1956 Class Reunion 1956

JOE FANCHER

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Jackie and I have been married - a long time...we have five daughters for 36 to 16. I have worked for a pharmaceutical firm for over 30 years. Jackie works with Life-Like Laboratories where they make artificial limbs.

CHILDREN: Sonja - teacher in the Houston area and has one daughter.

Carrie - works for Child Protective Services and has one son.

Sherrie - has one son and one daughter.

Kelli - will graduate from TWU in December - has been to several different colleges and was on a golf scholarship.

Crystal - will graduate from high school in December and she'll still be 16 then.

Plan to be at the reunion - looking forward to seeing all of you.

BOB FLEMING

We have been waiting until the last minute, trying to figure out a way so we could make the reunion. It just isn't going to be possible. My company has incorporated. Maybe we can make the 50th!

The deadline for a bio was too short for me to make it, so if anybody asks you, here is a brief one:

We are going to celebrate our 40th anniversary in December -- can anybody beat that? I am a computer consultant, specializing in utility companies. I've been doing that for over thirty years. I mostly have to work away from home, so I rack up plenty of frequent flyer miles. Right now I am in Delaware and have been there for about two years. I co-own a consulting company, along with five friends, which we are just getting incorporated.

Jeanne does word processor, desktop publishing, general business management. She has her own business at home and does freelance work for a technical writer.

We have three children. Lisa lives in Dallas area, works at Frito-Lay and is married to a big redhead who does telephone software support. They have no children.

Robert is a printer and lives in Seattle. He is divorced, but he has been living for several years with Shannon, who is trying to get a cake decorating business started. Rob has one child.

David is a veterinarian and is director of a surgery clinic in California. He lives with Judith, who is his head tech. David has no children and if you mention the subject to him, he just says, "never."

We only have one grandchild, Christopher, who is ten and lives in Seattle. We talk to him quite often and he spends a month with us each summer. Needless to say, he is more handsome, brighter and better behaved than any other 10-year-old.

Hope you all have a wonderful, nostalgic time. Think of us and say hi to everybody.

JOE FOMBY

NELL BRITTAIN '57

CHILDREN: Angela Gayle Rowe, Age 37, Husband, Robert Rowe, Children-Ashley, age 13, Christina-age 11, Chelsea-age 11. Live in Carthage, Texas. Robert works for Texas Utilities at Tatum, Angie is developing a subdivision in Carthage on their land.

Susan Elizabeth (Beth) Wiggins, Age 35, Husband, Paul Wiggins, Children-Bradley, age 15, Mickey, age 2, Ashlee, age 8, Amanda, age 6. Live in Shelby County-Nacogdoches Hwy. Paul is in partners with his father and two brothers-logging and watermelon farming. Beth is a kindergarten teacher for Center Independent School District.

EMPLOYMENT: Farmers State Bank-Loan Officer

SPOUSE'S EMPLOYMENT: Center Independent School District Speech Therapist

HOBBIES: Cattle Raising

BRIEF SUMMARY OF LAST 40 YEARS:

After graduation, lived in Houston for 2-1/2 years-worked and attended University of Houston.

Moved to Vidor, Texas, in Jan., 1959-Attended Lamar University. Worked for Texas Highway Department for two years and Dupont Chemical Company for four years.

Moved back to Center in Jan., 1966. Worked for Sabine Valley Savings & Loan Association 15 years, Shelby County Savings for 4 years, American General Life Insurance Company for 4 years, and the past 7 years I have worked for Farmers State Bank.

I have been active in the Center Noon Lions Club for the past 30 years as well as the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.

Nell and I feel blessed to have lived and worked in Shelby County the past 30 years and follow the Roughriders every Thursday and Friday nights during football season.

EDWINA GANN SAMFORD

CLYDE GLENN SAMFORD '54

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Dear classmates,

God has surely blessed Clyde and me with forty beautiful years. Our life together began in 1956, also. We were married on March 9, 1956.

We lived in Nacogdoches and Highlands, Texas in the next few years, but in 1968, we returned to Center after realizing there was no better place to raise our family.

God honored us with three wonderful children to raise and nurture; Randall, Sherry and Jeff. Sherry has given us two terrific grandchildren, Heaberlyn and Trevor.

Years were spent working, playing, and sometimes struggling to do whatever was necessary to raise and educate our children. God carried us through memory making moments (good and bad) that made those forty years truly special for us.

Now in retirement, life is even more special. Clyde and I spend or days traveling, grandparenting, gardening, and visiting friends, to name just a few. We now have time to spend with each other; to walk on beaches; to watch sunrises and sunsets; to do things we always dreamed of doing together.

