Sandy Aguirre (Mayer)

Sorry, bad grammar. The weekend of Oct 23rd and the 24th.

Chris Mahley

Hi All,

Sorry I'm going to miss the reunion - maybe first time not to make it. I'll miss you-all. Have a great time!!

Another one of the "greatest generation", my step-mother of 53 yrs: Carol White Mahley (SWHS '33) has passed (6a, Thursday, 9/3/15). She lived a great, Ms "Forrest Gump" like, life for 99yrs and 10mos.. Here's her obit: www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?pid=175751839

She and her siblings, nieces (Celeste '70, reknowned author, Cathy '72, reknowned harpist) and nephew (Hal '68, reknowned econometric professor, entreprenuer and current nominee to SWHS's H.O.F.) have been wonderful White contributors to the SWHS legacy. Moms White, via Carol's older sis Lilian '28, was quite the activist of her time. I know she was on the first PTA board and, I believe, I read somewhere she was the first PTA president (co-). Mother Carol's other siblings were: H.Lynn '31 (Celeste, Cathy and Hal's Dad) and Harriette (aka Hattie) '35.

There were so many "foundational" SWHS families that went back many generations to the beginnings. My own Mom went to Northeast HS and Dad to Pem Day ( when it was at nw corner of 75th and State Line Rd. - then known as Country Day - I think they merged with Pembroke in Dad's junior yr. and then moved to the Ward Pkwy campus). I'd enjoy hearing your preceding family's SWHS's contributions/stories. Here's one to start it off: how many of you knew that Houlihan's restaurant was the site of a horse stable in the early 1900s? Mother Carol lived the last 17 yrs (excluding the last year at the assisted care facility) of her life at the apts. adjacent west of Houlihans after I helped her sell her and Dad's condo.. When she was a young girl, she and SWHS classmate, Jane Kelley, stabled their horses there and frequently would horseback down the meandering hills from the stable to the K.C. American Royal Arena in the west bottoms. Your turn.

Chris, a proud and humbled SWHS Indian

Celeste White

Hey, Chris,

Thanks so much for your kind remarks about me and my family. Halbert and Harriette White's progeny sure did enjoy quite a legacy with Southwest. And I'm delighted to hear that Hal is being considered for the Southwest HOF - can't think of anyone more deserving. And yes, I'm missing Aunt Carol with you, but also grateful, as you are, that she lived such a good, rich, and fulfilling life. I enjoyed getting a little more history about your dad, when he was a young man. And I didn't know any of that history about Houlihan's! Thanks for sharing it. I love the image of a young Carol and Jane riding their horses through the hills in a more bucolic Kansas City. Interestingly, when I was young, I would pack a lunch and take off on my bike in the summers to go explore the area around Mission Hills, which I found so pretty, and which had a stream that contained turtles and tadpoles. I wonder how much of the same area we covered?

Here's another fun bit of history that I wasn't aware of until Cathy found it online a few years ago: Grandmother Harriette was one of the founders of La Causerie Française, and while she was president, she somehow managed to get Leo Tolstoy to come speak to the group. This is the link, if you're interested: http://www.lacauserie.org/history.php. I remember her as being great fun and a formidable force, able to wear me out when I was a four-year-old. 

I unfortunately won't be able to make the reunion, either, which makes me doubly glad I attended the last one and got to see so many old friends whom I hadn't seen in so long. Wishing everyone a fantastic time!

Chris Mahley

Hi Celeste and all,

Re Moms White's French club link, Oui, Oui! That's quite a legacy as the club has so many lasting "roots". "High times" indeed! That creek, aka Brush Creek, was also my favorite to explore. Bruce Graham and I frequently took our bikes and would explore nearly every inch (incl. tributary water - waste?! - tunnels) from Bruce's home across from Pem Day as far east as beyond Swope Pkwy, nearly to now I 435. It's sad that kids today can't explore as we did then. So much is lost adapting "to the environment" as we learned to do during our exploring/discovering. Fortunate you have Redding to continue exploring!! Best, as always.

P.S. I distinctly remember if the tunnels smelled too bad and/or if we couldn't find any critters to play with, we quickly moved on!

Terry Greenberg (Krause)

Hi Everyone,

I'll be thinking of you with fondness and envy from faraway NJ. I loved seeing everyone's photos so far, and I'm excited to see to see the updated ones.

If I could put a suggestion into the suggestion box, it would work out great for me if the next reunion could take place on a Sunday/Monday--say Labor Day? 

In the meantime--HAVE FUN!

--Terry (Greenberg) Krause---below with Karin Lichterman June 2015--she gave me permission to post this! 

Celeste White

Chris,

Sounds like we were definitely exploring some of the same territory, although I didn't make it to Swope Parkway.  Sounds like that area was very cool.  Yeah, I don't think I let it enter my awareness that I might be exploring some waste water ;)  And I agree, it really is too bad that kids don't have as much freedom as we did when we were young.  Some of my best adventures were on those bike rides - as well as walking special routes to and from school through neighbors' back yards. And yes! I am very fortunate to have some wild areas to explore here in Redding; our piece of land backs onto Bureau of Land Management Land, which backs onto the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, which backs onto the Shasta-Trinity Wilderness Area. 

