchell School. Most days I love it, some days not so much. The hours are great from 9:30-12:30. I'm off on all the holidays that the kids are. Steve has worked at GC Steel for over 31 years. This April he was laid off. We are hoping he'll go back within a year. He keeps busy hunting, fishing, golfing, and bowling. I have kept busy taking care of the kids, the animals (we have 2 dogs and 4 cats), the house, and Steve. My mom is 81 so I spend a lot of time with her, doing errands and such. I enjoy reading, listening to music, and yard work. I volunteer at a soup kitchen 2 nights a week. I really enjoy it, though it's not for everyone. This year with my mom's help we have been cooking there once a month. We serve anywhere from 40 to 60 people a night. I'm happy to say that 2 of my best friends in high school are still my best friends today. They are Stephanie (Hetherington) Davison and Lynn (Blum) Wilson. I'm sure we will be attending the reunion together. I've enjoyed reading the blogs. I wish there were more.

Greg Altenberger

2009-06-05T11:01:00.006-05:00

Nyaaa!, who’s da guy wit da hang-glider lapels up there? OK, I guess now that Alex has posted, we all need to turn in our assigned essays.

How I Spent My Last 30 Summer Vacations

By Greggers

What have I done since graduation?! Hold on, I didn’t study for this quiz, let me look it up. After graduation, I seriously considered entering the military, but joined the Air Force instead (!). I got to see Texas, some more of Texas, Scott AFB, and finally Germany! I pretty much fell in love with Europe, so when I got out of the Air Force, I got a job for a civilian company supporting the military, and by the summer of ’84 I was in Scotland! I stayed there 4 years (!), met some great people, but by 1988 I was ready for a change. My next stop was Vicenza Italy, which is about 30 miles from Venice. Northern Italy was great! Nice people, nice weather, and great food!! Oh, guess I didn’t mention what my job was. I worked on telecommunications terminal systems, but by the time I got to Italy, we were also working on PCs, and I finally started to sorta kinda enjoy my job, but I still had to work on those old terminals too, and be on call 24/7, which sucked! In 1991, the Reagan-years-military-overspending-boom started cutting back, so my company started laying off. I came back to the Granite City and started looking for a job again.

I got hired at A.G. Edwards in June of 1992, and have been there since, although we’ve gone through 2 mergers in the last 2 years, and we’re now Wells Fargo. I started out as a terminal/printer/PC technician again and spent quite a few years on the team specializing in installations and moves, which I enjoyed. Worked up to team lead and spent most of my time in that position, but when I tried my hand at leadership (YUK!), as assistant supervisor, I got out of that right away! Something about having to answer for why other people do things, just rubs me the wrong way (“I don’t know! Ask them!”), so I moved to a team that administered network accounts, Access Control, and stayed there for a couple of years, and really enjoyed the work, but what I enjoyed more was maintaining the documentation and making sure our procedures and processes were up to date. That led to my current job, supporting the Help Desk with documentation and helping maintain our knowledgebase, and occasionally help out with training.

I met Cyndie not long after starting at A.G. Edwards, and we got married in February 1996. No kids, she’s ten years older and already “been there done that”. Her son Jay and our grandkids are out in the Bay area, California, so we don’t get to see them as much as we’d like, but the internet helps! We started out living in Granite, but we bought property in Farmington MO, back in 1998, so when Cyndie took early retirement and we found ourselves down to one income, we decided to move to Farmington! I make the 80 mile commute every day, but I’m used to it (no, really! ..and, thank god for music CDs!) We have 23 acres out in the country, and I love it! It’s worth the commute to be able to live here.

In November of 2007, Cyndie went in for a routine colonoscopy, and they perforated her colon. We got her up to St John’s after a couple of days down here in Farmington, but complications from that led to her being up there in ICU for 5 months!! She went through rehab, and finally came home in July of 2008, and she’s still recovering and trying to get her weight back. (If you want to read more, her Caringbridge site has the whole story: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cyndiealtenberger ) It’s been an emotional roller-coaster ride, but thankfully we’re past all that, and Cyndie’s glad to be home and getting a little more self-sufficient every day! I’m trying to convince her to go to the reunion with me, but she’s not sure she’ll be up to it. I’ll be there, though. I’ve been really enjoying reconnecting on Facebook with classmates from high school and especially from grade school (Frohardt)! Some folks I hadn’t heard about for … well, for 30 years! It’s great to read all of these posts, too! Looking forward to seeing everybody at the reunion!

