![]() |
![]() |
||||||||
Alumni News from near and farBy Vernon Pate ’50
The 150th year Anniversary celebration at TSD June 8-10, 2006 was a great success. A big crowd gathered on the TSD campus. Everyone enjoyed meeting new and old friends as most came from different states and out of town. Mrs. Lennie Benefield Martos '41 of Houston and her two daughters flew to Alaska on the first week of June. They rode the tram way and all enjoyed a boat cruise. Then they visited TSD and noticed a change since many years ago. Joy Gibson '56 of Cave Springs, Georgia retired from teaching at the Georgia School for the Deaf in 1996. She returned to her alma mater to help support the 150th year anniversary celebration. It was a great honor to see her. Charlene Griones Mullenix '52 of California attended the graduation exercise of her granddaughter at TSD. Her daughter, Patricia of Pflugerville, TX all gathered for a TSD reunion. Rolley Kolbye '67 if Castro Valley, California retired from a draftsman job after many years. He toured the TSD campus meeting old friends at the celebration. Jose E. Montello '50 retired from printing service after 24 years. He resides in Corpus Christi, TX. Edward and Rosie Jenkins Hoffman, both '56 of Tyler, TX along with their daughter visited around TSD. They all had a florist business at Grand Prairie after many years their daughter purchased an Arabian horse which was shipped from Saudi Arabia. It was expensive, they said. Wow! Melvia Miller Nomeland '56 and her husband from Washington, D.C. surprised everyone at TSD. They both retired from administrative jobs which Dr. Nomeland was employed at Gallaudet University for many years. Kay Youngblood Harvard '72 and Russell Harvard '99 surprised everyone during the celebration. Kay is employed as a houseparent at the Deaf school in Alaska. Russell is student at Gallaudet University. He has been taking movie dramas "There is Blood" at Hollywood Studio this summer. It will be released after 2007. Any of us will want to see it. Russell had a short visit with his dad Henry Harvard '69 who is part of the TSD residential staff for 20 years before he flew back to Washington D.C. Mildred Alexander Williamson '33 was honored by TSDAA during the 150th Anniversary celebration. She was the oldest Deaf lady living. She is 93 years old. She is still active and alert. She enjoyed all the activities at homecoming. She's proud of her three Deaf children John '62, Key Nunn '58 and Rodney '78. Welcome Mildred! Arnold Urban '57 of Tucson, Arizona retired from U.S. Post Office after 30 years. He is very active in helping with Sorenson VRS, also he and his wife made trips to different countries. He loves to hear about TSD news. Dorian Yank '94 was hired as a TSD High School English teacher, also is helping coach football after school. He was a TSD football player under Andy Boneyo. He was employed at the state of Virginia as an ASL instructor. Welcome back Dorian. Wesley Street '89 and his wife moved to Pflugerville, TX from Houston, TX recently. He secured employment as a night resident educator at TSD. They have a four years old boy who is enrolled at TSD. Eva Nell Montgomery '53 and John Rooch surprised everyone at the 150th anniversary celebration after she left TSD in 1953. She was living in Laredo at the time of school. She retired from Post Office in 1996. Her husband John was product of Michigan School for the Deaf and also retired from the Post Office. They have 2 grown sons and 6 grandchildren. Eva Nell was pupil of Mrs. Markie Eastman at TSD. Reuben McGill '47 of Amarillo was a guest of Don Sewell '50 at the La Vista Community in San Marcos. They toured around TSD campus. Reuben said that there was lots of changes and enjoyed the reunion. TSD Homecoming was the spotlight at TSD on October 6 & 7, 2006. A drama was shown at R.L. Davis auditorium for two nights under the direction of Raymond and Cynthia Cunningham Piper. She is a teacher of TSD kindergartners teacher. Raymond is a retired TSD teacher and coach. A B-B-Q dinner and picnic was held at the Austin Deaf Club. Iris Sandell, President of TSDAA presented the Hall of Fame award to: Texanna Faulk Conn, founder of Travis County Services for the Deaf and interpreters were honored for the community. James '48 and Laverne Carison Fair '52, Vernon Pate' 50 and Anita Uregate Dalla '39, were all honored for community. Franna Corley Camenisch '65 was for community, sports and education. Groon Farquah '08 was honored for education and he was a member of the Missouri School for the Deaf faculty and staff. He passed away in 1971. The Gallaudet University Museum attracted everyone Friday and Saturday evening. They said that the picture scene were very interesting which Franna Camenisch and other committee members worked hard to make it successful. A TSDAA meeting was held October 7, 2006 from 9:30 to noon. Iris Sandell made several announcements along with business. New officers were elected: Tom Becker' 77 President, Janice Aronson '72 Vice President. Gina Worcheshi Kuehne Secretary, John Mills '63 Treasurer. The Board members listed as: Dorothy Floyd '59 of Midland, representing the western part of Texas, Kent Kennedy of Austin representing Austin and central and south part of Texas. Cathy White Simerka of Houston representing the eastern part of the state. The president of TSDAA will appoint an editor for FLASHBACK and A Hall of fame chairperson. Keith Sibley '70 of McAllen was here to give good advice at the meeting. He is an ASL teacher at the University of Texas. His wife, Paula is a product of Washington School for the Deaf. She still teaches in a mainstreaming program. Allan Bubeck and his wife Lorena Kee Bubeck '42 of Dallas joined with us and made good suggestions which were needed for the improvement of TSDAA. Willie '44 and Evelyn Fitch Floerke '46 of Taft were happily seen by everyone at homecoming as they were unable to attend the 150th anniversary celebration in spite of being hospitalized. He was rushed to the hospital at that time. He looked fine. Billy '54 and Jeanette Fitch Turslan '54 of Dallas joined them. Elizabeth Barnett Goodman '45 of Bastrop informed us at homecoming that her oldest son, Jimmy Guiterrey was rushed to the hospital in an emergency due to blood clots, cancer and stroke on October 6th. Bonnie Nash Tippett '52 of Nederland was wed to Earl Utzman '52 of Bakersfield, California by the Justice of Peace in Beaumont on October 4, 2006. Earl retired as a printer after 54 years of service about 10 years ago. Congratulations to both of them. Garrett Scott '03 enrolled at the Austin Community College as he wants to major in graphic arts. He earned a certificate at SWICD in the spring of 2006. I bumped into two sisters of Dallas: Margie Judd Coggins-Peckham '63 and Susan Judd '72 at the TSD museum. Margie is employed at AT&T as an office clerk and proudly said that she has 6 grandchildren. Susan stays with DARS in Irving doing clerical work. She has 4 grandchildren. Very interesting! Larry Gillette '76 of San Angelo escorted Paula Rose of Corsicana to the museum to get acquainted with Franna Camelish '65. Paula is employed as a teacher aide of a mainstreamed program for 19 years. She graduated from High School in Corsicana in 1987. She told us that her great-greatgrandfather, Joseph Carmach was the 11th student at TSD when it first stated in 1857. Her greatgreat grandmother Mary Elizabeth Wisdom was the 54th student to enroll in TSD in 1886. Larry Gillette is still with the U.S. Post Office in San Angelo and he was a member of the TSD governing board for several years. It was great to meet Mrs. Shelly Sallop at the museum. She was busy taking care of her grandchildren. She used to live on the TSD campus. Now she resides in the Northern part of Austin. It was a pleasant surprise to see her. Ricardo Gonzales '66 of Corpus Christi accompanied Alice Young, Brandon Deleon '99 of Beeville and two other ladies to TSD early Saturday morning to attend TSDAA meeting and homecoming. Alice was remembered by TSD students as a cafeteria worker a few years ago. Brandon is employed at Walmart since graduation. Melvin and Ruby Holder Rueffer '66 of Waco had a guest, Wayne Habison '66 of Idaho that they had not other for 40 years. They all went to the TSD homecoming for the 1966 class reunion which was the 40th year anniversary reunion. Also, the 1966 class had their 40th year reunion, Pat and Roseline Wilson Stucky of Beaumont attended the reunion. Pat was a product of North Carolina School for the Deaf. They have two grown daughters. Rosaline is with the U.S. Post Office for 12 years. She has a total of 30 years of experience. Sara Wickham Havens '70 of Greenville attended the TSD homecoming. It happened that she had car trouble and got a the police to help her. They towed her car to Georgetown for mechanic work. Her neighbor, Tracey and Doris Woods of Austin picked her up and she spent the weekend with them. Two daughters accompanied their mother, Ima Jean Ledbetter Martin '46 to the TSD homecoming and toured TSD campus and museum. They are still residents of San Antonio. They were very respectful to their mother. They also took her to the 150th anniversary celebration. Wade Scott '84 of Bastrop was at the ADC dinner. He said he enjoyed reading the news about the Deaf alumni. He has been employed at UPS for many years. John Donimik '80 and Geoffrey Chandler '89 are employed there as well. Mary Harvard Hamlin '68 visited her friends in Seattle, Washington. She attended the Timber fest a few weeks ago. Barbara Becker Carter '72 is assigned to cottage 564 at TSD where she is a resident educator for the senior class girls. Jerry Mikus '43 of Grand Prairie was always seen at every TSD activity for years. He never missed one of them even at reunions. Jackie Ragodale Pace '50 looked great while attending the homecoming B-B-Q dinner. She was hospitalized for a few days after she fell down and hurt her hip a few months ago. Mildred Alexander Williamson '33 was given a nice TSD shirt by Ronnie Taylor at the B-B-Q dinner and Hall of Fame reception. It was a big honor to her as the oldest resident who is still living. Finice Taylor '49 of Lubbock and cousin, Esther Morris, wife of J.C. Morris '46 enjoyed all the activities during homecoming. His wife, Juanita Morris Taylor was unable to come. He said the health of Reuban McGill '47 of Amarillo has improved after being hospitalized. Stork arrival: Wesley Striet '89 and his wife Julie, product of Michigan school for the Deaf are proud parents of a daughter born on October 2, 2006. Her name is Eliza. She weighted 6lbs and 3oz. Vernon '50 and Joan Burnett Pate '42 vacationed in Tucson and Mesa, Arizona during the summer. Joan is proud to announce that she has 26 great grandchildren. They were stuck in a flood in El Paso and had to wait a few days. They drove 18 hours to arrive in Texas in time for work at TSD. Vernon and Joan Pate motored to Louisiana on Labor Day weekend to be with his 97 years old father. He is in a nursing home in Ringgold, LA. as he had a light stroke a few weeks ago. They also visited his two sister-in-laws. They spent one night at Timpson, TX as a guest of his sister-in-law. Brett Waltman '89 is rehired as an After School Program Coordinator at TSD. He was resident educator at TSD a few years ago. He earned his Bachelor's degree majoring in Communication Studies at Gallaudet University. He was employed at Louisiana School of the Deaf as a Staff Development Specialist. His wife, Kristin Clark Waltman was a product of Wisconsin School for the Deaf and she is assigned as an assistant teacher in kindergarten. They have a two year old girl. TSD is glad to have them back. Early McVey '42 of Houston was 85 on July 4, 2006. His daughter, Patsy McVey Walker '64 had a surprise birthday dinner which was catered at the activity hall on July 1. There were about 125 people at the dinner. Early is still active for his age. George '58 and Sue Nell Bridwell Farek '60 of Crockett, Texas informed us that Virginia Sessions '58 of San Marcos and the Fareks helped celebrate Mrs. Jenanette Creath Croll's 100th birthday was held at the retirement home in Crockett on April 9. A nice crowd joined them. She remembered her sign language as she taught manual communication in high school at TSD during 1935-1942. The oldest TSD teacher who are still living are: Mrs. Myrtle Hornsby Callan, Mrs. Jeanette Creath Crell, Mrs. Carrie Lou Abbott under the superintendents of T.M. School and E.R. Wrights. Mrs. Abbott lost her husband, Lee Abbott in June. He was deacon at Congress Avenue Baptist Church and helped with the Deaf. We all miss him. Don Sowell '50 and Johnny Martz '60 of San Marcos visited relatives in Dallas and Wichita Falls in August. They stopped by Graham, TX to visit with Donnell Bryan '50. Shayne Babcock '97 visited TSD campus before Homecoming week. He had been in Hawaii independently this summer. His mother, Susan Anderson is still at TSD as a librarian for many years. We had a nice chat with Martha Baker Pruitt '53 through videophone. She wants to send news that Deaf Senior Citizens from Dallas Action Center for the Deaf made a trip to Canada in a chartered bus from Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. They stopped at a restaurant in New York on the way to Canada. It was very strict there that the patrolman checked their licenses and birth certificates so they visited Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal. They lodged at different hotels. Senior Citizens listed as Thomas '51 and Martha Baker Pruitt '53, Elma Alanis Usrey '52, Martha Wilcoxson Phillips '39, Rubin '47 and his wife Sims of Houston, James '48 and Julia Spalding '65, Jessie Bolton McCarlies '44, Alton Young '42, Patsy Rasberg Kemp '48, Helmut '52 and Erna Rueffer Quiran '57. Thomas '51 and Martha Baker Pruitt '53 of Dallas celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary on July 4, 2006. Congratulations to the Pruitt. Martha Baker Pruitt '53 informed us that the Deaf Action Center for the Deaf group motored to Fort Worth on October 13th and they toured the Deaf Assisted Living at Westerchester Plaza. They enjoyed visiting with other Deaf senior citizens who reside at the place where they get good care, skilled interpreters and nurses. Doris Hodges Hightower '45 is still living at Deaf Action Center Apartments in Dallas. She was a former custodian at the TSD Primary Dept. 1945-1946. Helmert '52 and Erna Rueffer Quiran '57 of Dallas proudly announced that they have 3 grandchildren. Congratulations to the Quirans. I had a nice chat with Oreita Brumley Patton '37 though videophone on October 14th. She resides in Alabama as she moved from Nacogdoches, TX. She is 89 years old. She was happy to see us on the videophone. Gertrude Kaspea Sessions '52 of Houston, Gertie Galloway of Austin, Retired Superintendent of New Jersey School for the Deaf, Kathryn Caldcleught '50 of Austin and Mario '56 and Charm McWhorter Montello '58 of San Antonio traveled to Greece and Turkey, September 22 to October 10th. The interpreters were Shayne Galloway and Alan Sessions. There were 40 people all together. They visited many interesting historic sites in both countries. Christine Boyd McKinner, '43, of Houston and her daughter greeted everyone at the Deaf Festival. She is still very active for her age.
