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Don Ellisor

Thanks to so many of you for your prayers and get well wishes. God is good all the time and is over seeing my healing. I was always proud of our band and the Guard. I guess it was not the "cool" thing to do then, so let me say now thank you for all the times you performed both on the field and at various functions. I knew our band was going "to do us proud", it was the Waltrip way., excellence in all we did.

Larry Reid '63

Well I guess my memory is not as rotten as I thought it was, LOL.

I seem to remember playing in the Waltrip High School band for JFK at Rice Stadium. The other thing I remember was that some of our HS Young Republicans held up a Goldwater in 64 sign. Not 100% sure but I think the young republicans with the sign were John Teague and Walter Deptula. I thought E. E. "Butch" Williams would have been one of them but I think Butch would have been with the band. Of course, it could have been the All City Band in which case it could have been Butch. There were other young republicans in the band and we got a BIG kick out of this show of support for the Senator from Arizona. Our young republican's club was so active that we even had our own building that John Teague's father built for us. The small building was off 34th street, next to John's house. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Good frosty mornin to youse youtes out there in flyover country.   We had 34 this morning, and 24 last week.   I like the cold weather, just not the cold so much...sorta!

     Talking about the Waltrip band, I'm like Glenn, "wow", didnt know the band was involved in events othe rthan school.  Of course, if the band had marched down my street and  into my room playing, "Stars and Stripes", I probably wouldnt have noticed.  My whirld was so small back then, consisted of School, which I hated, working at the grocery store, which I loved and home, which I was sorta ambivalent.  Every now and again it would expand to include our little garage band playing at this party or that party etc.

     We played at the Waltrip "SOUNDTRACK" event, in our senior year. Mr Rolf was less than happy he had to include us, and rightly so, we were not very good, as musicians go. We got to play one song.  We played in the Spring Branch HS Bruin Brigade the same year, and that band director let us play 6 songs, and we werent that bad.

     Met a girl there named Shelly, and fell in love instantly.  That's the good and bad news all in one, because I never saw her again after that night.  Didnt know how to find her, didnt have her last name.   "The fault in our stars"... 

     I pretty much fell in love daily and sometimes hourly, I reckon.  Youte is wasted on the young, especially true in my case.  Only took me 75 years to get it right, now if I could just remember what "right" is.  Musta done something right, both of our sons turned out "as good as it gets", which breaks down to a 5 star rating I suppose.  Speaking of which, yesterday was our eldests 52 birthday.  Gonna celibrate today.

     A few posts back, Pat was talking about "music" and what she liked to listen to.  Since I can no longer hear  very well,  I like tolisten to opera, or anything classical, dont need to hear much to "sing along" with that genre.  I sing to everything, if I dont know the woids, I make em up, much to the delight of my beloved.  She's probably as healthy as they come, I keep her laughing so much.

    If I hear a word, or see a word like Dawn soap for example, when I'm doing the dishes,  I start singing "Delta Dawn, what's that flawr you have on..."  or "Dawn, go away I'm no good for you..." and, my mind gets hung up on a song,  whether I like that tune or not, and mostly it's "not".

    Here's one for you,  "see that girl...dancin queen..."  Yeah, ABBA.  I like to hear it once in a while, but my brain just wont let go of it.  Then I have to get on you tube and pull up another one like..."take me down to paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty..." now I'll sing that one till the cows come home.

     Guess what?    Our music has been turned into "elevator" music.  Yup!  I listen to the Easy Listening channel on Direct TV, and   I've heard everything from, the beatles yellow submarine to "how gentle is the rain..." to the Everly brothers all done very tastefully by Montovani, the Hollyridge Strings,  Frank Chacksfield and just avbout everyone else.

     Havent heard "Whole lotta shakin goin on", or "What I say",  "Johnny B Goode", or the ever popular marching band standard , "Louie Louie", yet, by Montovani or the Hollyridge Strings, but when I do, guess I'll turn it off. 

      At first I didnt like what they had done to the music we grew up with annd loved.  Then I got to thinking about how we loved it, and our parents hated it, and now it's wound up like our parents music.  Ironic eh!   Dont think they could do "todays" music as elevator music.

     Heard "I cant live, if living is without you..." by the Hollyridge strings, and was racking my brain trying to remmber who did that one....wonder no more, it was covered by about 100 artists, most notably Harry Nillson.  I think it made it to no 1 on the charts.   He died in 94, the same year that Mariah Carey covered that same tune.

    He wrote a few tunes here and there.  The aforementioned song was written by two memebers of  the band "BAD FINGER", who, it's said, never seemed to get it right.  Nilson was at the recording studio recording it, when he heard that Bad Finger was in the studio down the hall.  Nilson asked them to come down and listen to his version, which they did, and they loved it.

