.......back to the early stuff.... Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns

Name: Judy DeGrazia () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 19:17:19
E-Mail: redondo612@aol.com
Maiden: DeGrazia
Class: 64
Message: Leeroy... Thanks for the $2.00 offer for my pop's "precious records" but I'm think he'd rather see you throw HIM up in the air for skeet practice first. He's come up with OLD, and I mean OLD magazines..National Geographic.. Reader's digest, and T.V. Guides. I took the one from the week after President Kennedy was shot. It amazes me to see that back in 1963,we only had a choice of about 5 stations. We have old coins..old signed movie stars pics...you name old..we're finding it. John B. going over to pop's this weekend and I'll look for CHERRY PIE. Any other requests? Send them on in. It's a oldfest at the DeGrazia house. Marsha Russell just called in. She's been in Colorado Springs on business and is computerless. I gave her a CT fix.
Judy D THE ROWDYS.

Name: Mike Shay () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 18:54:01
E-Mail: theshays@earthlink.net
Maiden: WoodButcher
Class: 61
Message: Gee Whizz;
You build a little project for a guy and he writes you a testimonial. We both had fun building the hutch and you did a super nice finishing job...so right back at ya...
You didn't mention that you had to wait about a year for me to finish Barb's kitchen..
Hey Chris P. You are right about the Dion song, I should have said "I Wonder Why".. (What the hell I'm gettin' old.)
J.B. My whole family loves you maaan...
M.S.

Name: Christine Baird () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 18:49:47
E-Mail: Bairds1@juno.com
Maiden: Penny
Class: 76
Message: Gloria....i went to hawthorne christian school for kindergarten and then to york elementary, after that i went to hawthorne intermediate and on to HHS. does that jog your ole' memory cells. ") hey are you going on the cruise in 2000? Kathy Stonebrakers reserved me a spot and hubby says i can go....if i can manage to save enough pennies....which i already have! the jokes on him! hope to see ya there.

Name: Kathleen Griffin () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 18:44:22
E-Mail: Spirithart@yahoo.com
Maiden: Nix
Class: 74
Message: Karen Webster, I remember you just don't remember how I remember you! My older sister is Barbie. I'm thinking that perhaps you were in the Orchestra at Dana?
Danny Webb, the 120th race that I most remember took place between Dennis Wilson and Ronnie Swallow. Dennis was driving a fuel injected Sting ray, need I say anything else? Three seconds after they "took off", two of Hawthornes Finest went blazing by. I don't believe the PD ever caught up with them.
Did anyone else like to ride a skateboard down the 120th overpass?
Last week on my way to work I saw the Barnum and Bailey Circus Train on the tracks going south on Alameda. I was immediately taken back to the days when the circus would stage a parade from Aviation, down 120th and up Prairie Ave to the Forum. I never saw the circus but I rarely missed the parade....
See, now I can remember the Parade from Aviation, down El Segundo to Hawthorne Park. Now that's OLDER THAN CONCRETE!!

Name: Chris Prewitt () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 18:08:48
E-Mail: cjprewitt@juno.com
Class: 1967
Message: I just received a message from Melanie Chacon, Chairperson, "Sponsor a Seat" Campaign at Nyman Hall. She informed me that they are starting the work on the seats. They can only do about half of the seats since not enough money has come in to complete the job. The district cannot help with this project so it is up to us the alumni and friends of Hawthorne High School. Please, if you were planning on sending in your contribution and have not done it yet, do it now. If you can?t afford to purchase a seat or another seat maybe you can get 8 to 10 people to kick in $10 to sponsor one. John, I will kick in $10 to sponsor a seat for Billy (feedback 108, Marilyn Caldera) anyone else? Send it to:
Hawthorne High School Seat Fund
Attn: Sherman Wayne
4859 West El Segundo Blvd
Hawthorne, CA 90250
More information can be found on the Nyman Hall page.
Thanks Chris, BTW, one of the raffle prizes at the Homecoming party will be a Nyman Hall seat in the name of the winner. Great idea, collecting for a "Billy, the ghost of Nyman Hall" AND how about honoring the "Green Phantom" too. If you want to donate to the Nyman Hall "Sponsor a Seat" fund, please send your donations to:
John Baker
PO Box 1406
Lomita,CA 90717
and write on your check, "Billy" or "Green Phantom" so you will get credit for your donation. Come on Cougs. This one will be fun. Please get your donations in the mail SOON as this project needs the money TODAY.
Thank you....

