Name: Sheree ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 11:10 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Klingenhagen
Class: 1975
City & State: Big Bear Lake, CA
E-mail
Message: Besides my .50C an hour baby sitting, my first job was at the McDonalds on Hawthorne Blvd. in Lawndale. And, I'm gonna put in Heather Reoch as we worked together, I hope I didn't step on your toes Heather maybe you wanted to enter that yourself. Also, I have to say that Diana Sanchez worked at Taco Bell right across from HHS. Once again, I stepped on your toes too, sorry! I even got the secret shopper which brought me much aclaim at McDonalds. I got to go to Angels stadium, I think it was, and won off market radios and such. And I need to send a shout out to my brother, if you can get to Big Bear on July 7th, your nephew is getting married and we would like you to be there. The Cougar is always with me and my memories are precious and what it's all about! Thanks John!

Name: Linda Dill ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 10:22 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Sutton
Class: 1967
City & State: Redondo Beach, CA
E-mail
Message: To anyone from the classes of '66/'67 who would like to attend the reunion in July but is having a problem with the cost, please let us know. One of our classmates has generously offered to pay the admission price for 2-3 classmates. I will be out of town for a couple of weeks, so Judi will be the contact for this.
See the Cougartown reunions page for Judi's email or phone. If you happen to run into Judi, she can be very convincing about getting your reservation fee. Just ask Jim Fleming. He happened to be in the bank when we made our last deposit and not only did she persuade him to come but he is bringing his lovely wife, also. Steve Fraser, keep on improving! We are counting on you to be there.

Name: Steve ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 8:04 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Fraser
Class: 1966
City & State: Laguna Woods, Ca
E-mail
Message: Hello everyone! This is Steve Fraser's daugther, Krista. He asked me to post a message on his behalf. My mom printed out all of your emails and I read them to him at the hospital. He appreciated all of the well wishes and prayers as did we. The stories brought smiles and laughter to his face..(especially the ones about the popcorn and the "young love" at the Currie house). My dad continues to amaze everyone and has really come such a long way. His trach hole is slowly healing but he is talking a lot. He has some trouble with word recall, for now. He is still on a feeding tube, but has started swallowing therapy. He is up and walking but is not too happy that he has to have a nurse with him to do this. Anyone who knows my dad knows he is as stubborn as he is kind, and wants to do it himself:) While we are not sure of everything yet, he is a miracle. Still has his famous sense of humor. I taped the Sopranos for him and brought it to the hospital to watch because he did not want to miss the last episode. Anyway, thank you all for your prayers and messages and phone calls. He has got them and I will continue to pass them on and keep you updated. He thanks you all. Sorry for the long message. Miracles really do happen...

Name: Howard "Paco" Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 6:43 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: OS6-2378
Class: 1961
City & State: LF
E-mail
Message: Now hear this...I still need '61 Coug's to send your pics! Thx Cowabunga..Did anyone see "John from ..." on HBO Sunday night?

Name: Britt Stonebraker ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 6:30 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1978
City & State: San Marcos Ca
E-mail
Message: Great subject, First Jobs! Funny how the Cougar seems to know what is the relevant topic!! My Son 11 yrs old was just asking me how he could make some extra money. He thought car washing would be a good idea. I thought well I can go to a car wash and spend 7 bucks for a wash and interior cleaning. And if they accidentally damaged my car hey I could sue them! So why would I let an 11 yr old mess with my car? Then I thought about lawn mowing and then I realized I could hire gardeners who would cut the lawn trim the hedges and weed the flowers for 35 bucks a month where an 11 yr old would probably cut the grass too short and leave everything else to me. Hey how about a newspaper route?,,,, When was the last time you saw a kid delivering newspapers? I suppose you have to have a driver?s license, and car now! Thank God for all those old farts who let me wash their cars and mow their lawns and deliver newspapers. So what is this about jobs Americans don?t want to do? Come and ask my Son. In the mean time I bought him a BB gun maybe he can get by with that ;)