     Sadly the two members of Bad Finger that wrote the tune each took their own lives some years later.  Info never said why...I imagine it's that edge between "genus" and "other worldly" that gets folks...

     I"ve loved so many tunes, cant think which would be my all time favorite.  Right now I'm listening to "Just When I needed You Most" by Rand Van Warmer, and now "Everything I own" by Bread...Just too many good ones to call a "favorite".

     Best instrumental would have to be "So Rare" by Jimmy Dorsey back in '56.  He died 3 months after that came out on the charts. Made number one.  But then there's "Moonlight Serenade" by Glenn Miller....heavy sigh...so, dont make me choose...

     MUSIC ! ! ! !   Hats off to all you REAL musicians, like from the Waltrip Marching band and the Dance Band...I can still see Larry working out on the drums in the auditorium.  My mind sees he and the drums sitting in the middle of the orchestra, spotlights on Larry....driving the music with a magic velvet set of sticks....Shades of Louis Belson, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich....It's a video I often see in my mind.  Amazing how much influence is in music.

     I never did learn how to read music, but  I could "sight read", go figure!  I had perfect pitch, couldnt sing it, but I could tell if some one was flat or sharp, even if it was just a fraction.  Now all music sounds "flat", even the original tunes that I've heard millions of times, go figure!

     Wow, what a cold dreary wintry day it is, expecting snow any moment now.  Guess I'll sing off for now. Hope all is as well as can be expected for all concerned, all youse youtes...

Keep the sun at your six and "ride boldly ride..."

Your frien and resident "music man" ,  Cephus R Off Key esq

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, I always enjoy your thoughtful posts, even when they require me to actually use my long neglected Memory. I well enjoy the memory of your band, that you always refer to as you garage band, although I never actually saw y'all in a garage that I remember. And like you I have nothing but wonderful memories of Larry Reid his awesome performance as a drummer in their WHS auditorium performances. There was never any doubt by his performances that he was totally enjoying his performance as we were too, one of my blessings is having been able to catch up with and enjoy Larry in recent years. He is an excellent representative of WHS and our early to mid sixties vibe!
 

My question for you Beau is who was y'all's drummer? Was it Robbie Boswell? , I can definitely remember him playing, but almost think he was on guitar and singing, but maybe drumming?

Bennie Schielack

I remember one incident where there were two drummers on the stage, and they took turns, first one played away, then the other gave it a go.  While the second drummer was banging away, he dropped a drum stick and just repeated the same one handed rhythm over and over and over.  I do believe he got a standing ovation, but maybe just a hugh ovation. It was quite a moment.  Reminded me of when, during the "piccolo solo", one of the tuba players stood up, just for comedy relief.  

I do not remember playing for any political event other than the dinner/fund raiser @ the old Sam Houston Coluseum . . . . . wonder why I was not included for the Delmar event . . . . . 

On another note, don't know if any of you remember or went to school with Howard Engstrom.  He played while at Black JH, I believe, then his family moved out 290 somewhere.  He ended up being featured soloist @ UH and unless he has retired, is principle Trumpet @ Calgary Symphony.  Never did play at Waltrip, but I knew him because his family lived 2 doors down from mine for a while, when we were about 11 or 12 yo.  I remember his father was, in the past, a pilot and one of his jobs was to ferry Charles Lindberg around the US on his victory tour following his solo flight across the Atlantic . . . . . (Unless I was told a fiction)

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hey TJ, Robbie played guitar,  Ricky Strickland was our drummer sometimes, Jody Hundel was our other drummer.  Lonnie Guiberteau was lead singer and rythm guitar player. He passed away this summer. Jimmy Hillsher has seem Jody from time to time.   I call us a "garage" band because that's generally where we practiced, our garage, Robbies Garage, or Lonnies garage.  That's generally where most bands get their starts, somebodys garage.

     Remember a family,  Stacy or Lacy was their last name.  They lived south of 34th and west of Shepherd. I think t he whole family played one instrument or another.  Saxaphone comes to mind.

Teddie Jordan

Thanks old Friend Cephus, Rickie is the drummer I could picture clearly up there playing drums for you guys in my old brain, but now it is clear! Tell us the story about the performance at the Top Hat on 34th again?

And I realize that now that we are 39, clear is a relative thing! We just heard on the news that Baskin Robbins is celebrating their 75th anniversary! We say why don't they invite all of their  contemporaries who share that age to have a free ice cream birthday party at one of their stores to thank us for all of the years of our support !???

