A Place for Idle Chatter

Posted by Ed Davis

One of our recent guests, Alex Kalinowski, said he thought it might be a good idea to have a thread for nothing more than just idle chatter among the readers of this blog.  Obviously, he has not read all the things Dan Jensen has written or he would see that ol' Dan is the king of idle chatter not to mention often inane verbosity.  Someone may need to translate those words for Alex since he noted in one comment that he was not too good at the old English language.  Did you not have Mrs. Bouton, Alex?

Anyway, I agree that such a thread may have value and so here it is.  When you want to say something that is not related to any of the threads you find in this blog, then just hack away on the computer and add your comments below.  You will find a lot of interested folk out there who are just waiting to hear what you have to say - any subject that is fit for such a family-oriented weblog like this.  There are censors at work here, you know!  So, let's hear what is on that idle mind of yours, folks.  Especially the old warhorses who are so old that their minds are probably pretty idle by now.  We know their computer skills are idle because we hear so little from any of them.

Get to writing now!!!!!!!!!!

Comments

[Dan Jensen]

Surely Alex had Inez Bouton in English. Some of her examples really stuck in my memory, such as "I like buttermilk and Aunt Susie has a new cookstove."

I would say it, "I like Blue Bell ice cream and Alex don't no nothing."

[Dan Jensen]

OK Alex, Ed created this site just for you and you have posted nary a thing. Get to idling.

Of course, "idle" best describes this site lately. Alex, if this site fails (and it is certainly headed that way) it will be your fault.

[Alex Kalinowski]

Been idle for a while been doing a little rv camping here and there , mostly here. Also had vacation Bible School of which i am the official cook. I did have bouton but just barely made it. Also been sitting around and watching the grass burn up . first rain here today in several weeks and it wasn't much.will try to help keep web site going, but i do have a part time job just to break the manottny(sp). I am on call for a local funeral home. make pickups , deliveries, and work funerals. it's the kind of job i like because if i don't feel like working that day i don't. there are several of us doing it, so there is always someone to fill in. How ever some weeks im on the road quite a bit. longest run so far has been to OK city. Linda is good about going with me when shes off. my riders are usually not much company, very quiet.

[Pat Jensen]

Well, Killer, you better hope they stay quiet. If one sticks his head through those curtains and starts talking, you may open the door and get out ... at 70 mph.

[Dan Jensen]

What's the origin of the nickname, "Killer?"

[Debbie Goodwin (Cooper)]

Alex,
That sounds just like something my dad would say about his riders. He would tell us those jokes about the cemetery too.
Where are you living at now?
debbie

[Ed Davis]

Boy, if we had a thread for the most interesting jobs held by former Webster/CCHS alums, Alex may just win the prize. Who can top that? I thought toiling in a math classroom at my advanced age was interesting work, but at least my charges occasionally (but not often)"rise up" from what appears to be death (no doubt just heavy sleep induced by my lectures on the Pythagorean Theorem) and ask a question or two - like "What time is this class over?" or "Can I go to the bathroom?" Way to go, Alex!!

[Ed Davis]

Well, all you bloggers and especially Dan, I just dug up an interesting fact about our friend Alex Kalinowski who has been a frequent contributor to our site lately. Seems that in 1957 - the year of graduation for Alex - he was voted the Most Dependable by his classmates. So, I think his trouble with the English language may be slightly exaggerated. And, of course, it explains why he has been hired to ferry around those who have passed from this life - you want a very dependable person getting that job done.

Anyway, I think it is great to have someone of Alex's stature writing for us. So, now that the cat is out of the bag, Alex, let's have some more of your stuff. It's great reading.

By the way, I was voted Best Dressed myself in 1959. A tribute to my mom more than me. She always had my clothes washed and ironed each morning, including my jeans. Did you guys ever have to wear jeans that were starched and put on those metal stretchers to dry nice and stiff? Boy, they were hard to put on the way the legs seemed sealed together.

Enough idle chatter. Let's hear what someone else has to say.

[Alex Kalinowski]

Well Debbie, when my wife and I retired in dec 94 we moved to Jasper in east texas(everyone has heard of Jasper) we are not on the Lake but its only 10 miles. Plenty of RV areas, when they getthem cleaned up from the hurricane. I can't believe that I lived all my life in LC and went tru lots of storms, but i never thought I would go through anything like Rita, this far inland. We personally didn't have any damage to anything but a few trees. The worse thing was that I talked my youngest son Tracy who lives in LC to come up here to get away from storm. He never even lost power at his place and we were without for 26 days. Luckly he found us a gen. in LC and when we hooked that to our travel trailer we were good to go for however long it took. and Pat , i'm sure the killer stuff started from a wrestler of that time called killer kowalski, who wresteled in houston. Yall keep writing and i'll check in as often as i get a chance. Two funerals this week and one scheduled for Monday. I was never much on wearing suits ,but have gotten use to it lol.

