Throughout all my years at both Ankeney and Beavercreek High School, I can not recall ever sharing a class with Mindy Roney, Adrienne Dickinson, or Jill Manter. But I certainly knew who they were. Mindy and Adrienne, along with Angie Slouffman and Jodi Austin were the class officers during my first of my three years at Ankeney. Mindy was President, Angie was Vice Presient, Jodi was Treasurer, and Adrienne was Secretary. In eighth grade, they resumed their positions…except for Adrienne, who was replaced by Jill as Secretary. I have absolutely no idea what their functions and duties were exactly – but they were all pretty and amiable so I had no real objections.

Adrienne, Mindy, Angie, and Jodi – the 7th grade officers

Jodi, Angie, Mindy, and Jill – the 8th grade officers

Being attracted to cute gals, I made sure that I made an ample fool of myself talking to and teasing Mindy during our after-lunch moments outside on the huge patch of cement that had replaced the playgrounds of yore. I talked to her, teased her, and then in the school’s after-hours even prank called her house now and then. But unfortunately, as tempting as I’m sure it must have been for her, we never really became friends.

Mindy’s senior picture

With Mindy at the reunion

Adrienne was surely the quietest of them all. A tiny gal with a quiet, mousy voice that I can never actually recall hearing in school, Adrienne was perhaps also the cutest of them all. She went on to marry another former Ankeney Charger name Chris L’Hommedieu, who shared two periods of Mrs. Schmidt’s class with me. They now live in Texas.

Adrienne’s senior picture

With Adrienne at the reunion

If I thought the others were cute, I had quite the crush on Jill Manter. Although I never was in the same class as her, I can remember that she had Mrs. Schmidt for English in the class before mine and I would often rush to ge there so that we might have ample time to bump into each other.

Jill’s senior picture

With Jill at the reunion

I think during junior high, Angie Slouffman was the prettiest of all of them, but she and I got along the least. She didn’t quite have the tolerance of my geeky and annoying junior high school demeanor as the others did. However, Angie and I became rather good friends in Trigonometry during our senior year. In fact she wrote this on the back of her senior picture:

Brad! Hey Bud! Well, what can I say, you are a really great person & I’m so glad I’ve gotten to know you better by being in your classes. I’m really glad to be friends with ya! Thanks for all your help in Trig! Love! Angie

But of all of them, I got along best with Jodi Austin throughout all years of school. We shared several classes and would often chat and joke…and I would demonstrate my ability to write in cursive backwards. She was fascinated by this and when we saw each other at the ten-year class reunion, this was the first thing she remembered. She unfortunately didn’t make the 20th reunion on July 17, 2010, as she and her family were in the midst of a big move from Columbus to Virginia.

After the eighth grade, Mindy, Angie, Jodi, and Jill all went on to the Executive Student Council. As for the ninth grade officers, some of the Fairbrook contingent took the helm, as well as my good friend Ashleigh Heath. During the BHS senior year, Mindy and Jill were both class officers again. But to me, seeing these four girls together at the reunion brought back a floodgate of nice Ankeney memories. Too bad Jodi couldn’t make it.

Adrienne, Jill, Angie, and Mindy – retired officers

The Ankeney Charges will continue…

Return to the BHS 20 year reunion here… (under construction)

During this same time period, her Dad was one of the coaches of my 1980-81 soccer team and her brother Dan was a fellow player on the team. Incidentally, Dan was an early boyfriend of Erin Rudd in elementary school, whom I would go on to date a mere 27 years later.

We shared our final elementary class in fifth grade (where we had the other Mrs. Owens as a teacher). My best friend in school at this time was Rob Bradford and Lisa and Rob shared a bit of a budding romance. They went on the moonlight skate twice at our Skate World skating parties. I never went on the moonlight skate at all, so I can remember that I was a bit jealous of this.