Beverly Hengst (Allen)

Ricky Strickland sent the following email to Barbara Raines:

Prayers for janet she fell in the bath room Saturday morning & broke her hip she had surgery late this afternoon & replaced a ball joint in guarded but doing good because of her age & health its going to be slow going janet & I  had a rough nite last nite I have not sleepin 24 going nite nite

Please remember both of them in your prayers.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Thanks for the alert on Janet, and thank you for all your good work on this site.  I forget who said that the "bathroom" is the most dangerous place there is, and they were of course correct.  We have "grab bars" in only one of our bathrooms, which is the one that I use. I've found that I HAVE TO  exaggerate  and concentrate on my movements, no matter what I'm doing.

    I have taken for granted my "youte" and natural ability to move about.  I guess after being a klutzy "Jerry Lewis" character all my life, has prepared me somewhat for being an older youte, MR KLUTZY...OMgoodness, I am a walking major klutz on steroids. 

    I drop almost everything, cept, breakable stuff, thank the lord.  Bending down to pick up anything, is just torture, soooooo I have about a hunert million grabber things to help in that sityation....now If only I can remember where they are.  

    When I drop something, if there's nothing to hold onto, then I go in search of a "grabber" and by the time I leave the room on my "grabber quest", I've forgotten what it was I was going to do.   Then Diane comes along, and I ask her what am I doing, and of course her not being a psychic, (she sure needs to work on her phychoism)  she has no clue.  Then she generally finds the object de on the floor and picks it up and misplaces it so I cant find it.  Laurel and Hardy are alive and well living in Chappell Hill, 77426.

     I'm down in the back today !   Maybe I should just pick a day when I'm NOT down in the back and announce that.  Anyway we drove down to Katy to have brunch with our grandaughter Haley, who just turned 21.  That is a 2 hour round trip venture, and of course at least an hour or so down there.

    I can hardly walk after driving more than 30 minutes. Takes me a good 5 or 10 minutes to get moving, but the pain never goes away, just sometimes it's worse than other times. I've learned to live with it, but driving sure does make me remember it. And, I am so uncomfortable whilst trying to celebrate, it's no fun atall.  Had to take my ears out because the restaurant was so noisy, I couldnt understand what anyone was saying LOUDLY.  So what's the dif, ears or no ears, I'm not part of the conversation. 

     I've made the announcement to our famiy, that if they want to celebrate anything, and they want me to be a part of it, come to Chappell Hill, 77426.  I wanted to drive down to see my sister in clear lake, but that's almost 3 hours one way, and a hard 3 hours, so the talking wires or waves will have to suffice.

     I think I will go in on Christmas eve to the Oaks Presbyterian service, and that will probably be the last time this year....well duh, right?  I've always said, "a mind is a terrible think".  Living out in the country, I dont miss going anywhere other than the store, and dont miss the "big city", cept I miss the Oak Forest I knew as a young youte, and I miss all youse youtes.  

     WOW, that was some noreaster from the north west eh what!  We were anticipating something along that line being due here, so we were prepared.  Nothing in the pool this time but leaves.   Man, that wind was "whuppin" about, 25 plus mph.  Well dopey, you live on a hill...oh yeah, there is that !

     Hey TJ, when I have more time, and dont have to make my post short, like todays, I'll recount the "GREAT TOP HAT LOUNGE CONCERT"  and Bambi the stripper...oh man, my self is all a twitter just thinking about that adventure.  

     Ok, gotta run for now, gotta take the recycle and trash into Brenham.  Be leaving the pups at home this time, too cold.  OH NOOOOO, LITTLE MISS, GET OFFFFF...that crazy cat jumped up on my keyboard and almost sent this laptop and me into cyber space....GET DOWN BAD KITTY...

     Time to depane before I wind up in timbuktu courtesy of my cat...Keep the sun at your six "and ride boldly ride..."

your frien and resident klutz, Cephus R Not ambidexterous esq

Beau Wann, Jr.

       JANET, GET WELL,  RICK, GET SOME SLEEP, WE BE PRAYING FOR YOUSE...

Beverly Hengst (Allen)

Beau,  the next time you have a long drive, add extra time and stop every 30 minutes.  Get out and walk around for a few minutes and then continue on.  I find that really helps me on trips.  I just can't sit for long periods without getting stiff and sore. 

Christmas Eve at Oaks Presbyterian Church brings back many fond memories.  That was a tradition until my parents passed on.  I am glad you are still keeping it up.

Merry Christmas to you and Diane. 

Teddie Jordan

Beverly, I have great memories of those Christmas Eve Candlelight services with my Mom and Dad at our beloved Oaks Presbyterian.

