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Vern Larson (1960)

ELDON - Hey Little Bro, I knew I could count on you to keep me honest. You always made the right choice and followed Leon’s example instead of mine. I never could sway you. I had fun scaring you though when I drove dads 1947 Dodge pickup across the train trestle over Cache Creek by the sugar factory. It sure was a bumpy ride wasn’t it. It’s too bad they demolished that trestle. It would be fun to find another train trestle to drive across.  We'll use your Volvo Sport Utility vehicle next time and I got dibs on driving!

Smokey Rico (1964)

Buni, the last place I have where Shelly ( Burns ) Sosnovic lived was in Fort Bragg. Maybe one of our classmates might know if she has a new address, good luck tracking her down.

Elvis Kelley (1962)

VERN quick, before your little bro takes full control. Tell us that really bad thing you did. You know the one you said you would never talk about. We won't tell. 

Vern Larson (1960)

Elvis - I don't want to monopolize the forum, but I've got a memory that's close to the Hatcher family.   Annie's sister Judy had invited me to a formal dance. I think it was Job's daughters or something like that. Judy was wearing a full length formal gown and looked absolutely beautiful.  My older brother, Leon, was into judo in college and taught me a hip throw.  I thought... I can incorporate this into a dance move. I think you know where I'm going with this... Your right!  During a fast dance, I swung Judy over my hip and set her gently back on the floor. Judy was flabergasted, embarrassed, and just didn't know what to do.  Needless to say Judy was very upset and was not happy with me one bit.  I didn't do that judo/dance move anymore that night.  Circa: 1959.

Buni Murphy (Panick) (1964)

Thanks  Smokey, Robert gave me some info.

Elvis Kelley (1962)

VERN    ☺

Duane Jackson (1965)

Today was Vicki (Hayden's) Jackson birthday......She is 39 again!!!!

Happy Birthday my loving wife...................

Vern Larson (1960)

Margaret (Cookie) Robinson and I attended Laugenour school, and she was a year ahead of me.  I lived behind the little store just South of Cache Creek on 113, and she lived across the field to the East on a ranch called Maples Stables.  We played and rode our bike together a lot while we were growing up.  One day I discovered we had water in our irrigation ditch behind our house, so I called up Cookie and asked if she would like to come over and play in our ditch. There was a slight pause, and then she said, "Ah Vern, why don't you come over and we can swim in our pool.  I was over in a flash!  I wasn't the smartest kid at Laugenour...but I wasn't stupid.  One day during the summer after her graduation from 8th grade, we were riding our bikes in her driveway and her mom came out and took our pictures and said it was time to go get her brades cut off.  Cookie had always worn her hair in two long brades.  They left for town, and that was the last time I ever got to play with Cookie.  Cookie had grown up, and was now getting ready to attend high school.  R.I.P my dear friend Cookie. Circa:1955

Robert Cowing (1965)

Buni Murphy (Panick) (1964)

Don't remember Thelma but shopped at Briets a lot. I remember thinking how much fun it would be to work at aplace like that. I worked at the Emporium in Santa Rosa for 27 years. The first 25 were fun the last 2 trying to come out of bankruptcy and trying to figure out who our customer was, was not fun. Back in Thelma's day it was probably a lot easier and certainly relied on great customer service. My favorite store was Betty's. Betty and Pops were related and I could always get Pops to buy me something there.

Hopefully Thelma enjoyed her 30 years at Briets. Rest in Peace girl

Cheryl Matter (Fowler) (1963)

I do remember Thelma, she knew what was in the store and where to find it.  She always had a smile for her customers.  ..........and she was Willie's Mom!

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

I do remember Thelma. My mom was a member of Delta Thata Tau and a friend of Thelma's. It's funny how I think of families when driving by the houses. I always think of Thelma at College and Bartlett, along with the Cowings and Elzeys.

Robert Cowing (1965)

The Sacketts - We lived "katty" corner from them on College Street.  I liked being in their home because both Willard Sr. and Willard Jr (Class of 1961) were always building model airplanes, boats etc. One year, Booby Geer, Willard Jr and my self built an underground bunker in the backyard . . . for what reason, I'm not sure and I won't speculate at this late date. Mrs. Sackett (Thelma) made us stop because it was too deep and too big.

While we were digging, Willard Sr. was building a magnificant sail boat in his basement.  When he finished, it was beatiful, painted, lacquered, sails, ropes  . . . everything . . . except for one minor flaw . . .  . . it was too big to remove from the basement !

Bobby and I didn't hang out there for quite awhile, at least not until the boat was out of the basement tucked away in the garage . . . a few months later.

Robert Cowing (1965)

Yes, Craig, Bobby and I did laugh until this nexrt event at the Sacakett's . . . Willard, the older guy, was our friend and of course we were  his . . . well, he had some enemies and Willard told us that he needed help in protection and of course Bobby and I jumped at the chance !

These guys would throw rocks at Willard and chase him, so Willard suggsted we make as many mud balls as possible, put apricots inside them and line them up on the top framing bar of the fence, to be ready to fire down on the enemy.

Well, the day soon arose and we were attacked as were making our mud balls.  Willard gave out orders and Bobby and I fired as many mud balls as possible. Those things stung. Rocks and mud balls everywhere on Bartlette Ave and around the yard.  Mrs Sackett, Thelma, came home early and was livid at the mess before her. The enemy took flight at her presence, Thelma enraged and yelling.  She immediately demanded that the 3 of us come around from behind the fence out by the street and take what was coming to us.

