Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Basketball handout from 1964-1965

Until two years ago, the 1964-1965 Ro-Hawk basketball team had the school record for proceeding the farthest in the state basketball championship competition for our size school. That year, we were undefeated in district play, won bi-district and regional, but lost in the semi-final round of the state tournament. 

Obviously, there is a lot of physical practice that lies behind going deep into playoffs, but there is also substantial "thinking" practice that accompanies the "body work".  I was reminded of that recently when I came across the handout Coach Leschber gave us at the beginning of the season. I've included it in this post. 

Guys who played for Coach will recognize his style and, particularly, his sense of humor.  I grinned as I re-read this line from his defensive counsel - "If you happen to lose your man - - take a straight dash for his basket - - this is where he will be." - just as I had smiled the first time I read it a half-century ago.  For those who played for Coach, I hope this handout will bring back good memories.  For those seeing it for the first time, I hope you'll see another reason for Coach's successful seasons at Randolph. 
 
Regards, 

Jerry 


(Thanks to Ro-Hawk teammate Tom "Flame" Madsen who expressed an interest in seeing this again when I mentioned I had found it.)








A connection from a long time ago

At the UNC graduation on 08 May of this year, Amanda Bennett Click was awarded her Ph. D.
Dr. Amanda Bennett Click
Amanda is the daughter of Richard Click, who would have been in the class of 1966 had his dad not gotten transferred to California before Richard's senior year.

For those of you all who don't remember Richard, here he is with Amanda at the wedding of Richard and Heather's son Ben a few years back. As Richard said, if you don't recognize him, he's the one with the gray hair (and the US Navy and US Air Force command pilot wings).



Life is interesting and old connections keep popping up in all kinds of interesting places.

Monday, May 30, 2016

Memorial Day article forwarded from Whiz Broome, RHS '65

Ro-Hawks, 

Whiz asked Gloria to post this article to the Ro-Hawk blog for Memorial Day.  The article is by Terry Garlock for whom a short bio is at http://www.garlock1.com/about_the_author.html 

Most of us know that Whizzy, RHS '65, served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot.  Afterward, he left the Army for seminary, then came back on active duty as a chaplain until his retirement.  He was assigned to the DC area when terrorists crashed a plane into the Pentagon, and he rushed to provide assistance to those surviving the attack.  Gloria posted an article about Whizzy's service on this blog ten years ago - http://ro-hawks.blogspot.com/2006/03/whizzy-broome-65_114313734200409733.html

Whiz has provided us with a strongly worded reminder that this is a day for remembering those who died in the service of our country.  

Jerry Ball, RHS '65


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Dear Friends, a fellow Chopper Pilot sent this to me and it really touched me and made me think about what this sacred holiday, Memorial Day, is really all about. This day never goes by without some tears and deep heart ache for lost friends and our brave military from every war and conflict. Take some time to reflect and pray for our troops in "Harm's Way" now and the families with deep empty spots in their hearts today. God bless you all, Whiz

