73 from 38

Best Regards

I am going to buy a tile and here is what I will have inscribed upon it:

IN MEMORY ROBERT HELM
MY STADIUM LIFE LONG PAL - 1939
ALLAN G. -BUDDY-EMMONS

Here is how it all started. My father was transferred to Tacoma from
Seattle. We moved to Tacoma the day before school started. I knew no
one here. Never saw Stadium before, didn't know how to get there from
our new home on North Lawrence Street.

I took the Sixth avenue street car to the Roxy Theatre then transferred
to the Pt Defiance Street car and finally found my way to Stadium High
School. First person I met there that took any interest in me, was Bob
Helm. He helped me around and introduced me to some of his friends.
After school I met him again and he invited me to walk home with him and
some of his friends. Eddie Blake, Steve Smith were a couple of them, who
became very good friends until I lost track of them during World war II.
But I always wrote and visited with Bob. After that first day We walked
back and forth to school together every day.

Bob died a year ago last April. He and I had lunch together in Spokane
just a couple weeks before his passing.

I had quite a life. Went to the U of W for one year. Migraine
headaches drove me crazy. Jobs were scarce . I knew enough about
railroad station work and telegraph to go into that field, but there
were no openings. I spent six months "breaking in" on my own time and no
pay. Finally was hired by the Northern Pacific Railroad part time extra
work at 67 cents an hour working seven days a week and no overtime..
That was union wages. .

Radio was my hobby and by this time was a pretty good Morse and
International code operator.

I enlisted in the army in 1943 and spent two years in Italy as Net
control radio operator handling fire missions for the 91st Infantry
Division Artillery. All front line duty. Our gun batteries were always
located a couple miles to our rear.

Went back to work for the NP Railway and BN, and made one heck of a good
living repairing the new invention, Television, but always kept my RR
job.

Have been retired now 27 years. Thanks to television and a good railroad
pension my wife and I have a very comfortable living.

And so it goes. Guess it all started at the Castle.



First we went to the 100th anniversary of Stadium High School Get
together. We couldn't believe the turn out. Thousands and Thousands.
We couldn't get parked closer than half mile away. Think the class of
1922 had one person there. Our class of 1938 there was about 15. I knew
three of them Getting in and out of the renovated, at a cost of 100
million bucks, school was not easy. The outside of the school was not
touched. The original 115 year old "Hotel" had every original brick that
the Northern Pacific put together.

A little history. In the late 1880s, Tacoma was thought to be the big
city in Puget Sound and the NP Railway bet their shirt on it. Being a land
grant railroad, they owned most of Tacoma down to McCarver Street, (Old
Tacoma) including all the tide lands and waterways. The NP was to make a
bundle selling this free land granted by the US government to the lumber
companies and others who would pay the price asked by the NP. Along comes
Jim Hill and his Great Northern Empire Builder and makes his terminal in
Seattle, Ha, says Jim Hill. You are going to see grass grow on your
Pacific Avenue, Mr. NP RY. Seattle is going to be THE City on Puget
Sound. and Seattle offered the tide lands free to the developers. The
rest is history and Here stands this beautiful hotel that the NP invested
in and going broke. So the NP, in 1904 or 5 , sold the hotel to the city
of Tacoma for a "song." Tacoma made a high school out of it and first
class was 1906. Many presidents visited Stadium, made speeches from the
stadium itself and many famous people graduated from Stadium, Bing Crosby
was one and I was another.

OK. We had a fun day at Stadium High School. It doesn't look anything
like the interior. used to look, and it now offers many classes in arts
and crafts. All we had there was wood shop, a metal shop, and I think a
print shop where we learned to set type.

The Puyallup Fair was fun. We had one of the famous hamburgers, and a
couple ice cream cones. Looked over the animals and walked a couple
miles around the place.

