Mostly about Lakewood and Lakes High

6/28/2022 from Tim Marsh

Here’s a compilation of mostly things I wrote related to Lakewood and Lakes. For the most part, photos which accompanied text not included. Saving this as a PDF, but same text is posted here at one of my blogs …

https://taxioffduty.blogspot.com/2022/06/mostly-about-lakewood-and-lakes-hig.html

…. If there are links in stories and if the links are not dead you can click on the link(s) and read/ see more.

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August 1968: Hemion brothers, Whit and Dave, members of Western Washington U men’s basketball team which toured/played games for six weeks

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=Whit died (plane crash) in 1978 at age 31.
=Dave died (heart attack) in 2020 at age 62.

In August 1968 the Western Washington U (Bellingham, Wash.) Vikings men's basketball team went on a six-week tour of the Far East and Australia. Whit Hemion and brother Dave Hemion, both Lakes High School grads and former basketball players for the Lakes Lancers, were players on the WWU team.

Team wearing sports coats -- Front Row (L-R): Assistant coach Marv Ainsworth, Ben Smith, Ron Caderette, Dave Hemion, Mike Clayton, Neal Larson, Doris Randall. Back Row (L-R): Whit Hemion, Blaine Johnson, Ed Monk, Gary Reiersgard, John Reed, Jimmy Jones, Paul Hallgrimson, Head Coach Chuck Randall.

Team wearing game uniforms -- 1968 WWU Australasia Team (L-R): Ron Caderette, Mike Clayton, Jimmy Jones, Whit Hemion, Gary Reiersgard, John Reed, Ed Monk, Paul Hallgrimson, Dave Hemion, Neal Larson, Ben Smith. Kneeling (L-R): Assistant Coach Marv Ainsworth, Head Coach Chuck Randall.

Black & white action photo with photo corners cropped -- Dave Hemion, Jimmy Jones and Ed Monk.

Small color photo -- Paul Hallgrimson, Ed Monk, Whit Hemion (with yellow scarf), Dave Hemion (light blue shirt) and Gary Reiersgard.

Large color photo -- Dave Hemion, John Reed, Whit Hemion, Gary Reiersgard and Mike Clayton

Story text included: In Taipei, Taiwan, WWU played and won four games. The players did a lot of shopping. "… Whit (Hemion) bought 19 (music on phonograph records) albums for eight dollars (pirated copies). He thought he had (the albums) concealed but when he went through customs they found them. He was a little worried but they let him keep them with no penalty."

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LAKEWOOD’S ROUNDABOUTS AND LAKEWOOD SATURDAY OAK LEAVES MEMORIES

How old are you? Do you remember Lakewood before roundabouts? Am told by a Lakewood resident on 10/4/2021 that roundabouts are being put in/installed/built on Gravelly Lake Drive, one each at Nyanza Park Drive, Veterans Drive and Washington Boulevard intersections. Wow!

Speaking of, "How old are you?," are you so old you remember fall Saturdays in Lakewood when oak leaves that fell from trees were raked into piles, not "pushed" into piles with noisy leaf blowers? And, do you recall the smell of those oak leaves when homeowners burned them? It was, at least to some memories, a sweet scent even though it was polluting the air and a health hazard.

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"Lipstick On Your Collar" was a hit single by Connie Francis in 1959. In the 1962-1963 school year at Iva Alice Mann Junior High, an 8th grade student -- she went on to graduate in 1966 from Lakes High School -- performed a fabulous lip sync of the song (played on a record player) on stage in the Mann gym during a talent show.

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Originally posted 2/14/2018

First photo credit: Whit Hemion playing Western Washington State College (now Western Washington University) Vikings basketball during the 1968-1969 season. During that season, his fourth and final year on the team, he was its captain. Photo from Western's Klipsun student yearbook. Western is located in Bellingham.

By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966

Whit.

Many people reading or hearing “Whit” know it’s a first name followed by the last name of “Hemion.”

Whit Hemion.

To be specific Whittaker Moss Hemion Junior, not to be confused with his father with the same name except Senior at the end.

This is a story about Lakewood’s Whit Hemion Jr., a larger than life person. Tall (6-foot-2), “studly,” sincere, determined, dedicated, friendly, likeable, enthusiastic, he was all of that and more.

At Lakes High School, he was an outstanding football and basketball player for the Lancers and a member of Lakes second graduating class in 1965.

As a junior, he was a member of the Lakes 1963-1964 boys’ basketball team which upset favored Renton for the Puget Sound League championship and the Lakes 1964 football team which had an undefeated season.

He went on to play four years of basketball at WWU/Western Washington University (then Western Washington State College) in Bellingham. Whit lettered all four years he played and was the WWU Vikings men’s basketball team captain his senior season, 1968-1969.

After Bellingham, he returned to Lakewood and taught history and p.e. and coached at both Woodbrook Junior High (four school years) and Clover Park High School (one school year).

Born in Seattle on Dec. 22, 1946, this story should be about Whit at age 71, looking back at his long life of sports and service. Tragically, Whit’s life was too short. He died at age 31 in a plane crash on Aug. 18, 1978.

The Hemion family…

--Patriarch Whitaker Moss Hemion Sr., born in Iowa, died at age 99 in 2017 in Lakewood.

--Matriarch Shirley A. Stocker Hemion, born in Illinois, died at age 92 in 2016 in Lakewood.

…and their children …

--Whit Jr., Lakes Class of 1965, WWU Class of 1970. Also earned a teaching certificate from WWU.

--Dave, Lakes Class of 1966, attended Peninsula College in Port Angeles and WWU, died of a heart attack at age 62 in 2010.

--Jack, Lakes Class of 1968.

--Kathy, Lakes Class of 1970, WWU 1974 and master’s degree 1982.

… deserves a book. If a book is written, let this story be part of it.

In 2017, Whit Sr. and Shirley were honored with a Meritorious Service Award from the Tacoma-Pierce County Old-Timers Baseball-Softball Assn. Text for that award reads:

“Think of a couple with a passion for competition --- be it golf, bowling, tennis or bridge. Add four children who grew into multi-sport athletes with boundless appetites for achievement. Stir in a large helping of hospitality, a yearning to bond with others involved in games regardless of allegiance, and leaven with a tincture of even-handed temperament, and what you have is Whit and Shirley Hemion.

“Through decades of following their children to literally hundreds of competitions in all parts of the country they earned reputations as supportive fixtures in the athletic community. For their efforts they have earned” the award.

“Both came from hearty Midwest stock and lived into their 90s. Shirley was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, while Whit was a native of Algona, Iowa. Both spent some of their early years on Mercer Island. They married and started their family shortly after the end of World War II, and they moved to Lakewood in 1961.

“That’s where their children, Whit, Dave, Jack and Kathy, excelled in high school sports and moved on to other levels of competition.

“Mom and Dad were behind them at every step, always offering encouragement. On the sidelines they could be forceful advocates for their children, though officials never had to ask them to leave. After games, they played host to “tailgate” parties where both teams were welcome. Whit always brought a cooler of beer, and he also had a travel case with contents to help boost the spirits of guests.

“Newcomers were warned that Whit’s mixtures could be a bit stiff.

“From innumerable trips up and down the I-5 corridor, to cross-country trips to such places as Marietta, Georgia; Pensacola, Florida; Austin, Minnesota, and back to their native Heartland in Springfield, Illinois, the Hemions were a ubiquitous and welcome presence at their children’s competitions.”

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Whit Jr.’s biography as a member of the association’s hall of fame says:

“Whit Hemion Sr. and wife Shirley enjoyed a long relationship with slowpitch, watching sons Whit Jr., Jack, and David and daughter Kathy all play on top local ball clubs over the years.

“Whit Jr. played for the Tacoma Merchants, Dean’s Tavern, Hi Hat and the Outfitters in the 1970s. Among the top honors he received was the MVP Award at the Third Annual Jerry Bassett Invitational in 1978. That same year, a tragic airplane crash en route to the regional championships in Montana took the life of Whit Jr. one of the Pacific Northwest’s most-feared long-ball softball players of his era.”

(The crash took the lives of Whit, four softball team teammates and the plane’s pilot.)

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Although the crash happened nearly 40 years ago, it is still a “painful memory for me as Whit and I were very close friends,” said Doug Cowan, formerly of Lakewood, who now lives in Port Orchard.

Doug began his teaching/coaching career at Woodbrook a year after Whit started doing the same in 1973.

Whit was a world and U.S. history teacher, head boys’ basketball coach (two league titles) and 8^th grade football and girls’ track & field assistant coach.

“When I started at Woodbrook, Whit and I had classrooms next to each other and we coached the 8th grade football team together for three years. We became very close friends in the process. Whit left Woodbrook for Clover Park High as the new boys’ head basketball coach and history and p.e. teacher for 1977-1978. In the same school year I was Clover Park’s assistant wrestling coach,” said Doug.

“Though Whit and I didn't see each other on a daily basis except for the high school winter sports season that year, the strong bonds of friendship continued. As part of that, to my surprise, Whit told me ‘you're the only one I can confide in.’ Though honored as his friend, I found that surprising with his close family ties.”

That friendship was reflected in the fact Whit was a groomsman at the November 1977 wedding of Doug and his wife, Gail.

“Whit and I both played for local softball teams that competed at the national championship level. He would support my team and I supported his,” Doug said. “One of Whit’s slowpitch quotes was ‘Forget the grass cutters. Let's rattle some light poles!’ He did the latter with regularity. Whit was a pure athlete who could compete and perform with excellence at every sport he pursued.”

Doug and friend and life insurance agent Levi Edgecombe played in a slowpitch softball game in Spanaway for the People’s Church of Tacoma team on Thursday, Aug. 17, 1978. Watching the game were Whit; his girlfriend, Pat; and Gail, Doug’s wife.

“After the game we all went to dinner at Angelo’s Italian Restaurant in Spanaway and Whit jokingly told Levi, ‘he had made a lot of money insuring the two of us and it would be appropriate for him to take us all to dinner and pay for it’ Doug said. “That's exactly what happened. Levi covered the entire bill.”

Over dinner they talked about leaving for post-season slowpitch play. Whit's team, Tacoma Slow Pitch Incorporated, was off to Butte, Montana, for regional play and Doug’s team to Oklahoma City for the National Championships.

Also over dinner it was decided Whit would meet up with Doug and Gail early the next morning (Friday, Aug. 18, 1978) at Tacoma’s Meadow Park Golf Course for a Whit-led golf lesson before Whit started the long drive from the Tacoma area to Butte.

But late that Thursday night, Aug. 17, Whit called to tell the Cowans he had to “cancel the golf date as he and several teammates had chartered a twin-engine plane to fly to Butte Friday. It would take the plane just two hours or so to fly from the Puget Sound area to Butte compared to about 10 hours to drive in a car.

Doug can’t remember exactly when – perhaps the morning of Saturday, Aug. 19 --- Whit’s dad called Doug with heartbreaking news. “Inconsolably his dad told me about the plane crash in the hills near Anaconda, Montana,” Doug said. “It was the first I’d heard of the crash and I still hurt to recall it and its aftermath.”

“Through the tears Whit’s dad asked if I could arrange a memorial for Whit in Tacoma at People’s Church, which Gail and I attended,” said Doug.

Doug and Gail met with the Hemion family and Owen Shackett, the church’s lead pastor, to plan the memorial service which was held sometime early the following week.

In the service the pastor introduced Doug to talk about Whit “the man.” In his talk Doug spoke through “uncontrollable emotion.” He concluded by reading a poem, “What is A Friend.” (The poem appears later in this story.)

More than 1,000 people packed the church during the service. A piece of irony was shared by Pastor Shackett. Whit once told the pastor, ‘Don't be surprised when I come through the doors of this church one day,’ ” said Doug.

