We All Have A Story
And we all want to know each other's story...
Judy Click Workman
Looking back, I feel I grew up in the best of times. I didn’t live through the depression or a world war like our grandparents and parents did. My childhood, anyway, was kind of like “Father Knows Best” or the “Donna Reed Show”. I realize how fortunate I was. I feel I have my parents to thank for that – for providing a safe place to live, all the necessary things and valuing education. And I was never told “Oh, You can’t do that, you’re a girl”.
Until 4th grade, I lived in South St Louis and it was a great place to grow up. There were kids on the block to play with and the school was just a quick run down the alley and over the school fence when you were running late.
When I was ten, we moved to Eureka, out in the country. I remember walking in to the 5th grade room (Mrs. Watkins I think) and Sandy Phillips said, “Oh boy, it’s a girl”. I think they were having a contest on who had the more, boys or girls.
In sixth grade, the teacher was Miss Bonnacker, probably one of my most favorite teachers of all. She read poetry to us and Tom Sawyer. She was always challenging us.
Junior High was in the old building with the rickety fire escape. Did we really climb down that during fire drills?
We had some great teachers – Mrs Bruns, Mrs Stubblefield, Mr Cavender, Mrs Niehoff. And Mr Wilson was the principal. I remember how exciting the Friday afternoon dances in the cafeteria.
I think we got an excellent education in high school and throughout my school career thanks to some excellent teachers. There were a lot of good, dedicated teachers. I have fond memories of Miss Hartman and band. That was probably my favorite class because you were working together to master these pieces of music. I am not sure how good we were, especially our marching band.
After high school, I went to college and majored in education. Dave and I got married in 1968 and we moved to Springfield so he could finish his degree and I taught first grade in the Springfield School District. Soon after graduation, Dave got his draft notice. We had just moved back to Eureka from Springfield so Little Dave and I stayed there while “Big” Dave was at Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Knox and then Vietnam. I was fortunate to be by family and friends and Dave, Little Dave and I all survived his service in the army and his tour in Vietnam.
After Dave returned we lived in Eureka for a while where our daughter Tricia was born. Our house was on Workman Road right next to Six Flags which had just opened. Every night they would close the park with fireworks which woke up my sleeping baby.
In 1974 we moved to Cuba where almost all of Dave’s mother’s family lived, so our children grew up surrounded by cousins. Dave worked with his dad in Workman Construction and eventually four generations have worked in the company – Chili, Dave, son Dave and grandson Conor building everything from quick shops to factories. I was and am the bookkeeper.
But teaching has always been my passion. I taught before my children were born and was fortunate to be able to stay home with them as they were growing up. And then I went back to teaching. I never made it out of first grade but enjoyed all of it.
Dave and I have both been active in our community and in our church. We feel blessed and thank God for how fortunate we have been, for our family and good friends.
Leslie Leigh Garard Fluharty
I'm looking forward to seeing all of you after so many years. From graduation to 1968, I spent wonderful years at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where I received a degree in Interior Design. I was also a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Within weeks of graduation, I began working for Simons Pisoni Interiors in Clayton. I worked there until 1975 when I married Jim Fluharty.
The following week, we relocated to Tucson. Jim, an engineer, worked for several companies in the pump industry (water, oil, chemical) while I worked in the design department of a furniture store.
Our first desert experience convinced us that it would be the
place to retire.
After our time in Tucson, we decided to relocate to Fullerton, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The move was primarily driven by career opportunities, as I was offered the position of director of design for Sinclair Wallcovering. This was an exciting opportunity for me, and it also allowed Jim to explore new prospects in the vibrant city of Los Angeles.
Next was Lucerne, Switzerland, where Jim was the European sales director for Gould Pump. Although I was not permitted to work there, I enjoyed traveling and exploring auction houses.
There were few English-speaking expatriates in Lucerne - mostly English, South African, and Australian. This created a wonderful community of friends with many exciting experiences.
After a few years, the headquarters were moved to The Hague, Netherlands. Many people in the Netherlands spoke English, so I didn't have to rely on pictures of canned goods to know what I was buying.
During my years in Europe, I was lucky to travel with Jim to Asia, Africa, the Far East, Australia, and most of Europe.
After that, Jim was appointed Vice President of International, and we moved to Skaneateles, New York, located between Syracuse and Rochester in the Finger Lakes region. I took on the role of director of Interior Design at Fleischmanns Furniture's 20,000 sq ft store in Syracuse. Towards the end of our time there, I started working for Broadmoor Group in St. Louis, a developer, where I traveled throughout the Southeast designing their various properties.
Next, back to St. Louis for 3 years. During this time, Broadmoor Group developed from a beach of sand to a destination convention. The resort of 456 rooms is named the Perdido Beach Hilton.
I was fortunate to be the designer for every aspect of this four-year project. It was a wonderful experience to travel to Florence, Italy, to find a mosaic artist to create a signature sculpture for the lobby.
The property is still there and called Perdido Beach Resort, and I continued to work for the property while we moved to
Waterloo, Iowa.
Here, I learned golf and was happy to retire for a while after such an intense project. Then, I entered the world of volunteer work, working at the Waterloo Symphony and Cedar Falls Art Museum.
After spending 5 wonderful years in Chicago, living in Lake Forest and Libertyville for the second time, I continued volunteering. This included serving as president of Easter Seals Chicago and chairman of the Lighthouse for the Blind. The events were held in the new Navy Pier development on Lake Michigan.
