James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

I'm amazed at how many are on the "missing" list.

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Check out 2013:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Today_All-USA_high_school_football_team#2013_team

Oh yeah, I'm still living the dream . . . golf course, lake, beach . . . . . 

Connie Jean Kelley (1974)

SAVE THE DATE & SHARE with UHS Class of ’74 Alumni and Friends!

Come enjoy a blast from the past. Reminisce with us and guess who’s who. Yes, it's reunion time again, and this one promises to break all records. It won’t be the same without you, so save the date for our UHS Class of ’74 50^th Reunion!

Dates: September 13-15, 2024
Accommodations: Sheraton West Des Moines* (see below for details)
                           1800 50th St, West Des Moines, IA 50266

                                     AGENDA
Welcome Friday:   Tavern Pizza & Pasta Grill
                       1755 50th St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Saturday Tee Off: Golf Outing (course TBD)
Fun Day Saturday: UHS and What’s new in Urbandale tour
                          Meet up coffees or lunches
Saturday Evening: Dinner, Program & Music (turn back the clock, recapture the magic)
Goodbye Sunday:   Brunch (TBD)

Wait there is more – an extra opportunity! An alumni float will highlight our class during the 4^th of July Urbandale Parade. Please come if interested in participating. 

For further information please contact Lyanna at urbandale.classof74@gmail.com  More details to come. Can’t wait to see you all on September 13-15!

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Urbandale Alumni Association

* Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel UHS Class of ’74 group rate for $129 USD, plus tax per night. Rate includes 48-hour Individual Guest Room Cancellation and Standard Guest Room Wi-Fi. Last day to book for group rate is August 23, 2024. Identify yourself as part of UHS Class of ’74 Reunion when calling 1-888-627-8043.

Curtis D Harvey (1965)

Hello Fellow Alumni

I do not normally post but I just wanted to say a feww words about my very close friend Terry Steen. In the class of 1965 we had a lot of atthletes that were involved in more than one sport -- we were a very small school back then -- and Terry was one of the best. Our football quarterback, a wrestler and our outstanding pitcher. After high school Terry decided to go to college where he was a terrific pitcher and had a great professional future as a possibility but unfortunately the Vietnam Conflict claimed him. In the service he was a Ranger and it affected him deeply. The last years of his life he would talk about high school and sports and his teammates, then morph into Vietnam, then college sports, then morph back into Vietnam. The best and the worst. But every conversation would end with him expressing how proud he was of his daughters. He passed away in AprilI will miss him greatly...Rest In Peace My Brother From Another Mother

Curt Harvey

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

RIP Terry.

I'm sorry to hear of his troubles.

I have mentioned him, how I missed the opportunity to have him ptich for Urbandale my sophomore year because he opted to play in another organized league.   That opened up opportunities for Oppehal, Hintz, and myself as the third in rotation.  I believe I was there only because Terry was not.

I did not realize he QBed before Hansen.

Robert L. (Tip) Chase (1966)

Terry was my close neighbor on 68th Street and I was his catcher.  The boy sure could pitch.

Tip

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Tippy:

Who all was on the baseball team your junior year?  I'm picturing Wathen, Keane, Kessinger . . . . Were you catching for Oppedal and Hintz?

& at Drake, were you close to Maury John and the '69 basketball team?

Michael Connelly (1968)

Mark Boals also caught him.

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

I'm fuzzy on my sophomore year, what seniors played baseball.  Seniors would have been Steen, Boals, Steve Berrier, Doug Graham, and others. . . . Since it was summer ball, it would have been after they graduated.  I can remember juniors, but not seniors.

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Lazard is stuck with the Jets.

I had a good 2023, Allen did not.

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

6 catches for 89 yards, and 2 TDs.

Not a bad day at the office.

I like seeing Allen and other Cyclones do well.

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Allen Lazard got the third most votes for "Ends" on the Register's "All Century All State" team:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/high-school/2014/02/21/meet-the-readers-all-century-all-state-football-team/5711955/

He's playing much better this year, and you can see it in his field presence.  I like to watch what players do when plays are not about them.

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

After a fast start, Lazard is sinking into another ho-hum season, and now the Jets are in turmoil.

Tonight is a night he can shine in the national spotlight.

or .. . . . 

Iowa Staters are doing well in the NFL again this year.. I think that helps their program.  I won't mention the Cyclones are 6-0 because I don't want to jinx them.

