Milan Jackson

The guy in the middle of the Administration picture is George Melton, principal of BJHS the first year.

Milan Jackson

Happy Birthday Ken McBeath !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jack Habich

Interesting coincidence.  Steve Jetton reports that he was just at Ground Zero yesterday afternoon.  Said he might go back today...........told him I definately would, just for the experience.  I didn't even know he was in NYC.

Jack Habich

And on that note, a friend (guy from ISU) took this shot (his apt. view) within days before the Twin Towers went down. You can see them top left.   He and the wife were in Venice at the time of 9-11, but they came back to dirty windows.  Soon after, they moved to Denver.

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

Jack, the picture of the Twin Towers is very moving.  So glad we found the biggest terrorist.  He did so much damage to our people and our economy!  Thanks for sharing!

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

It seems serendipitous that you are all speaking of Civil War prison camps on the same day the U.S. finally "takes out" Bin Laden. It is fascinating to read Holly's poetic remembrance of the tragedies of 150 years ago. Last year I had the great pleasure of visiting Ed in Springfield. After an awesome breakfast, we drove to Camp Butler where he shared his personal and heartfelt views of the inhumane events that fell upon the Confederate captives. Then we went to Lincoln's grave as a kind of reality check. It is my wish that you could all experience the unforgettable reverence Ed shared on that day. No victory in war can ever replace the tragic loss of life. May we all share Ed's reverence, especially today.

I have just returned home after a few days in Bloomington and thought I could add to the BJHS discussion with a little story. In 1959 when we all entered the new Jr. High, Robert Bruce Holcomb was my next door neighbor. Marv and I had always known him as Bruce. So when we first encountered him in the hallways, we hid behind our lockers because we didn't know if we should call him "Bruce" or "Mr. Holcomb". He was a very dear and valued family friend until he died last year and we will forever remember the greatness of his dignity, wisdom and passion for life. He also had a great sense of humor.

The photo below is from the 1961 BJHS memories book: George Melton, principal (center) with Robert Bruce Holcomb (left) and Robert Knight (right), assistant principals.

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

In March 2003 I was in NYC with my daughter who wanted to go to Ground Zero. Because I had several personal connections to people lost or trapped on 9/11, I was reluctant but we went anyway. Since the subways at the World Trade Center had been destroyed, we had to walk through mud caked streets on a rainy day only to find ourselves lost in a back entrance where a private memorial from police and firemen had been informally arranged. Moved by the impact of personal notices and tributes posted there, I shot the attached photograph. Due to its size, I am presenting it in two halves (left is on top; right is on bottom). If you would like to see the larger image, you can go to:

www.theobaldart.com/image-viewer.php?image=120

If anyone wants the larger image, please let me know via the Message Center and I will be happy to e-mail it to you.

Milan Jackson

Helen Nicolaysen (Thompson)

 Mel......WOW!  The impact of 911 will never stop!  Thanks for sharing!

Harriett (Holly) Rust (Wood)

 Milan I got a kick out of the picture of Main St. as seeing the Jefferson Cafeteria reminded me of all the Wednesday nights Joanne Brown and I went to Withers to study before choir practice and ate dinner at the cafeteria.  They had really good fried chicken and mashed potatoes.  Hadn't thought of any of that in years.

Milan Jackson

Holly, remember the great baked goods they had in front?  :)

Milan Jackson

Happy Birthday Garen Barekman !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Milan Jackson

I've had a couple of question about Garen. He grew up in Bloomington. He went to Franklin and Centennial Schools. Then he went to Washington Junior High and BJHS. Here is where my memory fails me. He moved around a lot at that point in his life. You know how it is with family break-ups and all. I believe he attended BHS in his sophomore year but moved to Arrowsmith and then to California. He, Dan Woodard, and I grew up in the same neighborhood and have been life-long friends. Garen lives in Arkansas now but has family in this area and comes home a few times each year. I think anyone who spent most of their childhood with us, belongs in a site like this. Welcome home, Garen.

No one has complained, it's just that since he wasn't in any yearbook, people wondered who he is.

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Well Well, what a wonderful tool this is.  I had no idea this existed.  My wife told me the other day that there was a message from Steve Jetton.  I almost fainted.  Steve and I were really good buds back in our early and mid teens.  But I hadn't heard from him in probably 20 years.  We talked for quite sometime, and after he told me about this site and I should look into it, I asked him, did I graduate in 64.  He said yes, and being a old good friend, I believed him and then, I found out it was true.  Even though some might question me, I am just kidding.  Actually, since I moved to Texas in "87", or was it "88", I have received the Pantagraph every day.  So, I have been able to keep up on the city and a few people.  Before I got on the site today, I read through all 42 pages.  What a blast.  For whatever reason, I do love living the past.  That could be because I have hundreds of stories, all true.  I must go for now, but I will be back for sure.

Milan Jackson

Great to see Rod Hayes in here. The phone calls are working. It takes time a and a lot of work for the volunteers but it all helps. There are so many more out there who don't know about this site. Let's make sure they at least know. Thanks for those who are helping.