Between trips to Chicago, we briefly visited Vancouver, Washington, where Jim served as president of Micro Pump and resided by the beautiful Lacamas Lake.
After retiring in 2002, Jim and I moved from Libertyville-Chicago to our winter house in Scottsdale. At the same time, we started building a house in Fountain Hill, next to Scottsdale. This was the first time we had built a house in all the moves we had made. We were Rio Verde Country Club members and eventually relocated to Rio Verde in 2014.
We are happily living the retired dream.
Mary Beth Gerstung Sickert
Many of you have enjoyed the video that "Woody" Dorrell & Jackie Devine produced for our 50th Reunion about our Jr. Play production of "Head in the Clouds." Woody very astutely mentioned that we were not actors -but "typecast" into our roles! I loved that statement and found that playing Amy Matthews, the girl with her head perpetually "in the clouds" - suited me very well! In real life, I was always "dreaming" myself in and out of intriguing situations and challenges!
I started out as a transfer 7th Grader from Nipher Jr. High School in Kirkwood. The contrast between that little (dare I say "shabby") building and Nipher was stark! Inside, though, I found some of the best teachers ever! Mrs. Stubblefield appreciated the "diagramming" sentences that remain with me today! Mr. Cavendar had a gift for actually making history interesting! An incident occurred in his classroom when I was very much of a new student and a definite outsider! I related this to another EHS classmate who came as a new student in high school. It almost sealed my decision NEVER to return to school.
That day, everyone in Mr. C's class was "goofing off" and asking silly questions. I turned to the back of my history book, and inside was written in LARGE letters: "F—k You." So, I raised my hand and asked what that meant. To say that the students in the history class became IMMEDIATELY silent would be an understatement! To Mr. Cavaendar's credit, he calmly suggested I ask my parents and move on QUICKLY to another topic. At home, my mother did not have a clue about the WORD.
My father did not define me but went straight to the principal, Mr. Wilson with my book! It was a classmate who later told me the meaning of the WORD, and I vowed I would NEVER go back to school! Obviously, I returned, and probably not one other EHS classmate ever mentioned it again! I enjoyed Music and was thrilled in Jr. high to be asked to join the High School chorus of "Naughty Marietta". I believe my exposure to Ms. Harttman was central to my EHS days. She introduced me to singing in ensembles, where I made great friends. During one of my four years in Vespers, she chose me to sing "I Heard the Bells," an unaccompanied solo of four LONG verses. I loved how the VESPER scenes were constructed and enacted by others while the choir provided a musical backdrop! Thanks to how traditional Ms. Harttman was, I still can sing ALL verses of "O Come All Ye Faithful" in Latin!
Speaking of Latin, Ms. Williams inspired me to pursue a career in teaching. We did have an exemplary faculty at EHS in all disciplines! My father (a mechanical engineer) thought that there was no such thing as "too much math." That is how I became the only girl in my senior year Mathematical Analysis class, from which I remember nothing.
College brought me to the top of Lookout Mountain, Georgia at a small liberal arts college, Covenant College. During my sophomore year, I met a young man from Indianapolis who became a good friend. I learned that he came from Indianapolis by way of Belo Horizonte, Brasíl! His family had come to America when he was five. He can remember becoming a USA citizen as a teenager (the correct and challenging way)!
He volunteered to do photography when I edited the college yearbook in my senior year. This same man loves to say, "We did a lot of darkroom work. We wanted to see what would develop." You guessed it, that yearbook was the first of our many "productions"! Jayme and I (both English majors) married in 1968, honeymooned in Canada, and returned to Lookout Mountain for his senior year.
Our next stage of life took us to St. Louis, where Jayme attended Covenant Seminary. In the fall of 1970, I was hired by the Rockwoods R-6 District to teach an "experimental "course: American Studies. It was a team-taught class combining English, Social Studies (Dan Capehart), and History (Henry Hyde). So, one of my first jobs after college was teaching with my EHS teachers six years after my EHS graduation! I also taught speech- imagine again- at my old high school. In the mid-semester of Fall 1970, I began to suspect that I was developing ulcers. Wrong again; I was pregnant with our first son, Jonathan Edward, who arrived in May 1971 and brought my teaching career to a screeching halt with medical issues that terminated my teaching career at the end of the first semester.
Jayme and I rented some exciting places in our life, but the 100-year-old farmhouse on Mason Road and Olive was a "working" farm with cows and chickens ( and a really MEAN rooster) and all kinds of farming machinery. It even had a pond complete with geese! Seminary students loved to use it for impromptu ice hockey battles. During Jayme's last year of Seminary, we faced" production surprise" #2-an April 1973 baby. While Jonathan had obligingly arrived on his "due date" AFTER J's final, this one was scheduled for exam week! Also, with Jonathan almost two years old, we were told to expect TWINS. Fortunately, Joel Perrin was ONE large and long baby! He became the youngest to fly TWA St. Louis to Indy while Jayme brought Jonathan, our dog, and lots of equipment by car to Indianapolis. Jonathan, Joel, and I stayed with Jayme's family while he returned to St. Louis to take Senior finals. That was the longest week ever!
Spring 1974 saw our little family, now with an MDiv degree, and our first Church, a very small "Mission" Church in Greensboro, NC. The Lord blessed us with 45 years of ministry, serving five wonderful congregations in the Southeast! Our "production surprise # 3" arrived in May 1977 in Myrtle Beach, SC—our "beach baby," Amy Cecilia!
