FORUM ETIQUETTE:

VHS Forums is an ongoing dialogue between classmates.  There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.  The FORUM IS INTENDED for reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. All of us on the Reunion Committee welcome and encourage your use of these forums to share memories and stories as well as providing updates on your lives since leaving Victoria High School.

Please use good judgment when posting messages. Personal attacks, political and religious messages, as well as inappropriate language will be removed immediately.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful!  Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum.

Marie May (Myers)

It's good to hear about your happy and blessed life, John. I hope to see you in April. 

Steven Marc Barre

Twin Bro!  Great to hear of your life success.  
 

I still tell friends about "Bandit 1 and Bandit 2" tearing around South Texas for SouthWestern Bell ; getting chastised for improper radio use, (CB radios were at their peak, thanks to Smokey and the Bandit. Who needed cell phones?) learning to slide through a curve on dirt roads in our Ford Pinto, riding on the hood of the car making field measurements, and eating lunch at every small town cafe in the region.

I'm sure all of this helped you be successful at GTE. HA!

I am planning to come in April  Hope to see you there

Steve Barre

Carol Ann Mueller (Gruen)

John, what a wonderful and descriptive summary of a life full of service and blessings.  I love the story of you and Steve Barre being "triplets", lol.  And the photo collage, what a gift to be able to put something like that together.  Glad to hear you are still very active. I remember the Playhouse 3 coke bottle entry fee and my favorite is Dairy Treat sherbert.  I still go get one when I'm in Victoria.  

And I agree, kids are good but grandkids, they are such a treat.  

John M. Rendon

Marie & Carol, thank you for the kind words. I look forward to seeing you both as well. I can't take credit for the picture collage, that's all Colleen's expertise. I just sent her a bunch pictures and she worked her magic.

Steve!  My twin...Tea zjug...Bandit 1 (still not sure how I got relagated to Bandit 2 LOL!!)  So good to hear from you. We did run over AT LEAST one measuring wheel in our summer hijinx, and I never was as good as you power sliding those Southwestern Bell Pintos. I put one in a ditch right?  Well we lived to tell about it. Looking forward to seeing you and the rest of the boys. Take care!

John - Bandit 2

Thomas Robert Seerden

Great article John!! It's been a long journey since our days at OLV hasn't it? I'm not surprised by your success and happiness in life.  From childhood to grand pa and all the challenges in between you've never lost your kind enthusiastic spirit. From the non athletic awkward kid that had a hard time fitting in, thanks for being a friend!! You're a good man John Rendon!!

John M. Rendon

Thank you Tommy. I truly cherish our friendship from our OLV days and our ties with our father's friendship as well. My Dad always spoke very highly in his stories of your Dad. He appreciated and respected him very much. I love that you and I can keep thier memories alive and pass them on to our grandkids. 

Another fond memory with you was our double date when we drove to Edna (?) in your sweet 442 to see, All the Presidents Men. I can't remember why we drove all the way there to see it but I sure was fun!  I'm so looking forward to seeing you and Gayle at the reunion. Love you Tommy!

Colleen Dorney (Klingseisen)

SPOTLIGHT STINGAREE: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

CINDY MACHA FRIEMEL HANSON

I am so excited to attend the reunion and have very much enjoyed reading the highlights that Colleen initiated.

 

Colleen Dorney (Klingseisen)

SPOTLIGHT STINGAREE: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

GLENN MICHAEL DAVIS 

He is Glenn Michael Davis officially, but he mostly goes by Mike to family and friends. In high school he was the epitome of the “quiet guy”.  He wore the predictable long hair and he loved to surf.  However after his high school time, he moved on to serve our country in ways that would be surprising to many!  I know you’ll enjoy hearing about our classmate, his unique extracurriculars, and seeing some great old photos as well.

When did your Victoria life begin?  

My family moved to Victoria when I was five years old. I was placed in a day care center that year and met future VHS classmate Jerry Slaughter. In 1968, my family moved to Yorkshire Lane in Castle Hills. VHS classmates Alisa Vander Stucken and John Gill lived on the same street and Terry Sizer lived in the same neighborhood.

Please share a fun memory from growing up in Victoria.

I remember playing Little League baseball, the year my team played for the city championship. I was called on to pinch hit, but the pitcher of the opposing team hit me with the ball and knocked the wind out of me. My teammate and future VHS classmate Micky Sappington then went to the plate and hit a grand slam home run. We still lost the game but at least we were number 2 in the city that year.

Tell me about your VHS memories.

In my senior year, Terry Sizer and I teamed up with George Flores who had an 8 mm movie camera, and we made a surf/beach day silent movie for an English class project. George and I did our best to make it a comedy. We then presented it to the class, the class loved it, and our teacher gave us an A. 

Who were some of your VHS bestie’s growing up and are you still connected?