Lisa was part of a clique of friends during my sixth grade year - even though she was in Mrs. Doyle’s class. My best friend during this time was Eric Welch, who shared Mr. Turner’s class with me, and he was ‘going with’ Amy Lupini for a good portion of the year. At one point Eric and Amy tried to pair me off with Lisa, who had become one of Amy’s best friends. Although she was certainly cute enough, I just never had the guts to say the simple words ‘will you go with me?’ I’ve never known what the answer may have been.

Lisa’s sixth grade photo

Once junior high and high school descended on us, Lisa and I became lost in the larger school, didn’t share any classes that I recall, and basically never had much contact with each other through graduation. In the early 90′s, Lisa did get a job at the Beavercreek Kroger for a short period and worked in the salad bar, so I would see her and socialize a bit now and again in our break room.

When I first saw Lisa again at the 2000 high school reunion, I was amazed at her appearance. She had gone from being a cute girl to looking downright glamorous. At that time she was working in some aspect of the cosmetic industry and living in Georgia. After that, I didn’t find her again until about eight years later when I tracked her down on Facebook.

With Lisa at the reunion

Married and with a daughter, she is now Lisa Jones and living in the Washington D.C. area. I was so glad that she and her husband made it back to the BHS reunion on Saturday, July 17, 2010. It was great to catch up and reminisce. Lisa still looked fabulous and spent ample time on the dance floor showing off her technique. In fact, I think she danced her way through the big reunion photo. It was great seeing her and I promised to look her up if I’m back in the D.C. area anytime soon.

Return to the BHS 20-year reunion… (under construction)

Continue to the next reunion…

The three people highlighted in this posting represent the first three individuals in a series of four posting showcasing my reunion at the Beavercreek High School 20th reunion on Saturday, July 17, 2010, with former Ankeney Chargers. These are kids who didn’t go to the same elementary school as I did but who I obviously met before my high school days.

The most interesting of these is Sherry Goff (seen in her senior picture at the top of the posting and her seventh grade picture at right). Sherry and I shared a few classes at Ankeney and there was one thing that we learned about each other right off the bat. It was a fact that lingered with us through junior high, then on through high school, and lasted all the way up until we saw each other the reunion. The fact was that they were born on the exact same day: October 2, 1971. It was not in the same place though. She was born at Miami Valley Hospital and I at St. Elizabeth. You can see our mutual birth announcement in the Dayton Daily News here.

Sherry and I never associated outside of school, but we always were very friendly in the classroom, always being sure to mention our mutual special day. She is married with kids and lives in Bellbrook these days – and I’d have to say that she looks absolutely amazing.

Sherrie Goff today, looking quite swell

Shelly Newell was a pretty tough gal – both in junior high and high school. She had a cool, hard-knock attitude, but behind that was a sweet girl with a great sense of humor. I can recall only one encounter with her outside of school. Jeremy Shumway and I were visiting Kings Island around 1986 along with – of all things – our sisters’ girl scout troupe. Shelly just happened to be there with one of her friends and Jeremy and I hung out with them for most of the day.

Oddly enough, I hadn’t seen Shelly (pictured at left during her eighth grade year) since high school, but we had been friends on Facebook and I soon learned that she knew my aunt Bev and my Mom from working at Dorothy Lane Market. In another twist, she is now married to Rich Eberle, who graduated a year before us, and for a while worked with my Dad at Miami Valley Engravers earlier in the decade.

If there is a hard-edge left in Shelly, it is thoroughly masked by her fun-loving great sense of humor. The gals that might have been scared of her during high school certainly had no reason to be now, and I for one really enjoyed seeing her both at the reunion and the night before at a gathering at Milano’s.

Shelly Newell’s senior picture

Having a blast with Shelly at the reunion

Brian Aleslagle was somewhat of an enigma since I first encountered him in Junior High. He, along with friend Harry Knight, were sort-of arch-nemeses with my friend Jeff Flinn and me, picking on each other now and then, but ultimately having many moments where we all got along just fine. He could be a nice guy, a quiet guy, or at times even an aggressive guy that wouldn’t take the ribbing from Jeff and me.

