Check out the new logo!

Doug Davis, Class of '75, has designed a 40th anniversary logo for us.

Check the sidebar.

Thanks, Doug!

No particular order or groupings. Just some pictures I had handy.

The group in the High School cafeteria before the tour of new facilities.

Lynn, Rhonda, Debra, Linda

Jimmie and Chip

The Master Organzier - Jack. Good job!

Eric and Jenonne

The Crowd at Vintage 22. Very nice for Ada, Oklahoma

Carlin

The is an example of a bench we plan to give to the school for our 40th. Funding raising (arm twisting) will begin soon

3 computer nerds. Music guys actually, but the computer gigs pay the bills. Except for Gant. He gets Mad Money from Garth every once in a while...

Meanwhile over on Facebook...

...many of us are procrastinating with regard to packing to go to Ada and Dave Gant is stuck in Memphis with no luggage.

The really good news is that all of our venues for the coming weekend will be really busy! We got bunches of folks coming and this is gonna be a great weekend.

All starts in 19 hours!

Polo's, football, Vintage 22, tour of the High School and a banquet Saturday night.

See you at the hospitality room at the Holiday Inn Express tomorrow afternoon!

Gary

Clock is ticking and numbers are creeping - UP!

OK, you can see by the clock on the right that the time is almost HERE for the big 37th! Sue Ann tells me that we are up to 40 classmates and 65 total guests for all or part of this weekends festivities.

She also tells me that that IT IS NOT TOO LATE! While it IS too late to sending anything by U.S. Mail, you can still let Sue Ann know by way of email that you want to attend all or part of the weekend. So GET OFF THE DIME AND DO IT! You can pay her when you get there, but she needs to let Polo's, caterers, etc. know how many will be showing up. You can email her at susiejiru AT yahoo DOT com. Just replace all the semi-confounders for web crawlers with the appropriate @ and . and you'll get to her just fine.

So, dust off your boots, drag out your tie-dye, or even your Pepto Bismol Pink Leisure suit and join us this weekend!

Gary

Apparel for the big night

Much discussion flew about a few days ago about "what to where". Consensus interpretation for 'casual' for Saturday night is jeans/khakis.

Our mantra is comfort. I know that I'm certainly built for comfort - not speed!

See you in a few days!

Gary

Two more pictures from our Senior Yearbook

A couple of new pictures. These are softballs. Some of us haven't changed a bit (Donna) others have changed a bunch.

Hope to see ALL of you in 13 days. Get your stuff in to Sue Ann! Do it tonight!

(click on pictures to embiggen)

Quality Inn

For those of us who are out-of-towners, the Quality Inn is on the "Loop" just east of the old Holiday Inn location.

See this map.

[Update: Ken Terry and Jack Cooper both commented that the Quality Inn is located exactly where the old Holiday Inn was located. So now you know...]

And ...

It is only 46 Days, 31 Minutes, and 02 Seconds until our reunion!

Stuff you may not know about our Alma Mater

Did you know...

That Ada High School is, and has been for awhile, just grades 10-12?
That Ada Junior High is grades 7-9?
That Willard has ALL of the 5th and 6th graders?
Washington has the 3rd and 4th graders?
Hayes has the 1st and 2nd graders?
And Glenwood has pre-K and Kingergarten?

Yup.

And our very own Wade Evans in the Principal at the Junior High...

Gary

http://www.adacougars.net/custom/showpage.php?id=56&toplevel=50&index=yes

Looking for ...

Here is a 'sticky post' to ask "who knows how to get in touch with Dick and Jane".

Hack away.

Gary

Ada Schools "No Child Left Behind" report

If you need something to help you doze off at night, print out this report and keep it handy beside the bed.

 

http://apps.sde.state.ok.us/apireports/APIreports2008/62I019.PDF

 

Note that while it is definitely sleep inducing, it does indicated that good teaching is still going on ‘at home’.

 

Gary

 

P.S.: The Countdown Clock on the blogsite says: 6 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes, 00 seconds!

Faculty, Ada High School

The "Old Faculty Pictures" will come later this week (maybe), but I thought on this rainy afternoon I'd do some grazing on some Ada Schools websites. How about the current Faculty at AHS?