And Rick, prayers for Janet's recovery from hip surgery.  Prayers for both of you and for your family.

Teddie Jordan

And Beverly, I also have a problem now driving on trips. I can go about an hour and a half before I have to stop and walk around and stretch. My right side sciatic nerve is the blame. But I am starting to believe that it is also related to blood flow in my lower body, I can walk for an hour and I'm ok, but make me sit behind the wheel and drive for over an hour and I'm crippled and in painwhen I first get out.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Thanks for the tip Beverly,  I know I should stop and walk around, but I'm usually "hell bent" on getting from point A to point B and back to point A again.  Old habbits are hard to break.  If i'm headed east, I will stop at bucos, and on the way back,  which is about 20 minutes from the hill.  I think there should be a buccees every 30 miles on every roadway. Yeaah, that's the ticket.

     I didnt know there were so many folks out there that suffered from back ailments.  I thought I was the onliest (east texas for only) one.  Went in to the Krogers at Fairfield, which is 30 minutes away, drove Dianes car, and did a little better, her seats have lumbar supports and HEATERS. I just spoil that woman dont I?   Still some siatic pain, but not as bad as in my truck. Krogers has restaurant seating and a Starbucks.  If I can get anyone of the morons at starbucks to wait on me, I'll sit and have coffe whilst the little woman shops.   

     I like the ftruk because it sits up high, and has one heck of a stout front, farm and ranch bumper, that should we be in a crash, I think we'd fare better., injury wise.  Being obsessive compulsive and a depressed sort of individual, not by choice, I fret every minute I'm away from home.  I'm not scared of anything, I just fret over  NOT BEING AT HOME.     I think I'm just going to stay home from now till either the angels or devil comes for me, whichever one gets here first.  I may pass on the Christmas eve services, and just hold my own on the hill.

     The Chappell Hill Christmas home tour was Saturday, and was a huge success, according to Diane and the CH Garden Club which was hosting it.  Diane was a host or tour guide if you will, and even if you wont, at two of the homes up here. The morning home was in Bluebonnet Hills subdivision, and the nafteroon home was on Wonder Hill Road.  The first home is owned by a retired Texas Ranger that is now the Constable up here.

     On one of my many trips to Home Depot, I stopped by the first home to scope it out and take some coffee to Diane.  It was as she described it,  fabulous!   It is over a hundred years old, and was moved off the Square in Bellville in 1982, to Chappell Hill.  It was old, but beautiful, and even had a Christmas tree in every room.  I didnt go upstairs, for obvious reasons, my stair climbin days is over.  They even have an old house they moved from somewhere they use for a "mother in law" home. AND, they have a chicken coop with very noisy chickens.  Well, not in the mother in laws home, but outside.  I love to hear the rooster crow.

     Didnt make it to the 2nd home, due to yet another project I've started, building a coffee table for the Coopers Memorial Ice House, , or Waltrip meeting and daince hall. I've moved the old leather love sofa and coffee table back into the house.  I took the couch out of Dianes office and moved it into the living room, and put the coffee table with it as well.  I took the love sofa from the icehouse and move it into dianes office. I took Coopers couch from the living room, and put it in the icehouse.  So now I have to build a coffee table for the icehouse.  (keeping score?)

    You're probably thinking to yourself, "no wonder he has back problems" ! ! !  Yeah, I know, I just cant stop moving stuff around. I always find a better spot for things, like I've rearranged my closet and Little Miss closet yesterday.  Yes, my cat has her own bedroom and closet, and the rest of the house belongs to the dogs except when Little Miss is on the prowl and disabuses them of the notion that ANYTHING belongs to them.  I just love that kitty and she loves me!

     I've gotten two coats of varathane on the new table, and need at least one more, if not two, however, and aint there always a however,  the temp hasnt gotten above 50 since Sunday, so cant apply that third or fourth coat. (needs to be 60 degrees or above).  I'm gettin there! 

     What a beautiful day today as opposed to the last 3, but it is cold as a well diggers bra on a brass monkey, or whichever comes first.   We were talking about music...WE?  how bout ME, anyway heard Timi yuros "Hurt" today on the "60s" channel on Direct TV, and told Diane that Timi Yuro was 14 when she recorded that...I stand corrected, she was born in 1940, and her recording didnt come out till 1961.

    Now, I 'm no math major, but even I figgered that one out.  She would have been 21 when that was released. I dont know, but when I first heard that at 16, I was told or just conjured it up in my head that she was 14.  Idiot child! ! !   Her given name was Rosemary Timothy Yuro !    She passed away in 2004, at 63 of throat cancer.  What a great strong voice she had!