Brian (seen at right in his eighth grade year) didn’t go through graduation with us in 1990 - and I really have no idea what he ended up doing to finish high school. What I do know that now he is making good, going to school, and seems to have transformed himself completely since his high school days. Quite outgoing and friendly, he now considers that his life didn’t really begin until after high school. In any case, it was fun to see him at the reunion and I enjoyed his jovial personality.

Kicking back with Brian at the reunion

The Ankeney Charges will continue…

Return to the BHS 20 year reunion here… (under construction)

Last names have completely flown out of my head, but there are a slew of kids and counselors who I remember well. One last name that does stick in my head belonged to the owners Dee and “Uncle” Ed – since they had the same last name as me. Their daughter Kathy was a very attractive young blonde in her early 20′s. Then there was Norma, who was the strictest and most no-nonsense of the bunch. Charlie was a bit geeky, but nice and cuddly - the type of guy that kids loved to crawl all over.

Dee and Uncle Ed – at their house

On certain days of the Summer, we would board a van and be taken over to Ed and Dee’s house, where we would partake in various fun activities such as swimming in their pool, kickball, badminton, cookouts, and talent shows. The boys were relegated to changing into their bathing gear in the utility room, while the girls got to go into one of the bedrooms inside the house. This was about the only time anyone was allowed inside the house. My aspiration was always to find that window to the girls’ changing room.

On one occasion, I threw Chad Dodd’s baseball glove in the pool, and he tried to attack me. On another, I brought along my Bible, and in a particularly reflective, religious gesture, skipped swimming so I could read it at the picnic table. But perhaps my favorite memory at the house was when I was ‘pitching’ during kickball and caught a kicked ball between my knees – which meant that the kicker was out! Probably the most amazing second of my life.

Swim time at Dee and Ed’s! Chad Dodd is waving on the right. Wendy Luckenbill is in black still standing on the ledge.

Outside was a tiny playground with a little jungle gym, slide, sandbox, and a couple other pieces of equipment. I met an adorable shy little three-year old there one time, and proceeded to win her over in the sandbox. The next time I returned, I tried to bring her some chewy peppermints and pennies, but alas, she never came back.

I didn’t appear too excited about Indian dress-up day from 1979. Yonnie, unknown girl, big David, Jen, Lisa Sulfridge, me.

We went on several other field trips in the area as well. I recall a few trips to Caesar’s Creek where we would go out on Uncle Ed’s boat, a few fishing trips, a day at Skate World, trips to Indian Riffle park, and possibly Delco Park. Sometimes we would walk – but I can’t recall where we went.

Fishing day. Wendy shows off her catch, while I wait to see what the other kid is catching.

More fishing from 1981

Jen, unknown guy, Lindy’s sister Trish, unknown, Wendy showing off their catches

Since Discovery House was in Kettering, there weren’t many kids from my school there…but there were a few. To wit: Lisa and Matt Sulfridge, Erin and Joel Rudd, Sanjeev Sanai, and Wendy Luckenbill. Other kids who I can recall vividly were (the younger) David (who when he irritated me, I would give a back-of-the-neck stun-gun to), Yonnie, (hot) Jen, (troublemaker) Mandy, (heavyset) Lindy and her sister Trish, Chad Dodd (with wet glove), Big Mike and his brother Little Redhead Jeff, Older (KISS fan) David, and Frankie. And of course, I know there were many more who I would recognize if I could go back and re-live those magical days.

Field trip gathering. Big David is hanging out of the car window. Kathy is the blond adult. Jeff is the redhead standing second from right. Wendy is crouching on the far left. I am crouching fourth from left. Frankie is wearing red, white, and blue two kids away from me. Jen is kneeling second from right. The others…who knows?

