Richard Foster

George was such a good drummer!. I envyed him and hated him at the same time. No, really, he was educated in drumming, and worked in a music store. That probably didn't hurt.  Anyway, hope he's drumming for the heavenly drum corps. Oo<>

Rich Foster

Rick Thurston

GEORGE HENDERSON II (GEE)

GEE WAS THE NAME THAT HE WENT BY IN SCHOOL . WE FIRST MET AT DEAN MORGAN, GEE LIVED JUST SOUTH OF SCHOOL AND WE WOULD GO CHECK OUT HIS BIG BROTHER BILL'S HOT ROD THAT HE WAS BUILDING.  (HE LATER WRENCHED ON SOME BIG NAME INDY CARS IN THE 60'S) IT WAS THE FIRST TO RUN 100+MPH AT SCOTTBUFF IN ABOUT 1958/9.  IT WAS A MODEL T ROADSTER WITH A NEW CADILLIC ENGINE AND A B&M HYDRO, AS I REMEMBER.  WHEN WE GOT TO NCHS WE WERE IN THE BAND TOGETHER WITH JON PEDEN.  WE ALL TRIED OUT FOR LAST CHAIR IN THE TUBA HORNS JUST TO MAKE BLAINE COOLBAUGH MAD.  WE ALL THREE WERE SCREW OFFS, DOING THINGS LIKE TURNING THE WRONG WAY IN THE MARCHING BAND DURING THE FOOTBALL GAME HALFTIME PROGRAMS.  COOLBAUGH WAS ONE HAPPY TEACHER WHEN I LEFT FOR THE SERVICE.  GEE WROTE ME WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE.  HE LATER ALSO JOINED THE ARMY AND WENT THRU ALL THE TRAINING JIM WEINRICH AND HAD DONE EARLIER. I NEXT SAW GEE WHEN HE WALKED INTO MARTIN'S AUTOMOTIVE AT HILLTOP AND ASKED ME IF I REMEMBERED HIM. I HAD NO CLUE WHO HE WAS.  HE WAS A HIPPY, SHOULDER LENGTH HAIR, UNCUT BEARD, DARK GLASSES, DARK TAN, OLD WORN OUT BELL BOTTOM JEANS AND SANDELS. WHEN HE TOLD ME IT TOOK A WEEK BEFORE I KNEW HIM AS THE OLD GEE I KNEW. HE STOPPED IN EVERY WEEK OR SO AND WE WENT OUT FOR LUNCH OR A BEER AFTER WORK. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE PAST SINCE HIGH SCHOOL AND ALL THE THING WE HAD DONE.  HE HAD BEEN STATIONED IN OKINAWA JAPAN.  BESIDES THE SPECIAL MILITARY TRAINING HE HAD STUDIED ALL THE MARSHAL ARTS AND WAS A BLACK BELT IN ALL.  WHEN HE WAS DISCHARGED HE ENDED UP TH L.A. CAL TEACHING THE MARSHAL ARTS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.  IT WAS THERE THAT HE BECAME A NARC OR UNDERCOVER  AGENT FOR THE GOVERMENT.  (TODAYS D.E.A.)  WHEN HE CAME BACK TO CASPER HE HAD JUST FINISHED A CASE IN KANSAS CITY AND WAS STARTING A NEW ONE IN THE DENVER AREA.  I MET HIS PARTER ONCE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND THAT HE WAS GETTING ENGAGED TOO.  HE WAS KILLED ABOUT 6 MONTH AFTER COMING HOME IN A DRUG RAID IN CHEYENNE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A ACCIDENT, HE WAS RUNNING DOWN A HALL WAY IN THE DARK AND RAN INTO A OPEN DOOR AND SHOT HIMSELF TWICE IN THE HEAD.  I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, BUT I HAVE SPOKEN TO BILL A COUPLE TIMES SINCE AND NOT A WORD ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.  I DO KNOW HE WAS READY TO SETTLE DOWN AND GET MARRIED, HE'D SEEN THE WORLD, HE'D SEEN THE GOOD AND THE BAD AND DID WHAT HE COULD TO CHANGE IT. HE WAS MY FRIEND AND NOW ALL OF HIS OTHER FRIENDS NOW KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY, AS I KNOW IT. THERE IS A MEMORIAL IN HIS NAME AT THE WYOMING LAW INFORCEMENT ACADEMY IN DOUGLAS WYO. MIKE WALTERS AND I RODE DOWN TO DOUGLAS ON THE 4TH OF JULY TO SEE IT.  HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE REUNION FRIDAY.         RICK THURSTON.