There was another memorial service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland. During it Whit and the other softball players killed in the crash were eulogized. Delivering the eulogy was Jerry Henderson, their softball teammate. He talked about the five teammates “in terms of life,” reported the Tacoma News Tribune. “We played hard and laughed together. We loved to get together for a few beers. We were men, but still boys … Brothers until the end and beyond.”

Mark Sivara, Whit’s top player on the Clover Park 1977-1978 boys’ basketball teams told the News Tribune that he and other players on the team respected Whit as a coach because “he treated you like a person, and not just a player. He gave me confidence .. he was a really good guy.”

Cheri (Deyton) Arkel and her husband, Mike Arkel, of Lakewood were long-time Woodbrook teachers. Whit was a “wonderful man,” she said. “He was truly bigger than life ... he filled any room with positive energy. He was a terrific history teacher. Mike and I have nothing but fond memories of him.”

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The year after Whit died, Doug helped start an annual end-of-the-year award deserving Woodbrook Junior High (now a middle school) students who exemplified the outstanding qualities Whit demonstrated on a daily basis. Doug Cowan wrote the text for The Whit Hemion Award:

The award was given to the outstanding boy and girl Woodbrook Junior High 9^th grade student-athletes demonstrating exemplary athletic ability, scholarship, and citizenship. (As a middle school it goes to 8^th grade student-athletes.)

Its genesis was the “What is A Friend,” a poem he read for the first time at Whit’s memorial service.

(Author of the poem might be Dr. Frank M. Crane. However, its authorship has been debated over the years. While attending the UW, Doug read the poem for a first time in an old book in a bookstore. “The poem perfectly describes that coveted relationship and emotions experienced between friends,” said Doug.)

Here is the Whit Hemion Memorial text from the 1978-79 Woodbrook Yearbook

By Doug Cowan (fellow teacher, coach, and friend)

There will always be many good memories engraved upon the hearts and minds of those who had the privilege of knowing Whit Hemion. For those who loved and admired him, Whit was the personification of three lofty qualities essential in a true teacher: Achievement, Leadership, and a Servant’s Heart. He loved helping people attain their goals, and for himself always strove to be the best, anything less being unacceptable.

He had the ability to see the consequences of our actions further in the future than those around us could. He was a true leader. Many, many times he would become overjoyed about making someone successful, granting that person a most valuable gift, high self-esteem. Indeed, he had a true servant’s heart.

The above qualities are admirable without question, but for me and many others Whit was more. He was a friend. What is a friend? The following anonymous poem will aptly describe this cherished possession.

WHAT IS A FRIEND?

It is a person with whom you dare to be yourself.

Your soul can be naked with him.

He seeks to ask of you to put on nothing, only to be what you are.

He does not want you to be better or worse.

When you are with him you feel as a prisoner feels who has just been declared innocent.

You do not have to be on your guard.

You can say what you think so long as it is genuinely you.

He understands those contradictions in your nature that lead others to midjudge you.

With him you breathe freely.

You can follow your little vanities and envies, and hates and vicious spurts, your meanness and absurdities and, in opening them up to him, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of his loyalty.

He understands.

You do not have to be careful.

You can abuse him, neglect him, tolerate him.

Best of all, you can keep still with him.

It makes no matter, he likes you.

He’s like a fire that purges to the bone.

He understands.

You can weep with him, pray with him.

Through it all and underneath he sees, knows, and loves you.

A friend?

What is a friend?

Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself.

Doug said he “began a personal tradition that concluded every semester from 1978 to my retirement in 2011 with a variety of poems I read as a farewell to my students. As a tribute to Whit, I always concluded with imparting the value of true friendships and how quickly they can slip away with the poem ‘What is A Friend?’ ”

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A tribute page in the 1979 Clover Park High School Klahowya student yearbook said Whit was a “man with numerous well-rounded qualities.

“A servant at heart, he became excited about making someone successful, valuing punctuality, he showed high esteem for others and their time; he practiced achievement, helped one discover one’s needs then helped find the best way to get them; he reached the goal of leadership, seeing the consequences of people’s actions further in the future that those around him could. He had a lifestyle admitted and desired by many.”

The tribute said, “Sports played an extremely significant role in Whit Hemion’s life. He excelled in every aspect of athletics he was an outstanding participate and also an excellent coach.”

The tribute said, “Whit Hemion was a person with whom one dared to be one’s self.”

Whit Hemion Jr.is gone, but not forgotten.

POSTSCRIPTS

--Whit never married and had no children.

--Whit, Dave and Jack all played boys basketball at Lakes. Kathy didn’t play girls’ basketball at Lakes because, as a 1970 Lakes grad, she attended Lakes before it had girls’ basketball. The 1972 federal Title IX expanded athletic opportunities to include girls. Whit, Dave and Kathy all played basketball at WWU.

-- In August-September 1968, brothers Whit and Dave Hemion played on a 10-member Western Washington University men’s basketball team, coached by WWU’s Chuck Randall. The team won 15 of 21 games in Asia and Australia playing under auspices of the U.S. Department of State’s People-to-People program.

--Whit’s 1972-1975 Woodbrook boys basketball team was the school’s first undefeated team. It its 12 victories versus no losses season it averaged 65 points a game. In one of those games it set a school game scoring record with 90 points over its opponent’s 42. In another game it won 84-48. The 1975 Woodbrook Wildcats yearbook said, “Not only did this remarkable team prove to be great basketball players but they also had the quality of superior sportsmanship. Woodbrook has also been very fortunate to have such a super coach, Mr. Hemion, on the side of the Wildcats.”

= In 1966-1967 Peninsula College (Port Angeles, Wash.,) Pirates men’s basketball team photo are two 1966 grads of Lakes High School. Back row, third from the left, Dave Hemion. Front row, second from the left, Bill Weinman. Dave’s write-up reads, “Dave is the kind of guy that makes a kangaroo look like a lead-footed mouse, as he can stuff the bail from his 6 foot 1 frame. He can be the spark plug in this year’s hopes for Peninsular. He’s tough on defense, can rebound with the best this league has, and when he’s hoot, can really carry the team. Dave comes from Lakes, Tacoma where he played forward and guard. He didn’t limit his efforts to basketball, but can boast of holding the school high-jump record at 6 foot 3 inches. Dave has a good attitude toward the game and works hard to improve himself. As a physical education major, Dave hopes to come back to Peninsula next year.” Bill Weinman’s write-up reads, "A 6-5 performer from Lakes in Tacoma. Bill could be a leading rebounder. His defense needs work and he must adjust to the move of his mates. He's pretty fast for his size." In the 1966-1976 season, Dave was a starter for Peninsula and Bill started some of the games that season. Thus, at times two Lakes Lancers, both members of its Class of 1966, were in the Peninsula College Pirates men’s basketball starting lineup. A sports column in a January 1968 edition of the Port Angeles Evening News said, "At 6-2 Dave is sometimes overwhelmed by the bigger boys in the conference, but he has the knack of knowing where the ball is coming down and he is strong enough to muscle the ball back up when he gets a rebound."

=A 2016 story about Western Washington University women’s basketball features and quotes Kathy Hemion, a 1974 WWU grad. She was a 5-foot-9 forward on the university’s women’s basketball team and “perhaps Western's best athlete of that period.” Playing in the 1972-1973 season, the team had a 24-2 record, losing only to eventual Canadian collegiate national champ University of British Columbia and to eventual U.S. collegiate nat’l titlist Immaculata of Pennsylvania. A member of the WWU Athletics Hall of Fame, she played basketball, volleyball and tennis for WWU and led its basketball teams to regional titles and national tournament appearances in 1973 and 1974. She set WWU basketball records for most rebounds in game and season.

=Now retired, Kathy Hemion was a special education teacher for Tacoma Public Schools for nearly 30 years and for 10 years taught and coached basketball and volleyball at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland.

=A member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame, Kathy Hemion is honored her for softball, basketball and volleyball. One of her accomplishments was trying out for a spot on the U.S. women’s basketball Pan American Games team.

--Photos here from yearbooks Lakes High School Legend, Clover Park High Klahowya, Western Washington University Klipsun, and Woodbrook Junior High School Wildcats, and Doug and Gail Cowan.

--Special thanks to Doug Cowan, Cheri (Deyton) Arkel and Mike Arkel, Marc Blau of Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball-Softball Oldtimers Assn., Ilona Perry of Tacoma Public Library, Paul Madison of WWU and Tim Williams and Amy McClain of Peninsula College Library.

--Sources include Tacoma News Tribune, Seattle Times, Port Angeles Evening News, The Montana Standard (Butte) and Anaconda Standard, Des Moines, Iowa, Register and Tribune (cartoon advertisement about Whit Hemion Sr.).

--This story lacks info on Jack. If you are Jack or have Jack info to add please e-mail this story’s author, Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966, at wildcatville@gmail.com. Please also make contact if you have corrections. In either case, the story will be updated.

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Photo below includes Whit Hemion Jr. (front row, far left) in Seattle Times Oct. 26, 1958, page 39, with headline "Lambro Wins Ossie (football contest) Title, Bowl Trips." During the The Times-Park Board Greater Seattle Old Ossie championship at Lower Woodland Park Playfield, Whit Hemion of Island Park Elementary School (of Mercer Island) placed sixth with 40 points.

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Lakes High boys' basketball 1963-1964.
Whit Hemion #41

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RESPONSE TO STORY/STORIES POSTED ABOUT WHIT HEMION

Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2021 at 1:32 PM

Dear Sirs:

Mr. Hemion was my basketball coach at Woodbrook Junior High in 1972-73.

He was a great coach. I played football, basketball and baseball at Woodbrook and went on to play the same sports at Charles Wright Academy. I was invited to walk on Northwestern University’s football team as a freshman in 1976 where I played backup QB and wide receiver on their JV squad. I quit football to concentrate on my academic career, but many years later had the opportunity to coach my 3 sons - football, basketball and baseball - when they were growing up. All 3 of our sons have gone onto play competitively in college (baseball) - 2 at the Division 1 level (University of Illinois at Chicago and Sienna College). Our youngest son plays for Oakton College (Junior college) which played in the Junior College Division III world series this past Spring.

I learned a LOT from Coach Hemion that 1 year at Woodbrook. Thank you for writing this excellent article!

Do you know the day Coach Hemion was born?

Sincerely,

Fred Smart
Evanston IL

fred.k.smart@gmail.com

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Info below added 5/21/2022

--Whit Junior died (plane crash) in 1978 at age 31.

--Whit Senior died in 2017 at age 99.

Lakewood’s Whit Hemion Jr.: Gone, but not forgotten

https://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2021/06/lakewoods-whit-hemion-jr-gone-but-not.html

“””

https://thesubtimes.com/2020/01/13/my-used-eyeglasses-will-help-others-see-better

Jan 13, 2020 in The Suburban Times of Lakewood (Pierce County, Wash.)

By Tim Marsh

Some people toss more than they keep. That’s not me. Ask my wife.

I’m among others. We keep or try to keep everything. Even scraps of paper hold memories for us.

I’m not a Lions Club member. But, I appreciate Lions Clubs International collecting used eyeglasses. According to one Lions site, “Most of the recycled glasses are distributed to people in need in developing countries where they will have the greatest impact.”

After noticing Lions used glasses donation boxes for years, I was finally compelled now, in 2020, to donate some of my used glasses.

My first glasses — when I was attending Park Lodge School in Lakewood — are no longer in my possession. But, they are memorialized in my third grade black & white school photo. That was one of the few times I wore them.

I got my second pair of glasses from Columbia Optical (that’s what it says on the eyeglass case) in Lakewood (Tacoma?). Rarely wore them in high school.

And, I have a third pair, too. After graduating from Lakes High School in 1966 it was off to Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. I know these are my third pair because inside the glass case I wrote my name, the college’s name and the phone number of the college dorm in which I was living. Hardly wore them.

