Wm "Billy Dick" Richmond Holly

Louie, I have an unfair advantage, I have been able to enlarge the photo and have had the benefit of several other classmates id'ing some of these.

Girls, l to r:  Martha Scott, Lois Levasseur, Mary Pitman, Anna Swafford (behind Mary), Elizabeth Stroud,  ? (behind Elizabeth), Linda Lattier, Diane Mayeaux, Sarah Jo Adams, Freddie DeBlieux, Viola Mobley, Ellen Walker, Ilene Waters, Elaine Philen, Linda Johnson (behind Elaine), Ellen Walker (behind Linda), Willie Carol Miley, Nelda Bedgood, Mary Sue Owen, Judy Ann Wright (behind Mary Sue), Joan Edwards, Janet Ainsworth, Karen Welch (behind Joan & Janet), Charlene Rollo (over Karen's right shoulder).

Boys, l to r:  Aubrey Simpson, Ken Hatcher, Don Dutile, ?, Henry Lee LaCour, Don Smith, Roy Gentry (behind Don), Ben Pratt (looking over Roy's shoulder), Robert Lee, Raymond Sanders, Ben Kirk, Kearney Williams,  Tommy Gilbeau (Mrs. Livingston's nephew), Herbert Graham, Billy Dick Holly, Bob Henry Hanks, Paul Derbonne, Louis O'Quinn, Richard Johnson, Jimmy Buckley (behind Richard), ? (over Karen's left shoulder), Robert Gimbert, John Gongre.

Teachers:  Leslie Graham (behind Ben Kirk & Kearney Williams), Mrs. Adams (beside Sarah Jo), Mrs. Genie Livingston (with white buttons on dress), Mr. Ralph Ellzey (behind Billy Dick & Bob Henry)

Kenneth Hatcher

Quite a trip! I remember us singing on the bus.....Louie led us in Davy, Davy Crockett king of the wild frontier. I remember being shy at the buffet at Exxon refinery, I was close to the end of serving line and spotted what I thought was mashed potatoes, so I asked for two scoops. The server said are you sure? Turned out to be horse radish. WOW! Also, seems like we visited somebody at LSU Stadium dormitory...seem like it might have been a brother to Kerney. We stopped at Lebeau going and coming back. There was a arcade game in there...a big bear you would shoot with a beam of light, he would stand up and roar.

Wm "Billy Dick" Richmond Holly

Hey Ken,

I remember that "Bear" game.   I think when you hit the target he would rear up and reverse his direction.  You've reminded me too of that stop at LeBeau.  They had a slot machine there.  I had a "V" nickel and was foolish enough to put it in that slot machine thinking I'd win some money.  But, that may have been a nickel well spent as to this day I've never lost a cent in a casino.  Hmm, come to think of it I've never set foot in a casino, sure has saved me some money.  :)

Wm "Billy Dick" Richmond Holly

I don't want to belabor the point but those who served in any branch of our military forces at any time are close to my heart.   It's possible to serve others in many different ways but when one dons the uniform of the American Armed Forces and takes an oath to protect these United States from "enemies, both domestic and foreign", they truly become a member of a "band of brothers" that no other group can equal.  Tho none serve with the intention of dying, when you become a member of this "band of brothers" you really have laid your life on the line for your fellow countrymen.

Fortunately, none of our classmates had to give their lives, tho some came close and will bear physical, mental, emotional scars for the rest of their lives.  I only know of two NHS schoolmates who did give their lives in Vietnam, Carrol Lee Rodgers, U.S. Army, NHS Class of 1959, and Carson Earle Haire, U.S. Marine Corps, NHS Class of 1961.

Some of our 1960 NHS classmates married men who are also members of this "Band of Brothers.  I failed to recognize those men this past Friday night.  I apologize to them for this lapse and would like to recognize them on our website in addition to our classmates who served, so please let me know their names, specific branch of service and inclusive years of service, from what year to what year.

Semper Fi, Brothers!

William Henry Hyams, Ph. D.

