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12/11/09 02:21 PM	#120
Garry Davis Merry Christmas to everyone, and may God bless you. Gar

12/18/09 10:54 AM	#121
Sidney Gross Gary has still got to be the fastest running back ever.... He is still leading the league in good tidings and wishes for a wonderful Merry Christmas to all. I'll just take the end-around hand-off and scamper in for Happy New Year. Everyone -- Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to all, Sid Gross

01/02/10 10:27 AM

#122

Bob Gurley

Happy New Year!

01/03/10 08:31 PM

#123

Linda Fagan (Chanler)

We gathered in Paris on the Red River on Saturday, Jan. 2nd to set our friend Becky Jo free to float the river. I thought some of you might like to read what Michael, her dear love of 13 years, wrote about the day. It was a beautiful day indeed. We will miss you Becky.
......

January 2, Saturday, 2010

It was a bright new day, white with streaming wisps of winter clouds moving within the blue sky... and as the day progressed to high noon we drove into Paris, Texas,,, barely late considering the time spent traveling from Austin. The small crowd of faithful were waiting at the Church (Becky's brother John, his paramour Debbie, Dickey Amos, Pat Crabtree, his three sisters, Betsy, Priscilla, Roma and their 3 kids... Linda Chanler, Becky's son Adam, Blair and their little girl Rachel; an 8th generation Texan I should think). Everyone exchanged howdy's and hugs in a calm and jovial way, the nature of a Parisite, and mounted their vehicles for the 20 minute trip to "The Red".

When we arrived, we found a gate barring access to the river's bank. We were only mildly surprised to see Dickey had arranged to have keys... he's the president of the bank you know... so we were able to drive down the sandy path to a most serene and beautiful spot right on the river's edge. It had rained earlier in the week but the sand could bare my wedge heals and the water had gone cool blue/green. I got solid on the rim and turned to see Adam. His steps were deliberate, careful... slow motion walking down the raise with her in his hands.

It was her all right. A breeze blew over me, played Hell with my composure. I was shocked in the tenderest way though... to see Adam, head bent as he held her body's essence close... as a father might hold a newborn child.

*****

I don't remember what I said. Something about this not being your average ceremony, something about ancestors... and our desire to live on the
Red someday... but careful not to open the window too far, I just played a tune on my clarinet, warm low register notes that lingered for a moment then dove straight into the water.

Adam beckoned me over, we bent down together and he said, "Your body's free Mom.... and now so is your soul" and we spilled her into the waters
edge... embraced; he was the Father.

It was a golden yellow afternoon now, and she was picked up by the currents, like a streaming wisp of winter clouds , moving within the blue/green water, bobbing with the current, the heart beat of the channel... under an ancient train trestle and... finally... out of sight.

Her brother John said, "She'll be in the gulf by morning."

Another said, " Never be anyone like Becky Jo."

I smiled at that... and cried for myself.

Becky Jo Biard
1951-2009

01/11/10 12:09 PM

#124

Mike Bowden

Just returned from a great few days in Pasadena CA watching the Longhorns play the BCS National Championship Game along with Mike Sanders and my son Josh. Ran into John Biard and Richard Quarles at the tailgate party...Paris was well represented!

Then had to spend a few days in Vegas......

01/13/10 05:57 PM	#125
Linda Fagan (Chanler) It never fails.....we can always run into a Parisite no matter where we go :)

07/08/10 09:39 AM

#126

Larry Jordan

It is rather ironic that on the front page of our class website, it has the entrance to Pat Mayes Lake. With the death of Coach Nance, some of my most pleasant and enjoyable experiences as an adult revolved around camping at Pat Mayes on the weekends for several years in a row. While Judy and I and our two oldest daughters were camping beginners--Coach Nance and Charlie Sparks (also deceased) were old hands at it and were there every weekend--rain-sun-sleet or snow. It was really a great feeling sitting around a campfire at night or just hanging out with "Phillip" and "Charlie" (it was hard to call them by their first names) and knowing that I was finally a grown man with a family and accepted as such by Coach Nance and Mr. Sparks. One winter we were camping and I got up early to get the campfire going and Coach was already sitting in his lawnchair and after I got my fire going he offered me a cool beverage to get the day started and so I attempted to open his cooler BUT the lid was frozen solid and after I jerked it open finally-----all the water inside the cooler was frozen solid--Coach laughed his ass off--it was about 20 degrees. That was the last weekend camping that year for us but Coach and Mr. Sparks kept going right through winter and was there in the spring when we returned. And of course Coach gave me a hard time for being such a sissy.

