Ground Rules

(By posting in this forum, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these rules.)

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful.  But be respectful.  The administrators reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.  Access and participation on this forum is not a right, it is a privilege and abuse may result in suspension or revocation of WHS60s site access at any time.  

 Posting involving politics or religion are prohibited as they typically and quickly become offensive/demeaning.    

We don't actively monitor the forum, but respond to complaints and take action as deemed appropriate.

V/R, Co-site Administrators Joan Lucchesi ('60) and Gary Wegener ('66)

Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum

(you always have the option to edit or delete your post). 

Jim Benedict (1969)

Hey class of 1969. It was fun to be a part of the planning committee last night for our 50th, coming up September 14. Details soon, hope you are reserving date, looking forward to catching up!

Jean Duncan (Miller) (1968)

Buddy, I was privileged to have your dear mother for my 2nd grade teacher at Lee, and then as a 4th grade teacher at Dingle.  One of my favorite teachers!  Most of my memories are from fourth grade.  She posted a newspaper clipping of the the newly picked seven original astronauts on a bulletin board, and we learned about them.  One thing I remember her saying more than once was “you’re only as clean as your dirtiest piece of clothing”!  She must’ve had to endure some smelly kids!  I remember her delightful southern accent, and is the only person I ever knew whose first name was Este!  One memorable incident happened when she would give us timed multiplication tests.  I was so nervous about them that I would get horrible stomachaches in anticipation.  I told my mother about it, and she mentioned it to Mrs. Owens, who said she certainly had no intention to cause such stress on any of her students, and so the timed tests ended. So considerate. She also taught us how to make lye soap.  A wonderful teacher.  One of the best!

From high school my two favorite teachers were my sophomore English teacher, Mr. Roderig.  He told us to forget anything we had learned about grammar, and we started from scratch with nouns and verbs, continuing on to gerunds and infinitives, and diagramming sentences.  I learned so much from him!  The other teacher was Mr.  Young, Senior English, who introduced us to Shakespeare, Kafka, T.S. Eliot, Joseph Conrad, and many others.  He was a dynamic teacher who made reading these difficult pieces of literature more understandable to 17 & 18 yr olds.  Other great teachers at WHS and Lee and Dingle, but these three were probably my favorites.

I’m not sure whether it was my junior or senior year, but WHS was being tested to see how it ranked among other California high schools.  It seemed like we had monitors in our classes for several weeks.  Later we learned we were ranked as a number 5 school, the highest rank.  That meant a B from our school was the same as an A from a lower ranked school.  Colleges looked at graduates from WHS with good grades having a better chance for acceptance than graduates from lower ranked schools.  We certainly were lucky to attend such a school.

Jean Duncan (Miller) (1968)

Robert, I vote to keep the obits!

David Hughes (1967)

I appreciate Robert's hard work and it is interesting to keep up on news from various familes associated with Woodland, even if through obituaries.  However, the most important thing is that we keep Robert.  Thanks my friend for all of your hard work -- don't give up.

Lenora Monaco (Inks) (1960)

Robert,

I also sincerely hope you will continue posting the obits and maintaining the military list. Both are so important to so many of us! I am so sorry about about any negativity directed towards you, which is not appropriate at all.

Nowdays I am often so discouraged by the constant ugliness and meanness so pervasive in our country now. We must all remember how fortunate we are to have the freedoms we have, to "fight" for any that are disappearing and to be kind to each other!

Thanks everyone for listening,

Lenora

Don Gray (1962)

I can't believe that this WHS '60's website would silence Robert Cowin's great public service.  In his own words, "I did this out of respect for my fellow alumni. Death and grief is never an easy life task, especially to endure alone."     

For this website to reject simple respectful historical reporting of longtime members of the community has been much appreciated, especially by those of us with deep roots in Woodland who now live hundreds or thousands of miles away.  Much has been reported on buildings or events from our Woodland past.  Why not the people?  If you don't like obits, skip to the next item.  Nostalgia for cruisin' Main from the A&W to the bowling alley is O.K. but I don't appreciate ignoring the people who helped make Woodland the town where we grew up.  Thanks again, Robert.  And if you want to return to reporting here, please do.

Nancy Rollins (Gantz) (1968)

Theresa Eve (1964)

Easter in Woodland around 1956.  I am holding my sister, JoAnne.  Grass was not yet planted in our backyard.  But we had a good house.   

Theresa Eve (1964)

Mr. Robert, keep up your posts.  The history of all is so interesting.  What we read in an obituary is often an untold story about the person, the family and connections.   You are a value to our Woodland History.  Thank you.  As the words from the story of Peter Rabbit, "Who would know?"

