Lamar Class of 1959

Lamar '59 Luncheon, 3 May 2018

Included at the Marathon Oil luncheon: (cw) Rick Lilliott, Bette Azadian Leonard, Wendell Mendell, Phil Leonard, Dee Post Zook-Bell, Arthur Faris, Tish Compton Hale, Lou Parks Gorski, Susan Swift Seidensticker, Bill Higdon. Photo taken by Barbara Pickard, 3 May 2018.

Death of a spouse: Those of you who went to Pershing will remember Ross Girard "Gerry" Kuns who went on to Bellaire. Gerry, husband of our classmate Helen “Pugie” Cornwell Kuns, passed away on January 27, 2018. A memorial service was held Saturday, February 3 at 11AM at the Lone Star Cowboy Church, 21627 Eva St, Montgomery, TX 77356. Barbara Pickard and Sukey Fenoglio and other '59ers attended. Gerry's obituary is found here. Please keep Pugie and her family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

most visited pages: Electronic Orenda Lamar Lunches Obits Panorama Photo

Dear Members of the Class of 1959,

Lack of money for college is the number one challenge facing many of the Lamar High School graduates and their parents today. Because these students cannot afford to attend college, our country is losing valuable “brain capital.”
Our classmates Frank Jones and Sukey Fenoglio are working with the Lamar Alumni Association to establish some scholarships for "B" students at Lamar to attend college ("A" students have little trouble obtaining financial assistance). Details here

Note to the Class: Our classmates Frank Jones, Frank Kelly and Larry Hitt attended the groundbreaking for the new construction at Lamar on 30 March 2017. It was well attended with representatives from every class beginning with some graduates from the class of 1938! A number of dignitaries spoke including former governor Mark White from the class of 1958, HC commissioned Rodney Ellis, who has had four children attend Lamar and the HISD superintendent. Here is a link to coverage in the Chronicle the following day: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/article/Seven-generations-collide-at-Lamar-High-11039742.php#photo-12638966.

Lamar of the Future

'59ers in Galveston: 24-26 October 2014 Click here

Our Lamar '59 classmates held a "Hill Country Rendezvous" the weekend of October 26-28, 2012 in Fredericksburg, TX. Photos are linked here; activities and attendees are posted here.

