Bonds for the Bowl - 1909

Generations

I come from a Stadium family, by which I mean 3 generations of Staatz children have attended.

My 76-year uncle (Karl Staatz Jr.) called me yesterday after reading "The Castle Courier". He asked me if I had read it yet and wanted to remind me that my Grandfather (his father) had graduated from "Tacoma High School" in 1909. He told me that Grandpa had sold bonds to help raise money for the building of the Stadium Bowl. I remember that Grandpa had said it was called "Old Woman's Gulch".
When I worked on the Tahoma staff, I found a picture of my grandfather (Karl Staatz Sr.) in the 1909 yearbook-- he was on the basketball team. My great uncle Stan Staatz also attended the Old Brown Castle.

Although my Dad did not attend Stadium, my Uncle Karl did and so did all 5 of us kids. In 1962, my brother Bill Staatz sold bonds for the rebuilding of the bowl and I remember my sister Gretchen Staatz helping with fund-raising, too. I remember them both being so excited when they went to the first game in the refurbished stadium!

I grew up on Brown's Point and it was sooooooo cool because we could see Stadium from our house across the bay.

Kathy Staatz Aberle
Class of '69

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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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1963 Memory

That Friday in November

Those of us in the Classes of 1964, 1965, and 1966 will always remember we were at Stadium.

Mr. T.R. Brown was not in the room when the bell rang. My third-period chemistry class had been warned to expect a quiz. We assumed Mr. Brown was still mimeographing the test. We were using the time to review our notes. Occasionally I looked out the window on a sunny and clear Fall day.

What followed is as etched in my mind today as it was almost 43 years ago. It has its own name – "flashbulb memory."

Mr. Brown walked into the room. Mr. Brown put his papers down on his desk and said there would not be a test today.

Mr. Brown said, "The President's been shot."

I remember feeling overwhelmed. Would the President be OK? My thoughts went back exactly eight weeks to another Friday - September 27, 1963. Another sunny day. I sat at Cheney Stadium. I heard the President speak words aimed directly at me and my classmates:

"I ask particularly that those of you who are now in school will prepare yourselves to bear the burden of leadership over the next 40 years .... That is a wonderful challenge for us as a people."





Then came the announcement we didn’t want to hear. The President hadn't just been shot; he had been killed. I remember a tear. We tried to comfort each other. We didn't know what to do.

I remember walking downstairs in front of the office. Mr. Mazzei (Vice Principal) was telling everyone that school was being dismissed. I slowly walked home, even though I was lost.

From time to time I still hear President Kennedy in my mind's eye. His words still inspire.

That day divided my years at Stadium. Before we were filled with ideals and optimism; after we were somehow older.

I have often told my children about Stadium High School and that Friday in November. I was in Mr. Brown's chemistry class, waiting to take a test, when I heard the news. I told my children how it was, and that, ever since, nothing has been quite the same.


Harold G. Friedman
Class of 1965

Kennedy's speech at Cheney Stadium

(photo from PLU - PLU Timeline 1960-1964)

(I was driving a civilian canteen truck on McChord Air Force Base)

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Bricks in a "strange" land

An early recycling

Thanks for all the wonderful info on the celebration of Stadium High School.

My parents and my aunt graduated from Stadium in 1936 and my two brothers and I also graduated from Stadium. I am looking forward to seeing the remodel and the Old Brown Castle after 46 years as I graduated in 1960.

I was in Wallace, Idaho on my way home from Montana several years ago and stopped to tour the old train depot there. When I drove up to it I thought there was something very familiar about it.

Inside the depot I found the answer. It was built from the same bricks as Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington.

I don't remember all the details but your mentioning the building of railroad stations from the materials after the fire in the late 1800's tweaked my memory of that coincidence.

Thanks for all the great info.

Penny Lightfoot ‘60

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Mother was an accomplice

A partner in crime

Jennifer Burklund (Youngman), Class of 1951 tells a funny story.