Comment by Mary (Earney) Whitehead

2009-05-25T14:26:00.003-05:00

Mary left this as a comment on one of the post. I thought I would re-post so everyone could see it. Also just a side not I tried to reach a favorite teacher of mine and one that Mary mention's. Mr. Ethridge passed in 2000 according to his wife. I wish I could tell him how much he meant to me and what an influence he was on my life. I know all his students of the class of 1979 will miss him dearly....

Mary's Comment
I know at least a couple guys who benefited from Jerry Ethridge's class! :) It sounds like you have a full, fun life and are very happy -- that is great! Thanks so much for all you've done to bring us all together online and hopefully even more people at the reunion. It's been a lot of fun already on Facebook (a first for me) & reading the blog. I see a lot of life experiences, love, loss, and happiness again for many of us in all of the postings. I hope anyone who needs a litle nudge to post something on the blog will take a leap of faith & do so. Peace.

Alexander Paz Jr. (just Alex or some friends call me Al)

2009-05-19T14:04:00.013-05:00

Like I had mentioned on the post earlier......Warning this is long, possible TMI and like I said before you can always walk away if you get bored or tired of reading it. : ) ap

Where did 30 years go??? Doesn’t seem so long ago but to make things surreal my daughter and step son graduated last weekend. So there is no denying the 30 years. Hmmmm…..where to start. Here goes nothing. It seems that I wasn’t a good high school student and my only savior was vocational drafting. My Vocational Drafting teacher Jerry Ethridge was so influential in my life and helping me make it to graduation. With my vocational drafting skills, I was able to land a job to co-op part of my senior year to gain some drafting experience. Then right out of high school I landed a job with Granite City Steel as an Engineering Design Draftsman. I thought wow what a dream job and salary for right out of high school but within 6 months the bottom fell out of the steel industry. I was one of the first to get laid off. Then, I tried to go to college and school just wasn’t for me. I sucked at it. I would be all A’s up to midterms and then try to coast on that till finals. I could never break that pattern and to this day I don’t know why I did that. I was even approached by the BAC soccer coach but fell to the same pattern. I was able to stay eligible for one season, a very successful season I may add, but fell to poor study habits once again. So then I turned to the military to bail me out, give me some direction and see some of the world.

So with the Navy I spent 9 years, 10 months and 27 days seeing the world, training young sailors right out of boot camp and yes PLAYING SOCCER! I enlisted in the advanced electronics field and became an electronic warfare specialist. Some of the highlights during my time in the Navy were getting married, my daughter was born March 13, 1991, lots of travel and getting selected two years in a row to the All-Navy Soccer Team. Although the marriage didn’t work out, to Patricia Black from Granite City, we did have a beautiful baby girl Alexis Marie Paz who was born while I was doing instructor duty in Pensacola, Florida. Even though Alexis’ mother and I didn’t see eye to eye, we have always been a team when it came to parenting. We put all differences aside and made sure we were there for Alexis. I think Pat is an excellent mother and my hat is off to her for raising Alexis Marie. Don’t get me wrong I was there doing the every other weekend, Wednesdays during the week and paying child support but it was nothing like being there full time 24/7. Thanks Pat! Sorry for the tangent but stuff I felt I had to mention. Back to the Navy, I experienced cruises on both coasts, east coast that took me to the Mediterranean Sea and a west coast that took me to the Pacific Sea on to the Persian Gulf. I served on three ships, one nuclear cruiser and two aircraft carriers. (USS Texas CGN-39, CVN-68 USS Eisenhower, and CVN-69 USS Nimitz) The last thing I’d like to mention is that at every command I was attached to I played soccer. While I was at one of my training commands I had a very successful soccer season and was nominated for the All-Navy Soccer team. I had to leave that training command for the USS Eisenhower and while I was headed for a training exercise near Cuba I received a message to immediately report to Little Creek, Virginia to try out for the All-Navy Soccer team. Next thing I know I am on a rickety old cargo plane being catapulted off the deck of an aircraft carrier!!!! Talk about a crazy ride….. I made the team two years back to back and was the closest I came to being a professional. I guess technically I was because all I did for 2 months was practice three times a day to prepare for the All-Service soccer tournament.

