CLASS REUNION WAS A SUCCESS

 

We had a wonderful class reunion in September, 2013, celebrating 45 years since we graduated.  Friday night was a casual dinner at Flamingos where Pam Mason-Heard, Class of '69, took everyone's picture with some pretty funny props!  Thanks, Pam.  You did a great job and we will enjoy those pictures for years to come.

 

The highlight of the weekend was the luncheon at Olympia Grill at Pier 21.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  We had the largest attendance at this event, a good turnout for our special guests, Mr. and Mrs. John Bennett, the band director we all love.  Every band member received a CD copy of the long play record album our CHS band made in 1963 under the direction of Mr. Bennett.  What a great way to observe fifty years since we made that album together.  We visited with some classmates/friends who haven't been able to come to the last few reunions, so we hadn't seen them for decades!  It was a real pleasure to see them again

 

Saturday night, we had dinner at Joe's Crabshack on Seawall Blvd.  It was a smaller crowd, but we were joined by some classmates who had not been able to attend the first two events.  It was so great to visit with them.  By the end of the weekend, we had visited with a good number of classmates.  Next year, we hope more will be able to come. We really missed those who couldn't make it this year.

 

We have some classmates who have NEVER missed a reunion.  That's pretty remarkable.  Some of these, in fact, most of these, began school together in the first grade!  Life-long friendships are a treasure and Crosby was a wonderful town that fostered such relationships.

 

Our next reunion will be the Golden Fifty Year Celebration.  Please give some thought to how you'd like to celebrate with your classmates and send us your suggestions. It's never too early to begin the process.    Consider helping plan and execute the next BIG ONE.  We want this one to be great.

 

 

 

 



 





CLASS REUNION

45 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

SATURDAY NIGHT

JOE'S CRABSHACK

3502 SEAWALL BLVD

GALVESTON, TEXAS 77550

1-409-766-1515

7:00 P.M. UNTIL CLOSING

*************

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
FRIDAY NIGHT

FLAMINGO STEAK AND SEAFOOD
6028 HEARDS LANE
(61ST STREET)
(JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM HIGHWAY 45)
GALVESTON, TEXAS 77550
1-409-515-7800

7:00 P.M. UNTIL CLOSING

*************

SEPTEMBER 14, 2013
SATURDAY NOON

OLYMPIA GRILL PIER 21
21ST ST. AT HARBORSIDE DRIVE
INSIDE HARBORHOUSE HOTEL ON THE WATER
(NEAR WILLIE G'S)
GALVESTON, TEXAS 77550
1-409-765-0021

12:00 NOON

**************

HOLIDAY INN RESORT GALVESTON - ON THE BEACH
5002 Seawall Blvd
Galveston, Texas 77551
1-409-740-5300
$129/person/night
Tell them you are with the CHS Class of '68 Reunion so they can try to place you close to the others attending our reunion. The later you wait to make reservations, the greater your chance that they can't.  The hotel will not hold rooms for us after August 14, 2013.

MAPS

http://www.galveston.com/joescrabshack/map/

http://www.galveston.com/flamingo/map/

https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=Olympia+Grill+Pier+21

http://www.galveston.com/holidayinn/map/

http://www.galveston.com/captainjacks/

NOTES

Everyone is responsible for their own expenses at all the restaurants and the hotel. It will not be necessary to send me anything but your RSVPs for each restaurant plus how many people in your party,  and let me know if you're staying at the hotel and how many nights. 

As of July 26, 2013, the hotel told a class mate that the blocked rooms were full and they would have to pay full price. This was not our original arrangement.  We are supposed to be able to add as many rooms as needed.  I've spoken to my coordinator at the hotel, who said she would correct this. I suggest waiting until July 27 to make your reservations when this correction is "in the system". 

If we need a place to sit and visit after the restaurants close, where we can order food and drinks, Captain Jack's, just down Seawall Blvd., is open until 2:00 a.m.  It's a tiki style sidewalk cafe on the premises of the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort at 1702 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, TX.  They have a live band on the weekend.

http://www.galveston.com/captainjacks/

From the Loftin Family

The Loftin Family has asked me to tell you all "Thank You" for the beautiful flowers you sent to Kathy's memorial service and "thank you" for the thoughtful love gifts you sent to Kathy's husband, Stan. Both were very much appreciated.