She and a friend planned to stay overnight in Stadium after an Opera rehearsal. They slipped into one of the bathrooms and hid till everyone left the school, and spent the night staying one or two steps ahead of the custodians.

About midnight one of their moms drove to the back of the school, the girls dropped a long rope, and the mother fastened a basket of food to it and they hauled it up.

In the morning they walked out of the school (no alarms then) and discovered it had snowed the night before. As they walked towards Ranko's Drugstore they passed a teacher on her way to the school. They were scared to death that she would get down there and seeing the footprints, discover what had happened.

To their relief, no one ever said a word.

From Chellis Smith Swenson '53.

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Stadium (1943-1947)

A Couple of Remembrances of my years

World War II dominated my first two years at Stadium. We had gas rationing; only teachers had cars. We walked or rode the bus. Students seldom traveled to any away sporting events. Football games were held in the daytime to save electricity and Tacoma had night blackouts to confuse possible incoming bombers.

Tacoma was crowded with soldiers and sailors from Ft Lewis, Camp Murray and the Todd Ship building yards on Commencement Bay. The Stadium study hall and library windows allowed us to see small “Jeep” Aircraft Carriers being launched and checked out in the bay almost every day of 1943 to1945.

Many of us had parents or brothers working at Todd. The twin boom Army-Air Force P 38 fighters stationed at McCord Field and B 17 Flying Fortress Bomber aircraft built at Boeing Field in Seattle flew over head daily.

Every once in awhile one of our Junior and Senior classmates would disappear from school and later we would learn later that they had joined up. Patriotism was the call of the day and some of our boys just had to join up.

The Japanese surrender in August 1945 changed our Fall Stadium School life dramatically. Ships arrived at the piers in the Tacoma water front and train depots were filled with servicemen coming home from overseas.

Many servicemen returned to high school to finish their education. Stadium football team benefited with a couple of big ex-Marines that beefed up our line and helped give us a winning 1946 season. Stadium High won the Cross State Football Championship that year. Also it helped that we had a future NFL star on our team in Junior Sam Baker. He played fullback and line backer for Stadium and later starred at Oregon State. Professionally he played for the N.Y. Giants and later punted for the Washington Redskins. Sam Baker was number 50.

Bill Kowalski and Bill Greco were the “big” 200 pound tackles in the picture.

The whole athletic program at Stadium in those years was dominated by Coach Heinrick especially in the big sport of football. He had turned out some great teams in the past but the story was that 1946 was his best. Although according to the 1946 Lincoln /Stadium Turkey Day Program still in my possession his teams won the '37, '38, and 1939 Cross State Championships

With all the returning veterans the 1947 graduations was one the largest graduating class in the schools history and filled the National Guard Armory in Tacoma.

Bill Marr
Class of 1947

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Remember when

Bridges and Books

A page from the class of 1943's 60th anniversary booklet:

Do You Remember?

• Your first day in the Old Brown Castle
  
  
• Standing on the bus all the way to school
  
  
• Trying to find the "up" elevator at school
  
  
• Football games played in fog, rain, & mud
  
  
• Our traditional Thanksgiving Day game
  
  
• The words to our school yell "Fidata"
  
