Lillian Shoquist Muenich's life after LHS graduation

After graduating from LHS I worked at the Sebastian Farmer's Gin in the summer and then went to TLC with several others from our class.  It was a long way from Lyford but I survived the year.  The next year I transferred to Texas A and I as a Home Economics major.  (Thanks, to Mrs. Parker for whispering in my
ear for 4 years.)  I graduated in 1966 with a BS in Home Ec.

I met my husband at A&I in a funny sort of way.  Someone said-you have to come meet this guy, he's got kinfolks in Lyford.  He even spent time with them in the summer and came to church with them.  That didn't impress me too much until the follwing year.  We were married in 1964.  He had graduated and was working for Humble  Then his draft papers came.  I took my finals and he took his physical.  He signed up in '65 for O.C.S. at Fort Gordon in Georgia.  Our first son, Leroy, Jr. was born there in September '67 and Leroy left for Vietnam two months later.  Our baby and I lived with our families in Yoakum and Lyford during the year Leroy was gone.

He returned safely and we lived in Kingsville about six months until a Home Ec position and Math position became available at the high school in Yoakum.  So we moved there in '69 and have been there ever since.  Our 2nd son,  Lance arrived in Sept '70.  Leroy left teaching after 16 years and then worked for Farm Bureau Insurance the next 16 years.  I continued to teach and retired in 2004 after 35 years.  I loved it and really miss it, but it is time to play.

Leroy Jr. graduated from A&M, married Carol Braune from Seguin and they have two daughters, Jalynn (15) and Rayanne (11).  They are active in 4-H, TJLA, softball, track and the major stock shows.  They show sheep and recently added goats.

Lance attended Southwest Texas, married Desiree Raska from Yoakum and they also have two daughters, Ava (6) and Leah (3), Ava is in kindergarten and loves it and Leah is just "full of it".  She is the spitting image of her father in looks and manner and I smile because I knew the day would come when he'd get back some of what he did when he was little.  They live in Yoakum which is great. We love our grand-daughters and enjoy spending time with them.  They grow up too quick.

Besides spending time babysitting whenever I'm needed I attend lamb shows all over the state.  Leroy keeps busy tutoring math, taking care of horse and dog, and feeding the deer.  We have enjoyed traveling to places like Switzerland, Austria, England, Hawaii and also used to get around the country in fifth-wheel campers.  But now we mainly stay at home.  We had a good life and consider ourselves very lucky to be alive and active.

Since, I am sending this on Monday after the reunion I'd like to add that I loved our reunion!  And thanks to everyone who made everything possible.

AFTER LHS GRADUATION BY BOBBYE

After graduation, I attended Sam Houston University and Shirley Skoog was my first roommate. We made many trips back and forth from Sam Houston to Lyford/Sebastion in my pink and white Ford. I was an art major/interior design and graduated with an all level art teaching certificate with a second teaching field in English. I started teaching in Houston and at that time was painting and entering shows. I had one painting accepted in a show at the Contemprary Art Museum in Houston and several of my watercolors were in various shows in the Southwest area. I married and moved back to the valley with my first husband. I taught elemantary art in Sebastion and Lyford for two years. (That was really fun!) We then moved to McAllen and later moved back to Houston. I taught 13 years in Spring Branch. I was doing mall art shows and met a interior designer who asked me to work with her. I loved doing interior design and continued for several years having fun spending client's money. I later divorced, moved back to the valley and now I am married to Daniel Lefner. He was a senior when we were freshmen. I sort of remembered him from school but was reintroduced to him in Harlingen by a friend. I have continued working in education. I was a reading specialist and then an assistant principal. I retired after 42 years but have continued doing interior design. I love what I do.

About My Life After LHS by................Eloy Rodriguez

Retired from banking after 35 years of service.

Accomplishments:

Bank President,
Chairman, Harlingen Airport Board,
Appointed by President Reagan for Selective Service Board,
Kiwanian, Awarded Distinguished President's Award,
Served on Grievance Committee for State Bar of Texas,
Appraisal District Reviewing Board,
Six Shooter Greeting Committee,
Rio Grande Boy Scout Council,
Treasurer with Cameron County Family Emergency Assistance,

Married to wife, Blanche for 47  years.  Have one married daugther, Erica.  No grandchildren, yet.

Military Service, Army, Staff Sargent.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at dinner.

Eloy Rodriguez

Velda Anderson Blasingame - LIFE AFTER LYFORD HIGH

Hey Gang!

WOW!  It's hard to believe 50 years have passed, and I am so anxious to hear everyone's news since graduation.

I feel so blessed that I have had a great life with only a few bumps along the way.  I met my husband when we were both in graduate school at the University of Texas.  We married in 1965, and moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where we lived a year before returning to Texas.  Both of us taught in and retired from the Deer Park Independent School District.  He was secondary science, and I taught Spanish for 16 years, followed by 14 years of regular fifth grade.  I loved my career in teaching, and I still teach senior citizen classes for the city of Pasadena parttime.