[Debbie Goodwin (Cooper)]

Alex,
Glad everything came out ok in Jasper. We (my self and our twin daughters) took off for my mom's in Wimberley and had more people up there than here. My husband stayed here and didn't have one thing go wrong. He had all the comforts that he could ever want. We live in the house that mom and dad built in 1962. Mom would love for us to sell and come up there but that's not what I want to do. Since we know all of the back roads it not to hard to get around down here. Dad never really like suits either but I remember him in them when he worked for Jack. There is not much going on around here except more houses more houses being built.
Hope to hear from you when you can.
debbie

[Dan Jensen]

That was a good exchange between Alex and Debbie and a lot more of that from a lot more folks would be very welcome.

Our old warhorses could have enriched this site by doing it before they rode off into the sunset. Our old warhorses are a plumb puzzlement.

[Alex Kalinowski]

Well I agree this would be more interesting, if more would get involved.
Guess most are too old to learn to operate complicated machinery, like computers. To me this is much more interesting than forwording e-mails with no dialog. Come on old fellers and gals lets hear from you. eh! eh! eh! as Hub would say.

[Alex Kalinowski]

Sent this link to my brother in law and his wife. Not as old as some of us, but surely not the youngst either. Look for comments from Charles Stanfiels and wife Jan(Tate)Stanfield.

[Dan Jenson]

Dan,
I was wondering if you were going to set with the TCU fans when TCU plays Baylor this year. TCU will probably win. I think I will be there.

Art Landriault

[Dan Jensen]

I rarely make Baylor football games. The last one was 10 a.m. Thanksgiving morning in 1994 when we lost a wild donnybrook to Texas. I do still wear a beautiful Baylor cap that I bought at that game.

I believe our TCU game will be on a Sunday this year for TV purposes, won't it? I will be sitting at home but you would be about the only TCU fan that I would sit with--and that would have to be on the Baylor side.

TCU will probably win, you say? Why do you think that?

[Art Landriault]

Dan,
The TCU win was most likely a figment of my imagination but I think TCU will make the game interesting. From what I hear Baylor will be pretty "salty" this year. Good to converse with you again. You may have heard that a new coach has been hired at Clear Creek. He coached at Santa Fe and has about a 50/50 win /loss record, but may be a good fit for the Wildcats. It appears that the Carlisle era sadly is over.

[Ed Davis]

I will certainly be at the Baylor/TCU game sitting in the same seats I have occupied for many years - still hoping for that elusive winning season again. I think the Bears will be better than they have been for some time and look forward to a possible bowl bid. TCU seems once again to be pretty tough, but playing at home with high expectations willl hopefully work in the Bears' favor. If you do go, Art, to that game (which is on a Sunday for national TV), let me know where your tickets are and we can visit for awhile.

[Dan Jensen]

Arthur has a grandson that plays for TCU. Jason Phillips had an outstanding season as a redshirt freshman last year at linebacker. Maybe he will have a good pro career at a good salary and will buy Arthur something nice for Christmas.

Ed Davis and I both know that TCU will be favored but we can hope that Phillips plays well and that old Baylor will spring an upset.

[Dan Jensen]

Arthur, I don't know why I said 1994 was the last Baylor game I attended. It was 2000 at Denton when we played North Texas. We won that one and I had a great time meeting some Baylor friends at a tailgate that I had known only through the internet. I don't know if Ed Davis was there or not. I didn't know him then.

[Ed Davis]

I was there for sure. I remember all the Baylor wins. Don't have to have a long memory to do that. Glad to see us get G. J. Kinne as a commitment. Great recruiting class for fall of 2007 so far.

[Dan Jensen]

I spoke briefly with Alex Kalinowski at my aunt's funeral this week. He was the one who wanted this "idle chatter" thread and we both agreed that this blog does not just have to be about basketball. Folks, it can be about just any old thing. I hope there are still a few around who are reading this--and will start posting.

[Dan Jensen]

Here's some really idle chatter from a Dickinson fan that I battle with on a Baylor site.

my soph year of highschool, we played LaBradford Smith's Bay City team 3 times. They beat us at their gym, we won at ours and they squeaked by us in the playoffs.

labradford was out of this world in hs and played for denny crum at louisville and was only so-so. he could shoot it from anywhere and had uncanny dunking ability, especially off his teammates misses. when we beat them at our gym, we had a guy named Kevin Cooper who was about 6'0 who scored 37 to LS's 33 as we won by 1. one of my buddys blocked LS's last shot as time expired (my friend was a 6'4 white kid named Billy Zimmerman).

i wonder if BaylorDan remembers this game...

Here was my response to him:

No bahamabear, I did not see that game but I did see the Clear Creek-Dickinson game when Bennie Lenox outplayed Eddie Hall. I recall well about a 20 year period of dominance when your Gators did not defeat my Wildcats a single time in basketball. I'll get you the exact number if you desire.

[Dan Jensen]

Here's another exchange on the Baylor site between me and the Dickinson guy. Does anyone remember the football dominance that he claims? They won state with quarterback Donnie Little and were good with future Heisman guy Andre Ware but did we even play them then?