Name: Karen Fuller ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 6:27 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Fuller
Class: 1964
City & State: Sonora,CA
E-mail
Message: The question--"first kiss?" I didn't ever want to kiss a boy--not ever. you see, back then me and my girlfriends thought that kissing was how "the SEED' got into the woman and you got pregnant. thats what happens when u laugh and giggle all thru sex education---no one could remember how the seed got there--it had to be from kissing. I was president of the boy hater's club when my parents decided to tell me HOW that seed got THERE! I nearly puked! I did get over it--but I was a late bloomer--can u guess? now, I do remember my first kiss on the lips--and I remember the feeling in my chest when it happened. and I do remember who it was--MICHAEL BUCHECK, he was almost the boy next door. I also have a funny story about my first FRENCH kiss-- i'll tell that one when I get the nerve. also first car date alone with a boy! I had a fake pony-tail wrapped up on top of my head in a bun -- I got into his VW and didn't duck far enough down--OOPS! I didn't know it was missing until my date (Ronnie Lenfield--Leuzinger '62) told me "YA LOST SOMETHING" this is for you John Boy -- I sent off some class pics from the early days -- starting with kindergarten 55 yrs. ago. one of them has all the names written on the back -- I did it when I was a kid--so the names gotta be right.

Name: Larry Biller ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 5:13 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1967
City & State: Portland,Oregon
E-mail
Message: First job was at The Wooden Shoe, corner of Isis Ave. and El Segundo Blvd. as a dishwasher. Really fun(ha).

Name: Shannon Keys~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 9:03 am - HHS Time
Class: 1981
City & State: Colorado Springs
No E-mail
Message: Kind of a first job memory. After the mall went up many a junior or senior were getting their first taste of employment there. I have fond memories of heading over to Hotdog-on-a-Stick because a host of Cougar-babes were employed there. Ah, Gena DeRoma (Cathy, Jill and many others) never looked better in those funky colorful outfits with those nifty round caps. My first job? Lindy?s Liquor ($2.00/hr and a bulging wallet-like $40/week). I?ve already milked those ?next to the topless joint? stories.

Name: Dennis Kilroy ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 8:14 am - HHS Time
Class: 1977
City & State: OC CA
E-mail
Message: Hey John, I had a great time last night with Hawthorne High's Own Mr. Pat Macha. I invited him to my veteran groups meeting to be a guest speaker, he rocked the house. (Pat is a retired teacher from Hawthorne High for those that don't know). He was a great teacher, I have said this before and I will say it again. Growing up in Hawthorne was great, we had the best teacher's. That is why so many of us have been a success in our lives; it is because of our outstanding teachers like Mr. Pat Macha. See Pat's Web Site Here. Anyway I don't care what anyone says I will always be Proud of Growing up in Hawthorne.

Name: Sharon ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 7:53 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: Long Beach, CA
E-mail
Message: Hey Clark, I just sold a thrashed 3/1 975 sq. ft. in Lakewood for $512,000. The news really doesn't know what they are talking about. Rates are still low. Sorry, John, didn't mean to turn this into a real estate forum. But, it still amazes me about Calif. real estate. You are right, the way to afford it is to stay here and move up.

Name: Charlie Fox ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Jun 13, 2007, 7:35 am - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: Lomita, CA
E-mail
Message: I got my first job in the summer of 1967. I had just gotten my driver's license and my dad helped me get a job driving the delivery van at Hawthorne Florist, which was located directly across the street from Washington Elementary. I had never driven a stick shift before so dad took me out in the Hawthorne Florist van the night before I was scheduled to start working and gave me a "crash" course in the fundamentals of operating a standard transmission. We jumped, rattled and stalled our way around Hawthorne, Lennox and Inglewood until I got the hang of it. It was one of those times when I got a chance to see what a patient man my father could be.

Name: Ricki Farrell ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 10:14 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Valencia
Class: 1961
City & State: Tucson AZ
E-mail
Message: My first job was at the Inglewood Park Cemetery flower shop. I was hired to design a poster for the Christmas season after which I worked stripping flower stems for bouquets. It was very cold that December and my hands were so sore from being wet all day. Anita Meyer, class of '61, got me the job. Steve Fraser my prayers are with you.

Name: Marilyn Ross ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 8:18 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Wisham
Class: 1956
City & State: Garden Grove
No E-mail
Message: My first job was right out of high school for Bank of America in Inglewood. Banking has come a long way since then. My job was to post the customers checks and deposits directly on to the bank statement. We had 13 people that did the same thing. No computers in those days. Checks had no account numbers and most did not have printed names on them - that cost extra. We actually had to identify the checks by a signature. That could be real challenging since so many people have unreadable signatures. We each had one segment of the alphabet so we came to recognize our own customers signatures. My first salary was $195.00 a month.

