Richard Ray Williams (1960)

Marcia Melrose (Tracy) (1960)

I Just read Richards message about losing and gaining classmates through transfers to other schools. My father was transferred to the Chicago office of Union Oil just as I started my freshman year ....and I attended Barrington Consolidated highschool  from right after Christmas vacation of my freshman year until graduation in 1960.  It was not a move I was very happy with at the time....leaving so many good friends from grade school and junior highschool...but I made the best of the situation at BCHS....still, to this day, I consider Olney as my hometown and the kids I left behind with my move, to be my "always" classmates....   Thanks, Richard, for mentioning me in the kind way that you did! I find it so interesting when I think of how I attended all the grade school in Olney(except for St Joe's and I was there with one of my best friends most of the time, too! lol).....I remember Amy Fletcher ,and will forever, as the very epitome of what a kindergarten teacher should be.....and also remember how she said, more than once, "Marcia Melrose, put your head down.....its nap time!" lol  I attended Central School and remember Mrs Shumaker from that time....I didnt have her later on.....thought she had the prettiest red hair! I then attended Cherry Street when my folks moved to the house where we lived before Gus and Mary Sliva....  and from there, to the junior high school....  So.....as I said, Olney will always be my hometown.....even if I missed so many of the traditions of highschool and didnt graduate with my friends....  Olney and the people I knew there are forever in my heart.   Marti Melrose Lincoln

Richard Ray Williams (1960)

 "First-Day" or "First-Week" School Story!

Okay Tigers, here's my story.  Boy was I embarrassed!  Sure, I'll bet I had been many times as a kid at ERHS on the first day.  I always was very nervous about the start of school.

But, wait!  It got worse when I started teaching and was the teacher!  My very first day, that August day in 1964, at Rockville High School, I was so excited and nervous.  My first day employed as a teacher -- the first day in my career as an educator  -- what did the day portent?  What would my career be like?  Long and Happy?  Successful?

My, it was starting okay.  First hour, Home Room period.  I'm standing in front of a full class of (mostly) smiling Junior English students.  I'm chatting about the day, I guess, filling time before the bell rang to signal the start of class.

Then, the bell rang.  I shut the door -- or started to do so when another body was pulling it away from me.  In popped a smiling (like a fox) co-ed.  My eyes quickly scanned her: Uncombed long hair, missbuttoned blouse, and a short, short skirt.

At that moment, I used my 'official Boss-Teacher Voice' for the first time.  "May I see your slip!"  I demanded, knowing that late students were supposed to have tardy slips.  (But, if I'd been less nervous/new, I'd realized that she'd run to the room, not stopping at the office, hoping to get in class before the last bell.)

Well, as I stuck out my hand to receive that little tardy form, she amazed me:  She pulled up her short, short skirt and said, "I don't have one."

What a way to begin a career!  I unthinkingly glared at her underwear for seconds before realizing what I was doing.  I jerked my head up to her and just as stupidly said, "I guess not."

Fortunately, my memory has let go what happened next.  But at a reunion, years later, I was talking to a nice RN nurse who was the director of the county agency.  Then the lady, said, "Do you remember . . . "  She went on to share with me  . . .  (Yes, it was her.) We had a very good laugh.  I can report that she's been an excellent administrator who has given her life to making the health of the citizens of her county much better.  The story ends well.

Ralph Corry (1930)

Let me preface this story by saying that I am a guest on your excellent site.  I am the administrator of another school site at timpson66.com.   Richard Williams and I exchange ideas as he is on our site.

  Timpson is a small town in East Texas and has averaged about 300-400 students per year since about 1890 for the whole school from first 1st grade to 12th grade.  The nearest other school is about ten miles away.  It is a town where everyone knows virtually everyone or to make matters worst(and only in East Texas) everyone seems to be kin to everyone. 

I lived about five miles school and the first day of the 1st grade as best as I can remember, the bus stopped at the house and picked me up. (The bus driver was also the principal of the high school and taught several courses including Civics) .  This was in the fall of 1954. The bus got to school and I do not remember this part either, somehow I got to the room where I was suppose to be.  As best as I can remember, my parents to the best of my knowledge never went to school to register me. 

As noted there were about 30-35 people in my class.  The teacher went to asking who we were.  I was, more or less an only child, and my parents always called me "son" even though my first name is Ralph and last Corry.  The teacher then asked again,  "No, what is your real name?"  Again, I replied, "Son."  After about the third or fourth time, an older student from about he third grade happened to walk by and identified me as "the Corry boy".  Of course the teacher then immediately knew me.  