  
• The post-game climb out of the bowl
  
  
• Miss McMurphy's stern manner
  
  
• Crises on the Virginia V
  
  
• Cord pants, bobby sox, & saddle shoes
  
  
• Riding in the rumble seat in a Model A Ford
  
  
• Gasoline rationing "A" stamps
  
  
• Plastic, paper, & aluminum tax tokens
  
  
• Air raid drills at school
  
  
• Study hall in the auditorium
  
  
• Pencils/coins down the spiral fire escape
  
  
• Sock dances in the gymnasium
  
  
• That special person you admired from afar
  
  
• Meetings with Mr. Leatherwood
  
  
• The old swimming pool in the basement
  
  
• Five cent candy bars
  
  
• Coffee & doughnuts for only ten cents
  
  
• The long climb upstairs between classes
  
  
• Sunny noon-hours in the courtyard
  
  
• Long lines at the Roxy Theater
  
  
• Midnight "Hoot Owl" shows at the movies
  
  
• Watching "the submarine" across the bay
  
  
• Galloping Gertie and its fall
  
  
• Mr. Cousin blinking at you in French
  
  
• Ski trips on the train to Hyak
  
  
• Watching basketball games from the balcony
  
  
• Reading "Silas Marner" in English class
  
  
• Memorial Day ceremonies in the courtyard
  
  
• Graduation night at the Armory

Glenn Perry '43

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Books and Fala

Words that last a lifetime

I have so many beautiful memories of my Stadium days, but those which I have recalled and related the most over the years involved teachers.

I remember the first day in 10th grade Biology when Mr. Prentice told us,

"Matter can neither be created nor destroyed."

That astounding law of the universe was new to me and has stayed with me all these years. I have used it occasionally to impress people, mainly my children, with my knowledge of science!

Then I learned so much about writing from Mr. Hoffman, Journalism teacher. He wrote the textbook we used, "See, Know, and Tell -- Well." It was used in high schools throughout the U.S.

And I'll never forget dear Miss D. Celia Burgess, Civics teacher, who loved her country and President Roosevelt with all her heart.

How fortunate we were to have these dedicated professional teachers who taught us well and shaped our lives more than we realized.

Janice Lindeman Perry
Class of 1942

---

Ural Nathaniel Hoffman was the author of:

See, know and tell—well
A complete textbook of the principles and practices of journalism for newswriters in the high school
(1934)
ASIN:B00088ZGYY

Student journalism
(1946)
ASIN: B0007FGJTE

Student newspaper advertising:
A practical manual of salesmanship and staff management
(1947)
ASIN: B0007FPTUY

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An Explosive Education

Phosphorous 1, Car 0

I remember the time I was in high school, Stadium High in Tacoma, where we had a good teacher, Miss Campbell, who taught chemistry. Of course all teachers seem ancient to their pupils. (I dug out my copy of our yearbook and she must have been all of 40.)

Miss Campbell had a very raspy voice caused, I suspect, by having to put up with the noxious fumes generated over the years in her classroom, which was really a laboratory.

Unlike most high school teachers of that era she had a master’s degree and had a somewhat arch accent, sort of like the ones movie stars had at that time. The degree, along with her raspy Hollywood voice, set her a bit apart from the rest of the faculty.

She encouraged experimentation, watched carefully as we mixed elixirs, potions and brews, at the ready to jump in if things got out of hand. We learned and had a lot of fun at the same time: a time-proven formula to inspire students. And she was the adviser to the science club of which I was a member. Wherein the tale.

One of us, I don’t recall exactly which but I suspect it was Harvey Wegner, decided that we could create a real good bang out of materials at hand. One afternoon we raided Miss Campbell’s cupboard and made a witch’s brew consisting of, among other things, a very volatile phosphorous, aluminum nitrate (and God knows what else).

We tried it in the teachers’ parking lot, putting the mixture, without the catalyst, on the hood of Miss Campbell’s car where, to our delight, it exploded. Unfortunately it blew out nearby windows and summoned the principal, who was not amused with the experiment.

In retrospect I wonder how we escaped unharmed. It was a hell of a bang.

Miss Campbell took full responsibility. And marveled how the explosion had not only dented her hood but had actually stretched the steel.

Oh yes, we all got A’s.

We graduated and after a year or so in the military went on to science-related careers.

Merle Legg became professor and head of the department of pathology at Harvard Medical School, Harvey, director of the Brookhaven National Laboratory. WOW! All of us at least partly inspired by Miss Campbell.

Who, had she been teaching today, would probably have lost her job…

Bob Winskill ‘43

(this was taken from an article written by Bob in the "Marin Scope" a newspaper in Marin county California...the article was entitled "An Explosive Education")

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Life's a Novel

What page are we on?

From the rolling 30's and hip 60’s to the New Millennium what a ride it has been!