Name: BRUCE HANSON ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 8:18 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1959
City & State: CATHLAMET WA
E-mail
Message: TO FIND YOUR HOUSE VALUE OR YOUR OLD HOME GO TO ZILLOW.COM. HAVE FUN!

Name: Keith D. Jones ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 7:23 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Kona, HI
E-mail
Message: Okay here is another "First" question. Who was the very first person you ever kissed. And not just a peck on the cheek or lips, but the first French kiss. I can't say who my first was. It was in 7th grade and to tell you the truth I don't even remember her name. She was a substitute. But, in high school I think my first was Kathy Fraser. She was so hot. If I am wrong please come forward and refresh my memory.

Name: Arthur La Mere ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 7:13 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Bettendorf Ia
No E-mail
Message: Clark, Ehe price that was paid for that house out there, you could get a 5000 or better sq foot home here. A 1000 sq foot home goes for about 50 to 60k. We watch the flip that house or property ladder and can not see how you can buy a house in California anymore. Well, take care all. Art

Name: Clark Millman ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 6:15 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1976
City & State: Torrance, CA
E-mail
Message: For those of you who wonder what real estate prices are like in Hawthorne these days, here's an eye-opener. A few days ago I sold a house on Stacy street which is just west of the football field, between the field and the 405. If you were on Halcap and went out the gate at the southwest end of the stadium, that would be Stacy St. I sold a 3 bedroom, 1 bath with just about 1000 sq. feet and completely beat to pieces! An older gentleman lived there and did nothing to the property in the last 30 years! The plumbing and electrical are shot and the kitchen is literally demolished! The house is uninhabitable! There were 24 offers on the property but my client had the winning offer by paying a measly $400,000! Real estate never ceases to amaze me!

Name: Cliff Hitchcock ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 6:04 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1973
City & State: Northridge, Ca
E-mail
Message: When I was 12 I got a job as a paper boy delivering papers in Lennox Calif. Actually held that job till we moved to Hawthorne in late 67. I made about $25.00 a month or so. Good job for a kid back in those days. Then I got a job at Ivy's Coffee Shop on El Segundo and Hawthorne Blvd from 71 to late 72. I seem to remember making a about $1.15 or so. The owner Bob Schmitt actually gave us a $0.15 raise 2 days before the famous wage and price freeze of 1971. Bob and Ivy were good people to work for. Funny thing about Kim's recent post about the Brian Wilson concert. On memorial day weekend, my wife and I went to a Summer kick off concert at The Cannery Casino in Vegas to see Gary Lewis and The Playboys. His set started at 6pm and he kept taking a song break after almost every song he sang. At about 6:40, right after singing "This Diamond Ring" he too left the stage claiming he didn't feel well and let his band finish the set. I had never seen that before because most entertainers will finish their sets no matter what happens. So these guys must have really not been feeling well! Hey it couldn't be because age is creeping up on us could it???

Name: Sharon ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 5:37 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: Long Beach, CA
E-mail
Message: My first job was the summer between my junior and senior year of high school. Me and a couple of my friends got jobs as telephone solicitors for the Hacienda Hotel. We called people and asked if they would like a 3 day, 2 night stay at the Hacienda Hotel in Las Vegas for $35.00. They paid us $5.00 an hour and gave us a $10 bonus if anyone signed up. That was a lot of money in those days, as the minimum wage I believe was $1.25 and hour. I only did it for two weeks, as it seriously cut into my beach time. My next job right out of high school was as an information operator for Pacific Bell next to Fosters on Hawthorne Blvd. As far as game shows, I was on the Price is Right in 1984. I won over $4,500 dollars of merchandise. Bob Barker was really nice and smelled really good. As I remember I told him he smelled good. I still have the VHS tape of that show. Looking forward to the 66-67 class reunion in July.

Name: Don Di Tomasso ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Jun 12, 2007, 2:15 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1975
City & State: South Bay
E-mail
Message: My first job was to mow Mr. Chet Buguy's backyard - a very convenient job - I lived next store. I also took care of a neighbor's St. Bernard down the street (while owners were on vacation) which would jump with her paws on my back and shoulders when I tried to feed her. I've hated dog breath ever since. I also followed the tradition of smelling like chicken like my middle sister by working at KFC on 141nd and Hawthorne Blvd. in my junior and senior years. The lesson from all this? I should work in an produce-producing field raising chickens and feeding animals...I think I missed my calling :-)