Today, 08:57 AM
bahamabear

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baylor Dan
No bahamabear, I did not see that game but I did see the Clear Creek-Dickinson game when Bennie Lenox outplayed Eddie Hall. I recall well about a 20 year period of dominance when your Gators did not defeat my Wildcats a single time in basketball. I'll get you the exact number if you desire.

you got me there Dan. i don't remember this period, which is also probably well before i was born in 1970 and also before they allowed black fellas to play. as you are well aware, we also were dropped down to 4a because our enrollment was quite small in comparison with Creek.

of course, i don't recall losing to Creek in football for almost, well, hmmm, hold on....ever.

Creek kids were always soft, which is why they were never any good at football.

#52 Today, 09:19 AM
Baylor Dan
Baylor fan Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Claremore, Oklahoma

bahama, you have missed a lot of important history by being born so late. For instance, Clear Creek, in days of yore, beat Dickinson, 72-7. Or was it 72-0? I do recall that we had four touchdowns called back or we could have scored 100.

And, careful what you say about the overall series. If there was a lengthy period when the Wildcats did not beat the Gators it was because they were in different classifications and did not play.

[Dan Jensen]

At my aunt's funeral last week, I associated again with former classmate Bobby Galloway and Arthur Landriault, who was just a year behind us.

As was common in those days, both played more than one sport. Bobby was a lineman good enough to start for Texas Lutheran as a freshman and also played basketball and baseball. Arthur was an all-district end in football and was a standout on the basketball team that won our first district championship.

I will pose this question for Arthur since he frequents this site. Would you have played both sports if you were in school today? And, if only one, which would it be?

[Pat Jensen]

I won't speak for Arthur, but most of us from that era couldn't make the team in any sport. LOL

[Art Landriault]

Ed,
I was able to order my tickets to the Baylor/TCU game as they just went on sale. Our Tickets are located in the 'S' section which is where most of the TCU players parents will be seated. Maybe we can meet there somewhere. I will also have my cell phone with me. The number is 281-910-1024.
Art

[Art Landriault]

Dan,
I enjoyed playing both football and basketball and I would definitely have played both. The problem today is the coaches will not let athletes play more than one sport as they think it hinders there abilities to do so. I don't think this is true! I would also like to say that my experience of playing for Webster High School and being associated with Coach Carlisle and the people of that time is an event that I will cherish always. Lot's of good friends. Art

[Dan Jensen]

As Pat says, athletes are better now than in days of yore. The coaching is better, there is better nutrition, weight training was unknown back then but I think good athletes would have played in any era.

What would Arthur have done if mean old coaches had made him pick just one? I don't know. He will have to answer that.

I will say this. I was not around for his senior year and am not sure what his best sport was. I do know that we would not have won the first of our 19 straight district basketball championships without him.

[Pat Jensen]

Is it accurate to say athletes are not allowed to play more than one sport in high school? I know it's much more unusual now than it used to be, but I can't imagine especially gifted, all around athletes being banned from playing more than one sport. There are some athletes so good that restricting them to one sport would hurt the school's program and the student's chance for a scholarship.

[Alex Kalinowski]

A few yrs. back, here in Jasper, I got interested in the local high school baseball program. It started by going to some little league games. A boy from Church played so it gave me someone i knew to go see play. When he entered high school i started following the team. I noticed that there were 1 or 2 boys athat also played football and ran track. They were not restricted but the coaches , one of whichi also know from Church, didn't like it much because the overlaping seasons caused the boys to choose where they would play. Thes boys would always go to the track meets, or if the season ran long would do football. Jasper has a better than avg. football team, but i prefer the baseball in which they hold some pretty impressive records. I did notice that when the track and football seasons were over the guys would then come back to baseball for all the play off games and for as far as the team might go. Even tho these players were above avg. in baseball too the coaches seemed to keep them mostly on the bench as reserve players and didn't play them much. The coach i know , when i asked why, told me that he thought the boys that were more dedicated, and played hard to get to playofs, should get the glory. By the way the player from Church was Josie Parker, who scolarship played for Panola Jr. College and set records that will be there for some time. He will play for A&M this year on scolarship. Watch for his name , i think he will play pro ball somewhere in the future. I never played anything at Creek but always suported all the teams that i could, as i had many close friends that played, and by the way hope i still do , even tho i seldom see them under any but un plesent surcumstances. Such as Dan's Aunts funeral. It was nice to see all that were there.
PS I know that Jasper is not a hot spot in Texas , but if anyone happens to pass tru going somewhere else be sure and give a call at least. We are in the Phone book.

[Dan Jensen]

I may have given the wrong impression above. There are certainly multi-sport players today, just not nearly as many as in Clear Creek's earlier years.

We had at least one who played both football and basketball this year. And, smaller schools--like Webster and Clear Creek used to be--still have multi-sport guys although I know that not many play four like our Kennith Dismukes and William Frost did.

