March 17, 2:00 – 3:00 PM CST
Fred Elder convened us for our third Class of 1960 Zoom.
Topics for the day: What are you looking forward to this spring? and thoughts about having an in-person 60th class reunion?
Participants:
Row 1:Lee Ayres, Fred Elder, Dave Kroenlein, Martie Dunlap Bogle; Row 2: Skip Granger, David Robinson, Jane Thompson Olson, Glenna Stearman Park; Row 3: Gayle McCune Ganger, Perry Ann Porter, Diane Rusch Zinn, Barbara Hammond
Glenna reported that Kay Ellen Consolver’s heart surgery went well. Fred held up a sample of the coming Mini-Messenger soon to be delivered to all classmates whose addresses we have.
New Participants
Martie Dunlap Bogle commented that she has had an ordinary, unremarkable life with no definitive career. She has two children and is divorced. She’s lived in Wichita the past fifteen years. Knowing that there is nothing ordinary when you are raising two kids, we hope to hear more from Martie in the future.
Perry Ann Porter lived near Fairmount Park, close to WSU, where she earned her graduate degree in educational administration. A recruiter from California interviewed her there for job possibilities in California, one of which she took and lived near the water as recommended by her father. Perry was an elementary teacher for eight years, then served in the Peace Corps seven years and lived in Belize, Jamaica, Bolivia and the Philippines. She also worked as a substitute teacher in high schools for 25 years. At the age of 61 she met Ed Brown, a musician and artist, and they eloped in Whistler, BC, Canada. Ed passed away a few years ago. She currently lives in Poulsbo, WA, an idyllic area north of Bainbridge Island about 90 minutes from Seattle. The author of four “small books” (her phrase), she plans to write for the Virtual Reunion website.
Comments about Spring and the Possibility for an In-Person Reunion
Lee Ayres said he is always interested in the reunion and what everyone thinks. Spring is his favorite time of the year. In his yard he has a number of citrus trees and crepe myrtles that need tending. He reminisced about spring 1960 when track season dominated his life and what a let-down he felt once the season was over. He noted his website article about that season and the team. After attending an outdoor party that spring, he realized that life was about to get more serious. And it did.
For more about the 1960 Track Team, see Lee Ayres, “The 1960 Mile Relay Team”
Dave Kroenlein considers a physical reunion to be increasingly difficult for many, and he personally has no interest in schlepping to a reunion; he prefers Zooms, the website, and other communications to stay in touch. Spring for David means working outdoors and dealing with the sore muscles that the physically taxing work causes. He agreed that it is a beautiful time of the year, but means he has to engage in physical labor. Like Lee, Dave has great memories of the track team in spring, 1960, especially the relay team, whose members were Larry Reid, Lee Ayres, Bob Hanson, and Sherman McClellan. No other recollections of spring, 1960, but it was undoubtedly enjoyable.
As a team manager, Dave has equal admiration but a different perspective on the
1960 State Championship Mile Relay Team. “Notes from the Sidelines”
Fred Elder reminded us that our class had some great baseball players – Jim Davidson and Mike Grier, one of the best hitters for his age – and that baseball is a quintessential spring activity.
Martie Dunlap Bogle: I agree with Dave Kroenlein about spring. I worked yesterday and I’m paying for it today. I agree that a physical reunion is difficult for many to manage. And “Hell,no” I won’t help with a reunion even though I live in Wichita.
Skip Granger: Currently hospitalized because of a fall, Skip joined the Zoom from his hospital room. He had his Alexa on hand to help, but also had a nurse named Alexis, and that was causing some confusion. Skip writes a newsletter for his Sigma Nu Chapter and is planning to attend the Sigma Nu Reunion at KU next October. He prefers that we have our class reunion the week before. Spring reminds Skip of San Francisco, where he moved from Hawaii during the ’67 Summer of Love. While in San Francisco, he purchased three properties, the value of which has escalated exponentially since then. A few years ago, Skip and Mary Ann’s friends sold their houses and moved to live near their children. With neighbors and friends gone, they sold the Bay-area house purchased in ’67 and down-sized to Arizona, where their son lives. Skip says he has some great Silicon Valley stories from his venture capital days and plans to write about them next for the website.
See Skip’s most recent article, “My Life in Art“ and samples of his paintings in the Gallery.
Barb Hammond: Donning her white Covid mask with large red lips painted on it was a
response to Fred’s email reminders to “wear your bright red lipstick.” This was a reference to Zoom 1 in which she commented that she had put on lipstick just for the occasion, but was never able to connect with video. She told us that, “Red is not my color; it makes me look like an old lady all tarted up for a day at the racetrack.” Removing her mask, Barb was wearing a pink of her choice. Barb’s favorite season is also spring, partly because her birthday is in April.
She would attend a physical reunion, suggesting perhaps two types of meetings such as a somewhat dressy “cocktail” event at the Wichita Art Museum and a casual picnic in a park at which we could have several food truck options for meals. She has no interest in a school tour and would be happy to scout for places for our activities, but does not want to serve on an organizing committee. She agrees that travel costs and physical health will make a reunion difficult for many people.
Barb’s interview with Elfrieda Shellenberger, age 101, in February is on the website.
Gayle McCune Ganger: After attending College of Emporia, I went to Albuquerque NM where I earned a Masters of Education. I married and we moved to Japan for three years. Following that, I’ve lived in Los Alamos NM, Richmond WA, Colorado, and Hawaii. I have worked in education from kindergarten to Masters programs and have been a Christian Education director. I am retired now.