We have one daughter who is in her 21st year of teaching.  She and her family live a few blocks from us, and we are so blessed to be able to enjoy our grandkids and all of their activities, Zachary (14) is a high school freshman and Emily, (9) is in the 4th grade.  They both love school and are very involved in related activities.  I especially enjoy watching them play basketball.

So far I've been in good health, with only a few problems now and then.  My husband, who has always been very physically fit, had a surprise Aortic Dissection while playing tennis four years ago.  It was truly a miracle that he survived, and after two major surgeries he's doing quite well, although he is being monitored very closely by a renowned Aortic Specialist here in Houston.  His next appointment is scheduled for October 16, and the following week if procedures are necessary.  Unfortunately, we were unable to change his appointment and therefore not able to attend the reunion.

In spite of a few setbacks, we stay as active as possible.  Both of us love boating and fishing, and we spend a lot of time in Galveston where our daughter and son-in-law have a beach-house.

Enough about me -- I would love to have attended the reunion, but I'm so anxious to hear how everyone is doing.  How nice of Sally to do the CD of  our lives after LHS!

Your Former Classmate,

Velda (Anderson) Blasingame
6026 Ghana Lane
Pasadena, Texas 77505
(281)487-5977

Marcial Zamora, Life After Graduation From LHS

After graduation from LHS, I went to Texas A&I University, where I earned a BS degree with major in Biology and minor in Chemistry.  I was offered a teaching position at La Feria High School to teach Chemistry, had been recommended for the position by Mrs. Ruth Patterson, who was teaching English there at the time.  I was scolded severely for not keeping in touch with her like I should have.  She was instrumental in my having gotten an education beyond the high school level.

I decided I wanted to further my education, went to Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, earned a Masters degree in Psychology and Certification as a Counselor.  Worked one semester at Weslaco Independent School District, then went to work for Texas Rehab Commission.  I then, entered a Co-op program between Pan American University and University of Houston to work towards a Ph.D in Psychology.  I had been pre-med in my undergraduate degree, an opportunity presented itself to go to medical school at Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas.  While working with TRC, I had been promoted from Counselor I to IV, then to Area Manager for South Texas.

Left TRC, completed med school, finished Internship, then Residency in Family Practice.  Worked for a year at South Texas Hospital in Harlingen, then worked in Brownville at Minor Emergicenter.  Decided, I liked Admin work better, no "on-call".  Became Executive Director for CVRC in McAllen, the Executive Director for Warm Springs Center in McAllen.

I married the love of my life, Josie in 1966 and have been married for 43 years.  We have two daughters, Marisela, a nurse and Norma, a Psychology major, now a licensed professional Counselor and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  We also have two grandsons, one 19 and the other 3 years old. 

In 1997, I decided to go into business for myself, formed Home Health Agency, called it First Choice Health Care.  Since then, I have added other agencies, PHC, CBA, DME, Adult Day Care Center and a nursing school.  These keep me busy, so I haven't retired.  I'm really enjoying what I do, feel blessed and thank God for every new day.  Have even started doing some fishing for enjoyment.  Used to always say it was much easier to go to HEB and buy the fish, than to go wait until the fish wanted to bite.

Look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.

Marcial Zamora

Lupita Chavez Ochoa - Life After High School

Upon graduating from Lyford High School, Lupita attended Durham School of Business in Harlingen, where she earned an Associate Degree.

Lupita worked in Willacy County for several years until she married the love of her life, Teodoro Ochoa.  The newlyweds relocated to Houston, Texas in September 1962, where they continue to reside.  Lupita and Teodoro have one daughter, Delma Ochoa, who lives in San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to taking care of her husband and daughter, Lupita has dedicated 36 years to taking care of her "other children".  Lupita has been an active Early Childhood Advocate, recognizing the importance in providing a nurturing and learning environment for children early on.  For the past 25 years, Lupita has been employed at the University of Texas Child Development Center in Houston, Texas.

Lupita and her husband are members of St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church.  The Ochoas were also involved in the yearly Willacy County Reunion picnics previously held in the Houston area.

Delma Ochoa, Lupita's daughter teaches at Our Lady of The Lake University.

Carolyn Vassberg Kersten - Life After LHS

After completing high school in Lyford, I attended Texas Luthern College in Seguin, TX..  On my first day at college, I met Graham Kersten who was also attending school at TLC.   Two years later, I earned my first degree, (Mrs.) on August 12, 1961.

After, living in Houston for two years, we moved to Lyford in January 1964.  By this time Graham and I had a son Graham Charles, Jr., (1962).  Our second child, a daughter, Sharon Lynn, (1965) was born in Raymondville.  Graham worked at Vassberg Implement as manager of the parts department for 23.5 years and in 1987 became manager of the Lyford Co-op farm store.

I taught private piano lessons out of our home both in Houston and in Lyford.  I stayed home with the children until they were both in school.  After Sharon started kindergarten, I returned to college attending Pan American College in Edinburg, TX.  In 1973, I earned my second degree, a BS degree in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten Endorsment.  I became a kindergarten teacher and taught kindergarten for 30 years in the Raymondville School District.  I retired from teaching in May 2003.  I truly enjoyed every year of teaching. 