We served our remaining years with Greenville and Clinton, South Carolina congregations! Jayme retired from "active" ministry for the FIRST time in 1989 when he accepted a position in our denomination's corporate offices in Atlanta. suddenly-we were private citizens. He later enjoyed a successful career in Finance until the ministry called again. At age 65 (2010), we took an Interim position at a small PCA Church in the charming civil war town of Newnan, Georgia (still in the Metro Atlanta area) and 30 miles from the busiest passenger airport in the world. At this stage of our life- a move meant finding my 90-year-old Mummer a new Assisted Living facility and all new doctors for her increasingly complex medical needs. Our 33-year-old SN daughter, Amy, also required new medical attention as well as continuing therapies and competent and loving CareGivers! We settled in for some wonderful years of growth and ministry until 2018 when Jayme left the active pastoral ministry for the FINAL time!
The Lord has blessed us in many ways throughout our 56 years of marriage. We were fortunate to take many trips abroad. We spent five weeks in Brazil, visiting Jayme's relatives all over that beautiful country. One of our congregations gave us the journey of a lifetime to the Holy Land, where we walked the same roads as Christ! In 2007, Jonathan, who works for Siemens and travels regularly to Europe, designed a fabulous trip for us throughout Germany! Recently we discovered cruising. Last year, we saw the Amalfi Coast, Corfu, and beautiful Croatia. On October 7—Lord willing—we will fly to LaGuardia to the NCL ship JOY for a cruise to Bermuda! The girl with her "head in the clouds "has enjoyed her life with all its highs and lows!
Larry Richardson
I remember high school being a secure and “normal” place for me, with good friends and mostly good teachers. Numerous friends were important influences and also encouraging support for me as I struggled with family problems. I will not attempt to list them all here for fear of leaving out someone who was significant. I will say, however, that Dayle Schoessel and Jim Ziegenmier and I still get together sometimes for lunch. While I would have to say Miss Marie Hartmann was my favorite teacher, but several others were also favorites, including: Miss Frieda Kessinger (Freshman English), who became Mrs. Robert Betts, Mrs. Anne Ritter (Sophomore English), Mr. Billy Rippee (Sophomore World History), Mr. Don David (Physical Education), Mrs. May Eisenhauer (Biology), and who could forget our Latin and Senior Literature teacher, Miss Dorothy Williams, who really taught me so much. Also, Counselor Mr. Jack Day provided me with some wise counsel during our senior year.
In what Jackie Devine posted in her story on our class website, she asked if anyone remembers about the day President Kennedy was shot. I do. I was in typing class; and, as rarely happened, I had thus far typed something without errors. Then the assassination announcement came. That was the end of my perfectly typed copy.
I was pretty much a “mess” during our junior year. My lack of attendance at least during the first semester was really bad. Then, one day during the 2nd semester, I had a note from my mom for me to be excused from school early afternoon to go to a doctor’s appointment. However, Dayle Schoessel and Rick Vollmer, my buddies, found out I would be leaving school early that day. It was a beautiful spring day, so they told me when I left school, they wanted me to come pick them up one street west of the school; which, of course, I did. The next day we were called down to Mr. Jones’ office where we received a scolding from him for what we did. I was not our principal’s favorite person at that time, so he ended up blaming me and telling me that I was a bad influence on my friends. He would have probably vote me least likely to succeed from our class. Here I was the only one who left school early with a legitimate parent-approved excuse. All I did was pick up my friends who had left school and dropped them off somewhere on my way. However, I felt I showed Mr. Jones he was wrong about me when I had perfect attendance our senior year and honor roll grades all year.
It was John Ender’s influence that led me to visit Southwest Baptist College (SWBC) in Bolivar, Missouri, with him and his parents during our senior year. That college visit ended up making a huge impact on my life. That day, I knew I was supposed to attend that college. The four years there were some of the best years of my life, which ended up leading me to obtain my Bachelor of Arts degree in English with minors in speech/drama and secondary education, providing me Missouri secondary school teaching certification in English and Speech/Drama.
My first year out of college, after not passing my 3rd military physical examination, I worked for the Admissions Office of SWBC. After that year, I began teaching secondary school English in Sheldon, Missouri (1 year) and then Junior High School English at Stockton School District, Stockton, Missouri, where I had previously completed my student teaching. I also became the part-time minister of music at First Southern Baptist Church of Stockton, Missouri, where I served for about 12 ½ years.
After obtaining my Master of Science degree in Guidance and Counseling with 7th – 12th grade School Counseling and Psychological Examiner certification from Southwest Missouri State University (now Mo. State U.), I was hired as the Stockton High School guidance counselor. Interesting, Dr. Billy Rippee, who was our sophomore world history teacher at EHS, was a professor in counseling graduate studies at SMSU and was my advisor during my studies there.
- In 1979, I met Lynda Bailey, who was a college student at SWBC and attended the church where I was minister of music. We started dating and were married July 18, 1981.
- In 1983, we moved to Fenton, Missouri where I had accepted a church ministry position (music and other ministries) at First Baptist Church of Fenton, Missouri.
- Lynda and I were blessed with 3 children: Melynda Jane, born April 1982; Melody Joy, born July 1985; and our son, Michael John, born May of 1989.
- During the 6 years I served in the ministry position at First Baptist Church of Fenton, Missouri, I went back to college part-time and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from Webster University in May 1989.
