Stephen Ray Puckett

Interesting story, Roger.  I had a college roommate for a short while, an older guy, who had dated Candy a bit. As I recall, he said she was very nice and treated her family well, especially her kid brother.  My roommate's mom found out who he was dating and threw a giant fit.

Roger Felton

From the short contacts I had with her she did seem very nice.  Got a kiss on the cheek (from Candy, not Jack) and, to a 16 year old, that made my day.  They did a TV movie about her some years back only, in the movie, her name was Candy Kane, I think.

I know my Dad would not have approved of me dating Candy but he might been more agreeable if he could ride along in the back seat.

John Leediker

Hello to all.....I hope you all had a wonderful 2014 holiday season and that 2015 will bring good things to all of you. Wow, I have not seen this much discussion in this forum for a long time.I used to check it once every couple of weeks, but it got to where I would see the same thing every time I checked, so I stopped checking. Glad to see it has become active again. One thing I remember about Brannan's is that ice house they had outside the store. We used to go in there and buy blocks of ice, or crushed ice to make homemade ice cream. The days of ice houses have long been gone. I have a question for those familar with Doyle's. In their early days on Oak Forest, they used to make a sandwich they called a "Flying Saucer". Does anybody remember those? It was a poorboy on a round onion bun, with thinly sliced ham......and boy were they good! Now my memory of Doyles (the current location) is that it was my Mom's favorite place to go eat. She was regular in there on Friday nights with her church friends. The last dinner out I had out with my Mom anywhere was at Doyle's in April 2012, and she passed away in March of 2013.

I am hoping to be able to attend the upcoming reunion and look forward to seeing a lot of you there.

Best wishes for a great 2015!

-John

Paul Stewart (Miller)

Stephen, 

I remember well the Monterrey House on 34th, west from Oak Forest, same side as Brannon's & the Chuck Wagon. My little sister's (Patricia Miller, Praetorian Guard, Class of 1967), best friend's parents owned the franchise back in 1962, I think. That was a treat! However, back then, my stepdad would always send one of my sisters to check out the bathroom of any restaurant. His theory was that if the woman's WC was clean, then the food would be good...While I thought he was nuts back then, he really wasn't that far off, even today.  Ole! Monterrey!

Hope to reacquaint myself to a bunch of you in late August...

Paul Stewart (Miller)

PS, My oldest sister, Pam Miller, started in the first Praetorian Guard (transferred from Reagan when Waltrip opened), then my other sisters, Penny & Patty joined later. Me? Heck, I joined the band...stringbass & tuba.

God Bless & Happy New Year to you all!!!

Leroy (Lee) Ernie Treichel

Hello All:

My thoughts of Doye's was when I played Little League baseball at the age of 11.  Doyle's (then located on Oak Forest) worked with the Little League Assoc. and had a reward system for preformance.  In playoff games if you hit a double you got a coupon for a free malt.  If you hit a triple, you got a poboy and if you hit a home run you got a poboy and malt.  What an incentive for a young kid.

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

At the last reunion, I went to take my daughter to Doyle's and they were closed that day.  Wouldn't it be fun if a group of us all got together and went there for lunch.  I'm a long way from Doyle's but would not mind calling them, if there is a group that would like to go there, and seeing if they would consider taking us on for a pizza evening.  I'd like to see how Leo's sons and daughter grew up and whether or not they even own the business.

Dorothy Fowler (Montgomery)

This all brings back such good memories. I don't know how many of you have driven through the Oak Forest/Garden Oaks area lately but it is amazing to see the revitalization. Almost every honme on my old street has been rebuilt. I stopped in a Perry model home on my street. The asking price was $785,000. That's a far cry from the 1950's.

Roger, what an interesting summer in 1963. Wow, what a difference a few months made that year. I will never forget the announcement that Mr. Cotton made letting us know about JFK. You could have heard a pin drop in that school.

We were all fortunate to grow up in the Oak Forest area and it is so nice that we have social media and can stay in touch 50 years later. I'm looking forward to oure 50Th anniversary this year.