 Although, I retired from teaching I am still organist at Bethel Lutheran Church serving for over 40 years.

After retirement, I began taking art lessons, and have enjoyed learning to paint with water colors, oils and pastels.  I am also involved in Lyford Women's Club, Teacher Retirement System, Philanthropic Educators Organization, (P.E.O.), Willacy County Art League, Bunco, Mexican Train, reading and cooking.

Graham and I volunteered at the Lyford Food Bank and are volunteering at the Sharing of the Feast in Harlingen.  We enjoy spending time with our children and grandchildren, Randi, a lawyer, Nicholas an archetecture student, Joshua, Marine Corp, Bobby, an A&M student and Cody, a 9th grader, who is involved in athletics.

We love to travel in Mexico, Canada and our great USA and hope to see more of the world in
years to come.

Graham and Carolyn still reside in Lyford, Texas at 13785 11th Avenue.  Our mailing
address is P. O. Box 365, Lyford, Texas 78569.  Telephone #:  (956)347-3567.  E-mail:
gckersten@gmail.com.

After Graduating From High School by Robin Harris Shed

After graduating from high school and working at the gin during the summer, I went to San Marcos my freshman year.  Although, I loved San Marcos, I decided to transfer to Texas A&I. After three years there, I graduated with a degree in education in 1963.

That same year, Curtis and I married.  We lived in Hebbronville where he was teaching Ag.

After a couple of years we moved back to the valley and lived in the Harlingen, Rio Hondo area until 1968 when we moved to Raymondville.  He sold insurance and I continued to teach.

We were blessed with two big sweet boys.  Sheldon was born in 1967 and Staton was born in 1970.  Sheldon graduated from Texas A&I and works for Zachry in San Antonio.  He and his  wife Bunkie have one daughter, Shelbie.  She is a freshman at Alamo Heights high school.  She loves sports and I tell her she is a good athlete like her Papa Curtis.  That pleases her.

Staton graduated from Texas A&M and works for Clinical Pathology Lab in Houston.  He and his wife Amber live in Katy.  They have two sons Oren (9), Evan (4) and a daughter, Parker who is 7.

These grandchildren are my pride and joy.  I love to spend time with them whenever I can.

Curtis and I had a wonderful life with many blessings during our 44 years of marriage until 2007,  when he passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack.

My plans are to continue to live here in Raymondville and work in real estate and property management until the Good Lord shows me to do something else.

I am looking forward to seeing you and visiting with each of you at our reunion.

Robin H. Shed

In retrospect: Life after LHS - Elroy ("Roy) Wunderlich

In Retrospect: Life After LHS — Elroy (“Roy”) Wunderlich

Like many of us, I’ve had my share of both interesting and
challenging things in life. But the best part is how the Lord
has been prompting me to strive to overcome the regrettably
self-centered nature that I’ve mostly been known for.

Currently, I’m teaching special education students in a
public school system near Houston and hope to continue
doing that for several more years. I’ve been working with
youth in secondary campuses of this school district
(Humble/Kingwood) since 1989.

Back in the Sixties while teaching in Oregon, I met and
married a petite oriental girl. Eventually, we parented two
dear boys, Jeff and Michael. Though our sons “left the nest”
long ago, we remain a close-knit family nonetheless.
Currently, my wife Lucy (still petite) is involved in organic
gardening and sells produce to several health food stores.
I manage to assist her quite often, though not to a degree
of matching her tireless enthusiasm!
Spanning over four decades of being together, our relationship
has had its ups and downs; but, in general, I can truly say we
have been blessed in many ways. We’re thankful for the good
things that happened, as well as for the absence of a number
of awful things that could have happened but didn’t.
Perhaps I’d be striking a familiar chord by saying my wife
and I tend to reminisce about various trauma we experienced
in the past as likely having been lessons of hard knocks
that The Almighty intended for our spiritual benefit.

Personally, I’m better able now to consider the perspective of
what brings God glory. To my chagrin, I used to pursue what I
wanted to do . . . with scant concern for the feelings of others.
For any of you whom I may have offended during my high
school years, consider this to be an apology that I’ve been
owing for a mighty long time.
Here’s a prime example: For several reasons, I’ve come to
realize that I didn’t deserve being valedictorian.
You see, I only took bare-minimum class loads,
and I didn’t participate in extra-curricular activities.
I lacked proper standards of conduct and didn’t demonstrate
good character. And it may seem weird to admit this, but I
was seemingly content to be a stuffed shirt! (I was so far out
of circulation that even attending Boys’ State didn’t make
a dent in my reclusive armor.)

My old habits portended poor preparation for adult life,
not to mention the potential adverse effect that they had
on people around me.

While in college, I continued my insensitive ways by being
an inactive member of an honorary fraternity.
(I was reluctant to participate and do my share.)
One of my elective courses was playing tennis, but I wasn’t
motivated to put out much effort. Frankly, I don’t recall
giving of myself to any extent except in the instance of
being the assistant editor of the university newpaper.