Duane Jackson (1965)

Wow, "Thar be Gold in them thar Hills"!....I, as most, enjoy the "Obits".......Having moved to Woodland in 59, I was dipped in Woodland history via Beamer School in the 5th grade (Mrs Cargo)......That ment I never really knew the old timers who had lived in Woodland all their lives......My Mother married James Martin, who was at the time in the Fire Dept......we lived for a short time on Elm street, then a short time later moved around the block to the 156 College......After a couple years, my Mom and step dad bought a house south of town in the "Ritzy" part of town, they sold that (?) for some reason we again moved to third street (all time still owning the house on College, was was a rental for a short time) lived there for a year or so, sold that to my sister and her husband, and returned to College, where we stayed until I finished High School, went in to the Army for 3 years, married Vicki Hayden returned to Woodland and set up housekeeping and raising our daughter & son....I stayed in Woodland after the Army until 1976, when I got a change of a job with the Postal Service in Modesto, been there ever since..Going on 40 plus years.....For what it's worth Woodland is my hometown, till I check out...She's changed, grown and matured...My Woodland is in my memory, small and friendly........During my growning times, Beamer,  Lee Senior Elem School (7 & 8) Old WHS a some of my best friends at the time were Loran Polete and Jim Marion, but Jim Passed, and Loran moved on, Dave Matlock was another good friend at the time.....During that time they all were great guys.......I don't get back home any more, only mostly to stop by and see my Mother who's buried at the cemetery close to the Flyers Club..(That still going?)....... To Bob and Gary, from Me, "Thanks for keeping the Site going"!.......We get what we put into it........Just for the fun of it, how many of us still remember our first jobs and those held during High School..................Blessing to the Group......"Party on Dudes and Dudettes..............(Stole that from Bill and Ted).....

Ron Blickle (1963)

I too would lkie to see the obituaries continue and would hope that the few that don't like them would just skip over them so the rest of us can keep up with the true history of Woodland.  As some have already stated, there is much to learn about our town in the history of those who have departed.

On another subject, one of my favorite teachers at WHS was Fred Stone, who taught drafting.  For some reason, he took me under his wings and actually helped me to get a summer job with Fred Jost's company who was doing construction on a rice mill at PIRMI on the north side of Woodland.  As a young guy it was exciting to help do the drawings and watch the mill being built.  I wanted to become a architect, so this was a great experience.  Fred Stone was a character in class and often told jokes to get us going.  One that I remember, was that he would bet anyone in our class that he could tell the score of our next football game before it even bagan.  There was a lot of head scratching, but he would laugh and tell us that the score would be 0-0 since the game had not started yet.  Fun guy and a good teacher.  
 

Janet Long (Levers) (1966)

Wow! Look at all the good conversations and memories filling our pages--it's great! Jean Duncan mentioned two of the English teachers that so shaped my ability to read, write, and interpret. I commend Mr. Roddewig for expecting us to give oral reviews about parts of books that we read, although when I gave mine about "Of Mice and Men", it made Susan Pasanen cry. And Mr. Youngs' weekly spelling list of 50 important words was so valuable; they pushed our word usage--and ability to memorize--to college level. But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Mr. Hefner, who taught Latin and made that ancient language come alive. It wasn't just a field trip: our bus journey to the Orpehum Theatre in SF to see Cleopatra, especially with all the scandal that had surrounded that, was WAAY over the top; eye-opening! 

Gary Wegener (Wegener) (1966)

The informal poll of Message Forum responses sure supports Robert's continuation of obit posts on the Message Forum.  To be clear, after a couple comments about "all the obits", I simply proposed (post 6704, 3/23) shifting the obits for non-WHS60s grads to another tab on the site (Non-WHS60s obits) with just a teaser on the main Message forum.  And I noted that we (I) already post the WHS60s grads obits in the In Memory section, which can be searched by class year, and by year of passing.  And you can set the preferences in the Notify Me tab on if/how quickly you want to be notified of additions.  (I suspect many enjoy the simplicity of the having everything on the Message Forum.  Lord knows there are enough other complications in life.)

Nobody, least of all me, is directing Robert to cease posting obits, or the vet info.  Certainly he has to be heartened by the thank-you's this has generated.

Eldon Larson (1964)

     Just to get a response in before my big brother Vern, and that’s not easy to do.  I appreciate Roberts for all that he has done and hope he continues.  Big job!  I also understand what Gary is saying about updating each class page with the individual orbit.  On the main message board, these will be hard to find.  How many of you have gone back looking for previously posted orbits?  Easy to find going to the class and clicking on the individual.       I have enjoyed the added activity and encourage all to participate with stories.  Looking forward to not seeing my orbit on anything.  Go Wolves!!!

Dan Ree (Ree) (1964)

The obits...Robert bring out those in the most part..the individuals who build Woodland......made it a great place...they worked hard..supoorting their families and the real beauty of Woodland as I remember it....sad it is no more....but the Obits Robert  must continue.....to bring back great memories and to respect those that left us..............Woodland was great..thank you Robert..carry on......My Grand Father John D. Ree had a Tailer for Men Shop in the Porter Building......next to the Porter Theatre ..and Eveyln Mardsen ran the State Theatre  with a tight Rule..her husband had a small shop on Court st....with Cable air planes supplies......that just a few..but great peeps that led Woodland to be great...Just Saying...........

