Welcome Home Captain Burke!

Recently, classmate Carl Phillips, IMHO, took the vacation of a lifetime, and hopped (or shall we say, swaggered) aboard the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier for a Tiger Cruise. "Tiger Cruises allow friends and family of deployed Sailors and Marines to spend a week aboard a sea-going vessel to experience the ship's day-to-day operations and enhance public relations with the Navy." Who was hosting this little trip with from Hawaii to San Diego? Why, classmate, commander, and IMHO, man with the job of a lifetime, Captain Thom Burke.


How easy does the Navy make entertaining their guests look?


PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 5, 2011) – The aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 pass in formation over the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during a Tiger Cruise Air Show. Tiger Cruises allow friends and family of deployed Sailors and Marines to spend a week aboard a sea-going vessel to experience the ship's day-to-day operations and enhance public relations with the Navy. Ronald Reagan is returning from a seven-month deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexander Tidd/RELEASED)

The Mighty Morgans

The early 80's graduation classes are well represented in the Morgan family. Barb, Ron, & Kathy in 1969....

...and Barb, Kathy, & Ron now.

Great Image Found in the Internet "Vault!"

Old School Corbin Street

From left to right in adorable sweater and dresses: Tammy, Bonnie, & Alicia.

Warren Bates Passed Away September 9th

The passing of both our classmates, Jack Trusty and Warren Bates, in only six days, reaffirms my commitment to bring us together as a class as often as possible. In the meantime, I'm hoping that anyone reading this blog will take a moment to think kindly of those classmates who made an impact on you, and who you no longer see or speak to, due to life's ways. Perhaps it's time to use this amazing utility called the Internet, to look up that special someone's address, and drop them a note or card to let them know you are thinking of them.

I remember Warren as a quiet and very gentle soul. If you think about it, we are each other's "witness" during these childhood years that seem so far away now.

My caring thoughts to Warren's family and to his friend and our friend, Jeff Hunter.

Warren G. Bates, age 49, of Holly, died Sept. 9, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Sat. Sept. 17, 2011 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Rev. Sharlyn Gates officiating. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be from 6-9 PM Thurs. and from 2-9 PM Friday. Warren was born in Detroit on May 3, 1962 the son of Gordon and Helen (Dale) Bates. He loved his family, his dog Mabel, the outdoors, gardening, and shooting pool. He was a member of the Holly Moose Lodge. He is survived by his mother Helen Bates of Holly; 2 brothers Curtis (Jane) Bates of CA and Stuart (Loretta) Bates of Hartland; sister Laura (Richard) Spens of Livonia; special friend Carol Shanks of Flint; nieces and nephews Rachel (Robbie) Loutsios, Matt Bates, Cody, Sierra, and Savanna Bates, and Steven, Elijah, Kimberly, and Paul Spens. He was preceded in death by his father Gordon Bates. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association. www.dryerfuneralhomeholly.com

Jack Trusty Passed September 3rd, 2011

I can really relate to Jack and Lynne's wedding pictures. Stock car culture is a joyous and colorful world.

Jack was a school bus driver for Rabun County (GA) Schools; leaves wife, Lynne, and two sons.