[Dan Jensen]

This week's football opener between Baylor and TCU in Waco may interest no one in here but Ed Davis, Arthur Landriault and me.

Arthur has a grandson who is a good linebacker for TCU and he will be sitting in the parents' section. Ed will be in his usual spot across the way.

Old Baylor has been beyond pitiful in recent years and Ed and I are most interested in seeing a good start for our Bears this year. And ol' Arthur is going to be there cheering for the wrong side.

He may be cheering afterwards too since his Horned Frogs opened as 7 1/2 point favorites on Monday.

Regardless, he will be cheering his grandson, a Waller product. Here's what they are saying about the 6-1, 240 pound sophomore middle linebacker: "Phillips flew up the depth chart to lead the Horned Frogs in tackles as a freshman. He came to TCU as a lightning fast tailback before bulking up to 240 pounds and using his speed to become a big hitter with great range in the middle. It'll be a shock if he doesn't earn All-Mountain West honors."

[Debbie Goodwin (Cooper)]

For anyone on here that might know my mom, she had a stroke on Sunday. Since she lives so far from the hospital they lifeflighted her to Austin and she is doing very well so far. The only thing that seems to be affected is her speech and if you know her that is alot. Dad was always the quiet one to mom's talking.
Please just keep her in your thoughts and prayers. We hope to have her in the rehab hospital on Wednesday.
Thanks alot,
Debbie

[Dan Jensen]

Keep us advised, Debbie. This is not just a sports board.

I wonder why Arthur Landriault has not commented on Sunday's game and his linebacker grandson? He and Ed Davis did not get together but I assume that he was in Waco for the TCU win.

[Art Landriault]

Dan,
I was in Waco Sunday for the game.
I would have tried to comtact Ed but did not have his cell phone number so to locate him. Baylor has a pretty good football team and I look for them to get better as they adjust to their new offense. My belief was that TCU was in a little bit of better phycial condition than Baylor and it showed in the second half. I thought that Jason played a very good game as did the rest of TCU's
team. AS I think that everyone knows TCU had three starters that did not play as well as a couple of freshmen. But as the saying goes, you have to play the games one at a time... anything can happen.

[Debbie Goodwin (Cooper)]

Well finally we have good news. Mom is coming home on Friday and the only thing that was effected was her speech. She can use her right limbs great but she has a hard time telling us what she wants. She can almost say complete sentences but she gets to the last word or two and they just don't come out for her.
We are just so greatful for all of the blessings that God has given us.
Debbie

[Dan Jensen]

Debbie, thanks for sharing that good news.

[Dan Jensen]

Clear Creek (1-3) won its first game of the season against the Deer Park Deer, 13-7.

[Dan Jensen]

LEAGUE CITY — Neal Warden timed his approach perfectly and was running away before Darrell Warden had any idea who had done the deed.

Much like the water bottle attack Neal Warden executed on his father/Clear Creek High School football coach, the Wildcats’ offense turned in a nearly flawless second-half performance in a 35-17 victory over Clear Brook at District Stadium Friday night. The game was the 24-5A district opener for both teams, which entered Friday’s game with 1-3 non-district records.

[Dan Jensen]

It would be good if Arthur Landriault would give us a weekly report on his grandson Jason Phillips, the good TCU linebacker.

If any other bloggers have a grandson that is playing on any level, let us know.

[Arthur Landriault]

Just an up to date comments on my grandson, Jason, is that he will not play this Thursday at Utah due to a injured wrist that causes him lots of pain when he tackles people. The hope is that he can play this next week. The trainers and Doctors are working on him to accomplish this.

[Dan Jensen]

What kind of wrist injury does he have and what kind of year is he having so far?

[Arthur Landriault]

I learned this morning that Jason was making the trip to Utah and may play. His wrist has a tendon sprained or brused and is very painful when he tackles people and when he hits the ground. He up to this point has had a very good season. He is the second best tackler on the squad. Jason has a very strong pain tolerance and will play if Paterson OK's it. I understand that Ballard,(QB), may not play because of injuries also. Might be another long day!
Art

[Dan Jensen]

Ballard is a Friendswood guy. I remember when his father was the top rated high school quarterback in the state.

[Dan Jensen]

I want to share something that Baseball America's Jim Callis had to say when asked about three Cardinal high draft pick pitchers. One was Mark McCormick.

"In terms of upside, the most promising pitcher in the group is McCormick. He has thrown in the mid-90s since high school and his curveball can be a plus pitch at times. But he's inconsistent with the quality of his secondary pitches, his command and his ability to compete. McCormick also battled shoulder problems this season, and I don't have much faith that he's going to reach his ceiling."

I don't care what Callis says, them Creek guys can flat chunk. Speaking of Clear Creek guys, Steven White's aunt tells me that he has been in New York, soaking up the atmosphere around the Yankees. I don't know if that includes the playoffs or not.

[Dan Jensen]

I wonder if many, other than Arthur Landriault and I, are even reading this blog and if any at all are interested in the football game updates. If so, please indicate or this may be the last one from me.