Joel Childers (1966)

Okay, let's review a little, because I believe that there has been a major misunderstanding. Between 3/12 and 3/22 (quite a stretch) Robert Cowing posted 3 obits and I made one post re: baseball season. NOBODY ELSE POSTED ANYTHING ON THE FORUM DURING THAT 10 DAY TIME FRAME. That led to 3/22, when Tony Moddessette commented that the site had turned into an obit page.  Let me be a bit presumptuous here when I say that Tony was not slamming the inclusion of obits or Robert Cowing's wonderful contribution to the site. Nor was that my intention when I responded that same day by encouraging people to contribute to the forum. Since that day, there has been a steady flow of support for Robert Cowing and the service he has provided. I could find only two negative comments about obits and they both pertained to people outside the classes of the 60s. Those comments were rebuffed by another who pointed out that you don't have to read anything on the forum that you don't want to read. Now, Robert, of course, is absolutely correct in stating that it his time and money and effort he has expended in providing us with this free service. And he has every right to quit it at any time and for any reason (or no reason at all). I just want to add my voice to those many other classmates in saying, "Thank you Robert Cowing for your invaluable contribution to the site."

David Stotts (1965)

Here is my take on the obits.  I do not look on them as downers.  I look at them as a celebration of the lives that they lived.  I will be leaving CA for NY to live in a couple of weeks and I appreciate knowing if one of my friends has passed and reading about the lives that they lived.  As for the people who served our country-they deserve to be recognized any time we get the chance.

Gail Smith (Maxwell) (1964)

I have been trying to remember who my business machines teacher was.  I was in his/her class when they made the announcement about Kennedy being shot.  It was 4th period, right before lunch.  Anyone else remember being in that class and who the teacher was?

One of my favorite teachers was Mr. Dozier.  At first, he scared me to death but he was a great history teacher.  He was also a huge SF Giants fan and I remember when they went into the playoffs whatever 196? year that was, he would have the radio on in class so we could all listen.

I envy those of you who can remember a lot of your teachers because I can't.  For English classes I remember Mr. Roddewig, Mr. Bullock and Mr. Young.  For math, Mr. Mosher and Mr. Thatcher (I remember him a lot because I failed his geometry class...I guess he was a good teacher but he taught to the kids who understood the math and didn't really help those of us who didn't).  And of course, Miss Strand in PE.  During my senior year I had work experience and had a job at The Fashion (I believe it was right on the corner of College and Main).  I thought it would be glamorous working there but all I did was hang up clothes!

Gail Smith (Maxwell) (1964)

I forgot to add about Mr. Thatcher.  My mother had him in high school and she graduated in 1943!  Think he had been around a while!

Theresa Eve (1964)

Gail, nice to hear from you  on the collection of teachers at Woodland High School.  The Business Machines teacher was Mrs. Zona Carr. I had her and was not impressed.  Now Mrs. Jane Podgasky was great, as was Mr. Warren Meyer.  All those typing classes made it possible for my State job.  Mr. Young was great with all his lists of vocabulary words, of which I still can recall.  Mr. Weisick, taught like my Dad.  You have manners in this class, and remember you will have an oral and written report to present!!!!  He was so right on!!!  Glad to see some of those boys step up to his demands.  Mr. Gordon's art class was my very favorite.  I was in his class when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  A terrible event in all our lives!  I can recall it all; the news was reporting all the following hours.  

Theresa Eve (1964)

Tim Tucker (1965)

Maybe this comment wont be important to you guys. Some of you will ignore it and wont even bother to read it and it will just go unnoticed along with so many others. Maybe I'll be criticized for this, but I just want you all to know......I'm selling potatoes.

Charlotte Apodaca (Lucero) (1961)

March 29, 2019

To Mr. Tim Tucker (1965);

I love potatoes 🥔, actually my very favorite vegetable in the universe.  Just a side note, did you know the potato is the third most important food crop after rice and wheat. Potatoes grow from high altitudes to sea levels.  Potatoes grow in over 100 hundred countries. There are over 4000 varieties of native potatoes, mostly found in the Andean mountains of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.  The Andean mountains are green and lush—with potatoes vines: a beautiful sight.

I have always enjoyed eating potatoes prepared in different dishes.  I became fascinated with the potato when I was in living in Ecuador during my Peace Corps tour. When I traveled into Peru I learned of the thousands of varieties that I could choose from: my favorite are the golden and the small purple variety. 

For more information: check out Potato Facts and Figures.

Tim, let us know where do you sell your potatoes, and what are the variety.

Regards,

Charlotte Lucero 

Vern Larson (1960)

See Tim...Ya never know!

Tim Tucker (1965)

Vern and Charlotte, thank you for taking notice. The "Potato Venture" hopefully will turn out better than my previous effort. I had a lifelong dream of creating a turtle ranch . My intent was to raise the finest herd of turtles possible. I had hoped to contract with the military and supply them with helmets and soup........It just didn't fit their needs apparently........  P.S. I can be reached at 1-888-SPUDGUY.