One more story 

I received three spanking in school.   All three were in the first grade by this teacher and I deserved all three.  For one of them, I was throwing rocks at birds on top of the schoolhouse by the window.  How I was I suppose to know you could not throw rocks at birds on top of the school????  The teacher did....

Can you believe parents putting a kid on a school bus the first day of school and sending him to school or I guess for that matter, getting a spanking from the teacher.....without a parents permission...I did not tell my parents about the spanking,  or it would have been two spankings

Ralph Corry
Timpson High School-Class of 66

Marty White (1982)

 OK, my first day at ERHS. First hour was PE, with Coach Lofton, whom our family adored. He was walking down the line and reading the names of those in the class, lining us up in the order we were to line up for the rest of the year. One of the football players, Jim Smith, was walking along with him. Jim being a Sr., I was scared that at some point he and the rest of the football players would do something to this little freshman football player to 'welcome' me to high school. Lofton got to me and read, Marty White, I raised my hand, jumped in line and Lofton asked, "How's Jody doing?". Jody was my older brother that played for Lofton. I said he was fine and coach moved on. Jim Smith walked up, asking "Are you Jody's brother?" I said yes and he replied, "anyone gives you any trouble, let me know!" Wow, this Sr. just told me he had my back. 

At lunch I made my was downstairs to eat. As I hit the bottom of the steps, a group of Sr. Football players where just making their way around the corner into the long line to get their lunch. Jim hollared back for me to butt up with them, saying I was eating with them. Wow, now lunch with the soon to be NEC Champs... wake me up. 

So, about a half year later, while riding with Jim to Mcdonalds, when we were suppose to be in PE, he asked if I knew why he made sure no one bothered me my freshman year. I said I wondered but wasn't gonna ask. His reply "Well, my freshman year a Sr. by the name of Jody White took care of me, time to repay the favor." I suddenly thought my brother was the coolest guy in the world. Somethings family is a good thing.

Marty White '82

Mary Ann Noerenberg (Cummings) (1970)

Don't know how, but I received an e-mail from a total stranger who had happened on purchasing a 1941 Olnean. In the e-mail he wrote the following request:

In searching for some information on a book that I recently purchased,
the 1941 Olnean, I came across your name and email address and I was
wondering if you could help me. The copy I have has been inscribed on
the first blank page by the two co-editors of the yearbook to Thornton
Wilder whose OUR TOWN, as you probably know, served as a theme for the
book. My copy, on the blank page following this one, has a full-page
inscription by Wilder to a Miss Schnalhausen dated March 27, 1941, from
Bogota, Columbia, expressing delight with the school using his play as a
theme and stating that he hopes "this word doesn't arrive too late." It
is definitely Wilder's handwriting and appears to be actually written by
him in the book, but I'm wondering if it is a reproduction of an actual
letter sent to the school and printed in every copy of the yearbook.

If anyone has information to assist with this inquiry, please e-mail me directly and I'll respond to the guy. BTW - I corrected his spelling of Schmalhausen!

Thanks oodles!

Mary (Noerenberg) Cummings - Class of 1970

Michael A. Kocher (1965)

Diane Catherine Weiler missing classmate 1967  Given name Catherine Diane Weiler. Married name Dawson.

Phone:(618)392-8060

Address: 7 Hills Lane, Olney, IL.

. Hope  you see this Richard, I'm not real good navigating to where I need to go on here yet. Michael Kocher

Janice K. Jones (Kern) (1963)

I have been reading these wonderful stories and am thinking why not share your stories and memories of Richland County, Illinois in a "soon to be" published book RICHLAND COUNTY ILLINOIS HISTORY & FAMILIES at no charge to you? It is difficult to contact people who may no longer reside in Richland County, so I thought this forum might draw some interest.

A brochure on this project can be obtained at the Olney Public Library website: www:olney.lib.il.us. Any of the "Community Representatives" listed in the brochure can be contacted (including me) with questions you may have.

Richard Williams has so kindly posted the announcement regarding this on the ERHS Alumni website. However, there have been many misunderstandings just what the book is about. It is more than just pictures of businesses, places, dates and statistics....it will also include our current generation and what our lives, families,and memories are all about.

Imagine what an interesting book this can be if there are "Classmates and their Families" contributing their memories!

Thank you for showing your interest.........................Jan Kern Class of 1963

Ralph Corry (1930)

To all EHRS and helpers,

Very impressive site.  I am an adminstrator for another site but this one vastly surpasses ours.  You all have done a tremendous job in every aspect.  I especially love the "In Memory" and  "Veterans Wall".  Know it was a lot of work but the whole school and alumni should be proud of this site.