After an honorable discharge, I joined the work force in the IT field as an entry level pc technician. The Navy exposed me to computers but all my pc skills were self taught. But as anyone knows who has worked in the IT field you need to jump from shop to shop to get those pay increases. I worked at A.G Edwards, Washington University, Bryan Cave, and PMSI Consulting. At PMSI as a consultant I had assignments at BJC Health Care and an automotive parts company called Federal Mogul. Almost everywhere I went I took an interest in email systems and wound up specializing in a system called GroupWise. So when my contract was up with Federal Mogul I applied at BJC Health Care as a full time employee and was hired on as their GroupWise Email administrator (BJC has one of the largest GroupWise systems in the Midwest) which lasted 8 years from 1999 – 2008. At BJC I expanded my resume by tacking the task of learning and deploying the BlackBerry solution. My Blackberry experience and contacts made while supporting the product led me to my next job. My new found Canadian friends, BlackBerry is made in Waterloo, Ontario, were eager for me to join their team. So after a couple years of being scared to leave a safe job, I made the leap of faith and applied for a position at Research in Motion (RIM) the makers of BlackBerry. I accepted the position at RIM right after the New Year of 2008, my last day at BJC was the 18^th of January and had to be at a conference to meet my team in Orlando on the 20^th. Nothing like hitting the floor running! I have never looked back and am kicking myself for not making the move sooner. I work from home, no commute, some travel and work with some great people. For the most part, I have been only traveling to Canada and Utah on a regular basis. A new program I over see had me going to India and may add a potential customer in Columbia and one in northern Italy. Hate to see that happen. Also the other project I over see will take me to NYC, England and more than likely Northern California.

Last, I’m sure I didn’t mention Alexis’ mother and I were separated for quite some time. I was in no hurry to re-marry so never pushed for the divorce but finally got the paperwork completed in December of 1996. I wandered through relationships and always had those commitment issues. I dated some wonderful people but could never seal the deal and truthfully I had issues from childhood that needed to be dealt with before I could let anyone really in, if you know what I mean. Yes there was therapy involved but doesn’t everyone need a little??? Well it’s always a little hard to say but these days it is becoming more and more common I met the love of my life over the internet. I saw her first on match.com and saw her again on myspace. I never published my profile I just read a lot of profiles. Hers stood out of the crowd and we started posting emails on myspace. We hit it off and had so much in common. The truth of the matter is I had never met anyone like Diane. Her love for her children, family and friends were like no other. She has the biggest heart and as a single mother she deserves mother of the year. Luckily, her heart had enough room left for me and Alexis too. I am the luckiest man on this earth to have met and married such a wonderful woman (Oct. 24, 2008). My only wish is that we would have met sooner so we could have had a beautiful little Mexican baby but we are both too old to have another. We have four children between us, Josh and Alexis are 18, Jacob 15 and Jordan 13. Diane and I spend most of our evenings at baseball, cross country, soccer, track, and the occasionally award ceremonies. Our kids keep us very, very busy. Our oldest two are headed for college Josh is headed to Washington University and Alexis is headed to DePaul University. We couldn’t be prouder of the two of them. When we aren’t at events with the kids, I play indoor soccer 3 nights a week and Diane rarely misses a game. I couldn’t be happier and feel blessed to have a wonderful wife, great children and a challenging job.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion…

ap
lxpaz@yahoo.com

A plea for more stories....

2009-05-19T12:24:00.003-05:00

Well I am pleading for more stories. I ran into a few of the alumni and I was told they wouldn't post their story until I did mine. Darn, them! So I created my story and am posting it soon. I just wanted to give a warning! Its long and may be bordering TMI, but I figure if you don't like it you can always walk away. : ) So on that note I want to say no story is too long or too short. Its just a way to let fellow classmates see what we have been up too for THIRTY YEARS....

Have a great day everyone,

ap
lxpaz@yahoo.com

Meeting notes from April 26th......

2009-05-19T12:13:00.002-05:00

Sorry for slacking, here is the meeting notes from the last meeting that Rocky emailed me.

Hi Alex, Lisa & John,

Here's the update on our meeting tonight (Sun,April 26th):

There were 4 of us there: me, John Prazma, Joyce Mangan Heiman, & Beth Worthen Parente. It was great to see all of them and catch up. As fate would have it, John was just there to get a beer and we dragged him into the meeting and now he is one of us!

- Beth is still going to work with her cousin to decorate the hall
- Rocky is going to take care of ordering a carrot cake from MacCarthar's(sp??) Bakery (awesome cake!!)
- John Prazma will make sure the beer situation is taken care of
- Joyce is going to be the treasurer and the checks are going to go to her
- Beth is going to make copies of the invitations once she gets the rough draft from Rocky
- We are going to try to mail out the invitations at least a month before the RSVP deadline which may be July 25th because Ravanelli's needs a one week lead time for the final headcount
- Our next meeting will probably be sometime in mid-June to stuff the envelopes and finalize the planning
- Alex will be asked to mail merge our address list and make mailing labels and name tags if possible
- so far no one has stepped up to do a pre- or post-party such as baseball game, golf or picnic but that may be OK
- We are thinking the hours will be 6 - 11:30 pm, with 6-7 pm socializing, 7-8:30 pm eating, 8:30 - 11:30 pm band/dancing
- we may do a 50/50 drawing to raise money to offset cost
- considering $35 / person cost based on 150 people, if we have more and make more money we can add more alcoholic drinks or something
- We may consider providing a maximum of 2 kegs of beer which is around $300 and if we run out then everyone can use the cash bar
- sodas/water will be provided
- Lisa is getting Ravanelli's to cater the event and the possible menus are online at http://www.ravanelliscatering.com/contact_us.aspx
- We will need make sure that we have a PA system available to us possibly through the band and that everyone will be able to hear announcements
- dress will be Business Casual