- In September 1989, I resigned the church position when I was hired by Rockwood School District a junior high school guidance counselor for the 1989-90 school year. I worked for the next 15 years as either a junior high/middle school guidance counseling, or as a high school guidance counselor at Rockwood Summit High School for 9 years (1995-2004). During most of those years in the 1990’s, while working as a school counselor, I also either assisted ministers of music at our church or served as interim music minister.
- In June of 2004, I did early retirement from Rockwood School District and went to work for Missouri Baptist University as a Graduate Studies Advisor and as an adjunct Graduate Studies instructor for counseling internship courses. Soon after, that led to me becoming MBU’s Director of Graduate Advising, but continued as an advisor for students pursuing their master’s degree in counseling. After working for Missouri Baptist University for 14 years, at 72 years old, on August 1, 2018, I retired from Missouri Baptist University.
Lynda and I were kept busy with the responsibilities and joys of raising three children. We are thankful that all three of our children completed their bachelor’s degrees and two earned master’s degrees in education. Melynda is the lead vocal music teacher at Pattonville High School. So far, neither Melody nor Michael is married or has children. Melynda has two children: Adeline – 13 and Atticus Gabriel – 10 in summer 2024. We sold our home in Fenton in 2016 and moved near our daughter Melynda’s family, just west of Creve Coeur, Missouri, so we could be close to them to help with their childcare needs. The grandchildren are such a joy, and they spend quite a bit of time with Granddaddy and Mamaw. One of their favorite things is for Granddaddy to take them fishing. Throughout my life, when time and opportunity have allowed, I have enjoyed fishing, especially for trout. For many years, I have also enjoyed going back to Stockton, Missouri, to deer hunt with friends there who are like family to me. By the grace of God, I have been richly blessed since high school.
Jim Ziegenmier
This is my story
After graduation in 1964, I started college in September at Missouri School of Mines in Rolla working toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. Several of our Class started that year with me – Mel Allison, Woody Dorrell, and Glen Scheel – enrolled in different curricula. Woody and I were roommates that first year. I made many new friends that year including Ed Palmer (a Chemical Engineering Classmate who lived in the same dorm). He set me up to go on a blind date with his cousin, Kathy LaRue. Ed got tickets to a Cardinals baseball game and then backed out at the last minute leaving me hanging. It was mid-April of 1966. The game was in the “new” stadium downtown. I don’t remember much about the game except it was freezing cold and food was terrible. But the blind date was the start of a relationship that has lasted almost 60 years, as Kathy and I dated and got married in Sept of 1967.
Before the end of my first year at Rolla, I started a co-op job with Monsanto in St Louis alternating a semester at School followed by a semester of work at Monsanto. I continued that arrangement until January of 1968, and we moved to Rolla to finish my degree. I graduated In May of 1969 and went to work for DuPont in LaPorte TX. We moved to LaPorte in June.
Kathy and I had our first child, Kevin, on July 20, 1969, the night of the “moon landing”. Less than 2 years later, our second son, Corey, was born on October 13, 1970, practically twins. Time flew by during those first few years after school. We bought our first house and added another car. We made long lasting friendships with young families like ours whom we’ve stayed in touch with over the years and miles. Our family continued to grow as our 3rd son, Daniel, was added to the clan on November 8, 1974. But our time living in TX ended when I was transferred to another DuPont plant in Charleston WV, in November 1976.
We spent the next 15 years in Charleston. I settled into a new job, our new home, new church, kids in school, etc. Life had settled down to an easy routine, then surprise, surprise Kathy got pregnant with #4. We thought that surely this time we would have a little girl, but “she” turned out to be another “he” as Joel was born May 4, 1978. That very night Kathy had bowled 3 games in our bowling league. We just got home, and Joel decided it was time to make his entry into the world. I barely got her to the hospital in time.
Life as a family of 6 had officially begun! We have many fond memories and a few not so fond like all families. At the time, our life seemed chaotic….schools, church activities, baseball and soccer - always separate teams with games on separate nights, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, my job, Kathy’s job. Yikes! Makes me tired just thinking about it! But we laugh now with friends, or at family reunions as we reminisce about those “hectic/chaotic” days, and realize what a short time we were a together as a family of 6, and what life events we celebrated together.
So fast forwarding to 1990, I was unhappy with my job at DuPont and the outlook for any opportunities that I was interested in was limited. I found a job with a small chemical company in East TN, Great Lakes Chemical Co. We left Charleston, our home for 15 years, with a 7th grader and a ninth grader in tow; while our two oldest kids remained in WV on their own in college and/or working. Terrifying!! And so began a 20+ year period in our life prior to my retirement that included…
- 6 household relocations – Morristown, TN; Eldorado AR, Webster Groves MO, Wake Forest NC, Kingsport TN/Johnson City TN
- working for 4 different companies – Great Lakes Chemical, Mallinckrodt, King Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer
- 4 marriages, 6 grandkids (3 girls and 3 boys)
In May of 2012 we sold our home in Kingsport TN and moved to a rental home in nearby Johnson City TN. Pfizer was in the process of selling the manufacturing facility where I worked for them. I stayed with them to help with the transition to new owners. In the meantime, in August of 2012, we purchased our current home in Chesterfield and Kathy moved in while I remained in Johnson City. I stayed on with Pfizer to complete the sale and retired in October of 2013.
