Name: Greg Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 12, 2006, 5:21 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Hawthorne, CA
E-mail
Message: For anyone interested here is the info for Tom Ruegger: Viewing from 1pm to 8pm on 12-19 at Green Hills Mortuary, 27501 S. Western Ave, Rancho Palos verdes and services will be at 11am on 12-20 at the same place. If anything changes I will post or you can contact me at my email address. As crazy as he was he will be missed. R.I.P. TR

Name: Wade Greasby ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 12, 2006, 3:31 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Surf City, Ca
E-mail
Message: Tom Rugger was one of the best ball players to come out of HHS. A natural, could throw, hit, run and lead. I had known Tom since Little League and we were teammates on many summer ball teams. As a Freshman at Pepperdine he started in right field and in the College District Play-offs threw a seed from the right field corner to nail a runner at the plate. Just an incredible player and person. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 12, 2006, 12:17 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: Very sad about Tom. I was good friends with him after high school. He was an awesome baseball player. He was scheduled to go to spring training and had a motorcycle accident changing his chain or something like that and cut off his index finger of his left hand. He ended up practising to throw right and got very good. He was nuts but a good guy. Sorry to hear about his death.

Name: Greg Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 12, 2006, 9:10 am - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Hawthorne, CA
E-mail
Message: Very sad news this morning. Tom Rugger, class of '74, passed away this morning. He had been ill for some time. I'll pass on more info when it comes available. He was a great guy and excellent ball player.

Name: Wade Greasby ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 12, 2006, 7:57 am - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Surf City, Ca
E-mail
Message: While attending the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now called University of Louisiana Lafayette, our nickname was the "Ragin Cajuns". On our baseball jackets the title read "Ragin Coonasses". A "Coonass" is slang for a Cajun. A Cajun is a person of French desent who was put into exile down in Louisiana by the French Government in Canada back in the late 1700's. On the Polo Shirts we wore while on the road, on the breast pocket, was our number and below was "USL Ragin Coonass". I guess it could have been worse, It could have read "Ragin Cornhusker"? There isn't any logo better than a COUGAR, An HHS COUGAR!!! Roll on you Cougars

Name: Walter Holt ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 11, 2006, 7:30 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Surf City, CA
E-mail
Message: And least we've not forget these famed mascots: The Punahou, Hi- Buff N' Blues, The Ribet Acadamy, Ca - Fighting Frogs, The Manual Arts, Ca - Toilers, The Fort Collins, Co - Lambkins, The Ojai Valley, Ca - Spuds, The Yuba City - Honkers, The Bloomington, MN - Awesome Blossoms, The Hickman, Mo - Kewpies, The Hoopeston, IL - Cornjerkers, The Sturgis, SD - Scoopers, The Benson, NE - Bunnies, The Watersmeet, MI - Nimrods ( Highly recruited by the Wolverines- Go USC !!!) and last but not least The Poca, WV - DOTS (Thats Right- The Poca Dots)
Surf Report: Even though we did not get the epic Swells of No Cal, Ore, Wa and HI we did see some great surf here in Surf City this weekend with some 13-15' faces. they were and still are really tough to make the sections and the drop ins were really gnarly. The new inlet at Bolsa Chica provided some of the best surf we have been in for a long time with great stand up tubes rides. The down side was fighting the crowded conditions eventually I moved to not so crowded spots for safety reasons. The new 9' Fish handled the swell with enough speed and maneuverablity to keep me stoked. Although I do admit to having to back out of a lot of outside sets using the better part of discretion (called getting Older & Wiser.) Thankful I was a Cougar too.

Name: Debbie ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 11, 2006, 6:18 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Miles
Class: 1977
City & State: Del Aire
E-mail
Message: My step dad's high school was in Rock Island, IL. They were the Rock Island Rocks. This is the same person who told me to tell my sixth grade teacher (Mr. Kelly at Sepulveda) that he had a fifth of scotch in him when we were studying heritages. ;=)

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 11, 2006, 12:56 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: I have one for Sloey; Freeport High Pretzels in Illinois.
Some funny high school mascots; Yuma High Crimminals, Daniel High Little Johns, Ozark High Hillbillies, Wonderview High Daredevils, Concord High Minutemen, San Benito High Hay Balers, Dunn High Earwigs, Yuba City High Honkers, Alamosa High Mean Moose, Avon Winged Beavers, Lauren Hill Hoboes, Feeburg High Midgets. These are all real and there a ton more. Thank you HHS for being Cougars

