Dan Atkinson

I attended SHS 65-68, 3 years. My folks moved us to Prescott, then back to Litchfield Park, where I graduated in 1969. I was very sad to leave SHS to those strange schools. SHS was a very mellow school and I enjoyed it there with my older brother Hawley Atkinson Class of 66, sisters Molly Atkinson,Class of 66 Fran Atkinson Class of 67. I enjoyed the leather and crafts class, the wierd Biology teacher and wierd Spanish teacher who gave me an F and I had to retake her class the next semester. I made some good friends there and was going to reconnect with Roger Musgrove, who very unfortunately passed away unexpectedly, we were neighbors and best friends. I wonder if anyone else remembers me, I was very quiet and shy then.

I went to ASU for two years and quit to become a carpenter apprentice. I loved construction work and the good pay, $7.00 and hour in 1972 :) I went to Flagstaff on a lark and loved it there and stayed (I was born in Boise, Id and we moved to Scottsdale when I was 14 and started at SHS as a freshman, it was strange and hot, but we all loved the friendly people and community, it was a funky little town then, as we all know ! I worked at the Safari Hotel restaurants during SHS years.
My brother and I liked the pool hall too, he was good at it. My brother went on to be a very brave Green Beret in Vietnam, 1971, Recon Team Georgia. He is gone now to Agent Orange but was a successful ASU/Univ Chicago grad, Buis consultant and golfer in Awatuke. I have been a home builder and log home builder in Flagstaff for 30 years, after 16 years as a carpenter.
My favorite school story was just being a Beaver and enjoying my school friends and walking back and forth to home from school and to work. It was nice to be able to walk where ever I needed to go, like work through downtown old scottsdale. go watch a fight at Dairy Queen or buy a match box. See the cool cars in the parking lot, mustangs, camaros, a vette when Bonano was there.