The following from the Galveston News:

"Led by quarterback Neal Warden, who threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns, Clear Creek led by 16 points early in the fourth quarter and hung on during a thrilling finish to defeat the Clear Lake Falcons, 35-32, at District Stadium."

We are 3-3 for the season and 2-0 in district--if anybody is interested.

[Debbie Goodwin (Cooper)]

Dan,
I read it everyday to see what you have to say. I hope this won't be the last time that you are on.
debbie

[Pat Jensen]

I read the reports, but living in the area I've usually already read it in the paper. Wildcats not in this area may enjoy an occassional update.

[Frank McKinney]

Dan,
I have been captivated by your astute insight into athletic activities since my freshman year at good old SHSTC, so of course I still read this BLOG. However, I do appreciate you not mentioning “YOUR BEARS In Boulder” and the game deciding interception by an outstanding linebacker from Smithson Valley (Brother Joe’s adopted high school football team). Joe called to make sure the boys did not miss this big play by one of the best kids to play for the Rangers.

[Dan Jensen]

While wondering what happened to Ed Davis, Jimmy Pell and Hugh Taylor, I am glad to hear from a few previous posters. I always read what they say with interest and wish they, and others, would post on just any old thing.

We need a new thread. Having to type in that code on this old one is aggravating. Someone start us a new thread, like Garvis Hadley did once upon a time.

And for Frank McKinney, old Baylor ain't good enough for me to be posting much. We go up against heavily favored Texas his week but some on the Baylor board are reminded of 1974 when we shocked the Longhorns 34-24, after trailing 24-7 at halftime, on the way to the Southwest Conference championship. Are you listening, Bubba Mathis? You rascal Longhorn fan.

[Dan Jensen]

Any St. Louis Cardinal fans in here? My guys staggered into the playoffs and I tagged along, not expecting much at all from a ballclub that is not very good. Well lo and behold, they looked like the Cardinals of old and dominated favored San Diego in four games. But next up tonight are the Mets, even bigger favorites. Big mismatch on the mound tonight and at the plate every night, but...baseball is a funny game and the playoffs are a different animal.

[Debbie Goodwin (Cooper)]

Just wanted to drop a note and say we(league city) are ok. They say an inch of rain fell in 1hour yesterday. My ditch was starting to show it and now it is gone. The sun is trying to come out. So hopefully we will dry out some.

[Dan Jensen]

One inch or ten inches?

[Frank McKinney]

My mother in League City said something about the animals starting to pair up

[Debbie Goodwin (Cooper)]

Frank you got that right now it is suppose to be coming again tonight.
Hope the boat gets here soon....

[Dan Jensen]

Some of the animals went into the ark by sevens.

[Dan Jensen]

I note that Clear Creek, with a 4-6 record, plays Fort Bend Hightower to open the football playoffs this Saturday.

I preferred the days of yesteryear when only the district champion advanced. Of course we only advanced about once under that system.

[Dan Jensen]

Well, we lost 20-14 and another losing season goes into the books.

Speaking of books, I just learned about a website that has season by season records of Texas high school teams.

It shows Webster's before the consolidation, starting with 1931. However, the 1933 season was cancelled. You would never, never, never guess the reason.

No money to buy a football! I know that was during the great economic depression in our nation but I am not sure I believe that one. Since that was 75 years ago, I am not sure we can verify such a statement.

I can verify however that the Webster Wildcats and League City Cardinals merged into the Clear Creek Wildcats.

[Dan Jensen]

As I checked the pre-consolidation Webster year by year record, I noted a coach in 1944-45 named Carroll Roland. I am pretty sure this is the coach that moved on to Alvin and had a son that was good enough to start for Bill Yoeman University of Houston teams at quarterback.

His name was Billy and he was also a very good high school basketball player, even as a sophomore.

Now, what I am pondering is this. What if Coach Roland had stayed at Webster? Billy was one year ahead of Bennie Lenox. Reckon they would have been a deadly combination for a couple of years, along with Chuck Trcka who was a year ahead of Roland? I wonder if Edward Davis is pondering the rotation at guard if that had happened?

In 1957-58, we were 2-1 against Alvin. In the last game, a 60-53 Clear Creek win, Roland led all scorers with 25 points. Trcka had 20 and Edward Davis and Hugh Taylor were two of the three that had 12 each. A soph named Lenox was the other.

In 1958-59, we were 1-2. Sometimes Roland outscored Lenox, sometimes he didn't. After Roland left, we won two easy games the next year.

Yes, I do believe Carroll Roland moving to Alvin affected future Clear Creek basketball fortunes.

[Dan Jensen]

We need more idle chatter, as well as other things, on this blog.

Y'all will likely think this pretty "idle" but I just stumbled onto a list of the salaries for Texas high school coaches.

It was interesting to note that Clear Creek's Darrell Warden gets $91,167 and ranks 29th in the state.

The Clear Lake and Clear Brook coaches get a little less.