Ronnie Anderson, Basketball / PE
Jane Baltimore, Director, Special Services
Janet Barrick, Library-Media Specialist
Ruby Bray, Special Education: English and History
Ronnie Brendle, Counselor
Sandi Chandler, School Nurse
Charles Clark, Geometry, Algebra
Joe Claxton, Journalism I, II
Deanna Compton, English, Couganns
Vicki Creed, Spanish
Paul Crowl, Band Director
Drake Daniels, Soccer, In School Detention, Government, History
Angie Dean, Debate, Performing Arts
Sharon Dean, Health/PE, In School Detention
Kris Earle, French, Spanish
Connie Easly, Math
Nathan Elliott, Geography
Kay Faulkner, H. Biology, H. Anat & Phys, Zoo/Bot, Biotech
Charlie Golightly, Principal
Jana Higbee, Counselor
John Higbee, Algebra, Trigonometry
Lynn Hollingsworth, Chemistry, Forensics
Janet Humphrey, English, Vocal Music
Anglea Irwin, English, Math
Eddie Jacobs, Biology
Richard Jasna, US History
Shelly Johnson, Secretary/Registrar
Mark Kedy, Athletic Director
Donna Keel, Secretary
Joplin Krystal, Leadership
Amy Lawson, English, Speech
Kathy Lowry, English III, IV
Jeff Maloy, Assistant Principal
Jinger McClure, Business, Computer Technology
Randy McCurdy, Band
Rhonda Medcalf, Algebra, Geometry
Greg Mitchell, Algebra Psychology/Sociology
Martha Nelson, Cougar News Network
Donnieta Ray, MultiMedia / Accounting
Trevor Robbins, US History
Chuck Roberts, Director, Indian Education
Shari Ross, English
Michelle Shannon, Basketball, In School Detention
Candy Sherbert, Counselor
Terry Swopes, Algebra, Math and Finance
Melissa Tarron, English, Science
Lisa Thompson, Earth Science, Physics
Richard Truitt, CAD, Shop
Pam Wakefield, Family and Consumer Sciences
Matt Weber, Biology
Joe Weber, World History
Rod Wellington, Art
Martha Wigdor, Psychometrist
Melissa Wright, DECA
Sheri Wright, L.I.F.E. Class

Personal observations:

• At the same time I'm surprised and pleased by some of the names on this list. You may be as well.
• At this stage in my life, I have gotten really connected with Leadership training. I would love to audit a couple of Ms. Krystal's classes to see how it is done in High School.
• It is also interesting that DECA is still taught (my next door neighbor does this at Southmoore), and that there is a class in "Forensics".
  

This is gonna be fun!

Gary

Invitations!!!

Hi all, invitations have gone out via email to everyone who is signed up on the "I'm a 1972 Graduate of Ada High School" Facebook page, plus a few others whose email addresses were known. If anyone reading this posting did not get an invitation and wants to come, email me at susiejiru@yahoo.com, and I'll make sure you get a copy. Snail mail invites will go out when I get the energy to go through the phone book and our small database. Jack and I are sure hoping for a great turnout!

Also, it has been reported that some of the invitations went into "Spam" folders, so if you are anxiously awaiting yours, check there.

Hi all, just an update - Jack has established a checking acct to deal w/ everything. We also talked and decided that the reunion will be open to anyone who was a few years ahead or behind us who wants to attend, as well as those who attended AHS'72 but for whatever reason didn't graduate w/us. All are welcome!

We hope to have some details coming soon regarding costs, then things should really start rolling!

Remember to spread the word....

Reunion Plans

So here's what is have planned for our 37th reunion -

Oct 2, Friday night

We will have a meeting room available at the Holiday Inn Express. They will have special rates on rooms for our class.

Dinner will be at Polo's in their private party room, pay as you go.

The Cougars have a home game that night and we will have a special section reserved for us.

We will also have a get-together during and after the game at Vintage 22, a wine and dessert bar opening soon. www.vintage22.com They will have a full bar as well as desserts, pay as you go.

The meeting room at HEI will remain open as an informal HQ/meeting area both days.

Oct 3, Saturday

We are planning a catered lunch at AHS, with a tour of the new buildings. This will be followed by a tour of AJHS for those that desire.

Saturday night is a catered dinner with dancing and music at the East Central ballroom. They will have a full bar, again, pay as you go.

Costs (yet to be determined) will be for the lunch at AHS and dinner at ECU plus ballroom rental.

So those are the high points. Let's make our own fun and have a weekend to talk about for at least the next 13 years!

Going through our yearbook A-Z

Got a great idea from Debra Black Otgen to go through the yearbook from A to Z. So let's get started shall we? For now, comment on anyone you know and I'll keep track the old fashioned way. Hopefully when Gary comes back we can get a spreadsheet going.

Okay, ready, set, Go! What do you know about -

Cathy Adair
Joel Andrews
Tawana Anglin
Linda Asklund
Ricky Austin

Please post your info here, and we'll do the next set in a few days. And you're not cheating if you check phonebooks!