Americans and their Memorial Day weekend
by Terry Garlock
If future historians have any brains, and I confess to having doubts, they might look back on this period in America as a stark example of how breathtakingly stupid a people can become when they are safe and comfortable. Those are my thoughts as, once again, I find myself disgusted in the run-up to Memorial Day.
If you polled the veterans our country once sent to war, you would find a great many of them feel an urge to slap the merchants using Memorial Day to advertise a big sale on mattresses, cars or other merchandise, as if Memorial Day is for selling leftover inventory. It doesn’t say much for the masses rushing to the sales, either.
I don’t really mind that Memorial Day weekend marks opening the pool for the summer, a picnic or BBQ or first visit to the lake in the boat. But every one of us should be setting aside a good portion of Memorial Day Monday to reflect on the families whose son – or daughter – came home in a flag-draped box.
While I am writing this just before Memorial Day and you are reading it after, I do know that many of you taking the trouble to read this will be attending a ceremony honoring those who lost their life doing their duty. But your numbers are being overwhelmed by the dummies who don’t give it even a passing thought.
What bothers me most, I suppose, is that so many Americans just don’t know. They are so self-absorbed, so disconnected from our military, so wrapped up in their iPhone and Facebook and the new American pastime of entitlement and victimhood, that they don’t realize what other Americans have sacrificed. Are sacrificing right now, today. For them.
It doesn’t help that the yo-yos occupying the White House have turned our military into a lab for social experiments, or that the bootlickers with stars on their shoulders in the Pentagon go along with the girly-men policies pulling teeth out of our Armed Forces as they implement with an iron fist the yo-yos’ new military priority of sensitivity. It doesn’t help that the yo-yos, whether Republican or Democrat, get us involved in wars we should avoid, and then for public relations purposes withhold the overwhelming force required to win.
Just like long ago in Vietnam, amidst all the political stupidity that turns a winnable war into a meat-grinder that eats America’s young, our troops do their job well in combat, and sometimes come home in flag-draped coffins while the politicians and big-shots in the Pentagon keep their backsides covered, and while most Americans ignore them.
The lousy support of our troops fighting a war on our behalf first began when Gen. George Washington begged Congress for muskets, powder, ball, clothes, food and money to pay the men and received no response. But our leader’s betrayal of the trust owed to our troops does not mitigate one iota the bottomless pain of families who lost someone they deeply loved.
When my daughter Melanie was 13 some years ago, she and I were on a road trip passing near Washington, DC. I had told her we could stop for a little while, and I asked her to select two places she wanted to see since this would be her first visit. As we drove she told me she wanted to see the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. Excellent choices, and they are conveniently close together.
As we drove, I wanted to explain the power of the Vietnam Memorial. I told her there are over 58,000 names etched in The Wall, but the story gets lost in numbers because every name represents a family’s broken heart.
I asked her, “When a mother and father are informed their son has been killed in a war, that may be the worst day of their life. How long do you think it takes for them to get over it?” After a moment’s thought Melanie said, “Never.”
Exactly right. Somewhere amidst the grief they find the strength to do the same thing that our troops do in combat when bad things happen - they push it down into a secret box deep inside them and close the lid tight so they can go on with life and do what they must do. But for the rest of their life, those painful memories are waiting to spring into action when the lid to their secret box is opened.
One of the guys in our coffee group at Mimi’s had a rough combat experience, but later back in the US he had casualty notification duty. I’m leaving out his name for his own

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

BOB LEE, CLASS OF '65

Posted on FaceBook on February, 15, 2016

On February 15, 1986, I was blessed to marry Sharon Slayden. We have lived in CA, TX, NC, NJ, and Warsaw Poland during those 30 years. We have enjoyed two special children, and now (presently) three energetic granddaughters. During this time she has remained my closest, and best friend. I have been so fortunate to have spent this time with Sharon. Thank you honey for your patience and perseverance. I love you.





The three cuter than buttons granddaughters!!!  One more on the way!!!




Just Sharon and Bob and The Dog!!!






Sunday, May 22, 2016

News from North Carolina

I had hesitated posting this, feeling it seemed a bit self-centered. But, what the heck, I am self-centered.

At this spring's graduation, I was named the winner of the Deb Barreau Award for Teaching Excellence. In the picture below, I am looking with surprise at the award, presented to me by the previous winner, Dr. Mohammad Jarrahi. I was pretty happy that the students had nominated me for the award.


I guess it was worth spending the money on the academic robes.

COACH LESCHBER FAMILY 2016

Barbara Leschber eating brunch with Ivan Leschber and 3 others at Zax Restaurant.
53 mins
Awesome brunch with kids and grandkids!!


From our family to yours.. 🎄🎄🎄Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!! ‪#‎blessedandgrateful‬

The fighter pilot who flew through the Eiffel Tower in 1944 has died.

A good story for blog, my uncle sent this, retired Col. USAF.
Submitted by Michael Scott '67 

The fighter pilot who flew through the Eiffel Tower in 1944 has died.

In the spring of 1944 Bill and his P-51C, the 'Berlin Express' were near Paris when the scene that is immortalized in the artwork by Len Krenzler of Action Art that leads this article took place.

Bill had followed this Bf109 from the bombers he was escorting when most of the German fighters left. The two planes had been in a running dogfight.

The German pilot flew over Paris hoping that the heavy German anti-aircraft artillery would solve his problem and eliminate Overstreet and the 'Berlin Express', though Bill managed to get some hits in at about 1500 feet.

The German's engine was hit, and Bill stayed on his tail braving the intense enemy flak. His desperation undoubtedly growing, the German pilot aimed his plane at the Eiffel Tower and in a surprising maneuver, flew beneath it.

Undeterred, Bill followed right behind him, scoring several more hits in the process. The German plane crashed and Bill escaped the heavy flak around Paris by flying low and full throttle over the river until he had cleared the city's heavy anti-aircraft batteries.

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WWII fighter pilot who flew THROUGH the Eiffel Tower to take down a German plane dies in Virginia aged 92

William Overstreet Jr., a former captain in the U.S. Air Corps, passed away on Sunday at a hospital in Roanoke, Virginia.

He famously flew his plane beneath the Eiffel Tower in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1944, lifting the spirits of French troops on the ground.

In 2009, he was presented France's Legion of Honor.