It is hard to consider that 2006 marks 100 years from the time Stadium High School first opened. That would be 59 years prior to MY class. We went on after graduating like those before us, to explore life on our own. Some of us "original baby boomers" went on to college, a few of us married our high school sweethearts and some had to learn to cook or -- eat out a lot.

Scores of us married later, had children or not or remained single. And some adopted. While a few traveled to exciting lands for their education, or employment some of us nailed down intriguing or boring jobs in the good old USA.

A great many before my class saw action in World War two, the Korean "conflict" (war) or Viet Nam in the 1960s and 70's or other lands thanks to Uncle Sam.

Every one of us is different today because of life experiences both enjoyable and regretful, however the bonds of our friendships made at the Castle are still intact and transcend all else.

Sad to say, a number of our classmates are no longer with us. And since we’re not getting any younger it would be a real pleasure to really enjoy the 100 year celebration of Stadium September 15-17, 2006. I know that I am looking forward to being there and I hope you will as well.

Please don’t pass up the "golden" opportunity to being there as we will not see another celebration of Stadium like this one being planned for 2006. Besides Stadium was more than a chapter in our life it was the beginning of a great novel of our being.

And it does not matter if you have gained weight, gone bald, gotten gray or have wrinkles or any other lame excuse not to join your classmates for an enjoyable time. So, jump into the time machine and journey back for an exciting reunion of reminiscing and renewing our friendships as the remodeled stadium begins a new millennium.

Sincerely,
Edward J. Hawkins
Class of 1965

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Greetings from Iraq

Statute of Limitations

Thanks for the info. Sorrily gotta say that I am still in Baghdad...with any luck I will be having turkey dinner in the end of November at home with family. I can't wait!!!

When I went there in 85, it was sorta party central...just imagine rolling kegs literally thru the center of the bowl during the middle of the school day...it happened.

Imagine having a "hugs, not drugs" theme day that was seminar type day that hit all the major local news channels and having TV news crews there, and walking thru the courtyard with beer cups in your hands...during a day called hugs, not drugs...go figure....ahhh, where have all the good times gone...

Or from a few years later, when my brother and few friends broke the worlds longest football losing streak and put a small bend in the water side goalpost (look real close...yep, it's still there...)

Or when we had the rivalry back then with Wilson, and we burned a huge ( I mean huge!!!) "S" in their lawn. As Flounder said in animal house, "oh boy, this is gonna be great".

Or having a teacher openly (and I don't think that bright of a thing to do...) fire up a doobie in the classroom...I take the fifth (amendment, not fifth of booze) on that that one...

Sorry, got onto a roll.
I did do one (maybe more...not sure) good thing...after desert storm in 91, I did come back to talk to Mr. Ptolemy or Mr. Coar's class...

Sorry, just taking a "trip" down memory lane. Really though, Stadium was a great place to go to school, and all BS aside, I do have a lot of pride having gone there.


Take care, and my most sincere best regards,

Wayne Ashby Class of '85

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Thanks Dad!

Embarrassing and priceless

Since I was a shy teenager, it was difficult at times to be the daughter of the Superintendent of Schools. The graduation exercises in June, 1953 were memorable for me.

This was the day I received my diploma directly from my own father,
Dr. Alden H. Blankenship.

It was wonderful to see the pride in his eyes as he handed it to me. I'm sure my face was bright red at that moment.

Jean Blankenship Class of '53

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Pitch from the Past

Pacific Monthly magazine

This is out of a December 1906 Pacific Monthly magazine, sent to me some years ago by a gentleman in Chicago. He thought I would be interested in its age and some of the articles.

What a treasure when I discovered this ad. I thought you might find it very interesting, if you haven't already seen it.

I think it is exciting, because of the additional history of Tacoma that it gives.

Chellis Smith Swenson Jensen '53

(click the thumbnail to see the full size ad)

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Three from '73

Memories

I have three memories to share of my time at Stadium.

The first is that of my best friend at the time, Ann Schadt. I would never have made it through without her warmth and kindness. I hope she knows how much I looked up to and admired her.