In the fall of 1963, when I began my actual career, I lacked
what it took to be a good example. Even later, when I became
involved in graduate work, I can vividly recall studying
hard and making good grades, but not caring to crawl out of
my clamshell.

Folks, throughout much of my life I failed to respond
to opportunities for being of benefit to others, and I neglected
to be sociable. It’s a shame I can’t go back and relive those
misspent years by paying a little attention to The Golden
Rule and showing some common sense!

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I think
writing it has provided a bit of therapeutic closure for me.

The “BlogSpot” website is very meaningful; it’s nice to be
able to find out how our classmates have been doing.
Incidentally, wouldn’t it also be neat to have a collection of
e-mail addresses from those who don’t mind sharing them?
I’m wondering if this could this be arranged.
(P.S. Here’s mine: roywunderlich@mac.com)

My wish is for the best to each one of you!

Take care.

— Elroy (“Roy”) Wunderlich

Clifford's Life After LHS

After graduating from LHS, I started my college "career" at Texas Luthern University, but it was too far away from my high school sweetheart, Joann, who was still in high school in Raymondville, so I returned home.  I graduated from UT Pan Am in 1966.

Joann and I married on June 16, 1962.  We will celebrate our 48th anniversary next June.  We now reside in Pflugerville, Texas.

We have two of the greatest kids in the world, of course.  Denise and Eric.  They each have two children, Bailey 11, a "select" soccer player in Round Rock.  Cameron, 9, (look for him in the NFL in a few years).
Hunter, 8, a future pro baseball player, and Haidyn, 5, not sure if she is going to be a doctor or a ballerina.  Can you tell we are just a bit proud of our grandchildren.  We always wanted to be grandpa and Mimi, and we enjoy doing just that.

I began working at KGBT- TV in Harlingen in 1962.  I soon became the night director, directing night time programs and the early and 10:00 o'clock news with Frank Sullivan and Jim Cason.  In 1965, we moved to Austin to help "sign on" Austin's second television station.  Prior to that, LBJ had the only TV station in town.

I worked for many great organizations.  I was the Director of Public Information/Public Relations for the American Cancer Society in Houston, was the Director of Information for the American Heart Association, also in Houston.  This was during the early years of heart transplants and the "war" between Doctor's DeBakey and Cooley.  Lots of excitement at that time.  I was then promoted to the State Director of Information and move toAustin (actually Pflugerville).  It was at this time that I drove our Heart Fund Chairperson, Luci Baines Johnson Nugent, around in my old beat up Oldsmobile.  She never mentioned the shape it was in.

In 1979, I accepted one of my very most satisfying employment positions.  I became the Southwest Regional Director for Danny Thomas's St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  I supervised seven states.  I organized and produced black-tie testimonial dinners followed with a Las Vegas type show by Danny Thomas.  Danny and I worked together in Dallas, El Paso, Houston and Memphis, Tennessee.  I also produced and directed live telethons to raise funds for research in childhood cancers.

In 1986, I persuaded Coach Tom Landry to let me organize a Tom Landry Celebrity Golf Tournament to also support childhood cancer research.  He agreed.  Thus began a long and fruitful and exciting relationship between Coach Landry and I, and eventually other Dallas Cowboys, as well.

In 1990, I became Director of Development for Concordia University raising money for buildings, endowed chairs, scholarships, etc.  I even raised money to purchase a lawn mower.

I asked Coach Landry if he would come over to Concordia with me.  He agreed...and along came several of his players...I'll have to "name drop" here...Bob Lilly, Jethro Pugh, Roger Staubach, Larry Cole, Charlie Waters, Drew Pearson, Cliff Harris and others.  I also organized the Charlie Waters/Cliff Harris Celebrity Golf Tournament at the same time.  We did these tournaments year after year until Coach Landry's passing.
Joann and I received a phone call from the Landry family requesting our presence at Coach Landry's private funeral service for family and friends.  What an honor..

I am retired now..well sort of...I am a substitute teacher; work as an "extra" on NBC's Friday Night Lights; work for the Round Rock Express ball team, a Triple A affiliate of the Houston Astros; and also work for a funeral home!  I believe that a person must stay active to "stay alive".

Finally, I know you're getting bored, so I will not mention my civic and community activities....I did serve as Council President of my church and served 18 years on the Pflugerville ISD School Board.

On a happy note:  Soon I will be 65(ahem) and will be able to be on Medicare like the rest of you.  Ha, Ha.
I am really looking forward to seeing all of you.  I'm still short, but much rounder than I was in 1959!

Clifford Damstrom

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Life After LHS by Duane Johnson

   After graduating in May and working at the gin all summer, again, I went to SWTSC for four years and graduated with a BBA, majoring in accounting. In 1963 was a great year - in May - I graduated from SWTSC, in August I married Jerry Beth Wheeler a 1962 graduate of Raymondville, in September I entered the Air Force Officer Training School at Media AFB near Lackland and in December I became a 2nd Lieutenant.