Name: Karen () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 18:00:55
E-Mail: isitsafetosay
Maiden: Hare
Class: 66
Message: Hi ya John,
Just wanted to say it's good to have Prince Robin and Prince Jim back. I have also noticed we have not heard from El and ID Queen for awhile are they mia. Oh and I am not leaving out Bob Rierdon this time. WHERE ARE YOU GUYS.
Yeah, Where Are You Guys!!!

Name: LEEROY FELDERRUSTER () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 17:22:39
E-Mail: leeroyfe@yahoo.com
Class: 55
Message: HOWDY!
I wuz lookin at dese pages fer a wile nows sin I's been sit in dem bleekers waitin ta sav ya all a seet. no ones rites ol LEEROY so hed jest be sittin. Enyways I's giv ya 2 dolers Miss Judy fer dem rekords make allfull good skeet targits. my frends in da rifel club be proud of dat purchase if id knowed who dey wuz. enyways is goin to be savin seets fer yer if ya all emales me ta tell me ta savs ya all a seat! take cares nows an I's be seein ya on the 15 of Septmbr, no Beulah sez Oktobur. Tank ya fer let me stops bye. LEEROY FELDERRUSTER AND BEULAH PSS. (dud i's fergit a leter?) enyways i seen dem picshures frum dat cruise ting, ya all a hamsum bunch jest likes me a BEULAH.
Judy, Get the 2 dollars UP FRONT!!!

Name: Sharon () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 16:46:19
E-Mail: MacDonald
Maiden: Badger
Class: 63
Message: Hey Judy D.... Never throw anything away!
If I were geographically closer, I'd rush right over to see what vinyl you had. Many of those old records are collectible, while others are good for LeeRoy to use for target practice.
There are quite a few websites devoted to record collecting. You (and anyone else looking for old vinyl to complete their collection) might take a look at www.hitsingle.com.
I have quite a few old stereo, monaural, and Hi-Fi records. It was quite a job finding a sound system with a turn table - funny thing is the only one we could find was a cheepy from ShopKo (Wisconsin discount store). If you have any old country & western, rockabilly, or folk music, I'd sure be interested in seeing what titles you have.
Good luck - you should be able to find a local collector to take them off your hands and make a few dollars at the same time.
I'm looking for the 78 of "Cherry Pie" by Marvin and Johnny

Name: Gloria Herlosky () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 16:26:26
E-Mail: Gpork
Maiden: Valencia
Class: 76
Message: "..."CHUI'S" Low Rider and Tuck and Roll Emporium..." Juanito, PALEEZE!
Hey Diane Sanchez! You are a name from the past! Haven't seen you since '75. A nurse? That's fantastic! I was leafing through the El Molino, (not the El Monte, Juanito), and saw you in your little drill team uniform in a lot of pics, those were the days, eh? Chris Penny, I remember you from HHS, but did you also go to Eucalyptus and Intermediate? My memory is failing me, I am ashamed to admit.

Name: Judy DeGrazia () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 15:32:28
E-Mail: redondo612@aol.com
Maiden: DeGrazia
Class: 64
Message: If any of my fellow alumni are collectors of old records...78's, 45,s 33.3,s from the days of 1940's on.. give me an e-mail.. My pop is cleaning out and selling his "precious stuff" better known to my mom as the "**#*!## junk" and found 2000 old records spanning from Italian opera to Elvis Presley. Maybe CT has a memorabilia collector. I'll look for your mail. Looks like we only have 90 more pages to turn over before the next event. That'll just give the ROWDYS enough time to prepare. Judy D.. THE ROWDYS
I Can't Wait....

Name: Linda Kristof () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 15:28:48
E-Mail: LKWriter1@Juno.com
Maiden: Christian
Class: 64
Message: I will be interested to hear of the reply to George Gonzales in his query about repairing his class ring.
Steve and I had our class rings stolen along with everything else we held dear, in 1995. Wish we could replace them. That is probably futile to ask about. I didn't wear my ring, but loved having it and the memories it brought.
Linda K.

Name: Chris Prewitt () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 15:11:54
E-Mail: cjprewitt@juno.com
Class: 1967
Message: Mike Shay,
There is a WEB site for Dion. The funny thing is it didn't mention "Don't know why I love you...". You can see it at http://yodion.com/. For those of us with poor memories some of Dion's songs are "I Wonder Why", "Runaround Sue", "Sweet Surrender" , "Ruby Baby", "Teenager in Love", "Abraham Martin And John", and of course "The Wanderer".
"I roam around around around around around around".......