The second is of School Counselor John Vitullo. With compassion and understanding he helped me to get out of a horrendous home life.

And, lastly, I am thankful that I was able to spend one year of school with my sister. We enjoyed our very long walk to school (we lived further away than Jason Lee) when she taught me poetry.

We were in a few school plays. We had fun during and after the plays with Mike Johnson. But he had to ham it up and change the last line from Up The Down Staircase to "We are behind you 99.5%" instead of 100%. Thanks alot, Mike!

Coleen Murphy
Class of 1973

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A Peppy March

Band Memories

Hi !
I have the fondest memories of my 3 years in the Stadium High School marching and pep bands. Those were great times with terrific classmates and a marvelous band leader (Mr. Delwin Jones)
I also had many great days as associate editor of the school paper.

I have lived in the east since my marriage in 1952 but my heart will always be in the Pacific Northwest.

Go Stadium Tigers !!


Doreen Weinstone Fishkin

Class of 1950

Also see:
Alumni Band

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Paul Margelli

A different "Base" coat

I was blessed to have been a part of the Stadium High choir from 1971-73 under the direction of Mr. Paul Margelli whom we all affectionately called "Mar". He was a talented and hard working choir teacher who expected the best from us and got it.

My senior year we were asked to sing at the State Capital workers’ Christmas Party because the Adelphian Choir from the University of Puget Sound (which was considered the best around) was unavailable.

When they were asked whom they recommended in their place the immediate response was the Stadium HS choir. It was a great honor and we owe all that we were to Mar.

The summer before my senior year my best friend Mary Diamond and I got it into our heads to paint Mar’s office as a surprise for him. It was painted an institutional shade of pink and we thought he needed something better.

We took ourselves off to the hardware store and chose a quart…that’s right a quart…of flat paint in a lovely shade of tangerine. To this day I am not sure how Mary talked the custodians into letting us into his office to paint. Well, we got about halfway done when we realized that not only were we out of paint but it was going to require at least two more coats and that we should have gotten semi-gloss as that was what was on the walls already.

On top of that we had not prepped the walls and you could easily scrape the new color, which appeared very blotchy, off…yikes! Defeated and out of money we slunk out of the school and looked towards the first day of school with dread. What was Mar going to do to us?

We never found out his reaction to the orange paint or his thoughts about what we had done. When we arrived on the first day of school we discovered he had repainted his office a chocolate brown using semi-gloss paint.

He never said a word to me but once in a while I would see him look over at the two of us and shake his head. He was a true gentleman and a class act.

Quincy Knowlen Cook
Class of 1973

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My Dad, the Judge

Martin Luther Potter '30

The Judge Martin Potter mentioned in the 50 years ago in the News Tribune, this last May, is my father, and he graduated from Stadium around 1930.

I remember when he was a judge, as he knew every cop in the city, so I knew if I did anything he would know it before I got home.

He was an attorney in Tacoma for many years. He also worked as a prosecuter, Justice of the Peace, Police court Judge, and just before he died he was a Superior Court Commissioner.

Here is a picture from a slide taken by Ashel Curtis probably before 1920. Does any one what the event and date was.

I bought the slide sight un-seen, but the description said that it was a slide taken by Curtis, probably in the Seattle area with an event in a bowl, with a building that looks like a castle in the background. What else could it be but Stadium, and it was.

Also see Time Flies

John Potter Class of '61

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A Lifetime of Memories

Al Hayes

From the time I was born, my dad, Albert Hayes was sure that my blood ran blue and gold.

He was an integral part of Stadium High School since 1954. He began as a teacher, progressed to a counselor, vice principal and principal where he retired in 1978.

Within a year of my birth back in 1958, Dad would bundle me up and take me in his massive arms and parade me through the halls as the proud father of a future Stadium Tiger.

Throughout the years, I would occasionally spend a Saturday mornings roaming the castle while Dad caught up on work in his office overlooking Commencement Bay. I eventually explored every inch of that building from the spires on the roof, to the depths of the basement.