Well, it's late and that's all I can think of right now. Everything seems to be going well and I believe this will be our best reunion yet. Thanks for everyone's help!!! Rocky

Mark Whitehead - Mary (Earney) Whitehead

2009-05-06T11:14:00.004-05:00

Dear Classmates,

My name is Mark Whitehead and I have been remembered mostly as “that guy who married Mary Earney”. Mary and I have two grown children. Our son Scott is a manager at Pepsi Americas, and our daughter Emily teaches high school English and is working on her master’s degree in English. We also have a daughter-in-law and son-in-law. Scott’s wife, Jane, is a stay at home mom and has a photography business part-time. Emily’s husband Bill is a lawyer.

We have been blessed with two granddaughters, Ava who is four and Audrey who is two. Ava is sugar and spice, Grandpa’s little princess. Audrey is rough and tumble. Her first words were “Go Irish!” She will help you with your tools and she will “fix” things for you.

Mary has worked at Ameren for 24 years. Her hobbies are baking, spending time with our children, their spouses, and grandchildren, listening to music, and embroidering baby quilts. She also volunteers for the St. Patrick’s Center casserole dinner program through our parish, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

I worked for 27 years as a structural draftsman (less five years that I worked for American Water Works) and retired in November 2006 due to health issues. On January 7^th, 2007 at 10:30 in the morning we were told that I have Parkinson’s Disease. I kind of knew it already, I could not control the shaking in my right hand.

Today, with the help of Mary, of course, and a drug called Levadopa, I live comfortably with my illness. Most days the drugs work well and I play my guitar, and draw renderings of buildings and houses. I also draw portraits. (Directed motion and muscle tension stops PD tremors.) I’m lucky.

My artwork is for sale (more on that on my Facebook page) with all profits going to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, St.Louis chapter. St. Louis APDA

We still live in Granite City, along with our Golden Retriever, Gabriel, in a condo, so I don’t have home maintenances issues. We have been together since our first date in November 1978.

Walter Rongey

2009-04-25T19:50:00.006-05:00

After graduation in '79, I spent four years at the University of
Illinois, where I earned my B.S. in Biology. I spent the next four years
at SIU School of Dental Medicine in Alton, graduating (with Rocky) in
1987. I also married Cindy (from Belleville) in 1985. After graduating
from dental school, I joined the Army, thinking I would do that for 3
years before going into private practice.

So over 21 years later, I'm still in the Army, now a colonel. Cindy and
I have lived in Germany twice, Maryland, Korea, California, and Hawaii.
We're now living in Texas for the third time, having moved here last
summer. Along the way we've been blessed with five children--Matthew (18, and a freshman at Niagara University in New York), Josephine (15, a high school sophomore), Mary (10--she'll be 11 on 1 May--5th grade), Christopher (8, 2nd grade), and Peter (5, kindergarten). The dog in the photo is Shadow, but we had to give him up a few months ago (that's our Christmas 2008 photo, by the way). I'm stationed at Fort Hood, TX, where I'm the Assistant Director of the US Army Advanced Education in General Dentistry, Two-Year Program (AEGD-2)--I was a resident in the very same program from 1996-1998. Last summer we bought our current home in Temple, TX, about 25 miles from Fort Hood.

We occasionally get back to G.C., but not too often. Most recently, we were there in early February for my Dad's funeral. My mom still lives in the house where I grew up, and my brother Rob, who was very serioulsy injured in an automobile accident back in 2005, lives with her. Cindy still has family in Belleville, although her Dad died back in February of 1985.

We hope to be there for the reunion in August. That weekend is right at the time when the kids start back to school--all except Matthew, who starts back at the end of the month. I hope we can make it work, though. I was there for the 20th, and it was a really good time.