Soon after graduating from college, wearing glasses was a necessity, not an option. Most of the glasses I’m donating are from my need to wear them time of life. I’m keeping the Park Lodge and Linfield-related glasses. Can’t bear to donate them. Too many memories.

Giving away my used glasses was the right thing to do. Thanks to the Lions I know my glasses will help people around the world to see better and, as a result, have an improved life.

Postscript — Have used eyeglasses to donate to the Lions? Click here to see a list of Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers dropoff locations in Lakewood and elsewhere in the area.

COMMENT by Mike Brandstetter on January 14, 2020 at 9:18 am

Thanks Tim for the kudos. One of the main focus areas for Lions is sight and hearing and recycling used eyeglasses is one of many functions we do in this regard.

Here is a more localized list of eyeglass recycling locations.

Lobby of St Clare Hospital by main entrance

Parking lot of the Lakewood Water District (Drive up location drop box)Lobby of Heritage Bank on Gravelly Lake Drive

Glasses Shop at the VA American Lake Hospital

Optometry Clinic at The VA American Lake Hospital

Lobby of the Bates Technical College on 78th Street

Madigan Medical Center Ophthalmology Clinic

McChord Field Exchange Eye Clinic/Store

McChord Field 62d Medical Clinic Eye Clinic

Walmart Vision Center 7001 Bridgeport

Little Church on the Prairie (in office)

Ardesson’s Shoe Repair on Gravelly Lake Drive

Eye Physicians of Lakewood 5920 100th Street SW

South Sound Eye Care 8520 Steilacoom Blvd SW

Christ Lutheran Church 8211 112th St SW

Dropping off your used eyeglasses starts them on a journey that provides the joy of better vision to someone in the world. Lions also collect and recycle hearing aids.

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PHOTO: Lakes High students (l-r) Rick Hahn, Greg Saxton and Ann Harris in June 1965 at Union (train) station, downtown Tacoma. They were respective Lakes High 1965-1966 student body president, student body vice president, and student senator. At the station, they were waiting to board a passenger train for trip to attend the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) convention, June 21-24, 1965, in Lexington, Kentucky. Key reason for their trip was to help them prepare for the 30th annual NASC convention at Lakes High School, June 26-30, 1966. During the Lexington convention, Hahn was elected NASC for 1965-1966.

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Conference at Lakes High Wins Praise From Across the Nation

Lakes High School was sponsor of the 30th annual National Association of Student Councils Conference held June 26-30, 1966.

By D. C. MOLNARFFY

The writer is a 1966 Lakes High School grad. This story appeared in the Aug. 14, 1966, Sunday Tacoma News-Tribune’s ‘Teen-Age Tribune.’

DENVER Public Schools called it, “One of the best jobs ever done.” Dale Stein of the Illinois Association of Student Councils called it, “... the highlight of my high school career.” The North Carolina Student Council Congress called it,” a most interesting and successful conference.” And Susan Grunenfelder, Tumwater High School said, “As a resident of Washington I couldn’t help but be proud of the first NASC conference held in Washington.”

These and many other complimentary comments exemplify the common reaction held by administrators, teachers and students throughout the nation who attended the 30th Annual National Conference of the National Association of Student Councils June 26-30 at Lakes Senior High School.

In theory, the NASC conference brings together the youth leaders of America for the primary purpose of interchanging ideas and opinions; thus when delegates return to their respective high schools and communities a new enrichment in concepts has been gained and can be passed on.

Sponsor’s Role

The role of the sponsoring high school in such a conference is to apply the necessary theme, program, accomodationols, and recreation. Serving as the theme for the 1966 meeting was “Twenty-0four Hour Leadership” representing the necessity for complete dedication in the service of others.

The outstanding organization of the_ conference reflected three years of earnest planning by Lakes administrators.

Seven general sessions represented the bulk of activity, with discussion groups relating to business of the general sessions and other topics.

Adding inspiration to the conference were speeches by prominent Washingtonians and top high school administrators.

In the initial speech of the conclave Gov. Dan Evans welcomed all delegates to the Northwest — later Jim Whittaker, first American to conquer Mt. Everest, delivered a speech concerning mountain climbing and his personal philosophy relating not only to mountain climbing but to all other endeavors. Lakes ASB president and NASC president Rick delivered the keynote address, and the rest of the conference was filled with many worthwhile speeches.

Recreation, Too

On a lighter note delegates were provided with an assortment of recreational facilities and refreshments; the making of friends throughout the Lakewood community was the most pleasing pastime for the delegates.

General chairman, Arthur H. Stolz, Lakes senior dean and assistant principal, introduced the beauty of the Northwest to the delegates stating, ‘‘This vacationland extends from the Pacific Ocean to the top of snow-capped Mount Rainier—and beyond. Whether your interests lead you to undersea diving or to mountain climbing, you can find the best kind of recreation, challenging recreation, here.”

The spirit of the NASC Conference is best illustrated by the words of President Johnson to the delegates, ‘‘Few lessons in the educational process are more important than those you learn as student leaders. Few experiences are more gratify-ing than the familiarity you have gained with the spirit and method of democracy.’’

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This was originally posted July 11, 2015. It was updated May 20, 2019, and May 11, 2022.

After Lakes' 1965-1966 school year, a national convention took place at Lakes High. Prior to it, Clover Park School District paid minimal attention to Lakes campus grounds. But, with visitors coming from 49 of 50 states (which state was missing?) for the convention, the district spiffed up the grounds.

It was the 30th annual National Association of Student Councils convention held June 26-30, 1966, at Lakes High School.

=Executive-Type Youth

Leads Student Council

And Plans for Future

Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World - Nov 2, 1965

TACOMA, Wash. -- Rick Hahn is the executive type. And, students from all over the country recognized that when they chose him this year's president of the National Association of Student Councils.

This means that while he is engrossed in his senior year school work, and his post as president of the Lakes High School Student Council here, he'll also be preparing for the 1966 national convention of the Association, which will be held at his own school next summer.

Read entire story here (link below):

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19651102&id=Sk4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FeYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5069,3426541&hl=en

.......

=Student at parley

Oneonta (New York) Star - June 30, 1966

SOUTH KORTRIGHT -- Gray Sturgess, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Sturgess, South Kortright, and president-elect of the South Kortright Central School Student Council, flew from New York City to Tacoma, Washington Sunday, June 26 to attend the 30th Annual National Conference of the National Association of Student Councils.

As one of three representatives from New York State, she represented District 8 of the New York State Association of Student Councils. While attending the Conference at Lakes High School, Tacoma, Gray was the guest of one of the students of this school.

Participants at the Conference heard Richard N. Hann, president, NASC, speak on "Twenty - Four Hour Leadership"; Donald I. Wood, Head of the Department of Education, Rice University, whose topic was "The Case of the Twilight Council"; and Gerald M. Van Pool, Director of Student Activities, National Association of Secondary School Principals, moderating a panel discussion on "What Student Council Has Meant to Me."

No link to story available.

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=NASC Conference Stresses "Twenty-Four Hour Leadership"

“The Reporter” of Illinois Assn. of Student Councils - Nov. 1, 1966

Story says "Delegates from all but one of the 50 states converged on Lakes High School, located in an outlying suburb of Tacoma, Washington, for the conference."

In his keynote address, National Association of Student Councils (NASC) president Richard Hahn set forth the qualities of a leader as 1-dependability, 2-initative, 3-personal integrity, 4-flexibility, 5-open mindedness and 6-the courage to respect the minority.

"In conclusion, he asserted we must lead not by words, but by deeds, all the time as twenty-four hour leaders."

Read entire story (link below) here from the Nov. 1 1966, “The Reporter” of the Illinois Association of Student Councils:

https://illinoisstuco.org/Content/Reporter/196611_vol21no2.pdf

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Thompson Field. Lakewood Stadium. Harry Lang Stadium.

Three names, one football venue in Lakewood at Clover Park High School.

The Clover Park School District was created in 1928. Ten years later, due to the rapid expansion of Fort Lewis, Clover Park High School was established with the cornerstone of the original school laid June 28, 1938.

PHOTO From left, Clover Park superintendent A.G. Hudtloff, Lakewood visionary Walter Thompson, Mrs. A.S. Black and Thompson’s son, Ray. Photo courtesy Images of America – Lakewood by Walter Neary and Steve Dunkelburger.

A photo (above) taken in 1939 on the Clover Park campus shows four people, including Walter J. Thompson and Arthur Hudtloff, district superintendent.

Thompson holds a copy of the notes he will use to deliver a speech on May 17, 1939, when the athletic field at Clover Park High School is dedicated in his name.

According to information with the photo, Thompson donated the initial $1,000 to get the field project started. The field was completed as a project of WPA, an acronym for the federal Works Progress Administration, a Depression era work-relief program.

One source says the field was a memorial to Thompson. In reality, it was dedicated in honor of Thompson, not in memory of him. He was still alive. However, just a bit more than 14 months after the dedication, on Aug. 3, 1940, he died at age 87 in Lakewood.

Who was Walter James Thompson?

PHOTO Record setting pole vault at Thompson Field as shown in the 1957 Clover Park High School Klahowya yearbook. Photo courtesy Lakewood Historical Society.

He was a social and civic leader, Lakewood visionary, Tacoma banker, financier, Gravelly Lake pioneer, philanthropists, and, according to Legendary Locals of Lakewood, an “audacious businessman.”

Born in Spring Prairie, Wisc., in 1853, he was a successful banker and attorney in Nebraska before coming to the Tacoma in 1884. He bought the Bank of New Tacoma and changed its name to Merchants National Bank. He also founded Tacoma Savings Bank.

He had a home in Tacoma and homes in Lakewood. One source says he eventually moved out of the Tacoma house to one on Gravelly Lake. He also was owner of the historic Boatman-Ainsworth, the oldest private structure in Lakewood.

According to the History of Tacoma, the Tacoma home of Thompson and his wife, Amaryllis Thompson (1850-1933), was frequented by intellectuals and progressives including Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and Susan B. Anthony, social reformer and women’s rights advocate.

The Thompsons were known for their personal library and collection of paintings.

Thompson owned the Boatman–Ainsworth house from 1889-1939. He donated a portion property on which the house was located to Clover Park. The portion is the location of Thompson Field, today’s Harry Lang Stadium.

A Lakewood historical marker – placed by the Lakewood Historical Society, the Lakewood Landmarks & Heritage Board and the City of Lakewood – is near the house which is near Harry Lang Stadium.

PHOTO An undated photo of Thompson Field. Photo courtesy of Lakewood Historical Society.

Thompson served a variety social and civic roles. He was a benefactor and key player in the newly established Tacoma Public Library and, in the 1880s, its president for several years.

In 1888, he was a delegate to the Republican national convention and went on to serve in Washington Territorial lower house and Senate, where he was an active promoter of progressive agenda items including women’s suffrage.

In 1912, he quit the Republican party and joined the Progressive party — nicknamed the “Bull Moose Party” — created by former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.

The Spokane Chronicle in 1916 said he was a “well-known bull moose” of Pierce County. In that year, he ran for the U.S. Senate as the Progressive candidate.

So, in 1939 Thompson Field was built and dedicated at Clover Park High School. It was the home venue of Clover Park varsity football games. When Lakes High School opened in 1962, it became the venue of Lakes varsity football home games, too.

PHOTO Known today as Harry Lang Stadium, the former Thompson Field was rebuilt in recent years by Landscape Architect RW Droll. Photo courtesy of Robert W. Droll, Landscape Architect of Lacey, Washington.

But, time marched on and eventually there was need for a modernized stadium. That resulted with upgrading in about 1984-1985 of Thompson Field and renaming it Lakewood Stadium.

On Aug. 21, 2001, Harry E. Lang died at age 83. He was a dedicated coach, teacher, principal, administrator and later a school-board member and board president in the Clover Park School District. He served the community for more than 50 years.

