VernoniaClassmates.com

[Scott Sword]

Mine is Sunny DeHart Hunteman, she was my 2nd grade teacher and also my oldest son Billy's.

I got to catch up with her a bit at Johnny Beamish's remembrance,
I think I am still in love with her

Scott S
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After 25 years still married to Holli of the class of "79".

[Gayle (Welch) Yokley]

I don't know if you are responding to "Reunion Ruckus" or not, but thanks for participating in the postings. Hello out there! Anyone else got something to say???

I had many teachers that I admired...Miss Lawrence (my 2nd grade teacher at Lincoln), Mrs. Johns (Of course everyone's PE teacher), Mr. Anderson (Frosh science teacher), Mr. Crowston, Mrs. Bolmeier...They all had a common tool far reaching to many of us...kindness. Belittling and shaming students never worked on me.

Do any of you remember the Vernonia-Corbett basketball game, I believe my senior year in high school (72/73), where a beer bottle was thrown into the windshield of the bus? Were you on the bus? Did you get hurt? I was sitting in the very back seat and got glass cuts on my knees...Many student's got glass in their eyes!
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Gayle (Welch) Yokley
Class 73

[Marylyn Good May]

Hi Gayle...

Got to give you credit...you keep trying to shake this bunch up. Everyone wants to read, but nobody writes. Now I know all of those hard working teachers did teach you how

How about all of you who have signed on, but haven't introduced yourselves, do so??? That would be so cool.

Favorite teachers! Hmmm, I think that I would have to say that Mrs. Bolmeier was what I always thought a teacher ought to be. You could always take concerns to her and know that she would give it her full attention. And then there were those REALLY fun young teachers. In 1953 and 1954, which were the first two years in the "new" high school, about half the staff were fresh out of college. I especially remember the Harding twins (Ann, PE and Mary, Home Ec). They had their 21st birthday part way through their first year of teaching. They tried so hard to be dignified and usually succeeded...but weren't much more than kids themselves.

As for traveling on the game bus...sometime around 1952 we were in Seaside for a football game. The bus driver (who is long deceased and shall remain nameless) was arrested for being under the influence. It was a very long cold wait for all of us before he was released and his son-in-law, who happened to be along for the game, was allowed to drive the bus back to Vernonia. Since this was long before cell phones there were a lot of concerned parents when we finally got back into town around 2:00 a.m.

Not nearly as exciting as a broken window, but a memory, none the less.
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Marylyn (Good) May
Class of 1954

[Tammy Smith Vanderzanden]

Gayle, you're so good at trying to get people "talking" on here. Keep up the good work!
Yep, I was on that bus coming home from the Corbett game. I remember it well. I too was near the back of the bus so didn't get hurt, but I remember the long wait at the hospital while many students were patched up. I had a piece of glass stuck in my scarf, but luckily no damage done.
That was sooo scary! I think I was a sophomore?
As for a favorite teacher, Mrs. Hearing will always be my favorite. Followed closely by Mr. Curtis. Even though I HATED History and Geography, Mr. Curtis made it fun. And I have to say, compared to the band/chorus teachers Vernonia has had for the past 3 years, Mr. Nelson was the BEST! We just may not have realized it at the time. Looking back though, what a FUN class Chorus was! If they would only realize what a better response they would get from the kids if they would make it fun and use music that the kids can relate to, at least a little bit. I wish Mr. Nelson could give them a lesson or two! We had a huge Chorus, they are lucky to have 6 kids in there these days. The same goes for band. It's a shame!

[Gayle (Welch) Yokley]

It truly was a frightening thing on the bus that night! I'm so thankful Mr. Crowston (Driving) saw the bottle coming and ducked in time to avoid contact, and was able to control the bus before driving over a cliff (Or at least that's the way I remember it)... I always felt for those that got hurt badly by the incident. I too remember waiting in the dr. lounge(?) while going through triage. The room didn't seem like it was an emergency room, but more of a dr. lounge...does anyone else remember that? Anyway, how blessed to be alive to still talk about it.

I agree, even though I failed to mention Mr. Nelson, he was an awesome Music/Band/English teacher. Patience??? He had to have had it!!! I think I was one of those that relentlessly teased him, but couldn't help it when he had lived across the street/road from us. Jeri Rundle and I TP-ed his house once and when it snowed, we made a snowman right up against his front door so he'd have to distroy it just to get inside. Mr. Nelson, if you happen to ever read this, I'm shrinking in my seat as I make this apology...please forgive us (Jeri, I'm including you)! Jeri and I never confessed to the crimes, but I guess it's out of the bag now.