    We spent time in Colorado, Mississipi, North Dakota and South Carolina.  I resigned my commission in 1968 and moved to Austin.  After working for an accounting firm for 3 years, I opened my own accounting practice in 1972 and am still going strong.  I enjoy getting up every morning and going to my office to do something I enjoy (helping people) and I even get paid for doing it, most of the time.

    While we were in North Dakota we had a daughter (Lesa) then after moving to Austin we had a son, David.  Lesa has two kids (Larissa and Collin).  Lesa is a single mom with a growing career as a sales rep for a skin care company calling on doctors and spas.  Davis is married to Ronda and they have two kids,
(Madisen and Jake).  Jake was born on my birthday 5 years ago.  David is a real estate broker with three offices in the area.  Ronda works part time in HR.

    I started my accounting practice in our home for a year then moved into an office building where I still have my practice, now in my 35th year.  The office is across the street from our church (Woodlawn Baptist Church) where Jerry Beth and I spend many hours.  Jerry Beth is the Mother's Day Out Director there.
We are very, sometimes overly, involved in different groups and committees at Woodlawn.  We just enoy serving our Lord and doing things we really enjoy. 

    Jerry Beth and I are also on several boards of non-profit organizations (Rotary, Mary Harden Baylor University, VinCare, South Austin Pregnancy Resource Center, Del Valle Jail and Early Education Center).

    My mom still lives in Austin and keeps us supplied with baked goods which is part of the reason for my
slight weight gain since high school.

    During our Air Force years, we traveled and continue to do so as much as possible.  We have been to
Japan and over half of the states.  We visit Dallas, San Antonio, Branson, Vegas, Louisiana, Colorado and New Mexico on a regular basis.  We have also been cruising to Alaska, the Panama Canal and the Carribian.  We just thoroughly enjoy being together where ever, when ever with who ever (especially our kids and grand-kids).

     If you're in my area,  stop by sometime.

Duane Johnson
4515 Menchaca Road
Austin, TX 78745

    Look forward to seeing everyone next month.   

My Life After LHS Patsy Kajs Gonzales

After graduating from Lyford High School, I went to Durham's Business College in Corpus Christi, TX., where I got my Associate Business Degree.  I returned to the Valley and got a job with Easterling Motors in
Harlingen, TX. as a receptionist and bookkeeper.  I worked there for two years and since my sister Bonnie lived in San Antonio, I decided to move and live with her.  I got a job at Superior Pontiac in the Parts Department and stayed there for nine months and than applied for a job at Southwestern Telephone Co.,
where I worked for 27 years in various jobs which also required me to do a lot of traveling to train people in the Network Special Services Circuit Group.

During this time, I met my husband Rode Gonzales who was a coach at Brackenridge High School and later a Principal at Jefferson High School, we got married in 1970.  We have a daughter, Stefanie Patricia who was born in 1982.  She received her Master's Degree at Texas A&M University in College Station and now works as a DARS Claims Examiner with Social Security in Austin, TX.

After 27 years, I retired from SBC in December, 1991 and was involved in my daughter's numerous school sports activities and also helped in various charity organizations.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion after all of these years.

Patsy

Roger Marroquin & Elvira Cavazos Marroquin - Life After The Last Reunion

This is just a brief summary of our life after the first reunion in 1979.  Roger and I were engaged on November 10, 1979.  We were married on September 6, 1980.

Roger was stationed in Ft. Hood, TX.  I lived in Harlingen and continued to teach in San Benito, TX.  Roger was later transferred to Illesheim, Germany on his last tour.  I joined him soon after school was out in May 1981.  Roger was in charge of Housing, so we were required to live on base.  I taught in Germany for two years.  We would travel to the different countries every chance we had.

We returned to Texas and Roger retired in 1983.  I continued my teaching career at the same school that I taught at before leaving to Germany until my retirement in 1996. 

In 2004, Roger and I visited our daughter, Anelies in Alaska before her retirement from the Air Force.  Roger and I travel as much as possible.  We take frequent trips to Austin, TX as our youngest son,  Brian and our only grandson, Brian Joseph live in Austin.  Brian Joseph has made the "All Star" in baseball the last three years, so we are very proud of him.  We also enjoy our trips to New Mexico.  Anelies made Albuquerque her home.  Rogie, our middle son lives in Santa Fe.

Roger's hobbies are hunting and fishing.  We take at least three trips to Lousiana every year.  My hobbies are reading, doing aerobics, yoga and doing volunteer work.

At home, we usually watch all  kinds of sports on TV, visit with family and enjoy each other's company.