Redskins Controversy and History

Classmate Information
	Our most recent classmate news Barbara Hoffman - Our dear and talented classmate Barbara died at home on Friday 16 Nov 2018; hundreds attended her memorial services on Thursday 29 November 2018 at St. John the Divine in Houston. Obituary Orenda page Ronnie Armer died on 8 December 2011 in San Antonio, TX. Our thanks to Wendell Mendell for finding and providing Ronnie's obituary. Obituary Online Memorial Orenda page Jo Anne Cowden Harris died in October 2018 in Willis, TX. Her obituary was published on yourconroenews.com from 22 Oct thru 4 Nov 2018. Our thanks to Jeremy Wicker for providing the link to Jo Anne's obituary, which does not provide the date of death. Obituary Orenda page John Jamison, M.D., was shot and killed in the line of duty while serving as a reserve deputy sheriff in Flagstaff, AZ on 6 Sept 1982, at the age of 40. Our thanks to his colleague Dr. Paul Sangster, Nick Rullman of Flagstaff Public Library, Wendell Mendell, and Frank Jones for recently providing this information. Honoring John Obituary Orenda page FindAGrave Memorial Paul Duggan died in Palomar Hospital in Escondido, CA on 3 January 2018 with his wife and two daughters by his side. Our thanks to Paul's wife Karen for recently providing this information. Obituary Orenda page Online Memorial Fred Lipscomb died at home in Memphis, TN on 14 October 2018. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 19, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Hernando United Methodist Church, 1890 Mt. Pleasant Rd in Hernando, MS. Our thanks to Wendell Mendell for providing this information. Obituary Orenda page Online Memorial Natividad "Tiva" Blancas (Macks) died on February 17, 2016. Obituary Orenda page Online Memorial Our thanks to classmate Jeremy Wicker for providing information re Tiva. Katherine Berberian (Gerson): Katherine died at home in Houston on June 20, 2018. Graveside services were held in Emanu El Memorial Park in Houston on Friday, June 22, 2018. Obituary Orenda page Online Memorial FindAGrave Memorial Risë Finch (Stewart): Rise died at home in Fort Worth from ovarian cancer on Tuesday, April 27, 2004. Obituary Orenda page FindAGrave Memorial Our thanks to Wendell Mendell for providing this information after many years. Jon Kalb: One of our most accomplished members of the Class of 1959, Jon Kalb died at his home in Austin on Friday, October 27, 2017 following two decades of Parkinson's. His fascinating life story is captured in two of the books he has written. Obituary Orenda page Nov 2017: Our classmate Johnny Carothers died on Wednesday, 8 Nov 2017 in Houston. His obituary mentioned his attending St. Stephens Episcopal High School and the University of Texas, where he served as Rush Captain for Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Obituary Orenda Page Sep 2017: Our classmate John Paul Stanford died on 5 Sept 2017 in Houston. John's father was killed in the Normandy D-Day Invasion in 1944 and he was raised by his mother. After Lamar, he joined the Marines and served in Vietnam from 1962-1965. Following his service, he obtained his BA in Psychology from Univ of Houston and his CPA degree as well as graduating from the School of Law. Online Memorial with Life slideshow Obituary Orenda Page
Electronic Orenda	Our class directory based on our Orenda - even those folks who didn't get their photo in are featured here - with current hometown noted and a link to their Lamar memories and Class Photo location where known. Send in your information to Webmaster@Lamar59.org
Photos from Reunions	Photos from our recent reunions (Fredericksburg in 2012, 50th in 2009) are shared here - including a few from post-reunion activities. Includes some suggested free on-line storage sites for sharing your pics.
Reunion Video	Each (known) classmate received a letter from Raines Video Productions offering a DVD (or VHS tape) of our gala 3-day weekend with interviews of many attending classmates, for $29.95 plus $4 S&H. Their site (linked at left) contains the contact info for Raines.
Reunion Directory	If you did not receive the Class Directory at the reunion, you can order one (while they last) for $10 from Larry Hitt. Go to the Reunion home page, print and fill out the Reply Card, and mail it to the address at the top of the Reunion Page.
Reunion Report	Prepared as an article on our 50th Reunion for Fran Callahan to publish in the Alumni Assocation Newsletter, this (2MB) PDF file provides an overall summary of our Reunion and the events of the weekend, with a few photos of interest.
Reunion Activities	Our fun-filled weekend of November 13-15, 2009. These five events were packed into three fun-filled days! Click here to see the list of classmates registered to attend our 50th, from Anchorage to Naples.
50th Reunion Memories	The remarks (as a PDF file) presented by Lynn Zarr and Sherry Strater at our 50th Celebration (Saturday Night, River Oaks Country Club, 14 Nov 2009).
Facebook Group	Yes, our Class has its very own Facebook Group. First join Facebook.com (for free), then join the Lamar 1959 group (for free) to exchange news, photos, and event information with any of your classmates. Not familiar with Facebook? Click here for our helpful Facebook Tips.
Missing Classmates	This PDF list is dated Nov 2011. We now know that Neta Lois Frazier died 7/13/1998, Joe Lovelady died 9/22/2008, and Mark Spears died 1/4/2003. These deaths and the current missing are marked in our Electronic Orenda. If you can provide other data, please send to the Webmaster or to Wendell@Lamar59.org
In Memoriam	Provided obituaries and memorial sites. Includes link to the current (PDF format) list of deceased classmates.
59ers Lunch Bunch	Bette Azadian (Leonard) coordinates this monthly gathering of classmates at the Marathon Oil Building cafeteria in Houston. Send Bette your e-mail to receive a reminder each month. Or just show up!