Name: KIRK C. GREASBY ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 11, 2006, 12:30 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: SNOW! CO.
E-mail
Message: Gas to drive to Kansas $200.00 Stay in a Holiday Inn Express $96.00 Tickets to see O.U. play Nebraska $250.00 Hotdogs,Cokes,Beverages,Peanuts $30.00 SOONERS WINNING $$worth the drive. Being pulled over by a Kansas State Trooper who graduated from O.U. and getting a warning PRICELESS!

Name: Patti Barry ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Dec 11, 2006, 11:52 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Treckman
Class: 1979
City & State: Lakeway, TX
E-mail
Message: John, I have trouble enough saying that my kid is a Horned Frog just 1 time, much less 4 times in a row. I'm also 'fortunate' enough to have a volleyballer kid at Delaware...known as the Blue Hens. So we have a Horned Frog and a Blue Hen! I guess I can count my blessings to have been a regular ole Cougar!

Name: Elizabeth Aleccia ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Dec 10, 2006, 8:53 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Estrada
Class: 1969
City & State: Redondo Beach, CA
E-mail
Message: Hello Everybody! I'm getting a new grandbaby for Christmas. She's arriving Dec. 18th and she will be named Marlie. We're all very excited. My family has much to celebrate. You may remember last Christmas my sister Vicky had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She had surgery and nine months of chemo treatments and radiation therapy. Last month we got the news that she is cancer free! So, keep the faith brothers and sisters! And Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you. I love you guys.

Name: Art La Mere ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Dec 9, 2006, 6:43 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Bettendorf Ia
No E-mail
Message: To all, first, Happy Holidays from the La Mere's in Iowa. For all that know my sister Ginny (class of 75) we just found out this past week that she has Cancer. She is to have an operation set for the 21st of December to remove part of her tongue and some other glands in her neck. She is in high spirits right now however she is in for a real fight, so please all keep her in your prayers. Thanks Art

Name: James Armour ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Dec 9, 2006, 2:23 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1970
City & State: Atlanta, GA
E-mail
Message: This is a Christmas card to all my Hawthorne High Brothers and Sisters and my way of saying a heartfelt thanks for the "family" you afford me:
This aura of the holidays is so beautiful. The way it makes you feel insignificant but in the best sort of way. It's so much larger than any of us, buts it's better if you are a part of it. It is the time when you take stock of who you are and where you are. You have the option of allowing your emotions to flow happily and freely along with the tide of the season. If you shed a few tears, it's ok. This time of year, just about all emotions are acceptable. You almost have to cry once the season's spirit has wrapped it's arms around you and snuggled you close. Inside the folds of the season there is nothing frightening, nothing but sweetness and love. Meanwhile, much of the world is uncaring and cruel but, for just a little while, it is okay to ignore it. It will still be there, waiting, anytime you want to visit but, for right now, let's not. Let's take a little timeout here and concentrate on this moment, this fleeting joy that is within arms reach of our hearts. Please don't let it get away from you. You don't want to miss this opportunnity. Just allow it to happen, it will you know. A Christmas candle is a lovely thing. It makes no noise at all but softly gives itself away while, quiet and unselfishly, it grows small. There is a lesson for humanity from the candle. Can anyone explain the glow of Christmas? Holidays are candles in the night. Rebirth comes from family and friends in one bright blur of food and talk that ends, still burning as an peacful inner light. There is no way to substitute for Christmas. Miss it and no circumstance feels right. All my heart is with you. May this Christmas be the first of many, each more joyous in your growing love, revealing more of happiness than any riches might provide or pain removed. Years flow like an unrepentant river, carrying the soil of life away. It holds far more than it can deliver, rushing past the certitudes that stay. From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another, the warmth of Christmas brings us closer to each other. Shoot! I don't want to experience this alone. That's why I am writing all of you this letter. To invite you to walk down this path with me. You see, as I've shared these Christmas stories with you, you have become the characters in one more Christmas story. That Christmas story will describe these wonderful people who have allowed me to share myself with them. I opened up my memories throughout the last 9 years and laid them before you. Thank you for treating them so gently. What a lovely story you have given me. I love you for that. Thank goodness there are lots of different kinds of love and thank goodness I have been fortunate enough to experience so many of them. If it finds it's way into my heart, I call it love. Peace to all and Merry Christmas