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

In #226 I said the baseball team lost to Newton in the Summer of '67, but it was the Summer of '66.  I know that because in the Fall of '66 as I was going in the gate at the stadium, a young kid stopped me and we talked about the Newton game.  Whoever he was, he was a loyal fan to go to a Summer game as far away as Newton.

So, I believe the only game the baseball team lost in the Summer of '67 was to Saydel in Districts, after we had beaten Carlisle.  A few of us had already graduated, and that was the end of the road for us.  Mark Oppedal, Gary Hintz, Robbie Simmons, Tom Hansen . . . and then my memory fails me.

- - - - - - 

Unrelated, I had the thought the other day that Mike Connelly was our Allen Lazard!!!!

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

I hope everyone's doing well, just enjoying being.

Susan Campbell (Jones) (1975)

CLASS OF 1975 READ THIS: Our 50th REUNION is on Saturday, 6/14/25!!

Here's the Details for Saturday Night:

DATE & TIME: Saturday, 6/14/25 , 6:30 p.m. to Midnight

LOCATION: The Hall inside the Foundry, 111 S. 11th Street, West Des Moines,IA

COST: Free Will Offering - $50 suggested, but anything you can give is accepted at the door and much appreciated.  We'd like everyone from our class (plus one friend) to come!

CASUAL ATTIRE! It's a party with an awesome band! Seating indoors and on the patio! Heavy appetizers will be available. Cash Bar.

RSVP IF YOU CAN (or just show up). 3 Ways to RSVP:

1. Go to this Link: https://www.qrcodechimp.com/page/stt55phspnbq?v=chk1747022895 . On this link you can pay ahead with Venmo or PayPal or let us know you'll be making a cash offering at the door.

2. Reply to the Facebook Event on the "Urbandale Class of 1975 Reunion" Facebook page.

3. Tell a friend that is on Facebook to get the word to us.

ALSO - If you know someone who is coming but they're not on Facebook, let us know they are coming by replying for them on Facebook.

We are trying to get a count on how many friendly faces we'll see! We are looking forward to seeing our old friends, talking about good times, listening to a great band and having the best time. Let's Party Like It's 1975.

There will be an Informal Get-together on Friday Night, 6/13/25 at Stormy's Bar, 6923 Douglas Ave. This is not a formal event, but it's tradition, isn't it? Cash bar.

VERY IMPORTANT:

We are only communicating to Class Members via Facebook and the Urbandale Alumni Association website. WE NEED YOUR HELP notifying class members who are not on these sites.  Please contact your friends from the Class of 1975 who are not on Facebook or an Urbandale Alumni member.  Please let them know about the reunion.  They can join the Facebook page or contact Nancy Robinson at nanny_nu@msn.com for more information.

We want our classmates to come to  the Reunion for a memorable evening. Please RSVP and A BIG THANK YOU FOR GETTING THE WORD OUT TO YOUR FRIENDS FROM THE CLASS OF 1975. Looking forward to seeing you all on June 14!

Anthony N. Woloch (1972)

Greetings,

Does anyone recall any background information (including full name) about Mr. Hall who taught 8th grade math at the old Urbandale Junior High School (UJHS) during the 1967 - 1968 school year? 

My UJHS 8th grade math class was held in one of those newer "temporary" school room modules attached to or close to the back of the original 1925 brick building that had once served as the high school. 

I am trying to research Mr. Hall's WWII military service and hope to one day see a copy of his DD-214 Honorable Discharge Paper.

One day in class, Mr. Hall mentioned to us that he had been a WWII U.S. Army Paratrooper who landed by parachute in Normandy France the night before the June 6, 1944 D-Day Allied landings at the beach by watercraft. 

That indicates Mr. Hall served either with the 82nd Airborne Division ("All American Division") or the 101st Airborne Division ("Screaming Eagles Division").

Mr. Hall wore glasses and usually spoke softly and calmly

He seemed to speak with a slight Southern accent.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Anthony N. Woloch

UHS Class of 1972

James M. (Jim) Grover (1968)

I recall Mr. Hall's 9th grade Math class.  Yes, it was in one of those building modules in back of the old high school on Douglas and 70th. I regret to say I was a nightmare student, restless, distractable, difficult...I think I got something like 90+ detention slips that year from my classes, including more than a few of these from Mr. Hall. Looking back, I'd have to say I was probably (what we'd call today) ADHD, not mean or deliberately disrespectul or insubordinate, but bored and inattentive, disinclined to sit still, more linclined to talk to my classroom neighbors, throw paperwads at the trash can, and just generally be disruptive...And it was during one of those after-school detentions that he sat next to me and asked what I wanted to be when I finished school, what I wanted to do.  I remember he joked that he went into teaching because there weren't jobs like he had during the war - shooting a machine gun.  I'm sure he told me other things I can't now recall, but that's one point I remember.  I know he was trying to be a friend - or at least friendly - and looking back I feel a bit sad that he felt he had to strategize a way to get my cooperation in class.  Sorry, not enough details about him I can remember to help you pin down his military unit...But you remeinded me of my experience of him. Nice guy. Didn't deserve what I brought to him that year.  He and Mr. Denman deserve medals (smile).