Talley Hudson

My family didn't have a lot of money, so going out for dinner was a real treat.  We would go to Prince's drive-in (they had the most delicious sauce and I've never figured out what they used) or Wyatt's Cafeteria.  Going out for a really nice dinner meant going to Felix.  It was a big deal!  I spent many afternoons at the Chuck Wagon getting Cokes, and also Friday nights--hanging out to see what everyone else was doing.  Do you remember the big police officer that we called Tiny?  Not sure if that was his nickname or one we game him.  Doyle's was the place we got to go to during finals week, when they actually let us leave campus.  That's the first time I'd ever had hot apple pie with cheddar cheese.  A group of us went there for lunch during our last reunion.  We had a blast.  We definitely need to do that again this year. We also drove around and saw the homes we grew up in.  Some are gone now and some are almost unrecognizable because of the growth of the trees.  How can 50 years have passed.  I still feel like I'm 17!

Talley Hudson

I wanted to post this separately.  My daughter-in-law, Adriane Goyen, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  They are going to start with chemo to try to shrink the tumor before doing surgery.  Her first chemo treatment is this Friday, and the doctor said she will definitely lose her hair.  She wants to donate her hair (long, naturally curly, naturally blond), so she's going to braid it today and have it cut.  It has to be donated before chemo starts. There are so many successes today with breast cancer treatments, but it's still a concern and a big hassle!  I would like to request prayers for her and her family. Thank you.

Stephen Ray Puckett

That was WC 'Tiny' Romund.  I saw him at the Garden Oaks Theater, Delmar Stadium, etc.  http://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2010/03/they-called-him-tiny-but-late-hpd-officer-left-big-impression/

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Talley, my prayers are with your daughter and the rest of the family.

Joanna

Stephen Ray Puckett

For a taste of the old Wyatt's:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/wyatts-pecan-delight

http://www.food.com/recipe/wyatts-cafeteria-german-chocolate-pie-80371

http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/pie/wyatts-german-chocolate-pie.html

Roger Felton

Beverly and I will be praying for Adriane and her recovery, Talley.  My wife's cousin, Diane Talley, was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer tumor in her uterus the size of a Texas grapefruit.  It was the worst, most aggressive type there is.  She went to MD Anderson for her treatment while the rest of us prayed and kept her spirits up.  She lost her hair, too, but when she looked at my head she didn't feel so bad, lol.  Well, it's been several years now of regular checkups and she's still totally cancer free. 

Cancer is scary stuff but make sure Adriane knows that modern medicine can beat it.  Keep us posted, ok.

P.S. I just realized that if you were Diane's sister-in-law your name would have been Talley Talley, lol...hugs

Arletta Parnell (Glankler)

The old Monterrey House on 34th is owned now by the man who was their District Manager.  He has brought back their original menu.  And it tastes the same. When I was home recently visiting, we had lunch there.  I shut my eyes and wow, the memories.  Yes Dorothy.  So much has changed.  They bulldozed my parents home on Wakefield.  It has a georgous home there now, $750,000.  And momma paid $7800 for their house and the land.  What a difference!!!  I remember you Roger, and  you reminded me more of Roger Miller than Pat Boone.  Oak Forest was a fun place to grow up.  Dorothy do you have any of your Barbie's left?  Oh the fun we had on my front porch.  Good times for sure.  I hope to come home for the reunion.

Roger Felton

I think I'd have to agree with ya, Arletta. I always wished I could have met Roger Miller.  Probably because I spent more time saying, "Dang Me" than I did writing Love Letters in the Sand.

I remember you, too.  I was always struck by your beautiful thick hair and the most exotic eyes I had ever seen.  Hope you can make it to the reunion.

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Robbie Wallis sent me an overhead shot of the property where I grew up on Wakefield.  Old house is gone and a home that is about $700,000+ covers the entire lot.  I lived at 1407 Wakefield.  Progress -  we sold our house in Dallas, they tore it down and now building a $2M home on it.  My home in Dallas was 100 years old and the neighborhood there is seeing it's tear downs and multi million dollar homes coming in.  There was a house down the street from us that still has not sold.  Don't know how anyone could even afford it let alone the taxes of $198,000 per year.  Oak Forest is very similar in their rebuilds.  I've got to go through the old neighborhood when I come for the reunion.

