NATHAN HALE ALUMNI FOUNDATION - Class of 1973 News & Announcements

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Class of '73 Directory Class of '73 Memorials

Nathan Hale High School 50th Anniversary

Make your 2009 vacation plans now!
The dates for the ALL SCHOOL REUNION have been set:

Friday Evening, June 12, 2009
ALL SCHOOL MIXER Location TBA

Saturday Night
Reserved for individual class reunion plans

Sunday, June 14, 2009
Special "Assembly" & School Tours @ Hale

More Details Coming Soon 50th@NathanHaleAlumni.org

We'll always remember...
The tidal wave of balloons that accompanied our fourteen kick-offs. The bonfire that East Central crashed and the resulting fight at Taco Bueno and Handy Dan. The Blue and Silver band contest that Hi-Ho Silver won. The Homecoming dance in the lobby with Rabbitt where budget tickets were good. The sophomore picnic at LaFortune, the junior car rally that began in the school parking lot and ended up at LaFortune and the seniors doing nearly everything else. The Thanksgiving Assembly with Robert Parker - the guy that was bullish on America. Smiley Twirp week when the anti-smiley face group gained converts. "Forty Carats" "Ten Little Indians" "Inherit the Wind" and "The Music Man." Having more snow and ice than we can ever remember having and the day schools finally closed. The Regionals court hassle. The Victory Dance for Regionals from the wrestlers with Revolution '72. Winning State in cross country and football. We're Number One buttons. The rude winter sports assembly put on by the cheerleaders. The traditional Christmas assembly with its wavering angels suspended from the ceiling. The Christmas post office run by USA complete with singing telegrams for a quarter. Send Hale to the Sugar Bowl week kicked off by a balloon ceremony with Mayor LaFortune presiding. The SnowBall at Westby Center with Revolution '73. The varsity/alumni basketball game where the alumni triumphed. The non-crowds at basketball games. The Loyalty night double feature of basketball and wrestling. Carnation sales and the Sweetheart Dance, with all three school lobbies decorated featuring Bargin - the band imported from Stillwater. The post-basketball game Charlie Chaplin film festival. Furniture for the third floor lobby. Faculty talent show. Reginae Aquae's swim show. And the Beat Goes On. Integration meetings for faculty, staff and students in preparation for desegregation. Spring break so late it was almost pointless. ITED test for juniors in March. Spring for Seniors with the Prom at the Civic Center and our three thousand dollar band. Vespers at Boston Avenue. Being the first class to graduate at ORU's Mabee Center, and almost a full month of party, party, party, ending up at Six Flags. The pom-poms that flopped. Spirit week to beat Washington, Central or Muskogee. Scream in the Dark at Ma-Hu this year and having to stand in line for hours to finally get in legally before they tear it down. Taking the bus to Enid and State. Having to compensate for lack of an intercom with the marquee and butcher paper signs. Getting one of our balloons back from Wisconsin. The notorious chemistry field trips. Sunshine on Ground Hog Day. And being a united student body at least for a while.

Commissioner Steve Shelton is appointed by the
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

August, 2007: Steve Shelton is a new member of the state Commission for Rehabilitation Services. He's only the second disabled commission member since it was established in 1993.

The commission is the governing board for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, which annually serves more than 190,000 Oklahomans with vocational rehabilitation, employment and educational programs. It also helps determine medical eligibility for Social Security disability benefits.

A senior application programmer and consultant with Fidelity National Information Services, Steve has never allowed blindness to become a barrier to achieving his goals.

Commissioner Shelton began his career in 1977 after graduating from East Central University with a bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics.

He was a client of the Department of Rehabilitation Services’ Visual Services/Vocational Rehabilitation program, which assisted him with his education and job placement. This assistance was a key factor in building the foundation for a successful information technology career.

Commissioner Shelton has devoted countless hours and resources to help people with disabilities achieve their full potential and improve their quality of life. He was elected to four terms as president of the Oklahoma affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and currently serves as treasurer.