73 ( Best Regards... RR code talk)

Love,

Buddy & Frances Emmons
Class of 1938

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Stadium High School Bowl Engineer

L. A. Nicholson

Grandchildren of L. A. Nicholson gathered Saturday morning, September 16, 2006, during the Stadium High School 100th weekend to view and celebrate the return of the "Tacoma School Stadium" Plaque. Their grandfather was the Engineer for the Stadium and is named on the plaque. Pictured from the left were: Natalie Nicholson Nelson, John Nicholson, Virginia Nicholson Wood, Janice Nicholson Stattin, and Margaret Nicholson Watts. Granddaughter Nancy Nicholson Records was traveling out of state and could not attend. Proud Stadium High graduates Natalie, Virginia, Janice and Margaret especially enjoyed the school renovation and tour, meeting many friends of past years.

Herbert Hunt’s "History of Tacoma" describes Lawson Nicholson as "quiet and unassuming in his life, yet a prominent figure in civic affairs with many sincere friends." The book continues in saying that he was connected with many of Tacoma’s most important engineering projects, has developed high professional skill through comprehensive study and broad experience and the value of his service has been demonstrated in the execution of many municipal projects in other cities of the northwest as well as in Tacoma. His birth occurred in Stockton, California, March 3, 1866, and he traces his ancestry back to one of the early New England Families. He became a resident of Tacoma in September 1886, arriving when a young man of twenty years. His father, Albert Scott Nicholson, was born in Pennsylvania, traveled west to California, Vancouver and Tacoma. Prominent in church affairs he built the first house of worship in Vancouver and then served as rector for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Old Town Tacoma. He also acted as superintendent for Tacoma General Hospital until retirement in 1888. During December of 1892 Lawson married Elizabeth Souder James, a daughter of a prominent real estate developer in Philadelphia.

Lawson pursued his education in private schools and under private tutors in Vancouver, Washington, until 1882, when he made his initial step in the business world by becoming an apprentice in a sash and door factory, in which he spent a year. In 1883 he embarked in the building material business and was active in that until 1886. In Tacoma in attended Washington College and at the same time taught school for a year. He afterward gave his attention to the improvement of the homestead his father had previously taken up at Cosgrove, Washington. After a year he returned to Tacoma and began his profession as a civil engineer. He remained continuously in Tacoma with the exception of two years spent in Everett as city engineer. He became a partner of A. H. Lindley under the firm name of Lindley & Nicholson. In 1895, after Lindley moved to the east coast, he continued his business alone and gave special attention to land surveys and litigation, land description, municipal work, water front, and water way engineering. He was often called upon as an expert in court proceedings.

A contemporary biographer has said: "During that time much important work has passed through his office. Most of the business blocks and public buildings in Tacoma have been located by him. Municipal work at Steilacoom, Ruston and Everett has received his attention. He provided engineering for the Tacoma Railway and Power Company doing much preliminary work for railroad and power projects. His most important work is the Stadium Bowl. The form and disposition of the entrance and the retaining walls being original with him. Another important project was the opening of the water front road through the property of the Tacoma Smelting Company by a concrete lined tunnel leading to Ruston and Northwest Tacoma and Point Defiance Park. Mr. Nicholson was also engaged in another important water front improvement, the opening of the Hylebos commercial waterway. With these and other public matters he has taken the greatest interest in and given much time and effort toward promoting Tacoma’s welfare and advancement."

Hunt’s book continues with additional: His development of the design of the impressive Tacoma Stadium would of itself be sufficient to carry down his name to future generations, but his activities have covered many and various lines. He gave much of his time for years toward bringing the undeveloped parts of Tacoma’s water front into use. He designed the Tacoma Automobile Speedway, and his idea of slope graduated into steepness to the varying speeds is similar to the practice since adopted in eastern speedways. He was City Engineer of Everett in 1893, City Engineer of Tacoma in 1904, of Steilacoom from 1906 to 1913, and of Ruston from 1905 until 1915. On May 3, 1916 Lawson received the appointment of City Engineer of Tacoma for a second time. He was also engineer for the state harbor line commission and surveyed the harbors of Snohomish, Sidney and Marysville. For a time he specialized in street railroad construction.

