Mike Bowden

Linda Fagan (Chanler)

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!!!!

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......

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.

Joel Guest

Mike

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

Joel                        

Angela Stewart (Lewis (Crockett 1964))

Looks like they're scrubbing the swimming pool!

Bob Gurley

        _{Happy New Year to You and Yours!}

Kathy Babb (Magnuson)

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

Bill Grayson

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

2014 almost done

Bill Grayson

Mike Bowden

And, Merry Christmas to you!

Cheryl Caldwell (Brown)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BILL!
 

Robert Phillips

Merry Christmas to you, Bill

Kathy Babb (Magnuson)

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Butch Jones

55th reunion. It truly touched my soul.  Life’s highway with its adventures and experiences often carries us in directions away from friends and loved ones.  Kinda sad, but such is life.  I’m guessing that in general, of the friends our journey leaves behind, the ones we remember and miss the most are those from our high school years.  Such friends are treasured memories that often we can visit only in our memories.  I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to visit with a few of those treasures at our 55th reunion.  Thank you for being there.  As I said, it truly touched my soul.  I love you all. 

And thank you to everyone involved in putting the reunion together.  I know and understand that Mr. Bowden didn’t do it by himself; he had several superb helpers.  But how many people would do the job that Mike has done in keeping our class together and in making such reunions happen.  I’m amazed Mike.  Thank you, sir. 

Linda Fagan (Chanler)

Well said Butch!  I talk to many friends about our reunions and they either don't have class reunions or they don't attend.  I am grateful to have all of those memories to be able to reflect upon.  We are very fortunate to have Mike to continue to pull us together for these special times in our journey of life. Thank you Mike and the team. Take care everyone and it was great seeing all of you🥳

Peggy Good (Bryant)

Well said,  Butch.  I agree with all the posts and thank you's.  I am also truly appreciative of all the work that was done to make this weekend happen.  I heard many say that this was the best reunion yet. While we all are thankful to those who labored to make it happen, perhaps was it also the best reunion yet because now, at our ages, we appreciate more the occasions like these that we have together now.  Maybe, but I just had lots of fun!

Mike Bowden

I feel honored and privilaged to have played a part in our reunions.  We share a common bond formed in our youth that will forever be strong.  And, I wish all our classmates recalled those days at PHS with the same fondness for the good times that I feel. Our reunions have been successful because of those who volunteered to help plan them and, most importantly, so many of you were interested enough to attend.

Thank you for being part of my life for all these years. Whether we've be close or distant, you influenced and shaped my life... and, there's not much I'd change! I'm truly grateful for so many wonderful friendships.   

Seniors, Seniors, We Are Fine!
We're The Class Of '69!