My imagination ran wild as I walked the hallways. The only sound was my PF Flyers squeaking on the waxed floors. I skinny dipped in the girls pool, jumped in the trampoline, shot arrows across the gym at straw targets, and slid down the banisters near the front offices.

Times were good and this was MY school. I felt like a king. No other kid had the opportunities for exploration. Every door and every nook was an invitation to my curiousity. But it was not all fun and games.

My dad taught me to weld and fabricate in the metal shop. My personal instructions were from the top. I learned the to turn a perfect bowl on the wood lathe in the woodshop.

When I started my Sophmore year at Stadium, Dad was on top of the world.

In 1976, Dad had a heart attack that really put things in prospective.

He had put virtually his entire adult life into the advancement of education for the students at Stadium and it almost cost him his life.

He returned vowing to lower his stress levels but he couldn't stand by and just watch from the sidelines. He, along with Vice Principals, John Buffaloe, and Vern Wheeler, made a threesome any school district would envy.

In 1977, I was the last person to walk across the stage and receive my diploma. Imagine the inner satisfaction of giving your own son his high school diploma. It was like a lifelong journey had come to an end.

Dad stayed at Stadium one more year and then retired.

Thousands of students were touched by my father and his caring ways. I heard him explain to many people, while he was employed by the school district, he really worked for all the students of the old brown castle.

Jeff Hayes, Class of 1977

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Architect

Bryant, Jason Lee, Castle

I remember my years attending Stadium High with great pride. I still remember certain classes when we discussed particular subjects. I remember my mother showing me a newspaper article that praised the United States for having the best educational process in the world and that the Puget Sound region in the North West had the best schools in the Country.

While attending Jason Lee Junior High, I had decided to become an architect. I had found a book about Frank Lloyd Wright that convinced me that this is the way I would spend my life.

I graduated with a "C" average from Stadium. I came from a poor family that could not send me to collage so I joined the Marine Corps in order to get the discipline I needed to get through collage. Believe me; they gave me all the mental tools I needed. I worked my way through the University of Washington with a wife and two kids and still graduated with a 3.7 average.

Our class, the class of 56, gets together every year since our 45 reunion. I love attending and seeing all my old class mates. They have made my wife, Toby, feel like she is one of us. I ask myself how could I be so lucky to attend such a great school and have such great friends. I was truly blessed.

I do not remember my football coach's name, but as a line backer he made me tackle every on the team, one at a time, and boy did that toughen me up. In those days if you were on the first team you played both offense and defense.

Gretchen Weller was a class mate from Bryant Grade School thru Stadium, I still consider her as a best friend.

I consider my career as an architect as a way to make it a better world thru good design, so I thank Jason Lee, Stadium High, my teachers, the US Marine Corps, and all my friends for giving me the ability to practice my profession.

Larry Craig
Class of 1956
Poulsbo, WA

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Snapshots under the Seats

In a Darkroom

In 1955-56 I served as Assistant to John Green. John was theTAHOMA photographer. John graduated in 1956. My time as TAHOMA photographer came in 1956-57.

Under the balcony seats there was a photography darkroom. It was the center of action in '56 & '57 for the processing of photographs for the TAHOMA.

My photo activities in the 1956-57 time included working as a lab assistant at Bert Perler Photography. During the summers of '58 through'61 I worked as a clerk at The Camera Shop.

I graduated from Stadium in 1957. In the fall of ‘57 I enrolled at Central Washington College of Education. In 1960 I married Marlene Lindauer (from Mabton, WA). In 1961 I earned my BA in Education and Marlene and I moved to Tacoma.

I taught at Stanley Elementary in Tacoma from 1961 until mid-year 1964-1965.
In that mid-year time I had responsibilities at the Washington State Office of Public Instruction. These tasks also related to my MS Educ. studies at Central Washington University.

In the fall of 1965 I joined the Washington State University faculty. I served on the faculty until 1982 when I went into private business. While at WSU I earned my EdD.