From me personally, I want to thank you all for being so generous and kind. Daralyn Ewell Schubert went to the florist for us and did an excellent job choosing the right flower arrangement for our class. We all thank you, Daralyn.

Ted Anderson and Janis Kulak Loftin hold the flowers up for a picture.

Kathy's memorial service was held May 5, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Crosby, Texas. Her family and friends, including several from the Class of 68, attended. We sent flowers and collected donations for a love gift for Kathy's husband, Stan. Thank you to all who contributed. You were all very generous. We were all blessed to have Kathy as our friend and we will miss her so much.

KATHY LOFTIN WRIGHT

The Class of 1968 has lost a member and good friend, Kathy Loftin Wright, who passed away at 7:15 p.m. on April 28, 2011 in her home surrounded by her children and her husband. Kathy endured ALS for six years, keeping a remarkably cheerful and upbeat attitude through the hardships and suffering.

Our hearts are broken but we are comforted knowing that Kathy is freed from the body and rejoicing in Heaven. We know she was escorted by angels, passed through gates of pearl, walking on streets of gold and greeted by her Savior, Jesus, the Christ. Kathy is waiting for us to join her someday and we will have a reunion that will last for all eternity. Until then, we will remember Kathy's strikingly blue eyes, beautiful blonde hair and big contagious smile.

Goodbye, dear Kathy, until we meet again.

Randy Faust is a Walking Miracle!

Memories Wanted

Things I'd like to acquire for our class reunions:
The Alma Mater in print and a recording of students singing it.
The Fight Song in print and a recording of the band playing it.
Pictures of the Buffalo Den and a menu, if there is one.
Recipes from the school cafeteria - goulash, peach cobbler, peanut butter cookies (what else did they serve us?)

Reunion Hotel in Kemah

The wonderful hotel we stayed in near the Kemah Boardwalk has changed its name to Yacht Club Basin Quality Inn in Seabrook. The phone number is the same: 1-281-326-7200. Their address is: 2720 Nasa Rd. 1, in Seabrook, TX 77586. Our wonderful contact there is "Ellie". She took excellent care of us and gave us a group discount.

It Was a Blast From the Past!

40 YEARS



The reunion has come and gone again, but the memories will live forever. Old memories were center stage and new memories were created for future telling and re-telling. (Pssst. Ask BettyJo who she clobbered with her shoe!)

Mrs. Martin was our guest of honor Friday night and everyone had the chance to give her a big hug and tell her how much she is loved and appreciated. She loved every one of us right back. She's so special.

The attendance both nights was wonderful. Each night had its own character and brand of fun. Each night resulted in different stories being shared. There were some real surprises like the unexpected arrival of Pete Sherrod, Class of 69, who flew all the way from Norfolk, Virginia to be with us for the first time ever. (Pete, it was so great to see you again!! We hope you can come next time.)

I have posted over one hundred photos on http://www.flickr.com/. Go there and search for Rhonda Nelson, then CHS Class of 1968 Forty Year Reunion (set). Or click on Rhonda Nelson photostream. I've been unable to make flickr work like it should. I can't get the pictures to play or appear in chronological order. Maybe they will fix that soon. I've also posted over one hundred photos on Facebook. If you join and add me as a friend, you can view my photos there. I can't put many on this site.

BettyJo has posted 62 of her pictures on Facebook.com, so if you haven't joined there yet, you should. I'll try to get pictures from Shirley and others who were undercover photographers all weekend. Keep checking back for future picture postings.

The hotel was the greatest. Every day and even late at night, they made chocolate chip cookies and brought them out to us in the lobby, still hot! They even brought us fresh coffee to go with the cookies. Now that's what I call "service!" We made ourselves at home in the lobby that was furnished just like a big comfortable living room - even had a flat screen television. That's where a lot of the fun broke out spontaneously - and I mean "spontaneously." (Pssst! Ask BettyJo who she clobbered with her shoe.)

If you have an intersting story to tell about the reunion, please send it to me and I'll post it here.

The bottom line is that we all had such a great time. It was so much fun that BJ and I have already starting planning the next one. If you want to experience the profound pleasure of planning a class reunion, please contact me and I will add your name to our current list of 2.