In September 2001, the Clover Park School Board approved a resolution to rename the facility to Harry E. Lang Stadium, said the TNT.

On Oct. 26, 2001, before a Clover Park vs. Lakes football game, Lakewood Stadium was renamed and dedicated in honor of Lang.

FOOTNOTES:

–Thompson’s business dealings included selling homes on Lake Steilacoom and Gravelly Lake.

–According to the Seattle Times, the change of the stadium name from Lakewood to Harry Lange “reduced confusion with the 2A school north of Everett named Lakewood.” In the late 1950s (early 1960s?), Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone changed Lakewood’s telephone prefix from LAkewood to JUniper. One of the reasons? Because there was sometimes confusion between Lakewood (Pierce Co.) and Lakewood (north of Everett in Snohomish Co.)

–Before Clover Park High School existed, students from Lakewood apparently attended Tacoma’s Stadium High School.

–This story focuses on football. But the field featured has been and is the home of track & field, too. Thompson Field (with real grass) had a five laps to a mile cinder track. Today’s Harry Lang Stadium has an artificial turf football field and a four laps to 400m synthetic all-weather track.

–During the author’s years (1963-1966) as a Lakes High student, initially when the Lancers played football on Clover Park’s Thompson Field, scoreboard signage proclaimed the field “Home of the Warriors.” Thanks to a sign maker grandfather of a Lakes student, a “Home of the Lancers” sign was made. It was displayed over the Warriors sign during Lakes home football games.

–Sources for this story include first and foremost the amazing Lakewood history books by Steve Dunkelberger and Walter Neary: “Images of America: Lakewood” (2005) and “Legendary Locals of Lakewood” (2014). Other sources include, but are not limited to, liquidsearch.com, Seattle Times, Seattle P-I, gridironbeez.proboards.com, Wikipedia, historylink.com, Longview Daily News, TNT/Tacoma News Tribune, Southsoundtalk.com and Spokane Daily Chronicle, Tacoma Public Library, the Lakewood Log , a National Register of Historic Places nomination form, “History of Tacoma” and politicalgraveyard.com

–Errors in story? If so, please send corrections to author at wildcatville@gmail.com

By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966

Oct. 4, 2016, Suburban Times

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Links:

--Photo: 1972 Lakes vs. Clover Park varsity football game

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/photo-thompson-field-during-1972-lakes.html

--Lakewood football field has had three names; here’s history about the first

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/lakewood-football-field-has-had-three.html

https://thesubtimes.com/2016/10/04/lakewood-football-field-has-had-three-names-heres-history-about-the-first/

--Are CP, Lakes Varsity Football Games Played on Thompson Field?

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2018/01/are-cp-lakes-varsity-football-games.html

https://thesubtimes.com/2017/11/13/are-cp-lakes-varsity-football-games-played-on-thompson-field/

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1964: NO LAKES ALMA MATER FOR PUGET SOUND LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL GAME

Posted Dec. 18, 2017

Late in the Puget Sound League (PSL) boys’ basketball championship game March 6, 1964, in the Highline High School gym (neutral court) in Burien -- Lakes won in an upset, 47-46 -- the game's public address announcer said fans of the winning team could sing its school alma mater at the game’s conclusion. Lakes won. There was momentary silence, no alma mater. That was followed by the Lancer team players, coaches and fans cheering. Lakes was in its second school year, it did not have an alma mater or fight song. (Later that school year student-written music and words for the alma mater and fight song were composed/written and adopted.)

Read more here:

http://lakes-1966-50-year-reunion.blogspot.com/2017/12/is-there-page-missing-in-your-life.html

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Both Lakes and Clover Park Fight Songs say their schools are "Best in the West." Which is the best?

Answer: Lakes

Lakes: "All will know that Lakes is the Best in all the West..."

CP: "Best in the West, you know we'll all do our best."

;::::

June 6, 2010, The Suburban Times

By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966

Here’s a musical postscript to “Story behind Lakes burnt orange and royal blue colors” article in The Suburban Times of June 1, 2010. The article mentions a 1963-1964 Lakes boys’ basketball game. After the Lancers won the game, Lakes fans were supposed to sing the Lakes Alma Mater. But, there was no alma mater at that point. “Later that school year student-written music and words for the Alma Mater and Fight Song were composed/written and adopted,” the story says.

Lakes students – now Lakes grads — who get credit for the songs:

“Lakes Alma Mater”

Music by Ron Relaford, Class of 1964

Lyrics by Evelyne Hendricks, Class of 1965, and Tim Marsh, Class of 1966.

“Lakes Fight Song”

Music by Richard "Dick" Rossiter, Class of 1964

Lyrics by Caryl Schumacher, Class of 1965

Anna LaLande, Class of 1965, played the piano for Dick and Caryl to practice and work out the final "Lakes Fight Song," also known as "Victory."

From the Tacoma News Tribune (Thursday, May 28, 1964)

CP’s Lakes High Will Hold First Commencement

Lakes High School in the Clover Park district is preparing for graduation of the first senior class in its two-year history. A senior awards assembly will be held at 8:30 a.m. Monday. The commencement will take place at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The school’s first alma mater has been written by Ron Relaford, music theory student. It was chosen from among several entries. Lyrics were written by Evelyne Hendricks of the choir and Tim Marsh of the concert band.

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Story behind Lakes burnt orange and royal blue colors
June 1, 2010 The Suburban Times
By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966

There are “givens” concerning Lakes High School. Colors for the school are burnt orange and royal blue. Lakes teams are called the Lancers. In fact, even before Lakes opened in September 1962, the school colors were selected. But, when classes began in the 1962-1963 school year, there was not a nickname for Lakes teams. Nor was there a fight song or alma mater. For that matter, there was not a senior class either.

Lakes Colors

Lakes 1965 grad Rick Austin, 63, Kansas City, Mo., has first-hand knowledge of selection of the school colors and in the selection of the Lancers nickname, too. His father, the late Gerry Austin, was Lakes’ first athletic director and head football coach after serving as the successful head football coach at Clover Park High. Rick was starting quarterback for his father’s first three Lakes teams – the 1962, 1963 and 1964 seasons – and also played basketball and was a baseball pitcher for the Lancers.

“Dad was instrumental in the choice of colors at Lakes, with administration approval of course. The main need was to order the football uniforms for the first season,” said Rick.

Why burnt orange? Gerry Austin thought Darrell Royal was a great football coach. Royal gained his fame as coach (1957–1976) of the University of Texas Longhorns. According to the University of Texas at Austin website, Royal chose the burnt orange color for the Longhorns’ football jerseys. (By the way, before Royal joined Texas in 1957 as its coach, he coached one season, 1956, for the University of Washington, Gerry’s alma mater.)

Another reason for burnt orange and royal blue color scheme, said Rick, was because it was not used by other schools in the Puget Sound League or used by many high school teams in the state.

Rick remembers before the football season began when his father brought all the Lakes football jerseys – they were burnt orange with white numerals – to the Austin home not far from the northern shore of American Lake. “We had the jerseys spread out all over the family room floor and I got to pick my own number by ‘coach’s son privilege,’ Rick said. “The jersey manufacturer only put lower numbers on smaller jerseys. I needed a larger jersey, so that’s why I picked number 42,” he said.

Lancers nickname

Lancers was one of the several nicknames names suggested by Lakes students during the 1962-1963 school year. Rick Austin was one of the students casting a vote in favor of the winning “Lancers.” During that first school year, Lakes teams played varsity teams from smaller schools and junior varsity teams from larger schools. Thus, until that vote, those Lakes teams in early games of the first year wore burnt orange and royal blue, but they did not have a nickname. In the 1963-1964 school year, Lakes began playing full varsity schedules as a member of the Puget Sound League. League members included Clover Park, Franklin Pierce, Puyallup, Auburn and others.

An interesting sideline to Lakes not having a senior class in 1962-1963 concerns the classes housed in the then new Lakes High School. Sophomores used the school’s sophomore wing. Juniors used the junior wing. However, seventh graders were housed in the senior wing. Many of those students would return to Lakes in the 1965-1966 school year as sophomores. Consequently, as seniors during the 1967-1968 school year they were in the senior wing for a second time.

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=Lakes Fight Song:
Fight, fight, fight for victory
Orange and Blue with courage true
Win the battle and with honor reign
All will know that Lakes is the best in all the West so
Fight, fight, fight with colors high
Mighty Lancers, Lakes will do or die
Let this song forever be our cry
Victory Lakes High
Victory! Victory! Go Lakes High!

=Lakes Alma Mater:
Lakes High we salute you
Pride to us you bring
For Friendships true and victories won
Your praise we sing
We honor orange and blue as days go by
And give our heart’s devotion to Lakes High

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Nov. 15, 2016

By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966

During the Lakes High School Class of 1966 50-year reunion in September 2016, I used my iPhone and Skype so class member Derrel von Molnarffy, now living in Germany, could “attend” activities. During a Skype session, I gave my phone to classmate Patrik Lynch so he could chat with Derrel. Both were born in Germany and came to the U.S. as children from that country. Listening in on the conversation, I heard how they learned English after arriving in the States. That’s the genesis of Pat’s story and Derrel’s Q&A. Enjoy.

From Germany to the U.S.: Pat Lynch, Lakes High School Class of 1966

We know him, our Lakes 1966 classmate, as Pat Lynch.

But, he was born Patrik Wilhelm Zierbock in post-World War II Münich, Germany, on July 29, 1947.

That explains his faint accented English. “People hear me talk and ask me where I’m from? That’s my German accent they hear,” said Pat in an October 2016 interview.

……

PHOTO CUTLINE: At the controls of a John Deere 110 Tractor Loader Backhoe is Pat Lynch, Lakes High School Class of 1966.

……

Pat lived in Munich from birth before moving in 1961, with his mother and father to the U.S.”

“The reason my first name is spelled Patrik is because those in the nunnery, where I was born, didn’t know how to spell Patrick,” Pat said.

He remembers a childhood in a Germany still showing signs of war. “My friends and I played in a bombed out building with three walls and no roof,” he said.

Entertainment growing up in Germany included going to a movie theater.

“You’d buy a ticket and get to watch movies for six hours! My favorite movies were of ‘Dick und Dof,’ ” filmed in the U.S. and dubbed from English to German, he said. (‘Dick and Dof’ translated into English are ‘Fat and Stupid’ or ‘Fat and Dumb.’)

Pat’s mother, Adelheid “Heidi” (Zierbock) Lynch, who celebrated her 90th birthday on November 25, 2016, spoke and read German and English.

“She was 17-years-old when she escaped from East Germany. Got a job with the German telephone company. Because her English was so good, she was assigned to handle phone calls by U.S. soldiers calling from Germany to the States.” In those days you had to use a long-distance operator to make those international calls.

Speaking English helped her meet a U.S. solider named George Patrick “Pat” Lynch, a West Point grad and U.S. Army major from North Carolina, who lived his last 40 years in Lakewood.

In 1961, Heidi and George married in Germany and he adopted Pat. “It was difficult for German citizens to immigrate to the U.S. then. Adopting me assured my immigration because I got a green card” issued by the U.S. federal government to those who are lawful residents, he said.

“My dad is my biological father,” said Pat. “My dad and mom married after they’d been in a living together relationship. The marriage made it easier for her to emigrate to the U.S. from Germany. My dad had been trying for several years to move all three of us to the U.S. So, both my mom and I had green cards. She passed her test for U.S. citizenship in the mid-1960s and became a naturalized citizen.”

While Heidi Lynch was fluent in English, Pat was not. “Well, I knew some of the basics, ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’, from English class in Germany, but that was about it,” he said.

