By Jean Thurston Harris '48
Greetings from the Classen Museum! We hope everyone is well and enjoying their summer!
The great donations keep coming into the Classen Museum! Wayne Wentworth '38 donated pictures from the Auvergne Demolay reunion which occurred in November, 2003. Rolf Engleman '51 mailed a Classen Life dated October 9, 1947. Shirley Antene Fry '42 donated an administration plaque award which she had received from Classen High School in 1942.
Tony Jack Lyons '42 sent a Pryor, Oklahoma newspaper dated March 7, 2004 which printed his picture on the front page of the Living section. The title of this very nice article read "Tony Jack King of the Lyons - Local attorney recounts his first murder trial."
W.M. "Mack" Palmer '42 sent a two-tape video of Ben Hur which starred Charlton Heston. The late Ann Steely '41 (Cathy O'Donnell) played the part of Heston's sister in the movie which won several awards.
An anonymous donor mailed a picture of Mrs. Anton Classen to the museum at the school address. We thank you but we really ask that all donors identify themselves so that we may give you proper recognition.
Richard Miller, son of Ramah Driskill '30 mailed two gym suits which had belonged to his mother and was found in her cedar chest. Richard wrote that his mother was an active student athlete and especially proud of a letter that she had received in field hockey while a student at Classen. Ramah is now a resident of the Spanish Cove Retirement Skilled Nursing Wing in Yukon, Oklahoma. Richard felt that his mother would like for the suits to be part of the Classen Museum. I am certain that his mother treasured these items to have kept them for all these years and we appreciate the donation very much. I would note that these items have been pressed and are on display in the museum!
John Denman '44 donated a wonderful CD entitled Bourbon Street Memories which he composed and created. John is a clarinet player and has his own band which plays at different functions in Dallas.
Bruce Johnson '51 was the pledge master for the Blue Jackets in 1951. He donated the paddle that the Blue Jacket pledges presented him in 1951 with names engraved on it. He also brought pictures of Putnam Heights elementary school 5th and 6th grades with almost every student identified and the picture of the 25th reunion of his 1951 class. He visited the museum with his wife, his sister Earline Johnson Taylor '48, and her husband. Bruce lives in Plano, Texas and Earline lives in Elk City, Oklahoma. We had a wonderful visit and hope to see them again soon!
On April 29th ninety CSAS graduating seniors attended a reception in the Classen museum which has become an annual tradition. The students picked up their robes, were served punch, cookies, and completed information forms for the CHS Alumni Association. Thanks to Sarah Powell Newcomb '64. Sally Freel Brunett '54, Pam Caughron Stottman '63, and Sylvia Shinn Sautter '54 who served as hostesses for this event.
Congratulations to Halley Brunsteter '04, our student representative this past year, who was presented the Classen Award of Honor at the Awards Assembly in May. We are so proud of you, Halley! Halley will be studying in Germany and then attend Colorado College in Colorado Spring
Halley also donated a trophy which was won in a creative team building competition called Odyssey of the Mind. This was an international organization which began in the mid-80's and has grown tremendously ever since. Halley was one of a team of six students who won this trophy. The team was also given a special creative award for the fluidity of the performance and the team’s creative use of material. This trophy has been placed in a special new case in the museum which is devoted entirely to the Classen School of Advanced Studies. We are very proud of our "new" Classen and the many accomplishments of this school.
Jerry Bell '51 donated a book entitled Comets which relates to the solar system, not the Classen Comets! Hall Duncan '42 brought us another book he authored entitled Those Tires Have Got To Go. Hall is an accomplished author and has donated several of his books to our Alumni Author Alley.
A donor who requested to remain anonymous brought a red night shirt with Classen Comets printed on the front of it. However, we wondered why it was red since Classen's colors are blue and gold! It is hanging in the museum with various t-shirts which have been donated from reunions, etc.
As always we want to acknowledge the dedication of our wonderful volunteers who come to the museum each Thursday and donate their time to greeting visitors. They are: Harriette Westervelt Boatright '47, Sally Freel Brunett '54, Norma Williams Colston '54, Janie Anderson Cotton '50, Buddy Donley '51, Marie Russell Harkey '38, Alyse Myers Ramsey '47, Pam Caughron Stottman '63, Lois Brown Street '45, Margene Arnett Walker '40, Mary Ellen Wells '50, and Suzanne Yowell '50. Also a special thanks to the volunteers who assisted with the classes who visited the museum during their reunions.
I will end this column with my personal tribute to Vera Mae Clark Nowland '52, one of our NCL editors who passed away on the 16th of June. Vera Mae devoted an endless amount of time to the New Classen Life and Classen reunions in spite of her disability. In the short time I was privileged to know her I realized what a special, courageous person she was, and how totally dedicated she was to the Classen High School Alumni Association and our NCL. We will miss her very much.
Until next time please be safe, enjoy the rest of your summer, and look forward to the wonderful season of fall and football!
