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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
9 . Owner : Williamson College of the Trades , 106 S . New Middletown Rd ., Media , PA 19063
10 . Known Bondholders , Mortgages , and Other Security Holders : None
11 . Tax Status : Has not changed during the preceding 12 months .
12 . Publication Title : The Williamsonian
13 . Issue Date for Circulation Data Below : Spring 2015
14 . a . Total Number of Copies : 5,500 b . Paid Circulation : None c . Free Outside County : 2,500 d . Free Inside County : 2,500 e . Free at Other Classes : 10 f . Free Distribution Outside the Mail : None g . Total Distribution : 5,010 h . Copies Not Distributed : 490 i . Total : 5,500 j . Percent Paid : 0 %
15 . Publication of Statement of Ownership : Winter 2017