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Beth Shoulberg (Johnson)

Oh, Dee.... I am so sorry to hear about your detatched retina.  Aweful news.  And doubly sad that you can't make it to the reunion.  We will certainly miss you.  Many prayers for a successful outcome.

Frederick Freeman

This is to everyone. Because I’ll be playing fiddle and electric guitar in a dinner theater show during August, I will not be making the trip to Lake Forest. Some of you will not remember me. Others will remember me as tall and skinny and either shy or talkative. I was both. Today on my profile page I listed fifty random thoughts I might have brought up in conversation were I to have attended the reunion. Some of the entries list national and world events during the years 1951-1964 (i.e., the start of kindergarten until graduation). You’ll even be reminded of the postal rates from back then. Other entries are personal memories and events shared by classmates. At least 30 of you are mentioned by name in these reflections. If you do go to my profile page to read the reflections, please do not hesitate to offer corrections or comments of your own. My personal contact information is on Laura’s Excel spreadsheet.

Beth Shoulberg (Johnson)

Fred, WOW.  I am sitting here reading your recollections to my husband, daughter and grandchildren, with tears of joy!!!  I will be pouring over it when I have quiet time to reflect on everything.  Thank you for stirring up my precious memories of growing up with you and our very special classmates.  By the way, this can be a terrific addition to a special video project (memories of growing up in Lake Bluff and Lake Forest) that Kathy Karsten (Rushing) is planning to put together on Saturday afternoon, August 9.  Thanks so much Fred!

Frederick Freeman

Aw~~, Beth. Okay, here's another memory: Robert Rockwell, AKA, Mr. Boynton on "Our Miss Brooks," used to come for summer vacation. He attended Lake Bluff Day on the beach several times when we were growing up. I can still see him in the egg throwing contest, taking one step backword with each toss. Remember the smelt fry? Remember how the guys would raise their nets from the lake? Anyway, Rockwell's mom lived on Scranton Avenue also. During our parents' generation she was the school principal! So, I guess when her son played a teacher on television...

Carey Smith

I believe Mr. Boynton was Mac's uncle.

Carole Koopmann (Delany)

Dee, I'm so sorry that you won't be attending! I was really looking forward to seeing you and reminiscing. We had great friends growing up...if all could be so lucky! Wish your change of plans were for something wonderful and adventurous but getting your vision back and protecting it is also something wonderful. On a possitive note, I know many people who have had a detached retina with no problems following surgery!

I'm still looking for the pictures from our 25th. I put them somewhere safe (always a problem to find them later!) I will post them as I discover them again. 

Take care! Phil and I will have to take you up on your lobster offer!

Carole Koopmann (Delany)

Fred, I remember you as quiet but with a mischievous glint in your eyes...as if you were up to something! Were you? 

I haven't had a chance to check out your profile but plan enjoying it when I have time to reflect. It sounds like it's filled with historical and fun memories

Thomas Boese

Hey Gang,  I have about ten people signed on to play golf at Deerpath Golf Course at 1 pm on the Friday of our reunion weekend.  I would love to have more of you join us.  Please send me a message or respond here if you are interested in playing.  The more the merrier.  Looking forward to hearing from you golfers.  Tom

Thomas Boese

Hello,  I have just been reminded that the deadline for guaranteeing our group rate at the Hilton Garden Inn and the Residence Inn Lake Forest/Mettawa (they are next door to each other) is this Monday, July 14.  You can find registration links at the bottom of the Reunion Information page here on the website.  As of last week 10 classmates registered at the Hilton, three at the Residence Inn.  Tom

Michael Hall

Just got Backfire downloaded into Kindle...am wondering. Ron, if there is such a thing as an author's Kindle-signing?  Am looking forward to a rollicking read!

Speaking of books, I somehow came into possession of a thin tome entitled Lake Forest High School: The First Thirty Years.  It contains a wealth of info about LF, LB & LFHS from the 1930's all the way up to 1972, the year of its publication.  General Spooner is listed as "Advisor" to its writers and editors.  Lots of spicy  tidbits about our years.

One swell quote found on (of course) page 64:  "In the beginning of the sixties LFHS was rated by one hundred and twenty different universities as one of the fifty best secondary schools in the nation."  Yippie!  But then there's this on page 78:  "Actually, the high school's effect on its graduates of the 1960's is yet to be, and perhaps never will be, fully understood."  Oh, well...

Then there is this photo on page 80 of the Rifle Club (I had forgotten about that club).  Anyway, I thought you might enjoy this demonstration of "the proper and safe use of firearms."  Really?  Who is that guy on the left?

Rifle Club aside, there's a great chapter on Celler...and another on the workings of Student Council.  The appendix lists varsity football and basketball records from 1935 to 1965.  In our four years, the football record was the best in LFHS history...thirty-two wins and no losses.  And the basketball teams of those years had good records, too...especially in our junior and senior years.

I'll bring the book to the reunion if anyone wants to take a look.  It may, in fact, belong to The General, as his name and street address are hand written inside the back cover.  Is Mr. Spooner still around?

I'd be glad to photgraph a few of the pithier pages to anyone who would like a preview.  Just drop me a message.  (It would be grEAT if someone had the skill set and interest to digitize the whole book!)

Am counting the days...   {~;

Roger Spaner

Tom, it's been years since I played any golf but If I can rent some clubs I'm in. Used to caddy att dearpath (only one season if I remember right) but never actually played there. Think it's about time to give it a try.

