Roger Felton

My idea of a really great time would be to have a Doyle's pizza wrapped around some Monterrey House enchaladas and woofing it down while zipping around the old Tradewinds Roller Rink on W. 34th.  That was a rockin' joint and a lot of memories of my teen years there.  Got pretty good on those 8 wheels.  Kept my black skates with orange wheels and yellow laces well into my adulthood and long after I had outgrown those size 9's.  Couldn't part with 'em.

A couple years back we decided to take our talent to the skating rink here in Victoria.  Big mistake.  Why do bike skills come back so easy but, after 50 years, with skates I might as well have strapped them to my butt cause it spent more time on the floor than the skates did.

Just wondering if the old Tradewinds was still there.  Anybody know?

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

My second husband, who graduated from Waltrip in '67, was always in competitions roller skating.  I know he hung out at Tradewinds constantly just practicing for show events.  I could not afford going to Tradewinds on Friday nights so instead, my parents purchased a pair of the metal type that would fit your shoe.  Tore up the entire driveway just skating on it - I was banded from the driveway into the street (Wakefield) or down to the community park building (it had a smooth surface).  Oh what fun - I use to make sure that whenever John Mitchell would come to the house after school I would be roller skating - just to "show off".  What fun.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Sorry.  Tradewinds has been closed for a few years now.

It was opened in 1955.  Dunno when it was closed.  As I recall there were huge fans instead of A/C.  The Gordons owned Tradewinds - their son was Wilbur.  I think they opened a club closeby called The Frankenstein and, I think, Papa Feelgood's.

Miss Tradewinds was really a popularity contest. The winner went on to the Regional competition in the RSROA meet that was held in Dallas/Ft. Worth. From there the winner went to Nationals in Lincoln, NE. Each level had a pro or owner who had to pay their dues to get a winner at the levels. These competitions were actually for art and free style skaters but this was just a little extra treat that was thrown in.

Rainbow rink was on Crosstimbers. It was owned by the Pruetts who sold it and then built Hidden Valley and the Dairy Ashford rink. Hidden Valley was sold and Champions was opened by Paul & Wanda Hedrick - son is Chad Hedrick. Kenny & Kathleen Manuel owned Dairy Ashford. Kenny is gone but Kathleen still is the active owner at Dairy Ashford. The Gordons and the Pruetts were supposedly good people.  There is/was also NW Skateworld with Bill Lee. 

Hope this helps.

James Edward Hilsher

Hello Waltrip classmates.  In reading both the 64 and 65 forums there has been quite a lot of talk recently about the "Good Old Days".  Such as Monterey House, Doyles, Chuck Wagon, etc.  On a personnel level I have been taken aback by the fifties and sixties often.  I love the old music and the way of life we grew up in.  Our generation really grew up in "The Best of Times". 

Having said that my wife Michele (who is a Jones '65 graduate) has written about (9) songs now.  This past year she turned one of those songs into a Music Video and it is on You Tube.  The title of the song is "Do You Remember" and that is exactly what it portrays, simple, fun life.  If you have not had a chance to view it on You Tube please take a minute to do that.  You will enjoy it.  Not only is she in it all (5) of our grandchildren are in it with extra friends.  And the gal that sings it for her does an excellent job.

Hope you will enjoy.

Jimmy Hilsher (Waltrip graduate Jan. 1965).

James Edward Hilsher

Sorry, forgot to tell you exactly how to view.  Go to YouTube.com and click on videos then type in Michele Hilsher.  

Bernard Brady

You know, we all had access to some mighty fine eating places back in the day. My Dad had an Architectural office in the River Oaks shopping center right next door to "One's a Meal". I think that they would make you just

about any kind of sandwich that you wa

nted, but my favorite was their club sandwich. Theirs is my "standard" upon which I rate all current sandwiches.

Patricia Bissonnet (Bissonnet)

Jim--Your wife's song is lovely!  I really enjoyed it.  Perhaps the DJ can play it at our reunion! Pat Bissonnet

Arletta Parnell (Glankler)

It is a lovely video and song.  I have posted the link here for your easy viewing.  It would be nice to have at the reunion.  Just click on the link.  https://www.youtube.com/Mps3n_Z7Snw

Kenneth Armbrister

Roger,

Sharon Mueller and her husband at the time, built and operated the skating rink in Victoria.  My kids grew up and had several birthday parties there.

Roger Felton

Thanks, Ken.  I still remember that sweet dark-haired lady who handled the admission "booth".  Good people who always kept the rink in great shape.  Glad your kids got to have fun there.  Between cell phone texting and video games, a lot of kids today will never experience what we did.  Geez, I sound more like my Dad every year.

Sharon Froehner (Mueller)

Oh my goodnes, Ken, I hadn't thought about the Victoria skating rink for a long time.  We built and opened it in 1979 and had it for a few years.   We sold it to someone in the mid 80's.  I was so busy having and taking care of my 4 kids that I lost track of the rink after we sold it.  Roger, you were very brave getting back on skates.  I used to skate a lot, when we owned several skating rinks, but haven't had a pair of skates on in years. With my grace and charm, I'm sure any venture into the skating world, on my part, would end in a trip to the ER!!!

Talley, I hope that your daught-in-law is able to handle her chemo without a lot of side effects.  At our age, we know that life isn't fair but having so many young people suffering from cancer is just heart breaking! 

