Temple Alumni Reunion- 2009

The biennial Tiger reunion happens Saturday November 28, 2009. Alumni President, Richard Glenn says the day’s activities will be much like past reunions. The school will open at 1:00 p.m. Visiting and walking the hall will continue until about 4:00 p.m.

During the visitation the Class of 1949 will meet in a room at the school to celebrate their 60th reunion. Hosts for that class will be Bobby Atchavit and Merlene Rylant Bean. They are looking for addresses for classmates Duane Brown and Connie Goodwin.

The assembly will begin at 4 p.m. in the Auditorium. Richard says that according to Roger Norman the fifty year classes of 1958 and 1959 will entertain during the program. This could be a revelation well worth the trip. After the program dinner will be served at the School Cafeteria.

After the dinner 1951, 1952, 1953 classes and their relatives and friends are invited to a reception at the Carothers–Lemoine–Powell house located across the oval East of the Temple School. Hosts 1951 – Lois Powell, Nadine McClung Gibson, Clovis Crow Kindred, Buddy Jo Hooper; 1952 – Harold Powell, Mary Jane Reece Parkey, Vernie Henderson J. W. Thompson, Willie Henson Richardson, Alex Seward, Charles “Hoot” Gibson; l953 – Mary Lou Powell Connelly, Bobby Waller.

Also meeting after the dinner will be the Classes of 1975, 1976 and 1977 which will meet at the Walters Golf Club House. Hosts for this will be Lana Driskill Spake, Leta Ginn Coates, Melody Bowers Robinson, Pam Long Hooper.

At 8:00-12:00 p.m. the Alumni dance will take place at the Cotton County Expo Center behind the Rodeo Grounds in Walters. Music will be provided by Penni Lawrence Band which plays country and “newer stuff”. Word is that this is a seasoned band recently playing at Lubbock, Texas. Penni is a Comanche, OK native.

Only alumni who paid dues in 2005 or 2007 will receive the Alumni Association reunion letter. If you do not receive a letter but want to attend or receive letter in 2011 you may send dues of $5.00 to P. O. Box 298, Temple, OK 73568. Dinner tickets are $14.00 each and dance tickets $10.00 each.

--Harold Powell

Temple 16, Tipton 8

Temple played conference foe Tipton at Temple Friday, Oct 9.
Both teams had 4-1 records and both teams had 3-0 conference records.
End of 1st quarter Temple 0 - Tipton 8.
End of 2nd quarter Temple 8 - Tipton 8.
End of 3rd quarter Temple 8 - Tipton 8.
End of 4th quarter Temple 16 - Tipton 8.
Temple will play Thackerville next Thursday at Thackerville and it will be another tough game.
--Bill

Temple 54, Cement 6

Temple played Cement at Cement October 2.

End of first quarter Temple 26 Cement 0.
End of second quarter Temple 48 Cement 6.

Gamed ended with about 9:00 minutes left in 3rd quarter by mercy rule Temple 54 Cement 6.

Temple had too much speed for Cement. Next week Temple will play Tipton at Temple and it should be a tough game.

For anyone that may not know, Temple plays 8 man football. 8 man football has a rule called MERCY rule. That means after 2 quarters have been played if a team gets 45 points ahead the game is over.

Bill Ille

Temple 58, Victory Life 8

Temple played conference foe Victory Life Academy, a Christian school at Durant, tonight at Temple.

End of 1st quarter Temple 22 Victory Life 0.
End of 2nd quarter Temple 52 Victory Life 8.
Game ended by mercy rule with 9:21 left in 3rd quarter Temple 58 Victory Life 8.

If you are not familiar with 8 man football there are 5 players on the line and 3 in the backfield. Temple has in the back field 2 sophmores and 1 freshman. They do a good job being so young.

Next week Temple will play at Cement and it should be another easy game.

Bill Ille provided this report from Friday's game. Thanks!

Temple Football versus Mountain View/Gotebo

Bill Ille, Class of 1950 reports on Temple’s home game Friday Sept. 18th.

Temple played conference foe Mountain View/Gotebo at Temple. End of 1st quarter Temple 14 Mountain View 0. End of half Temple 38 Mountain View 12 Game ended by mercy rule 4:14 left in 3rd quarter Temple 60 Mountain View 12.