Later in his career he formed L. A. Nicholson and Sons. Children Harold and Charles joined with him in continuing to provide essential engineering services for Tacoma. Daughter Dorothy also worked with the firm from time to time. He belonged to many organizations and served in leadership positions.

Lawson Ambrose Nicholson passed away at his Tacoma home March 1, 1947. It was written that his connection with Tacoma stretched out more than six decades. He was widely known as the civil engineer who changed the face of nature to fit the needs of growing, expanding communities. He was deeply interested in northwest history and possessed a broad knowledge of it. "Personally Mr. Nicholson was a warm-hearted, genial and helpful man with many friends."

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Guilt by Association

Awful welcome

My introduction to Stadium was not all together a happy experience. I had been attending Jason Lee since February of 1950 having just arrived in Tacoma between blizzards in January.

All of the 9th graders who would be attending Stadium High the coming fall were invited to a function at Stadium. I believe it was to kind of introduce us to the Castle School. I believe it was an assembly perhaps with the performance of the "Student Prince".

In any case, all of the seats with a good view of the stage were taken. So I saw a bunch of kids sitting on the window sill and joined them over to the left of center stage. After a while some of the guys in the center window seats started to bang and vibrate the radiator under our feet. When suddenly, what I later learned turned out to be, the Vice Principle appeared.

All the kids on the window sill jumped off a ran away.

I did not. For one I did not know who the Vice Principle was, 2ndly I did not shake the radiator but just sat there. I did not do anything wrong so why would I run, 3rd I did not even know where to run to.

So I stayed put, and the principle grabbed me and hauled me to the office and gave me a lecture, something about being a young hooligan coming from Jason Lee and setting me straight for my future attendance there. He never asked me what I did, just assumed. I had just 4 or 5 months ago arrived from a DP camp in Germany, and my English wasn't all that great to give him any arguments.

It was not a very good introduction to my future three years at Stadium High.
My foster mother, wife of the Rev Arthur Bell (St Luke's Episcopal Church) had a little chat with the VP and got things straightened out, but I was always afraid of this stern looking Vice Principle and never again needed to appear in his office. I believe he later was Principle of Stadium High but can't remember his name at this time.

Doug Brandner
Class of 1953

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Inside the Tiger

Hear the roar

One of the biggest honors I ever experienced was to be the Stadium Tiger. I was Tiger during my senior year at Stadium during the ‘72/’73 school year.

As an Air Force Brat I went to my first year of high school in Victorville California and was fascinated by the school mascot. Sure the cheerleaders were leading the cheers and everyone was yelling with them. (and I do mean YELLING… not the kind of yelling [rhythm loud talking] of today’s cheerleaders! The kind that sent you home after the ball game with no voice!) but that mascot WAS the symbol of the school teams! That was what I wanted to be!

When my father retired and we moved back to Tacoma I watched the Stadium Tiger (Julie) and decided I wanted to be the next Stadium Tiger! I asked Julie how I could become the Stadium Tiger for the next year and was told the Tiger was chosen by the PEP Squad teacher. At that time it was Mr. Quigley. I had a major problem to overcome. I didn’t know Mr. Quigley, and he didn’t have a clue who I was. We had never met. I had never been in one of his classes. So I wrote him a letter. I told him it didn’t seem fair that he just picked who he wanted to be the mascot, usually someone who didn’t make the cheerleading squad. I told him that I wanted to be the Tiger and that I had no chance because he didn’t know who I was. I said the student body should be allowed to choose their mascot at the same time as the cheerleaders were chosen and that anyone who wanted to be the Tiger could try out. Mr. Quigley apparently agreed with me and pulled me out of a typing class to thank me for the letter and told me that this year the Tiger would be chosen by the student body. I had my chance!!

I despaired at the thought of the Tiger tryouts being a popularity contest and was thrilled when the tryouts were totally anonymous. The contestants were dressed outside of the room and not allowed to enter or exit during the cheerleader tryouts. Each took their turn at cheering with the kids trying out for the cheerleading positions, and dancing to the music of the pep band. The Tiger head was on during the full tryout for each contestant so there was no way to know who was who. At the end the votes were tallied and I had won! I was thrilled!!

