It's OK. I turned out alright. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, eh? Anyway, he was just filling in for days when David Cox was busy torturing someone else. And hell, I wouldn't be the take no sh*t sob I am today without all that tough love. I really should be owing him a debt of gratitude now that I think back on it. =)
I seem to remember you carrying the newspaper clipping around for a couple of weeks after he was killed. You were showing it to anyone that would stop and listen to you talk about it.
I first met Rueben when I was in the 9th grade at EC. We weren't exactly class president material, but we weren't career criminals either, when Rueben & I hung out together. We would be at the old QT or the Cardinal Coney shop, just hanging out, skipping class, smoking cigarettes and having a good time. We also hung out together in his housing addition, Rosedew, along with some other friends. He & I never had any problems like I have read here from everyone else. He did have a "cool" side and he was a good kid, if you got to know him a little. You never know what someone is going thru at home, but I guess everyone has someone from their school memories they were teased or tormented by.
I just had to tell the side of Rueben that I knew, I would hate for people to read these notes and think he was a cold-hearted bully like you hear about in the news.
Hey Greg, I certainly understand now as an adult that some kids had a rough time at home that contributed to the way they treated others. But as a kid you don't think about stuff like that. I'm glad that you got to see a nice side to him and that he actually had one. I certainly don't know if he was cold hearted or just liked messing with me because I was scared and it was easy. I do know that I could fill pages with stories of him bullying me though.
My very last memory of Rueben was from Drivers Ed class our 10th grade year. He was sitting about 3 seats behind me and over a row. He would throw his pencil and hit me in the back of the head. And then under threat of death he would make me pick up the pencil and give it back to him so he could chuck it at me again while he and his crony giggled the whole time. After 3 or 4 times I finally had had enough. I broke the pencil in half and went up and threw it in the trash can. Boy was he pissed and I can tell you that waiting for the bell to ring at the end of class that day was like waiting for a death sentence. Knowing he would be waiting for me as soon as we left class I have rarely been so scared. Sure enough, after class he grabbed me and was preparing to paint the floor with my blood when Brian Hines (thank god) stepped in and grabbed him. Everyone else had already started to form the circle of death around us while chanting, "fight! fight! fight! fight!" under their breaths. Brian told him to leave me alone and to stop messing with me. Brian was a tough guy and Rueben wanted no part of that and he never messed with me again. A few months later he was dead. Needless to say, I have always liked Brian Hines.
I never was a fighter in school because I was a short, fat doughboy. And I got picked on plenty because I wouldn't stand up for myself. But only two people actually terrified me and Rueben was one of them. (In case anyone is wondering the other was David Cox and some day I'll share that saga...it includes guns fired, 11 police cars and a full family on family brawl with weapons).
Hey Josh, was David Cox the bully that punched Mrs. Deaton, Kerr Elementary teacher, in the face? Fill us in on that story. Sorry Rueben was so mean to you. I never knew him. All we can do as parents is try to teach our own children not to bully others.
Now that you mention it I think David was the one that punched her. But that was so long ago I just can't be 100% sure it was him. Maybe someone else from Kerr could verify?? That says a lot though because she was one of the more intimidating teachers that didn't take a lot of crap. And her swats put a good sting on you. She got me a few times. =)
And just to clarify for anyone reading this thread. I have absolutely zero hard feelings or extended trauma resulting from any of these events. Sometimes it's hard to convey sarcasm and humor in text only. And that is exactly what these stories are. Humorous footnotes to childhood that are so far back in my memory they seem almost like a past lifetime. I learned to laugh at myself long long ago (I had spiked, bleached hair and lived in parachute pants, need I say more??). Please just enjoy the stories and share some of your own if you've got them.
I would love to share the story of the great brawl of 1983 but I think we need a more appropriate place than Rueben's memorial page. Maybe I'll post it in the general forum later.
Well if it was David Cox, he was mean to everybody. He must have had issues at home or something, sad. I remember your spiked hair and parachute pants. LOL! By the way, beautiful family you have. Good to hear you are doing okay.
Josh Payne
It's OK. I turned out alright. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, eh? Anyway, he was just filling in for days when David Cox was busy torturing someone else. And hell, I wouldn't be the take no sh*t sob I am today without all that tough love. I really should be owing him a debt of gratitude now that I think back on it. =)Mike Cole
I seem to remember you carrying the newspaper clipping around for a couple of weeks after he was killed. You were showing it to anyone that would stop and listen to you talk about it.Josh Payne
Now now, Mike. We shouldn't be bothering the nice people with my creepy obsessions.What?! Doesn't everyone keep little things like that??