As for Discovery House itself, I can still remember my introduction to it, which began in the basement. There was a castle clubhouse with a slide built down there. A record player with an assortment of records was constantly playing – with Morning Train by Sheena Easton sticking foremost in my head. I loved getting inside the castle and inviting some of the cuties, like little Jen, inside.

Upstairs were several rooms where different age groups could be separated. There were nooks in the entry way where we could put our stuff. One of the older kids named David shared an interest along with Charlie, Kathy, and me: the rock band KISS. We often brought in their records and merchandise for an informal show and tell. Star Wars trading cards were also a popular commodity.

I hadn’t entered the doors of Discovery House since the early 1980′s. My guess would be that I stopped going there after the completion of the 1981 Summer, although Mom seems to think I went a little bit later. On Thursday, May 6, 2010, during Erin’s weeklong visit, we stopped by there.

Neither Erin nor her family have any recollection of her attending Discovery House, so I maintain that they only went very, very briefly – perhaps even only a week. I was hoping that by visiting, she might recall something. We only expected to check out the exterior, and sure enough we were approached by a lady from inside who was questioning why we were roaming around on the property.

Once we explained, she happily allowed us to come inside and look around – and revealed that she was in fact Kathy – once hot, blond Kathy, daughter of Ed and Dee who had worked there so many years ago. Kathy not only remembered most of the kids who had attended back in the glory days, she remembered many of their last names (some of them even sent their kids there later), and more importantly had photos!

The Tigger and Rabbit wall mural was there when I was a kid. The computer wasn’t.

We went down to the basement, where the castle still stood, and Kathy pulled out a stack of poster board collages that she had created for each year back since 1975 when Discovery House had first opened. Although neither Erin nor Joel could be spotted, there were a few photos of me as early as 1979 and as late as 1981. I didn’t want to press my luck and ask to borrow them (especially since they were glued onto poster boards), but I did take as many photos of them as I could.

If I had had the chance, I would’ve taken Erin inside the castle when we were kids. I’m sure of it.

It was a great visit and I thank Kathy wholeheartedly for the tour and trip down memory lane. She made Erin and I promise that if we ever got married, she would be invited to the wedding.

Reunited with Kathy on the stoop of Discovery House

Return to Memory Lane Thursday…

Return to the Summer of 1979… (under construction)

Denise’s Kindergarten picture – taken, along with mine (above), on October 5

My fourth grade class…TOP: Mrs. Smith, Marci Gauder, me, Andrea Feltz, Melissa Wilkerson, Jacque Harrah. SECOND ROW: Dan Doolan, David Van Wert, Tony Kerr, Angel Collins, Tara Daubenmire, Jennifer Richmond. THIRD ROW: Eddie Crowder, Rick Mullins, Kim Sullivan, Steve Deaton, Amber Jones, Kevin Rose. BOTTOM ROW: Travis Ulen, Kim Nagle, Autumn Mantia, Donna Moody, Lisa Herring

My best friend in the class this year was David Van Wert. I would visit his house on one or two occasions and recall that he had the Intellivision video gaming system which offered a worse alternative to the Atari 2600. He was good friends with Eddie Crowder, but the two of us didn’t get along too well, especially after I was caught red-handed picking my nose during a classroom movie. My big crush was Autumn Mantia this year – as she was everyone’s big crush. Lisa Herring was the new girl in the class and I dubbed her with the unfortunate and meaningless nickname “Pickle”. Tony Kerr beat up Steve Deaton during one of our recesses.  

I actually began participating in some extra-curricular activities this year at the school. With no real talent for singing, I brought my alto voice to the Fairbrook fourth grade Chorus, which seemed to have half of the fourth grade class within it. We had our practices before school a couple of days a week so Mom would have to drive me to school early on Tuesday and Thursdays. I always enjoyed our recitals, especially the Christmas ones.

Fourth grade chorus. I am in the second row, fourth from the left.