What more could I ask, that I have already been given, because in childhood we were all joined together as forever friends. But, I believe "the best IS yet to come."

PAT GLENN EISENRICH

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

After high school, I went to the University of Texas School of Nursing in Galveston. In 1958, I met and married Forrest Eisenrich, a medical student. In 1960, I graduated with a B.S. in Nursing.

We moved to De Leon, Texas (80 mi. W of Ft. Worth) in 1963. Just prior to moving, we spent 2 mo. in Bolivia as temporary medical missionaries. What a wonderful experience, but I thought we never would be cured of pinworms after we returned! When I see you, ask about some of my stories from that trip.

My children are as follows:

1. Lloyd Aubrey, born 11-2-1960, graduated from A&M with a degree in finance. He now live in Andrews and owns an insurance company. He loves it. (If I had to sell insurance, I would be on food stamps in a week!) He married Mari Hughes, an A&M graduate from Longview. (Her folks grew up near Short community and now are retired and live out on the San Augustine Hwy. Small world!) Mari and Lloyd have 3 children, Jacob, 9 yrs., Erin, 7 yrs., and Emily, 6 yrs.

2. Robert Glenn, born 11-6-1962--lived only 14 hrs.

3. Haven Glenn, born 11-25-1963, graduated from A&M and is a Child Protective Specialist with Child Protective Services. She is very good at a very difficult job. She married Kelly Lindsey, A&M graduate, and they live in Vernon. They have two boys, Cody, 9 yrs., and Caddo (Like the Indians) 2 yrs.

4. Christian Allen, born 8-19-1967, died 11-10-1968.

5. Jarrett David, born 9-25-1969--a redhead! He is adopted. He graduated from A&M in 1992 and works for the Agricultural Extension Service at A&M as an assistant manager for budgets. On July 20, 1996, he married Julie Clark. They live in College Station where Julie will student teach in the fall. She will graduate from A&M in Dec. (With 6 Aggies in my family, I drape my U.T. degree in maroon!)

In 1979, Forrest and I divorced. I am extremely happy and love being single. It's nice not being responsible to or for anyone but myself. Despite several trips to hell and back, my life has been very fulfilling. The Lord has truly blessed me.

In my career, I have had many and varied nursing experiences, including 6 yrs. of psychiatry. At present, I am Director of Nursing Services for the De Leon Hospital and a CPR instructor. I truly love my work.

I am so excited about our reunion. It's always good to see old friends. You each had an effect on my life in high school and I treasure each of you and miss those who are no longer with us.

If you ever get to De Leon, come by. I live in the country, on a hill and have lots of porches. We can "sit a spell."

BILLY RAY GOODMAN

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

As of September 12, '96, I will have been married for two years and five days. I have been a father for one year and four months as of today. I had been a bachelor for fifty seven years.

After graduating, I entered the US Navy and trained to become a submariner. I served as a submariner for four years. After returning home, I worked with my father and brother in our family used car business; GOODMAN USED CARS, until 1965.

I moved to Houston, running a gravel truck for three years. I worked with my brother's car business in Houston until 1973. From there, I went to work installing car radios for Wiser until 1974. While working for this company, I was asked by Lone Star Ford to come to their dealership to help install radios and to prepare cars for make ready. I worked with them for fifteen years.

I briefly retired and being unhappy, I took a job for a toy store. This turned out to be the best two years of my life. From there I went to work for Specialty Tool and Supply. I am presently employed with this company. It is an international tool and services business. I work in sales, repair tools, pick up and delivery, maintenance, and anything else they need me to do. I'm the right-hand man.

FAYE GRAVES RUDD

JAMES RUDD '54

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

After finishing school at mid-term, I married James Rudd. We have been married 40 years this past December. James has been a rural mail carrier for many years and as always, still raises cows. I have been employed by Center ISD as an instructional aide for 18 years. We have two sons, Randy-age 39 and Ronny-age 38.

Randy is married to Cheri Shahan Rudd and they have two girls, Kristi-age 8 and Jamie-age 4. Randy is self-employed and Cheri is an LVN and works for Center ISD.

Ronny is married to Tonya Sheffield Rudd and they have four children, two girls and two boys. Randi Michelle is 18, Adam-age 14, Brandie-age 11, and Pate is 6 years old. Ronny works as a forester for International Paper Co. and Tonya is a secretary for Center ISD.

