Thomas E. Cross

Good comment.  I'd love to hear Miss Thiele's view on this.

Regards,  Tom

Stanley O. Needham

I've always been fascinated by the local Indian culture since finding my first arrowhead while digging an underground fort when I was about 5 or 6.  Currently I live about a quarter mile from the site of Little Turtle's village in eastern Whitley County.  If it weren't for the woods I could see it from my back deck.  If they're going to change the name, and I suspect the politically correct pressure to do so will only increase, I'd like to see it still honor the Native American history that is so prominent in this area -- something like the Warriors.  And if that's still offensive to some, well then South Side is going to have to change the Archers.

Joann E. Coe (Derrow)

I am tired of the political correct BULLYING.  I have an Aunt who is 94 years young and several cousins living in Oklahoma that are Cherokee.  I asked them at a family reunion how they felt about the "redskin stigma".  They didn't understand what the big deal was all about.  They thought it an honor to be remembered as a Redskin.  

Robert W. Milton

Great post Joann!  If we want to know how someone or a group feels about something, all we have to do is aske him/them.  Yes, as in any group, there will be dissenters, but how does the group feel as a whole?  Glad your cousins are honored to be Redskins.  

John A. Briggs

I'm sad to see this nicely-maintained class forum begin to devolve into one more source of political huffing and puffing. Perhaps at the next reunion we should take a vote on whether to get involved in a campaign to change the school nickname.

"Redskins," as well as "Archers," date to the 1920's, and a glance at the architectural plans on the school's page, dating from 1931, makes clear that sensibilities then were different: the girl's gymnasium, to offer an example, was about a third the size of the boy's, because, well, girls couldn't run very well in those days. And instead of clogging up chemistry or physics classes, the girls traipsed down to the "domestic science" and "sewing" classes in the basement. Then they got married, had four or five kids and were content to let Dad do the thinking....  Or maybe I'm oversimplifying.

Blacks, of course, were not "blacks" in those early days, and they were as rare as Indians at North Side. Come to think of it, blacks were rare (nonexistent?) in our class. Though we didn't have drinking fountains labeled "white" and "colored," as was common then in Dixie, we grew up, too, in a country that was racially segregated as a matter of habit -- a habit maintained by force.

Maybe Indians enjoy the fond attention that being a mascot brings, kind of a pat on the head, but I'm not sure I'd want to drive through a "reservation" calling "redskin" through my car window. It could be heard, I think, as an insult.

Our class, to be sure, is fading into invisibility, so it's understandable if we want to putter and dodder and revel in our first-kiss memories. Still, if we wished to be useful, we could sponsor a tree planting, or create a garden to help separate the school from the acres of cars that seem to press closer year after year; or, we might say that having been hurt ourselves by insults and stereotyping over the years, glib assumptions about who we are and what we should believe, we decided as a group to ask that the nickname be reconsidered. Being polite is not quite the same as giving in to bullying, and, I guess, you could scratch your head for awhile on this question about who is bullying whom.

Camella S. Gabriele (Nolan)

Well said, John Briggs!

Les Ehrsam

Susan K. Housholder (Johnson)

Hi everyone, a belated thanks to Alice and Ed for planning such a great evening for those of us close here in the city to get together.  Food and friendship overflowing at Takioka made for another good memory.  Hope we can do it again sometime this fall.

Also, a note to thank those who sent kind wishes on my 70th birthday.  It was not nearly so scary an experience as I expected it to be.  I remember thinking - when I was oh, so much younger - that 70 had to be the WORST!  Of course, as young people we do not know what we don't know - 70 is a gift, for sure and all the experiences and friends and family that come with it make it so - this, dear classmates of the class of '63 - includes all of you.  Thanks so much!

Steven B Doan

Susie, the gathering was, by all accounts, a fine time for all who attended. I will be in Indy/Fort Wayne area 29 Oct-4 Nov if anyone in those towns would like to have coffee or a sandwich or whatever--but no big shindig--simple. I have a meeting in Indy, but also want some time with family, especially my recently widowed Aunt Jean in Markle.  BTW, this opportunity to re-connect with old friends and make new friends of folks I only saw in the hallways is, as Susie said, a pure gift. You are a collection of amazing folks--and more than survivors. Bless you!

Anne E. Modricker (Cavanaugh)

Bravo, John Briggs!

Stephen S. Heine

I do not find the term Redskins offensive but a badge of respect for the Miami Indians. As a school psychologist I have had to deal with much greater issues and do not agree that tne term Redskins offensive and would promote that the majority of maskots would be politically incorrect for one reason or another. Why have we been able to hold on to this maskot for so long? 

Robert Ignacio "Nash" Moreno

About black people in our class , I remember one black girl in our school ; however she did not last too long

before transferring out.  Does anybody elae remember her?

Anne E. Modricker (Cavanaugh)

Yes.  I remember her.  And we had only one Asian, as I recall -- Steve Chen?

Robert Ignacio "Nash" Moreno

Does anybody remember class mate James or Jim Griffin, Hewent by the nickname "Slim"?