Life After Lyford High School by George Teetes

After graduating from Lyford High School I entered Texas A&M College (became University in 1963) in September 1959 as an "air crapper" in corps' Squadron 5.  At the time, A&M was all male and compulsory military and the highest-ranking officer with five stars was (and still is) a female dog.  Not being real interested in the military stuff, although marching came easy probably because of band practice.  I didn't take an air force contract (the powers to be were probably glad) and stayed and got a M.S. degree in 1965.  My class, 1963, was the last one to have college on our Aggie ring.  I took a job as an entomologist for the Texas Department of Corrections for two years then went back to A&M in 1967 as a research associate and instructor to work full time and get my last degree, which I completed in 1971.  I then went to Lubbock as an assistant professor with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES), which is the agricultural research agency for Texas A&M University.  In 1975 I moved back to campus at College Station and continued research on integrated management of sorghum insect pests with emphasis on genetic plant resistance, and taught a senior level course on field crop insects.  Much of my time was spent trying to get research funds or traveling to the worst places in the world to justify them.  I retired in 2000 as Professor Emeritus and TAES Faculty Fellow after working for 36 years.

I have three sons and each graduated from Texas A&M University, and I have five grandkids.  My wife Ellen also has three sons and five grandkids.  In 1994 Ellen and I bought an acre lot and a small cabin on a private 800-acre lake northeast of College Station.  We have enlarged the cabin and made major improvements and spend a great amount of time there.  Basically, I spend the spring and summer fishing and the fall and winter hunting.  I love being retired and I am really good at it.  My wife and I travel some too.  I get to the valley at least twice a year as my friend Roy Stanley (Raymondville High School class of 1959) and I fish at Port Mansfield every spring and fall.

Other than that, I just got old.  But, I have been very fortunate.

George L. Teetes

Lela Cash Adams Life After High School

After graduating from Lyford High School in '59, I enrolled at Texas A&I in Kingsville in the fall.  I graduated with a BS in Secretarial Science in '64.  I got a job teaching typing and shorthand in La Joya in the
fall of '64.  I stayed there two years and moved to Palacios for one year.

In '67, I married Larry Adams and moved to Brenham where he was teaching history at Blinn Jr. College.  We have a son Matthew who lives in Arlington.

In '72, we moved to Denton so Larry could work on a Ph.D in history.  In '74 we moved to El Paso to teach at El Paso Community College.  After 30 years we retired and moved to Jasper.

I look forward to seeing everyone in October.

Lela

Julio's Life After Lyford High Graduation

After graduation I enrolled at what was then Texas College of Arts & Industries, now Texas A&M University at Kingsville.  Due to lack of funds and a job I was only able to attend 4 semesters.

So, in the summer of  1962, I decided to fulfill my military obligation by joining the US Air Force where I trained in Security/Law Enforcement and in November I was shipped to Tainan Air Station, Taiwan for a period of 16 months.  It was during this time that  Kennedy was assassinated.  Upon returning to the United States, I was stationed at what is known as Americas's Most Beautiful Military Base, Randolph AFB, near
San Antonio.  It was there that I had the honor of guarding Air Force #1, when Lyndon Baines Johnson was President

Before reporting to Randolph, I married Carolina Rios in March 12, 1964.  It was also while I was stationed there our first two girls were born at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio.  We remained there for the rest of my military career.

We moved back to Lyford and with the aid of the GI Bill and a full time job at Lyford CISD, I was finally able to get my BS in Education from UTPA in 1970 and a MEd. in 1975.  We decided that Carolina would go to college also at UTPA where she got her BS in Bi-lingual Education.
Our daughter's names are Vidala Ximena (works for Raymondville ISD) and LaMar (works for Robstown ISD) both are teachers and Donella Marisol works for XRIO-TV station as an administrator.  We are also the proud grandparents of six grandchildren, 2 girls and 4 boys.  The oldest grand-son was named after me and is an audio engineering instructor at a technical college in Nashville, TN.  Amanda Jewel, our eldest grand-daughter is attending West Texas A&M University.  The rest of the grandchildren are elementary age or younger.  Their names are Mya Marisol, Pablo III, Mathew Torivio and Marco Julian.

We have two sons-in-law, Ric Ortiz who works for the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office in Corpus Christi and the other son-in-law is Paul Alvarado who is a law enforcement officer in Georgetown.

Besides, my work I have been involved in community service.  I served as a Lyford City Commissioner for 8 years, on the WC Housing Project Board for 8 years and this is my 26th year as board member at South Texas ISD.

I retired from Lyford CISD in June 1995 with 32 years of service, where I had worked as a janitor, bus driver, instructional aide, teacher and administrator working my way up to Lyford High School Principal.  After, retiring I worked at the WC State Prison for another 5 years and then worked as a substitute teacher until my health started to catch up with me.  In 2003, I became a full time unemployed old man.  Now, all that my wife and I do is stay home and take care of each other.