Name: JIM SLOEY () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 14:35:02
E-Mail: SHELVESAREMYMIDDLENAME.COM
Maiden: NORM ABRAMS
Class: PROBABLY NOT
Message: Hey Mike Shay you don't know me but I was just looking at the rest of the pictures, you are a really a good looking guy, and no I do not wear green and yellow on Thursday. And I am also a friend of John Baker, although not as long as you, and I also went to HHS, '66. And I was at cruise night. Amazing, huh?. Now that WE are good friends I was thinking I needed some shelves in my..... Actually I really wanted to say what a gorgeous piece of work that hutch is that John had on the feedback page. My brudder was really good with wood too, the only thing I ever made was the emergency ward, but I appreciate sincerely that talent.
Best
Jim Sloey

Name: JIM SLOEY () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 14:19:50
E-Mail: ROBINDOINGTHEBILLYBUCKSSHUFFLE.COM
Class: PROBABLY NOT
Message: So much for vacations. I go away three days to watch my son play baseball and spend time with one of my other sons, extremely enjoyable, and I return to 4 pages of feedback. What is with the poetry? I only seemed to get glimpses. Rose's are Red
Violet's are Blue
Robin's green and yellow
Mine aren't too!
Hey were Hawthorne kids what we do we know bout rhyming? Robin before you get the other Eye done think, RIN TIN TIN! Much better deal. You won't stay awake at night wondering if they will revert, just whether you let the dog out before you went to bed. Be a coug especially October 15, 1999. I was hoping we were playing the Torrance Tartars, cougars beat dental decay anyday! Sloey
Hey Jimbo, Glad you're back in the Cougartown Corral. Yountville sounds like the "Big City" to me. While you were gone, I went be your Insurance company, "Mutual of El Monte". They've changed shingles and it's now "Chui's Low Rider Accessories and Tuck and Roll Emporium". Sorry about that man.Be a Coug

Name: Debbie Peppers () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 13:06:20
E-Mail: dpeppers44@aol.com
Maiden: Peppers
Class: 73
Message: I miss the good the ole days. I remember when my parents used to take us to the A&W for a papa burger and a rootbeer float. Watching the teenagers in their woodies. Taco Tio had the best tacos in the South bay! I miss my friends and the parties at 36th street.
36th STREET!?!?

Name: Karen LeMaistre () on Tuesday, August 3, 1999 at 11:31:13
E-Mail: KLeMaistre@aol.com
Maiden: Masters
Class: '72
Message: George Gonzalez...In answer to your question about class rings. The company that made the rings the year I graduated ('72) was Jostens. They have a website at www.jostens.com. While glancing through it...I came across the name and number of the current Josten representative for Hawthorne High School. His name is Lloyd (Bud) Waller and his number is (805) 988-0192. Hope this is helpful.

Name: Mike Shay () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 23:43:47
E-Mail: theshays@earthlink.net
Class: 61
Message: Hello All; Barbara and I sure had a great time at Cruise night. It's always fun to see old friends like Vince Schiavi and his wife Mary, Richard (still looks like high school) Slawson, Larry and Loretta Cuiper, Ricki V-F and her husband Jim, and so many others. It was also great meeting lots of folks that we've gotten to know on Cougartown.com...What a Time Machine.... John, no doubt about the Ray Charles lead in being one of the greatest ever, but I kind of lean toward Dion and the Belmonts "Don't Know why I love you".... Very different but just as cool..
Hope to see you all very soon,
M.S.
Hey Mike, You forgot to say that I haven't changed a bit since High School. I'll try to find the Dion record for you too.
Folks, while I've got your attention, and it's a slow night. Mike Shay and I go back to "BEFORE Concrete". I don't know if any of you are interested in woodworking, Jorge, I think you are, but when Mike and his lovely wife got married about 36 years ago, they needed some furniture and they didn't have the money to buy all of it so Mike took a night class in wood shop to make a coffee table and 2 end tables. The rest is history. Now Norm Abrams comes to Mike for advice. I simply said to him one day that I needed some shelves in my living room. We got to drawing this and looking at that. Well, with just some scribbled notes and his mastery of the art, he built me this beautiful hutch. Not only is Mike Shay Vice President of a major Die Casting house in Los Angeles, and a Master wood worker, but he's one of my closest "joined at the Hip" friends. Sorry to blow YOUR horn Mike, but I LOVE YOU MAAAN!! I really do. I want to say that above all, if I left this planet tonight, it's been a total awesome wiggy blast being a part of your life for the last 40 some years. OH, and thanks for the awesome piece of furniture too.