Norma K. Soughan (Hoffman)

yes,  He died 8-04-2007.  But you probably already knew that.

Norma

Steven B Doan

The classmate who died in 2007 was Jim Griffith, a friend from age 5 on and a good soul. He loved sports and loved to laugh. I was sad to hear of Griffy's death.

Robert Ignacio "Nash" Moreno

Thank you for your response concerning Jim" slim" griffith. He was a good friend to my brother and I.

My brother Bob  will be saddened by this news. Thank you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Nash Moreno

Robert Ignacio "Nash" Moreno

Its me again Ethel

It appears that I made a mistake asking for information about a fellow class mate.

The person that my brother Bob was looking for was Richard "Slim" Gailreath or G ilreath.

He was a tall quiet uassuming person and what we did not know was that he was from the childrens home.

Any and all information will be appreciated , thanks again,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Nash Moreno

Robert Ignacio "Nash" Moreno

Please  checkout crowdrise ; This site is like Go Fund me

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I am asking for your donation to help me acheive my goal. Thank You.................Nash

John A. Briggs

I've been on the road again, afoot with a pack in India (Maharashtra). I invite my old Northside classmates to join me for a moment in a pleasant Kolhapur slum called Kananagar. Good weather, no blisters, tea and cookies in an Agatha Christie atmosphere. 

The latest notes are at jbriggs926.com, or, another door at Facebook... 

Les Ehrsam

Are you going to publish?  This looks like good National Geographic material.

Janice R. Bower (Adkinson)

I have enjoyed reading the posts of my former classmates, and I'm sure most will not remember me - I was the geeky looking girl who only cared about getting home and back on a horse.  It wasn't a phase. This site is wonderful, and although enjoyable, it is also sad to see how many classmates are no longer with us.  God Bless them all.

My post is irrelevant, at this time, as I learned that the FWCS board (primarily, the chair) felt the need to change the name of our mascot, the brave "Redskins," to the "Legend."  I was surprised that former alumni, as well as some current students, did not have a vote or suggestion for a new name/mascot . . . .I guess that would have been too easy.  I am curious as to how a "Legend" runs onto the football field or basketball court - will it be a big "L?"  Our yearbook is the "Legend."  Think about all the logos, uniforms, etc., with the Redskin emblem, and how costly it will be to change this. Had I been allowed to vote or suggest (as all of us should have been), I first would have voted "no" on the change, but as that was decided without our input, I still would have suggested, "North Side Chiefs."  Easy - no change of any emblems, no out of pocket costs compared to what Legend will bring.  I was always proud to be a Redskin and felt superior to those Archers across town - we were tougher and respected our heritage.

I have been away from "home" for 35 years, however, my mom is still there, so I get some Fort Wayne news. I am living in Georgia on my 20 acre horse farm, raising Thoroughbreds - see, I told you it wasn't a phase.   Keep posting happenings from our class of 1963.  Fond memories.

All the Best,

Jan

Peter C. Frank

Like Janice Bower, I was a know body. I am also very PROUD to be a North Side Red Skin. If we had the chance to VOTE, I also would say NO! From what I have heard the school was built on a Indian site or barrial ground. The name is simballic not discriminating. I just wish some of these tree huggers would do something constructive, instead of trying to re-envent the wheel. That goes for the NFL with the Redskins, but they haven't said anything about the Kansas City Chiefs. These people need to sit back and do a little research and see why things are called the way they are. Indians were brave and fought for what they thought was right (land, life style and there freedom). That what NSHS stands for and what educating young people is all about.

Norma K. Soughan (Hoffman)

Janice and Peter,

I was another bookish, not as popular as some.  But I agree.  We are Redskins to the end.  No one can take that moniker from us.  But we can adjust because we are North Siders and were educated adjustable.

Norma

Janice R. Bower (Adkinson)

Hi, Peter and Norma . . .

I remember both of you. Thank you for responding to my message. No, Peter, I don't consider us nobodies at North Side.  We were all part of a great class with diverse interests. I am thankful for the education received at the Dome, and looking back, we probably received a better education in high school than students now receive in "some" colleges and universities. I had great teachers. I did not participate in extracurricular activites, as I had a goal outside of school, which took most of my time. I have had a wonderful, exciting life, which included a long marriage prior to the death of my husband, three children, who have gifted me with 6 grandchildren, lots of travel, meeting celebrities through showing horses, meeting a U.S. President - Jimmy Carter lives 15 miles from me - and being part of Rosalynn Carter's Care Institute and knowing her through my work in geriatrics Alzheimer's care. Having been in the horse "business" for 58 years and previously training race horses, I am now focused on raising Thoroughbreds for the Kentucky sales. One of our classmates (Linda Strong) wrote in my yearbook to remember her when I won the Kentucky Derby . . .Haha - I'm still working on that, but the Kentucky Oaks is not out of the question, either. It's been a great ride, and I like to think my education at North Side and gaining confidence and the ability to talk with anyone was responsible for a lot of my success. I will still watch and read about all of you with the pride of being a part of North Side High School and a former Redskin.

Jan