In the 10+ years since retirement I’ve kept myself busy volunteering for Oasis Training (helping K-2nd grade kids with reading skills); doing some math and science substitute teaching; singing in our church choir; and doing some travel to visit kids/grandkids, as well as some travel that we had always talked about but never did. Oh yeah….I have played more golf.
So now there’s my story, and it continues as I just celebrated my 78th birthday. I hope to see your “Story” on the Web Site .
Jim Ziegenmier
Larry Stone
Prior to high school I had lived in Kirkwood, Missouri and attended school there up through the 7th grade at which time my family moved into the Rockwood School District. There I began the 8th grade in the old building behind the high school in Eureka. At the time, I remember feeling anxious about my new environment and being the new kid in school. However, it was not long before those feeling subsided and I began to really like the idea of being in a much smaller school where it was possible to know most of the people in my class. Unlike the huge school district I had come from, at Eureka the possibilities for me to participate in activities and even compete in varsity sports was exciting.
By the time I moved over to high school the next year, I had fully adjusted to my new surroundings and life felt normal again. The next four years seemed to fly by and then we were all seniors. Suddenly, the reality that high school would soon be ending brought back those haunting feelings of anxiety. Now the future had to be considered and I needed a plan. I made average grades in school so the prospect of going to college really didn’t appeal to me at that time. However, the war was escalating in Vietnam and my parents were painfully aware that, if I didn’t go to college, I would almost certainly be drafted. Under pressure, I decided to give college a try.
June 1964 arrived, graduation came and went, I enrolled at a local community college, lived at home and my life was miserable. All of my friends from high school had scattered to the four winds and I was unhappy. I suffered through two years of misery and poor grades until one morning in the summer of 1966 when I took matters into my own hands. I decided that I had had enough so I got up, told my mother I would be back later, drove directly to the military recruiting facility and enlisted in the United States Navy. When I left the recruiters office that day, I felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders and that I was about to embark on a great adventure. My parents nearly fainted when I told them what I had done but at least I was happy again.
I arrived at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in October to begin my great adventure, otherwise known as boot camp. As anyone who has had that experience will tell you, it is a sobering experience. Enough said.
After basic training, I was ordered aboard the USS Valley Forge, an amphibious assault helicopter carrier stationed in Long Beach, California. We deployed to Vietnam for nine months and returned to Long Beach in August 1968. Shortly thereafter, I was ordered to school at The Naval Training Center in Memphis, TN. Little did I know but my life was about to change, big time.
Since I had not been home for almost two years, I took two weeks of leave on my way to Memphis to see my parents. While I was home a friend of mine asked me to go to breakfast one Sunday morning with him, his fiancé and her roommate. That is what is known as a blind date. Anyway, I agreed and that morning my life changed forever. I had recently traveled halfway around the world and back on my great adventure only to return to the point of beginning to find the love of my life. Yes, I met my beautiful wife of 45 years less than five miles from where I had started my journey and I was hooked.
Upon completion of my training, I was ordered to Oceana Naval Air Station near Virginia Beach, VA and the following year Helen and I were married. We lived in Virginia Beach until my enlistment was up in the summer of 1970 when we moved back to St. Louis to begin civilian life.
In 1972 our first daughter, Heather, was born as we were settling into home, career and me going back and graduating from college.
By 1978 my career took us to Kansas City where we lived until 1981 when we were transferred back to St. Louis.
Once again, in 1988, my career brought us back to Kansas City where our second daughter, Emily, was born in 1990 and where I eventually retired and we now live. Our first daughter, Heather, graduated from the University of Kansas School of Business and received her masters degree from Butler University in Indiana. She and her husband Greg have three children, Braden who is 10 and twin girls, Rowan and Presley 7. They live and work in the Kansas City area. Emily, our second daughter, graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Accounting at Saint Louis University. She lives in St. Louis and is a CPA with PWC.
Life has been good to me because I was blessed to meet the girl of my dreams at a moment in time when I was emotionally ready. I had already experienced many things in a short period of time and I had matured enough to know what I wanted and what I needed to be happy. Since retirement, I have more time now to pursue my hobby of restoring and showing my two classic 1967 Camaros and to watching my three grandchildren grow up and to play sports. Now that we are finally empty nesters, Helen and I plan to travel more and just relax.
Peggy Price Brown
The funniest thing that ever happened while I was at EHS. to some may not be funny, but it stands out in my mind as memorable. Mr.Jones stopped me in the hallway and said I should use my real name, Margaret, instead of your nick name ”Peggie.” I said my name is Peggie. He just laughed and said, “that is odd” and walked on down the hall
My saddest memory took place when I was in study hall the day it was announced that President Kennedy was assassinated.
My favorite teacher was Miss Smith. I learned that the love of art (and its expression) comes in many forms and that eventually led to my career as a decorator.
Looking back, a fellow student that made a difference in my life was Jackie McLain. I was painfully shy in school, Jackie, asked me one day: “Do youwant to live your life this way?” Of course I didn't, so I worked at it and changed. Thanks, Jackie
As a high school senior I had envisioned myself being a secretary. After graduation I married, worked and wanted to start a family. I become a secretary and soon learned it wasn't for me. Starting my family didn't happen until 3 years later. We were so thankful because we thought it may not happen.
Ultimately, we had two children, Christina and David. I was able to stay home with them and enjoyed every minute. When they started school, at Geggie Elementary, I started re-inventing myself. I became a commercial and residential decorator and a building contractor, building and/or decorating homes and businesses for my extended family and a variety of clients.