Cindy (Jackovich) Haas

2009-04-25T09:18:00.003-05:00

After graduating from GCHS - SOUTH. I went to Eureka College where I met my future husband John. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last fall. We have 3 children; Ashley is a junior in high school, Lauren is a freshman in high school and Jared is in 6th grade. We farm in Rock Falls, Illinois. I returned to school and earned my secondary teaching certification in math, and some day when the nest is a little emptier, I will probably return to the classroom. We attend and are active in a fantastic church (Abiding Word Church). I just stepped out of the Praise and Worship Team and started working with the Youth. Working with this group brings back a lot of memories. (could it really be 30 years ago???)

Mary Pearson posted...... Things from 1989.

2009-04-22T16:32:00.001-05:00

Believe it or not, I found the booklet that was made for the ten year class reunion.

Here are some of the things that they put in the booklet from 1989:

in the year 1979:
Jimmy Carter was President
Best Movies: Kramer vs. Karmer
Best Actor was: Dustin Hoffman
Best Actress was: Sally Field
T.V. Shows: Hawaii Five-O and Happy Days

Population in 1979 was 223,880,000
Population in 1989 was 248,900,000

Total Number in Graduating Class: 530
Missing Persons (Unable to locate) 177
Married: 120
Single: 42
Divorced: 5

Lori (Astorian) Bancroft

2009-04-21T03:18:00.005-05:00

After graduation, I married and moved to Washington Dc. I had a son named Daniel, divorced and returned to Granite City. Daniel and I moved to San Diego and Orange County California where I worked as a waitress and enjoyed life near the beach. Dan and I moved to Jacksonville Florida, dedicated my life to the Lord, and found a calling in music as a Priase and Worship leader, writer and Puppeteer. I came back and met my curent Husband while working on a Praise team with him. I have been doing outreach Puppet ministry to hurting kids for about 20 years. While in Florida I began my career as a Claims Examiner for an Insurance Company and progressed into different areas of the Health Insurance industry. I have traveled throughout the country, experienced Mexico and the Bahama's. My husband plays drums and I play guitar and we have made beautiful music together for about 10 years now.

Life is very good and full of adventure!

A Twins Trifecta

2009-04-14T07:27:00.002-05:00

Well the last few days have shot our numbers up to 258 alumni. Keep up the good work everyone! Keep those tips coming on how to find some of our alumni. Just wanted to mention the twins trifecta. First I found Susan Prokopich Montgomery that led me to the Montgomery twins. Then Rocky sent me info on the James twins yesterday. Then I hit up my buddy John Beswick, who is friends with Chris Hartman, who is the brother of the Hartman twins. Whew!!!!!

So we have Mark and Mike, Glenda and Brenda, and Judy and Janet all accounted for.......

Anita Busch

2009-04-12T01:05:00.005-05:00

Anita Busch graduated from college and moved to Chicago where she worked as an editor and reporter for Advertising Age magazine. In 1990, she moved to Los Angeles to cover marketing for the entertainment trade paper The Hollywood Reporter before moving over as film editor/senior film reporter at Variety. She covered the entertainment industry for 14 years and has worked for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, JFK Jr.'s now defunct George, Premiere, L.A's NPR radio station and Time magazine. She also served as the editor of The Hollywood Reporter overseeing a staff of 100 people with reporters in about 20 countries. She retired from journalism after her life was threatened and her phones illegally wriretapped while a reporter at The Los Angeles Times. The criminal investigation led to the largest illegal wiretapping case in the history of the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office.

Those convicted under the RICO (racketeering/organized crime) act included "private investigator to the stars" and ringmaster Anthony Pellicano, a drug runner named Alexander Proctor who was caught on tape by the FBI saying that he was hired by Pellicano to blow up Busch's car, a dirty Los Angeles cop named Mark Arneson who accessed Busch's information illegally on law enforcement databases and sold it to Pellicano, a dirty Beverly Hills cop, Pacific Bell phone company workers who were paid by Pellicano to illegally wiretap Busch's phones, a former Hollywood Records executive, a computer whiz who developed the wiretapping equipment, a Las Vegas businessman, and the lawyer for billionaire businessman Kirk Kerkorian. The trial also exposed the Los Angeles Times' cozy relationship to Pellicano, who now is serving 15 years in federal prison on 76 counts. A dirty FBI agent was also arrested for illegally accessing information on Busch's case that ended up in the hands of Pellicano's lawyers prior to trial.

Busch testified in two federal criminal trials and must testify in the upcoming state criminal trial. She is not sure she will make it to the reunion.