James and I are members of the Providence Missionary Baptist Church where James serves as a deacon. We enjoy traveling to Colorado as much as possible in the fall and winter.

We have lived in Center almost our whole married life except for 7 years when we moved to Waskom, Texas, for 3 years and Bridgeport, Texas, for 4 years. We now own a home on Hwy. 7 West (Nacogdoches Hwy.) about 8 miles out of Center.

JOY HOLT SMITH

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

I suppose I will fall dead in the halls of Chandler Elementary School in Kilgore where I have taught grades 1-4 for the past 27 years. It has been a very rewarding and fulfilling career.

My daughter, Kelly Bolin, age 33 resides in Dallas with her husband, Kyle, who is a computer analyst and programmer.

My son, Kevyn, age 37, is a professional artist. He is presently freelancing at his studio here in Kilgore. After having lived the faster life for many years in Los Angeles and Dallas, he decided East Texas is THE place to live.

I have been divorced for 16 years after having been married for 24 years to Robert (Bobby) Smith, formerly of Center.

I have enjoyed traveling quite a bit and meeting so many interesting people from many walks of life.

Call me at the above number.

WILLIAM HOLT

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

I am now working on a poultry farm in Panola County. Right Past Kyle's Red Barn, you turn towards Wood's Post Office and it is not far off the highway. I had my own poultry farm out near the Short Community for several years but sold it.

Several years ago, I had a spur in my neck that had to be operated on and also had a hip bone grafted and this surgery has left me with some problems with my left hand - and I an left handed.

Come October 12th, I plan to see all of you at the Homecoming. Looking forward to that.

DESSIE HOOPER KNIGHT

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

I married Billy Knight, a Baptist Minister, in 1958. We have lived in Jasper, Kirbyville and Lufkin these past forty years, pastoring churches. We have met and worked with many wonderful people. My life has never been boring, sometimes good, sometimes bad. The happiest was when Billy and I married and when our children and grandchildren were born, and sharing in their lives. The very best and happiest was when I accepted Jesus into my heart as my personal savior in 1967. Perfect peace came into my life. Since, I have had Jesus to help me through the trials of our lives.

We have three wonderful children and seven wonderful grandchildren. The eldest grandchild is 16 and the youngest is 3. Daughter, Debra, is a housewife and mother. She is married to a U.S. Marine. Daughter, Lois, is a divorcee, mother and provider for 4 children. Son, Steve, is employed at Lufkin Industries. He has two children.

Billy is retired from Pilgrim's Pride Corp. We don't have any plans to travel. We are pastoring Friendship Baptist Church here in Lufkin.

I feel I have missed a blessing for not coming to any of the reunions. I do think of the class often and wish each one good health and prosperity. May God Bless.

MELBA HUGHES BATTLES

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

I've been married for the past twenty seven years to J. L. Battles, from Nacogdoches. We have two boys from our marriage. From my previous marriage that took place soon after I got out of school, I had three girls. J. L. was previously married and had two boys and one girl. I felt like I should explain those eight children. I have eight grand children of my own and eight step-grandchildren. The Lord has blessed us abundantly, both of us having come from very abusive previous marriages. Three of our children graduated from SFA University, my daughter got her B.S. in Nursing. She is an RN with Life Care in Shreveport, La. Our son got a B.S. in Criminal Justice, he works with Gregg County Corrections. J. L.'s Oldest son got his B.S. in Computer Science, has a very good job with KOCH, in Wichita, Kansas. My husband is a salesman with Tipton Ford, Inc. in Nacogdoches, has been in sales around forty years, plans to work maybe a couple more years before retiring, even though he's in his late sixties. I've just about retired from Day Care in my home, although I still have a few for this year, plus grandchildren for several more years. I won't be able to come to the reunion because we're having a family reunion for my Dad's 86th birthday, but I would love to have a book if you will let me know how to get one. God bless all!

LEONARD IRISH

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

After graduating from high school in 1956, I entered Stephen F. Austin. In May, 1959, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Teaching General Business.

In September, 1959, I began teaching Bookkeeping and Typing at Conroe High School, Conroe, Texas. After teaching two years, I returned to Stephen F. Austin for graduate work.

In April, 1962, I began working for Tyer Lumber Company in Timpson, Texas, as Office Manger. I worked here for nine years.

In April, 1971, I began working for E. L. Bruce Company of Texas, (Now Bruce Hardwood Floors.) As of this time I have been working here continuously for over twenty-five years. I have no immediate plans for retirement

DONALD JACOBS

TO THE BEST GRADUATING CLASS EVER: THE CHS CLASS OF '56

Even though I didn't make it all the way with you, I will always feel a part of the Class of '56. I think of all of you often. Wish I could be there. Gotta work.