Dorothy Fowler (Montgomery)

Talley, I'll keep Adrienne in my prayers. Cancer is no fun but please let her know the sun will shine again. Arletta, I have no more Barbie's but have certainly bought enough of them over the years - 3 daughters, 2 granddaughters, and I now have 3 great-granddaughters. The youngest is only 5 months so it will be awhile for her. Right now she would only chew on it.

Looking forward to seeing all of you at the reunion this summer.

Leah Favella

Talley Hudson

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and prayers.  I know in my heart that she will be fine, but it will be a long road for her.  She sent me a picture of her buzz cut.  One of my grandsons also cut his hair in support.  Very cute!

After graduation I worked briefly at the Garden Oaks Pharmacy.  One day a man came in for lunch.  He was visiting town and mentioned that he would like a tour of Houston.  His name was Roger.  Never saw him again, but he looked a lot like Roger Miller.  I can't imagine that Roger Miller ever ate lunch at the pharmacy, but I used to wonder.  Later, after I moved to Washington State, I did see the real Roger Miller in a hotel lounge act.  He was rude and very disrespectful of the area, and everyone in the audience was disappointed.  Wish I hadn't seen him then because I always thought of him that way after that experience.

Roger Felton

Being in radio, Beverly and I use to go to the Country Music Awards back in the late 70's and early 80's.  Got to run around with most of the old legends back then like Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Roy Acuff, Marty Robbins, Micky Gilley, Brenda Lee, Barbara Mandrell, the whole bunch and had a blast every year.  Got to be really good friends with Donna Douglas who we met at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville.  She would travel to Victoria to visit.  We were so saddened to hear she died this past New Year's Day.  Wonderful person.  But others were a big disappointment such as George Jones, Larry Gatlin, among others.

But once I realized that I met them during their struggle with drugs and alcohol, I softened up.  Ran into Larry Gatlin in an Austin mall and we chatted for a while.  What a different guy he was and so apologetic.  If I recall, Roger Miller had similar problems and I'm sure a lot of people never got to see the real guy.  I never met him either but the people I've met who knew him well spoke highly of him but only when sober. 

Fae Elskes (Krenek)

I was sorry to hear that Doyle's was closed. It was also surprising when I realized it was still open years after high school. Mom loved to go there, and the last time I went was with her (in a wheelchair) shortly before she died in 2008. The food was still as good as I remembered and it was really like stepping back in time. Oh, to do those old days over again - with more common sense!

Fae Elskes Krenek

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Fae, I don't know if Doyle's is closed.  5 years ago and on a Saturday is when I went by and they were closed for that day.  I'm still planning on doing lunch there when in Houston for the reunion.

Robert (Robby) Wallis

Stephen Ray Puckett

Old photos from the Doyle's website:

Genie Hackenjos (Kistler)

Well, hello, everyone! -- All this talk of Monterrey House and Doyle's has made my mouth water!  Both places set the standard by which I measure all enchiladas and pizzas to this day.  Our family tradition was always to eat Mexican on Christmas eve.  I think we were the last customer of the day at Monterrey House every Christmas eve!

Woefully, up here in the frozen north, we miss the enchilada mark by quite a ways!  My worst enchilada story comes from when I lived in Cavalier, ND and there was a "Mexican" restaurant that had enchiladas on the menu, so I ordered them.  Worst I'd ever had - the gravy was roast beef gravy!  So, thinking maybe someone just had made a mistake, I acted a little dumb next time and asked, "enchiladas--what are those?"  They told me what they had on them, ending with, "and gravy."  I asked what kind of gravy that might be, and she said, "Let me check."  In a moment she came back and said, "today we have pork."

I ordered something else!  

The first pizza I ever ate was a "Bambino" at Doyle's.  It was during finals week.  I, too, go back there whenever I am in Houston, which usually means for a WHS reunion.  Hope to see y'all there this year!

Genie (Hackenjos) Kistler