Thanks,
Julio

Shirley Skoog Knight - My Life After Lyford High School

I've been married for 48 years to Jim Knight.  We met in college.  He grew up in Houston.  He was in the army four years after taking ROTC & after we were married. Then, he worked as an organic chemist specializing in polyurethane foams.
We have 2 sons  and 5 grand-daughters (aged 7-13).  We've lived in the Killeen area, Houston, Conroe .  and Georgetown in Texas and in Alabama, California and  Pennsylvania.  The longest time in the same house was 15 years in Exton, PA.  We now have a Georgetown address although we're out in the country near the village of Walburg.  We have been back in Texas for 7 years.
I have a B.S. in Math and Chemistry from Sam Houston State and a M.Ed. in Science Education from Texas A&M and  I also took several computer science courses and accounting at UT-Austin.  I taught Math and Science in grades 6-12 for 21 years.  I was in Cypress-Fairbanks, Houston, Conroe and Georgetown.  The subjects I taught the most were earth science and geometry.
We tent camped when we were younger, mostly in Utah and Colorado.  We own our 3rd camper now, a 5th wheel.  We took all the grand-daughters to Colorado the last 2 summers.  We spent a lot of time in New England while we were living in Pennsylvania.  Between campers we traveled a lot on the east coast and Canada where we mainly stayed in Bed/Breakfast's.  I counted after a grand-daughter's question recently--I've been in 40 of our 50 states and 5 Canadian provinces.
I enjoy cooking and baking (have become quite brave).  I still read a lot; recently mostly historical fiction and biographies.   I do all types of sewing and other needlework, including knitting and various crafts.  Jim and I are "rockhounds".  Our main interest is fossils, also collect some minerals and do some lapidary work. (Jim does most of the lapidary.)
I spend a lot of time with our grand-daughters, especially with the 3 who live 7 miles away and especially in the summer.  We have a pool which brings them over most  hot afternoons.  I took lessons and learned to swim a little when I was 30.  I'm an expert floater.  I enjoy good health even though I'm overweight.
I also spend a lot of time on the computer.  I love Google, look things up daily.  I also buy and sell online-eBay, Amazon  and Bonanzie for the selling and most of the buying.  I'm thinking about getting a personal website.  The oldest grand-daughters want to help develop and manage it, so we're all going to study up on that.
This will be my 2nd reunion this year.  My college chapter of national sorority, Kappa Delta had a reunion in April in Hunstville.
I'm looking forward to seeing everybody October 16th & 17th.
Shirley Skoog Knight

Betty Louise Witte-Montgomery's Life After Lyford High School

I attended Texas Luthern College and then moved to Corpus Christi, where I still live.  I got married in 1964 and was blesssed with two great kids.  Darren is a Police Detective and lives with his wife Kathy in New Braunfels.  Konnie, her husband Josh and little boy live in San Antonio.  She is a Theater Arts teacher.  After, staying home being a mom for several years, I started a career I loved at Whataburger National Headquarters,  retiring after 20 years.
I remarried in 1997 and Bob and I love to travel.  Along, with being a politcal junkie, I volunteer at Driscoll Children's Hospital and serve on it's Auxillary Board.  But, the joy of my life is my two year old grandson, Ian.  It didn't look like I was ever going to be a grandma, but it finally happened and of course there's nothing like it.
Looking forward to seeing everyone,
Betty

My Life After High School by Sally Garza

The day that we were supposed to graduate, my dad suffered a serious stroke. He was in the hospital in Raymondville while I was at the graduation.  My father kept having strokes and by late 1959, I knew I had to start working and earning a living in order to support my family.  I was the oldest.  I moved to Corpus Chrisi with an uncle and his wife.  In three days, I landed a job as a billing clerk.  That first job was the beginning of a career in Accounting, Finance, Investments, Real Estate and teaching Computer Literacy.  I have worked for almost 50 years doing what I love to do, working in these five fields that compliment each other.  I have worked for more than 80 attorneys (Kleberg, Redford, Dyer & Weil, had 52 attys), was a contractor for Education Service Center speaking to teachers and students about the future of computers. I have continously promoted computer literacy, (now among seniors).
The Corpus Christi Caller Times featured me on a Sunday article in the newspaper.  After, the article, people started calling me the computer lady.  The newspaper article took my business to another level, soon after that I became an entrepreneur.  I have owned seveal businesses,  became a consultant for "start up companies" and represented attorneys during IRS tax audits.  On one audit, the IRS ended up owing the attorney over $70,000 instead of the attorney owing the IRS.  The attorney's bookkeeper had entered dividend payments and loans as  "income" for a period of almost four years.  This happened during a period when I was doing conversions from manual accounting to automated accounting methods for professional offices.
In June 1966, I married Joaquin Garcia, a DOD programmer/systems analyst, we lived in Corpus Chrisi until he retired (33 yrs) from DOD and went to work for DPS, Criminology (10 yrs) in Austin.  We have two children, Melissa Manceaux, (Baylor MS) who has been HR director, for Barton Creek Resort for 14 years. Eric (UTSA BS) is our son, and  has been a Real Estate broker since 1994.  The joy of my life are Paul (12) and Myles (8), our two grandsons.
Typically, my day starts at 6: 00 every morning.  My day starts by either walking, jogging down the hill and doing Pilatis.  I tutor 5th grade math on MWF mornings.  I office at home, so I am able to pretty much decide when and what I need to work on. In the Spring and Fall, I garden because I want my yard to have flowers throughout the year.   I am also a birdwatcher, the Hill Country has beautiful birds.  I  know that I have the best office environment when I take my laptop to the breakfast room table to work and watch the birds dinning on sunflower seeds.
I do not think that I will ever stop working, I love to work, to shop, to spend time on the computers, to make a difference in the life of a 5th grader, to mentor those children that have no "role models" in their lives.  For the child, who I think will benefit from having a computer, I will refurbish an old computer, install Word, Power Point and Excell.  Once, I provide them with a computer, they suddenly become very interested in learning. Most of them have used Word and PowerPoint, but only during computer class.  I do have to teach them how to use Excel.  I start with a "To Do List", which lists the homework.  Some are very surprised when they do not have internet access, once that is clarified, they are still happy they've got the computer. The software will highlight mis-spelled words, grammer errors and with Excel, they will learn a skill that will benefit them the rest of their lives. 