In the words of
J. Alfred Prufrock,
I grow old, I grow old,
I wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled........
Say... didn't we do that in grammar school???

We're not quite that old yet, but it's been quite sometime since I picked up a young thing and gallantly carried her across a ditch. Nowadays, I can hardly get MYSELF across the ditch.........

Actually, to tell the truth, I'm in great shape for the shape I'm in . . . which is almost 59, can you believe that's what we're approaching? I can't. It seems only yesterday we were going to parties over at Sally Jo Menefee's or Judy Bridges' or Lee Gayle's or James Richard's or a dozen others.

Since 1956:
Army, then some college, then worked in a refinery for 18 years, doing writing on the side--magazine feature articles, newspaper columns on music, verse, humor, etc. Quit the refinery in 1974 and went to work as a police reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. After several years became business editor. That got boring, so I moved to Center for a year and worked at the newspaper for Bobby Pinkston. That never got boring, but later I went to Nashville for awhile. That got too wild, so I came back and started my own weekly paper in the mid-'80s, edited several others, and then got into public relations.

A kid down the street could sing pretty good, so I became his publicist and we eventually got him an audition with MCA Records. His name is Mark Chesnutt. He went on to bigger and better things, so then I became publicist for another kid from Vidor. His name is Tracy Byrd, and he went on to bigger and better things.

Then, a local businessman won the Horatio Alger Award and hired me to write his speeches, handle his correspondence and be his photographer. That was five years ago, and I've written 450 speeches, thousands of letters, worn out three cameras and had one heart attack. Thank goodness I only needed a triple bypass. Truthfully, my health is great. It was the stress that got me, and I've learned how to handle that.

I travel with the boss and his wife when he's giving speeches, and he's given them all over U.S. You may have seen him on Dr. Robert Schuller's TV program, or on the cover of Parade Magazine with a bunch of little kids back in May. He's got a great story of overcoming illiteracy, and we're working on a book and a movie about his life.

On the personal side, it's a long story--remember, we've been around for 58 years--but to make it brief, I am married to a wonderful woman by the name of Charlene. We met three years ago, and about a year later flew to Bangor, Maine, one morning, got married that afternoon, loaded everything but the snow into a U-Haul and brought her back to Texas. May do a book and a movie on that, too.

I've told her all about my early memories of all my classmates in Center, and how it was to grow up there in the 1940's and '50's. There'll never be another time like that, right? No I wouldn't want to go back........but black-and-white TV wasn't so bad, was it?

Love to all of you. Please let me know next time.

CHARLES (CHILI) JONES

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Pat & I have been married 35 years, we live in the community of Patroon (about 20 miles south of Center, Texas.) Pat is starting her 39th year at Deep East Texas Elec. Co-op, and I have been in Insurance business for the last 20 years.

We plan to retire in Jan, 1998 and hopefully do nothing.

We have on daughter, Charla, born in March, 1968. She received her BA and Ma form SFA and currently lives in Nacogdoches and works for the local paper, "Daily Sentinel."

JAMES LEE JOHNSTONE

PERSONAL HISTORY FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS

I know there was a reason I always enjoyed art and drawing as I met my wife, Barbara, in art class at Baylor University. We were married 36 years ago, before our senior year at Baylor. We both graduated in 1961. We moved to Corona/Riverside, California, where I was employed by the Navy in one of their labs in the "new" profession of computer programmer. Barbara taught art in Perris and Corona, California. In 1963, we moved back to Houston and I joined IBM. Our first son, Kyle, was born that year. At IBM in Houston, I worked in several technical and management positions that dealt with the manned space program of NASA. Barbara's art profession developed during these years. Her works were displayed in several galleries in Dallas and Houston and she won several awards. Our second son, Grant, was born in 1967 in Houston. Barbara also taught art. Being in Houston with the space program of the 1960's was very exciting for all of us. In 1973, we moved to Vienna, Austria, and I had the opportunity to be one of the first American businessmen to go into the then Soviet Union for IBM. Grant started 1st grade in the International School of Vienna and Kyle was in the 4th grade. We all learned to speak a little German and I did a little better with Russian. We moved to Paris, France, in 1974 to be nearer IBM European headquarters as we flew in and out of Moscow. Kyle and Grant developed French very well over the nest few years, but Barbara and I struggled with French, but got by. One of my projects was to help sell the computer systems for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. We returned to Houston in 1978 and the boys entered school in the Clear Lake area of Houston and Barbara began to teach art at Clear Lake High School. Barbara became a Realtor in the early 1980's and has had a very successful career. She is now in new home sales in Bay Oaks. Until the early 1990's, I was a manager of international marketing in Houston, having the opportunity to help develop the marketplace for IBM computers with most of the state owned oil companies in the world. This included the opening of China and India for IBM, via state owned oil companies. I had business each year in about 40 countries. During this time, both Kyle and Grant graduated from Baylor University. Grant continued on and graduated from Baylor law school. In the early 1990's, I took early retirement from IBM after 30 years and began my current career as a Financial Consultant/stock broker for Smith Barney here in Houston, in the Clear Lake area. Barbara and I live a few minutes from her work in Bay Oaks and my work at Smith Barney. Kyle is married to the former Elizabeth Lloyd from Yorktown Heights, New York, who he met during his employment at IBM. They have Sarah and Adam, our grandchildren, whom we adore. Kyle is a management consultant with Ernest & Young in Dallas. They live in Coppell. Elizabeth sold her computer software company and is doing freelance consulting work. Grant, after developing a successful law practice in Clear Lake, is now the director for Source Legal. Grant is married to the former Amy Remmert of Georgetown, Texas. Amy received her law degree from the University of Houston and is a lawyer in Houston.