Name: Ken () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 23:36:38
E-Mail: Gunnell
Class: S64
Message: Dorsey High School remembers the good old days of cruzen the route from the Wich Stand to the A&W in Hawthorne. Join our site at www.dorseyhigh.org and relive the past. This site is total awsome.

Name: Loretta Cuiper () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 21:03:48
E-Mail: LCuiper@aol.com
Maiden: Morelli
Class: 62
Message: Hi George Gonzalez, to answer your question regarding your Class Ring, my son looked for the name of the company who made these rings and we could not find a receipt, but you might try calling HHS's office (student store) and we beleive you will have some luck there, they should be able to help. Good Luck George!

Name: Christine Baird () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 19:52:55
E-Mail: Bairds1@juon.com
Maiden: Penny
Class: 76
Message: hey, JB....don't you mean....Jed Clampet? Besides...it's Jethro Bodine....you old timer! ") I may be a young wipper snapper but i know my hillbillies!
Christine, Well thanks for the correction there, and speaking of old timer, I don't know what I'd do without them cougarettes that sit around all day watching 30 year old reruns. I'd change it now, but then again, you knew who I was talking about so I'll just leave her be. Thanks Christine

Name: Susie Sperry () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 18:59:06
E-Mail: ssp1072818@aol.com
Maiden: Manning
Class: 71
Message: Maureen,
I do remember you. So far it's been all of my sisters friends that have mailed me. I guess no body from my class remembers me. Ha Ha. Anyways It was nice hearing from you. Prescott is beautiful. Thanks for the welcome to Cougar Town.

Name: GEORGE GONZALEZ () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 17:28:58
E-Mail: BEATNFEET@MSN.COM
Class: 1971
Message: I AM INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT IF ANYONE KNEW THE NAME OF THE COMPANY THAT FURNISHED THE HIGH SCHOOL RINGS FOR CLASS OF '71. (CHECK OLD RECEIPTS POSSIBLY) I HAVE LOST THE COUGAR FIGURE THAT WAS IN THE CENTER OF THE STONE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT REPLACED..CAN ANYONE OUT THERE HELP?

Name: Dave Long () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 15:15:23
E-Mail: davelong@rain.org
Class: 58
Message: Thanks for bring back the happy days. Elaine Wedel and I have great memories of the time we shared at H.H.S. We would like to have you drop us a line, if you are not still mad at us. Dave Long class of 1958. P.S. We thought the reunion was great, just not enough time to visit.

Name: Howard Duran () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 13:16:39
E-Mail: doo4usc@aol.com
Class: 61
Message: Just got back from New York, I was on some pig farm waiting for Jimi, where were you guys? Robin, you said east stage, right? I didn't see any cruisers either....
Howard, Sorry we missed you. You'd have had a great time. Do not miss Homecoming Weekend.

Name: Robin () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 13:15:39
E-Mail: Keenowasmyfavoriteword.com
Maiden: Rosesareredisalwaysagoodstartpatty
Class: 60
Message: JB I cant leave town for a weekend without this joint turning into poetry fest 99...Good luck finding a Robert Frosters Freeze for the next cruise:o)..
Frank: I know in my heart Johns chosen words would have been "the ever lovely and mature Cougar ladies". But with the pressure of all the posts from cruise night and trying to schedule his evening paper pushers,(tsk tsk) his judgement was clouded at best. His choice of words was a simple mistake. "OLD COUGAR WOMEN" will soon be forgotten Im sure. I know Ill never bring it up again. (Better him than us though , huh Frank?:o)
Sloey: I apologize for the $3200 bill being sent directly to your office...Very unprofessional. I assured Dr Myopic you have been a good friend for many years and a most virtuous California lawyer. (Does that scream oxymoron or what?:o) Its just that his office staff was not familiar with Mutual of El Monte insurance, and thought it best that the bill be sent directly to you. Be assured that this wont happen again when the other eye is done :o)...hey John does the "Steak and Stein" have a dance floor? I may look like Billy Buckner fielding grounders on a waxed floor , but this fossil has fun....Happy August and later Cougs...
Yeah, it seems like I may have stuck my number 11 in the honey bucket on that "Old Cougar Women" comment. The Eudora "You've got Mail Bell" has been tolling in my sleep for a few days. These Old, Elder, Geezered up......these "ever lovely and mature Cougar ladies" understand that I truly didn't mean it, the way it sounded.
The Billy Buckner thing paints a vivid picture. On the dance floor, I however, liken myself to Jethro Bodine Clampett on Uppers. Maybe we'd better just sit this night outThanks Robin and "be a Coug"