One of life's lessons (left out of my welcome speech)

When growing up playing sports I was told that participation in it would help me learn life's lessons like getting along with others, team play, etc.  There is one lesson I remember well.  In basketball a 'screen' is a block of a defensive player so the player being guarded can 'shake free' - these days it is called 'setting a pick'.  Coach Hildebrand was constantly on my case in that I went to the wrong place or I was at the wrong angle to set an effective screen.  I tried and I tried. During the games he would use valuable times-out just to have a personal conversation with me on the subject. In frustration he would say: "Hyams, you can't even screen a screen door".

At our Second Street house, we had a screened porch with a ping-pong table where many a rowdy game was played even with  strangers walking by on the street.  Soon the screen on the bottom of the porch door got kicked out (or was it  kicked in). This, of course, allowed the flies and other critters to come right on in. Can you guess the ending???  Being somewhat perspicasious, when my mother told me to fix the screen door I said without delay: "Buddy (my older brother) would have to do it because Coach Hildebrand had already determined that I couldn't screen a door".  I really liked that life's lesson that almost got me out of a chore.

Polly St. Andre (Holly)

Hi everyone,

We received a message from Margie Lutrell Gongre asking us to put Carolyn Sparks information on our message forum so that those of you who remember her might want to contact her.  The following is Margie's message:

    "I wasn't sure how to post a message on the Message Board - maybe you could do this    for me. This is the info. for Carolyn Sparks Strum. Email address is c.strum@verizon.net. Her address is: 4606 Park Haven Circle, Bryan, TX 77802. Her home phone number is: 979-774-7571. I know she would enjoying hearing from you, Rosalie, Anna, Connie, Judy Bob, Georgia, Sara Jo, Sue and anyone else that remembers her. Her father was the minister at Emanuel Baptist Church."

I checked all our yearbooks and she is not in them, so I am assuming her family left after the 7th grade, thus she did not attend NHS.  I might be wrong here, but that is my assumption.  By the way, Margie and Carolyn are cousins!  :)

Again,"Thanks for the Memories"...was a wonderful, wonderful time!

Polly

Polly St. Andre (Holly)

Kenneth, I am responding to your question regarding the grocery store on Second Street next to Mason Salters...it was Black's Grocery.  Mason Salters bought it and extended his furniture store!  I guess I remember this so well because Mother would walk home from work, (The Friendly Store on Front Street) and we lived on Second Street, and she would often pick up something for our supper whenever she passed Black's!  :)  Sweet memories!

And does anyone remember the Coke Cola plant whenever it was on College Avenue...and the Ice Plant whenever it was on Bossier.  Whenever I walked home from grammar school I would stop and watch the machines in the Coke Cola plant.  Karen, I know you do because you lived right across fromt the ice plant!  :)

John Harry Robson, D. Min.

Polly, Diane and others who are interested:  I drove by the old ice plant Friday and it looks like it's been converted into apartments.  There are nice wooden shutters on the windows and the whole brick building is painted a nice gray, I think. 

Then because of the lyrics of the rap, LE LE wrote, I drove my Toyota down the Doodle Dump and sang "Miss America Pie."  I cast my eyes over to "Birdogs" and/or Bernard's and thought of those sweet people who ran it.  Then I drove into the back parking lot of the First Baptist Church and remember where Bill, Larry and many more of us went to Troop 64 Scout meetings.  I remember Bill's dad being so involved with us that he later started our Explorer group and was it's first Scout Master. 

Then I drove myself out the other end of the parking lot and looked up at the jail on top of the Natchitoches Parish Court House.  It was in that jail I first started preaching. Nancy Clayton went with me every Sunday morning and played the piano for at least two-three years.

Saturday morning, Steve Murphy called and invited me to meet him and other Red Devils at Lasyone"s, the meat pie place.  It seems they gather every Saturday morning there and I saw Gay Welch, Truman Maynard, Payton Williams, Jim Kirkland and of course we two.  Others from St. Mary's were Sandy McNeal, Joe and Peyton Cunningham probably names I can't recall.  Anyway, I gave them each a copy of the Red Devil Rap and the Natchitoches scenes from the water colors my sister Carolyn painted.

Yvette had taken ill Friday morning and had to miss all the activities that afternoon and evening and so we decided to forego further Natchitoches touring and turned toward home.  Home is where the heart is... and a large part of us all is still singing the alma mater on the old stage. 