My senior year was full of school spirit and love for my Tigers!!! I attend all but a few of the basketball competitions. And the highlight of the year was a 31-30 football win over Wilson. I still often repeat the story of that game to others who would give up the game before the final bell, final buzzer, or fat lady singing. Or to those who think their team stinks and will never win because the other team ALWAYS wins!! NEVER say never!!!

Most people didn’t know I was the mascot, not even some of my best friends, because I never took off the head. at least not in front of the crowd. My feeling was I was the Tiger when I put on that Tiger suit, no longer myself, not looking for recognition just there to do all I could to cheer my team to victory. I was a symbol of my high school and the focus should be on the team, not who the mascot was. There is only one picture of me in the yearbook as the Tiger, thanks to the rifle team, and yes the head is on!

To future Tiger Mascots I would say this: Keep the head on… it isn’t about you it is about the team. Cheer for all you are worth no matter how talented or talent-less your team that year. Remember you represent your high school and those things you do reflect on your school, your classmates, your team… even though they may have don’t nothing wrong. And lastly… ENJOY THE RIDE!!! Remember, If you keep the head on you can be as goofy as you want and no-one will be the wiser!

Holly (Trout) Cooper
Class of 1973
Stadium High School Tiger
1972-1973 school year

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Arthur Batanides

He was in Star Trek, for Kirk's sake!

I entered Stadium in January 1941 as one of those mid term people who no longer exist. As a 10th grader I was of course very impressed with everything that went on including the antics of some in the upper grades. One of those was a guy named Arthur Batanides, who as I recall was in some drama productions, and was a class cutup. I can't remember which class it was or the teacher but one day Art was doing his usual thing and the teacher spoke up in a loud voice. He said:

"Arthur---I am sure that someday you will amount to something-----I just can't tell you what"

Well Art Batanides must have graduated in 1941 or 1942. He went on to being a very busy character actor mainly in TV, some stage work and a few movies having appeared in hundreds of TV presentations mostly in dramatic and comedy supporting roles. He used his real name in his profession. He died in Los Angeles in 2000 at age 77.

I was a little disappointed when he was not listed on the notable list of Stadium grads.

Ed Cook, class of 1944

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Dihydrogen Monoxide

Thirst slacker

I designed the football water wagon that the Hi-Y gave to Stadium in 1945.

It had six water fountains, and a streamlined body with a rounded front covered with a large and beautiful artist's rendition of a tiger. There is a great picture of it on page 106 of the 1945 Tahoma yearbook.

It was my first engineering project - and a prolog to a very satisfying and enjoyable engineering career.

I designed the wagon while working on the hot slab at the Todd's shipyard in the summer of 1944. I sketched its outline in chalk on the hot slab floor. Then I made a full scale layout on butcher paper and took it to a welding shop for a bid.

When school started in September, the Hi-Y gave me permission to proceed with construction. A plumbing outfit on Pacific Ave donated the fawcets and some of the plumbing. Some other business gave us a good price on the wheels.

I obtained a great picture of a Bengal tiger which the artist referred to as he painted the football water wagon. It turned out more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.

Robert Lessley, Class of 1945

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An Icon

50 Years

My three years at Stadium were the highlight of my school years. So many friendships were made and still carry on to this day. We don't seem to treasure them as much as you do when you get older.

Our terrific class of 1956 is celebrating our "Golden 50th Reunion" this Friday, Sept. 15th. We have met every 10 years and sometimes every 5 years and several times have had get-togethers during the summer, just so we can renew these great friendships and not lose touch with one-another.

We are all looking forward to the renewed Stadium and attend the kick-off to "The Castles" next 100 years. So many of our classmates are attending their first reunion and definitely are in for a treat, a week-end of memories and seeing old friends. I hope the Stadium students of today realize what an honor it is to attend a school that is such an Icon.

Judy (Ness) Hellstrom - Class of '56

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Carol Baby

High School Confidential (secretary)

Stadium High School years were the best of the best. I attended from the Fall of 1961 to June 1964.