Jim Grover (Class of 1968)

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Speaking of Mr. Denman, he and his family lived on 48th Street Place, just a block from where I lived on 48th Street, before I moved to Urbandale.  I remember he had a daughter, Linda.  Mr. Denman was the JV football coach my sophomore year, Fall of '64, and I remember his favorite thing to say was, "Run one they don't know, Oppedal."  Mark was our "blocking back" and called the plays on offense.  Later on he was the Cinnabun guy at Merle Hay Mall.  Wow! . . . . the brain is a strange thing!!!!

Susan Jacobs (Batterton) (1969)

I recall Mr. Hall's math class. I had him in eighth grade. When I was in ninth grade and had trouble with algebra, I went to him and asked if he would help me because I loved math and I just couldn't understand much of what my algebra teacher was teaching. He tutored me after school on his own time. I have told his story for over 50 years. He must have really loved teaching and kids. I'm so grateful for his kindness even to this day over 50 years later. I'm glad others remember him too. I look forward to reading any information you find on him. He never shared anything personal with me, just math, so I can't help you find anythng on him. What an interesting background for a Junior High Math Teacher!

Chris McDougal (1985)

I'm not sure if this is the same teacher or not but a Mr. Hall was either my science or math teacher at the "new" Jr. High on Aurora during the '80 to '81 school year. If this is the same guy he was on the shorter side heighth-wise (maybe 5'6") and wore glasses. At the time I had a major interest in WWII aircraft and kept bringing a book about B-17s to class every day. Mr. Hall stopped at my table and looked at the book a bunch of times and we chatted about the B-17 each time. Again, if this is the same person, he told me he was a ball turret gunner on B-17s and thus the interest in that book. To be honest after the first time he stopped and looked at the book I kept bringing it so he would be distracted from teaching. Let me know if this seems to be the right teacher. I think I know his first name.

Douglas K. Oscarson (1972)

Chris - Your description of Mr. Hall is what I remember about him too. He was always very interested in WW II.

Jeff W. Lamb (1969)

Just wondering if you are talking about Mr. Brown who taught junior high math and science. He was in WW2 and often talked about it??

James L. (Jim) Beasley (1967)

Jeff:  I spent a lot of time with Craig . . . . Baseball, football and basketball.  Great guy and I really enjoyed him.  As I recall, he was left-handed, and I can still see him doing handstands in the cafeteria/Phys Ed/all-purpose room (before there was a gym).

My sophomore year, Coach Brown had me pitch against Valley, probably because he figured we didn't have a chance.  The Valley pitcher was Jim Van Dyke, newscaster Russ Van Dkye's son.  Late, we were behind 2-1, just couldn't get another run in.  Craig was on third, and I got a hit.  Trying to force a run, I rounded first and stopped between first and second, got in a rundown, and I kept waving for Craig to break for home.  He did not.

Craig also replaced me at middle linebacker against SE Polk, before their new high school/stadium, after John Danks showed what a big mistake Coach Burgett made in making me a starter.  Danks did the same thing to Craig, and Craig was not a happy camper on the bus ride home.

Two years later, we were the first to beat SEP, and on their own field.  

Timothy J. Lyons (1968)

UHS FOOTBALL FALL 1967 / CLASS OF 1968

JIM, YES WE DEFEATED SOUTHEAST POLK TWICE. ONCE ON THEIR HOME FIELD AND ONCE ON OURS. WE ALSO DEFEATED ANKENY TWICE. THE SUBURBAN CONFERENCE HAD DISBANDED WHICH GAVE US A VERY DIFFERENT SCHEDULE.  ENED UP 8-0.

NOTABLES: GARRY GRAHAM..MIKE CONNELLY..GLENN RICHARDSON..SCOTT STANFIELD..DANNY CHRISTENSON..MIKE LUCAS..STEVE PASCHAL..AND OTHERS 

TIMLYONS / CLASS OF 1968