    Is it me, or is it memorex?  The birds up here are all just as fat as can be.  The blue birds, and we have a family that nest here all year long, could be the balloons in Macy's Tday parade.  There's also a big fat yellow breasted bird we were trying to put a name to, and the scientific name for it is "big fat yellow breasted bird", at least that's how I'm tellin it.

     Well, guess I should deplane, the little woman is home from the store and her Christmas party with Chappell Hill Garden Club.  That's here 2nd or third Christmas party this year...I never get invited to a Christmas party, in fact, I dont think in all my 75 yrars I've ever been to a Christmas party.  Hmmmm, guess that ought to tell me something eh waht.

    Anyway, I'll fall silent now, sorry this post is so short...   keep the sun at your six and "ride boldly ride..."

Your frien and resident observer,  Cephus R Blessed esq

Your frien      

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, maybe it's from our years of helping unload the 18 wheeler load of groceries at Mangum Super Value during high school.Specifically when down the conveyor 80 pound bales of paper bags that we used so many of. I think we used to have to take the bale off of the conveyor and walk about 10 feet over to the side of the produce cooler then hoist it up onto the top of the cooler. For 15-16 year old studs that seemed doable but no way 60 years later! Nelson would hoist them up there like they were marshmallows . But he was about a foot taller than us to begin with!

Bennie Schielack

Beau . . . . . https://furniture-lifter.com/products/easy-lifter

William Donald Ansley

As we reflect on the many Christmas memories we have had over the past years, let us not forget our baby Jesus.  He is our gift.  Without Him, there would have never been any to enjoy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS WALTRIP CLASS OF 64

Don Ellisor

A reminder is always appropriate concerning the true meaning of Christmas. Thanks

Beau Wann, Jr.

     MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE WALTRIP FAMILY...May the peace, love and joy of Jesus Christ be yours this day and follow you forever more...

     Your frien and resident Santa,   Cephus R Still Here esq

Jack Montgomery

Merry Christmas from Jack & Linda in Brenham, TX.

Teddie Jordan

Jimmy Hilsher just heard from Diane with an update on Beau. After Their stay at the hospital in College station ER last night they finally got cat scan results. It turns out there was no evidence of an actual stroke, but are signs of some other issues which will require further testing. She asked that we and our classmates and everyone that knows them please pray for them and for the doctors and nurses and technicians who are  working with them. 

Johnny Sheffield

Prayers go out to beau for a full recovery. 
johnny 

Steve Puckett '65

I remember Howard Engstrom.  He was at the Oak Forest Music Studios for a while with me.  See 4/28/59 program below.  I don't remember him from Oak Forest Elementary.  He later moved to the Cypress-Fairbanks school system as did Mike Wall who was with me at Oak Forest Elem.

As I recall, Howard was in the Houston All-City Band with me our sophomore year.  For our junior and senior years, we were in the Houston All-City Orchestra where he was 1st chair.  He may have also been in the All-City Band as well (I was) but I don't remember.  I had a nice visit with Mike Wall about 3 years ago - he had retired to Portland OR.  He had a very funny story about the move to Calgary.  Around 1970 or so Calgary was doing well and wanted to have a better, larger symphony orchestra.  The recruitment guy had heard glowing stories about the Houston talent so spent time recruiting over a dozen guys from the Houston area, including Howard and Mike (french horn).  They loaded up a moving van with their belongings and made the big trek to Calgary in a caravan.  They crossed the border in some desolate out-of-the-way spot and the border folks said that they would have to wait for a few days until a man returned who was authorized to give them the necessary paperwork to enter to work.  They prevailed on the border people to call the guy and he thankfully drove several hours to the crossing, apparently intrigued by the situation.  He asked that several of them play some tunes to prove that they indeed were musicians.  That worked, they got their paperwork, and proceeded to Calgary.  They loved it there and apparently several retired there - dunno about Howard. https://www.wedgemouthpiece.com/endorsing-artist/howard-engstrom/  https://www.facebook.com/howard.engstrom  https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/music/cpos-howard-engstrom-says-goodbye-after-more-than-four-decades-with-the-orchestra/

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hi everyone, All the tests from yesterday were clear with no signs of desease, so all he has are lesions on the brain affecting his speech.  Beau will have surgery tomorrow to do a biopsy and to remove as much as possible of the lesions.   So please pray for a successful surgery and good pathology reports.  Thank you everyone for prayers and feel free send Beau email, Forum or  text messages and/or call him or me. I will post an update tomorrow after surgery.  Diane

Beverly Hengst (Allen)

Diane, thank you for posting an update on Beau.  I will be praying for a successful surgery and no surprises.