Temple Football Reporter Wanted

This from Jerry Bowles, Class of 1952, from Alabama:

I have found a web sight that gives the scores of Okla.
High Schools football games. It looks like Temple has good
team this year. Is there any chance that someone could report
on the games and put a brief summary of the games and results
on Harold's Temple web site?

Class C
1. Shattuck (1)#2-0
2. Timberlake (2)#2-0
3. Seiling (3)#2-0
4. Temple (4)#1-1
5. Thackerville (7)#1-1 Beat Duke, lost to Fox
6. Covington-Douglas (6)#0-2 Lost to Seiling (12),lost to Garber
7. Deer Creek-Lamont (8)#2-0 Beat Braman, beat Waukomis
8. Corn Bible (9)#2-0 Beat Victory Life, Beat Merritt
9. Waynoka (10)#2-0 Beat Sharon-Mutual, Beat Braman
10. Forgan (NR)#1-1

The top four spots all remain the same as they all win, including Temple, who beat Class B ranked Alex after losing to Ryan last week.

Temple Tour: B&O Cash Store

Penni Lawrence Band to Entertain Temple Alumni

I received this notice from Richard Glenn, president of the Temple Alumni. He asked us to share this information about special entertainment planned for the 2009 Temple Alumni gathering with with as many alums as we could reach. Please pass it on! -- Harold Powell


The Penni Lawrence Band will perform for the Temple Alumni at Cotton County Expo Center, Walters, Oklahoma (behind the rodeo grounds) from 8 to 12 p.m. on November 28, 2009.

Penni Lawrence has been performing for live audiences all over the U.S. since she was 3 years old. She started performing on her father's country music show, The Union Mill Opry, based in northwest Missouri. In 1986, the show turned into a weekly televised program in their regional area. Penni has performed at various state fairs and festivals, conventions, private parties, and competitions throughout the U.S.

Penni is a 3-time state finalist in the national talent competition, the Colgate Country Showdown, and also was the 2006 winner of the West Texas Relay Idol competition. Penni formed her own band in 2006. Her band members include some of the best musicians you will find anywhere. This band has a refined level of talent that will simply exceed an audience's expectations - this added to the fact that 4 of the 5 band members sing lead vocals, making their versatility reflect a rare ability to showcase a broad range of classic & traditional country hits - along with performing your favorite classic rock tunes. Penni's standout vocals as the lead singer are only exceeded by the exceptional musicianship in each of her band members.

Penni has recently opened shows for artists such as Tim McGraw, Lee Greenwood, Bryan White, Charlie Robison, Rick Trevino and Gene Watson.

In June 2009, Penni independently released her highly-anticipated debut CD, appropriately titled "It's About Time". Penni is currently involved in establishing her presence in the southwest Oklahoma area while performing with her band in the Texas/Oklahoma region to promote her new CD.

The Snake and The Rat

Daughter, Beth, and three grandchildren from Falls Church, Virginia, visited the Powell farm last week. Both planned and not planned farm experiences happened during their visit. Eleven-year-old Cole told of one of them in a note left on grandmother’s typewriter.

“Good morning everybody. Today is Thursday, August 27, 2009. I am typing this in Temple, Oklahoma. A few days ago my Granddad caught a rat in a trap. He was going to show me the rat today, but when we got to the trap we saw a snake with a bulge in its belly where the rat was. The snake was able to slide into the trap and eat the rat, but when he ate the rat he was too big to get back out of the trap. My granddaddy then told a story about a wolf who got into an orchard through a hole and ate all of the apples but was then too big to get back out.”

The postscript to the story is in the photo above. The next time we visited the snake, he had spit out the dead and stretched rat and escaped through the holes in the trap on an empty stomach.

Harold

Temple News

Temple will soon have a fancy western style restaurant courtesy of Bobby Hale and son, Robert. The restaurant will occupy the downtown open space created by the Town’s demolition of the Lodge building. The restaurant to be named “Rocking H” will occupy about 6000 square feet. Opening date has not been set. However construction has been going at a fast pace.

