A close / good friend and one of the "funnest" people to hang with during our HS and college years, as he was without question our #1 "party organizer". He organized the SSDT "South Salem Drinking Team" (about 20 or so of us) during our junior year - but it fizzled after a few months. In HS Ron was somewhat short and a bit rotund. One of his best "buds" Mark Ledford nicknamed him "Bowling Ball' or just "Ball". Ron never took offense to this which I thought was admirable. Right before we graduated and had our name cards printed to hand out - his simply said "BOWLING BALL"! I think I gravitated to Ron in HS because he, like me, shunned ANY drug use. Like myself he loved to drink beer! Unfortunately he liked Blitz = yuk. At the end of our senior year - Ron's parents purchased a lot on the Willamette river near Illahe and installed a mobile home - where they lived. This is where about a hundred of us went on graduation night. This became party central for the rest of the summer, and for all of our "college years" summers. Ron's parents were very "understanding", as we were very much underage!
We simply referred to it as "the river lot". The partys were large, regular, and legendary. It kept us all together for many years after HS. It was amazing. After HS Ron and about a dozen SSHS ski bums attended C.O.C.C in Bend to ski and party. Many of us traveled to Bend on week-ends to ski and again, Ron organized the partys (whoppers). He was good at recruiting the Bend HS girls. In 1971 after 2 years at C.O.C.C. Ron went to work for his father full time, in Albany at Valley Appliance - which his father purchased the previous year. Ron possessed tremendous people / selling skills. We called him the "super salesman". This skill helped him in the "girl" department - where he had great success! In the summer of 1972, Ron started dating Julie Lee (SSHS 1972). They were married in the fall of 1973, moved to Albany, and that was the end of the partying - on the large scale. They had 2 sons in the early 80's , Brian and Casey. The business continued to flourish and grow, eventually opening branch stores in Corvallis and Salem. In 1986 Ron and Julie moved back to Salem and Ron ran the "new" Salem store. In 2001 Ron's dad decided to retire, and sold the business. At age 50, Ron jr. also basically retired. He then became a recluse - losing touch with pretty much everyone. In 2009, during the first day (Friday) of our 40th reunion, Nick Cloyd, Tom Thornton and I spent the afternoon trying to find him. Amazingly - we found him down at the "river lot". He and the boys were helping Julie (they divorced in 1989) move into a new house at the old location. We thought that was nice. Everyone said we were wasting our time trying to talk him into coming to the re-union and he re-affimed "NO WAY". Amazingly....he showed up at Rudy's Saturday night with, of course, a hot YOUNGER chick. That was the last time I saw him. I guess he became even more of a mysterious recluse in his last 10 years. I've heard he had many "issues" as he got older, which was always sad for such a dynamic individual in his younger years. It doesn't matter now because I remember the countless good / fun times YOU gave so many of us in our youth. I will never forget you, and thanks for being such good friend growing up, Rest in peace
I remember Ron was always short, then the summer before our senior year he grew 12 inches!!! I always share that story with boys in high school who worry about their heighth...I remember Ron as so funny...how lovely to hear from Bob Curtis about all the good times the boys had together...Rest in Peace Ron...
Grew up in the same neighborhood! Always had fun when Ron was around! From his jukebox in his basement to his beach house in Lincoln City to cruising in his Chey! He was a frequent visitor to the old Cedar Way house where many fun times happened!! As good friends will never forget driving to Ashland for Skiesta and backing into him at a party in my 69 bug! He was so mad!!! Was always sad to hear of all the issues he had in his later years. RIP my Friend!!!!
Allow me to expand on the Gadach post as I witnessed it first hand! A bunch of us were stuck in the snow on the hill / street below where I lived in Ashland. Wiebe had a very nice Chevy Nova SS (a year old) that he babied greatly. It was stuck sideways in the middle of the road with us pushing, with Julie at the wheel, trying to get it unstuck. Gadach was furthur up the hill (VW's were better in the snow), and turned around and came back down the hill accelerating. At first we thought he was coming to help, but he kept accelerating and then started skidding in the snow with NO chance to stop - as we all scattered! "G" as we called him - "T" boned the rear quarter panel of the Wiebe car as Ron watched in horror. As soon as Bob G. got out of his car.....Wiebe let out a scream = "GAAAADIIIIICH - I drove 250 miles to have YOU wreck my car". There was very little damage to the VW - ironically. PS = Shelley was right - but he actually grew the MOST in college - became pretty tall and filled out by the time he was 21. No more "Bowling ball"!! PS#2 = Bob G. - I'm glad you mentioned the Wiebe "beach house"! I didn't touch on that - as those trips were frequent and fun. In 1968 Wiebe's parents bought a brand new Buick Gran Sport (very fast). The "boys" = Wiebe, Bob Judson, Charlie Bello "broke it in" by taking it to the beach in like 45 minutes = way UNDER an hour, Claiming a new "record" as it normally would take way OVER an hour. They claimed 90 ish the whole way, but we WERE all 16 at the time and quite stupid - so it was possible. PS#3.....Whittemore HATED when people drove fast! He became extremely nervous. Especially when he rode with Tom Thornton in his brand new 1968 Javelin SST = VERY FAST!
Thank you Rob, and Shelley and Bob, for your insightful commentaries on Ron's life...much appreciated! Have often wondered what and how a number of our old high-school friends have been doing through the years, very much including Ron. So, thanks again!
Yes, it was college...I think we were all so surprised at our reunion that first year! Great to hear from you all...wow, amazing memories you guys have!!