Thanks for sharing your biking and exploring memories.  Best back at you! 

Terry, thanks for posting that wonderful picture of you and Karen.

And sending best wishes to everyone!

Alyson Handy (Olson)

Hi Terry, you and Karen look great and haven't changed!   It's nice to hear from you and am sorry you won't be able to attend.  I have fond memories of our JC Nichols and SW school days.  I look forward to seeing everyone tonight.

Cheers,  

Alyson

Becky Colvin (Wolpert)

Hi, Terry (and all our other classmates!)

Love this photo of you and Karin. I, too, will be sitting out this reunion. I took a bad fall a little over 2 weeks ago and dislocated AND broke my left shoulder. I had surgery, but the healing process is long and slow. So please, post lots of photos of this weekend for those of us who can't make it! Love to you all!

Becky (Colvin) Wolpert

Chris Mahley

Sorry about your fall Becky - hope you're healing fine. I too missed the reunion - first I can remember. I too hope to see all the pixs!

To all,

Our son, Scott (yes Merrill, your namesake!), was selected amongst a handful of over 400 members (of a relatively new church, Serenity Village Community Church, New Hope, MN) to go on a mission trip to Haiti this coming January. His first; hopefully not his last - his eyes will be opened. But, speaking rather biasedly as his Dad, there will be mutual impact made! Scott is so good with kids. From a kid and young man, he's participated in Sunday school teaching, babysitting, mentoring as a Eagle Scout and Village Church summer camp counseling; he's perfect for this mission!

If you can make a "do-good" investment - in any amount comfortable to you - into these little fellow human beings, please consider Scott's mission:

https://www.gofundme.com/hhaiti

And, if you identify yourself in gofundme, he will share his experience with you!

Thanks for your consideration!!

Best,

Chris

Clifton Hall

Happy Holidays to all...Clif Hall

Chris Mahley

Hoping to make 50th. Did I see date change to Oct.?

Chris Mahley

Hi classmates,

I thought for sure I attended our 45th but I don't see me in reunion pic - maybe in bathroom or getting a beer!

I know it'd be a chore but would be nice identifying classmates in reunion pics.

Hope all are well; especially during these pandemic times! Trying to limit exposure as I'm a quad risk - heart attack (+/- 20 yrs. ago), "acute, advanced, chronic" (docs' adjectives) bronchitis (all five siblings, guessing parent's second-hand smoking), diabetes and pushing 70! Wife Sue, not much lesser risk - recent heart procedures and also pushing 70. On the positive side, we both work-out like Bangies trying to keep up our immune systems and taking extra vit D, C and zinc and eating better.

Take care all - and looking forward to seeing you next reunion!!

Best,

Chris

Joseph Settle

Hi Chris!  Enjoyed your comments!  May we all live, thrive and survive till (at least) the next reunion!  :)

Clifton Hall

Cathy Goodfriend (Novak)

I am so excited to hear about the rescheduled 50th Reunion. I will be there . In hopes that we will be back to some kind of normalcy by then! Need a trip back to KC !!!! Look forward to seeing everyone.

Mark Stayton

Hi - I'm planning to attend the SW 50th (51st) reunion next fall.  Thanks to all the organizers.     Mark Stayton

Chris Mahley

Yes, date booked for reunion. Thanks much Chuck, Mike and committee!

Whit McCoskrie

Clifton Hall

Math teacher, Sachem Advisor, Counselor, James H. Woods, passes:

https://porterfuneralhome.com/ObituaryDetails.aspx?id=71135&Name=James_(Jim)_H._Woods

Hannah Gurin (Selznick)

Message to the Reunion Committee....Was there any discussion of setting up a screen/computer to offer a Zoom for those of us who can't physically attend? Will miss being there in person. hannah (Gurin) selznick

Robyn Black

Am so sad that I will not be able to attend our reunion, there are so many people I would love to see. As I am sure everyone is aware, New Mexico is battling the largest fire in the state's history. I am an AEMT and Wildland Firefighter, all our resources are needed here, we have been very busy! Please post lots of pictures, will be there in spirit. Hope you all have a wonderful time!

.......and yes, this is actually me!

Becky Colvin (Wolpert)

Pam Briggs (Daddow)

I thought I would be there for our 50th reunion but I'm not ready to travel yet. I'll be thinking of you and will be eager to see pictures. Thanks for all your hard work organizing it. I hope to make it next time! 

Stephanie P Ledgin-Toskos

Hi everyone, I, too, am sad not to be flying out for this momentous reunion. COVID numbers just keep rising and rising and local community levels of spread are, frankly, meaningless with many traveling from higher risk areas to lower risk. Without vaccination requirements in place, plus masking, this became a "no go" for me in spite of being double-boostered. Please everyone, take precautions and stay safe while enjoying yourselves!! Hoping to see many of you "locals" next time I'm in town. COVID will not rule our lives forever; we just need to tame it and our ways! Best, Stephanie P. Ledgin (Toskos) http://ledgin.com to follow my latest.....

Eric Melgaard

I'm truly bummed to be missing out on our reunion weekend. Please know that I will be reliving all the great memories all weekend long.  Have fun and enjoy.