Watch for pictures here soon!

Class Reunion at Kemah Boardwalk

PLEASE RSVP ASAP

THE RESTAURANTS WANT A HEAD COUNT

Rhonda: rln22@comcast.net, 281-277-2843

http://chsclassof68.blogspot.com

Monday, August 24, is the deadline for dinners on Friday and Saturday night. If you miss that, you can still join us for drinks both nights after dinner and for lunch on Saturday. Also, you can find us hanging out somewhere on the Boardwalk or at the hotel on Saturday. (The restaurants close at midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.)

Casual Dress for Reunion

In case you're wondering, casual dress will be perfect for the reunion both nights. Be comfortable and cool. Dress for hot weather, walking around the Kemah Boardwalk, a place like Joe's Crabshack and down by the bay. It's getting close! See ya there.

SPECIAL GUEST!

Classmates, I have great news! Mrs. Lucille Martin will join us Friday night at our class reunion. As you all know, she was a big part of our high school family and has meant so much to each one of us. Her son, Kenny, whom you all know, is bringing her, along with Kenny's wife. I don't have to tell you all to give her a big hug when you see her. It will be your natural reaction to seeing Mrs. Martin again.

Hello! From Robert Braden

Robert Braden will not be able to join us at our class reunion, but he asked me to tell everyone "hello" for him. He really wishes he could be with us and will be thinking about all of us, but he is working in Russia and won't be home again until October.

LUNCH SATURDAY, AUG. 29TH, 2009

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2009
1:00 P.M. for LUNCH

Join us for lunch at The Flying Dutchman on Kemah Boardwalk. The seafood is famous and delicious.

Contact Rhonda or BettyJo and let us know if you can be there. The restaurants all want a head count ahead of time.

Class of 1968 Forty-Year Reunion

AUGUST 28 & 29, 2009 AT KEMAH BOARDWALK

FRIDAY, THE 28TH, 7:00 P.M. UNTIL...
AT
CADILLAC BAR & GRILL, 3RD FLOOR
FOR
MEXICAN FOOD, DRINKS AND JUST HANGING OUT TOGETHER

SATURDAY, THE 29TH, 7:00 P.M. UNTIL...
AT
JOE'S CRABSHACK, PRIVATE ROOM
FOR
STEAK AND/OR SEAFOOD

AND A GREAT TIME TOGETHER

OTHER CLASSES WELCOME.

PLEASE RSVP ASAP TO RHONDA AND BETTY JO.
EACH EVENT WILL BE "SEPARATE CHECKS".
NO NEED TO SEND YOUR MONEY TO US.

Official Reunion Hotel
Betty Jo found the perfect hotel for us. It's the Holiday Inn Express at 2720 Nasa Rd. 1, in Seabrook, TX 77586, 1-281-326-7200.

Thanks, Daralyn, for working so hard to locate and notify Buffaloes who have strayed from the herd!

Email from Cheryl Slovacek Hefty

Rhonda:

Thanks for the information about our 40 year class reunion, but I will not be able to attend. Tell everyone "hi", and have a great time.

Cheryl (Slovacek Hefty)

Facebook.com

Classmates! A lot of your friends from CHS are on Facebook.com. Come and join us.

Official Reunion Hotel

Betty Jo found the perfect hotel for us. It's the Holiday Inn Express at 2720 Nasa Rd. 1, in Seabrook, TX 77586, 1-281-326-7200.

I visited the hotel and found it to be five minutes from the Kemah Boardwalk, and an easy drive. You can see the Friday night fireworks at Kemah Boardwalk from the hotel. The rooms are very nice, attractive and up-to-date with new Simmons Beauty Rest mattresses. The bathrooms are super clean and well appointed - more than you would expect in a room that only costs $99/night. This is the rate quoted to me, which is a discount for our reunion only. Be sure you tell them you are a member of the Crosby High School Reunion. The normal rate is $115.95. BettyJo got a better discount as a state employee.

The hotel told me that it is necessary to make your reservations ASAP because they book up quickly, precisely because they are so close to the Boardwalk. It's always fun when we all stay at the same facility. Call now and let's have a great time in August. See you soon! (Bj & I have made our reservations already.)