Don Bradford and his wife surprised everyone at the Homecoming. Presently, they are building a new home in Kyle, TX.
Tommy Lacy, '94 & Jacob Elliott, '94 attended the TSD Homecoming although, there was no class reunion of 10 years.
Jake
Nunez, '90, has been working at TSD as a residential educator
since September 2004. He has a BA degree from Gallaudet University and
a MA degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX. Previously, he was
employed at the New Mexico School for the Deaf as a residential educator.
We have learned from Tennie V. Sessions, '58, that Jeanette Creath Crell is resident at Assisted Living Program in Crockett, TX. She was a former teacher at TSD from 1935 to 1942.
Ivan Hinojosa, Adrian Mendoza, Rolando Rios and Gerardo Trevino of San Antonio go together at TSD Homecoming as they always go to every activity together at different places. They have jobs at different trades. All of them graduated the same year, 1997. The Deaf Festival was held at the Palmer Auditorium in Austin on October 16, 2004. There was really a good crowd and many booths were displayed. Donnie Dove of Matthews, North Carolina surprised deaf Texans. He is National Outreach manager of MCI Global Relay. He was a Youth Program supervisor from 1992 to 1997. Many visitors from Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and other Texan cities and out of state were at the festival. Bob Barlow, '49 and his wife of Dallas, Harry Richard, '50, Sara Havens, '70, Martha Wilcoxson Phillip,'39 of Dallas and Elma Alaris Usrey, '52 were there. Evelyn Schulz Norman, '58 of Carrollton attended the festival. We have not seen her for several years and we were glad to see her there. Her husband Bert Norman '55 has a stroke and was unable to accompany her to the festival.
Hector Brual surprised everyone at TSD Homecoming. He is employed at Sprint Communications in Jackson Mississippi and he helped support sending the Mississippi School for the Deaf football team to play against TSD on October 2nd. In 1990, he was a TSD residential manager for a while then he worked as an activity coordinator for a few more years before moving to Mississippi. On October 1st, 2004, David Suddath was promoted to Residential Instructor. In 1990, he was TSD residential educator. He worked at Tennessee School for the Deaf for 2 years then moved back to Texas to work at TSD a few years ago. TSD welcomes him back. He is with the Guidance Program 1 boys.
Linda Morado, daughter of Vernon, '50 and Joan Pate, '42 escorted the TSD Prom King Henry Prince and 2004 Queen, Anna Chavez, in her new 2005 Silver Spider convertible. TSD played against the Mississippi School for the Deaf on October 2nd, 2004. Mississippi won 20 to 9.
Earl Day, '60 of Sugarland retired a few years ago from Bank of America after working there for 18 years. He was in Austin during the weekend of November 13-14 to attend the viewing and burial of Don Adkins who passed away on November 12th.
After
the funeral services for Don Adkins on November 15th
his body was transported to Sherman, TX for burial on November 16th. Don
Adkins's son Jr. saw an eagle flying around the tree and then it stat
on the tree. He told Linda Morado and his folks about it and they all
watched it. At the funeral services, they mentioned that Don's hobby was
in eagles. His casket has a pretty picture of an eagle on it. According
to the verse from the scripture in the Bible, Isaiah 40:31, it mentions
eagles. That is very interesting! The deaf people in the community will
miss him. Quotation from the Bible-Isaiah 40:31 " But they that wait
upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings
as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and
not faint." Obituaries
Dorothy Koen, of Austin, TX passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2004. 2 daughters, Betty Koen Dannis and Carolyn Koen Turner, precede her in death. Betty was a TSD student but left in 1942 to enter oral school in St. Louis, MO. She survived by her son, Billy Koen and some grandchildren. One of her granddaughters (deaf) Elin Dannis of Fremont, CA. Mrs. Koen was in jewelry business with her husband on Congress Avenue for many years. Betty Koen Dannis' grandfather, Joe Koen was TSD board member and he was highly honored. Older girls' dormitory is named "Joe Koen" dormitory.
William (Bill) H. Rozell, 70, born February 12, 1935, passed away in his sleep on Friday June 24, 2005, Huntsville, TX. His brothers, Alton Rozell, and Arthur Rozell, his companion, Dehilia Harris and his extended family, survive him. His parents, Alton Arthur and Goldie Rozell, precede him in death.
|
|||||||||
|
Home | News | Hall of Fame | Officials | Our Mission | History | Events | Store | TSD |
|||||||||