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2016 Shady Maple get-together. I think Joe missed his calling for he could have been a great stand-up comedian as he always had a mouthful of jokes that he would tell at our luncheons. About three years ago, I also suffered dropped foot syndrome as did our late board of trustees chairman Wayne Watson. Wayne and I would compare notes as Wayne’ s drop foot syndrome began a year or two before mine. Wayne recommended a leg brace which I wore when I traveled.
Living in Maris Grove retirement community, our rehab facility was on the terrace level of the building that we lived in making it very convenient for me to get therapy two or three times a week. I was able to take an electrical stimulation package back to the apartment and electrically stimulate my foot and leg twice a day, which, along with the physical therapy cured my drop foot syndrome.
Joseph Sorace’ s telephone number is no longer working. My call to Chuck Griffith found Chuck camping on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Richard Reed is still building houses and has four under construction. The building business is not as good as it used to be in his area. Down here at the beach—“ beach” is defined as Delaware beaches and“ shore” means on the New Jersey coast— new developments are breaking ground every day.
As of 10-6-16 the Class of 1953 graduated 54 young, energetic Williamson men of which 26 are living or 48 percent. If you were a machinist, 64 percent of your 14 fellow classmates are still alive, 9. Brick shop graduated 11 and six are still alive, 55 percent. Carp shop graduated 11 and five are still alive, 45 percent. Power Plant graduated 10 and four are still alive, 40 percent. If you’ re one of the eight deck shop graduates 25 percent, or two of your fellow classmates are alive. It appears those paint fumes are worse than the fumes found in the machine shop.
In November, Mark Weikert and his wife, Jeanne moved into the Brethren Home Community, Cross Keys Village. His new address is 13 Fulton Dr., New Oxford, PA, 17350-9382, 717-624-3960. He has a duplex cottage with the garage and access to indoor swimming pool, exercise room, restaurant, and other amenities.
On Saturday, Nov. 5, Jack Harper and his wife Judy joined Jeanette, my wife, and I for dinner at the Maris Grove Retirement Community’ s Blue Sky restaurant. We have two restaurants and a cafeteria. They no longer do batch cooking, but cook each meal individually just as a restaurant would do. We have a choice of over 30 entrées and each restaurant has a different menu. If you and your wife, or girlfriend, or significant other would like to join Jeanette and me for dinner some night please give me a call as we would be glad to see and converse with you and your wife, or significant other.
Jack and I had a marvelous time after dinner discussing the power plant, the equipment, the operation, the mishaps, etc. Jack graciously agreed to comment on my autobiography that I started on Thursday, June 23, 1993, in Myrtle Beach, N. C. When President Reid came in 1996, I change the title to,“ The Williamson Experience, 1950 to 1953” or“ How the Doors of Opportunity Were Opened.” It is approximately 70 pages, over 36,000 words.
I intend to have it completed by the time you read this and if you would like to have a copy send me an email or phone me.
Jack Harper said he had visited Gino back in October. I just got off the phone with Gino and he is hanging in there. Founder’ s Day February 2016 was the first Founder’ s Day that Gino had not attended since graduation. Dot, Gino’ s wife, is doing a fantastic job taking care of Gino as he has difficulty conversing. When Gino retired, he still had that machine shop oil running through his veins and would visit Jack Harper, who had a machine shop in his double car garage behind his house. DID YOU KNOW: Initially, Williamson graduated three trades: Building( Bricklaying), Woodworking( Carpenters), and Machinist,
I sent an email to Jim Noll’ s daughter Robin, who is caring for him, asking how Jim is, but I have not heard back from her. I tried calling William F. Earle, Brick Shop, living in Illinois, and Robert Kenney, Machine Shop, living in South Carolina, and hit pay dirt when I called William D. Hough, Bill, Machine Shop, living in Media, 610-874-2528.
Bill was one of the three Williamson grads that taught at Delcastle Technical High School in Wilmington, Del., for 28 years. The other two that taught with Bill were Chuck Griffith and Larry Beers. Like the rest of us, Bill has some medical problems, especially with his legs as a result of football. After graduating, Bill worked two weeks for Budd before he was drafted in the Army. Upon his discharge he went back to Budd before joining the teaching profession. Bill and his wife Ginger had three daughters.
If you’ re reading this fellow classmate, I would like it very much if you would give me a ring— the number and email are at the top— as I’ m sure the rest of the class would like to know what you did after graduation and what you’ re doing now, besides taking medicines. Till the next issue C-75, 19W53
H. Ronald Richardson 178 Maple Ave.
W 55
U. S. Postal Service Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation
W 54 Southampton, PA 18966-4202 of his two years in Panama and after his
1. Publication Title: The Williamsonian
215-355-2984 colorronr @ msn. com
Hello again out there in Geezer Land. Can you believe it was 65 years and 4 + months ago that we met each other? Do you remember that nasty, rainy day in September’ 51, when we 72 kids arrived at WTS? Of course, we lost many boys over the three years, for many reasons, but we did graduate 54 in’ 54. Nowadays, we have about 30 or so guys still kicking …( maybe not so high anymore??).