On that note and speaking of being unfair, I'm visiting in Austin right now helping take care of my new little grandson.  My daughter-in-law has returned to work and since the new little baby has been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, he is unable to go to daycare for several months.  We were devastated with the CF diagnosis but we are reassured that he is getting the best of care here in Austin at Dell Children's Hospital.  My son and daughter-in-law are also being helped constantly by the CF Foundation.  For those of you familiar with Austin, my kids live in the Mueller Airport Subdivision so Dell Children's and the Foundation are practically in their backyard.  I thank medical science and the research scientists everyday for the advances that are being made into accute and chronic diseases and life threatening illnesses.  When we were young, CF patients were lucky to live to be elementary age.  In today's world, they can expect to live into their 50s.  Who knows when there will be a breakthrough that gives each CF person a chance at a normal life and long lifespan.  We feel very positive that our little CF baby will continue to thrive and be a blessing to all of us!!

Anita Marbury (Marbury)

Sharon,

I'm so glad you are there with your new grandson. Mama was the Harris County Chair for CF when I was in high school. I learned so much at that time about CF.

At U of H I had a roommate with CF. I was able to help her with her treatments because of my knowledge.

I know you and the family will be the voice for all of us on his journey.

Gee, maybe our class or the Guard  should raise some money for CF in his name? Just a thought.

Enjoy your time with the family. I've been shoveling snow since I returned to Durango. Great way to exercise. I have extra shovels if anyone is interested.

See you at the reunion and on Facebook.

Sweetie

Talley Hudson

Sharon, I'm sorry to hear about your grandchild.  Sounds like a lot of progress has been made in the CF field, and I'm so glad you can be there to help. 

This year seems to be starting out a bit rough.  Now my brother, Mike (Reagan class of '59), is in the hospital with a cancer diagnosis.  Had severe back pain and MRI showed a tumor that actually cracked a vertebra.  Looks like more cancer on tests but final results have not come yet.  We're praying and keeping our fingers and toes crossed as we wait.  Daughter-in-law feeling punky after first round of chemo, but biopsy on lymph node came back negative, which is a bit of good news.

I see that Texas weather is almost colder than our Seattle weather.  I actually played golf (or something resembling golf since I'm a hacker) yesterday. 

Roger Felton

Remember Talley, golf spelled backwards is "flog".  I flog the ball and then my partner flogs me.

Donald Hampton-Jones

RE: Donna Day

I completly lost touch with Donna over the years but we were close friends both through school and church.  I was also shocked to read that Tommy Day had past.  I spent a lot of hours after school hanging out with Tommy and Donna.  My prayers and condolences to all surviving family.

Patricia Bissonnet (Bissonnet)

Thought some of you might enjoy this article in the U of H Alumni magazine that focuses on the accomplishments of our classmate, Sweetie Marbury, as mayor of Durango:

http://houstonalumni.com/s/1442/2/index.aspx?sid=1442&gid=2&pgid=2155

Sweetie--You go, girl!

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

My condolences to Donna's family.  She was always extremely nice to me and she exuded warmth in everyone she was with,  She will be missed but always remembered.

Joanna Garrett

Anita Marbury (Marbury)

I just met two oil guys Chevron from Houston at the Durango City Hall. We had a great time talking about Houston. One of them ate at the BBQ Inn.

I sent him to the restaurant that has Southern cooking in Durango. I loved hearing about where they live and their feelings about coming to Durango.

Believe my city hall is very different from Big City Houston City Hall.  

A nice visit and walk down memory lane.

Stephen Ray Puckett

Blast from the past: Senior prom 1965.  The pretty lady with me is Pat Wyatt, Waltrip class of 1966.  She is wearing long gloves, trendy at the time. Gosh, I looked skinny then - but I weighed about as much as I do now.  I guess things shifted around!  

The colors are really dark in the photo.  Pat is actually blondish.

Ruth Roberts (Coker)

So glad you cleared that up about the color of Pat's hair, Steve.  My first reaction when I saw her photo was 'Well, that certainly is Pat but what happened to her hair?"  Great photo.  Thanks for posting.

Patricia Bissonnet (Bissonnet)

Such a sweet picture, Steve!  I wonder how many of us have a prom pic somewhere tucked away?  Would love to see them all!

Joanna Hinton (Garrett)

Pat, you are correct about having them put away.  I think I may have one or two.  One from the Sr. Class of '64 when I went with Chuck Dent.  He was working at a local grocery store and my Mother was in the store and he asked her if she knew of anyone that would like to go to the prom with him as his date backed out at the last minute.  Mother said I might be interested.  I was excited as I had never been to an actual prom.  I had to borrow and old dress from a neighbor, Mom remade it for me so I could go.  I had fun.  On my prom, I made my own dress and it was the first time I got to buy my own little heel as I wore corrective shoes due to Polio when I was in school.  You have me now wondering where the pictures are - got to find them and post.

Jan Barnes (Nimtz)

A great collection of 1950 photos from Railroad Jack...Remember him?

He was the best of the best!!

Note: If you "mouse-over" each picture a short description will pop up.

Click on link and enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blast_of_the_past/

Jan Barnes (Nimtz)

Jacquie Campbell (Biggs)

I do love all the furnishings in the old prom pix.  Especially all the drapes!!