I feel so blessed because I come from such an humble beginning and I the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to help so many people.

See you at the reunion.  I will be bringing my laptop and my camera, we can also pick the 50's music for the CD.

Sally

Life After Lyford High School by: Minerva (Minnie) R. Leal

I graduated in 1959 and got married that very same year to the love of my life, Alex Leal.  We have been married for almost 50 years.  We have three sons, Joe Alex, Jaime and Bobby, four grand-children, Joe Alex, Joe Willy, Chelsy and Ashley, and two great-grand-sons, Troy and Trey. 

I can say that I owe my Education to Alex.  He encouraged me to go to college.  I taught school for 37 wonderful years.  Living in the valley since we graduated, I've had the pleasure to visit with some of you.  However, it will be great seeing you on October 17th.  I will be attending the Raymondville game on the 16th.

Looking forward to seeing all of you.  See ya.....Minnie

Life After LHS by Kathryn Ann Schlessiger Kurz

After graduating from high school I attended Texas A&I College in Kingsville.  I finished with a BS in Home
Economics.  I married R. G. Kurz in 1964.  We lived in Bishop, TX until 1968 when we move to Somerset, TX, where we still live today.  We have three lovely daughters.  Sue Ann and Johanna are both married and live in Pleasanton.  Sue Ann is a Physical Therapist and Johanna is the Assistant Principal for the elementary school there.  Diane lives with me and helps me on the farm.  R.G. was a school teacher/farmer and rancher. He taught for 25 years before retiring.  I taught for 31 years, 28 in Somerset and retired in 2001.  R.G. passed away in 2005.  We have five grandchildren, 3 boys and 2 girls.  Paige is 15, Justin (13), Kendall (8), Stayton (5) and Holden (4).  They keep me busy and I am so thankful to have them so close to me.  God has blessed me with a wonderful life.  I could not have asked for more.

Life After Lyford High School by: Shirley Ann Mitchell Shed

Lester and I were married in December 1960 and moved to Raymondville. Lester worked for GTE for 32
years and I worked at a John Deere Dealership for 32 years. We have two children, a daughter Shannon (Cliff Gregory) that lives in San Antonio.  They have two children, a daughter Ashley (18) and son Jordon (15). A son Steve (Nancy) who lives in Harlingen and has two girls, Megan (18) and Madison (13).

We got a wild hair in 2006, sold our house in Raymondville and moved to San Antonio.  Other than the
traffic, we love San Antonio.

Thanks,

Shirley

Pause For A Moment To Pay Tribute To Our Classmates Who Have Departed

May They Rest In Peace,

Roy Bingham
Pat Carter-Jones
Teresa Cavazos-Medrano
Billy E. Dunkin
Donaciano Garza
Debra Margo Jarl-Withers
James Donald Wright

THE LYFORD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CLASS OF 1959

Don Adams
Velda Anderson
Mario Richard Cantu
Patricia Ann Barnett
Patricia Carter
Roy Bingham
Lela Aline Cash
Elvira Cavazos
Ernesto Cavazos
Lupe Chavez
Clifford Damstrom
Delia DeLa Rosa
Violet Flores
Alfredo Garcia
Dora Galvan
Sally Garza
Irma Garza
James Thomas Guyman
Robin Lynn Harris
Jeanie Henager
Debra Margo Jarl
David Duane Johnson
Patricia Beatrice Kajs
Patricia Ann Knox
Frank C. Lerma
Manuel Loya
Roger Marroquin
Helen June McCorkle
Juan M. Morado
Bobbye Jane McGlothin
Shirley Ann Mitchell
Lynn McWilliams
Lynn Douglals Neal
Consuelo Perez
Juanita Posas
Evelyn Natille Randal
Louise Reynolds
Albert Rincones
Eloy Rodriguez
Minerva Rodriguez-Leal
Julio Saldana, Jr.
Kathryn Ann Schlessiger
Lilliian Marie Shoquist
Joe Silva
Shirley Ann Skoog
George Lee Teetes
Lanell Helen Troppy
Carolyn Elsie Vassberg
Magdalena Villarreal
Mary Ann West
Connie White
Betty Louise Witte
James Donald Wright
Elroy Wunderlich
Marcial Zamora