Marylyn, I had never known about the school bus story you shared with us. Drinking and driving is never comical, but it did amuse me that the nephew was allowed to drive the bus back home, and left me with questions like, how old was the nephew? Which reminds me...it seems this summer while in Oregon we saw very catchy, clever "If you drink, don't drive" type bill boards, although I couldn't tell what they were now. Perhaps someone out there can?
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Gayle (Welch) Yokley
Class 73

[Marylyn Good May]

Gayle, actually it was the bus driver's son-in-law, and he was an adult. Don't really know how old, but at the age I was (16), anyone over 25 seemed old. I'm pretty sure though, that he probably didn't have a chauffeurs license. It always amazed me that there wasn't more of a fuss made over it. Or maybe there was, and we just didn't hear about it. I know the driver didn't lose his contract because he drove for several years after that....with no more problems that I ever heard about. (Maybe he had just been having a very bad day...and it was a really cold night...and the game had gone into overtime. )

I've seen those billboards too, but couldn't tell you what they say.
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Marylyn (Good) May
Class of 1954

[Kelly Smith]

Great topic Scott

I'd have to go with Ken Roberts and Ward Nelson. Roberts was not only a GREAT teacher... he was a GREAT coach Did I mention that he coached VHS's FIRST EVER State Championship team

I didn't have Nelson for English or Chorus... only Band for 7 years. The things he put up with from some of us... to come up with the results was amazing. Remember the record ALBUM we recorded in the High School gym? Anbody got a copy. I've lost mine

Looking back... I've got no complaints about any of my teachers. Not only were most of them pretty good... I can say that most of them were also good FRIENDS

PS - Oh yeah... I've got to thank Gary Geist and Marsha King for my typing skills
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Class of 1977

[John Roady]

Good pick Kelly! My favorite was also Ken Roberts. No matter how hard I tormented him in the classroom or in XC/Track, he was always cool to me. He was even my Freshman BB coach. I always remember him saying, "Roady, just go home and watch Happy Days". This because of my penchant for partying and harassing the police in Vernonia (what a fun time).

Others teachers who had my best interest at heart and were cool to me: Mr. Simpson (at VHS for one year only), Mr. Nice, Mr. Geist, Mr. Howard, Mrs. Hearing, Mr. Berkey, Ms. Welch, and the very pretty Ms. Alvstad.

[Sandra Leonard-Clanfield]

Thought I would add to this posting. My very favorite teacher was Mrs. Minor. I had her for four years of French. She always made things so interesting!!! She had traveled extensively and brought slides to show the class. I remember only having four of us one year which was very cool!! Also I remember Mr. Crowston. He was Athletic Director I think. He was always there doing whatever he could to help out the students.
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Sandra Leonard-Clanfield

[Kathi (Medges) Knowles]

OK, this got my attention. I agree with Mr. Nelson, Mr. Crowston, Mrs. Bolmeier, Mr. Roberts. Does anyone remember the art teacher, Susan Lloyd? I remember learning so much from her about perspective, color wheels and abstract art. Jackie Sargent comes to mind, our PE teacher and coach for year-round sports (we called her "Sarge") and our Office Practice teacher. I also liked Mrs. Carson. She taught French. Now that I'm studying Japanese, I could use some help from her learning foreign languages I also liked Mrs. Arrant. She taught us a bunch of Hawaiian dances. My interests were obviously in "active" participation rather than bookwork Gayle, I can't believe you and Jeri got into all the mischief at Mr. Nelson's house. Never would have guessed it

[Connie Lepin (Kyser)]

Funny how reading these responses from all of you brought back memories. I'll never forget Mr. Nelson in Freshman English, reading us Romeo & Juliet (I think that's what it was), and doing the different voices. I always thought that was comical. And yes he always made Band fun. Wish I'd never quit when I got into High School. I've regretted that.

Mrs. Carson was my only history teacher that I enjoyed. She taught us World Culture, and I still remember how much fun she made history. I remember more about the Incas & Mayans, than I do about US History.

Mrs. Hearing was great, as was Mr. Roberts. He had more patience than a saint. Thanks goodness for me. I really believe he was what made Math easy for me.

I couldn't remember the art teachers name, but I do remember learning about perspectives, etc. I find myself very critical of art, even though I didn't learn how to paint myself. Funny how certain things rub off onto you!

[bobfields57]

I can only remember a few teachers from VHS but Melvin Nice really stands out he never really liked me (bad first impression) but the man really knew his stuff about life. Funny how things turn out!
He told me if I ever wanted to make anything of my self, I would have to be willing to learn. I repeat those words to my kids now days and wonder if he is laughing.

I dont remember a lot of you guy's mostly because I was never really involved in a lot of school activities, To busy with being a problem Child but thru the help of some really talented poeple things worked out fine. and mostly because I willing to learn!
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Bob Fields
Owner/Manager
Superior Computers
bobfields57@azwildblue.com
PH: 520-689-0215
Cell:520-827-1005

[Kurt Dunaway]

My favorite teacher was Mr. Crowston. if it wasn't for him and Mrs. Howard I probably wouldn't have even stayed in school. He was also the best basketball coach I ever had. It's nice to see the people here that i remeber Hi everyone.

[Wolfsbane56]

My favorites were Mr. Nelson (band and english) M.r. Jackson, Mrs. Hearing (I took the picture in the year book with her tounge sticking out), and of course Coach Crowston. He was my insperation. Mr. Nice never really liked me either. Maybe cause we had the same last name. I even liked Mr. Parrow.
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Old Logger

[Shirley Berg-Harper]

Favorite High School teacher: Mr. Chipps (Jim, was it not??!!). He was fun and he was always one of my favorites. There were many others also that were great...Nice Vernonia folks...treated we Birkenfeld folks nice...we came from another part of the country...22 miles away my sister, Patricia Berg, my brother John Berg, and myself (Shirley Berg)and others had to travel to Vernonia on the school bus each morning and each evening...early enough to get home to milk the cows, tend to other responsibilities, and then back to the cows in the a.m., eat breakfast, and off to school again. Austin Corll was our bus driver...all the 4 years that I went back and forth...as I recall.