Terry Sizer, Kevin Jordan, Barry McCarty, and John Gill who lived a few houses down from me. And of course, Ellen Swanson who I had the privilege of taking to the Senior Prom. Terry and I stayed in touch continually until he passed away this year. Through him, I’ve also been able to re-connect with Kevin, Barry, John, Jerry Slaughter, and Larry Smith. And I can’t say enough about Kevin Jordan. When Terry became ill, Kevin would drive from the Austin area to Victoria and spend several days every month to help Terry and he kept me informed of Terry’s condition. And because of Kevin, I was able to be with Terry and his family before he passed away.

Who from VHS had an impact on your life and how? 

My senior year English teacher. I wish I could remember her name. Even though I was a poor student and didn’t like to study, she went out of her way to encourage me, and she always found ways to make learning interesting. 

Tell me about your life since VHS. 

After high school, I enrolled in an electrician apprentice program and eventually moved to Portland, Texas where I ran into former VHS classmate Steve Reynolds. He and his friends were preparing to go off to Texas A&M and they encouraged me to go back to school. I moved back to Victoria and enrolled in Victoria College. But with no financial support I had to work two jobs to pay for school and support myself. After three semesters, I decided to join the Navy hoping to eventually qualify for the G.I. Bill. 

I chose Cryptologic Technician as my career field because it sounded interesting not knowing that if made it through the technical training that I would actually be working for the National Security Agency. After basic training in San Diego, I transferred to Pensacola, FL for Signals Intelligence school. I was then sent to a school at an isolated location in Maine that was associated with a new TS Navy project. My first duty station was the tiny island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean where I spent a year. My second duty station was a two-year assignment at the Navy Communication Station on the island of Guam. Although I really enjoyed surfing on Guam, when my enlistment was complete, I was ready to get back to civilization, so I transferred to the active Navy reserve and moved to Corpus Christi, Texas.

In Corpus, I worked as a draftsman at an architect firm and attended night classes at Delmar College. I had planned to transfer to UT San Antonio and study architectural engineering. But in the Summer of 1985, I was sent to Navy Intelligence Head Quarters in Washington, D.C. for my annual Navy Reserve duty. During the time I was there, I was offered a civil service position and I decided to take it and eventually was accepted into a Strategic Intelligence undergraduate program at the Defense Intelligence College. In 1990, I received my All-Source Intelligence Analyst certification. 

The job has been very challenging for me to say the least. My primary responsibilities included conducting research, writing finished intelligence products, and providing intelligence support to deployed units in the various theaters of operations. In addition, I regularly attended meetings and conferences at other intelligence agencies, the Pentagon, and occasionally, the White House. All in all, I’ve had a wonderful career, was able to work with some amazing people, and travel to several countries.

In the early 1990’s, in my spare time I studied guitar in a local music school and began a long-term Filipino language study program. I made many Filipino friends and was especially close to the President’s personal chef, a Navy Master Chief Petty Officer who worked for Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton during his career. In 1993, one of my co-workers arranged for both of us to be in the movie Gettysburg that was being filmed near the original battlefield in Pennsylvania. 

In 1996, I joined a Filipino-American theater group that was associated with George Washington University and was chosen for the lead male role in a musical that had a year-long run in theaters across the Washington, D.C. area. Then in 2000, I became very involved in music-ministry at my church in Arlington, Virginia and became the front man for the Christian Band “Second Chance”. 

In 2013, I retired from federal service and returned to Victoria to be a medical advocate and part-time care giver for my mother who was a widow and diagnosed with an incurable blood disease. In addition, Terry Sizer had also retired from Alcoa Steamship and asked me to help him with his port services company that he had just started. After almost three years, Terry’s work moved to ports in other areas, my mother had moved to an assisted living facility, and my sister agreed to take over watching her. I then had the opportunity to return to my former office in 2016 and work another eight years as a private contractor. I also married my wonderful wife, Dina. I plan to fully retire in 2025.

These days, my wife and I enjoy being outdoors as much as possible and traveling every year to either Europe or to the Philippines where most of her family still live. I also enjoy studying history and theology and I teach an adult bible study class in our church. When we retire, we plan to split our time between Virginia, the Philippines, Michigan, and occasional trips to Texas to visit family and friends.

Are there any lessons you've learned along the way?

I’ve learned that relationships are the most important thing in life. I owe my career, my successes, and my recovery from life’s hardships to the wonderful people God has brought into my life. 

Favorite Motto or words to live by:

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it’s the courage to continue that counts” – Winston Churchill

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” - Martin Luther King

Will you make the 50th Reunion on April 12, 2025?

Yes

Bill Trevino

I enjoyed reading your story. I certainly have a bias for those who served in the department of Defense. Heck, we may have been stationed on Guam at the same time (I was at Andersen AFB from 1978-1980). Your compassion for the quality of life for others is very admirable.
 

Thank YOU for your service. SALUTE! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
 

Michele Louise Krier

WOW--Thanks so much for sharing your story with us!  Enjoyed reading about your exciting life

and your travels!   Michele

Cynthia Lynn Macha (Hanson)

Great read Glen!  God has been good to you and yours!

Colleen Dorney (Klingseisen)

SPOTLIGHT STINGAREE: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

BETH ALBERTS

Our next interviewee for this series is a high achiever. In middle school and high school, she was always sweet and upbeat, and she was also frequently capturing the boy’s attention! Beth Alberts’ life immediately after high school was different from most of us. But she forged a unique path in her life and her diligence and excellence saved the lives of many. You will be very impressed! We are lucky she is helping organize our 50th reunion! Enjoy catching up with my dear friend, Beth Alberts.

When did your Victoria life begin?  

My family moved from Corpus Christi to Victoria in November 1966. I attended Juan Linn Elementary for that partial year and then my family moved and in 5th grade I started going to Shields Elementary. That is truly when my Victoria life began. I met Ellen Swanson, Cindy Gallemore, Mechelle Rogers, Thomas Null, Guy Cleveland, Sandy Golden, Don Bain, Harlon Oehlke and so many more at Shields!

I’d love one fun memory from growing up in Victoria, especially if it involves other classmates.

Too many fun times to count and memorialize here! Where to begin? 

Friday night VHS Football games? 

Summers with Cindy, Ellen, Mechelle and friends at the Tanglewood Pool or listening to music (or swimming) at Sun Valley? 

Weekends and summers when Karen Cyphers and I would sometimes buy a bag of potato chips, some onion dip, find a shady spot and have what Karen called an “onion dip party”? 

Riding in Paula Crawford’s car (she was the first of our group to get a license and a car)?

Playing racquetball at the YMCA?

Hanging out at Mary Jo LaCaze’s apartment during lunch break?

Going to Rockport with Jeanne Shields and her family? 

Colleen’s mom taking us to the beach?

Early morning drives down to Port Aransas with Glen Wimberly, Mark Pittman and/or Bill Flaharty?

Hmm, the beach and swimming sure do show up in a lot of these memories!

Who were some of your VHS bestie’s growing up and are you still connected?

I am thrilled to say that I am still connected to some of my best VHS buds and life-long friends. Ellen, Colleen, Mechelle, Jeanne, and VHS 1976 Alum, Francie Strane. I cherish these women with all my heart and look forward each year to our annual get togethers! Sometimes Paula Crawford, Margaret Crabtree and Ana Wendt have joined us!

Because of Facebook, I have been able to reconnect with so many classmates whom  I adored in high school: Guy Cleveland, Terry Sizer, Tommy Seerden, Paula Ryan, Susan Brooks, Kevin and Suzanne Jordan, Nancy North, Gayle Gainer, Gay Moulton Pruett, Wanda Wilson, David Bailey, Sandy Orlich, Grace Sullivan, Bonnie Swain, Loree Starkey, Michele Krier, Martha Goodwin, Cindy Macha, Greg Lopez, John Rendon, Glen Wimberley, and so many, many more (I apologize to those I left off this list but I am old.) 😊

Who from VHS had an impact on your life and how?

English teacher, Dorothy Kendall, had a big impact on me. She really encouraged me to write creatively and to submit some of my poems to VHS’ Impact publication. I don’t think I would have had the courage to do it without her support! 

Tell me about your life since VHS.  

I got married on Thanksgiving Day of our Junior Year, so I was a 16-year-old bride, and my life changed dramatically. In addition to schoolwork and my part-time job now I was in charge of a household! I was so unprepared!

During our senior year, I learned that I was pregnant. I knew back then that unwed mothers were expected to be hidden away – not just “not heard from” but also “not seen”, but I didn’t really understand the repercussions of that in real life.  Because I was already married when I got pregnant at 17, I was able to walk across the stage to get my diploma, but there were other pregnant girls who were not allowed that privilege. It seemed unfair to me then and even more so now.

I had my first beautiful daughter when I was 18 and then my second beautiful daughter when I was 20. I got a divorce when I was 23. I worked my way through several years of classes at Victoria College and UH-V, got my associate’s degree in 1983 and then transferred to UT-Austin.  It took me 10 years to finish undergraduate school but in 1985 I finally received my BA. Moving away from Victoria was hard, but it was a real growth experience to be a single mom, full-time student and working 2 part-time jobs in a city 5 times the size of Victoria. We were broke but those were still good times.

I remarried in 1984, and Mark and I had a blast playing racquetball at tournaments around the state for several years. Our girls still say they didn’t mind being dragged from Racquetball Club to Racquetball Club. I had always been somewhat athletic, but never played any sport competitively until Racquetball. It helped me gain some discipline and self-confidence that had eluded me until then.

We moved to Houston in 1987 for better employment opportunities and to be nearer to our families (both sets of our parents lived there).

Once in Houston I went back to work in the nonprofit sector and worked at several different social service organizations. In 2001 I became the CEO of Texas Center for the Missing (TCM) and helped the founder, Doreen Wise, realize her vision of helping families of missing children, like hers. My job at TCM was less like work and more like a “calling”.

When I was a young girl, I really only had two dreams for my future: 1) to be a truly great mom to my children and 2) to be a part of something larger than myself. I wanted to positively impact people’s lives and help others in a meaningful way.

During my 20+ years at TCM, I was on call 24/7 to issue Amber Alerts for the most at-risk missing children in the Houston-Galveston region. We ran the largest Amber Alert program in the country (serving 7 million people), and I know that my efforts helped to save children’s lives. I am proud and humbled to have had this opportunity. In 2002 I worked with Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and Dianne Feinstein to draft national Amber Alert legislation that was modeled after our Houston program. 

As the TCM CEO I was invited to the White House twice, I testified before Congress, I participated in the FBI Citizen’s Academy and visited Quantico, and then in 2019 I received the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Additionally, for 6 years I served on the board (2 years as President) of AMECO-the Association of Missing Children's Organizations, an international consortium of leaders in the missing person’s field. We dedicated ourselves to creating and promoting best practices in the field.

The day I retired as TCM CEO, May 31, 2021, was declared “Beth Alberts Day” by Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner, and I wish my Mom and Dad could have been around to see that.

What’s going on in your life now?  

I am mostly retired. I still do some nonprofit grant writing/grants management, and we are having a blast hosting guests almost every week at our Airbnb cabin. We live on 62 acres between Gonzales and Moulton, TX and the cabin is on the property adjacent to our house. Mark and I love to hike and this year we went to both Sedona and Lake Tahoe to hike as much as we could! 

The things I love most about having a more leisurely life now are taking my time in the morning to drink my coffee and read the paper before I exercise, and I love not having to rush to finish my exercise! I do yoga and lift weights 2-3 times a week but running and walking outside are my favorites.

I ran my first mile the year I turned 40 and ran the first of ten half-marathons when I was 55. Then set my personal record in January 2020 and shaved almost a minute per mile off my prior best time. I cherish those race medals so much because running 13.1 miles is something I never dreamed I would ever do! I’ve dropped down to 10k races now, but I truly hope I can run until I die! 😊

 Are there any lessons you've learned along the way that you'd like to share with others?

I’ve learned that there is always someone younger, prettier, smarter, or more successful, but each of us has our own abilities and talents that make us uniquely us and we each have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, and at the end of the day that’s what is most important.

Favorite Motto or words to live by:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead, anthropologist, recipient of the Planetary Citizen of the Year Award in 1978.

Will you make the 50^th Reunion on April 12, 2025? 

Absolutely! I am co-chairing so I think Michele Krier would be super mad if I didn’t make it! 😊

Finally, is there anything else you'd like to add or share about your life that we haven't covered?

Pretty sure I’ve said enough! 😊

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A POEM BY BETH ALBERTS (Hightower at the time) 
Published in Impact Magazine

Bill Trevino

Glenn Michael Davis

Wow Beth, what a story! It was a blessing to read and you have surely been a blessing to so many others.

Colleen Dorney (Klingseisen)

Colleen Dorney (Klingseisen)

SPOTLIGHT STINGAREE:  WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

MONTY ERBEN

I suspect we all remember Monty Erben.  He was voted “Most Sophisticated” in our Junior year.  Besides being a football player, he was also chosen for Who’s Who, a member of Student Council, President of Key Club, part of the Junior - Senior Skit, the Powder Puff Coach and even competed in a District Poetry Interpretation Contest.  Monty was a stellar and mature leader of our class and it’s a pleasure to share his “Where are they now” story.

When did your Victoria life begin?  

We moved to Victoria in 1967 as my Dad was scheduled to open the Luby’s Cafeteria later that year.  I started my Victoria education at Crain Junior High and then moved on to VHS.  I am grateful that so many of the friends I made at Crain moved on to VHS with me.   I attended Baylor after high school and in the spring of 1976 my Dad received a promotion, and my family moved to Boerne.
 
I’d love a couple of memories from growing up in Victoria.

I have so many great memories of my time in Victoria and the people that were such a great part of my time there.  I loved cruising the circle around campus, the many dances and the parties!

One story that sticks in my mind is a football game we played in Beaumont during our senior year.  It was a Saturday game, and we had to travel a pretty good way to Beaumont from Victoria.  The bus ride was a lot of fun going through Houston and several of the guys were excited to see downtown and all the large buildings.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to participate in the bus ride home.  The game was tough, and Beaumont was putting it on us.  Halfway through the third quarter, I pulled to block my assignment and got hit hard in the helmet, I fell to the ground, and I couldn’t get up.  I remember Knox (our trainer) asking what was wrong. The Beaumont trainer came out as well and they quickly figured it out.  I could not feel or move anything below my neck.  The ambulance pictured on page 236 in our senior annual was for me.  I was not the only injury of the evening though.   Chico Meyer and I passed each other in the hall of the hospital that night on our gurneys.  Chico got to go home that night, but I stayed three days in Beaumont mostly in traction.  The hospital released me a few days later and my Dad, who was with me the entire time, drove me home.  It was not all bad, I got to meet three cute cheerleaders from Beaumont on Monday afternoon when they came by to visit. (I had a class with one of them at Baylor which qualifies as small world stuff).  I missed the next four games but returned to play in the last three games of the season.  The injury was the primary reason I left football at Baylor (no scholarship - just a walk-on).

This incident has served as a powerful reminder to me of just how fragile life is and how important it is to love the people that God gives you and to live the life you were meant to live.

Who were some of your VHS bestie’s growing up and are you still connected? 

I had too many good friends to list here and that is one of the things I love about VHS.  While there are always clicks at that time of life, I always felt comfortable with several classmates.  I probably spent most of my time with my football teammates, but I also had fun times with many different people.  I have had the good fortune to run into classmates in the strangest places:  Bill Kyle in the Houston Airport, Loree Starkey Clark at a Baylor football game and then there is seeing Cindy Macha Friemel Hansen at Buc-ees in Luling.  I was also surprised see Margaret Crabtree Balin, my prom date one year, in the congregation at The Second Baptist church in Houston one Sunday. 
 
Tell me about your life since VHS. 

I graduated from VHS and left for Baylor University.  There were a few Stingarees in Waco with me, but not many.  I graduated from Baylor with a BBA in Marketing in 1979 and followed my Dad into the Luby’s organization.  While that never was my plan, it turned out to be a tremendous opportunity to work for an incredible company.  I went back to school in 1993 and got an MBA from the University of Houston.  

Because of ties to some Luby friends, I met my incredible wife in 1981, and we were married in 1982.  We celebrate 42 years together this year and I am blessed beyond measure to have Beverly in my life.  We have two incredible children who are both married now.  Both our son and daughter have two awesome kids that we do not get to see enough.  We are Bee and Pops to our grandkids and few things give me more pleasure than hearing them call our names.

I worked my way up the ladder at Luby’s and left the company in 1998 as an Area Vice-president. For a time, I continued in the food business with a local restaurant group in Houston. Then I spent a small time in the Life Insurance business but figured out it was not my strong suit.  We continued to live in Houston until 2007 when we moved to San Antonio where I took a job as President and Director of Operations for a local restaurant group there. We also wanted to be closer to both my Dad and Beverly’s parents. (I lost my mom in 1993 to Breast Cancer.)

We have really enjoyed San Antonio, primarily because of family and the friends that we have reconnected with and also the new friends we have made. (One cannot have too many friends!)
 
What’s going on in your life now?  

I have left the food business and am working as a Landman in the Oil and Gas industry.  A huge change from the food business, but I really enjoy the people and the process.  I have no plans to retire at this point, primarily because this line of work gives me great flexibility and we can pick up and go see grandkids whenever we want to.

I still love to play golf, and I head to Victoria every April to play in a golf tournament with my son at the Victoria Country Club.  It also gives me the opportunity to occasionally see some classmates while I am there.

Beverly and I love to travel and have been blessed with the opportunity to visit some great places.  We have seen most of our 50 states during our travels and have visited about 20 foreign countries. We spent some time in Tuscany earlier this year with friends and went to the Holy Land with our kids a number of years ago, both of these trips rank among our favorites.  We have more trips planned and hopefully we can continue to enjoy our travels while seeing old friends and also making new ones.
 
Are there any lessons you've learned along the way that you'd like to share with others?

Life is so very different than I ever imagined.  In my opinion, you should say “yes” as many times as you can and always find the good in the people around you.  We are not promised a minute as we never know when the Good Lord will call us home.
 
Favorite Motto or words to live by: 

“Trust the past to God’s Mercy, the present to God’s Love, and the future to God’s Providence.”   Saint Augustine
 
Will you make the 50th Reunion on April 12, 2025? 

The reunion is on the calendar, and we look forward to seeing all that make it there.

Colleen Dorney (Klingseisen)

SPOTLIGHT STINGAREE:  WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

MARGARET CRABTREE BALIN

I am so happy to share the “Where are they now” story of one of my closest friends, Margaret Crabtree Balin.  I’m sure you’ll love hearing about her adventures in this month’s Spotlight Stingaree series.
 

When did your Victoria life begin?  
I was born in Fort Worth at the Edna Gladney Home for Unwed Mothers (there’s an old black/white movie about the founding of the home, starring Greer Garson called Blossoms in the Dust—great movie!) I was brought to Victoria at three days old. My two younger brothers were adopted from the same place, three and six years later. I grew up in the “Old Victoria” area next door to the old Victoria Hospital. My dad would walk through our back yard gate into the back entrance of the hospital. I remember him going on house calls with his brown medical bag that always intrigued me with all the little medicine vials and tools that miraculously fit in that bag. 

When I was very little, I wanted to be a horse, and when I sadly came to the realization that wasn’t going to happen—I decided it was okay, because I would just be an Indian. That way I would get to ride horses all day and not wear shoes. Now, I do have to wear shoes, but I get to ride whenever I want!

 
I’d love a couple of fun memories from growing up in Victoria.
I went to Trinity Episcopal kindergarten through fifth grade with Kate Smith, Kay Klotzman, Jeff New, Bobby McCan and Dan Franklin (my first "unofficial” boyfriend - “unofficial” because I’m not sure he ever knew about it).

In sixth grade we moved from old Victoria, where there were no kids to play with, to “kid heaven” in Country Club. Dan Franklin lived right across the street for a short while, until they moved away from Victoria. Jamie Blair lived next door, Karen Cyphers lived down the street, Loree Starkey, Jeanie Shields, Julie Stern, John Anger—sooo much fun! Margaret Bishop’s family bought a place about a mile away (out in the country back then). It had a wonderful horse barn, and I begged my parents to let me keep a horse there so we could ride together. We rode all over without a care in the world, until I fell off my horse in front of Stanley School and fractured my neck and skull. I don’t remember how long I was unable to ride, but I do remember riding in my mechanical neck brace with Cindy Macha and some other girls and hoping my parents didn’t drive by and catch me!!
 

Who from VHS had an impact on your life? 
I had Mrs. Mona Garrett for Health class in my sophomore year in high school. She changed my life forever when I questioned her about her faith. She led me to Christ that afternoon with her testimony. I am eternally grateful to her for taking the time, after a long day of teaching, to make sure that I had the answers I needed to the most important question in life, “Where will I spend eternity?”

I didn’t have a lot of support to grow in my faith and I slowly drifted away. But in March 2003, I re-dedicated my life to Christ. And what an incredible journey it’s been— I can’t believe I spent so many years thinking I could have a FULL life without Him! I now serve on the Women’s Ministry team at our church in Bellville. Once I retired in 2020, I was able to attend the local Community Bible Study classes in Bellville. What an amazing worldwide organization!
 

Tell me about your life since VHS.  
The summer after high school graduation, my mother and I started flying lessons at a tiny little airport outside of Seguin. In the fall, I started college at Trinity University in San Antonio, I drove to Seguin once a week for Private Pilot lessons. Dawn Abbott was my roommate and since she already had her pilot license, she would often fly us back and forth to Victoria on weekends. I remember thinking that if I ever got as many hours as Dawn, I’d have it made! My junior year of college I transferred to Louisiana Tech in Ruston to get a degree in Professional Aviation. After graduating in 1979, I taught flying in Victoria for a few months and then moved to Houston and taught flying out of Andrau Airpark in west Houston at the edge of town. The Airpark is now Royal Oaks subdivision, a gated luxury home neighborhood.

In 1980 I started flying for Aviation Charter out of Hobby Airport, it was also the year that “Urban Cowboy” was released. We had four female pilots, a female Chief Pilot and Daryll (our “token” male)—haha! Guess who got to fly John Travolta around on some of his promotional flights in Texas. None of us women, Daryll got all those trips!! 

The next year (August 1981) the Air Traffic Controllers went on strike and the whole aviation industry, which had always been a bit unstable, pretty much tanked. When my mother unexpectantly died six months later, I moved back to Victoria to help my dad. We decided it would probably be a good time to go back to school, in case the whole aviation thing wasn’t going to work out. I moved to Austin and got an MBA at St. Edwards and then got back into aviation flying for a commuter airline out of Panama City for a year. Next job was in Dallas flying cargo out of Dallas Love Field for 4 months and FINALLY got hired at Southwest Airlines in 1988—my dream job since graduating Louisiana Tech! Every company either went out of business while I was there or within a year after leaving. I got to spend 32 amazing years at Southwest and when people ask me if I miss it, I always say I miss all the incredibly fun people I worked with. I sometimes miss the problem-solving challenges that happened every day and mostly the unbelievable views—flying parallel to a humongous line of thunderstorms and the raw power of constant lightning going every which way from the clouds, seeing a bit of Northern Lights flying in the Northwest and of course the UFO’s (hahaha--had to throw that in there!)

I met my husband (Tim) when our schedule happened to coincide for the month of January in 1992 and we were married two years later. I asked Mona Garrett’s husband, Judge Garrett, to officiate at our wedding because of my relationship with her and his friendship with my father. Her Alzheimer’s had already set in, and she wasn’t completely clear on who I was, but I still wanted her there as an important connection in my life.  It was a blessing.

Tim had two children from a previous marriage that were six and eight when we married. I love them as my own and I can’t imagine my life without these two precious people. Hayley (36) has given us three granddaughters and they live in the Woodlands. Justin (38) lives in the Spring Branch area of Houston. So thankful they both live in the area!
 

What’s going on in your life now?  
In 2013, I finally convinced Tim that it was time to move out into the country. We bought 53 acres west of Houston near Cat Spring. We now have three horses, two mini donkeys and one dog that showed up to live with us and stole our hearts.
 

Who were some of your VHS bestie’s growing up? 
Colleen and I have been like sisters since reconnecting in 1980. What a ride it’s been through all the highs and lows of life, and to get to have someone to be right at your side through it all.  It is one of God’s best blessings! 

I keep in touch with Dawn Abbott (Pakebusch) whenever I’m in Victoria and I talk to Charli Donoghue occasionally. I got to reconnect with Ellen Swanson (Smith Brumback), Mechelle Rogers (Pozzi), Francie Strane (Byrne) and Beth Alberts last April at Ellen’s place near La Grange—soo much fun!

Favorite Motto or words to live by: 
My Favorite Bible Life Verse is Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.
(As in, quit trying to control things you have no control over—trust the One who created everything and is working out His perfect plan!)
 

Will you make the 50th Reunion on April 12, 2025? 
I am planning on attending the 50th Reunion, even though it’s my husband’s 70th birthday that weekend. But after thirty years in the airline world and usually working on holidays, we just celebrate the whole month anyway!

Tom Kovach

WOW -- an amazing life, well lived.  I remember you from school, but didn't really know you.

Thank you for being bold about your faith in Jesus!  He is the most important thing in life.

Did you know that Harlan Oehlke lives a short distance from Hobby Airport?  He and I reconnected a few years ago, and then spent time together around the reunion two years ago.  He grew up in a house more or less behind the Dairy Treet at the intersection of Crestwood and Laurent.

Do you still fly at all?  Harlan owned a Piper Cub for several years, but he no longer flies.

I used to work in security at the Link Flight Simulation factories in Binghamton, New York, after my first tour in the Air Force.  (I was not a pilot; I was a cop.)  I have "flown" several types of aircraft -- without leaving the ground.  My favorite was the Blackhawk helicopter.  Years later, I had MS Flight Simulator on a home computer for a few years (until 19 men from the Middle East ruined that for everyone).  On the home sim, I have flown the Cessna 182, the Lear 45 (fun airplane!), the F-18 fighter (esp. out of "Area 51"), and have about 500 landings in the Boeing 737.  (About 350 of those could be walked away from....)  

Looking forward to hearing some of your cool stories in person at the reunion next year.  Thanks for sharing!

Colleen Dorney (Klingseisen)

SPOTLIGHT STINGAREE:  WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

BROOKS SCHRAMM

If you knew Brooks, you remember that shock of red hair, freckles and the sweetest smile ever.  He was a force to be dealt with on the basketball court, but always planning his next prank off the court.  It’s fascinating that Brooks has gone from “Class Cut-up” to giving his life to God.  I hope you enjoy reading about Brooks’ amazing life journey!
 

When did your Victoria life begin?  

We moved to Victoria in the late summer of 1962, when my Dad (Bennie Schramm) got a teaching position in mathematics at Victoria College.  The following year, my Mom (Lynn Schramm) got a position teaching typing and accounting at Victoria High School.
 

I’d love a couple of fun memories from growing up in Victoria.

A few of my favorite memories from high school are drag racing in Nick Bednorz’ 1967 Mustang GT after evenings spent at Sun Valley.  Another “car memory” was going way, way, way too fast down Sam Houston Dr. in Jeff David New’s “Riviera” (and getting pulled over; Jeff received no ticket, because the officer was a golfer).

 I also remember playing ping pong in Ray Midgett’s garage after graduation and listening to Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out.” Also, I spent time hanging out with neighbor Marc Ashley’s foreign exchange student Hirosumi “Tom” Tomatsu.

But, one of my favorite memories is Buccaneer Days in Corpus in May 1975.  The Victoriadores were staying in a hotel on Mustang Island.  Late at night, a small group of us somehow managed to scale the outside wall up to the second floor and join the party that was in progress.  We were soon discovered by chaperons and promptly ‘dismissed.’
 

Who were some of your VHS bestie’s growing up and are you still connected? 

Let me just make a list.  The guys I grew up with were:  Jim Bohn, Jeff David New, Marc Ashley, Nick Bednorz, Shayne Bollman, Kenny Brosch, Steve Goodman, Jimmy Grieve, Paul “Ditty” Markette, Ray Midgett, Monty Montgomery, Mike Moore, Steve Novotny, Frank Rab and Jimmy Vacek.

The girls were:  Mary Jane Quitta (who memorized the Texas State Constitution in 7^th grade), Cindy Macha, Marie May, Kathy Montgomery, Carol Mueller, Becky Reedy, Jeanne Shields, Loree Starkey, Ellen Swanson and Linda Wheeler.
 

Who from VHS had an impact on your life? 

The person that most influenced me was Coach Mike Smith.  He challenged and pushed me to get better at basketball and taught me what it took to win.  The Smith’s became – and remain – dear family friends.

Another life influencer was Ms. Esther Williams.   She was an excellent teacher and encouraged me to be serious academically.
 

Tell me about your life since VHS.  

After VHS, I headed to College Station to attend Texas A&M University.  I graduated in 1979 with a BA in German and History. I was involved with the Lutheran church throughout my growing up years.  When I started studying German at A&M, I became fascinated by the study of language, and went on to make German a second major.  

So I decided to give seminary a try right after graduation.  I had many questions relating to religion, and my home pastor encouraged me to go to seminary for a year and see if I might like it.  My seminary experience began with the intensive study of Greek, and I found that though it was difficult, I was able to excel at it and love it. Then in the second year, I began the study of classical/biblical Hebrew, and that’s what really charged me up.  After 4 years of seminary, I received my Masters of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA.

I went on to became a parish pastor from 1987 to 1994 at Faith Lutheran Church in August, IL.

