Bill Francis

Wonderful memories of THS - seems like yesterday and very hard to believe that a six decades has passed since graduation -- Looking forward to our 60th Reunion June 17-19, 2022. Marilyn and I served for 40 years with The Salvation Army in the USA and Canada. We also spent 4 years at the Army's International Headquarters in London, England, where we gave oversight to the Army's work in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. We retired in 2011 and continued leading group tours to Israel, the Middle East, Europe and cruises to the Caribbean and Mediterranean, which we have enjoyed since 1985. I have written three books and continue to publish magazine articles. Throughout the years I have been an active proponent of higher education and serve on the Board of Governors of Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia.

The first memory that comes to mind is sitting in Principal Guy Enfanto's office with dear (now departed) friend, Milt Guttman. We had been caught placing BB size firecrackers under friends' feet as they walked down the hallway or stood on tip-toe to reach their locker. It was a scary memory with our intimidating, no-nonsense principal -- and I did not know Grocho Mark's secret word! At first, the principal, stared at us and said, "This is a police matter. It is out of my hands!" All turned out well when he realized that the firecrackers were the legal kind. I also remember an ill-fated ice fishing trip with classmate Joe Chesman. We both only caught colds. My favorite teachers were Miss Miller (music) and Warren Gibson (Latin). Both had a lasting impact on my life.