I wonder what the basketball coach's salary is? I wonder about such things. I don't know if Ralph Parr or Frank McKinney do or not.

[Frank McKinney]

In an idle way I wonder about such things, but only after I have been reading a Kinky Friedman novel.

[Dan Jensen]

I guess this "idle chatter" thread would be a good vehicle for my request for non-basketball postings. Too bad it is so old that we have to enter a special code before posting. I never did like that feature.

As I stated earlier on another thread, I hated to hear of the death of classmate Gene McCormick. He married another classmate, Rae Parker--a League City girl. I think Gene was a Seabrook guy.

Does anyone have details regarding Gene's cause of death?

[debbie]

Dan I'm sorry that I didn't write sooner about Gene. I went to school with his daughter Deborah. Gene hasn't been doing well for awhile and when his son passed away he didn't ever get any better. Deborah said he even seemed to get worse without Micheal.
Now to Buddy do you really want to run for City Council with all of the stuff going on up there. Be careful and just stay true to you.
Good luck.

[debbie goodwin cooper]

Buddy,
I saw that you dropped out of the council race. I think you probably made a wise decision. They don't seem to know what they are doing up there. And they really don't want to listen to anyone either.

[Dan Jensen]

That will give him more time to provide details on the jayvee guy who had those 40 point games.

[Dan Jensen]

Frank McKinney e-mailed me a great reunion picture of Ed Davis, Coach, James Davis, William Frost and Robert Brown.

Ed looked like the oldest of the bunch even if he is the youngest, and I guess that is why he has not posted the picture.

But, maybe Frank did not send it to him. If not, he needs to do so.

James, William (who looks like I remember his father) and Robert all played on the 1957 team that bumped into Buna in the state meet. That team did not have a single starter over six feet tall and Coach is taller than each of them.

Here's something that y'all probably never thought of. The starters all went by their full names rather than shortened ones. We had James Davis, William Frost, Robert Brown, Stanley McGee and Tom Goodman. What about Tom, you say? Tom, not Thomas, was his name. No charge for that little tidbit.

[Pat Jensen]

I'm not sure you're right about the Tom thing, but without proof I'll let it go by. Even without proof, I'll challenge the spelling of Stanley Magee's last name. No charge for that little tidbit.

[Alex Kalinowski]

There were quite a few old timers at the reunion. thought i might even see u Dan. All things considered i think we are holding up well. If someone wants to see some pictures u can go to upscalegj.com click webster 2007 and click pictures. they will be there for a couple of months according to the site. I passed the word around about the blog , but didn,t get much responce. It was our 50th reunion, but there were several older than me. Coach and Mrs. Peggy looked good along with Mabry, spelling might be off. thought i might throw that in before the english scolar corrects it. See ya'll Alex.

[Alex Kalinowski]

And by the way Magee is right and Tom Edwin Goodman is what i remember.

[Dan Jensen]

If Arthur Landriault reads this, give me your new e-mail address. I tried the old one tonight in a group e-mail regarding the coaching hire and it came back.

[debbie cooper]

Well I thought I would let you know that Buddy didn't make it on the city council. He got defeated in a runoff.
I was sad to see that he didn't make it. Also I wanted to let you know I still read what is going on I just haven't had much to say these days.
I wish more would get on here and post.
Debbie

[Dan Jensen]

Arthur Landriault ought to brag on his grandson, standout TCU football player Jason Phillips, more than he does.

Texas Football magazine is just out and has Phillips on the All-Texas college team as the most outstanding linebacker. The 6-1, 234 pound junior was all-conference last year on one of the best defenses in the country.

Phillips looks something like his grandfather Arthur, who was an all-district end in days of yore for our Wildcats.

Also on the pre-season all-star team was TCU defensive end Chase Ortiz, from some place called League City. I never heard of him and it's the fault of our area correspondents.

that reunion web site with all the pictures was upscaledj.com sorry for the type-o

[Arthur Landriault]

Dan,
I am a believer that action speaks louder than words. Jason was also ranked one of the best 10 linebackers in the nation, we are very proud of him. We also know Chase Ortiz very well as Jason has roomed at school with him. He is also a very fine young man and football player as well. Chase's family lives in the sub-division (Brittney Bay} behind where I live. Chase will probably go pro after his senior year at TCU.

[Dan Jensen]

The value of those pictures would have increased a thousand fold if the photographer had gotten and included names of the closeups. I did recognize a scattered few of the old codgers though I had the benefit of seeing two or three of them in the past year or so.

[Dan Jensen]

After many, many years, I talked with the head of the Texas City Chamber of Commerce yesterday. His name is James Alvin Hayley. Some of us know him as Squat Low, a mighty fine feller from LaMarque. Franklin McKinney was his roommate at Sam Houston and Pat Jensen and Garvis Hadley competed against him in teenage baseball.

We talked of him not being drafted into the military after college and I mentioned that I was almost at the 50 year point from my induction.

That would be today (June 30) when I landed in Fort Smith, Arkansas, next door to Fort Chaffee.

