School Story:
My only experience in attending HHS was in the summer of '67 when I took Drivers Ed. when I was 3 months shy of 15 years old. Although I graduated from Lovington, NM High School, I made a surprise return to HHS in 1990 to the Class of '70 20th reunion.
My brother & I returned last June (2010) for what would have been my 40th class reunion. It was the road trip of a lifetime for us. I attended most of my class' activities and he spent a lot of time with the Class of '69. The highlight of the weekend was attending the mass reunion lunch gathering of HHS alumni at the Tech Center. Met many students who were Dad's band students. One special person we hadn't seen in over 40 years was Toby Harrison. His family and ours were very close friends. Last month, he delivered a 1968 OK license plate #CW 555 that belonged to our grandfather, Bill Spears. He and Howard Harrison always had their 3 digit phone numbers (pre-dial phone) on their plates.
We walked around our old neighborhoods & were invited inside our first house @ 310 E. Brown for a tour. We found our old fishing holes, walked around the cemetery and found family burial plots as well as those of many old family friends. Spent a lot of time at the Depot, walking around downtown, eating at the Busy Bee, visiting the baseball park, our old practice fields and attending Sunday lunch at 4th & Jackson Church of Christ (built by our grandfather, Spears Construction Co.)
What I don't think anyone in Hugo knew that weekend was that Richard was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Geherigs disease) a couple of months before the reunion at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. This was one of the main reasons we made the trip--to see as many places and people as possible & remembering the joys of our childhood. I didn't ask him if I could post this, but he is in the greatest struggle of his life & he could use your prayers.
Thanks to all our friends & relatives who influenced our lives and for the lasting memories.
Posted 12/21/10