Additionally, he served 11 years on that national organization’s scholarship committee, during which time over $1 million was awarded to deserving students with visual disabilities. The commissioner completed two appointments to the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council, was a long term volunteer with Boy Scout Troop 479 and currently serves as a deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Edmond. Shelton and his wife Barbara have three adult sons and now reside in Edmond.

Photo of Commissioner Steve Shelton.

TPS District Administrator of the Year

Eugene Field Elementary Principal Cindi Arnett-Hemm, has been named the TPS District Administrator of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals.

The annual award lauds administrators that maintain high expectations for their students and staff and show evidence of outstanding contributions to their school and community.

Hemm will be honored during a luncheon this summer. She’s also in the running for Oklahoma Administrator of the Year, with the winner attending a recognition ceremony in Washington, DC.

Kim Ford writes: Can you believe that I've taught English at Hale for the past eleven years? Some of us never leave! Many, many changes in T.P.S. as you probably know. One thing for sure, it is rarely boring around here! My husband also teaches, at Edison.

I have two beautiful, grown daughters, 24 & 19. No grandchildren yet...but the oldest is getting married in Oct.'07. I still stay in touch with several Hale grads...but would love to hear from you!

5/30/06 Debra Galyean-Rice writes: I've been living in Alaska since 1977, I am a Pediatric RN, and do Commercial Fishing for Salmon with my family in the Alaskan Bush.

Beki White breeds Shelties. Visit her web site, Sunnyvale Shetland Sheepdogs at www.sunnyvaleshelties.com/first.html

David Vanderford has owned Cowboys Bar-B-Q in Muskogee for over 26 years and Surf's Up Car Wash in Tahlequah. He says it is amazing how many customers he has that graduated from Hale.

Brenda Crockett is in Amman, Jordan. She can be contacted at bjcbjc1@yahoo.com

4/11/05, from Jack Groshans: I sure do miss Tulsa. I wound up in the Navy after graduation - 1 tour in Vietnam. 10 years total in the Navy. I moved to Evansville, Indiana in 1988 to take over a store for Silo TV. I worked at several radio stations as a personality. I ran for mayor of Evansville, twice. My kids are grown. We have two grandchildren. Maybe one day we will move back to Tulsa... who knows. Maybe even run for governor. Working on doing cartoon voiceovers. I still do radio and TV spots, but would love to get back on the air for the more mature audiences. Talk radio would be great. Well, have fun and God be with all of you.

5/19/04 - Jim Biven is currently serving with the U. S. Army in Kuwait. You are welcome to write to him at:

LTC James Biven, III Corps RCP, Attn: 13th CC G3, APO AE 09330

8/8/04 - I spoke with Gayle at the Class of '74 Reunion this weekend. She said that Jim was now in Iraq. She said that he is doing OK and is due to come home in January.

Class of '73 Email Links Want to add or update your email link? Click Here to send in your contact info.

Carol Austin	Debra Galyean	Roger Meyer	Dee Ann Sandstrom
Mike Austin	Bill Gibbons	Cindy Molloy	Steve Shelton
Rick Berry	Michael Karr	Greg Nickle	Linda Spaulding
Jerry Bolen	Karen Kopplin	Vicki Norman	Lana Tyree
Michael Bollinger	Philip Lock	Tim Pate	David Vanderford
Sharon Carter	Carol Maggia	David Pennington	Roger Vaught
Brenda Crockett	Nancy Mann	Debbie Pierce	Beki White
Jim Dodds	Robert McKay	Teri Pruitt	Jan Whiteley
Kim Ford	Connie McKissick	Rick Rule

Found on MySpace: Class of '73

WARNING: View these MySpace pages at your own risk.
Some things may not be suitable for children (or even adults)

Richard Dillon

Jim Dodds

Kevin Smith

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Commissioner Steve Shelton is appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Commissioner Steve Shelton is appointed by the
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.