Shannon Glasgow

2009-04-10T18:55:00.008-05:00

After studying at Harlaxton College in the English Midlands, I finished my BA in International Relations from William Jewell College in Liberty, MO in 1982. The next 13 months were spent traveling around Europe and North Africa, staying with friends in the UK and working on farms / in restaurants in Finland, Norway and Ireland. After returning to the US, completed an MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at SIU-C. In 1986 moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where I worked 13 years, mostly as the Coordinator for In-House and Overseas Language and Work-Related Training Programs at the headquarters of a major petrochemical company, SABIC. Married Christiane, a Syrian Christian raised in Cairo, in 1990. Daughter Rebecca followed in 1991 and son Patrick in 1992. They've grown up trilingually -- English, Arabic and French. Joined UAE University as an English for Specific Purposes Instructor in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, in 1999. Then moved to Abu Dhabi University as the Deputy Director of the English Language Institute at the Al Ain campus in 2005, where I still work. Have been active with Toastmasters since 1994, later founding Al Ain's 1st club and currently serving on the organizing committee of the Arabian Gulf region's annual convention, which will be held in Abu Dhabi next month (www.dtacad.com). Am attaching a photo of the kids and me in Goa, India, last month.

All the best,
Shannon

Broke 200!!!!

2009-04-06T17:59:00.003-05:00

Keep the leads and contact info coming! We have passed the 200 mark on alumni we have contact info for.... 200/530 isn't great but lets keep going. Make sure you check the list and email me anyone you can get info on.

Thanks everyone!

ap

click here to see the list

Paul Blattner

2009-04-05T20:30:00.003-05:00

A lot of things have happened in my life in the last 30 years. I have been married to my wife, Jahnne Kae, since 1986. We have one daughter who is 19 and is pursuing her Doctor of Pharmacy degree. We moved to Waterloo, IL 9 years ago.

I currently work as a power lineman for IBEW Local 309, JF Electric. I still enjoy hunting, fishing and boating.

Last August I had a heart attack and have recovered 100%.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the 30th reunion. My wife and I had a great time at our 25th.

Karen Hornback (Memorial)

2009-04-03T18:53:00.003-05:00

This is an online memorial to Karen that was emailed to me by Keith Malench, thanks Keith. It's the craziest thing, I tried to find Karen in the yearbook and not one picture or mention in the index. I didn't stay in touch with Karen but I remember her with fond memories. So full of life, so political, an activist in the making.

http://virtualmemorials.com/main.php?action=view&mem_id=15141&page_no=1

Lisa (Walrenberger) Maurer

2009-04-02T16:20:00.004-05:00

Hello Fellow Classmates:
It is really hard to believe that we graduated 30 years ago from high school. I still feel young, don’t you?
My first years out of high school were filled with drama. My mom was sick with cancer and died before my 21st birthday. I still miss her to this day. During college I thought I had found “the one” for me, but he was in a terrible car accident and spent a year in a coma and was not able to fully recover, very sad indeed.
I did graduate from SIUE with a degree in early childhood and elementary education. My dad the great German guy that worked in the technical center at Anheuser-Busch left us suddenly from a massive heart attack at age 58. Fortunately, I did meet the love of my life before my dads passing and my dad walked me down the isle on my wedding day. Gene, my husband and I have been married for nearly 23 years. Gene went to Vianney High School and Dayton University where he played soccer and hockey and graduated with an MBA in business. We have 3 great kids, Adam 19 who is attending Southwest Missouri State, Jordan 16 a sophomore in high school and Erica 11 who is getting ready for middle school. I have been teaching for the Mehlville School District for 22 years. I have taught third grade, kindergarten and second grade. My family and I have lived in South County, St. Louis for all 23 years of our marriage. My siblings Eric, Diane and Paul all of whom attended Granite South High School all live in the Edwardsville area. I have helped plan each of the reunions and hope you will join us in a fun evening of old memories and renewing friendships.

People we need contact info for.....PLEASE LOOK!

2009-04-01T21:27:00.005-05:00

Here is the list of people we need contact info on. I just plain need help people. I am sure a lot of these people are local but I am doing the best I can. Any lead would be helpful and I am after address, phone number, spouse's name and most important an email address if they have one. The list of people we have contact info for is climbing but is at only 165...

Click here to see the list.

Thanks,

ap

First Meeting

2009-03-30T07:08:00.002-05:00

We had our first meeting for the reunion yesterday. We held the meeting at 6:00pm at the Elk's in Granite City. In attendance was Alex Paz, Lisa Waltenberger Maurer, John Six and Suzette Neubauer Holmes. Rocky Lupardus was under the weather and couldn't make it.

The top issue addressed was finding our alumni. The group threw out names and I verified if I had their addresses or not and did a little reminiscing. John Six had a lot of good stories...... Bottom line is we as a class have to do a lot better finding our alumni and this is a call to all of you for help. If everyone on the blog helps with a name or two we can really make some progress. I will post the list soon of the names we have good info on and people we need help with. We did discuss putting an ad in the Suburban Journal and on the public channel on Charter Cable.

