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Vern Larson (1960)

Great story Bill! What a rewarding exciting career being a military pilot must be! We are waiting for the next chapter into the wild blue yonder.

Ok Linda, no fair just commenting on others...I know you must have some interesting motorcycle stories to tell. Maybe about the time you...oh wait, I'll let you tell it.  And all you others who have not yet responded..."EVERYBODY" has got a story to tell: Exciting...inspirational...educational...funny...happy...sad...You've got them, let's hear them. Your turn! 

David Hughes (1967)

Bill, apparently ATC will allow a flight into the Grand Canyon.  About 3 years ago, we were flying our Bonanza A36TC from Page Arizona to Southern California.  We were on the north side of the restricted airspace when a Lear Jet came on the airways.  He was an angel flight (Private plane with a person (in this case a young kid) who needs medical attention at a facility far from home and has no other means to get there, so the airplane owner donates a ride).  He asked ATC to descend from flight level 200 (as I recal) down to about 12,000 feet or maybe even lower so he could show his passenger the inside of he Grand Canyon.  ATC hesitated then approved and we watched him descend and enter the canyon.  About a minute later, ATC called us and said turn left, new heading 190 maintain 12,000.  Now at that heading we would be in the Grand Canyon airspace in about 1 minute.  I called ATC and advised I had two different GPS telling me I was headed for restricted airspace.  She responded and said "do you want to see the canyon or not" and I said thanks.  We flew the west quarter of the canyon at 12,000 feet and really enjoyed the view.     David Hughes class of 67

Bill Means (1961)

Jenny Johnson,

You're not allowed to forget the local Watts Woodland airport is the original Fliers Club. It has a Cessna AT-37xx on a pedistal. It is a very advanced edition of the T-37 trainer I flew in training. It was for foreign air forces to train and use for attack missions.

The first aerodrome in N Cal was Mills Field built in 1917 about 10 miles East of  Sacramento.  It was rebuilt for WWII and renamed Mather field just off Hwy 50. The second aerodrome in N. Cal was The Fliers Club built in 1919. The third one was Chrissy Field in SFO in 1921. So the big question is why was Woodland a leader flying airplanes. My take on it is: When you have lots of millionair families and cars are finally old and boring and the new thing is a Wright Flier, why not get a plane and have fun!!

OK, John now your turn - lets see if you have a SCARRY flying story to tell. We'll see if our classmates will ever fly again. Oh, I flew in a Cessan 402 from San Juan to St. Croix last December and the plane looked like it was older than the F-100 I flew. Weight of all baggage and passengers and then load the plane and re-arranging the heavy passenger ( me ), but the best looking gal sat in the co-pilots seat every time.

John, flying closer to the ground over the Grand Canyon and every beautiful terrain feature is great.

Linda Lopez (1967)

Thanks Vern for the invite.

For me it's the time when I was in Arkansas with my son- in-law four wheeling the woods. We were known to go mud bogging. The group was a mix of firefighters, and air force friends of Ed's, may son-in-law. I was encouraged to hop on the back  of Ed's vehicle with out my shoes and away we went down and around the trail mud splash left and right. They reach a long stretch of water, dirty water, and Ed got off and said to me go for it. As I slid on to the driver seat the guy in front of me went speeding forward. The water was just under the seat deep so I saw my chance to get behind his wake and make it across. All ten of the guys gave me a standing ovation as I came to a stop at the top of the hill. I had become one of the group that day.

Vern Larson (1960)

Thank you Linda and Bill! That was great! I think we're on a "barrel" roll. We want to hear everything from 50,000 feet down to the mud boggs, and those who are SCUBA divers even lower. I know you all have had experiences in life that your posterity would love to have a history of. Now is your chance to dig deep and open up about those parts of your life and share them with the rest of us. NOTHING is too small or insignificant. Even the shortest prayer by a child is of utmost importance to Heavenly Father.

John Eaton (1964)

I don't think the airspace around the Grand Canyon was restricted until the mid 80's and that was due to at least one mid air collision.  Scenic Airlines used to do tours in Ford Trimotors.    It is not restricted airspace in the sense the military use airspace or Terminal Flight Restriction areas are, but you do have to observe some requirements and restrictions today, and have a clearance from the appropriate air traffic control entity.

In the 70's I frequently made trips to Texas, which is where my wife at the time was from.  She always insisted she couldn't fly the airplane, which was a light twin, a Beech Travel Air, which was a pain in the neck to me because it was about a 9 hour flight from Woodland to Abilene and the autopilot was a little weak, one of those early pneumatic types.  So we came up on the Grand Canyon and I asked her if she wanted to fly down it and she said yes, so I dropped down below the rim and off we went, heading west.  Pretty soon she started complaining that I wasn't doing it right and she couldn't see what she wanted to see, so I said fine, you fly it!  To my surprise, she did, and did a fairly good job of it, all the way to the west end.  No more more excuses about me getting to take a nap now and then on those trips!