Sue Ann

Pictures

As threatened, here are pictures from our last two yearbooks.

No cheating, now. Try to figure out who is who before you revert to you yearbook. Note that one of the pictures "features" a non-72 graduate!

[click on image to imbiggen]

Enjoy.

Gary

Early April Status Update

Plans are starting to come together. The folks on Facebook are remembering more and more folks and we are rounding up folks by the ones and twos.

Still on for the first weekend in October of this year for our 37th Reunion. Odd number – natch.

Stay tuned and check the comments for updates, chatter, and general unruliness.

Gary

Preliminary plans

All,

Here is a copy/paste of an email from Sue Ann Long Jiru to the bunch of us who are on Facebook about the upcoming reunion (37th - natch):

Hi all, things are finally starting to progress with our reunion. Plans so far include lunch on Sat at AHS, followed by a tour of the new gym and auditorium. Would anyone be interested in a tour of AJHS? Just post your thoughts here, or send Jack or me a note.

We're starting to solidfy some plans, so please let any fellow grads not yet on FB that you know about what's happening.

This is the weekend of October 2nd and 3rd. This year, btw.

Make plans now to attend.

If you are not on Facebook, as plans are solidified, they will be posted here. Note that it would be great if you would contact Jack Cooper using the info in the right sidebar with your contact info, etc. You may very well be the person who knows where someone else is right now.

If you ARE on Facebook and have not found us yet, search for the group "I'M A 1972 GRADUATE OF ADA HIGH SCHOOL". Debra Black Otjen is the admin of that group.

I'M A 1972 GRADUATE FROM ADA HIGH SCHOOL

See you in October!

Gary

This is what I miss not being close to Ada

Sonic burgers are OK. On occasion I run into a good burger in a Mom ‘n’ Pop in Texas, Colorado, or Northern Virginia, but none compare to Folgers.

Jim and Jerry in the picture.

http://www.planeteye.com/Media/1096288?refcon=widget&refid=0

Gary

Notice posted in the Ada Evening News a couple of weeks ago

http://www.adaeveningnews.com/features/local_story_047113616.html?keyword=topstory

Area Notices, Feb. 15, 2009

Class of 1972 seeks former classmates

ADA — Ada High school graduating class of 1972 will be hosting a reunion in the fall. Class members living in Ada or anyone with information about any member of the class of 1972 are asked to contact Jack Cooper via email at (see sidebar) or phone him at (see sidebar).

Maybe we should have noted that it was our 37th?!?!?

;-)

Gary

Random Memories

Anyone remember our class ring? Anyone still have it?

 

I have mine. It is flat which is a story only to be told only in-person, but I digress…

 

I believe that it was on the left side as you looked at it that there is a raised “relief” of the school front. Remember this?

 

Randall Brown. Football player I believe a year younger than us. Randall had huge hands. My ring size, as I recall was a 10 or an 11. Randall’s was 23! We used to joke that when you looked at the high school on Randall’s ring that you could see Dr. Hill standing in his office window. I’m certain that it could have been used as a napkin holder.

 

Random.

 

Gary

 

Top 20 Reunion Tips I stole from the Intertoobs

Stolen, OK. I’m not smart enough to think these up. From http://www.reunionmojo.com/

Gary

1. Start meeting at least 12 months prior

2. Form a reunion committee of about 10 people

3. Choose some people you didn't know well in school

4. Set up a bank account, PO Box and email address

5. List your classmates with what info you currently have

6. Build a reunion website. Only list events, missing classmate lists, a memorium page and pictures. Don't put bio information on the internet. That is giving personal information to the world!!

7. Pick a theme for the reunion

8. Choose and Post your reunion dates

9. Do a search for missing classmates

10. Consider age of class for events        

11. Plan events and tours

12. Reserve sites at 11 mos w/costs

13. List dates in local newspaper/Alumni Assoc

14. Send out postcards at 10 mos/Reservation letters at 6 months

15. Decide on who will do directory & use email. Ask classmates to send a current photo and place on the website. People love looking at the pictures.

16. Query class for one who will do photography

17. Do not plan loud music, better yet forget the music! People want to visit and renew friendships.

18. Don't plan as tho everyone is married

19. Don't plan too formal

20. Plan on doing a booklet with bios or a cd of reunion for classmates

Not so much of a Reunion as a Get Together

If you are a 1972 Ada Cougar, we're talking really, really big about some kind of get together this summer.

If you are interested in knowing more, drop an email to AdaCougars72 {at} gmail.com.

Gary Skaggs