In 1990 Marlene and I relocated to the Kittitas Valley. We live about 15 miles east of Ellensburg.

Now, semi-retired, I serve part time on the Walden University faculty. I do a number of fun projects focused on writing, exploring issues of the alternative futures, and criticizing systems for delivering quality in government.

For Christmas in 2005 Marlene gave me a digital camera. I’m returning to my roots and taking pictures of everything. Having fun.

Jerry Brong class of '57

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Gangsters

Fifty years ago

While I was at Stadium from 1950 to 1953 I did a number of comedy acts for the assemblies, Football Night and other events and the graduation 1953 Tahoma has me listed as the
"Class Cut Up".

A story some may remember is this. During 1951 and 1952 while the band met on the top floor, after band practice, I would hang over the blue pipe railing a floor or two down, then go down the railing on the outside (a 2 or 3 story drop) hand over hand till I got to the first floor or basement floor. If it was crowded on the stairway, it was faster. But it got a rise out of the kids.

One day during band when we were up on the top floor, we had a fire drill and the whole student body was filing outside into the street. As the band was filing out down the old fire escape from the fourth floor near the street, before I went down the stairs, I hung over the railing with one hand and hollered like I was going to fall and gave the kids down on the street a show. I guess I must have been either fearless then or crazy.

I was always doing practical jokes. One of my tricks was that I had a fake phone under the hood of my car and I had installed a door bell inside under the dash board. It was a 1938 dodge that looked like an old gangster car. I would get my buddies to wear big overcoats with the collar turned up and 5 or 6 of us would cruise by the school at times of large events, or put on this skit in front of the Rialto just as people were leaving the theater.

We would pull up to a crowded corner and screech on the brakes as the "phone" doorbell was ringing. I would hop out of the driver's seat and open the hood and pick up the phone and at that point someone inside would stop the door bell sound. I would yell into the phone:

"We can't talk now, Joe, the cops are after us. We’re bringing the stuff and we’ll be there in 10 minutes. Bye"”.

Then we would tear out of there with people’s mouths open (and of course, a number of folks would know it was a joke and enjoy the laugh). Well, one day after doing that skit a few times around town, someone had reported my license number to the cops, so they came up to the school and took my phone and door bell out of my car so it would not happen again.

We also had a skit with that car and other car’s I had. As we drove up to a crowded street corner at night, I would have a guy in the font seat pounding quickly on the inside metal of the car that would sound like an engine rod knocking (bang, bang, bang….!!!). I would hop out of the car with the rod knocking sound still going on and lean over and hit the top of the hood real hard and the banging would stop; then we would drive off, usually with the crowd cheering or being befuddled.

Jay Grimstead
Class of 1953

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A Tribute to Ray Fussell

Let the Band March on!

Dr. Richard Fussell, Class of 1951, has recently contributed a significant amount of money through the Stadium Centennial Foundation, to purchase a sousaphone for the band in memory of his father, Ray Fussell, who was Stadium’s band director from 1935 until 1948. A brief background of his contribution and his father in his own words:

“If I hadn’t received a copy of the recent Castle Courier, I would not have known there was a need. My first thought was, of course let's help because I spent all three years at Stadium with a sousaphone wrapped around my neck. That was with band director, Dr. Del Jones.

My next thought was that my dad, Raymond C. Fussell, was there longer than I was (he died in 1972), so I really would like to honor him with some type of contribution. He was band director at Renton High School for 7 years before coming to Stadium in 1935, where he taught band until 1948.

My dad taught band in an era when bands had to be flexible in changing from merely putting on concerts during the year to doing both concerts and marching on the field at football games. Seeing a need, he collaborated with his brother-in-law, the band director at the University of Minnesota, in developing and designing patterns and methods of band marching. While at Stadium, he wrote one of the first practice books for the whole band, called Ensemble Drill, which is still being used today 70 years later!

He was also at the forefront of starting the women’s marching group – the Tigerannas - in 1937.