Did I mention that he TORTURED me relentlessly? Surely you all understand! I'm normal I'm telling you!
Greg Doyle
I first met Rueben when I was in the 9th grade at EC. We weren't exactly class president material, but we weren't career criminals either, when Rueben & I hung out together. We would be at the old QT or the Cardinal Coney shop, just hanging out, skipping class, smoking cigarettes and having a good time. We also hung out together in his housing addition, Rosedew, along with some other friends. He & I never had any problems like I have read here from everyone else. He did have a "cool" side and he was a good kid, if you got to know him a little. You never know what someone is going thru at home, but I guess everyone has someone from their school memories they were teased or tormented by.I just had to tell the side of Rueben that I knew, I would hate for people to read these notes and think he was a cold-hearted bully like you hear about in the news.
Josh Payne
Hey Greg, I certainly understand now as an adult that some kids had a rough time at home that contributed to the way they treated others. But as a kid you don't think about stuff like that. I'm glad that you got to see a nice side to him and that he actually had one. I certainly don't know if he was cold hearted or just liked messing with me because I was scared and it was easy. I do know that I could fill pages with stories of him bullying me though.My very last memory of Rueben was from Drivers Ed class our 10th grade year. He was sitting about 3 seats behind me and over a row. He would throw his pencil and hit me in the back of the head. And then under threat of death he would make me pick up the pencil and give it back to him so he could chuck it at me again while he and his crony giggled the whole time. After 3 or 4 times I finally had had enough. I broke the pencil in half and went up and threw it in the trash can. Boy was he pissed and I can tell you that waiting for the bell to ring at the end of class that day was like waiting for a death sentence. Knowing he would be waiting for me as soon as we left class I have rarely been so scared. Sure enough, after class he grabbed me and was preparing to paint the floor with my blood when Brian Hines (thank god) stepped in and grabbed him. Everyone else had already started to form the circle of death around us while chanting, "fight! fight! fight! fight!" under their breaths. Brian told him to leave me alone and to stop messing with me. Brian was a tough guy and Rueben wanted no part of that and he never messed with me again. A few months later he was dead. Needless to say, I have always liked Brian Hines.
I never was a fighter in school because I was a short, fat doughboy. And I got picked on plenty because I wouldn't stand up for myself. But only two people actually terrified me and Rueben was one of them. (In case anyone is wondering the other was David Cox and some day I'll share that saga...it includes guns fired, 11 police cars and a full family on family brawl with weapons).
Sherry Hamm (Morales)
Hey Josh, was David Cox the bully that punched Mrs. Deaton, Kerr Elementary teacher, in the face? Fill us in on that story. Sorry Rueben was so mean to you. I never knew him. All we can do as parents is try to teach our own children not to bully others.Josh Payne
Hey Sherry,Now that you mention it I think David was the one that punched her. But that was so long ago I just can't be 100% sure it was him. Maybe someone else from Kerr could verify?? That says a lot though because she was one of the more intimidating teachers that didn't take a lot of crap. And her swats put a good sting on you. She got me a few times. =)
And just to clarify for anyone reading this thread. I have absolutely zero hard feelings or extended trauma resulting from any of these events. Sometimes it's hard to convey sarcasm and humor in text only. And that is exactly what these stories are. Humorous footnotes to childhood that are so far back in my memory they seem almost like a past lifetime. I learned to laugh at myself long long ago (I had spiked, bleached hair and lived in parachute pants, need I say more??). Please just enjoy the stories and share some of your own if you've got them.
I would love to share the story of the great brawl of 1983 but I think we need a more appropriate place than Rueben's memorial page. Maybe I'll post it in the general forum later.
Sherry Hamm (Morales)
Well if it was David Cox, he was mean to everybody. He must have had issues at home or something, sad. I remember your spiked hair and parachute pants. LOL! By the way, beautiful family you have. Good to hear you are doing okay.Josh Payne
Thanks Sherry! Your kids look like angels.I have posted the story in the main forum. Make sure you've hit the restroom before starting it as it is lengthy.
Angela Uhles (Rochell)
what happened to him? this living out of town leaves you in the dark.