Diane, I hope your unveiling at the art guild was outstanding.  Maybe some that can be put on-line.  I collect Natchitoches art.  I have several of the old buildings including Lasyone's, the depot, the Episcopal Church, and a Chaplain's Lake scene.  I hope you'll do some of the Christmas city and maybe there will be prints in the future.

I loved seeing everyone.  I believe the Lord uses reunions for His higher good.  I don't ever know just how--I just leave it to Him. 

It was so good visiting with Tynes(who taught me Sunday School for five years) Hildebrand and Julia, Ellis and Trent Melder, and Dan Carr.  They all taught be a lot.  I share with Roy the regret of not taking home economics under Gloria Durr. 

Love and prayers to all, john

Karen Welch (Dodd)

Polly.......yes, I definitely remember the very early elementary days on Bossier Street and College Avenue when we walked to school together.  We lived on the corner of Bossier and Boyd St. next door to the ice plant of which part of that building is torn down. The other part (John Harry) that is the old gray cinder block is owned by the City Police used as some sort of training facility. (Remember, I never moved away from Natchitoches! HA!)  The old Coca-Cola Plant was at the corner of Boyd and College Ave. (across from Varnado Hall) with a large glass window where we stood many afternoons enroute home from Warren Easton Elementary, watching the bottling process.  Now, there stands the University Branch of City Bank where James, my husband, was Branch Manager for many years. John, glad you drove down the Doodle Dump for some memories.  I still call it that and some people question the name!  It will always be that to me.  

John Harry Robson, D. Min.

I'm sure most of you know that the "Doodle" was a switch engine of some sort and it traveled on that dump by city park.  I remember being told about it but can't quite recall.  I think City Hall was a depot at one time.  All of this is hazy in recollection of history stories.  Some will have it straight but my childhood lessons didn't always take.  I think that the wading pool in the park was something else originally.  Is there help out there? john

Kenneth Hatcher

About the old Coca-Cola plant...they also produced Big Chief drinks. I remember three flavors though there could have been more. Also, do you remember looking at the bottom of a coke bottle to see where it was made?

Polly St. Andre (Holly)

I, too, drove down (or is it "up") the doodle dump.  It seems that I remember it being a lot higher and narrower than that...and of course, it was gravel!!  I was always cautious...afraid I would drive off that thing in my gray 51 Studebaker!!  Guess it is like the halls of NHS.  Don said he remembered that building being a lot bigger and the halls a lot wider!  :)

Chester Martin, Jr.

To ALL my 1960 NHS classmates.  I love reading your messages and missed everyone of you at the reunion.  Not being there was truly hard, but just knowing you were there was great.  If anyone has any personal pictures you took and would like to share them, my e-mail address is:

cmartinhscs@hotmail.com

For all of you who worked so hard to pull this off, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I would love to hear from any and all.

Chester Martin

John Harry Robson, D. Min.

Chester you were sorely missed.  The only Marine in the house had his way.  We desperately needed you there to counter the semper finalities.  Truthfully, Bill did a masterful job and was the sheperd of the hills.  He made us proud and we loved how Polly coached him from the sidelines.

Maybe we can have a gathering sometime and you can be the MC.  That would do us good. 

Bill told many jokes, quoted massive amounts of Shakespeare and spoke philosophically of your departure.  You should get him to sing for you as well.  He really put on a show. 

Hope you had a great trip up the northwest coast.  J T Slockenhammar

Elaine Philen (Strickland)

Wm "Billy Dick" Richmond Holly

Some of you Boy Scouts, of Troop 64, might remember we once upon a time met in a log cabin on top of the hill by the swimming pool and across from Bernard's and the current Natchitoches PD.  That building is now a private home sitting down below the Doodle Dump on the swimming pool side.

Chester Martin, Jr.

Louis O'Quinn, thank you so much for the 7th grade picture to Baton Rouge and N.O.  I did find my picture in that, even if Bill Didn't.  If you look to the left of the waiter, you can see a pair of eyes looking out, well, this is yours truly.  I remember Henry Lee and I setting togeather on the bus going down.  Some of you had pulled the cord above the seats that range the bell by the driver and Mrs. Livingston said the next person that pulled the cord, she would have the bus stop and put that person off.  Henry poked me and dared me to pull the cord. Guess what.  I gave it about 3 or 4 pulls and I have never seen Mrs. Livingston so mad.  I thought she was going to kill me, and I how I would explain to my Dad what I was doing standing on a highway and no bus.  More later.  I hope we can get a few togeather if and when I get down that way.  So many, many wonderful memories and truly gread friends.  Yea, so were even Marines.  I would love to hear Bill Holly sing, but only if Polly plays.