I'm proud of my career and the recognition I have received for my talent, something I never thought possible as a senior in high school.
I would like to be remembered as a person who loves the Lord, is a good wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. And, as a person who never worked a day of her life because she had the nerve to follow her dream and leverage her talents.
Sharon Stevenson
I still do think of us all back in Ms. Williams or Ms. Hartmann's classes or Vespers. Late in life, as I suspect is usual, I've come to adore Life, yes, with a capital L. These people were really as i look back, the rock substance for years of my life, from elementary at Vandover to graduation day at Eureka.
Really what a gift today’s graduates have of all the smart phones and their little tell all cameras. I still remember the only black guy at Eureka, not his name but that he saw on the left wing of Ms. Williams' Latin class, that I have forever been thankful that she made us master, since it was my saving grace later in learning both German and Spanish. I ALWAYS think "ablative clause" when I see it!! thanks to her.
David Workman
As I look back on my time at Eureka High School, some of my fondest memories are of the teachers that I had. I wasn’t the greatest of students but all the teachers seemed to tolerate me. I never could quite get the hang of typing in Mrs. Gudermuth’s class. I think she felt my pain and would send me down to the filling station to wash her car during class. Ms Hartman seemed excited when I first took band.
We had an old saxophone that my older cousin played. I had just gotten braces and every time I tried to play, the reed would vibrate my braces. Ms Hartman very diplomatically told me that she thought 7th hour PE would be a better fit for me. And I will never forget Mr. Buddemeyer’s class. He was one of my favorite teachers. I vividly remember the incident that Melvin told about and how the cat skin on Mr. Buddemyer’s head stood straight up.
But probably the worst thing I did was in Ms Pierce’s geometry class. She had a sphere that we used in class and one day before she came in I tried to palm it and dropped it. We quickly tried to glue it together and put it back on the stand. When she picked it up in class, it fell apart. My conscience got the best of me and I had to fess up. I remember her saying how disappointed my mother would be.
Of course, sports were a big part of my life and I admired the coaches that I had at EHS. Coach Bobbitt, the junior high PE teacher, was a real inspiration to me. He allowed me to play basketball even though I was probably the worst one on the team. Coach David also had a big influence on me. And I had great respect and regard for Mr. Jones. He always acted like he was in a fog but really knew what was going on and tried to let us have fun without getting away with too much.
After graduation, I went to Meramec Community College and played basketball. I transferred to Missouri State and finished my degree in industrial management. Judy and I got married in 1968 after she graduated and she taught in the Springfield school system while I finished up. After graduation, we moved back to Eureka. By the time my draft notice caught up with me, I had to report for duty in two days. Leaving my wife and 3 month old son was probably the hardest thing I ever had to do. Nothing in my life up to that point prepared me for the army or Vietnam.
After getting out of the army, I went into business with my dad. Over the years, we have built everything from houses to factories. I have always enjoyed the physical work of construction and love the challenge of designing and building something. My parents are still living. My dad is 91 and my mom is 89. I am most proud of my family – my son David and my daughter Tricia and their children.
Kathie Creamer Dulin
Funniest thing: During a fashion show my suit I didn't quite get it finished almost came apart.
It wasn't funny then but is now.
Saddest day: When my dad died in 1963 and Kennedy was shot.
Favorite Teacher: Miss Hartman was by far my favorite she helped me fell comfortable singing.
Now the family wish I'd shut up.
Envisioned: I would have liked to go to college and study to become a Gemologist it never happened.
Now I study the Gems all I can and collect the stones but in rings I have quite a collection it took me about 20 yrs. and I'm still finding new ones.
World: I never dreamed my Kids and Grandkids would have it so tough that many can't make it by their selves they need help and in their place I would too. Sorry it has come to this for their generation.
Remember me: Hopefully my sense of humor it seems I can find something funny in just about anything.
I can also laugh at myself even if it was embarrassing at the time.
Linda Rae Milton
-What is the funniest thing that ever happened while you were at EHS? The art teacher gave me a very nice grade on my silly looking crooked clay vase because I told her I liked how the color had turned out. I really did like the color, but expected to receive a less than good grade. To this day I do not like to deal with straight, clean lines in my projects.
-What is your fondest, most triumphant, worst or saddest memory as a student at EHS? Fondest moments came nearly daily through participation in Choir and Mandrigal. Singing with these groups was the joy in my life for 3 years.
The saddest memory was the accidental death of my cousin Jimmy Koons. He was also a student at Eureka High.
A triumphant memory, maybe to some; it sounds rather silly now, but if memory serves correctly I was one of only 2 students allowed to disect the fetal pig in biology class. Performing this much coveted activity was a real ego booster.
The worst memory is an event at the end of the senior year for me as well as the end of 8th grade for my sister Kathy; Kathy and 3 others skipped school. They were located in the pool hall in Eureka. I was terrified I'd be kicked out and not be allowed to graduate because no one believed that I didn't know what they were doing in advance and stop them. Others were angry with me because they believed I'd turned them in to the office.
-Who was your favorite teacher and why (what influence did that person have upon your future)?
Miss Hartman with Miss Williams running a close second.
-Who (student, teacher, community member, etc.) stands out as making a difference in your life while at EHS?
Miss Williams
-Who in the student body did you look up to or respect (for their intelligence, talent or creativity)? Explain.
Too much time has gone by to go back and pick just one. Those who took the 2nd year of French were all intelligent, talented classmates. We had a good group and I believe we all enjoyed that class.