Being a sophomore was another major change in our lives. So many guys to choose from and they had cars. LOL
My favorite was the '57 Chevy. One of the upper classman gave some of us gals a ride home in his '57 Chevy and boy was that a thrill.

It was struggling with college prep courses, new friends, having crushes never spoken of, what to wear, passing notes in the hall and study hall, worrying about how your hair looked and changing your "D" grade to a "B" grade, since they were hand written so your parents wouldn't know you were not doing so well after all.

Who could forget calling everyone by their name and adding Baby to it. So everyone was Carol Baby, Chris Baby and so on. That was Chris Nelson by the way!

Walking around and around the hall before school started just to say hello to everyone or catch the eye of someone you had a crush on, and then getting on the other side of walking traffic to see who you missed. LOL

My heart throb was Palmer Reese aka Pee Wee Reese. Wouldn't you know, he finally married after we graduated to another "Carol" I will not die until I see him again. LOL..............I missed him at our 30th reunion as he came in from PA but had to leave before I could see him. I went to the picnic at Gary & Irene Jacob's house and he was not there. He had to leave right after the reunion night. If you read this Palmer e-mail me at duk@dpcpa.com. That goes for anyone looking for me. :)

We had the school spirit that is for sure. But then look who led us! They were cute, athletic and full of school spirit. The PEP rallies were awesome.

Finally got the hang of it by mid term junior year. Choir was a must as I was a singer and in special groups all my school years. That led to Madrigal try outs! Whew, stuffed up nose and horrible cold I tried out and my voice blended with the others. I got to wear the "Pam Burrel" red velvet dress from the former year. It fit perfect. I made the dress Barb Daly wore of green satin and dark green velvet. I sang my heart out the rest of my high school days.

Mr. Margelli, of course became one of my favorite teachers and I was his pet.... (peeve) LOL An inspiration to us all I believe. He was calming to us all when we were in his class the day the announcement came over the PA system that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.

Madrigals became well known our senior year. We made the front page of the magazine section of the TNT in full color in front of the old Brown Castle. I still have that section preserved. We had many performances. Perhaps that is why I am such a ham today. LOL I loved our regal entrances.

I carried a wreath from the front entrance of Stadium out to the courtyard and down the front steps for our Memorial Day celebration in my senior year.
We wore all white dresses.

Also became a Tigeranna, one of the tallest in our group. Experienced marching in the Daffodil Parade, at football games, and at basketball games.
We were a sharp group in my opinion. I remember when we performed at half time at the football game at Lincoln bowl and I got a cat call from Jerry Freano, something about our short skirts and I turned around and slapped him in his face. That was the end of that. I walked away. LOL. The things we Remember.

Attending Stadium and graduating with flying colors in 1964 was a time of honor, integrity and just plain clean fun. Our class mates excelled in activities that represented our school. We had the spirit, determination to succeed and loyalty to each other. These memories I have not forgotten and are fun to tell the grandchildren all about them.

I hated swimming because we had to wear those ugly rubber swimming caps. It messed our hair up. Now days you don't have to wear them. Strange how dress codes have changed. Girls did not wear pants to school. No way! The boys certainly looked "Preppie." The flat top hair cuts and black horned rim glasses and white dress shirts mostly. The lettermen and their sweaters was a turn on. But what did we know about that until later in our years.
LOL What about the sock hops...................

RP Johnson a history/civics teacher was a well known name around the school. Who could keep awake during his lectures? I remember in my senior year just about everyone in the class cheated on a test because it had gotten passed around from earlier classes or someone who had it earlier gave it to someone. I for one did not do it. I was afraid of being caught. I think the only thing I did was write on the paper that I could not complete the test because I had not studied. Of course I failed the test. LOL

I adored Jack Hart, who I went to school with since grade school and none other than Jim Darland, everyone's heart throb since first grade. LOL...............

We were all pretty good kids back then, and those who did not seem like they would succeed did and many who had the potential to succeed in life, did not. Nonetheless, we made it to graduation.