I was always a little reluctant to roll airplanes I wasn't pretty familiar with, because I know that things can get left in airplanes that are in places they don't belong.  Like wrenches, screw drivers, loose nuts and bolts, whatever, and it can be inconvenient if they block flight controls.  A well done roll puts no more stress on an airplane than a steep turn, however recovery from a missed attempt is another matter entirely.

John Eaton (1964)

Bill's story of the F-100 over Lake Tahoe sounded like a fun time, it's not often a pilot has that kind of opportunity.  One does need to practice his low level work in the military, though.

I flew a Cessna Citation 501 for a photo shoot over Lake Tahoe early one morning, and this picture has Fallen Leaf Lake in the background.

Joel Childers (1966)

All I know about flying in Yolo County is that my father's cousin Clifton Kramer was a pilot and farmer. He passed away in Woodland in 2006, age 84. I used to have a job where I would go out to the fields in the springtime and pour who-knows what kind of chemicals into his crop-dusters with the engine running and the propeller blowing dust in my face. I had nothing but a bandana over my mouth. I was all of 14 or 15 years old. I don't believe OSHA existed back then. My Great Aunt Bessie Childers, my Great Grampa George's sister, was Clifton's mother. Clifton's son, Austin, (class of 64 or 65 ?) who was remembered here in the message forum, died quite young while flying his crop-duster. His wife, who's name escapes me now, used the insurance money to open a restaurant called the "Crash Inn" on Main Street in Woodland. It wasn't open for long. It had the tail end of an airplane sticking up out of the roof. 

John Eaton (1964)

Pretty sure Austin was class of 64.  Sad day when he passed, I think he tangled with some wires.  Crop dusting can be very cruel until you have a enough years in and even then it cuts you no slack.

Jenny Johnson (Norman) (1966)

Thanks, Bill.  Silly me - I'll try very hard not to forget again.  

Sounds to me like a lot of us could write books.

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

This is a piece I wrote from my Writing Your Life History Class. It is directed to my grandchildren and nothing as exciting as flying an airplane but some of the "girls" will get a kick out of it.

It was 1966 and I had been on the island of Oahu for almost a year. What was once a dream place to vacation was now somewhere I lived and I had become quite comfortable.  I had been a hairdresser in California, but I didn’t want to take the state boards in Honolulu. It was expensive, it would mean working days and the rumor was they were very hard on haoles when they took the boards.

I had moved there following six of my high school friends and by 1966 I had moved out with one of their roommates and we had rented an apartment of our own.  Blair Ryan was also a California girl and when she asked if I had a job, I replied that I was going to look for one. She was a cocktail waitress for Chuck’s Cellar and she knew they were looking for a hostess.  I got that job but only kept it for three weeks. The manager offered me a cocktail waitress position. Living in Hawaii, this position was one of the better jobs in the restaurant business. The hours are relatively short, 4 to 6 hours a night and with working nights; your days are free to spend some time at the beach. Plus you got tips. At that time, tips were not taxable, another plus.

That is what Blair and I were doing on that spring afternoon in 1966. We had gone to the Lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  I had been in the restaurant business for a year and Blair a few before me. We knew most of the bartenders in Waikiki and decided to stop at the Tahitian Lani to say hello to Ed Green before heading home and getting ready for work.

We were sitting at the bar when a gentleman approached us and asked if we would like to join their party for a drink. Ed said, “go ahead.” Under the thatched roof of the bar that looked out over the pool at the Village were large princess chairs. These are cane chairs with rounded high backs and you are unable to see around them. There was a group sitting in a circle. The man pulled one chair out that was empty and told me to sit. Blair sat across from me and there were six other chairs, five men and one woman.  They started to introduce themselves and when I turned to my left I almost fell out of my chair. I said, “RICK NELSON!” he said, “and your name would be?”  After I told him my name I said, “your birthday is Monday.”  When he asked me how I knew that, I told him that I could probably tell him most everything that had been printed about him.  You must understand that Rick Nelson was the Justin Bieber of the 50’s. There wasn’t a Thursday night that I was not sitting in front of the television at 8 o’clock to watch The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The group asked us where we worked and when we told them a prime rib restaurant they asked us to save them a table for six at 7:00 o’clock.

Blair and I walked in to the restaurant at 5 to have our employee meal. We were both very excited and when we told the manager that we wanted to save table number 7 for a party of six at 7 o’clock he shook his head saying, “you know we don’t take reservations.” We told them it was for Rick Nelson and they were returning from entertaining the troops in Vietnam.  The manager said that he would see how it all worked out. When seven came and they didn’t, we were crushed and the other employees were snickering at us. At 7:10 they walked through the door and we were again smiling.

Over the years working in the restaurant business I waited on so many famous people. George Kennedy, Jim Backus,  Cher,  Karen and Richard Carpenter, Jack Lord, Arnold Palmer, Jim Nabors, Jack Nicholson just to name a few, but NO ONE gave me the thrill that meeting Ricky Nelson did.

Jenny Johnson (Norman) (1966)

How cool! Awesome memories, Joan!

Charlotte Apodaca (Lucero) (1961)

Thank you for sharing Joani - what a great experience...