David Robinson would like to see us have a physical reunion. When he lived in Wichita, he couldn’t wait to get away, but is happy to be a resident now. He mentioned that the Wichita real estate market is “hot,” citing soaring housing costs and extensive re-development in the downtown area. Examples he gave
included the old Innes building, which is being converted to an Osteopathic College that will begin operating in August, 2022. (Fred noted that Ronnie Troy is a board member for that college.) Henry’s is being restored to its original exterior appearance, but will house a culinary school and an event venue on the roof. Russell Stover Candies with the iconic blue glass front is being redeveloped as a Marriott Hotel. The old Continental Bus Station is now an attractive architects’ office. (Perry Ann commented that her dad was the architect for the Sutton Building, The Wichita Club, and others Wichita landmarks.) David also mentioned that Wichita’s aviation industry is booming and often attracts famous persons such as Harrison Ford, who regularly brings his plane to be serviced. David is a docent at the historic Allen House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and said that it could be available for tours during an in-person reunion. He is working on a story about Frank Lloyd Wright’s connections in Wichita.
David Kroenlein recalled knowing the Continental Bus Station when it was the Greyhound Bus Station. He once took the bus from Wichita to Boston. It was a long trip.
David wrote about his “Dream Job in Danang?!”
Jane Thompson Olson is currently RVing in sunny Gulf Shores AL, where the temperatures are in the 70’s. Jane says yes to a physical reunion. She’s interested in visiting the Wichita Art Museum and the new culinary institute as she has family involved. Jane would help with the reunion, and is open to options. She would prefer a spring reunion in late April or early May. Now, she is on her way to Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, then home to Illinois in late April.
Jane’s most recent story was about a January visit with classmate Dallas Crump Stevens in Florida, “On the Road Again”
Glenna Stearman Park: Glenna is unable to attend a physical reunion, but would
be happy to help in some capacity. During Zoom 3, she was also unable to connect by audio. In a brief moment with audio, she said that she was watching us closely and lipreading. Before she could hear us laughing, her audio went out again.
Glenna is our most prolific commenter on website stories and provides witty applause for our authors. In January, she wrote about “New Drivers and Car Envy.”
Gayle McCune Ganger wondered if anyone recalled the April Fool prank that someone played our senior year by putting a live goldfish in every toilet in the girls’ bathrooms. No one did, but Barb suggested she write a story for the website. Gayle favors a physical reunion, especially since she reconnected with old friends Perry Ann and Martie at the 55th. She misses Wichita since she no longer visits yearly to see her father who died at the age of 104.
Perry Ann Porter: As a fan of 60’s music, she prefers a casual reunion and would especially enjoy a sock-hop.
Fred Elder asked what the Zoomers thought of trying “virtual” links to reunion events; that is, live-streaming that would allow distant classmates to see and hear individuals and possibly interact. This sounded like a good idea to most of us and Perry Ann said she would be interested in working on making that happen.
Diane Rusch Zinn looks forward to spring to rejuvenate all her planting areas and delights in the new growth that follows. She favors a physical reunion in October, noting that she and Dick have never missed a reunion for either of their classes. She and Dick just returned from a spring trip to see friends in Houston and then to visit the World War II museum near New Orleans. She highly recommends the museum.
Fred opened the floor to miscellaneous questions.
David Kroenlein asked David Robinson if he’d been to Falling Waters yet. He hasn’t, so Lee suggested he also visit the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which is near Falling Water. Lee has worked with several Frank Lloyd Wright proteges. As a docent at the Allen House, David R. is enthusiastic about Wright and also about Nature Conservancy sites.
Skip Granger noted that years ago he bought a 1957 Plymouth Fury from a resident of the FLW Wichita house. He thought the owner later dived into a pool there and died. Skip reminded us with emphasis that this could be our last class reunion, and that’s an important factor to consider in our plans.
Barb Hammond thanked David R for the update on the resurgence in downtown Wichita and asked him to send pictures and an article for the website. She also encouraged Perry Ann to write about her Peace Corps experience and Gayle about the goldfish prank.
Lee Ayres commented that at our 55th reunion, Ronnie Troy suggested we at least meet every five years for lunch with whoever can get there until we reach 100!
Gayle Ganger noted that at a church camp in Colorado, she met a nurse from Poulsbo, WA, Perry Ann’s hometown.
Skip Granger cited a coincidence in the hospital he’s in, which he characterized as the Ritz Carlton Hospital of the Dead, that he had a nurse from Wichita.
Fred asked Lee to speak about his Tree Fresno project. Lee reported that he is working with a group interested in finding or developing a K-12 agricultural education curriculum that will focus on project-based learning activities, probably including school gardens. In the San Joaquin Valley, where almost anything will grow given enough water and soil enhancement, plantings are often chosen for color effect instead of what they produce for consumption.
Perry Ann commented that schools all had gardens in the countries where she served in the Peace Corps. The 5th and 6th graders tended the beehives. Students worked in those gardens before, during, and after school and were very proud of their produce. Diane added that school gardens are also common and quite productive in Lawrence.
Fred concluded the Zoom by again holding up a copy of the Mini-Messenger and thanking Barb Hammond for her excellent work on the layout. Her tolerance for all the edits from Marilyn, Diane, and Fred was remarkable.
[Editor’s note from Barb: Fred humbly neglected to say that those three did all the writing. So, thank you Fred, Diane, and Marilyn.]
