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Henry Wishard (1964)

Remember some of the wrestlers from the past. Danny Mc clane, Bull Curry, Pepper Gomez, Tiger Conrad, Duke Emoke misspelled. Also remember the little old lady that screamed and waved her came at the wrestlers.

Terry Bice (1968)

Do you folks remember the "Whip In" grocery store on Bauman at Charles street?    Owned and operated by the Castleberrys.   Good folks.   When I was about 6 or 7 we (brothers and sisters and other neighborhood kids) would scour the ditches for coke bottles and go to the Whip Inn and cash them in for 2 cents each and get a candy bar.    They were about a nickle.  If Mr Castleberry wasnt looking Mrs Castleberry would let us have a candy bar with 2 bottles....ha.  She was a nice lady.   When we got a little older Mr. castleberry would pay us to deliver "circulars" (sale ads) door to door.     Last time I was in the area a few yrs back the bldg was closed and falling apart.    

Len Wolff (1967)

Buzz, your comments about the Variety Boys Club on Airline Drive brought back some fond memories. My next door neighbor, Jimmie Duke, gave me a membership to the Club for my 8th birthday. One evening, Jimmie and I went to a live show at the Club's auditorium. It was hosted by Paul Boesch. Jimmie and I got to meet him. It was the first time I had seen anyone with Caulifower Ears!  When we got there, we noticed a heavy rope that was strung from the rear of the auditorium over the middle of the seating, all the way up to the stage. The show included a magic act and some music. Finally, Paul Boesch announced the show's grand finale. A circus tight rope artist was going to walk the entire length of the rope, directly over the audience and onto the stage. Jimmie and I were seated directly under the rope. As the man passed over us, my only thought was "I hope this guy is as good as Paul Boesch said he is!"

Rivét Coy (1965)

Does anyone recall the clown associated with Paul Boesh? 

Donald Bratton (1970)

I do remember the clown.  He reminded me of the clown on Howdy Doody.

Rex Brown (1961)

Henry , it was Danny McShane.  Later he was part owner of Red Ball Motor Freight company.  I worked for him when I returned from the Army.  Loaded 40 ft trailers every night going to Colorado.. I also in High School watched the wrestlers rehearsing for their Friday night events,  It was on the roof of some old Hotel.

Leslie Meier (1963)

The clown associated with Houston Wrestling was DOINK THE CLOWN who was a wrestler named Matthew (Matt) Borne.

Leslie Meier (1963)

Matt Borne died in Plano, Texas, in 2013. Check out this link:

Doink The Clown | Online World of Wrestling

Donnie Titel (1966)

I get to read post only sometimes. It hits a nerve however when someone passes. Its sad.

But I perked on the post about Wresling and the Variety Boys Club. Forgot about that place. Learned to swim there and I forget the levels, names. Seems like the beginner was Tadpole? Anyway Later in the Navy I though what I had learned there. The level where you would swim the length of the pool underwater. Diving and rescue started at that pool. 

I remember the other things too, kinda. Seems like There was a friend I knew named Jimmy Johnson. Maybe from Fonville Jr. HIgh? Anyway I think his dad had something to do with the club. Yes great memories.

later Don T.

Donald Allee (1968)

RE: Message #5250

Good memory. Variety Boys Club (VBC). Mr. Johnson was the Director for many years. His son Jimmy was an active member in the club. I may be wrong (would hope), but I seem to recall reading Jimmy's obit some years back. I had a crush on the Johnson daughter Deidre while at Fonville. We actually went to the 9th grade formal together complete with tuxedos and dinner at The Wind Swept Inn. Alas, Deidre went on to Reagan HS and I to SHHS.

Shirley Culpepper (Brook) (1970)

RE: Post 5231

Deepest sympathy to Marilyn, Arleigh, Donna and extended Henley family. I well remember the Henley family of Pinewood Village.Having lost Barbara in 2003 and John in 2022 I know how difficult it is. May the Lord grant you peace and happy memories. 

Sympathy to all the others that have recently posted of Sam Houston alumni that have passed. Thank you for sharing. We often would not know without your taking the time to let us know. 

I am enjoying all the memories of events and places in our childhood.  Brings to mind and heart memories I have not thought of in a very long time.  Although I don't often post, I read them all.

Shirley Culpepper Brook class of 1970 

Kenneth Smith (1967)

I have very fond memories of Variety Boys Club!

The assistant director was Mr Strength (I beleive his first name was Wesley).  He lived down the street and many times he would take a break and come home for dinner.  Before he returned to complete the business of the day, he would call and ask if I would like to return with him.  I loved shooting hoops, juming on the trampoline and reading comics in the library.