As you all know … there were some issues( problems) with the last Williamsonian, consequently, it was late arriving to the alumni and others. I will back up a bit and begin with the Annual Luncheon in October’ 16. The meeting at Shady Maple was a success, as always. It was a beautiful, fall day and we had a total of 52 show up. From WTS staff, President Mike Rounds, Pete D’ Orazio, Carl Vairo, and Arlene Snyder. From our class, we had Marie and Al Grover, Joan and Don Keen, Gloria and Don Kemper, Pat and Frank Parsons, Leroy Core, Ken Cook, Dave Schrenk, Wayne Zimmerman, Mary Whitesel, Gloria Burrell, and Alke and I. We had quite a few classes represented. I will not list each person, just the classes. They were from 4W9, 5W3, 5W6, 6W0, 6W2, 6W4, 6W5, and 7W9( Bill Bonenberger, chairman of the board of trustees). Before I left SM, I was able to book a return trip for Oct. 10, 2017.
I hope you’ ll remember that in the last two years, we’ ve also been dining at WTS in April. A meeting is again planned for April 4th at noon. Be sure to sign up when you receive a formal invitation.
I think as a class rep, it’ s sorta my job to try to inspire classmates to give back to WTS. As youz all know, if you look at the annual report on who’ s giving to WTS, we stand pretty tall among other alumni. At last year’ s luncheon at school, Ken Cook and I spoke about our financial support. Aside from the annual giving( that’ s so necessary), we made an appeal for the Wanamaker Society. As you already know, that’ s the way to support the future of WTS. I look at the financial fruits of a career as a pie or cake. It’ s a nice feeling to know that leaving a slice of your pie will help keep Williamson the top trade school of its type in America.
Back in December, there was to be a lunch at Dave’ s. With the delay in the issue and my tardiness, I never provided info to the folks that always show up. I did get some inquiries, but it was too late to set up. So … my apologies. Maybe it’ s time for a new rep to step up. I know that won’ t happen, so I suppose it’ s me for the future.
I’ m not sure when this issue will arrive, so I’ ll just say,“ remember to try and attend Alumni Day” on June 3. If you’ re too busy and can’ t stop by, then consider the next Summer Outing in the Poconos. Mark your calendars for Aug. 3-6, 2017. It’ s always a fun time.
I was thinking recently, it would be nice for a change to maybe spotlight one or two particular guys in each future issue. So, I decided to visit Bill Smigo. Everyone should remember, hopefully, that in September’ 53, when we returned for our senior year, two fellows were missing. Bill was drafted into the Army and Tom Swenk had joined the Air Force. Bill spent most
service he returned to WTS and the Brick Shop. Bill graduated with the’ 56 class. He then worked his masonry trade for many years and years later, actually, worked in the painting trade. Bill and wife, Lorraine( she’ s from Shenandoah, Pa.), still live in NE Philadelphia. He’ s one of the older guys( 84), and retired when he turned 72. Lorraine had a career as an RN. I had the pleasure of surprising them after many, many years, by just knocking on their front door. Shocked, they welcomed me for an afternoon of reminiscing about WTS and our life experiences. As we age … memories will fade, but Bill and Lorraine( and me, too), are blessed to have a very good memory. Bill said he wants to be part of our 5W4 class, since he spent more time with us. I hope they will attend on April 11th at WTS and be our guest upstate for the Summer Weekend.
Tom Swenk didn’ t return to WTS after his Air Force time to finish his senior year in the Machine Shop, so I have no further news on him.
I realize some of our classmates are dealing with age-related problems … both mental and physical. Actually, some guys wives are former RNs, like Lorraine Smigo, Doris Huegel, Marylou Lyons and Marie Grover, to name a few. How about a little prayer for all our old pals and their families.
These notes are due on Jan. 10, so I must wrap this issue up. Lots of important things are happening in the world around us and soon we will get a new president. We will wait and see if he can really,“ Make America Great Again.” I know one thing … if the alumni remember to support the school, it will continue to be the“ Greatest Trade School in America.”
In closing, I’ ll end again with a special quote I like.“ Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” By Abe Lincoln.
One last time … remember these dates: April 4th, June 3rd, Aug. 3rd-6th, and Oct. 10th.
Keep Smiling and Swallow Your Pills, Rep Ron, COLORRON
Ron Evans 1101 Hollow Road Norristown, PA 19403-4518 610-584-1694 dashund1 @ verizon. net
Today is Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Not too much too report this issue as usual, but here it is.
Other than talking to my regular die hards, I do have some information on my old roommate, Jim Finley. I didn’ t talk directly to Jim, but I had a nice conversation with his wife, Millie, and their son. Jim is very hard of hearing and his hearing is getting worse every day. He is in the early stages of Alzheimer’ s and has a tough time remembering any recent happenings and dates. He also needs to use a walker in order to keep his balance.
That’ s about it for this issue. I hope to see a better show of faces on Alumni Day
2. Publication Number: 684-860 3. Filing Date: October 2016 4. Issue Frequency: 4x per year 5. Number of Issues Printed Annually: 4 6. Annual Subscription Charge: None
7. Complete Mailing Address: 106 S. New Middletown Rd., Media, PA 19063
8. Full Name and Complete Mailing Address of Editor: Carl A. Vairo, Williamson College of the Trades, 106 S. New Middletown Rd., Media, PA 19063
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12. Publication Title: The Williamsonian
13. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Spring 2015
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15. Publication of Statement of Ownership: Winter 2017