Comments on: Class Reunions

By: Ronnie Delz

Ronnie Delz — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:42:25 +0000

David and Ramona, thanks for a great video on the reunion and for all the time and effort ya’ll put into it. It’s always so much fun visiting with old friends and making new ones.

By: Jack and Sandra Holmes

Jack and Sandra Holmes — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:49:09 +0000

Thank you David and Ramona. Have not met you Ramona, but we are looking forward to it. I believe this is the first RCHS Reunion that we have missed since in ’54. We missed seeing many of our first real friends. We are still active with our RV and touring Alaska when all of this went down. Thanks again David.

By: Darla Smith Rohan

Darla Smith Rohan — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:40:05 +0000

Thank you David and Ramona! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the pictures and the whole reunion. This was my first reunion, ever! I was one of those sitting at home, growing old, but thanks to cousin, Penny, I have broken that streak in me.

The trip was a good one, but as I drove into Big Lake, I was struck that I knew nothing about the town. I wasn’t even aware that the streets had names. I met Penny at the Motel and we began talking about our memories and she also didn’t know the names of the streets. Pondering that, we realized that we were brought in by bus from Midkiff, dropped off at school and then picked up for the trip back to our homes. Our lives were centered around the oil field and gas field camps. Now those, I know very well but they are all gone.

We all lived in identical housing and of course I thought that because the houses were the same, all the employees made the same amount of money but Penny pointed me in the right direction on that.

My own children and some of my students have asked me about dating. How funny is that? No one from Big Lake was willing to drive forty miles to pick up a date and then drive forty miles to a movie and then make the trip twice more. We didn’t have movie theaters or bowling alleys, but we did have a lot of fun. We created our own entertainment.

I, unfortunately left RCHS at the end of my freshman year and moved to Stephenville. Upon my registration there, the vice principal told me I would have a difficult time making good grades because I was coming from a small school. Ha! Was he ever wrong. I received a strong educational background from Reagan County ISD and didn’t have to work nearly as hard at SHS.The teachers I had were top notch and because of them, I became an educator.

I have now attended two class reunions in one month and another discovery was made. I found out that I fit in and had much more in common with the RCHS people. Yes, I have always known, somewhere in the back of my mind, that I am a West Texas girl.

Thanks again, for the memories, the laughter and the friendship.

By: Tommy Hayes, Jr.

Tommy Hayes, Jr. — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:06:38 +0000

David and Ramona,
I just wanted to thank you on behalf of those like myself, who wanted to go to the reunion badly but couldn’t, for capturing the spirit of the event in both words and pictures. I think that we were truly blessed by being raised in Big Lake during the 50′s and 60′s, and it is always a wonderful experience to relive that time with the people that inspired and influenced us. It seems that most of us share the same core values, and I have always thought that there has been a disproportionate amount of truly successful people that were nutured at home and at school in Big Lake.

By: Warthog

Warthog — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:14:23 +0000

I don’t think there were ever any radiators in the high school building, so you must be talking about Jr. High.

By: Jan Solsbery

Jan Solsbery — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:53:10 +0000

Great videos! I enjoyed seeing friends and former students. I look foward to attending this event when we get back to Real Texas!

By: Ron Cameron

Ron Cameron — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:58:21 +0000

Great video. “A good time was had by all.” Too bad that after it is over you remember those several people
with whom you never got to visit….just a quick smile and
a hello. So many of my former students have been really
successful in life (not just financially) that I could surely get boastful. I cannot mention them all—there are many
of you. But, I do want to mention Dr. Hector Mendez. As
I recall, he went from high school to Viet Nam. After coming home, he pursued a career in education; he is now
Superintendent of Ector County (Odessa) schools. I’d like to say, “I taught him everything he knows,” but truth is my
students taught me far more than I ever taught them,
and for that I am truly grateful.

By: Judy Green Henson

Judy Green Henson — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:58:28 +0000

Thank you, Ramona, for that Animoto…. a great representation of the RCHS alumni at the reunion.

Thank you, David, for your “right-on point” description of the event. I especially agreed with your comments about algebra! Coach Williamson just passed me because he knew I was trying to make sense of it all. I guess that’s why I loved teaching the dyslexic students to read, write and spell. I understood their confusion! And, I loved your comments about those who choose to “sit home and get old” (they missed a great time) and “No one cares about your finances, weight, car or divorce. They just care about you.” Perfectly stated.

I am already ready for the next one to roll around. Hopefully, those that chose to “sit home and get old” will decide to show up!