-As a high school senior, what did you envision yourself as becoming? I guess I didn't really have a clue. I had wanted to be married, and have a job, earn my own money and learn to cook. Simply put, I wanted to be like my Aunt Lois.
-What was your perspective on the world as an EHS senior and how has it changed as a 2014 senior citizen? The small world of St. Louis was all I knew. Now the world comes into our homes every single day 24/7 through the advances in technology. The internet has become my window to the world. I can find information on any subject that comes to mind in 30 seconds or less.
-After graduation, how did your world view change? Did you go forth prepared or did you have to re-invent yourself to succeed? 50 years ago it was all about work ethic. No problem there. On the other hand, social skills, I had none. I am still working on my re-invented self.
One note of interest; in 1968 or there-abouts I was given a tour of the first automated banking system in St. Louis and a preview of what was to come. This was prior to the distribution of Master Card credit cards, numbered checking accounts, electronic banking, direct deposit and the trend towards a cashless society. Very heady stuff and no limit to what a creative mind could imagine and produce.
-50 years later, what are you most proud of with regard to:--family, I have a wonderful, hard working son who believes family comes first. a beautiful daughter-in-law who followed her dreams and earned her BSN, RN from Texas Womens U in Denton in addition too taking care of her family and working part time. Plus they have 2 totally amazing sons, one in college and one in high school.
--Community, My membership in two service orginizations, Order of the Eastern Star & Piecemakers by the Bay Quilt Guild. Both involve opportunities to work on projects benefiting our community.
--Your career, From 1999 to 2009 I worked for the American Institute of CPAs at the branch office in Lewisville, TX. My boss from 99 to 07 was Dr. Paden Neeley, a retired Professor of Business from the Univeristy North Texas in Denton and a CPA. I learned a great deal about the CPA world. It was a dream job. One of my responsibilities was to be a laision to the Educational Committee. I did get to do some traveling with these folks to their meetings two or three times a year. We were co-workers and friends, sharing stories of past work life and news of our families. Dr. Neeley became the big
Mel Allison
In answer to, “What is the funniest thing that ever happened while you were at E. H. S.,” I has to be:
In Physics class during a demonstration of static electricity using a Van de Graaff Generator, Mr. Buddemeyer places his hands on the generator globe. Mike Gaut got behind him and shorted out the static electricity between Mr. Buddemeyer's bald head and a chrome ball used to ground the electricity. The result was about a 12 inch long electrical charge jumping off his head to the chrome ball. Everyone was laughing, but I think Mr. Buddemeyer was laughing the hardest.
Response to the other questions posed, assumes that I had a clue about what the world was about. I did not and I did not care that I did not care. Ms. Johnson would have loved the wording of this statement!
As a high school student I loved to learn, as long as studying was not required. I was never opposed to hard work, but studying was not fun work. Having fun, learning, playing sports, and meeting my wife of 49 years were the highlights of my career at E. H. S. Going to Eureka High was one of the great joys of my life. School was an opportunity to do as you pleased and have fun, and I did. A combination of the small classes, ample sports programs, and extra-curricular activities were available to everyone. I was even in the band until Ms. Hartman hinted it would be better if I did not come back the following year. As I took High School Physics with Mr. Buddemeyer, I developed a deep appreciation for the physical sciences.
I never looked at my future, until the last month or two of my senior year. I ask Larry Stone what he was doing after graduation, he was going Meramec Community College, so I applied. Later I asked Glenn Scheel where he was going. He was going to Rolla, and he explained what engineering schools were all about. That even sounded better. I applied and but did not get a notice of acceptance until August, at which time all dormitories were full, requiring me to live independently. This scared the hell out of me. At a beginning of the year orientation to the engineering school was held in a large auditorium. The speaker announced; shake hands with the person on each side of you, because by the next semester they will have flunked out. I was sitting between Woody Dorrell and Jim Ziegenmier. Not good!
As I headed off to Rolla, I had assumed college would be a continuation of High School; WRONG. Since I had never studied and believed studying was not necessary, life was difficult. After a period time I developed study skills and course work became more applied and I was back to enjoying learning. In my entire life I have never stopped enjoying learning. While at Rolla, I married Cheryl Wisby in 1965.
After graduating with Bachelor Degree in Civil engineering, I accepted an engineering position with the State of Illinois in the field of hydrology and hydraulics designing flood control projects, mainly in the Chicago Area. After 33 years of service I retired in 2002. Cheryl and I live in a small town (Riverton) just outside of Springfield, Il. We have three children, all went to School in Riverton. I was a member of the School Board for two terms. The oldest (Dan) received his Doctorate from the University of Illinois in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Garett works for Fox Television in Hartford, Ct., Tyler is in his last year of a fellowship in Pediatric Neurology at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas, City, Mo. We have two grandsons and one brand new granddaughter. Cheryl and I travel a lot, I drop her at a mall near my research location and I do genealogy. Cheryl and I plan on attending the 75th reunion or anything in between.
Judy Click Workman
Dave got a deferment for college. I graduated in 68, we got married and moved to Springfield so that he could finish his degree. I taught first grade in the Springfield school district and Dave took classes. In March, we were blessed with our son.
Dave was deferred from the draft because he was in college. He graduated the first week of June of 69 and we moved back to Eureka, not really thinking about anything but starting our life in Eureka. We were totally blindsided when he received his draft notice around the 3rd week of June. Apparently, the notice had gone to our address in Springfield. By the time it was forwarded to us in Eureka, he had two days before he had to report.