Class of 1968 Forty-Year Reunion

AUGUST 28 & 29, 2009 AT KEMAH BOARDWALK

FRIDAY, THE 28TH, 7:00 P.M. UNTIL...

AT

CADILLAC BAR & GRILL, 3RD FLOOR

FOR

MEXICAN FOOD, DRINKS AND JUST HANGING OUT TOGETHER

SATURDAY, THE 29TH, 7:00 P.M. UNTIL...

AT

JOE'S CRABSHACK, PRIVATE ROOM

FOR

STEAK AND/OR SEAFOOD

AND A GREAT TIME TOGETHER

OTHER CLASSES WELCOME.

PLEASE RSVP ASAP TO RHONDA AND BETTY JO.

EACH EVENT WILL BE "SEPARATE CHECKS".

NO NEED TO SEND YOUR MONEY TO US.

Sandy Prochazka Nolte

Good news! Sandy Prochazka Nolte was recently elected by the city of New Braunfels as a City Councilwoman. She assumes her new office on May 26, 2009. Congratulations, Sandy. She has been a realtor there for years. You can give her your congrats at our 40 year reunion later this year. (details coming soon)

The Buffalo Den

Does everyone remember the Buffalo Den? I'm looking for a photo of it to post on our web site. If you have one (or more), or know where you can get one, please share it with all of us. We had many great meals and lots of fun there. It deserves a place on our web site.

Messages to Classmates

Have you wished you could contact someone in your class? Ask them where they are now? Ask them how they've been? Just say "hi" or "call me"? Use the "Comment" link below and leave a message for anyone in our class. I can't guarantee they will check the site and answer you, but as time goes on, more and more friends will learn about this feature and visit frequently. Anything new takes a while to catch on. Remember that everyone can see your messages. I don't recommend posting your phone number or home address. I can help you connect with each other.

Kemah Boardwalk After Ike

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23617894@N06/sets/72157608034599532/

Visit the link above to see photos of Kemah Boardwalk just a couple of days after Hurricane Ike. You can click on the slideshow icon in the upper right corner of the photo page.

Rodney Crowell in Houston

Melanie Ransom, CLASS OF '72, has posted some news:
Rodney Crowell will appear at McGonigel's Mucky Duck on November 10 & 11 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket price is $30 each. Mucky Duck's is located at 2425 Norfolk, Houston, Texas 713-528-5999

If any of you go see him, please try to get his current mailing address for future reunions. If that doesn't work, please try to give him one of our phone numbers. Tell him that we are planning to reschedule our forty year reunion for next year, possibly in the spring.

Kemah Boardwalk After Ike

Click on the pictures to enlarge them for greater detail and a good feel for how large the shrimp boat is.

Buffalos,

I toured the Kemah Boardwalk this weekend and was surprised at the renovation that has already been completed. Two restaurants, Babin's and Saltgrass, are already open and bustling with business. The flower beds have already been replanted with beautiful flowers and plants and the parking lot and sidewalks are sparkling clean.

There was a literal army of people working on repairing the many rides, sweeping the plaza, removing debris and working inside the restaurants that experienced the greatest damage, the Aquarium, the Cadillac Bar & Restaurant, Joe's Crabshack, the Flying Dutchman, and the others that had high water inside. Debris piles were many feet high behind green fencing and ready to be picked up and hauled off. The marina looked fine. The adjacent streets lined with shops were also packed with workers removing downed trees and rebuilding the shops and homes.

A Boardwalk employee told me that they are working hard to re-open in time for Spring Break. From the looks of things this weekend, I'm convinced they will make it, and perhaps re-open earlier than that.

Galveston Island is another story. There was utter devastation there. Some businesses and homes fared pretty well, while others were destroyed. I had lunch at Landry's on Seawall Blvd. and they had no damage at all. The Rainforest Cafe and Guido's are also open. Just down the road, seashell shops were gone. The seawall was littered with boulders that washed up onto the sidewalk and street, over a wall that is sixteen feet high. I tried to move one and it didn't even wiggle the tiniest bit. That's how large and heavy they are.