We also discussed the idea of having Ravenelli's cater the event, can you really go wrong with broasted chicken? Also threw in pasta and salad blah blah blah. Nothing exciting with the menu but it's all about the company and conversation right? So saying that what helps get the conversation going is an open bar so we are figuring that into the equation as well. : )

A big thanks to John Six who arranged for us to rent the Elk's but also booked the band as well. The band is good friends of John's and they are cutting us a good deal. You can see the band's playlist (Less Than Serious) at http://www.LTSBand.com . Thank's John!

Finally we made a quick walk through of the hall and it looks like a great place for the reunion.

I want to take this opportunity to also plug the blog again. I really hope more people will send me their stories on what they have been up since graduation. All you have to do is email the stories to me at lxpaz@yahoo.com and I will make sure it makes it on the blog. A special thanks to the few that have already shared their stories!!!!

Have a great day everyone!!! Next meeting is the last Sunday of the month in April at 6:00pm at the Elk's. We need help so please show up if your interested in helping.....

Alex Paz
lxpaz@yahoo.com

Karen (Doty) Beasley

2009-03-19T23:00:00.010-05:00

Since graduation I have had a wide variety in my working career. I worked as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant for Drs. Schnellmann and Doisy for 13 years. It was an interesting field and I especially enjoyed learning to assist in cataract surgery. I did however, become tired of "checking eyes" all day and wanted a change of pace. I have since worked as a scale house clerk in GC Steel, payroll/accounts payable clerk for a local trucking company, and an Office Manager for a real estate title company. I am now currently employed at Nicol Financial Services as a Client Relations Specialist.

I have been married to Dennis Beasley for 22 years. We have 3 kids, Dennis II is 30 married and has a 2 1/2 year old daughter, is an IT Manager, Kyle is 20 a junior at SIU-E and works at Pizza Hut and Rachel is 16 a junior at GCHS and is in the Marching & Concert bands and active in our church youth group.

Karen

John W. Nicol Sr.

2009-03-19T16:31:00.004-05:00

I have six children, two step children and two grandsons, with another grandchild on the way. I have been working for the Madison County Sheriff's Office for 13 years as a Jail Deputy. My wife's name is Judy (Hoelter). My phone number is 618-406-6153 if anyone would like to talk about old times. I hope you are having a great life.

Thanks.

John

Joni (Smith) Walters

2009-03-15T19:45:00.007-05:00

My name is Joni Walters now. I graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from SIUE. I was married to Rick Willmore for 7 years and we had two children Robyn and Evan who are now 23 and 20. Rick has remarried and is currently living in Pacific, MO. He and I have remained great friends.

I went on and spent 20+ years doing technology support for many area law firms and am now the Technology Coordinator for OASIS Institute in Clayton, MO. Evan is going to college at St. Louis Community College @ Meramec where his dad works and delivers pizza for Pizza Hut here in Granite. Robyn works at Steak N' Shake and is an avid gamer.

After another attempt at marriage, at the young age of 40, I had two more beautiful children, Isaac, 8 and Sarah Walters 7. The kids and I live in Granite City and are members of Suburban Baptist Church. In addition to working with computers and networks, I am a Southern Gospel Music promoter and organize and frequently sing at large Gospel Concerts. I am a huge animal lover and have a Chihuahua, cat, two guinea pigs, a bird and gerbil. My family is really into the Wii right now and we love fishing and camping in the summer. Life is truly beautiful.

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2007 requiring chemotherapy and radiation. As of this writing I am cancer free and back to living life to it's fullest. I truly am thankful to celebrate 30 years of anything!

Joni (Smith) Walters

A productive Sunday....

2009-03-15T14:15:00.003-05:00

I made some progress today and the number is up to 114 verified alumni. I also made some calls to today to try and catch people at home and sent a few emails as well. I recieved emails from:

Jeff Davis
Joni Smith
Vahe Habeshian

I also talked to the following alumni on the phone:
Mike Christich
Mark Linhart
Steven Burns
Charles Bulva
Vicky Barnstable Tognarelli
Marilee House Burch (Spoke to her daughter)
Billy Dalton
Laura Wickham Dalton (their son)

Then there was one disturbing call. The one you dread, the awkward call to a deceased alumni. I felt aweful!!!!! I called Veronica "Vicki" Segedy Cain. I had no idea that she has been deceased for 2-3 years. Not sure who answered but I quickly apologized and said I was sorry for their loss. I was tongue tied and could not get out who I was or say anything else.