Name: Dean Morris ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Dec 9, 2006, 12:41 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: NorCal
E-mail
Message: More Amusing College Nicknames/Mascots: UC Irvine Anteaters, Delaware Fighting Blue Hens, Williams College Purple Cows, Cooper State Cannibals, Southern Illinois Salukies, Univ of Missouri, KC Kangaroos, Rhode Island 'Nads, Oregon State Beavers (just imagine OSU playing Rhode Island), Hawaii Fighting Rainbows. And any school using a color, especially to be PC!

Name: Kathleen ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Dec 9, 2006, 9:27 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Peyton
Class: 1974
City & State: Whittier, CA
E-mail
Message: Happy 50th Birthday to Carrie Montagna (class of '74). You're finally old like the rest of us A's!

Name: Jim Sloey ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 8, 2006, 5:34 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Solvang, Ca
E-mail
Message: Mary Ann, the only problem I saw for your cousin Colt this year was that he looked horrible in burnt orange. He would have looked a lot better in RED! Besides football, Nebraska stresses education more than any other school in the country that's why they have the "N" on the helmet...[k]NOWLEDGE. Seriously he is a good one.

Name: Clark Millman ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 8, 2006, 2:29 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Torrance,CA
E-mail
Message: While we are having this side discussion about college nicknames I can't help but point out the worst one in existance. UC Santa Cruz is the"banana slugs"! Can you just imagine any of the cheers at their athletic contests?! "Go slugs, go, slime em!" They even sell toy banana slugs at their student store.

Name: Bob Melendrez ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 8, 2006, 11:34 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Hawthorne, CA
E-mail
Message: To J.B. and all of Cougartown, Thanks for another great year of reading feedback and recalling times of innocence and wonder. There have been some wonderful additions to the treasures found here at C.T. Jerry Miles and John Achrem, thanks! J.B., your real-time information about cruises, reunions, and picnics, is great. I hope to be able to attend more events in the future. For now looking-in on ailing parents takes priority. I am saddened by the loss of class-mates Roger Rouse and Norm Young. They were both great guys, and I have fond memories of both. After 35 years, I have moved back to Hawthorne. Having lived in Ohio, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida it?s nice to be "home". Sure, it looks different, but so do I... So, my Cougar brothers and sisters, have a wonderful holiday season (no matter which holiday you may celebrate)! And thanks again, John, for all you do for all of us...COUGARS RULE!

Name: Matt Peterson ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 8, 2006, 10:41 am - HHS Time
Class: 1974
City & State: EDH, CA
No E-mail
Message: Merry Christmas everyone. Don?t forget about contributing to Hawthorne High this holiday season. John could you make a sidebar or something that permanently displays the two ways people can donate to Hawthorne High. Otherwise I think the info will be forgotten. Maybe in 2007 CT could do a fundraiser with the money going to Hawthorne High. There are lots of creative people at CT so I am sure there will be lots of creative fundraising ideas. Laura what is a Red Raider? Is that an embarrassed Oakland fan? There are lots of those around.

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 8, 2006, 10:36 am - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: Mary Ann, Colt Brennan led the entire country in 7 QB categories including most touchdowns thrown. Our offense averaged close to or over 500 yards. We were ranked 24 nationally. Not bad for an island just saying. We lost to Oregon but definitley shouldn't have. We missed two short field goals cause of the wind. COlt threw two easy interceptions, we controlled the ball, but we lost. Oh well. All I am saying Hawaii would give any college in the country a run for its money. And thats not bad for an island. And especially when so many of the local kids end up with scholarships to the mainland. And I don't follow football enough to know what BCS stands for.

Name: Jay Beebe ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Dec 8, 2006, 6:54 am - HHS Time
Class: 1978
City & State: Bell Buckle Tennesse
E-mail
Message: Hey, Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all my fellow HHS friends. Go Tennessee TITANS!