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Thanks Milan, but I should really be thanking you, Jack H., Melvin, and anyone else who has taken the time and effort to put this together and keep it going.  I'm not really sure if you would actually remember me, but I do remember you.  Were you any kin to the Jacksons in the car business?  Speaking of that, Victor, didn't you live right down from Dave Uban?  My Grandparents lived next door to them land I was over there a lot.  And, I think you lived close to Ronnie Marine.  What a guy he was.  Habich, who was the guy in Vegas with D. Holt.  I'm pretty sure he was a pro boxer and I saw him fight a few times.  Is that right.  I got a kick out of the picture of Sheriff Sid.  Here is a tid bit.  The Sheriff used to hang out a shady Bar in Southwest Peoria.  The good Sheriff never was married, at least not to a woman.  End of story.  Oh, Milan, the next time you see Carroll Lane, tell him I said Hello.  He most likely won't remember me, but I was in a Math class with him.  Mr. Drew was the teacher and he would always call me Skeeter.  He was a really nice guy.  Very interesting car guy.  Hey Habich, I k now its been 17 years, but thanks for sending me my $50.00.  That's it for now.  

Rodney (Rod) Hayes

Ed Stanfield.  You are a Hoot.  You're a great responder.  I'm almost sure you would never remember me.  After all, you had a short time with all of us.  If you are who I think, I remember you very well.  Here is what I remember about you and you can tell me if I have the wrong person.  You were a Texas boy, even wore your Cowboy Hat to school one day.  You were eager to make friends and you were a really a nice guy.  I think you were in one of my classes and since I had relatives in Texas, we got to talking.  You were eager to play football.  I can't remember if you went out, but I had told you that it would be pretty hard to step in with a system that was in place and people who are already into it.  And unfortunately, BHS had some really good Football Teams all thru the 60's.  Let me know if you are that Ed Stanfield.  But what I really wanted to tell you is this.  From this Web Site I now know that you are going thru some pretty tough and stressful times.  I spent almost all of 1993 with (3) operations, 30 days of radiation, 24 chemo trips with the go  home bag, and multiple c/t scans.  I'm still around.  In 2000, I was a caretaker for my wife with breast cancer.  She is still around.  I'm sure you have talked with hundreds of people and gotten hundreds of recommendations.  But if you ever need to Vent, if you ever want any kind of advice, or just talk about it, feel free to get with me.  I'm not a Dr., but I've read many many books, I've set and talked with people at meetings, but most of all, I've been on every side of this monster.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  I'll help ya'll out any way I can, but most of all, NEVER EVER GIVE UP.  There is something new on the horizon every day to fight this thing.  Keep the Faith.

Jack Habich

Rod,

Steve Jetton told me about a week ago that he talked to a Rod Hayes.  "Who"?, I thought.  Then I remembered that when I put up the '94 reunion pics, a Rod Hayes was in every other picture. He must have been an important guy, I figured.  Then it came to me ...you're the guy that spotted me $50 in '94.  I meant to stiff you but my sources in TX told me "don't mess with this guy".

You say you believe Jetton that you graduated in '64.  I've learned to believe Jetton about very little, but I do now think he might be truthful on this.

The guy in the '67 picture (page 14) with Dave Holt is "Irish" Jerry Quarry, number 1 ranked heavyweight (boxer) in the world at that time.  One of my favorites.  Holt and I have had a standing argument about Quarry every since.  Because of the picture (Holt looks bigger because Quarry was slumped over), Holt thinks he was too small to be a heavyweight.  Never saw Holt jump in the ring with him though.

Anyway, now that I know who you are, son, I think we can have some fun.

Jack Habich

Look small to you..or is it just to Holt?  I mean, Ronnie Lyle never complained.

Victor Jackson

Yes Rod I am the one we lived at 1009 east olive that is about 4 houses from Ron. Jackson VW was two of my dads brothers, I spent a lot of time on that lot!

Milan Jackson

I am not related to Ron, Bert, nor Victor. :)

Jack Habich

Nevertheless, Milan Sidney Jackson, you are Sheriff Sid's namesake.

Milan Jackson

I knew I'd regret exposing that middle name. (laugh)

Sheriff Sid was from Champaign. Salty Sam and Captain Jinx were from Peoria.

Milan Jackson

Remember Creature Feature???????????

Melvin (Mel) Theobald

Hey Rod, welcome to the network. This is something you'll keep coming back to. You're a sly fox, bet you remember a lot more than just the date of graduation, like maybe Oakland School and Harbord Dr. at Maizefield. Guess we all remember our childhood turf.

Milan Sidney, you will have to change your last name to be Sheriff. The real Sid's real name was Sid Fulkerson, aka Sid Perry. There is an amazing Web site on the history of WCIA. You might want to check it out. www.dougquick.com/wciachampaign2.html

There is even a Sheriff Sid FaceBook page, can you believe that? Sorry Rod, but it was set up by Sheriff Sid's actual daughter, so somewhere along the way he must have been feeling his oats and dropped a few seeds. He was a married man with children. There is a great story there about how Sky King came to their house for dinner. You sure it wasn't Salty Sam you saw in Peoria?

With earlier talk of John Coleman and The Hop in Champaign and Peoria, does anyone else remember that John Coleman was arrested as a Peeping Tom in Peoria, only to end up being a weather man years later in Chicago? HMMMM.......sorry to be a character assassin, but the good old days came with some wierd baggage.

And Rod, your letter to Ed was absolutely beautiful. Sorry to hear about all the ailments you and your wife have endured, but you are totally spot on about the treatments. And even more so about how we can all bring some measure of support.