I also joined the Pencil Pushers after-school club. This club was intended for those who enjoyed creative writing and was actually founded this very year. We as a group voted on the name, which had been suggested by Helen Listerman. At the time of our first meeting on 11/19, we were simply the writing club. I would stay in this group, which was run by teachers Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Martin, for this and the next school year.

Front row, second from left is me along with my fellow Pencil Pushers

And last but not least, I was nominated to participate in the B.E.L.L. (Beavercreek Elementary Learning Laboratory) program. This was designed for so-called gifted students who needed an extra academic challenge beyond what was offered in the normal classroom. I had gladly suffered the stigma of being a ‘smart kid’ for the past couple of years and evidently my third grade teacher Mrs. Corn nominated me for this class.

B.E.L.L. was only for grades 4, 5, and 6, and I was the only fourth grader in this group of ten students, which included upper-classmen Sean Delaney, Diana Stickel, Matt Benson, Stephen Hurst, Mark Blair, and others whom I have forgotten. I enjoyed this class very much and it got me out of normal class every Monday of the week. Naturally, it was my responsibility to make up any work that I missed. Under the tutelage of Mrs. Jingling, we did lots of interesting things in here such as learning the fundamentals of French, getting our first brush with basic Apple computer programming, learning factorial fours, working the Pythagoras puzzle, and reading Charles Dickens.

And my reputation for being a smart kid was further solidified when I was victorious in the class Spelling Bee, which entitled me to move on to the school Spelling Bee held in the Fairbrook auditorium one evening. Mrs. Smith had privately tutored me in class when time permitted. I think I got fourth place, missing the word DECAL, when I add an extra L to the end.

Oddly, I relished my role as a smartie-pants in school and let it define my individuality during this time period. I had decided that sports weren’t really my thing and had nearly completely lost all interest in participating in them by this point. I aspired to be included among the ‘popular’ kids, but lingered on the fringe of that particular clique.

Our “Old Cars” 1981 calender sparked a few additional school memories of the Fall of that year. For instance, there was the yearly nut sale that would always yield us some crummy prizes as we peddled these things to family and neighbors, turned in the money and then had to deliver them.

Being a fourth grader also entitled me to another rite of passage. Now being in the intermediate grades, I was invited to attend the skating parties at SkateWorld every six weeks or so – the first one being on October 15. 70′s and early 80′s music pulsated on the roller rink amidst the boy skate, girl skate, quarter toss, races, and moonlight skate – which I must confess I never had the guts to ask a girl to join me on. In the middle of this were the frequent visits to the snack bar to indulge in the soda suicides, chewy Sweet Tarts, and Jolly Rancher sticks.

There unfortunately aren’t many photos from this particular Fall to indicate much of what was going on. Somehow my 10th birthday was completely bypassed…and  ironically, the only Halloween photos taken were not of Denise and me, but of my parents! They were attending a Halloween get-together hosted by the Gem City Classics Chevy Club and went as farm-people. Or something. 

Same goes for Thanksgiving, which was held at Diana and Tom’s house on November 26. No pictures. But I know that Mom brought pies and Jello.

Mom getting ready to attend the Chevy Club Halloween party on October 17

Country bumpkins

I can see why there wasn’t much time for picture-taking though. Between all of my extra-curricular activities, Mom’s bowling and occasional volleyball, doctor appointments, Sons of the Desert meetings for Dad and me (9/20 and 11/29), Denise and I singing in the church choir, Denise’s dance lessons and recitals, class field trips, Mom’s volunteering as a teacher aide for Mr. Turner’s fifth grade class, Mom’s all-weekend food show at the convention center, and Chevy Club gatherings, we were one busy and active family!

Denise. Just too cute.

Denise’s face strawberry. Hanging out in our backyard in the Fall of 1981

Birthday party at Bev’s house, which may have been Chris’ party held on October 25 or Susan’s held on December 11

Denise and I enjoy Fall downtime with some TV and popcorn before the 1981 holidays hit

1981 will conclude with Christmas…