Robert Curtis
A close / good friend and one of the "funnest" people to hang with during our HS and college years, as he was without question our #1 "party organizer". He organized the SSDT "South Salem Drinking Team" (about 20 or so of us) during our junior year - but it fizzled after a few months. In HS Ron was somewhat short and a bit rotund. One of his best "buds" Mark Ledford nicknamed him "Bowling Ball' or just "Ball". Ron never took offense to this which I thought was admirable. Right before we graduated and had our name cards printed to hand out - his simply said "BOWLING BALL"! I think I gravitated to Ron in HS because he, like me, shunned ANY drug use. Like myself he loved to drink beer! Unfortunately he liked Blitz = yuk. At the end of our senior year - Ron's parents purchased a lot on the Willamette river near Illahe and installed a mobile home - where they lived. This is where about a hundred of us went on graduation night. This became party central for the rest of the summer, and for all of our "college years" summers. Ron's parents were very "understanding", as we were very much underage!
We simply referred to it as "the river lot". The partys were large, regular, and legendary. It kept us all together for many years after HS. It was amazing. After HS Ron and about a dozen SSHS ski bums attended C.O.C.C in Bend to ski and party. Many of us traveled to Bend on week-ends to ski and again, Ron organized the partys (whoppers). He was good at recruiting the Bend HS girls. In 1971 after 2 years at C.O.C.C. Ron went to work for his father full time, in Albany at Valley Appliance - which his father purchased the previous year. Ron possessed tremendous people / selling skills. We called him the "super salesman". This skill helped him in the "girl" department - where he had great success! In the summer of 1972, Ron started dating Julie Lee (SSHS 1972). They were married in the fall of 1973, moved to Albany, and that was the end of the partying - on the large scale. They had 2 sons in the early 80's , Brian and Casey. The business continued to flourish and grow, eventually opening branch stores in Corvallis and Salem. In 1986 Ron and Julie moved back to Salem and Ron ran the "new" Salem store. In 2001 Ron's dad decided to retire, and sold the business. At age 50, Ron jr. also basically retired. He then became a recluse - losing touch with pretty much everyone. In 2009, during the first day (Friday) of our 40th reunion, Nick Cloyd, Tom Thornton and I spent the afternoon trying to find him. Amazingly - we found him down at the "river lot". He and the boys were helping Julie (they divorced in 1989) move into a new house at the old location. We thought that was nice. Everyone said we were wasting our time trying to talk him into coming to the re-union and he re-affimed "NO WAY". Amazingly....he showed up at Rudy's Saturday night with, of course, a hot YOUNGER chick. That was the last time I saw him. I guess he became even more of a mysterious recluse in his last 10 years. I've heard he had many "issues" as he got older, which was always sad for such a dynamic individual in his younger years. It doesn't matter now because I remember the countless good / fun times YOU gave so many of us in our youth. I will never forget you, and thanks for being such good friend growing up, Rest in peace
Shelley Brown
I remember Ron was always short, then the summer before our senior year he grew 12 inches!!! I always share that story with boys in high school who worry about their heighth...I remember Ron as so funny...how lovely to hear from Bob Curtis about all the good times the boys had together...Rest in Peace Ron...
Bob Gadach
Grew up in the same neighborhood! Always had fun when Ron was around! From his jukebox in his basement to his beach house in Lincoln City to cruising in his Chey! He was a frequent visitor to the old Cedar Way house where many fun times happened!! As good friends will never forget driving to Ashland for Skiesta and backing into him at a party in my 69 bug! He was so mad!!! Was always sad to hear of all the issues he had in his later years. RIP my Friend!!!!
Robert Curtis
Allow me to expand on the Gadach post as I witnessed it first hand! A bunch of us were stuck in the snow on the hill / street below where I lived in Ashland. Wiebe had a very nice Chevy Nova SS (a year old) that he babied greatly. It was stuck sideways in the middle of the road with us pushing, with Julie at the wheel, trying to get it unstuck. Gadach was furthur up the hill (VW's were better in the snow), and turned around and came back down the hill accelerating. At first we thought he was coming to help, but he kept accelerating and then started skidding in the snow with NO chance to stop - as we all scattered! "G" as we called him - "T" boned the rear quarter panel of the Wiebe car as Ron watched in horror. As soon as Bob G. got out of his car.....Wiebe let out a scream = "GAAAADIIIIICH - I drove 250 miles to have YOU wreck my car". There was very little damage to the VW - ironically. PS = Shelley was right - but he actually grew the MOST in college - became pretty tall and filled out by the time he was 21. No more "Bowling ball"!! PS#2 = Bob G. - I'm glad you mentioned the Wiebe "beach house"! I didn't touch on that - as those trips were frequent and fun. In 1968 Wiebe's parents bought a brand new Buick Gran Sport (very fast). The "boys" = Wiebe, Bob Judson, Charlie Bello "broke it in" by taking it to the beach in like 45 minutes = way UNDER an hour, Claiming a new "record" as it normally would take way OVER an hour. They claimed 90 ish the whole way, but we WERE all 16 at the time and quite stupid - so it was possible. PS#3.....Whittemore HATED when people drove fast! He became extremely nervous. Especially when he rode with Tom Thornton in his brand new 1968 Javelin SST = VERY FAST!
Chuck Whittemore
Thank you Rob, and Shelley and Bob, for your insightful commentaries on Ron's life...much appreciated! Have often wondered what and how a number of our old high-school friends have been doing through the years, very much including Ron. So, thanks again!
Shelley Brown
Yes, it was college...I think we were all so surprised at our reunion that first year! Great to hear from you all...wow, amazing memories you guys have!!