Memories, Memories
Memory Album	A special collection where classmates are encouraged to share their memories of Lamar - and their life since. Send your info to Webmaster@Lamar59.org As needed: MS Word file or PDF file describing the Album and offering suggestions for submittals.
50th Reunion Cruise Journal	Ignatius Snigglefritz provides his personal journal from the 50th Reunion Cruise (September 16-26, 2009), New York City to Quebec City.
50th Reunion Reflections	The essay (as a PDF file) composed for the 50th Reunion by Jon Hugh Fleming as appearing in the Reunion Directory. "Through the loving union of our parents, we came to this good Earth during 1941...."
50th Reunion Memories	The script (as a PDF file) used by Lynn Zarr and Sherry Strater at our 50th Celebration (Saturday Night, River Oaks Country Club, 14 Nov 2009).
Class Photo	Where are you in this panorama photo from November 1958? Email your Row and Position number to Webmaster@Lamar59.org if you're not already identified. Click on one of the four sub-panels to actually see who is standing next to you.
Lamar Lancers	Here you have access to years of our Lamar Lancer papers, from Sept 19, 1956 to May 14, 1959. Fun reading!
Pershing Chatters	Now available here! Thanks to Wayne Shull, here are PDF files of some of the Pershing Jr High School newspapers from 1953-1956.
Fun Photos	Collection of the Senior Interest Photos from our 1959 Orenda - click on any small photo to see the larger version.
Activities Photos	Clubs, Football Photos from our 1959 Orenda - click on any small photo to see the larger version.
Houston Photos	Provides link to some 40 historic photos of Houston during our formative years, plus comments and memories by classmates.
Commencement Exercise	Where were you on 2 June 1959 at 8 pm? Why, in the old Sam Houston Coliseum, of course! Click at left to display your Commencement Exercise program. This is the only version that doesn't list Janet Junker in the Cabinet twice!
Medicare Cruise	Remember that milestone in 2006 when we reached the magic year of Medicare eligibility? Here are photos and memories from some of the less mature members of our Class celebrating via a Medicare Cruise through the uncharted waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
45th Reunion	The Class of 1959 45th Reunion Weekend: Houston, April 30 - May 2, 2004
Stories from '59	Some of Jon Hugh Fleming's memories from our days at Lamar - as delivered at the 45th Reunion. [PDF file]
Roberts Elementary	Roberts Elementary was a feeder school to Pershing and Lanier, which fed Lamar. Here are photos of some of our classmates back in 1951-1953. Did we have a great childhood or what!
40th Reunion	One classmate's musings following the Class of 1959 40th Reunion Weekend: Houston, April 11-12, 1999.
The Reunion Poem	"Every five years, as summertime nears, an announcement arrives in the mail ..." Thus begins this summary of class reunions, author unknown. Kay Cole Segrato provided it for the Class of 1959. If you want a version with animated cartoons, go to this site and scroll down....
Back to the Fifties	Frank Jones suggests visiting this fun site that captures some of the spirit of our youth. (For the 'full songs,' visit our Memory Album. )
Lost in the Fifties	A large file to download (about 6 MB) yet worth the time - fun collection of slides (PowerPoint) of 'how it was' during our high school years.

Other Lamar Sites
Lamar Alumni	This site provides information for all graduates of Lamar Senior High School, to include upcoming reunions and events.
Class of 1958	Yeah, they're a lot older than us ... but didn't we date some of these people?
Class of 1957	At end of their directory, the site provides current information on some of our teachers, e.g., Ms Hollingsworth, Mr. Gentry.
Class of 1956	Nice job of integrating Class Bios and photos and videos where available - using myevent.com web site.
Class of 1960	They were so young back then ...
Class of 1962	This is the In Memoriam site for the Class of 1962
Wikipedia	Hey, you mean our High School is actually famous enough to have our own entry in Wikipedia? With the River Oaks Blvd joke? This is so cool!
Lamar High School	What is going on back at the mother ship? Lamar today is an International Baccalaureate World School .... say what?