Name: Jay Fernandez () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 10:59:13
E-Mail: fernandez.jay@mayo.edu
Class: 1976
Message: Faelin and Cindi - You jogged my memory a bit - While on vacation last month I ran into two other Cougars - Doug Blackwell - He's in Paso Robles working for the Post Office and Pat Hamman, Mickey's brother. He is up in the Seattle area working with a church there. His oldest son just got accepted into Medical school, not to mention is also a talented guitarist.

Name: Mo () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 10:00:19
E-Mail: MOMO90250@AOL.COM
Maiden: Trott
Class: 1964
Message: Susie (Virgy No.1),
Welcome to Cougartown! I don't know if you remember me, but I went all through school with your sister Maureen (I'm the other Maureen). I have a twin sister Colleen (Co) and a younger sister Rosie (she graduated in 1966). Hope you enjoy this website and you hear from some of your old school mates. Do you like living in Prescott, Ariz? I have never been to Prescott, but have been through several other cities. Again, enjoy Cougartown and welcome!
Mo (the other Maureen)

Name: Ricki Farrell () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 01:09:17
E-Mail: farrell8@worldnet.att.net
Maiden: Valencia
Class: '61
Message: We're leaving town tomorrow for a few days up the coast. Besides our puppy Sammy and the drawing on which I'm working, I'll miss Cougartown the most. One week makes so much difference. I know with all the poetry coming in that I'll have a lot to read when I get back. David, that poem of yours was very touching. If "Mom V" sees this: I'll call when we get back."
By the way, I had an impacted tooth once. Does that mean...............?
Gloria, bring your sister some prune juice too. We'll miss you Ricki. Have a great time. We'll be here when you return.

Name: christine Baird () on Monday, August 2, 1999 at 00:44:54
E-Mail: Bairds1@juno.com
Maiden: penny
Class: 76
Message: hey john....is it my need for new glasses or are some of the messages on pg 109 crossed out with a red line?
Thanks Christine, All Fixed.

Name: Diana Romero () on Sunday, August 1, 1999 at 22:10:13
E-Mail: OnlyDi@aol.com
Maiden: Sanchez
Class: 1975
Message: Gloria, You are too much !! I can see that you haven't lost any of the quick wit that you had back in the good ol days at school. You had me rolling with poor John's evacuation schedule. John should consider himself lucky that at his age he can still evacuate himself. Being a nurse, I have seen several fecal impactions done on people his age. Ha Ha Payback John don't pick on the 70's clan !!
Gloria, bring me my bedpan and my prune juice, and HURRY!!! It's almost 6:45

Name: Sharon Branigan () on Sunday, August 1, 1999 at 21:19:27
E-Mail: srbranigan@aol.com
Maiden: POTU
Class: 76
Message: OH what a night
Late July there in 99
Hey Sharon, I think we could make a song out of that one.

Name: Jerry Miles () on Sunday, August 1, 1999 at 20:49:40
E-Mail: jfmiles@pacbell.net
Class: 66
Message: This is an answer to Daniel Webb’s request for 120th stories. I'm afraid I might have been one of the blurs you remember. One of the things we really liked to do....Oh, not me. the other guys, was to wait for a nice raining night. We would head up 120th from La Cienega (was it still Anza then?) at ever so slightly over the posted speed. Well, you know Judah Ave. is a four-lane road at that point and normally no parked cars. As we got to Judah, we crank a hard right and get a ride worth an E ticket. Another thing my friend Larry Boyce liked to do was make it through the freeway underpass when it was flooded. That thing backed up several feet at times after a rain. Sometimes he would make it and sometimes we would push. And I do remember the kids that used to hang out at the light just to push the button and stop every car going by. But time has tempered my anger and all is forgiven...(s).