I was proud to walk down the aisle at the filed house of the University of Puget Sound When I went to the stage to get my diploma Mr. Hayes our Principal said I had a job with the school district the next coming fall to work part time at good ole' Stadium High School. I had been an office assistant and they were impressed. Yahoo! I was so happy! I got to be around Stadium one more year and got paid for it, as, are you ready for this..........

"Confidential Secretary to the College Counselor" Miss Forbes!

Yes I was the one who figured out the grade point averages for the class of 1965, which my sister Barbara Fritz graduated from. See her memory write up! I even joined a gym class that was doing dance. Just to keep up the figure!

I remember singing in the senior talent show. I was scared to death and nervous, but I said a prayer. I made the black satin long sleeveless dress with a slit at the side that I made and wore long black gloves and rhinestone necklace and earrings. Ah back in the days! I sang "Black Black Black is the Color of My True Loves Hair" chosen by Mr. Margelli for me to sing. I had three verses and chorus to get through. I did it with style.
Does anyone remember that? When I think of it I would have sung something else like "You Give Me Fever"! by Peggy Lee. LOL but we had a code back in those days. LOL. Yes I could have been a torch singer. LOL.

I skipped school one day only in my entire school days. I was a sophomore.
Don't you just know it, I got caught my good ole' Mom. Yes, it was Chris Nelson and I. She instigated it and planned it. We went to school and caught the bus to downtown and then to Seattle of all places. Went to a five and dime and then to a movie with seedy characters with rain coats on.
I was scared. We made it home in time for school dismissal and boy was I glad to get home. LOL

My husband now, had the privilege of emptying and moving contents of our school to the site where Stadium was to be held until the completion of the renovation. He was in awe of our "Ole Brown Castle". He had never seen anything like it as he came from the smallest country in West Africa, called The Gambia. He has raved about it to his countryman!

Yes Stadium High School brings nothing but fond long lasting memories to my mind. See you at the 100th Celebration.

Carol Fritz (Dukuray)
Class of 1964

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Stadium Hundertjährig

Guten Tag

The highlight of my years at Stadium is when I met my future husband in Hella Lonson's German class in 1953.

Gertrude Rocklinger "Rocky" taught us our second year of German. I believe it was her first year of teaching and after our class I'm not sure if it wasn't her last.

My class of '56 was exceptional in that we still get together for a picnic almost every year and on Friday the 15th we will celebrate "The Big '50."

As a child it was a special family outing to go to the Stadium Bowl to watch the "Turkey Day Game" between Stadium and Lincoln. Now, THAT was a true rivalry. Both John and I have great pride that we graduated from Stadium and have so many great memories and lasting friendships.

Thelma (Kvernvik) Rademaker - Class of '56
John Rademaker - Class of '55

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Stadium '65

Movement, Meaningful, Madrigal

My three years at Stadium High School were some of the best years of my life. I feel such pride in that school and am really excited about being able to attend the 100th-year Anniversary Celebration.

One of the outstanding memories is of the earthquake that took place in my senior year. I was in study hall. When the earthquake started it sounded like students were in the balcony stomping their feet, causing a rumbling sound. Was only a few seconds later that I saw the huge pillars swaying and the floor rolling…….. Bet I was the first one to crawl under a desk, even before Mr. Snared (sp?) told all the students to take cover under their desks. My fear that day was that the school would roll down the cliff onto Schuster Parkway!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, that didn't happen!

I will never forget November 22, 1963. I was in Ms. Violet Davies' foods class when the announcement came over the PA system that our beloved President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, Texas, and a short time later that he had died. I remember feeling depressed for months after that day.

Also, I will never forget all the fun I had in Paul Margelli's class. The most memorial time was when we performed "The Night Before Christmas" for our winter concert and got to wear pajamas on stage. Former choir members, do you remember that? I also remember how proud I was of Mr. Margelli's Madrigal Singers.

My sister, Carol Fritz, and my friend, Cindy Winters, were both a part of that group. I remember trying out for Madrigals', but that was a far as that ever went!!!!!!!!!!