In October 1961, the Lynch family – Pat was 14-years-old – flew from Münich to Sea-Tac airport. They drove to Lakewood to live, because George’s last military assignment was Fort Lewis before he retired as a U.S. Army brigadier general. After that, George worked many years in both Germany and the Tacoma area in life insurance sales for United Services Life Insurance Co. He died at age 91 in 1991.

Their new home was a unit in Thunderbird Apartments on Steilacoom Boulevard across the street from Thunderbird Shopping Center. “For three months we were there, then we bought a house on Lake Steilacoom and moved into it. My mother is still there in the same house,” said Pat. She takes advantage of the lake and still rides a jet ski on it. “At age 90, she is probably one of the oldest persons still riding a jet ski,” he said.

When the move from Germany to the U.S. happened, Pat was in the eighth grade. “The school year started in the fall, like here. So, I transferred to Hudtloff Junior High (not too far from Thunderbird Apartments and the Lake Steilacoom house) as an eighth grader.

“At Hudtloff, I was put in all eighth grade classes except for a 7th grade English class. There was a German girl in that class. She spoke English and German. That helped me a lot. By 9th grade I’d caught up and could easily talk and write in English,” said Pat.

When not in school, watching television was fun for Pat. And, it helped him with learning English.

“The one sport I was good at was soccer. But, there was no soccer at Hudtloff or Lakes at that time. I tried my luck at Lakes with track and tennis. After about three months, I decided track was not for me. I tried out for the tennis team and was the last cut,” said Pat.

“In Germany, there were two TV channels. I came over here and had more channels and more to watch. It was a treat to watch the Walt Disney show in color. Roy Rogers western TV show was fun. Really surprising was that I saw “Dick und Dof” again. I learned their real names were Laurel and Hardy and I heard them speaking English.”

Pat and his wife, Diane Rhoades, married in 1994. They live in Orting (Pierce County), Wash. She works as a CPA.

They visit Pat’s mother often. Heidi Lynch has kept herself on a diet (breads, sausages etc.) common in Germany and bought at a German deli in Lakewood. Pat often eats German meals with her in the Lake Steilacoom home. They talk in German to each other.

She’s an artist (both oil and water colors) and paints scenery and works in the part of the annual Puyallup Fair where paintings are displayed and sold.

After Pat graduated from Lakes High in 1966, he studied at Tacoma Community College. But, in 1969 he was not taking enough hours at TCC to be a full time student. He was taking night classes at the college and working full time in the Auburn State Game Farm, helping raise pheasants for release for bird hunters.

“The Draft Board told me if I didn’t join the Army, I’d lose my green card and be deported since I was still a German citizen. But, if I joined the Army they’d expedite things and I’d become a U.S. citizen. That’s what happened. While in Army basic training at Fort Lewis he was pulled out briefly, to take and pass a naturalization test and be sworn in as U.S. citizen.

In the Army he got his security clearance while serving at Fort Lewis and then went to Fort Benning, Georgia, and took drill instructor training. He was a sergeant assistant drill instructor. From Georgia, he was transferred to South Korea, where he served 10 months before being discharged as a buck sergeant (E-5) when his two-year military hitch was completed.

As a civilian, Pat’s work life has included 33 years as a log truck driver. He has his own shop and garage and for two years hauls things for hire. As a low boy driver, he hauled equipment such as dozers, excavators and fork lifts and such for Valley Equipment out of Pacific (King and Pierce Counties), Wash. “I finally got a friend of mine to take over my Valley Equipment job, so I could retire in December 2015,” said Pat.

Looking back on his life, Pat says he has never wished he’d stayed in Germany. “It’s a nice country to visit, but I’m not interested in living there again.

“Diane and I made a brief visit to Germany in 1992. We rented an economy car, a German Ford, and darn near got run over on the Autobahn, Germany’s freeway system, traveling from Frankfurt to Bayreuth. The next day we traded in that car for a more powerful Audi, which could keep up the traffic which goes about 120-140 km/ 75-85 mph.”

Pat said those who have only lived in the U.S. “can’t appreciate what we have in America. In Germany you can’t hunt or fish unless you are very wealthy and belong to an exclusive club of nobility. In the States, you can own lots of acres, with open land, to do with as you please. In Germany, the upper class has houses with tiny lots, all fenced in and gated. Those in the middle class live in apartments and condos. I’ve mentioned ‘class’ several times because it’s still prevalent in Europe. People are judged by where they’re from and how wealthy they are.”

Q&A with Derrel von Molnarffy, Lakes High School Class of 1966

Q&A: Derrel von Molnarffy’s answers in response to questions from Tim Marsh, both Lakes High School Class of 1966. Q&A took place in October 2016.

What’s your name now and what was it while you were in Lakes Class of 1966? Why did it change?

“Derrel von Molnarffy has always been my legal name. I used ‘Darrel’ in the States for easier pronunciation. The non-usage of my ‘von’ nobility title was a gesture of American integration.”

Where do you live and what do you do for a living?

“Heide in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, close to the North Sea coast. A national survey shows for the fourth consecutive year those living here are the happiest of people living anywhere in Germany. I’m retired but continue to do things in fields of my interest: mentor and guide students in thesis papers; give individual training in English, especially executives weak therein; do translations, mostly legal or business related; give critique on film scripts for those I know working in the industry; also am active promoting artists in various fields. I’ve done this for the past 25 years; before that I was actively involved in Christian Mission and Development work, concentrated mainly in Eastern Europe and, for a time, India.”

Where were you born? Where did you grow up before coming to the U.S.?

“Münich, Germany on 9/25/1948. Lived and went to school in Switzerland and Bavaria as a child. Post-war conditions prevailed but I had a very happy childhood playing along the Danube River, along the banks of Straubing, Bavaria, in wide fields that had not long before been scenes of battles. Europe offers many mystical surroundings that can translate you back many centuries…as if experiencing them in the now. Love Switzerland and it remains a second home to me always.”

When did you come to the U.S. and why?

“I came to the U.S. in 1956 with my family upon invitation of a close Hungarian family friend, Dalma Hunyadi, a professor of English at the University of Chicago and well known not only for her cultural TV show but also in becoming a leading worldwide literature expert on Thornton Wilder.”

How old were you when you came to the US and in what grade in school?

“I emigrated from Europe at 7-years-old and entered grade school in Chicago.”

Where did you live in the States?

“Chicago 1956-57; Sunnyvale, California 1958-59 and in the Lakewood area 1960 to 1969 where I attended DuPont and Clover Park district schools. I had a great time at DuPont in the seventh through early part of ninth grade when I transferred to Mann Junior High. Then, I went to Lakes High and graduated and eventually studied at PLU. Looking back my American school experience was very positive and enriching. There was a good ethnic mix, especially with African and Asian Americans.”

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PHOTO CUTLINE: Derrel von Molnarffy, Lakes High School Class of 1966, at the center of where he lives and works, Heide in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Behind him is the St. Jurgens Lutheran town chapel and the well-known St. George slaying the Dragon Monument next to him. On the horizon in the photo are town house tops in typical north European style.

……

How did you learn English?

“My family (Austro-Hungarian mainly) has a strong connection to English in that our heredity lines go back also to England and Scotland. I am related to Winston Spencer Churchill. Grandfather Bela was fluent in English. He lectured for a time at Columbia University in New York on the military concept of the Hungarian Hussars, the model for all other national Hussars. Once I moved with my family to America, English was always spoken, Hungarian on occasion and German not at all…although I showed interest to speak such with my Grandmother, Alice Grace. She had been quite ingenious in taking me to see matinee movies nearly every day (in those huge Chicago palace theaters of the time). It was marvelous learning American English that way. Plus, we always had a lot of books around to read. I still had an accent with the ‘th’ Dental Fricative sound in the fifth grade in Sunnyvale (California) but, sessions with a speech therapist helped eliminate that.”

These days, in Germany, when you speak English do you do so with an American accent?

“I’ve got a bit of an American accent. However, having lived in Canada and India and many years abroad, most people think I’m English or Dutch.”

How long did you live in the U.S.?

“About 16 to 17 years. I arrived 4/30/1956 and departed 12/24/1973, principally to be a non-violent freedom fighter for Hungary.”

What memories do you have from living in the U.S., from sports to friends and everything in between?

“Living in Chicago, New York and on the West Coast gave me amazing positive big city experiences. I acquired some American smart street toughness in Chicago, fighting off bullies every day, walking to and from school.

“In Sunnyvale (California) our neighbor, Harvey Moon, was an airline pilot. He had flown us from Chicago to San Francisco. The Moons were an all-American family who invited me, an only child, along on camping trips up in the Redwood Forest area. It was great American style fun with the kind of neighbors that make America great.

“I loved and still love baseball. I played it well in my early States-side times, later giving it up and at Lakes running cross-country and track in hopes of improving my speed. That kind of running experience teaches you to never give up, to carry on regardless of the pain and always give all to cross the finish line. In Europe school athletic programs are kept to a minimum.”

“Another school highlight was after overcoming my accent, winning an all-school speech competition at DuPont and being master of ceremonies for the talent show. I was presented the DP Award, given out to only a handful of students each year….a kind of citizenship civil excellence award-although I never became a US citizen.”

“My time at Lakes was absolutely grand. Few students in Europe have as much fun in school as do American kids. Friendships from that time mean a lot to me…and that through all these years they still remain. Often more to their credit than mine. I’m thinking of one classmate in particular.”

After Lakes, what did you do? You mentioned attending PLU.

“I had a couple of jobs earning money to attend PLU. In downtown Tacoma, I handled the shipping department for Tacoma Rubber Stamp. After that I sold shoes on commission for Leeds. It paid better. Though Catholic, my PLU experience was the catalyst that brought me into a Christ Jesus Bible foundational relationship and not long later on to front line mission work principally East Bloc orientated. I’m a college dropout but somehow have managed to work academically…’a man’s gift maketh room for him’….”

Any American food favorites you don’t get in Germany?

“There’s a long list. It includes beef jerky, root beer, Coke floats, ice cream sundaes, pizza with hot pepperoni sausage, original subway sandwiches and thick milk shakes. None of which I would make a habit of chowing down on now…..well …beef jerky is an exception.”

You were drafted for U.S. military duty?

“Yes. But, being a staunch anti-Communist, I volunteered instead. However, during my junior year at Lakes during PE playing baseball, I had a knee and thigh injury. I had surgery at Lakewood General Hospital. Because of that, I was later classified 1-Y and exempted from military. But, I fought in another way by leading a highly dangerous, but fruitful underground Christian mission project reaching into all of communist Eastern Europe including Russia. This was an activity of non-violent militancy. I retired from that 20-year work a couple of years after the Iron Curtain came down.”

Any concluding thoughts?

“Through marriage to an American I took on six very young kids that were not my own biologically and raised them all. They live in the US today: Chicago, Los Angeles and on the Big Island in Hawaii. All are US citizens. I’ve fathered three sons and a daughter, the youngest. Two of whom are American citizens and two are German.”

“Although I never became a US a citizen and in spite of the brevity of my years living in the States, I have pretty much remained American all my life. American English is my principal language and orientation.”

“My spiritual mentor since 1991 has been an American Franciscan priest Fr. Richard Rohr. I highly recommend his writings and Center for Action and Contemplation based in New Mexico.”

“The world sees the US quite critically these days. But, one thing should never be forgotten. Nowhere is there as much free access to information, freedom of press and expression as in America. Vittorio Hösle, the great German-Italian philosopher of Notre Dame reminds also that, contrary to general opinion, America also provides the greatest cultural reservoirs and most excellent universities. What this produces in such innovative places as Silicon Valley and the Puget Sound area speaks for itself.”

Note: This story was originally posted Nov. 15, 2016, at the website of The Suburban Times, Lakewood’s online newspaper with headline, “Lakes alums from Germany re-connect at 50th Reunion.” URL for that posting:

http://thesubtimes.com/2016/11/15/lakes-alums-from-germany-re-connect-at-50th-reunion

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In the 1963-1964 season, Lakes boys varsity basketball team won the 1964 Puget Sound League championship.