Keep the stories coming - it sounds like there have been some great adventures amongst our classmates.

Vern Larson (1960)

Uh uh Charlotte! You're not getting off that easy. We want to hear about your epic trip to Spain recently. Don't forget about that multiple day scenic trek of over 100 miles following a famous trail.

We've really enjoyed the recent stories from our classmates...Keep them coming!

Great photo Dan, and "ALOHA" Joan...were you one of those girls in Ricky Nelson's song, "TRAVELING MAN?"

Welcome back John and Joel...we've missed you.

Dan Ree (Ree) (1964)

Who are these young kids.....in Cub Scout Troop464.......Feb...1957...bottom from left to right.......Dan Ree...Chris Klaunch......John Eaton......top row...Pete Rast.........Bruce Hiddleson.....Burt Ball......and Gerald  Shaw....

Linda Lopez (1967)

Yes, Charlotte we do want to hear your stories. We are waiting. Thanks, Linda

John Eaton (1964)

Yeah, that's me, Dan.  Top left is Pete Rast, next to him is Bruce Hiddleson, then Bert Ball.  Don't know the next fellow.

Linda Lopez (1967)

I hadn't heard that one Craig. Great that you made it out safe. The tuna boat didn't want ya that day. Your story reminded me of that commercial showing Charley Tuna at the bottom of the sea. Holding a sign.

Donald Urain (1964)

the kid in the top row of the scout picture is Gerald Shaw on the right end.

Dan Ree (Ree) (1964)

Thanks. Don.....could not think of his first name...when these photo got to my home...we never wrote each name....but I got most...John Eaton and you feel in the gaps.....on our grammer school photos the same situation...I have one with Miss Conger.i think you are in it...will post soon...I have the ones back from Dingle and Lee.........................

Vern Larson (1960)

 

Sept. 5, 1942 - July 23, 2017 

Gary passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Sunday, July 23, while doing yard work at Merry Mountain Village, Clipper Mills, CA. Born on Sept. 5, 1942 in Redding. He was the son of Jess and Ruth Denny, and second youngest of five brothers and sisters, Jim, Harold, Roger, Dorothy and Doris (deceased)). He was a very dedicated brother to all his siblings. 

Gary was a general contractor and built numerous projects around Marin, Yolo and Colusa Counties. He did his apprenticeship in Marin County and also worked for Cordoza & Sons before starting his own business during which time he enjoyed working on remodels and custom homes. 

He has been married to Janet for 56 years. They met at Plainfield Elementary School, and married after graduating from Woodland High School. They moved to Petaluma where they had Veronica and Kimberly. Later they moved back to Woodland to be close to beloved in laws, George and Vera, as well as close family and friends. 

Gary has always loved anything with a motor; cars and motorcycles were his passion. He went to car shows and swap meets regularly. He also enjoyed camping, hunting, road trips, western movies and dominos at the family cabin. 

He was always kind, giving, friendly to strangers, and sometimes could be brutally honest, "If you want to help me, don't help me". He made a difference in the lives of all that knew him. Respected for his hard work and one to offer help in any way needed. All were welcome to drop by for a visit anytime, his doors were always open. 

He was a loving, protective husband to Janet, a caring father to Veronica and Kimberly, and wonderful father in law to David Dale. He taught his grandsons Tyson and Josh some valuable life lessons; like how to shoot a gun and bait a hook. 

Gary also appreciated and valued his close relationship with his cousins, Donna and Joe, along with his long time friendships and weekly/daily McDonalds coffee and Subway breakfast groups. "Uncle Gary" was very generous, and truly loved his nieces and nephews. He was also a great dad to our lovely family dog, Juno and cat, Kiki. 

To all the good friends and emergency crews who were there and got Janet through the day of this tragic accident, our gratitude is beyond words. 

We feel so very thankful to everyone that has helped us during this challenging time. Your visits are a welcome relief, calls, cards, flowers, meals and FB posts mean so much to us, your kindness has given us strength. Love and blessings to all of you. 

A celebration of Gary's life is planned for Saturday Aug. 19, at 11 a.m., and will be held at the California Agriculture Museum, at 1962 Hays Lane, Woodland, 530-666-9700. www.CaliforniaAgMuseum.org. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity, thank you.  

 

Published in Daily Democrat on Aug. 4, 2017

      Gary Denny WHS 1960...RIP      

Frankie Lopez (1969)

Does Any One Know Who's In Charge Of The Class Of 1968 Reunion?

Ron Blickle (1963)

Speaking of Scouting, and I apologize in advance if anyone is offended, but how many of you were in Boy Scout Troop 69?  Some of the Scout leaders must have laughed their heads off at adding The Beaver Patrol to Troop 69.  Yes, that was my unit!  Our Scout Master was old Doc Camp, then Dennis Demaria, among others.

Mike Miller (1966)

I was in 464. Dad was scout master. Also in cubs.

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Hey Ron

I also was in Troop 69, Beaver Patrol, I wish I still had that uniform :-)

No one believes me when I say that :-)