Norman D. Axelson (1965)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY CLASSMATES Class of 1965.  Wish everyone the healthiest of New Years and may all your joy and love be fulfilled.  We are snug in a bug for winter and for the Christmas Season.  We love this time of the year and remember the reason we are all here.  JESUS is Lord and if you dont know HIM yet you dont know what you are missing.  Love you all,   Norm and Melody Axelson

Norman D. Axelson (1965)

Here's a fun way to SHARE YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION.

Text your resolution like over 25,000 others at (323)378-5863 and watch the video.  I want to loose 25 more lbs and I want a 34 inch waist again like I did in the Navy.   Norm

Wesley Weston (1964)

Hey Y'all Class of 1964 ! ! !

  Wes Weston here, writting from Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. Marty (Johnson) my wife and I have lived since we retired in 2006. Our 50th Class Reunion is coming up next year 2014. I really don't know who is orginizing it, but, I'd like to help out any way I can. I have computer and internet and am willing to contact, send emails, make phone calls (I have Skype and can pretty much call all over the world for not much) so if whoever is orginizing the next reunion can contact me and let me know what needs to occur, I'll help. My email address is: wminmex@gmail.com and my USA phone number is 817-405-2734 (CST).   I hope to be hearing from whoever is taking the reins and setting up the reunion.......

Wes Weston

Class of 1964

Sue Borah (Bourke) (1977)

Richard,

Sue Borah (Bourke) (1977)

Richard,

My sister just pointed out that our Grandmother was on the girls basketball team also.  In 1908!

I don't know how long it had been since there was a girls team but we only had it my last two years of  school, 

1976 and 1977.

Thanks again for posting all these pictures!

Sue Borah Bourke

Marcella Cummins (Zorn) (1965)

My grandfather James Cummins was in the Junior Class.

Marcella Cummins (Zorn) (1965)

PS I should have added that my grandfather was a Junior in the 1908 yearbook!

John Helm (1958)

Richard:  I've been reading your message forum column with great interest; folks who have graduated from ERHS and have fond memories, and folks who went through area schools up to and including some time at ERHS, but for some reason moving away and not graduating from highschool in Olney.  Also interesting to note that our website has attracted attention from folks in other schools, who are, in some cases, modeling their own website to be similar to ours.  I think that's a terrific tribute to you folks who have put together an on-line place where we can share our memories and pictures.  I graduated with the class of  1958, and my late wife, Helen Shultz Helm, graduated in '59.  Helen and I "went steady", and were married in 1963.  In the days when we were in school, cars played a big part in the social life of ERHS, and practically every guy and many of the girls couldn't wait to get their drivers' license, so they, too, could join the custom of "dragging Main', up and down back and forth, from the Town Talk drive-in on the east side of town, to the Dog and Suds, or Decker's Drive-in on the west side of town, not to mention Beal's Skating Rink and Bowling alley, and the Olney Drive-in Theater.  Of course, there was always a crowd at Mike's Ice Cream Parlor, and the old Olney Carnegie Library was a quiet place to study, perhaps while holding hands with your steady girl.  There's a movie I'm sure a lot of your readers are familiar with, "American Graffiti", starring Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfuss.  about once every 6 months I watch it again.  It was set in the early '60's and so much reminds me of the great times we all had at ERHS.  Our class had its first reunion 10 years after graduation, and had such a wonderful time that we've had a reunion every five years ever since.  Our 55th reunion was no exception; a wonderful success.  How great to see all the folks again who we'd see every day as we made our way from class to class.  My best wishes go out to all the classes who have had the great good fortune to graduate highschool in Olney.

John Helm

Quincy IL mlehjerhs@yahoo.com

Carl Kocher (1959)

John

Great comments.

Carl Kocher

Mary "Joan" Ingersoll (Slichenmyer) (1968)

The class of '68 lost another clsssmate, Tom Bartruff.  RIP, Tom.

John D. Deaton (1967)

Tom was in the class of 1967.

Paul Noerenberg (1967)

Rebecca Lawley (Swisher) (1967)

I would like to thank all the ERHS grads that have served our great land THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! I know there are a few like my husband the class of 65 that are not marked as Vets but look at our Veterans Wall and say thank you on this Veterans Day Tomorrow.

Ileen Rice (1980)

I am sitting here at work remembering the days when I was in the United States Air Force at Nellis AFB.  I used hear so many planes soaring over the hospital, they broke sound barrier and windows too.  My parents met in the Army and my ex husband retired from the Air Force.  We are a family of veterans.  I do wish all of the other veterans a very happy and relaxing Veterans Day.  Ileen