But, during the season it lost its PSL game on Fri., Jan. 10, 1964, in Auburn to the Auburn High School Trojans. This photo was taken during that game.

Lancer Bill Saxton (#33) at the free throw line. To the far right Whit Hemion (#41) and near right Rick Austin (#43). On the far left Gary Larsen (#45).

On the wall of the Auburn gym in all capital letters was “EVERY SPORTS IS A GOOD ONE IF YOU ARE.”

In the PSL title game on Friday, March, 6, 1964, played in the Highline High School gym, Lakes beat Renton, 47-46.

By winning the title, Lakes had a chance to play in the 40th annual (1964) Class AA State High School Basketball Tournament in Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle.

For the first time, the tourney was split into two parts, regional and finals. Four districts each held their own tournaments with four teams in each. Winners advanced to the state tournament. Thus, 16 teams competed to be the final eight to win the state 1964 tournament.

In Region 2, Lakes, Renton, Cleveland of Seattle and Lincoln of Tacoma competed in the Puyallup High School gym.:

· Friday, March 13, 1964, Lakes lost, 89-48 to Cleveland.

· Saturday., March 14, 1964, Lakes beat Lincoln, 49-39.

Seasons over for Lakes and Lincoln. Renton advanced to the state tournament where it lost in the championship game.

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Story updated and new photos added 9/2/2015

Charles Watson Croasdill III, 80, died May 12, 1997, in Tacoma, Wash.

Born in Seattle on Jan. 1, 1917, he graduated in June 1935 from Seattle's Roosevelt High School.

He studied at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Very athletic and extremely competitive, while a UW student, he completed and lettered in cross-country and was a miler for the track & field UW Huskies. He was a UW team captain. And, he played varsity tennis, too.

The 1938 UW “Tyee” yearbook, covering the 1937-1938 academic year when he was a junior, said his 3.9 grade point helped improve his Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house's member grade average.

Although one “Tyee” item called him "Chuck," he was usually known as Charles or "Charlie." His students called him "Mr. Croasdill" or "Mr. C."

After graduating in June 1940 with a bachelor of arts degree from the UW College of Arts and Sciences, he taught at Columbia Union High School in Wallula (Walla Walla Co.), Wash., before joining the military during World War II.

Charles and Walter, his younger brother, a 1939 Roosevelt High grad, served in the U.S. Army.

A story in the July 4, 1944, Seattle Times says, “Pvt. Charles W. Croasdill, Jr., has returned to duty in Juneau after a furlough. He is with the Alaska Communication System, and has spent the last 15 months in the Aleutians. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and was teaching at Columbia before enlistment. Pfc. J. Walter Croasdill is stationed at Pecos Army Air Field, Texs., where he is a Link trainer instructor. He attended the University of Washington before entering the Army. Both boys, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Croasdill …. Seattle are graduates of Roosevelt High School and members of Phi Kappa Sigma.”

A Seattle Times Nov 12, 1945, story lists Charles as among 90 Seattle soldiers honorably discharged from the military at the Separation Center at U.S. Army Fort Lewis, Wash.

Following military service, Charles moved to Aberdeen (Grays Harbor Co.), Wash., where, over nine years, he worked first for Grays Harbor (junior) College and later for Aberdeen (Weatherwax) High School.

At the college, his duties included serving as an adviser of the "Timber Line" student newspaper. At the high school, he taught English and journalism and was adviser of the “Ocean Breeze” student newspaper.

From Aberdeen, he moved to Lakewood (suburban Tacoma, Pierce Co.) and was a high school teacher and adviser for 23 years in the Clover Park School District.

Initially, he taught English and journalism at Clover Park High School and advised the "Clover Leaves" student newspaper.

During three consecutive summers in the early 1960s, the Croasdill family lived in Provo, Utah, while Charles attended and taught journalism classes at Brigham Young University. He was among a select number of high school journalism teachers from across the nation awarded fellowships from The Newspaper Fund, Inc., made possible by grants from the Wall Street Journal. The fellowships were designed to "encourage more talented young people to choose journalism as a career by assisting high school newspaper advisers and journalism teachers, according to an Associated Press story in May 1960.

In 1962 the Clover Park District's new Lakes High School opened. Starting in the 1963-1964 academic year, Charles continued at Clover Park, but added teaching journalism at Lakes and advising the "Lakes Ledger" student newspaper to his duties.

Following his 1978 retirement from the Clover Park District, he taught English for seven years (1979-1986) at Fort Steilacoom Community College which today is called Pierce College.

After his second retirement in 1986, he and his wife, Ruth, enjoyed traveling.

He was an avid sports fan, loved to play golf, including with fellow teachers, and solving crossword puzzles.

At his passing, survivors included Ruth, his wife of 51 years; daughters Helen Montfort (Ed), Carolyn Hill (Rick) and son Charles Watson Croasdill (Kristine); sister Kit Hall; brother Walter Croasdill; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held May 16, 1997, at Little Church on the Prairie in Lakewood.

A Croasdill family member, the John Spellman Library at Grays Harbor College (GHC) and Special Collections of the University of Washington Libraries provided information. Also, info came from University of Washington “Tyee,” GHC “Nautilus” and Aberdeen (Weatherwax) High School “Quinault.” Photos from Lakes High School 1964 “Legend” yearbook and Seattle Times July 4, 1944.

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In May 2015, Helen Croasdill Monfort posted this photo of her father, Charles W. Croasdill, on Facebook. She said it was taken while he served in the U.S. Army. He was drafted after earning a degree in education from the University of Washington and teaching in eastern Washington in Wallula, Wash., near the Washington-Oregon border, the "Army sent him to the Aleutian Islands and he was trained as a radio operator," she said. "There was a very small base and because of the brutal weather, not much to do. The Army supplied the men with cigarettes and playing cards. He smoked until the day he passed away of a stroke at age 80. As many of you know, he was a much-loved man and educator. He was a great father."

;:::

Our Lakes Class of 1966 graduation party took place cruising at night (June 8) and early morning (June 9) around Puget Sound in a State of Washington ferry boat with the band "The Surprise Package."

Party followed our 8 p.m. Wed. June 8, 1966, graduation ceremony in the Lakes High gym.

We took school buses from Lakes to ferry dock and the buses drove onto the ferry.::::

Added 7/6/2019
MV Kickitat and Kingston terminal (dock)

According to classmate Jim Nichols (James H. Nichols III) in 2019, the Lakes Class of 1966 graduation party boat in June 1966 was the MV Klickitat which departed from and returned to the Kingston (Kitsap County) terminal (dock). Most likely, the school buses transporting class members traveled the approximately 62 miles from Lakes High, across the Narrows Bridge and on to Kingston (Kitsap County). Reversed the route after the party concluded.

Added 6/30/2019:

Like Lakes High School Class of 1966 trivia? Hop on board.

After the Lakes High School Class of 1966 graduation starting at 8 p.m. Wed., June 8, 1966, in the Lakes Gymnasium, (many/most?) classmates turned in their caps and gowns and boarded Clover Park School District school buses to the graduation party.

That destination was (which Washington State Ferries dock?).

The buses drove onto a ferry. Graduates left the bus and partied the rest of the night and into the morning of June 9. On board the ferry providing live music was the band Surprise Package, previously called the Viceroys and later American Eagle.

Below is a presumably accurate list of boats the Washington State Ferries had in operation in 1966. Which ferry was “ours?” What the dock onto which the school buses drove on and off?

Ferry Name: Year ferry went into service as part of Washington State Ferries system, Year ferry retired

MV Leschi: 1951, 1967

SS San Mateo: 1951, 1969

MV Crosline: 1951, 1967

MV Kehloken: 1951, 1972

MV Kalakala: 1951, 1967

MV Enetai: 1951, 1967

MV Willapa: 1951, 1967

MV Chetzemoka: 1951, 1973

MV Quinault: 1951, 2007

MV Illahee: 1951, 2007

MV Nisqually: 1951, 2007

MV Klickitat: 1951, 2007

MV Klahanie: 1951, 1972

MV Skansonia: 1951, 1969

MV Vashon: 1951, 1980

MV Olympic: 1954, 1993

MV Rhododendron: 1954, 2002

MV Evergreen State: 1954, 2016

MV Klahowya: 1958, 2017

(MV = Motor Vessel, SS= Steam Ship)

#

http://www.evergreenfleet.com/retired.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_State_Ferries

By Tim Marsh, Lakes High School Class of 1966

Gerry Austin is best known for the outstanding football teams he coached at Clover Park and Lakes High Schools.

In addition to being a Clover Park Warrior and Lakes Lancer, he was also a Kelso Hilander and Washington Husky.

Although his signature was “Gerry D. Austin,” his full name was Gerald Dewey Austin.

His middle name came from the S.S. Admiral Dewey, an American-flagged cargo and passenger steamship on which he was born Aug. 19, 1923, as it was cruising on the Pacific Ocean.

Gerry was born while his mother, Mary, a ship passenger, was traveling to San Francisco to meet up with Edward, her husband/Gerry’s father.

GREW UP IN KELSO

He grew up in Kelso (Cowlitz Co.), Wash., a lumber town named for Kelso, Scotland, the hometown of the town’s Scottish founder.

Gerry was a Hilander (spelling is correct) because Hilanders (spelling is correct) is the nickname of Kelso High School teams on which he played.

Before high school, Gerry excelled in a variety of sports and also in the classroom. Later, being a scholar-athlete served him well at Kelso High and in college. It explains why his career was not only as a successful coach and administrator but also as an excellent mathematics teacher.

At Kelso High, Gerry and Lillian Lorraine Filla were sweethearts. Both 1942 Kelso High graduates, they married March 2, 1944, in San Francisco.

LILLIAN WORKED IN CLOVER PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT

Lillian worked for more than 20 years in the Clover Park School District mostly at Carter Lake Elementary School as secretary to the principal.

They were married was for almost 50 years before Gerry died at age 70 on Jan. 28, 1994. Lillian passed away at age 82 on June 18, 2006.

Because Gerry was born at sea and he and Lillian enjoyed vacationing on Washington ocean beaches, they had a wish. It was fulfilled when their cremated ashes were scattered on the ocean off the Washington state coast.

COWLITZ COUNTY ‘ATHLETE OF THE YEAR’

As a Kelso High Hilander athlete, Gerry played football, basketball and baseball and competed in track. As a senior, he was named Cowlitz County “Athlete of the Year.”

His athletic ability for the Hilanders caught the attention of the University of Washington. He received an athletic scholarship to play football for the UW Huskies.

The success Gerry would have with the UW varsity as quarterback/punter was foreshadowed in 1941 when he played for the Husky Pups freshman team. The Longview, Wash., Daily News sports editor wrote in a column that year: “Kelso’s Gerry Austin is going to town in a big way and Washington coaches are high on the lad. He’s been doing the kicking for the (freshman team) and a darn capable job of it, too.”

According to the column, the UW freshman football coach said about Gerry it was “one of the smartest games against Oregon of any quarterback we’ve ever had here. What’s more his kicking was tops.” The freshman coach “intended to play (Gerry) only part of the time, but when that kid started to move there wasn’t anything else to do. That boy is going far, just watch.”

Furthermore, according to the column, the freshman coach “seldom enthuses about his frosh gridders so when he goes overboard on Austin, it shows just how well Gerry is booming them” for the UW.

GERRY WAS A ‘TRIPLE THREAT’ QUARTERBACK

A newspaper preview of UW’s 1943 Homecoming football game said Gerry was a “triple threat at the quarterback position” with his “speed, passing and punting” making him “a natural.”

Gerry played Husky varsity football in the 1942, 1943, 1946 and 1947 seasons. In 1944-1945 during World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy on a minesweeper.