Dave had his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and his AIT at Fort Knox. After that he was sent to Vietnam and was there from November 1969 until November of 1970. Little Dave and I flew to Hawaii in August of 70 for a week of R & R with Dave.
He was a gunner on a tank with the 1st Infantry. I don’t think he will ever really come to terms with what he had to do in Vietnam. He feels it was such a senseless war. The army never took the time to educate the men on the Vietnamese people, their language, beliefs, etc. They were just sent over there to fight for something that didn’t make sense to them and to do things that they never would have done under any circumstances by their own free will.
But he made it back! And I am thankful for that.
Jackie McLain Devine
It was a cold and blustery February morning following a massive snowstorm in '62 when I first set foot in EHS—my 16th "new kid" educational experience. I donned a heavy Southern accent and brought a set of world experiences that didn't jibe with those of my classmates. As a New Orleans resident, I had already netted crawfish in the bayou, walked Canal Street and the French Quarter (and studied their historical backdrop), attended Mardi Gras parades, and flown in seaplanes across the Gulf. Many of my friends were bonafide Cajuns or French Creoles at that time. Others were first and second-generation Greek, Polish, Italian, and Spanish immigrants. In Miami, shortly before the Missile Crisis, as the only Anglo in most of my classes, I was forced to adapt, survive, and communicate in the role of a minority in a school dominated by Spanish-speaking Cuban refugees. I was a big city girl exposed to a variety of ideologies that could be assimilated only by people living among multiple cultures.
Many of the schools I attended covered entire city blocks. In Charlotte, NC, my substantial high school football team competed weekly in a gigantic stadium in the center of town, where the fans were entertained by a marching band half the size of Eureka's student body. Naturally, the day I entered the little red brick schoolhouse propped high on a hilltop in Missouri overlooking Eureka's hamlet (population around 1,000), I felt like a square peg in a round hole. Moreover, I sensed I'd never fit in with my accent, weird clothes, and strange ways.
First Introduction: Big Bully Gary Sutter made himself visible at the onset. He had a way of snickering and making strange noises every time we passed in the hall. On day three, still self-conscious, one of Gary's unkind remarks pushed me over the edge. I walked down the hall and out the door, vowing never to return. Which is precisely what I was forced to do (by my mom) as soon as I reached home. Because of a forceful mother, my little tête-à-tête with Mr. Jones resolved the "Gary Sutter" issue, and we eventually became good friends (evident even in our 20th reunion video).
Shortly after that office incident, Gary and I were caught running down the hall together, where we blasted through the back door and broke its window. Both sets of our parents were required to pay for the damage.
Faculty Memories: Even though many of our teachers seemed like old fogies to me, I'm beginning to take pity on them. After reading the stories posted here, quite a few of us could have viewed our education better. Looking back on it, I must have thought my main focus was to show up and have fun.
The truth is, I got by reasonably well, very quickly, because I had good grammar, a vast vocabulary, and above-average social skills. However, I needed to prepare more for university. Not only did Ms. Eisenhauer know that, but she also attempted to embarrass me out of my complacency and force me to stretch.
One day, she stood in the front of our biology class, looked directly at me, and said ever so clearly: "Some students in this class are brilliant; they just don't take their classwork very seriously!" In the hushed silence, there was no mistaking that I was the target of her comment.
Here I sit, 67 years old, and in my mind's eye, I can still see her delivering that message and feel those piercing eyes boring right through me! Just to set the record straight, I proved I could focus. Carol Kline and I dissected a pig brain for her (and I believe it was to her satisfaction).
In geometry, on hot days, Ms. Pierce would let us drink water from the fountain if the temperature reached 90 (I believe that was the number). Jack Clark jumped up to check right before she walked in. While holding a lit match under the thermometer to guarantee our day of drinking, he turned around to see her standing there. We didn't get to wet our whistle that day, thanks to Jack. I'm not sure whether we got to leave for a drink the remainder of the year—I think not!. Maybe some of you remember.
I was in Mr. Hyde's class the day that Kennedy was shot. I remember Mr. Jones barging into the class and mumbling something about Kennedy, then abruptly turning around and leaving. A few minutes later, he did the same thing. On the third attempt, we finally got out the message. If someone else reading this remembers that day, please comment.
Student and friend recollections: I always felt Stan Dampier had a fantastic ability to write. His work fascinated me. Marsha Patton's brainpower was enviable (by me). Clara Pemberton and Anita Wood could create thought-provoking poetry with minimal effort. Leslie Garard always seemed to know where she was headed and what she wanted from life. Intellectually, Woody was gifted.
I felt Ms. Johnson was wise in selecting him for the lead part in our 11th-grade class play, "Head In The Clouds." He did an exceptional job. I remember Mary Ellen as someone easy to get to know—one of our class's nicest and friendliest people. Mary Beth had the most beautiful hands. Bob Trejbal and Tim Cox could always make us laugh. Greg Cooper had no problem telling you exactly what he thought. And, tall and slender, Peggie Price was stunning in anything she wore. She had a knack for picking out clothing, make-up, and accessories.
I was on a "first-name" one-on-one basis with almost everyone in our class. But, now, I'm inclined to believe it was "the rest of the story" (as Paul Harvey always said) that I missed, and I have some regrets…
And there you have it; this concludes Part 1, Part II, of the book I will publish someday.
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