An interesting note to those who never took band at Stadium: it was a long way and a whole lot of stairs from the band room on fourth floor to the bottom of the stadium for practices!. I was co-band manager with Bruce Fox. We got to load all the instruments in the trailer every time we went somewhere.

After graduating from WSU I spent the next 40 yrs. in private veterinary practice in San Jose, Ca. I am now doing part time wildlife rehabilitation in Lynnwood, WA. My family and I are looking forward with anticipation to the old brown castle’s 100th anniversary celebration.”

Dr. Dick Fussell '51

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

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Rebel Because

Personification of the 50's

I was a troublesome little brat at the Castle and was involved in most of the uncivil behavior there from '53 to '56 but did manage to plea bargain with Mr. Elder to get my diploma. My activities ran from Tiger Hi-Y to metal shop rowdie. I blew town with Ron Conley for a week's joy ride down South in my junior year and then did it again in my senior year with Gary Larson, Chuck Fay, and Richard Taylor. How my dad ever talked Mr. Christie into allowing me back in, I'll never know.

I think I finally grew up about 1980 and realize how lucky I was to have attended Stadium in its prime.

Chuck Fay and Gary Larson are history but I wonder about Dick Taylor. He transferred in from Franklin Pierce and his dad managed the Lucky Stores in town.

I've only missed one reunion and look forward to this one.

Dave Allard - 1956 (BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH)

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

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The Bowl and the Babe

Legends

My Dad, and all the other Haleys in the early 1900's were all Stadium graduates.

My father, Frank, told us about watching Babe Ruth on a tour taking batting practice in the bowl and hitting one out of the east end of the bowl.

(Babe Ruth visited Tacoma, October 24, 1924)

A tidbit of history about a circa 1928 Stadium High School Graduate

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"Also completed, after years of planning, is the new Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library.

To move the books to the new library from Xavier Hall, the library closes at noon on 2 December (a Friday). Student shelvers spend the weekend rubber-banding bundles of books together and labeling them.

On Monday, morning classes are canceled. Despite the rain, students and faculty carry bundles of books across and put them on the correct shelves.

Head librarian Frank Haley provides candy for all."

PLU 1965-1969





Frank H. Haley Information Center

"The Frank H. Haley Information Center provides access to librarians' expertise and workspace for individual and collaborative research in an electronic environment. The center, located on the first floor of the Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library, reflects the foresight of Frank H. Haley, the library’s director from 1951-1976."

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Also in the late 50's the kids my age played summer baseball for a group called the Blue Bombers (can't remember the reason for the name), however, a large group of the business people made contributions to this group and through this group of people a portion of the bowl was fenced off and we began to practice Little League baseball at the bowl.

This was somewhat of the beginning of the restoration of the bowl as we know it now. .

Have a great time. I'll be in Italy, but see you again in 5 years.

Best regards,
Jonathan Haley '61

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

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Sixty-five years of Blue and Gold

'06 to '71

I am also a third generation graduate from Stadium.

My maternal grandmother, Ellen (Nell) Sophia Carr (later Beardsley) was in the first graduating class, 1906.

My Aunt, Barbara Beardsley graduated in 1934.

My mother, Emily Lue Beardsley graduated, in 1939,

Many years passed before my siblings and I also graduated from Stadium.

My sister, Barbara Jones graduated in 1964,
My brother, Jim Jones in 1966,
Myself, (Nancy Jones) in 1969,
My brother, John Jones in 1971

Jim, John, and I were all members of the Madrigal singers and Jim was Yell King.
Barb was one of the top 5 students in her class.

Both Jim and Barb married Stadium grads –
Barb married Dan Brady ('64)
Jim married Polly Richardson ('67).

To make our connection with Stadium even stronger, our father, Frank Phillips (Phil) Jones began his teaching career there in 1946. He left to join Wilson's staff when it opened.

We all still have a strong connection to the castle although our legacy ended with John's graduation. It will always be a special place.

Nancy (Jones) Foote, class of 69

Memories@CelebrateStadium.com

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