As a member of the 1943 UW team, he was the Husky quarterback and punter in the Rose Bowl game vs. the University of Southern California on Jan. 1, 1944. Because of World War II travel restrictions, the game in Pasadena. Calif., had two teams from the Pacific Coast Conference competing. USC won, 29-0.

The 1947 “Apple Cup,” UW versus Washington State football game, had a Kelso highlight. Played at UW’s Husky Stadium in Seattle, it pitted former Kelso Hilander teammates as the starting quarterbacks, Gerry for the UW and Tiz Miller for Washington State. UW won, 20-0. At Kelso, Gerry was QB and Tiz halfback. Both played in the 1947 game after World War II military service.

1949: BECAME CLOVER PARK FOOTBALL COACH

Graduating from the UW in 1948, Gerry was an assistant coach on the UW Pups football team that year and became Clover Park’s head football coach starting with the 1949 season.

He coached Clover Park Warriors football for 13 seasons, 1949-1961. He was also Clover Park’s golf coach and taught math.

In the days before high school football playoffs for state titles, special post-season “Turkey Day” games on Thanksgiving were the pinnacle of success.

The most important high school Turkey Day game in the state of Washington was in Seattle with the Seattle City League champion playing a top-ranked opponent.

According to the Seattle Times, the annual Turkey Day game was “one of the biggest sporting events in Seattle in its heyday, and we're not just talking high-school sports.” There were games from 1947-71, all but one in Seattle Memorial Stadium. Thousands of fans attended each game.

Victory was elusive for Gerry Austin’s Puget Sound League champ Warriors, who traveled to Seattle and played in three “Turkey Day” games.

In 1956, 11,000 fans saw Ballard defeat Clover Park, 37-7. In 1957, Clover Park was rated #1 in the Associated Press prep poll, but lost, 6-0, to Garfield. It was the Warriors’ only loss of the season. In 1959, Clover Park and Garfield played again with the Warriors losing, 13-7.

Gerry was president of the Washington State Coaches Association, 1958-59.

1962: MOVED TO NEW LAKES HIGH SCHOOL

When Lakes High School opened in fall 1962, Gerry moved from Clover Park as the Lancers’ first football coach and athletic director, and he taught math. Quarterback on his first three Lakes teams (1962, 1963, and 1964) was his son, Rick (full name Rick Gerald Austin. The 1962 team played as an independent. The 1963 and 1964 football teams competed in the Puget Sound League.)

Gerry coached Lakes football for six seasons (1962-1967) and retired for the first time from coaching.

One result of a Clover Park School District levy failure was staff cutbacks. Because of that, Gerry returned to Lakes football in 1970 as an assistant coach. In that season, he was in charge of backs, and Lakes head football coach Andy Pazaruski (Lakes head football coach 1968-1970) handled the line.

After the 1970 season Pazaruski was promoted to a district administrative post and Gerry became Lakes head football coach in 1971. Then, he retired from coaching the second and final time.

In Gerry’s 20 seasons as a high school head football coach, he compiled an 118-53-8 win-loss-tie record and Warrior teams he coached won four PSL titles.

Bob Haney was Lakes head football coach 1972-1976. Don McPherson, a player for Gerry’s Lancers, was football coach 1977-1983. Although no longer coaching, Gerry enjoyed discussing Lancer game strategies with McPherson, a Lakes 1965 grad.

Gerry stepped down as Lakes athletic director and as a teacher in 1974 when he became the Clover Park School District athletic director in 1975. He retired in 1981.

ENSHRINED IN HALL OF FAME

Gerry was enshrined in the Washington State Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1986.

He was posthumously enshrined in 1996 as a member of the Kelso High Hilander Hall of Fame inaugural class. Representing him at the enshrinement event in Kelso were Lillian along with son Rick (Lakes Class of 1965) and Cathy (Lakes 1967) and Joan (Lakes 1971).

“In addition to being a tremendously successful athlete and high school football coach, my Dad was a good man,” said Rick Austin.” He was kind, fair and honest, and he made everyone around him a better person. Dad worked very hard to be the best athlete and coach he could be, and he led by example.

“We all knew that we had to earn the right to be respected or to make the starting lineup. There were no favors given to individuals, even to me, his son, on the playing field.

“His positive manner of coaching taught us all many of life's lessons. Dad’s numerous accolades were well deserved, but none of that recognition ever changed his humble, thankful nature. He was the rock of the Austin family, and he and Mom had a wonderful, supporting relationship.”

PHOTOS: Clover Park Coach Gerry Austin from Clover Park High Klahowya yearbook. Lakes Coach Gerry Austin (center) with assistants (l-r) Don Rarey and Chuck Forsland from Lakes High Legend yearbook.

SLIDESHOW: Gerry Austin slideshow – running 5 minutes and 20 seconds -- posted at YouTube accompanies this story. See it here:
https://youtu.be/C35Qv3JiOhw

SEE Gerry Austin mention in the “Story behind Lakes burnt orange and royal blue colors” from The Suburban Times’ June 1, 2010, edition:
http://thesubtimes.com/2010/06/01/story-behind-lakes-burnt-orange-and-royal-blue-colors

SOURCES for this story and sidebar “Lakes 1964 season bittersweet include the TNT/Tacoma News Tribune, Seattle Times, Longview Daily News, Clover Park High Klahowya, Lakes Highs Legend and Kelso High Tamahnawus yearbooks and an article in the Cowlitz Historical Quarterly by its editor, Bob Gaston. As a part of research, visits were made to the Lakewood Historical Society Museum and the Longview Public Library. The assistance of Rick Austin was invaluable

:::

Lakes High School band, directed by Gerald Pepos, marched in the Saturday, April 11, 1964, Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival parade.

Lakes band was one of 20 which marched through Tacoma, Puyallup and Sumner during the parade.

Some floats in the parade reflected the 1964 parade’s theme, “Nations on Parade.”

Some saluted the 75th anniversary of Washington State's statehood. (Washington was admitted to the union on Nov. 11, 1889.)

Photo shows Lakes band marching on Tacoma’s Pacific Avenue in the 1964 parade.

Note (at bottom of photo) Lakes drum majorette and cheerleaders leading the band and (at top of photo) Lakes Drill Team members following band.

Other photo shows example of the uniforms worn by the Lakes band in the 1964 parade.

Weather during the parade was breezy with temperature in the mid-50 degree temperature. “The start of the parade saw temperatures of 42 degrees and blustery, cloudy weather. By noon, the clouds had parted and April sunshine had appeared,” says one source.

“Go! Twist!” was the song the Lakes band played exclusively over and over and over in the parade. Mr. Pepos had band members memorize the song so they didn’t have to use read music while they marched.

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Suburban Times

Letter: Lakewood’s Roundabouts and Lakewood Saturday Oak Leaves Memories

https://thesubtimes.com/2021/10/06/letter-lakewoods-roundabouts-and-lakewood-saturday-oak-leaves-memories

:::

Siblings share Puyallup Fair memories

https://thesubtimes.com/2021/08/31/siblings-share-puyallup-fair-memories/

:::

Halloween trick or treating in Lakewood in mid to late 1950s

Halloween trick or treating in Lakewood in mid to late 1950s | The Suburban Times

THESUBTIMES.COM

Halloween trick or treating in Lakewood in mid to late 1950s | The Suburban Times

By Tim Marsh, Lakes High Class of 1966 I enjoyed Halloween trick or treating in Lakewood in the mid to late 1950s when we lived on Bridgeport Way.

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Tim Marsh

October 28, 2020 ·

What are your favorite steps/moves in the Madison line dance? Mine, based on learning the Madison in Saturday morning dance classes led by Russ and Jean Saltmarsh in the Lakewood Terrace 'York Room' room in Lakewood Colonial Center:

IT'S MADISON TIME

2:03 "Now, when I said 'hit it!' I want the big strong basketball with the Wilt Chamberlain hook. (pause) Hit it! Two points!"

2:17 "Now this time, when I say 'hit it!' I want the big strong Jackie Gleason and back to the Madison. (pause) Hit it! (pause). And, a-w-w-w-way we go!"

"You're looking good!"

https://youtu.be/GPQmwPLOmZY

(Skip the ad.)

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Tim Marsh

June 9, 2015 ·

“World Famous" Tom Murphy (photo) of Seattle's KJR Radio talked at our senior breakfast in the cafetorium. Arthur Stolz, senior dean, revealed there that a member of our class - who was it? - placed a classified ad in TNT (Tacoma News Tribune) advertising a VW at a great price. Listed the Stolz family home phone number. Phone "rang off the hook."

;:::

Tim Marsh

May 17 ·

In 1966, “World Famous” Tom Murphy of Seattle’s KJR radio (“Channel 95”) was surprise guest speaker at Lakes High School Class of 1966 “Senior Breakfast” in the LHS Cafetorium.

(Rick Hill has a special VW memory from this event. Did anyone take photos at this event?)

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Tim Marsh

May 13 ·

(Bill Lemmon was father of Pat Lemmon (Lakes Class of 1966) and Dennis Lemmon (Clover Park Class of 1962.)

Bill Lemmon coached boys’ basketball at Bellfountain, Eatonville, Clover Park and Stadium

(There is no claim of originality in this article. it was pieced together using info found on the Internet.)

In 1936-1937 season, the boys’ basketball team at Bellfountain High School won the Oregon state championship. (Bellfountain is in Benton County, about 18 miles from Corvallis, home of Oregon State University).

Burton "Bill" Lemmon (a graduate of Tacoma’s Stadium High School and Willamette University in Salem) was the coach. Bellfountain High had a total of 27 students, its basketball team had eight boys, none over 6-foot tall.

At that time Oregon had two classifications for high school athletic teams. Enrollment numbers determined if a school was Class A (larger) or Class B (smaller). Uniquely, if a basketball team won the B championship it could challenge the Class A teams to play for the Class A title in basketball. In 1937, Bellfountain did that: It won the B championship and then won the A title.

Playing at Willamette U in Salem, Oregon’s capital city, the Bellfountain “Bells” won the Class B Championship. Then, in the A competition it beat Portland's Franklin High School in the semi-finals, then, for the Class A title, defeated Lincoln High School of Portland by 14 points – Bellfountain’s closest game of the season. For the season, the Bells had a 24-2 win-loss record.

To realize the size differential between the two contenders, consider that Lincoln High in 1937 had almost twice as many teachers as Bellfountain had students.

In his education career Bill Lemmon would go on to coach boys’ basketball at Stadium of Tacoma and Clover Park of Lakewood. He didn’t coach his children in high school, but sons Dennis (Class of 1962), and Pat (Class of 1966), played high school basketball at Clover Park High and Lakes High respectively.

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BELLFOUNTAIN, EATONVILLE, CLOVER PARK, STADIUM

After the 1937 school year Bill Lemmon left Bellfountain to be head boys’ basketball coach at Eatonville, Washington. After three years with Eatonville he went on to Clover Park, where he stayed five years and where one of his players later coached Lemmon's sons at the same school, From Clover Park, Lemmon moved to Stadium High in Tacoma, where in 1931 he was a member of the Washington state champions playing March 11-14, 1931, in U of W Pavilion (later named for Hec Edmundson) in Seattle. He coached for 12 years at Stadium.

:::

BURTON C. LEMMON

TNT/Tacoma News Tribune Aug. 17, 1999 with editing and additional info added in 2022

Burton Carlyle (Bill) Lemmon, age 87, went to be with the Lord, August 11, 1999. Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, April 9, 1912, he spent most of his childhood years in Tacoma, Washington, where he died.

Always a diligent student and inspiring athlete, he helped lead the Stadium High School in Tacoma boys’ basketball team to a Washington state championship, completed college at Willamette University with a degree in teaching foreign languages, married the love of his life, Isobel M. Morehouse, and began a lifelong career as father, teacher, coach and community leader.