For those who missed the Noyes Stadium retirement party, you missed a great opportunity to see Coach Nance at his best. Looked to be in great shape and his mind was sharp as a tack. He remembered things that happened on that field and talked about it like it had only happened the week before. Living in Paris, while not seeing Coach everyday or for that matter every week, you could see him fairly regularly which some how translated in to "somehow the world is OK Coach Nance is still around"!!!! I will really miss him and am ashamed for not attempting to see and talk to him more. Somehow in my heart of hearts, I really believe Coach Nance had a special place in his heart for those of us who were honored to have played football for him and in particular the Class of 1969. He will be missed!!!!

09/10/10 08:55 AM

#127

Mike Bowden

Larry Don, such an elegant memorial! It is clear you maintained a special relationship with Coach Nance.

Age seems to bring a special appreciation for my forebears that I wish I had developed years ago. I remember, as if it were yesterday, the days at Wise Field with Coach Nance running practice; the smell of cut grass, the hot sun of two-a-days and the cool breezes of fall. Most of all I remember the teammates and coaches, many of whom were only a few years our senior. It was a special time in my life that will always remain with me and he was our undisputed leader. I just wish I had been smart enough to enjoy it more while it was happening - but I guess I thought it would always be that way......

09/12/10 11:03 AM

#128

Bill Horton

Sorry to hear about Bobby Puckett. I still think of him as being such a young guy. I think we were in the eighth grade at Crockett when he began his student teaching there and that was followed by an opportunity for him to become a regular member of the Crockett faculty.

09/23/10 04:57 PM

#129

Joel Guest

Mike

this looks like Barrett Swimming Pool on North Main in Paris TX....

Joel

09/27/10 12:15 PM

#130

Angela Stewart (Lewis (Crockett 1964))

Looks like they're scrubbing the swimming pool!

12/27/10 09:26 AM

#131

Bob Gurley

_{Happy New Year to You and Yours!}

05/02/12 11:43 PM

#132

Kathy Babb (Magnuson)

Happy Birthday to all with birthdays in MAY!!!! O h my are we really getting this age ?!!!

12/07/14 03:30 PM

#133

Bill Grayson

Merry Christmas to all my classmates - 1969!! December 7th, remember Pearl Harbor!!

2014 almost done

Bill Grayson

12/07/14 06:48 PM

#134

Mike Bowden

And, Merry Christmas to you!

12/08/14 11:46 AM

#135

Cheryl Caldwell (Brown)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BILL!

12/10/14 01:12 PM

#136

Robert Phillips

Merry Christmas to you, Bill

01/09/15 09:14 PM

#137

Kathy Babb (Magnuson)

I just would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ALL in January !!! Hope all your wishes come true !!

01/11/16 09:48 AM

#138

Bill Grayson

Its January 2016, not many posts going on. Hopefully it means we are all busy and do not have time to sit and type?? Everyone have a good year - looking forward to seeing all again.

Bill Grayson

04/14/24 09:37 PM

#139

Eddie Fitzgerald

55th reunion was awesome! Great time catching up with old friends! Thanks to Mike and everyone who made this meeting great!

God bless each and everyone of you!

Eddie Fitzgerald

04/15/24 12:14 PM

#140

Keith Nash

Such a fun time visiting with '69 classmates. So glad we came! Thx to Mike and all others involved, that made the 55th reunion such a success. God bless you all and let's stay healthy. The 60th will be here before we know it. Love to all.....

Keith and Rachelle Nash

04/17/24 10:53 AM

#141

Dwight Logee

Hi gang, many thanks to all who worked so hard to make our 55th Reunion a success! The decorations were beautiful, and Vicki and I had a wonderful time! Take care of yourselves, and hoping that we can all do it again next time! Dwight

04/17/24 12:53 PM

#142

Bobby Hargroves

Thanks to all on the reunion committee for your efforts and commitment to the Class of 1969. It was a great success and I had a fun time at all the events. It was wonderful to see all the classmate that we there. Those who were not able to make it, please be sure your were not forgotten. I am sure someone there remembered you or asked about you. Hope to see you all at the next reunion, Best wishes to all and take care.

04/19/24 07:27 AM

#143

Dr. Bill Snell

It was great to see the pictures of everyone. So many missed friends and classmates! I mysel missed the reunion due to back surgery, the result of trying to reach a par 5 in two. Must remember to swing within my limits. Hope all of you are doing okay; wishing the best for each of you. Be safe, Bill Snell

04/19/24 04:37 PM

#144

Laird Wallace

Thanks for the photos, it was great seeing everone that attended. I know everone appreciates Mike's work and the help he had for pulling it all together. I hope to see all of you at the 60th reunion. I am wishing the best for all of you.

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