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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Enjoy pictures from our 80th birthday celebration. Just "click" on the link at the top of the "home page" on our CHS 1961 class creator website.
Doug Zollo
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Hello everyone,
Our "Cheers to 80 Years" gathering was a beautiful time together. I am working on posting all of the pictures that Mike & Elizabeth Coachman took of our 2 day get-together. Also, I am going to post a slide-show of selected pictures from all the back-screens of our website..."Through the Years". It's going to take some time, but it will be worth it. Please be patient with me; we miss John McDaniel, he was a talented "Webmaster".
With love and sincere thanks to: Woodie, Tiki, Georgia, Carol, Chip, Penny, Linda & Judy (your Reunion Committee)
Doug
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Sharing time together...
I received a call from Chip Padgett about an impromptu get-together of "old" friends at Capogna's Dugout on July 22nd 2023. It's always fun to spend a little time in the past renminiscing. We shared stories and laughed together....wonderful time. As we have gotten older, our connection to one another has become stronger and just so comfortable.
Sudler Hood / Tippy Connell / John Wallace / Claude McMullen
Hal Stowers / BJ Waschak Stowers / Tippy Connell
Ron Featherstone / Sudler Hood / John Wallace/ Claude McMullen /
Chip Padgett / Barry Smith
John Wallace / Claude McMullen / Chip Padgett / Barry Smith
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ABO Party 3/4/61 (Thanks to Mike Coachman)
I hope you will enjoy this little piece of my Clearwater history.
In my senior year at Clearwater High School a sizable group of us
guys starteda very loose fraternity called the ABO (All Boys
Organization). At school we wore sweatshirts with the ABO logo
until the disapproving school administrationbanned them.
In early February the ABO organized a dance party at the
Coachman citrus packing house's loading dock next to the office.
Uncle James Coachman approved our using the location. Party
was to be Saturday, March 4th, 1961. Selling tickets at school
for $.50 each, we grossed about $250. We ordered several
cases of CocaCola and potato chips to serve free at the bar.
Driving to a N. Greenwood gas station hangout, we asked if
anyone knew of a local band. Several fellows responded
that they were in a band. We agreed to pay them $50
(and a bottle of whiskey) for their providing the night’s
entertainment. Someone got the whiskey from their parents'
stash. The band requested there be a piano ready for one
of their guy’s use. We built a temporary electric fence from
the outside corner of the office around the field back to a
boxcar on the tracks. At the entry, we took (and sold more)
tickets. The band arrived about 7pm, and the party started
shortly thereafter.
We had not remembered that the CHS basketball team
was playing in the state playoffs that night out of town
but in the bay area. About 9:30pm people from the
game started arriving as the team had lost their game.
Also game attendance was poor as people chose
attending our party instead.
The evening was a lot of fun for all with no disagreement
among the attendees. A deputy sheriff checked by, saw
all was well, and went on his way. The parked cars filled
the packing house field areas and on both sides of the roads.
The band played quite well with just one break. During the
band break one guy had a reel to reel tape player to keep
the music going.
At the event's 11:30PM conclusion, we paid the band
and all went home. Sunday we removed the fence,
bar, and cleaned up the area.
After paying party expenses, we had $150 profit and
wondered what to do with it. CHS had a foreign student
program that was supported by cash donations made by
the different school clubs. During the morning homeroom
period, theadministration would announce which clubs
donated and how much. So far the highest was $75.
So we thought this was a good use for for our profit of $150.
The school office readily accepted our donation that we
specified was made by the ABO. Although many students
were aware of this donation, no homeroom received
announcement for this. After a bit of pressure, the administration
begrudgingly announced the donation. Just following that, one
could easily hear cheers echoing throughout the campus.
However we were still forbidden to wear any ABO clothing at
school. To this day (62 years later), people who attended
this party still comment on the wonderful experience.
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