If you attended our reunion at Moody Gardens five years ago, you may have eaten at Willie G's on Harborside behind the Strand. The parking lot where you parked your car now has a huge shrimp boat parked there, smashing the booth where you paid your parking fee. I could hardly believe my eyes. However, I had already seen many, many boats of large size tossed all along I-45 coming into Galveston. It's a very strange feeling to be driving down I-45 alongside huge boats that should be in the water somewhere else.

The cleanup in Galveston has progressed quickly, considering the amount of devastation. They had an enormous task just clearing the roads so that workers could get in there.

Travelling down the island toward the west, and especially when you arrive in Jamaica Beach, the scene gets much worse. They are not protected by the seawall and the cleanup by city officials hasn't reached that far out yet. It is stunning. The high sand dunes that once stood between the beach and the first row of houses is removed across the main road and piled high down both sides. I drove through a tunnel of sand piles as high as my SUV for a long stretch.

I saw three FEMA stations where people were getting ice and water and paperwork done. The Salvation Army was everywhere, at the FEMA stations and driving around all over the city looking for people who needed their help. They fed as many as needed it. On the corner along Broadway, an organization set up tents, tables and chairs and many large barbeque grills. The sign read, "Free meals at 3:00. From Jesus with Love." They still had guests at 6:00 p.m. God bless these wonderful people.

Galveston has changed dramatically, but they are on their way to coming back better than they were before. Their goal is to be ready for Dickens on the Strand in December. I wonder if they can make it. They have the spirit and the will, but the task at hand is so enormous. There are hand painted signs around town that say things like, "We will rebuild. We're coming back, bigger and better. Galveston will rise again." I believe it and I can hardly wait. I miss Galveston already. The little city was like a grand lady on the shore of Texas. A jewel on the "outskirts" of Houston.

CLASS REUNION CANCELLED!

I'm sorry to say that we have to cancel our 40 year class reunion. Hurricane Ike took out the Kemah Boardwalk on September 12/13. It will be weeks, perhaps months before the Boardwalk is rebuilt and ready to entertain anyone. You should cancel your hotel reservations as soon as possible. Some have been able to cancel online. As of today, there is no electric power in the area and no one knows when it will be restored, so cancelling online may be the only way to do it.

We will plan another reunion. The earliest possibility is next spring, but it may be later. If the Kemah Boardwalk rebuilds in time, we will consider it again. We will also consider other places.

I am returning the checks of those who mailed in their reservations as soon as possible.

This web site will continue to be a source of information and will be updated whenever there is anything new to report or announce. Snail mail letters will go out to those who don't have email and emails will go to those who have them. This will inform everyone of this canellation and any new plans in the future.

If you have any suggestions or would like to volunteer to help, please contact BettyJo or Rhonda. We welcome your input and help. We will see you next year and keep in touch until then.

Map to Kemah Boardwalk

Google your way to the Kemah Boardwalk for our 40-year CHS class reunion.

No Curfew!

Forty years is a long time, but it went by so quickly. I turned around and it was time to plan our forty year class reunion. Wow. Well, let's make this the most memorable celebration we have ever had. Let's all work to have the largest turnout ever. Please plan to come, and take a few moments to call your friends and ask them to meet you there, to remember all the things you did together and all the things you shared. Check our Strayed from the Herd list and help us find them. I'm really looking forward to being with all of you, JUST LIKE OLD TIMES - except now WE have the checkbook and we don't have a curfew. :) Go Buffs!

Strayed from the Herd

The following people have strayed from the herd.

Jackie Abbott
Ralph Breen
John Bryant
Bill Cook - FOUND
Ricky Crockett
Rodney Crowell
Danny Jordan
Loralee Tharp Orell
Patsy Marshall Moon
Jackie Phillips
Ronald Poteet
Buddy Reed - FOUND
Rose Marie Romine Randolph
Susan White Williams

Please help us corral these buffs back into the fold.

Volunteers Sign Up

Please sign up here if you want to help with our class reunion. We need help locating Buffaloes who have strayed from the herd and help with designing a theme and decorating.

CHS

CHS Class of 1968 is the best ever!!!! Looking foward to our 40th Reunion in 2008!!!

Houston Weather, Texas Weather, Houston Local Forecast and Radar - KPRC Local 2 Click2Houston

Houston Weather, Texas Weather, Houston Local Forecast and Radar - KPRC Local 2 Click2Houston