Comments:
In June after we graduated in May 1969 from DCHS, I enrolled at Texas Tech University. I had my heart set on becoming a teacher like Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Ham(some of you will remember being in their class). I thought they both had the best careers. 3&1/2 years later, I received my degree from Texas Tech. My last year of college, I married Jerry Grimes(My High School Sweetheart)in May 1971.Jerry had returned from Viet Nam and started working for Mobil Oil in the Russell Field.
For the next seven years, I did substitute teaching for the DCISD and had two boys (Bryan and Bradley) In August of 1978, Jerry died from an oilfield accident which occured in June 1978.Sooo this girl had to go to work to support those little boys 2 and 4 at the time. I spent the first year at the Elementary School and then I received word that Mrs. Ham was retiring from the HS. I have been the Family and Consumer Science Teacher(new name for home economics) at Denver City High School for 31 years. I tell my students that I use to sit in the same place they are sitting and walk down the halls of DCHS as a student just like they are doing. My students say "How could you live in this place so long?" Probably most of you are asking the same question.Denver City gave me security and with my mom and Jerry's family living here it just worked for me. Now my sister Judy lives in Denver City and Deb lives in Hobbs. Being a teacher gave me the freedom to really enjoy the summers, Christmas and SpringBreaks with my boys as they were growing up. We enjoyed Possum Kingdom Lake in the summer and the snow skiing in the winter. I wanted to be there for my boys. Now, I am very busy with the activities at the school. I am not a 8:00 to 3:30 teacher. I help other groups sponsor their kids on trips along with my FCCLA Group. Since girls are in Auto Tech & Machine Shops,the male sponsors often ask me to go along on contests to help sponsor the females. It is easier for me to help out than the younger female teacher with responsibilites to their familiesy. I am fortunate that I can usually make a weekend trip. Both of my sons live in Shallowater, TX about 5 miles from Lubbock. Most of my spare time is visiting with the boys and their families. The boys and I are die heart Texas Tech Red Raider Fans. We all have season tickets to the football games and when possible we attend the girls and boys basketball games at Texas Tech. Skyler, Bryan's son, is a Senior this year and the other little grand kids are all involved in a variety of sporting/school events. I try to attend their activities whenever possible.
Through the years, the Class of 1969 has had several reunions. We had a 10 year, 15 year school wide, and 20 year. and 25 or 30(not sure)reunions. I have been in attendance for all of these. You will have a great time rekindleing friendships and remembering your High School years with your classmates. This will be a change not having the reunion in Denver City, but I think it will be a great time for all of us to get together and share our life stories with one another. I hope to see all of you in Grapevine.As a Denver City Cheerleader would say (GO MIGHTY MUSTANGS ... FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT)