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Hero: World War II Aviator Bill Overstreet Jr., best known for flying beneath the Eiffel Tower in pursuit of a German plane, is pictured in his military days.

Before the ceremony, Overstreet had previously said that, if he lived long enough to receive the Legion of Honor, he would be accepting it in memory of his fallen brothers.

In particular, he wanted to pay tribute to a friend, Eddy Simpson, who died fighting the Nazis on the ground so his comrades, including Overstreet, could escape.

After the award was pinned to his lapel, Overstreet said: 'If I said, "Thank you," it wouldn't be enough,' before adding: 'What more than "thank you" do you need?'

He was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia in 1921 and after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Air Corps as a fighter pilot.

By February 1942, he was a private and sent to California for flight training; here, his instructors prepared him for the unexpected mid-flight by cutting the engine as he landed.

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Remembered: Overstreet was presented with France's Legion of Honour in 2009

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Aircraft: Overstreet is pictured by his P-51 'Berlin Express', the plane he flew beneath the Eiffel Tower

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Proud: Overstreet is pictured in 1943 with his cherished 1938 Buick in California, where he trained
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Close call: The wreckage of his Bell P-39 Airacobra which spun out of control mid-air as he completed combat training in 1943. He managed to force his way out of the craft and walked away unhurt

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Loss: Bill Overstreet is pictured at an event, Warbirds Over the Beach, in 2013.

'He was always humble. Whenever the press interviewed him, he said, "I didn't do anything, we were a team".'

RIP Bill Overstreet.
 

ANOTHER SCENE AT THE NEW FRONTIER! 2016

May 2016

The Frontier Drive-In was a fixture on Austin Highway during the 60's 70's in San Antonio.  Many a Ro-Hawk drove there for the "best hamburger and greasy skinny onion rings".  Michael Scott '67 recently went there and took pictures (as did John Hines '64 and Michael Wysong '63 before him).  Enjoy

Just when your taste buds had given up and memories of nights on the old Austin Highway were about to slip into the past. It's back to the future - who says you can't return to a place where the words "calories and diet" were as foreign as people in their 30's. Well you can now return to those thrilling nights of yesteryear. Back by popular demand it's "Frontier Burger."  If your Doctor says "What are you doing?" Ask him what he is doing there? The new Frontier Burger is located just West of the Magic Time Machine - How appropriate!

Forever Rohawk

Mike Scott '67


These pictures are from John Hines '64 - April 5, 2016


FACEBOOK COMMENTS:
Jackie Darling Anderson Now THIS is worth a reunion! where are the carhops?!
Ann Sperling-kennedy This is a name from the past!
John Hines Yes indeed. The ol'
John Hines The ol' Frontier Burger Drive-in on the Austin Highway

Virginia Gregory Van Cleave Love their thin onion rings!
Sue Sturrock Anderson Awesome! Those burgers were delicious! I wondered what happened to that place! Thanks!
Teresa De Arza Gauger They had the best onion rings. Yummmmy. Teresa
Cal Sumner This store is just a tad larger than the original that was outside Breckenridge Park at the Wite on Broadway. They have a traditional 'Drive Through' , and the inside is very much 'Food Court' at the Mall style.... It was really great running into John .... ! Yea RHS !
Sue Ohman Baldwin So great!!! I'll be in SA in May, and that will be my first stop!!
Judy Woodruff Wish I lived a few miles closer...they were the best!!


This is from Michael Wysong '63 - April 4, 2016

Picture of dinner- Frontier open today for business- I was the 7th customer, so I ordered all my old favorites- original frontier burger, thin cut onion rings and the chili, only ate some of the hamburger and onion rings.


That is me in the red hat and yellow shirt, I was the 7th customer in line. I had the original frontier burger, the thin cut onion rings, and a small bowl of chili. Took most of the food home. Those were the items that l always got. It brought back memories of the old days of cruising the Austin Hwy


Gloria Campbell Gallagher OMG! What? WHERE???? I might need to make a trip to San Antonio !!!
Josh Baugh Is that over by 410 and broadway?
Judy Woodruff Was this the old Frontier Drive In?? 😊
Michael Wysong Sr Same frontier but new location
Judy Woodruff Remember many evenings there!! That's awesome...reliving the past! Loved the onion rings!!
Gloria Campbell Gallagher We used to order at one speaker and move to another!! We thought we were so bad!!!
Toni Greece Loved the drive in on Austin hiway. Our summer nights hangout!!!! Gonna go there for sure. No 3 frontier burger onion rings and a cherry fried pie. My heart will stop beating for sure. Gloria. We need to put a lunch together !!!!!!

Make your own comments below: