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What a grand weekend...can't thank the committee enough! I hope we can do it again in 5 or 10 years. For all those that were wishing me luck on the possible recognition as Texas Poet Laureate, I got word this morning from the Texas Commission on the Arts that I was named 2011 Texas State Poet Laureate... I can't seem to get this silly grin off my face!

Luv to all!

05/04/11 09:23 AM

#30

Georgana Dettman (McNeil)

Dave Congratulations....that is fabulous news and you so deserve to have that grin on your face. WoooHooo.

05/05/11 03:54 PM

#31

Laura Martin (Labatt)

Cheers for the team of classmates that gave us a reunion to remember. Weir and I had a fun time visiting all on the second floor of the Commodore and the many classmates enjoying themselves at the Westwood CC dining, dancing and sharing their life stories. Thank you for making this happen for the class of '61.

Grateful, Laura

05/05/11 11:06 PM

#32

Christine Hatch (Jones)

Just 2 small words -- thank you -- but a thousand could not say more. To ALL the classmates who have spent the last couple of years (?) planning and organizing the Reunion, what memories you created. You're awesome and greatly appreciated. Blessings, Christine

05/09/11 02:52 PM

#33

WOW!!! Committee your hard work paid off. What a wonderful party. It was great being back in 1961. Which was a good year. Just to short in time to be with everyone but I tried. thanks, thanks, and thanks

your new classmate,

Patsy Cline aka Georgana Dettman McNeil

05/20/11 07:56 AM

#34

http://www.arts.state.tx.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=495:5132011-texas-state-artists-selected&catid=172:tca&Itemid=61

Hi-ho Classmates,

Re; 2011 Texas State Poet laureate Ceremony

The event will be on Friday, May 27th in the Senate Chambers at the Capitol. I understand that the Session begins at 10 AM and they try and get these matters out of the way first thing. There is no guarantee what time they will do the Texas State Artist proclamation. Last year, they concluded around noon. My family and I will be headed over to Sholz’s Garden afterward to celebrate...were thinking around noon. Would love to see anyone else that would like to attend! Here are a couple of links to the Texas State Artist info:

www.arts.state.tx.us/stateartist

Still grinning like a fool in Conroe,

All love,

Dave

UPDATE:

I recently completed my year (May 27th) as the state Poet Laureate and I must report to you that the most emotionally nostalgic highlight of the year was being invited to lead the readings held for student Vets at Austin Community College and the great honor of being interviewed for their journal at their main campus, which is of course, our old campus...what a trip, sitting in front of the entrance and trying to answer questions while my mind was receiving all those signals from memories of 1959-61. Some clips of the interview are available online at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkUrNh6-tgE the entire interview is published in their literary journal, "Rio Review." Loyal Forever my old friends and Happy 4th of July!

05/25/11 09:07 AM

#35

Good Morning AHS people...it was great seeing everyone at the reunion although it was way toooooooo short and I didn't get to talk to everyone...

Let's keep this board going so we can all keep up till the next time. I think we have the greatest class ever to have graduated from AHS. Update your profile with new pictures and what you are doing...or just post here what's up.

I keep checking for reunion photos but no one has posted any...what's up with that ??? I know people were taking pictures...not me since I was too busy running my mouth and never even opened my camera...so let's get some photo's on that page

Everyone stay safe and have a good Memorial Day weekend...thanks to all the vets that have saved us and our country...God Bless You...and special prayers for Barbara Bailey Gaines who remains in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. Love to all and Loyal Forever,

Terri

10/12/11 05:41 PM

#36

Christine Hatch (Jones)

I wanted those who remember to know that Barry Bishop died in Austin this week. Barry was a native Austinite who never left. He went to O'Henry Jr High and graduated from ASH in 1960 (a class ahead of us). He grew up along with many of us in West Austin (Bonnie Road, Cherry Lane, etc). He went on to Law School at UT (I think) and was a practicing attorney until shortly before his death. May he rest in peace.
christine hatch jones

10/23/11 10:49 PM

#37

Charline Beardsley (Eppright)

Thanks for posting Christine...I remember Barry and thought highly of him...we are losing so many great old friends....

12/22/11 02:16 PM

#38

Russ and I will be spending Christmas with our children and 3 grandchildren at our son's ranch. I may even get to go horseback riding which I have not done in ages. I just hope I don't get too saddle sore.

I hope everyone in the class of '61has a wonderful Christmas.

12/22/11 04:43 PM

#39

Hi there to all...Happy Holidays!!!! I can't believe I didn't know this part of our website was here....I would have been yakking on it all of the time..lol. Well, since I was sick on T-giving and didn't get to celebrate it, I am really looking forward to our family gathering for Christmas. We plan to leave Christmas morning for a little town located between Brownwood and Abilene where my oldest son and his family and I will be spending a four day visit with my other son and his family. Now lets see, since he married and grew heir to three more children, giving him a total of seven counting his two daughters and two sons, we will be very, very crowded!! lol Oh no, that means I now have eight grandchildren.....do I get a prize???? Who beat me in that catagory?? lol Even though we might be a little crowded, it's a time of happiness and joy that I just can't do without.

It is my wish that all of my classmates have a wonderful and Happy Christmas. Be safe so we can continue our visits here on our '61 AHS website in the coming year too. Have a Happy New Year and I'll see you in 2012.

01/21/12 09:50 AM	#40
Martha Cheavens (Kvols) When I moved to Baltimore (hubby was an intern at Johns Hopkins) in 1970, it took me a while to realize that when someone said "the coast," they were taking about Calfornia, not Corpus, Galveston, etc.!

03/21/12 06:35 PM

#41

Christine Hatch (Jones)

THANKS FOR THE BLUEBONNETS -- they are beautiful. Here in Central Oregon we have a "relative" Lupine that is taller and thinner; they appear along the trails in clusters but never a field full -- and still the "flower people" who hike get all excited. Nothing compared with Texas Bluebonnets in the Spring -- but I am respectable and quiet and share pictures of the "real" bluebonnets only once a year or so!! Miss the wildflower shows of the Texas hills.

christine hatch jones

05/11/12 07:17 PM

#42

Goodness so much has happened since I last posted on here!!!! I just had a hip replacement...now I'm not old and wearing out, I'm just trying to be in A-1 shape for the next reunion and able to dance a little better next time. lol. I'm sure you all know that my oldest son and family lost all they had in the fires here last September. Well, they just poured the foundation for their new home and they are so excited and I am excited for them. Their daughter, my oldest granddaughter, will be graduating on June 1 and I am downloading some of her recent prom pictures and will be adding them to my profile page. So be sure and take a look....she's a tall and beautiful young lady. Gosh, I never had her figure when I was in school, remember???? lol Well, I guess that has brought me up to date on what's happening in my life...I hope to hear from some of you soon. Loyal Forever!!!!!

06/13/14 11:30 AM

#43

Ronald, (Ron) Vickers

This is not a response. I just thought I would jump on here and say hello to all and hope everthing is going well. As I don't seem to ever write anything maybe everyone will see the congratulations, great jobs done Merry Christmas, Happy Birthdays and let all my classmates know how much I enjoyed going to AHS with them and knowing them. Always enjoy every reunion and look forward to the next. Love all you guys and wish you a happy and prospers future. ronnyv

Long future that is!

06/20/14 10:57 PM

#44

Ditto to all of that Ronnie. lol I just thought it was time to get on here again and say my hellos to all of my former classmates and good friends. I'm doing great now following my bout with cancer...gosh I just hate that word. Don't you??? When you say it slow and deliberate, you just want to scrunch up your face like you do when you smell something rotten. But it can turn in a hurry when your oncologist gives you the results of your PET scan and tells you everything is clear!!!! Enough of that.....I'm still hoping one day to make it to one of our class mini luncheons at Barton Creek Mall. I must be getting old cause I don't drive in Austin much any more so haven't ventured in yet since my surgery. I did lose 35 pounds though so I look like my profile picture once again. lol I hope to hear from some of you soon here on our class site. Take care and big hugs to all.

06/21/14 05:58 PM

#45

We are having such a wonderful time getting together with our classmates. It's NOT just girls....guys are coming and it's awesome.

Every third Tuesday of the month is when we meet at

Los Abuelos 11:30am
2901 S. Capital of TX Hwy,
Barton Creek Square Mall, Austin, TX

You won't be disappointed I promise. It's so fun catching up from friends from high school and renewing wonderful memories.