While there, I remember someone pointing and saying, "Oklahoma is just over there a few miles." Twenty years later, I was there, in Sallisaw. Twenty years after that I was in northwest Oklahoma and talking with someone who had returned for his father's funeral. He talked about spending a hot summer in 1957 in Fort Chaffee. It dawned on me that the day was June 30 and I thought of that day of 40 years before. Now another ten years has sped by.

I suspect that not many of the bloggers served. Few would know a single general order if they were inspected on a guard mount. They wouldn't have a clue about how to assemble a M1 rifle. I betcha I still can. I don't shine my shoes much any more though.

[Ed Davis]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Dan. Just wish you had found your way back to Texas instead of remaining a foreigner from somewhere up north.

When I graduated from college in '62, the draft for Vietman was in full force and I remember listening to the news about the Cuban missile crisis and thinking that this might even expand the draft and I would be off to serve the good old USA somewhere. I was a teacher and received a draft deferrment based on that and my status never changed until the draft was over when the Vietnam war came to whatever conclusion it did.

Had I been called, I was ready to go being a very patriotic guy. But, in retrospect, I am glad I did not have to go to Vietnam (or Cuba)and leave my wife and family. However, I greatly admire those who did serve and sacrified so much for our country. I feel the same today about our troops around the world.

I am even proud of good ol' Dan for his service for goodness sake. And haven't ever served myself, I will tell you that I do keep my shoes shined. Now, about assembling that M1, that's a whole other story.

[Dan Jensen]

My tour of active duty was short but I had a long active reserve obligation after I returned to League City. Ed, I was there several years. You do recall that I chronicled that 1959 team that you have read about.

In the reserves, I got acquainted with Charlie Brazil, head coach at Furr, when folks were trying to figure out how to defense Bill Doty. I suggested just play us straight up, with no special defense against him. I said Doty couldn't beat a team by himself. "I'm not so sure about that," he said. Doty averaged 24 points in district play and had 28 and 29 against Furr.

[Dan Jensen]

A friend and her father were waiting for a table in a restaurant yesterday. The father was wearing a cap that indicated he was a World War II veteran.

Someone who appeared to be in his mid-thirties began talking to him and expressed appreciation for his service.

He asked if the two were together, than gave them a twenty dollar bill and said the lunch was on him as thanks for his service. The father was greatly touched.

Ken Burns will soon have a special on TV about that war. I need to see that since I know more about the Civil War than I do World War II.

World War II soldiers wore brown boots. Mine were brown in 1957 in basic training but we were given black dye and told to change colors before our next post. I still have them in my closet. They have not been shined in a long time.

[Dan Jensen]

It sure has been a pitifully dry summer for this blog. Come on folks! Post about something! Any ol' something!

Here's my small contribution. I was in League City last week for my father's funeral. At the viewing and/or service, I saw old classmates Bobby and Pola White Galloway, Shirley Hood Porter, Martha Kagawa Griffith and cousin Kennith Dismukes.

Also included were old Wildcats George and Sherry Edens Gorsen, Joe Gordon Dickson, Sarah Smith Dickson Mathis and cousins Keith, Gerald and Terry Mathis, Deanna Jensen and Kim Mathis Sommers. Cousin Wanda June Dismukes Vaughan was there too but she would be an old League City Cardinal.

Coach and Peggy Carlisle were there and I'm sure they would like more activity in here also. Come on folks! Any ol' thing.

[Alex Kalinowski]

Dan, I was out of town and didn't get the word about Hub till i
I returned. I was sorry to hear. I worked for him for several years on shift work at plant. There was never a dull moment. Also there were still a few pair of brown combat boots around in 61 when i got drafted.

[Dan Jensen]

We may need to get Lt. Franklin McKinney in here regarding those brown boots. Some KP may be in order for Alex, if not an Article 15.

[Frank McKinney]

I started SHSTC in brown but graduated in black. I only wore black on active duty while the Army was trying to make me into a Rocket Scientist. I think it OK for Alex to wear his old brown combat boots but not with his black double-knit polyester outfit.

[Dan Jensen]

Hugh Taylor has run across a San Jacinto College roster that shows former Wildcat sharpshooter Lance Pevehouse as a freshman. What's up with that? Didn't he play last year at West Point? Didn't Buddy Carlisle go to visit him?

Buddy needs to give us an update on this. Too bad that Buddy no longer contributes in here. He was a valuable poster.

[Dan Jensen]

Here is some really idle chatter but it's your fault for not keeping me busy reading your posts.

I made a trip north about 18 miles last week to see my first girls softball game. Had to be something special, huh?

It was to see a sensational pitcher who just mows down hitter after hitter after hitter.

Her name is Kasha Kolb. She got my attention by breaking a national record last year with 12 perfect games.

This year, only nine perfect games are included among her 22 no hitters. She has pitched every inning for her team and has a 39-0 record with not a single earned run allowed all year.