I then was accepted at the University of Chicago to pursue the PhD in Hebrew Bible, and the rest, for me, is history. In 1993 I was awarded a PhD in Hebrew Language & Literature from The University of Chicago.  That degree set me up to become a professor at our oldest Lutheran seminary in North America (in Gettysburg, PA), where I taught for 25 years preparing students to become pastors.

I married Kirsi Stjerna in 2005 and between us we have four kids (41, 37, 29, 26) and one granddaughter (8).  When my wife, who is also a theology professor, was offered a new teaching position at our Lutheran seminary in Berkeley, CA, I resigned my position and went with her to California, where I once again began serving as a parish pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Goleta (Santa Barbara), CA.

What’s going on in your life now?  

I am currently enjoying life as a Lutheran parish pastor in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA.  The weather and scenery here are incredible.  We are beginning to plan for retirement, and when that happens we will be moving to the family farm outside of El Campo, right next door to my sister, Dobie Schramm Rod.

My wife (Kirsi) is from Finland, and we enjoy travelling to Europe whenever possible, especially Finland, Germany and Italy.

Are there any lessons you've learned along the way?

Cherish your parents while you still have them.  Cherish them even more once you don’t.

Favorite Motto or words to live by: 

 “Gig ’em, Aggies”

Or, on a more serious note:  “Gig ’em, Aggies”

Will you make the 50th Reunion on April 12, 2025? 

I would really really love to, but the reunion falls at the absolutely worst time for me: the beginning of Holy Week.  So, the answer is a very regretful no.

I’ve been gone from Texas for 45 years.  That’s too long, and I shall return.
 

Carol Ann Mueller (Gruen)

It is so great to hear from you Brooks.  I have often thought about you and where you're life and walk with God took you.  Wow, Dr. Schramm.  So glad you have kept up with Coach Smith.  I'm sorry you're not going to make the reunion but maybe one day we can catch up in person.  Don't forget, I'm you're first wife...or was I the husband that pastor Monty Erben married!!  Take care, Carol   Gig "em

Tom Kovach

Brooooooooooooooks!!  

I remember sitting behind you in Coach Lawrence's history class.  (Can't remember if that was 9th or 10th grade).  We used to cut-up and have some laughs.  I think that we may have "re-written history" a few times.

Wasn't it you (along with Jeff New) that encouraged me in the 8th grade to develop a "fancy" signature?  Well, I still use it.

Our lives have some interesting parallels.  I'd love to chat.  Too bad that you won't be at the reunion.

Did you intend the pun that, after studying Greek and Hebrew, "the rest is history"...??  

(I didn't realize that the upcoming reunion was during Holy Week.  I had not looked that far ahead on the calendar.  But, when I was at the reunion two years ago, I found a nice church to visit while in town.  So, I still plan to attend the reunion.  I have thought about you several times over the years, and you will be missed in April.)

Much respect for the path that you have chosen.

Kenneth Ray Brosch

Very interesting to hear the path you have taken.  Out of all my high school friends, you are one that I would not have expected to live a religious life and become a pastor.  I guess it confirms that the Lord works in mysterious ways.  Sorry you can't make it to the reunion.  Gig 'em

Marie May (Myers)

Brooks, I still say if Mrs what's-her-name was more forward thinking she would have accepted my book report on the future ever though it was a history assignment.

Charles Fife

As many will note, Brooks continues to be a special person. I did not graduate from VHS as my parents dragged me kicking and screaming to Deer Park, Texas. I was able to spend many weekends in Victoria duing our High School Years, thanks to Steve Reynolds (anther darn Aggie) and his family, who I always considered my second family, but enough about me, This is about Brooks.

Brooks was one of our Quarterbacks in Junior High at both Crane and Howell, along with Marc Ashley (another darn Aggie). I took many a handoff from both, but primarily Brooks. I also remember the Little League and Pony League years playing baseball with Steve and against Brooks, Marc and Mark Gentry.

Brooks and I spent many days playing Stratamatic Baseball, which was the precursor to what has become Fantasy Baseball and Football today. It was a great game and Brooks was very adept at playing it. Our favoroite players seemed to be Jim Palmer, Boog Powell, Frank Robinson and yes BROOKS Robinon. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I remember the Sun Valley CC and trying to get the right ticket stapled to our collar so we could drink beer. I lost touch with Brooks over the years, and when we recoonnected he told me of his journey that he listed here. We had an interesting similairty in the German language. Brooks took German to heart. I studied German for 3 years in High Shool and 2 years in College, and while fluent, that was as far as I took it. Brooks was able to become a real Orioles Fan while he was in Virginia and I remember him saying he was a season ticket holder.

Glad to hear that you are still kicking Brooks, and while Santa Barbara is nice - It aint Texas. Got no GiG EM here is we bleed that sunset Burnt Orange. It seems like all yall became Aggies - Hookem 

Cynthia Lynn Macha (Hanson)

Brooks- just your name makes me smile!  I still remember your grin like it was yesterday.  I also remember your mom as a teacher standing near her doorway during class changes, and your gorgeous sister !  Your post made me so happy and yes God is so good!!!