Bill carried the ability to motivate and inspire academically, athletically and morally to all who touched his life.

In his first school year of teaching, 1936-1937, he led Bellfountain, a small B school basketball team, to win the all schools Oregon State Championship. He continued to coach and teach at Eatonville, Stadium, Clover Park and Mt. Tahoma high schools in Washington.

Family was paramount in his life, and he worked several jobs to provide a great home and environment on Steilacoom Lake for his wife and five children.

With amazing energy, he always spent time building personal relationships with his children, working, coaching, and maintaining a home, yet never abandoning his many other interests which included reading, prolific writing, humor, all manner of music and dance, philosophy, poetry, languages and travel.

He took his family with him when he traveled overseas to teach in Cardiff, Wales, Madrid, Spain and Puerto Rico, and an additional year each in Torremolinos (Spain) and the Philippines, once the family was grown. Bill was always much more than a tourist, because he mixed right in with the people, communicating, learning and sharing.

Everywhere he went, people asked him to be the master of ceremonies, to speak of his travels, of living life to the full, and of sound character. This he did well, lifting spirits with his beautiful singing and speaking voice, his crisp sense of humor, dramatic presentations and intelligent dialogue. His speeches carried the theme of God is love and power, the blessing of freedom of speech, thought and will, sportsmanship, strong moral character, thankfulness, optimism, spontaneity, and generous living. These qualities he demonstrated by his life.

Burton C. Lemmon was a remarkable man with a tremendous contribution. Those who knew him will be saddened by his departure, but will understand and appreciate how their lives were enriched by his lively presence and outstanding character.

As Bill joins Izzy (Isobel M. Morehouse) in heaven, his five children, Michael, Rosemary, Dennis. Patrick and Sally, their spouses, 12 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and many friends will miss him. The family is holding a private memorial service.

Izzy and Bill met at Willamette U. They married in 1936 in Salem, Oregon. Isobel Montague Morehouse Lemmon was born May 3, 1912, Snohomish County, Wash. She died at age 66 on Aug. 12, 1978, in Tacoma, Pierce County, Wash.

PHOTOS

=Coach Bill Lemmon on the far left with his 1937 Oregon state high school championship “Bells” boys’ basketball team of Bellfountain, Oregon.

=Bill Lemmon photo from his 1999 obituary in the TNT/Tacoma News Tribune.

= Newspaper "clippings."

:::

Tim Marsh

June 8, 2015 ·

Lakes Class of 1966 graduation party -- sailing at night and early morning around Puget Sound in a State of Washington ferry boat with the band "The Surprise Package" -- was great.

The party was held after our 8 p.m. Wed. June 8, 1966, graduation ceremony in the Lakes High gym. We took school buses from Lakes to the ferry dock and the buses drove onto the ferry.

What class of 1966 party could have been better?

Here's one candidate, Clover Park. Its party was on Tanglewood Island in Puget Sound with "Merrilee Rush and the Turnabouts."

Note: Photo of The Surprise Package is cover of a 45 record sleeve for its 1966 hit “Out of My Mind.” B-side of record was “Everything Fine.” While the photo might have been taken and the songs recorded before graduation, the record was issued Nov. 21, 1966.

:::

Tim Marsh

May 21 ·

August 1968: Hemion brothers, Whit and Dave, members of Western Washington U men’s basketball team which toured/played games for six weeks

=WHIT DIED (PLANE CRASH) IN 1978 AT AGE 31.

=DAVE DIED (HEART ATTACK) IN 2020 AT AGE 62.

In August 1968 the Western Washington U (Bellingham, Wash.) Vikings men's basketball team went on a six-week tour of the Far East and Australia. Whit Hemion and brother Dave Hemion, both Lakes High School grads and former basketball players for the Lakes Lancers, were players on the WWU team.

Team wearing sports coats -- Front Row (L-R): Assistant coach Marv Ainsworth, Ben Smith, Ron Caderette, Dave Hemion, Mike Clayton, Neal Larson, Doris Randall. Back Row (L-R): Whit Hemion, Blaine Johnson, Ed Monk, Gary Reiersgard, John Reed, Jimmy Jones, Paul Hallgrimson, Head Coach Chuck Randall.

Team wearing game uniforms -- 1968 WWU Australasia Team (L-R): Ron Caderette, Mike Clayton, Jimmy Jones, Whit Hemion,Gary Reiersgard, John Reed, Ed Monk, Paul Hallgrimson, Dave Hemion, Neal Larson, Ben Smith. Kneeling (L-R): Assistant Coach Marv Ainsworth, Head Coach Chuck Randall.

Black & white action photo with photo corners cropped --Dave Hemion, Jimmy Jones and Ed Monk.

Small color photo -- Paul Hallgrimson, Ed Monk, Whit Hemion (with yellow scarf), Dave Hemion (light blue shirt) and Gary Reiersgard.

Large color photo --Dave Hemion, John Reed, Whit Hemion, Gary Reiersgard and Mike Clayton

Story text included: In Taipei, Taiwan, WWU played and won four games. The players did a lot of shopping. "…Whit (Hemion) bought 19 (music on phonograph records) albums for eight dollars (pirated copies). He thought he had (the albums) concealed but when he went through customs they found them. He was a little worried but they let him keep them with no penalty."

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Halloween trick or treating in Lakewood in mid to late 1950s

OCTOBER 29, 2020 BY THE SUBURBAN TIMES LEAVE A COMMENT

By Tim Marsh, Lakes High Class of 1966

I enjoyed Halloween trick or treating in Lakewood in the mid to late 1950s when we lived on Bridgeport Way.

Mom’s artistic creativity took care of my costume. I was a pirate with a red bandana headpiece and something smudged on my face giving the appearance of a beard.

Going house-to-house to get gifted candy was, indeed, a treat for my sister and me.

Halloween was not a major annual marketing push as it is today. There were no giant bags of candy on sale to give away the contents piece by piece to treaters.

When I trick or treated, only treats were my aim. No tricks. I hoped to hit the jackpot in our neighborhood. There were maybe one or two houses which gave away full sized candy bars. Wow!

My dentist father was not thrilled with the candy I got and ate. But, he never prohibited me from doing it. But, as the son of a dentist, I always brushed my teeth after candy gorging and, of course, after meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The best Lakewood trick or treat stop for me was a substantial house on Bridgeport set back from the street on a large bit of property. No candy. Instead, each treater was served hot apple cider ladled from a glass punch bowl into glass punch cup with a handle. Memorable!

Trick or treating in Lakewood in the mid to late 1950s was an innocent time when a kid could trick or treat on his own (no parents along) and write positively about it in 2020.

Suburban Times sports columns (June, July 1966) by Tim Marsh, Phil Nesse

Sports columns in The Suburban Times (Lakewood, Pierce County, Wash.) June and July 1966. Written by Tim Marsh and Phil Nesse, sports editors of the Lakes (High School) Ledger student newspaper during their Lakes senior year, 1965-1966. These appeared in print during the summer after they had graduated June 8, 1966, from Lakes in the Class of 1966. What follows are columns in this order: June 16, 1966; June 23, 1966; June 30, 1966; July 7, 1966; July 14, 1966; and July 21, 1966.

Tim Marsh

May 17 ·

In 1966, “World Famous” Tom Murphy of Seattle’s KJR radio (“Channel 95”) was surprise guest speaker at Lakes High School Class of 1966 “Senior Breakfast” in the LHS Cafetorium.

(Rick Hill has a special VW memory from this event. Did anyone take photos at this event?)

Tim Marsh

December 1, 2015 ·

"World Famous" Tom Murphy of Seattle's KJR Radio was surprise guest speaker at our Lakes Class of 1966 senior breakfast held a school day morning in LHS Cafetorium. Our baccalaureate was Sun. June 5, 1966, and our graduation Wed. June 8, 1966, both starting 8 p.m. in LHS Gym.

Tim Marsh

June 10 at 10:02 PM ·

Shakey's at the 100th and Bristol Entrance to Villa Plaza.

Tim Marsh

February 20, 2020 ·

High school football printed program: Clover Park vs Lakes Sept. 11,1965, on Thompson Field, home field for both schools.

FOOTBALL: LAKES BEAT CLOVER PARK, 13-7,

ON SEPT. 11, 1965…

Tim Marsh

July 25, 2015 ·

Prior to Lakes Class of 1966 10-year reunion in 1976.

Tim Marsh

December 18, 2017 ·

Story behind Lakes burnt orange and royal blue colors

Originally posted June 1, 2010, The Suburban Times

There are “givens” concerning Lakes High School. Colors for the school are burnt orange and royal blue. Lakes teams are called the Lancers. In fact, even before Lakes opened in September 1962, the school colors were selected. But, when classes began in the 1962-1963 school year, there was not a nickname for Lakes teams. Nor was there a fight song or alma mater. For that matter, there was not a senior class either.

Lakes Colors

Lakes 1965 grad Rick Austin, 63, Kansas City, Mo., has first-hand knowledge of selection of the school colors and in the selection of the Lancers nickname, too. His father, the late Gerry Austin, was Lakes’ first athletic director and head football coach after serving as the successful head football coach at Clover Park High. Rick was starting quarterback for his father’s first three Lakes teams – the 1962, 1963 and 1964 seasons – and also played basketball and was a baseball pitcher for the Lancers.

“Dad was instrumental in the choice of colors at Lakes, with administration approval of course. The main need was to order the football uniforms for the first season,” said Rick.

Why burnt orange? Gerry Austin thought Darrell Royal was a great football coach. Royal gained his fame as coach (1957–1976) of the University of Texas Longhorns. According to the University of Texas at Austin website, Royal chose the burnt orange color for the Longhorns’ football jerseys. (By the way, before Royal joined Texas in 1957 as its coach, he coached one season, 1956, for the University of Washington, Gerry’s alma mater.)

Another reason for burnt orange and royal blue color scheme, said Rick, was because it was not used by other schools in the Puget Sound League or used by many high school teams in the state.

Rick remembers before the football season began when his father brought all the Lakes football jerseys – they were burnt orange with white numerals – to the Austin home not far from the northern shore of American Lake. “We had the jerseys spread out all over the family room floor and I got to pick my own number by ‘coach’s son privilege,’ Rick said. “The jersey manufacturer only put lower numbers on smaller jerseys. I needed a larger jersey, so that’s why I picked number 42,” he said.

Lancers nickname

Lancers was one of the several nicknames names suggested by Lakes students during the 1962-1963 school year. Rick Austin was one of the students casting a vote in favor of the winning “Lancers.” During that first school year, Lakes teams played varsity teams from smaller schools and junior varsity teams from larger schools. Thus, until that vote, those Lakes teams in early games of the first year wore burnt orange and royal blue, but they did not have a nickname. In the 1963-1964 school year, Lakes began playing full varsity schedules as a member of the Puget Sound League. League members included Clover Park, Franklin Pierce, Puyallup, Auburn and others.

An interesting sideline to Lakes not having a senior class in 1962-1963 concerns the classes housed in the then new Lakes High School. Sophomores used the school’s sophomore wing. Juniors used the junior wing. However, seventh graders were housed in the senior wing. Many of those students would return to Lakes in the 1965-1966 school year as sophomores. Consequently, as seniors during the 1967-1968 school year they were in the senior wing for a second time.

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Tim Marsh

June 7 at 6:55 AM ·

Used some of a paper grocery sack to cover a book. Is making a book cover from sack an almost lost art?

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Tim Marsh

June 7 at 6:55 AM ·

Used some of a paper grocery sack to cover a book. Is making a book cover from sack an almost lost art?

Tim Marsh

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Oct. 23, 1965, TNT/Tacoma News Tribune, Lakes vs. Clover Park football game:

=Banner headline

=Game story

Tim Marsh

September 2, 2015 ·