Thanks to Variety, Mr Strength, Mr Johnson and Paul Boesch, I was nominated and received a $5,000 Jesse Jones Scholarship during my Senior year at SHHS.  In 1967 that was a lot of money!

I also still remember the commercials that Mr Boesch did for I W Marks jewelers wearing an earing!

Ah..... Great memories!

Jack Smith (1966)

Donnie Titel (#5250).  You are correct, Jimmy Johnson was the son of Ronald Johnson who was the Director of the Variety Boys Club.  Mr. Johnson did an outstanding job maintaning the club.  I also took swimming lessons there and started off on the Tadpole Level and then up to the Shark Level.  In the Life Saving Course, there was a lady that gave the lessons and she was very good at teaching the students.  The Variety Boys Club had a major impact on a boys back in the 50's and 60's.  There was so much there to do that you would not become bored.  Everything fromt he game room with the pool table, to the gym and the basket ball court, the trampoline, the woodshop, the library, the swimming pool and the outdoor baseball field.  I still remember my member number that we had to give at the checkin (3373).  There should be more Variety Boys Clubs as well as Variety Girls Clubs today.  The kids are missing out some of the good things that we did have in our days.

Kathy Culpepper (Gunderson) (1968)

Donald Allee (1968)

Message #5254

Without dragging the Variety Boys Club discussion out too much further, the lady that taught swimming at the VBC for years was Mrs. Bettie Redden. She was a great instructor. Some may remember her son Donald Redden and daughter Linda Redden (a third child I can't name-recall). All went to Waltrip but had many friends at SHHS, Reagan, Fonville, Burbank etc. The kids all swam competitively in Houston area for many years. 

Verna Rightmer (Loring) (1968)

I would like to share a link to my brother's obituary, Rick Rightmer, class of 1962. May he rest in peace. On behalf of his family and my sisters, he will forever be in our hearts. 
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/wilson-rightmer-11768653

Susan Lott (Polk) (1965)

Verna Rightmer (Loring) (1968)

Susan, thank you for your kind words. I remember Ronny and Barbara well. I know Rick and he were great friends. I will pass your message along to his wife, Fran. 

Travis King (1958)

We use to watch the Friday night wrestling matches. My mother really got hooked on watching. I tried telling her that it was all fake, but she would argue with me and say "oh no ", I saw that guy stomp him in the head. We lived on Hopper Road and my brother Prentice and I had a Houston Chronicle paper route. This must have been around 1954-55. We would get the papers at Krouse Grocery Store on Hardy Street and Warwick. They would let us roll the papers inside the store and then we would deliver them on our bicycles. They had just built new houses across the railroad tracks and off Camino Road. Some of our customers were in that area. One day we were out knocking on our customers doors to collect money for the Chronicle. We started walking up to this one house and noticed cowboy boots and jeans hanging on the clothes line. Well, at the time there was a very popular wrestler that wrestled on Friday night and only wore cowboy boots and jeans. His name was Cowboy Carlson. You guessed it!! We looked at the name of the customer and it was Carlson. A lady came to the door and we asked her if Cowboy Carlson lived there? She said "he sure does "

Peter Olafsen (1967)

I guess I will drag the VBC discussion out a bit more. I spent many a happy hour at the pool there. I had Ms. Redden as a swim instructor. She was very good. I was on the swim team with Donald at Fonville Jr. High. Went to summer school with Linda. In our 9th grade season, we qualified for several events and were able to participate in the city meet. Our Coach took us all out to eat after the meet. Later he got into some trouble relating to some actions by his roommate. We all thought he was the coolest because he drove a 1957 Chevy Nomad station wagon.

Shirley Culpepper (Brook) (1970)

Deepest sympathy to the Rightmer family on the loss of Rick Rightmer.  Another tiger has gone before us.

May the Lord grant peace and blessed memories to his family and friends.

Patsy Koch (Young) (1964)

I am very sad to announce the passing of Ronnie Holman on Sunday.  He's my first cousin, but he was like my brother, and he will be sorely missed. We grew up together, we skated together our whole young lives. He

Is survived by his wife, Nancy and his son, Shane.  Ronnie was a Christian and was ready to go meet the Lord. What a blessing that is, in and of itself.  1964

Kathy Culpepper (Gunderson) (1968)

Sandra Malone (Whitehead) (1964)

Patsy.  So sorry to hear about Ronnie.  Have great memories of you two skating and how close you two were. Prayers for you and your family.

Patsy Koch (Young) (1964)

thanks Kathy & Sandra.  So many memories.  Sweet sweet memories.