I have fond memories of Audrey Karsh's English class and of Cloma Norton's English class, and. I have lost track of these teachers over the past years, but I shall never forget them. Of course, I cannot forget to mention another favorite, Mrs. Martindale.

I am so happy and proud to have shared a part of Stadium's history and look forward to experiencing the upcoming celebration.

Barbara (Fritz) Anderson
Class of 1965

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I knew where I was going

Good old Stadium..

I knew since I was a little girl that I was going to go to Stadium — didn't every 2nd grader know that?? My Grandma (Norma Lindley-Gipson) Graduated in 1933. She always talked of all the stairs she climbed and the beautiful bowl that used to have seats all the way around its horseshoe shape.(before the mud slides) wow that was a long time ago.

And then my Mom (Gayle Gipson-Chapman) who graduated in 1964 told me great stories of commuting to Stadium from Dash Point, in her bug in the 60's, which is how I learned how to be late for curfew when visiting my Dash or Brown’s Point friends (uhmm. there was a train or uhmm..the bridge was up??) even way back then they partied at the "Wells" and the "Hunts"! who knew our parents were once cool?

Then in the late 80's my brother (Matt Chapman) went there, he graduated in 1990. Jimmy Koolis and I used to wonder the halls while our families were doing track meet event stuff with our brothers, we would talk about how cool we were going to be when we went to the big brown castle. So in 1991 I finally became a Stadium tiger! yeah!!! Jimmy went for one year too. until he transferred to WILSON eww. they had a better football team, so he thought! that year we beat WILSON! I think it was the first time ever — what a great moment LOL.

Anyway I think I had some of the greatest, scariest, exciting, horrible, sad, most fun, moments of my young life at or because of Stadium High School, from finding new friends and painfully losing old ones. To wearing blue and gold with pride even if we always lost!

Being the boys baseball manager for 4 years..Wow that was a lot of brownies and jolly ranchers! Having to walk all the way to the girls side just to pee. Run around. THE STAIRS! Selling elevator passes to freshman — that never happened?? Watching people get Bayed. Going to Denny's after football games. Going to the South "K" games just to steal the A&W mugs. Winning the front row parking spot, then cramming 6 people into my VW everyday to and from school. what great memories.

So the other day I figured out what year my little one will Graduate from The Big Brown Castle..2021 (god willing) can you even believe that 2021.. ah.

So to everyone who has been touched by Stadium in anyway REMEMBER IT AND PASS ON THE STORIES.. they are such wonderful memories and we are all so lucky to have been touched by the Castle! Finally signing off.....

Melissa Volk AKA (Missy Chapman) CLASS OF 1994!!!

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Booked

Library's over here, but the Librarian's a little odd...

One of my fondest memories of Stadium occurred during the spring of my senior year. I was hanging out in the library after school waiting for someone and chatting with the school librarian, Steve Wilson. I'd been friends with Mr. Wilson for years, so seeing us goofing off a bit was nothing new.

I can't remember exactly who started it, but one moment we were teasing each other mercilessly, the next rubber bands were flying! Back and forth, we shot rubber bands at each other, dodging behind bookcases, counters, desks, and the poor assistant librarian, Mrs. Rhonda Nelson, who didn't seem to know whether to laugh at us or scold us for making such a racket! In the end, the fight turned out to be a draw (the two of us were too breathless with laughter to figure out who won).

I don't think I had any other teacher, before or since, who was willing to toss dignity out the window and behave so incredibly silly with a student.

Mr. Wilson knew how to connect with his students to a degree that few others ever manage to emulate. He was an inspiration, not only to me, but too many others, to reach for what you want and not give up trying for it.

Thank you, Mr. Wilson; for all that you have done for me, and for all the fond memories of goofing off in the library.

Sincerely,

Melissa Nichols
Class of 1999

P.S. The title of this post is an inside joke in reference to directions Mr. Wilson would give to the incoming freshmen to help them remember which side of the school was which (Odd side or Even).

"That side has the stadium, EVEN though the football team doesn't win very much. The library's over here, but the librarian's a little ODD."

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