GAY NELL KIMBRO FAUSETT

JERRY FAUSETT '54

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Jerry and I live in New Boston, Texas. He is athletic director for the junior high in Texarkana, Arkansas and high school coach on Fridays. I have been working in a bank for 25 years-not always this one - but some bank. We have two grown sons, Rodney and David. Rodney coached for a while with Jerry. He is now a high school assistant principal in Paris, Texas. He and his wife, Tina have two daughters: Brandi 13 and Brittni 5.

David and his wife Nicole are both lawyers and they practice in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

My dad, Guvie Kimbro, is still very active in Center. My brother, Tom and family live with him. My mother died a few years ago. Jerry's mom is very ill right now. If we don't get to come to the reunion, you will know it is due to family illness.

LUCRETIA LIEM BUSSEY

PERSONAL HISTORY FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS: If you can tell your classmates what you have been doing for the past 40 years without sounding like you are boring, braggadocios, or begging for a job, you're a better man (or woman) than I am "Gunga Din." Not to mention getting it all on one page. So....here goes...I've laughed a lot, moved a lot, worked, a lot, and cried very little. Charlie and I and Buster and Era Jo are the only "in class" marriages (I think.) Each of us on either side of 40 years - so hometown boys do make good husbands. We have moved 27 or 28 times -second only to Jerry and Sandra Bradshaw (I think.) We have been back in Center now for almost 10 years after 27 years dragging our junk around to Hawaii, Nacogdoches, Austin, back to Nacogdoches, etc. We have 3 children: Beth, 36; Glyn Ellen, 33; and Chuck, 28; and will soon have 8 grandchildren, ages 14-0. These grandchildren are not quite as cute or as smart as their parents, but much more fun because they do not stay for 18 years. I am working as a special ed. counselor for Center ISD - starting my 9th year here. I have also taught or counseled in Timpson, Pineland, Shelby Co-op and SFA. I am blessed with good health, good family and lots of wonderful Center friends (hope to see most of you on October 11 and 12th.)

BETTE LUCAS SAMFORD

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

After graduation, went to SFA during the summer sessions of 1956. In the fall, I enrolled in Nacogdoches Business College & finished an Executive Secretarial course there. Then worked for Gene Biddle Feed Company as a bookkeeper until October '57 when I married Ben Samford and we moved to Beaumont, Texas as he was going to Lamar University. I worked at Alco Products in Beaumont until the birth of our son, C. A. He is a 1976 graduate of CHS and also TSTA in Waco as an Aircraft Pilot. He now works as a corporate pilot for DSC in the Dallas area.

I am now semi-retired after having worked just shy of 30 years for SW Bell Telephone Co., in the Center office, then Nacogdoches & finally finishing at Beaumont. Now I work part-time at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Center as their secretary/bookkeeper.

We have enjoyed a good full life, Ben served as Shelby County Sheriff for a while....taught Vocational Welding at Lamar University & held several different jobs, both in Center & out-of-town.

We are now enjoying being back in Center....living on the farm at the Short community, where we are nearer the 3 step-grandchildren...Delana 16 yrs., Dwayne 22, Deanne 24.

I'm looking forward to getting to see & read about our former classmates that I haven't gotten to see or hear from for so long.