If you live out of town and happen to be in town on one of these Tuesday please make it a point to come join us....and IF you live in town it's worth coming and seeing old friends. AWESOME

Loyal Forever and looking forward to seeing more new faces join us,
Terri Leshikar Caldwell

06/21/14 07:24 PM

#46

Ronald, (Ron) Vickers

Diana, sounds great and I'm so happy you are feeling good. If you have GPS in your car it is a snap to get around. If you don't have one they are not very expensive for a portable one. It will take you where ever you want to go. You will enjoy the lunch get together and if I can drive from Lubbock, Tx. to be there you have no excuses. I of course can not make every lunch but I had such a great time on my first one this past Tuesday that I'm going to make an effort every chance I get.

Thanks to all that organize get togethers for us we rreally appreciate you hard work.

ronnyv

06/22/14 03:22 PM

#47

Oh no...Ronny just put me on a guilt trip!! lol But you're right...if I can make arrangements to leave this property, remember I still have that dreaded term.....a job....managing this place, I'll try to make the next get together. Terri, I know you guys have fun cause my friends out here in Bastrop and I get together for a birthday dinner for one or two of them each month. We have it that same week you meet and several of us have coffee or sometimes dinner every Friday night too. We also have dinner and dancing every Tuesday night. So you see, I stay pretty busy....whew, makes me tired just mentioning it. lol I sometimes meet a friend in Austin for a day of shopping....maybe we can make it on the Tuesday you guys meet. Is it ok if I bring a guest??? Well, back to my Nascar race on TV. lol Hugs to you both.

08/13/15 12:14 PM

#48

Charline Beardsley (Eppright)

Info on my Austin book launch Sat. the 15th is pasted below...would love to see a few ole Maroons in the audience!

613 West 29th Street*Austin, TX 78705*Ph: 512-322-2097*info@malvernbooks.com

David Parsons Book Launch

Aug 15 @ 3:15 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us in celebrating the launch of David Parsons’ new and sixth poetry collection, Reaching for Longer Water. We’ll also enjoy live music from jazz guitarist Margaret Slovak.

David M. Parsons, 2011 Texas State Poet Laureate, is a recipient of many honors, including an NEH Dante Fellowship to SUNY Geneseo, the French-American Legation Poetry Prize, The Texas Review Poetry Prize, and the Baskerville Publisher’s Prize from TCU for an outstanding poem published in their literary journal, descant. He holds eight writing awards from Lone Star College System and was inducted into The Texas Institute of Letters in 2009.

Parsons grew up in Austin, graduating from Stephen F. Austin High School. After which, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve, where he served as a Squad Leader in a rifle company and later as a Recon-Scout Boat Team Leader. He attended The University of Texas and Texas State University, where he holds a BBA. After several years in business, advertising, teaching Marketing and coaching basketball and baseball at Bellaire High School, Parsons received his MA from the University of Houston’s Graduate Creative Writing Program. He teaches Creative Writing and Racquetball/Handball at Lone Star College-Montgomery. Parsons has four grown children and lives with wife Nancy, an award-winning Artist and Graphic Designer in Conroe, Texas. www.daveparsonspoetry.com

Join us in celebrating the launch of David Parsons’ new poetry collection, Reaching for Longer Water. We’ll also enjoy live music from jazz guitarist Margaret Slovak.

08/14/15 07:50 AM

#49

Congratulations on your new book, Dave. Wish I could go to the "launch" but we have a conflict that day. I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. Best Wishes!!!

08/14/15 08:49 AM

#50

David K. Longoria

Congratulation Dave! Would love to go but I will not be in Austin on the weekend. I know it will be very successful. I remember so many fond memories that we all shared in our high school advisory period.

I do look forward to seeing you either at our mini reunion or our class reunion. David

08/14/15 04:36 PM

#51

Carol Sue Bock (Gonzalez)

Dave,

Your literary achievement is unexpected and amazing. Congratulations and best wishes. I am aiming for a complete collection of your work. Being able to express your thoughts through this medium must be very satisfying, albeit a lot of work. Good luck!

Carol Sue Gonzalez

08/14/15 05:03 PM

#52