Friends well-met at
Amigos de las Cinquentas gathering

The end of the year is fast approaching and it seems to have just begun. We are pleased that Meg Guerra of LareDOS has asked us to reprint By the Way in her newspaper. We told her all we wanted in return was life-time access to her wonderful ranch! Kidding, of course. We are honored to have been asked.
What a month it has been! And busier days are still ahead.
Los Amigos de las Cinquentas met recently for their annual get-together. A loosely-arranged gathering of anyone who remembers the fifties and Martin High School is welcome. As it grew, it included "kids" from St. Joseph's and Ursuline Academies. Hard to believe these three were the only high schools in Laredo at the time. Usually held the third weekend in October at the home of Jim and Donna Young in Bulverde, predicted rain forced another plan and it was held indoors at Casey's Party House. So many gathered to laugh and recall those "Happy Days." Jim's mom Louise Young always enjoys seeing Jim's friends and hustles right along, helping out. Joanna Lowry and Maxine Nilsen usually stay with Donna and Jim and help spearhead the affair. About 75 came this year.
So far, in the past three years, $25,000 has been raised for scholarships for Martin High graduates. This year's reunion raised $3,475, according to Jim. Much credit goes to Jim for getting the whole thing going! The attendees agree that their MHS years were among the happiest of their lives and they really want to give back.
One of the best surprises was Wyman Gamble bringing his lovely wife Betty from Tennessee. This was Wyman's first visit with the old gang since graduation. His dad was in the Air Force and Wyman played football for MHS. Andy Gault now lives in California and was in Texas to visit his mom, so he stopped by the reunion on the way to Laredo. His friends were so glad to see him.
Teachers Ellen deTournillon and her Phil, and Norma Brady with John were there. The Claflin brothers, Claude, Neville, and Jack, made this year's party with wives Mary Tom and Billie Jean. Claude's Ann was unable to make it. Mike Cantu-Withoff and Helen, Rene Ornelas and Saundra had copies of his new CD. Al Barrera, without his Barbara, now lives in Brownwood, Texas and is still busy with the tile industry. Bessie Lane Baur brought her husband Roger. They live in Houston.
Michael Craig brought back memories of his dad's venetian blind business. He is a lawyer and lives in Houston. Also present were Boake and Marisa Lacey, John and Linda Leyendecker, Diana Sanchez Marinez and Chick Kazen of Austin. Dick Phelps from Dallas and James Switzer of Yuma, Arizona talked over old times with Benjie and Sherry Wright and the Wright twins, Pat and Mike. Jim's brother Charles Young came from Center Point with his wife Doris. Our buddies Lucile Johnson Earles and Joyce Johnson Early were there as well as Lorraine Claflin Hopson and Carolyn Jordan, Mary Lou Malakoff, Mary Lou Kahn Holmgreen, and Barbara Parker Sanders. Ah, what happy days they were, and the remembering even happier.
Our dear friend Anita Cortez Haber was recently honored by County Court at Law Judge Jesus Garza and the Community Action Agency for her many years of devoted volunteer service. Her two brothers, Ruben and David Richard Cortez, were present to congratulate her.
Charles and Ope Alexander celebrated 60 years of wedded bliss on October 26th with a family gathering at their son Sammy and daughter-in-law Kathie's home.
The Pichot family has made their home in Laredo since the early seventies when Cliff had the opportunity to purchase the business he had been working for, Arnold Refrigeration, and talked his brothers Tommy and Dennis into joining him. Together the Pichots, tall husky blonds, made history working for Border Olympics and other community activities. Laredo missed out on brother Perry, who made his home in Oklahoma. Dad C. J. still lives in Hondo.