The search goes on.....

Quick note....

2009-03-14T10:50:00.002-05:00

So the class prez is off to Cozumel I will keep forging ahead. Would love to be anywhere warm right now. My business trip the following week takes me to Ontario, Canada. Hmmmmm... Wonder if Rocky wants to trade? Anyway the only thing to report this week is we broke 100 alumni verified. Still lots of people to find. I am doing my best folks....

ap

Rocky Lupardus

2009-03-12T10:30:00.007-05:00

This is my first blogging attempt. Alex wanted me to be the first to start updates about ourselves since graduating. I am not sure how detailed to get but here it goes... I went on to the University of Illinois and graduated with a degree in Food Science which really didn't matter because I went right into dental school in Tulsa, OK at Oral Roberts Univ. While there I met and married my wife, Christine in 1984. I only attended 2 out of my 4 years of dental school in Tulsa because the school closed and then I finished my last 2 years near home at SIU in Alton. I then joined the Army as a dentist and we traveled the world for over 6 years: Ft. Jackson, SC; Munich, Germany ( 3 years); San Antonio, TX; Chicago,IL; Ft. Loenard Wood, MO. In 1993, I bought the dental practice in Eureka, MO where I still am. Chris and I have been married now for almost 25 years and we have 3 children: Brittany is 20 and in her 3rd year at Mizzou and married to Kris who is almost graduating in Electical Engineering. They plan on going into the missions with Campus Crusade For Christ and will probably spend a year or two somewhere in Asia. Ryan is 15 and a freshman in HS at Eureka and Amanda is 14 and in 8th grade. We love to travel and keep busy with the kids activities. Hope to read more about all of you....take care, Rocky

Becky Corzilius (Rebecca Jane Corzilius)

2009-03-12T09:14:00.006-05:00

This morning I had a pleasant call with Becky Corzilius to kick off the first interview for the blog.

So the basics....

Name: Becky Corzilius
Spouse: Robert Clauss (23 years)
Home: Mt. Prospect, IL
College: Eastern Illinois University (Charleston, IL)

Becky was very modest on her accomplishments but I see her as a very successful business woman and quite the entreprenuer. As I understand it, she has a couple of businesses up and running at the moment, but her primary business has been operational for 18 years. Her business, Becky & Company, involves being an independent sales representitive for the gift industry. She even has a showroom in the prestigeous Merchadise Mart in Chicago on the gift floors. (Go Becky!) She also has a 3 year old business that started as a hobby and has now taken on a life of its own. The company is a wholesale candle company called Crash Candles. I am going to have to check my manly hood and say these are some really sweet candles. Unfortanately, Crash Candles are only available at higher end gift shops so guess I won't see them at the local WalMart. So how does our senior year book editor and also her college year book editor as well wind up to be in business for herself? It turns out her first job out of college was working for a yearbook publishing company in Michagan. This opportunity lasted for two years before her then boss informed her she didn't play well with others and had a problem with authority!!! Who would have thought our mild mannered Becky Jane would have a problem with authority. So she packed herself up and moved back to Chicago and the rest is as they say......history.

What happend today.......

2009-03-11T18:29:00.005-05:00

I recieved an email from Rocky bright and early to let me know he doesn't know much about blogging but if it is a way to get the word out about the reunion he was all for it. I think once I get some people interviewed or submitting their stories we should draw some attention. So bare with me and my rambling....
Lets see, I didnt make too much progress on finding people today, but I did get a few more people verified. Lets see Rocky forwarded me Kim Dittrich-Diest with a new email address, I spoke with Gary Vogeler, Jan Purkey Cook passed on Cherie Hahne's email address, Margret Lovins Brandt who passed on an email address for Sue Cambell Ropac and recieved an email from Rosalie Ponce Christopher. So now the running tally is 84 alumni we have found. I have a stack of paperwork from the 10, 20 and 25 year reunion that I am trying to reference but is a bit time consuming. So the search continues........

-ap

Site and date selected...

2009-03-10T10:41:00.003-05:00

Well i know it was posted already but thought I would say it one more time. The site and date for our 30 year reunion has been set for:

Date: Sat. August 15th, 2009

Place: Elks Lodge
4801 Maryville Rd
Granite City, IL 62040

As more details emerge I will post them!

2009-03-10T10:36:00.001-05:00

Well I thought I would try to blog the forming of our 30th reunion and maybe we can get other people to write some things down and I can post them here. Maybe feature one of our Alumni a week? Just not sure how much time I can dedicate to the search of classmates and blogging. We shall see....

Alex Paz
lxpaz61@gmail.com