Roger Spaner

Hi Michael, any stats on the wrestling team?

Josephine Ford (Brebner)

I just looked at Tom Dunn's post of class picture from St. Mary's..I moved to Lake Forest in 8th grade, after school year had started...I did recognize Dolly Baldwin and mary lee meyers!!

Tom Jewell

Fred Freeman mentioned the parties at Bob Manning's house in his recollections of the "good old days." I found a photo taken at one of those parties in our '64 yearbook and posted it in the Old Photos group in the Photo Gallery.

Thomas Boese

Here's a hotel update:  As of July 14 the Hilton Garden Inn and Residence Inn Lake Forest/Mettawa have released the rooms blocked for our group to the public.  However, you can still make reservations at these two hotels, which are next door to each other, at our group rate, dependent upon availability.  Call Samantha Serwacki, Sales Coordinator for both hotels, at 847-457-2482, identify yourself as an LFHS 64 group member, and she will help you with a group rate reservation.

A shuttle bus from these hotels is available to take you to and from the Saturday evening event at the Lake Forest Club.

James Kahle

Only a few more weeks before the reunion.  Just realizing not much time for me to grow some hair, lose 20 lbs, replace all missing teeth and get a tan.  I am thinking that Chia pet stuff may just work for hair replacement.

Seriously, I will be spending Aug 6 and 7 in downtown Chicago taking in the sites and visiting with relatives.  If anyone else plans to be there those 2 days let me know so we can get together.

Robert Haslach

What is Whit Peters up to ?

The Scorpion [jet fighter - appearing at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK] costs about $20m (£12m) a throw, is built from off-the-shelf components, and went from drawing board to first flight in 23 months.

Whit Peters, part of the company behind the Scorpion, was involved in the F-35 when he was Secretary of the US Air Force in the 1990s.

A few years ago, he and some colleagues had an idea for a new, light tactical fighter for general security and reconnaissance, positioned between existing cheaper, but ageing aircraft, and full-on strike fighters.

"We were pretty sure that there was a gap in the market," Mr Peters says. "It was about building something with enough tactical capacity to satisfy customers, but that also had low running costs. We are in an era when defence departments are facing budget cuts."

No customers

His company, AirLand, pitched the concept to manufacturers, but it was Textron, the US giant behind Cessna corporate jets and Bell Helicopters, that grabbed the opportunity.

In 2012, Textron AirLand Enterprises was born. "It started with a team of about 10, a whiteboard and a clean sheet," Mr Peters says.

Beth Shoulberg (Johnson)

Jake, I had the same thought about not much time left to lose the FORTY pounds that I had hoped to shed before the reunion.  Oh well, I figure that my real 'friends' will accept me for who I am. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Beth

Thomas Boese

Lake Bluffers!  Reading Fred Freeman's great memories of LB and LF prompts me to announce that  Laura Enos and I are planning a "Kindergarten Reunion" for all of us who started out together with Miss Maude Rivers in 1951.  That's the theme, but you are all invited regardless of when you arrived in town.  Let's meet for lunch at noon on Saturday, August 9 at Bluffington's Cafe uptown on Scranton Avenue where the LB Library was when we were little.  We can continue the conversation that Fred has started.  Afterwards Nancy Wolverton Graf will host us at the Lake Bluff History Museum in the new library across the street.  Then maybe we can go buy some candy at Mr. White's and have a Coke on the front steps at Bill's.  Let Laura or me know if you would like to participate, but no real need to RSVP.  Just show up.

Joanne Zimmer (McCamman)

I want to express my sincere apprecciation and gratitude to all of you who, like me did not meet their weight loss goals/dreams. We will represent what 68 really looks like!

Robert Haslach

I would like to thank the LBJH Class of 1960 for organizing this reunion!

Bob Haslach

James Kahle

Certainly at this stage of our lives nobody should feel self conscious. Though it would be nice to have some big name tags availble!

Frederick Freeman

Obviously Linda and Bob still look young and cute and fit. Looking at their photo among all those comments re: weight sparks a memory. Does anyone else remember Bob's perfect physique as a swimmer and diver? Talk about your classic sculpted Adonis! Congratulations on maintaining the discipline to stay looking good, you two.

Frederick Freeman

Bob pointed out that the bulk of the reunion committee are from Lake Bluff. Citing them as the LBJH class of 1960 sparked another memory. Does anyone else remember when the folks from the telephone company came to the school auditorium to demonstrate how to work the dial? They stood on stage with a huge telephone dial and carefully went step-by-step to bring us into the 20th century. Did they also go to Deerpath Junior High? If you travel to the following Web link, you will see a motion picture that depicts what was presented live at our school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APcODrfhcVQ. On a related note, Vance Packard’s 1959 book, THE STATUS SEEKERS mentioned Lake Forest with her late entry into dial phones and her gas lit streets. It seems now that the latest trend in urban design is to imitate what we had in our two storybook villages.

Laurie Higgins (Dunkerton)

Fred,

You have a remakable memory.  No, I don't remember the phone company coming out to teach us how to dial, but I do remember the switch.  I also remember my old 4-digit phone number as well as the numbers of some of my good friends.  Mine was 3188, and Tom's (now my husband) was 4221.  

As a side note, the friends who were supposed to be coming to visit us the first week in August have changed their plans and won't be in San Diego until later in the month, so Tom and I will be at the reunion and are busy making our last minute plans.  I look forward to seeing everyone and please count us in for the Lake Bluffers lunch on Saturday.  See you all soon.