Her team is in an eight team state 3A tournament this week in Oklahoma City.

Does Clear Creek play girls softball?

[Dan Jensen]

What's happening here? I have had a couple of posts fairly recently on this thread but the last post shown is over a year ago in 2006.

Has Ed Davis wandered off and is not monitoring things any more?

[Dan Jensen]

OK, that post updated things for some reason. It's a plumb puzzlement.

And, I am still wondering if Clear Creek plays girls softball. I read the other day that it has water polo.

Water polo! Who let that happen?

[Dan Jensen]

I have failed to give an update on the softball pitching sensation and I know y'all are anxious to know.

She barely missed three perfect games in the state tournament. She walked one in the first game, had the catcher drop a third strike in the second one but did get the perfect game in the championship game.

I know that is mighty idle but it is better than nothing--which the rest of you have been doing for too long.

[Dan Jensen]

Arthur, you need to give us an update on your grandson Jason Phillips. I don't follow TCU at all and wonder how he is doing.

However, I do still follow Baylor despite how very, very pitiful they are.

[Dan Jensen]

Frank McKinney grumbles about my references to Baylor. I'm gonna punish him and the one or two others who read but don't post.

This from a Baylor friend, talking about our all-time football hero, Mike Singletary. Ed Davis will appreciate this even if no one else does. There needs to be some punishment for him though because he doesn't post any more either.

Speaking of Mike Singletary, my run-in with him:

Mike used to come back to campus in the summer during the early part of his Chicago career, when I was at BU (I'm a 1984 grad). We both played basketball on those outdoor courts that probably aren't there any more, next to Russell Gym and the field where BUGWB used to practice. One evening we were going full court, and Mike was on the other team. As fate would have it, Mike got the ball at about mid-court with a full head of steam -- Mike was a great football player but not real skilled with a round ball -- and I was the only person between him and an easy layup. I was 5'11" and 140 pounds, soaking wet, even skinnier than Gerald McNeil. I got good position, and Mike just plowed into me. We got all tangled up and went flying. The other eight guys were there, quick as cats, every one of them asking "Mike, you OK?"

After they squeegied me off the court, they called a foul on me.

[Dan Jensen]

Oklahoma high school girl's basketball may be too much idle chatter for some but an astounding thing happened in the Class 2A title game.

A team won by one point by scoring four points in the last second but its opponent scored the same number in that one second. Anyone want the details?

[debbie goodwin cooper]

Our class 1971 just got the news last night that John Meeks passed away around 4 pm I think. He had been sick for a few years and was in a wheelchair. Don't know any of the details yet I will post them when we all know.
He has 2 daughters so we need to keep them in them in our thoughts and prayers.
thanks,
debbie

[Dan Jensen]

I only remember John Meeks as quite young but he was stout fellow and I am surprised that he developed health issues. What were they?

His father Tom I knew pretty well. He was a heady guy and I recall that he generally provided the wording on the Little League constitution. He, Dovie Hanson and I were the committee for that.

I lost track of Tom and assume he is deceased. Can anyone provide any information on Dovie Hanson?

[Dan Jensen]

Since no one has requested the details on those two Oklahoma high school basketball teams each scoring four points in the last second of a state tournament game, I must assume that practically no one is checking this blog any more. Any basketball fan worth his salt would want to know about that. I just read in today's Tulsa World that it was actually seven tenths of a second. Plumb amazing.

[Dan Jensen]

I just found out that Jim Phillips is leaving Waller to be the head coach at Greenville.

Who is Jim Phillips you say? Well, he's Arthur Landriault's son-in-law and the father of outstanding TCU linebacker, Jason Phillips.

I think he has a younger son who is a good football player too.

Arthur needs to give us an update on his kin.

Just decided to look in. Saw a cpl of may comments by Dan and
Ed. Looks like things have been a little dead, paqrdon the punn, by the way I have added still another thing to my Resume. I am now a state licenesed Retort Operator, or in laymans terms a Cremeatory. I still look in here about once a month or so but havent seen anything new since 2007. I'll keep looking as long as im here. I will turn 70 in June. Hope all is well with everyone.

[Dan Jensen]

Who are you? Advance and be recognized.

[Pat Jensen]

That could be nobody but the Killer.

[Dan Jensen]

Arthur Landriault needs to brag more on his grandson, Jason Phillips, the really good TCU linebacker.

This year's Texas Football certainly touts the former Waller player. "Senior linebacker Jason Phillips may be the Iron Man of all Iron Men, having started every game--and made practically every practice--his entire career."

The magazine picks him as the defensive player of the year on the All-Texas College Team.

The next step is the NFL. I wonder if he will share his bonus money with grandfather Arthur?

[Dan Jensen]

Texas Football magazine gives predictions for how every district in the state will finish.

Dickinson has been moved to District 14-5A this year and is picked to finish second with Clear Creek a fifth place possibility. What a revolting development! Let's hope things don't end up that way. They certainly didn't in days of yore.

How long has it been since we played the Gators in footbal anyway?