Chester

Wm "Billy Dick" Richmond Holly

You, sir, have been misled!  I did not sing, wish I could, but I am trying to learn how to play G, C, and D chords on a guitar.  Polly says with those three I can play about any country song I want.  Might have to learn a few minors, they're pretty, and a few 7ths, etc.

But, now John Harry, did rap, after Ronald Dee and Ed Hearron refused to do it.  We have it on the camera and if I can figure out how to do it I'll post it to the website.

Linda Lattier (Mardis)

Hi Ya'll  It's so good to see folks continuing to keep up after the reunion is all over.  I have never really made an effort to keep in contact with my classmates from high school or college which probably says a  lot about me but I am so glad to be given that opportunity again.  I had so much fun and enjoyed every mninute  learning a little bit about a lot of you.  I  would never have known that Elaine is so courageously dealing with the serious illness of her husband now, or that Sylvia Durham was only recently widowed, or that Hubert Graham's wife had passed away, or Mary Pitman's husband either.  I didn't know that John Robson could rap or that Marjorie Lutrell, Ginger and Ryan had found the "fountain of youth."  I had no idea so many people would be there or that one could never expect to make it all the way to the other side of that room and say more that "hello" to everyone.  Ben Kirk's wife, Billie, was so sweet and cute and he is still fun and a real mess.  William Cummings has not changed one bit and he can still make you laugh like crazy.  Diane, I couldn't make it to your showing but we stopped by to admire you work before we left town---you go girl!  We always sort of marched to the beat of our own drums and I admire so much your artistic flair and success---surprised, no!!!   I missed Chester Martin too.  And Elizabeth Stroud.  And once again all those who are no longer with us and there were many with Henry being the last, I hope.  Bill, Polly, Sue, Joan, Ronald, Bill Hyams, Karen, Rosalie, Connie, John, Judy Bob, Anna, Sarah, Sylvia, Glenelle, Ben, Jimmy, and I'm thinking probably Nettles, and other husband and wives-------thanks so much for the effort, work, persistence and patience all that results must have required.  I Thank all of you so much!   God Bless  Linda

Elaine Philen (Strickland)

Anna Swafford (Bernard)

Billy....how do you post pictures on the "Reunion Photos" part of the site?   When I try, I get my profile.   Do I post them there?   I have a lot....mine, Sarah's, Glenelle's, Connie's and Judy Bob's all together....a lot of pictures.  I could do a Snapfish program and send that around to all who wanted to see at their "personal" email address.   I do hope all will share their pictures!!!

The reunion was great fun!  The hard work by all who helped is/was greatly appreciated.  (A special thanks to Jerry Sibley who hauled off the garbage after we cleaned Sarah's house Thursday night!  And, there was a ton of it...only his truck could handle it.) 

Billy, if there are nickels left after all bills are paid, I hope that the committee will allow you to use them to keep this web site going.  This has been such fun.

For those who were not able to come, we missed you, but we will share our memories and pictures.

Anna

Wm "Billy Dick" Richmond Holly

Thanks for asking Anna, it made me find out how to do it.

Any classmate wishing to add photos taken at the reunion may do so by clicking on the page titled "Reunion Photo Page".  You can then add photos in the "50 Year Reunion" gallery.  :)  Hope this works easily for all.

Anna Swafford (Bernard)

OK, Billy....whatever you did worked!   I will post our pictures soon.

Jackie Lane Brantley, M. S. + 30 (Glass)

One more voice to say "thank you" to all of you for the work that you did to make this reunion so successful and fun.  Seeing and talking to so many of you really was special.  What meeting planners you are!  Let's please try to do this again before 50 more years pass.  Jackie  

Wm "Billy Dick" Richmond Holly

I'll take the liberty to speak for the committee here.  All of our effort would have been for naught had all of you who attended the reunion not taken the time and the expense to attend.  We thank each of you!