Steer drawing supports Gym & Fitness Center
Bob Butler of Catch a Dream Ranch is providing a lot of steer for some lucky winners. Drawings are being held for portions of the steer on August 23, all to support the Goldendale Gym & Fitness Center. Three drawings will be held that day for one half, one quarter hind, and one quarter front portions of the steer, provided by Bob Butler of Catch a Dream Ranch. "I really wanted to give something back to the community," Butler says. "The Gym does great work for so many causes, including support for a wide variety of charitable organizations." Drawing tickets are $2 per ticket or $20 per book.
Special Community Days for class of 1959
John Mitchell
For The Sentinel
(John Mitchell, currently professor of child psychology at the University of British Columbia, is a member of the Goldendale High School class of 1959.)
Part Two
We had some good athletes, too! Goldendale High has produced some great athletes. But the class of 1959 produced the greatest of them all.
His name was Fred McClaskey and many of you knew him, but most of you don't know what a superstar he was. No GHS athlete has ever equaled his achievements. He was an all-conference selection in football; he was a unanimous All-State selection in basketball; in track he ran in State and clocked among the fastest times in the high hurdles and the 220; in baseball he was the best pitcher in the Yakima Valley League, perhaps the entire state. He signed a major league baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox when he was nineteen.
Fred scored 41 points in a single game at the State Basketball Tournament in 1959; this remains a Goldendale scoring record that, after 50 years, has never been touched. He was the undisputed star of the first Goldendale team to ever play in the state basketball tournament. He was Goldendale's greatest ever high school athlete.
Fred lived seven baseball throws from my house, and he was my friend.
A much lesser athlete from the class of 1959 also produced a single game scoring record that still stands after 50 years-this one in football. On a brisk October evening, in a conference game against Zillah, quarterback John Mitchell (yes, I mean me) ran for five touchdowns behind the vicious blocking of classmates George Brokaw, Mike Ittershagen, John Householder, and Ray Willis. This record of five touchdowns in a single game, like Fred's basketball record, has never been equaled in 50 years. My proud father, Robert Mitchell, wrote up the story for The Sentinel-as he was its editor at the time.
Time is a cruel Master: fallen classmates who will not join this re-union
In the spring of 1959, 45 of us marched down the graduation aisle to the beat of Pomp and Circumstance. Now, 50 years later, 18 classmates are gone.
The death of a classmate hurts the heart and numbs the soul. The class of 1959 was steeled to the pain of death early. Delmar Norris and Allan Brandner died in car accidents before they were 22. Years later, in January, 2009, Fred McClaskey, the tallest, fastest and strongest of us all, fighting to the end, drew his last breath. Between these sad events we attended graveside vigils for the following classmates: Jim Beierle, Janice Brokaw, Mary Drury, Vicky Forslund, Jean Hansen, Ron Hillman, John Lickliter, Roger Marlow, Donna McCardell, Barbara Riggs, Norma Robinson, Richard Shupe, Harvey Thompson, Pat Weaver, and Verna Wedgewood.
We remember them, and we miss them. Because our bonds were forged in youth, they remain, to us, forever young.
At our age we do not dwell on death. We face it, but we do not fear it. We honor life by living it fully, and by sharing what we have with our children and our grandchildren.
Despite our losses, our 50th will be a happy reunion-we have half a century of memories to draw on. And, of course, not all of them will be perfectly accurate! But we can live with that. We long ago gave up on perfection as a life goal. Now, life is our goal.
Our reunion will be made even happier on Saturday night when we are feasting on a gourmet dinner created by a remarkable chef, and fellow classmate, Maurice Jeter. The food he prepared at our last reunion was so scrumptious everyone begged him to return to create another masterpiece for our 50th. He agreed, and we are all looking forward to sharing stories with Maurice, and one another, once again.
Maurice lived six baseball throws from my house, and he was my friend.
These are just a few stories about a few of my friends who were part of the remarkable class of 1959. There are, of course, many, many more.
Community barbecue highlights Lyle Fourth
The Horizons Steering Committee will be meeting on July 9 to begin the next phase which will be the visioning of future projects for the community.
July 13 at 7 p.m. is the next meeting for the "OLESS" who are continuing to work with the school board. Concerns about the preservation of the old elementary building will be the topic. The community needs to come with ideas on its restoration and its uses as a Community Activity Center. Everyone is welcome!
Many enjoyed the Fourth by attending Mary Sorensen's annual BBQ at her home in Dallesport.
Others enjoyed the BBQ at the Lyle Fire Hall. This event has taken place for around 20 years, keeping the fire fighters in town for any emergency that might occur. It brings many of the community together in a united effort to have fun and have a safe holiday.
Soon the little white church on the hill will be sporting a new look in the fellowship hall and a face lift in the sanctuary. A spiffy new paint job will be done in a week or so. The refurbishing is due to a renewed energy of the congregation. All are cordially invited to attend and hear a true southern gentleman preach an inspiring sermon. Sunday 10 a.m. for church and 9 a.m. for the Adult Seekers group (Lyle United Methodist). |