For some reason as she was laying into us she looked up and out of no where a large splatter of bird poop fell into to her wide open angry mouth !

Bobby saw his cue and ran as fast as he possiblely could westward down Bartlette Ave, faster than I had ever seen him run. At once, I ran the other direction across College St. down the alley behind my house and hid in the Leak's backyard, leaving poor mud spotted Willard, with cuts on his forehead from the rocks,  . . . alone with his irate mother.

Yes, Craig, Bobby and I laughed a lot . . . but much later, much much later . . .

P.S. - Joan, thanks for bringing back the memories when you mentioned the families on the corner of College and Bartlett. This is the first time in more than 40 years that I have thought about these events.

Liz Geer (Sullivan) (1964)

So fun to hear these stories...thanks Robert. Its funny, but in today's world, Bobby would almost be considered an angel!!!  We all know the stories, but Bobby also had a kind and caring side.  He was just doing the best with what he had.

Vern Larson (1960)

Thank you Robert...I love hearing these great stories of growing up in Woodland. Even though I had never met Bobby Geer, his reputation preceeded him by the stories I would hear. Just the mention of his name would produce smiles on peoples faces. I think he and I would have been great friends. 

Vern Larson (1960)

 As a young boy in the early 50's, my mom took me and my older sister, Maurine, into Penny's when it was located East of the State theater, to get my sister some under clothing.  To keep from embarrassing my sister, my mom ask me to go over in the toy department while they shopped. I knew what was up and wanted to stick around and tease my sister, so I said, "No I wanna stay".  When the sales lady came over and offered to help, my mom ask if she had a girdle that would fit me.  I was humiliated!  I stomped out of the store and said I was walking home!  We lived at the little store on 113 three miles North of Woodland, just before Cache Creek.  Just before I got home, they honked the horn as they passed by me.  My sister told me later that I was still stomping and kicking dust as I was walking along side the hi-way.  My mom was sure smart and knew how to handle me.

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Hi Vern

You said you lived in the little store by Cache Creek - Wasn't that a gas station at one time? The building is still there, if that is the right place. We used to stop in there to buy lunch stuff on the way out to the ranch at Knights Landing - late 1950's, early 1960's

cheers, greg

Vern Larson (1960)

Yes Greg, We lived there in an adjouning house from 1947 - 1964, and at that time it was a grocery store with 2 gas pumps and 1 karosene pump. My little brother Eldon, WHS 1964, along with Darrell Nelson, Gary Ivey, Phil Rosaco, and a few others built a 3 level tree house in the giant oak tree in the field in back of the store.  The tree was cut down some time in the late 60's. I don't know how many chain saw blades they destroyed because the tree trunk was filled with lead.  We used it as a back stop for shooting our 22's, 410's, 16 guage, 12 guage, and a 300 savage rife at. That will teach them for destroying my little bro's tree house.

Ron Damsen (1966)

Vern,

I sure remember that store at Cache Creek. Until the early 60's, I lived on road 15, across from the Wetzel family. After work, my mom would pick me up from my grandmother's house, stop by Tafoyas Market on East Street and then head home. Your store seemed like an oasis, being next to the Creek. Rick Wetzel and I would ride our bikes to Yolo when we got low on ammo (BBs). Good memories!

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Thanks Vern

I will be going by that place this Tuesday. I will stop and take a couple of Pix.

cheers, greg

Joyce Wunder (Tauzer) (1964)

Greg,  I'm finally returning your your message of #3279. I cannot post any pics, because I don't know how and the one I have in front of the Tip Top  is mostly me, you can't even see the building. I was married to Robert Tauzer, Jr. (class of 62) in 1965. He passed away in 2011. I talked to his mother today and regarding the 147? Third St., she said the oldest brother (Bobs uncle) Melvin George Tauzer lived there from the age of 13 to ?? He graduated from WHS in late 1930's she thinks.Brothers  Edwin Tauzer, also graduated WHS, William (Bud) Tauzer also WHS and Robert Sr. graduated 1941 or 1942.l They all farmed out on Roads 102 (Pole Line Rd.) and 103 between Woodland and Davis for years. My maiden name is Wunder (class of 1964). My dad Leo Wunder was the operator of the Tip Top years ago.......what a small world, how everything comes around.

Dan Ree (Ree) (1964)

Mr. Meyer.........you will  be greatly missed.   I remember him as always pleasant and encouraged others always.   RIP....DAN

Cheryl Matter (Fowler) (1963)

Warren Meyer was a wonderful person....a great teacher and mentor.   He  helped me get my first job at the Yolo Grocery while I was in high school.   I know he was a positive influence for many of us who graduated from WHS.   It was wonderful to see him at the 60s reunion.  Rest in Peace Mr. Meyer.  

Theresa Eve (1964)

Mr. Warren Meyer, the best typing teacher with great humor.  I learned a lot from Mr. Meyer, which helped me get my job with the State of California.  As I reconnected at the Class Reunions, we shared some wonderful times.  I wrote to him through the months after the reunions.  So glad to have had those times shared.  I will never forget him.  A wonderful person and so giving in many ways.  Blessings to him and to his family.