Fritz Burrow with son Travis James has set up a Machinist Shop next door south of Rocking H. Fritz is renovating and improving the building and has installed machinery. He is aiming for government contracts.

T.H. Rogers Lumber Yard has set stakes for start of office building to replace one that burned a few months ago.

--Harold Powell

Bring A Dime

This from J. R. Glasgow, class of 1952:

I have sent this poem out which was written by one of my internet friends. I can relate to this. Growing up in Temple during the 30’s and 40’s and coming from a low income and big family. A dime was hard to come by then. Eight of us children and my grandmother lived with us. While growing up I thought I was worse off than others but talking with people at the Temple alumni reunions I have found that a lot felt the same way. Most remember the wife going with husband to pick out feed and flour to get the right sack to make dresses and shirts out of.

Bring a Dime
The tattery girl with hungry brown eyes,
Sits on the edge but she never cries,,
Watching and wanting and always alone,,
Wondering what life will be like when she's grown.

Bring a dime and pay your own way,
One whole dime to brighten your day,,
Candy or soda, a book or a toy,
One big dime buys so much joy.

Bring a dime, Oh! So much money,
If only she had one, life would be sunny,,
Bubble gum, jawbreakers, strawberry pop,
All for herself to the very last drop.

"Bring a dime and be part of the group,"
The leader said to the girl scout troop,,
The little girls smiled and stepped up to pay,
A whole big dime! Her dream fell away.

The tattery girl crept out thru the door,
She knew she would not come back anymore,,
So much money to be a girl scout,
One more thing she would live without.

Now she is old and has many dollars,
Nice clothes to wear and fur on her collars,,
But never quite able to find that dime,
She needed so much in that long ago time.
Mary June Christensen
I have not made the many dollar yet but am not too bad off. I started with nothing and still have most of it. My internet is paid up and that is where lots of my friends live.

John (J.R.) Glasgow, Class of 1952

J. R.
About your memory and Mary June Christensen’s poem of growing up poor. I remember a Christmas day when I was about five. We lived in a two room house with path in north Temple. I was walking across town to my grandmother’s house. At a house where I thought rich people lived I saw a boy my age riding a new shiny tricycle. I thought that I wanted to someday have a tricycle like that.

Another incident about then but on a hot summer day I was walking to town when at the back yard of the Mooney house I heard laughter and splashing in the back yard. I peeked through the picket fence and saw a bunch of kids in a swimming pool. I thought how wonderful it would be to swim in a real swimming pool.

You and I had one big thing in common. Our dads always had a job. They were workers. They were good examples for us.

Harold

Jerry Bowles was my pal and classmate during our days growing up in Temple. His mom was Lulu Maxwell Bowles. She raised six good kids. Jerry has written other poetry. I think the “Ode to Mom” is one of his best. Thanks Jerry! --Harold Powell.

I was out in the yard this afternoon watering my flowers and this poem came to mind. I thought you might enjoy reading it. I wrote it in 1992.

--Jerry, July 22, 2009 Eclectic, Alabama on Lake Martin.

GO WATER THE FLOWERS

One of my most fond memories of growing up was listening to Mama sing. Mama always had a yard full of flowers. She seemed to be happiest when she was watering her plants and singing. It wasn’t really singing because there were no words. Maybe humming, but more. The notes came clear and beautiful as if from some unknown musical instrument.

Many times I would go outside to find Mama quiet and working in the flower beds. She would be down on her hands and knees talking, digging, and throwing weeds every which way. I never bothered her or asked her who she was talking to. After a good digging, she would water the flowers and make her joyful melody.

After I grew up, left home, and started a family of my own, the problems of living became a reality.Then I understood what Mama was doing. She was down on her knees in the dirt, talking to God and casting her burdens aside.

I’m older now and the years have passed me by. I’ve had many burdens along the way, but God never promised that life would be easy. I know that God’s and Mama’s love are always there to see me through. Sometimes I get down on my knees in my flower beds. I dig in the dirt, throw out weeds in my life, and talk things out because I know that’s what Mama would do.

Mr. Hand

I remember a Mr. Hand who was the grade school principal when I was in first grade ('46-'47). I don't remember if he remained principal after my first year though. I do remember him coming around to classrooms to make announcements. He seemed to be an intimidating figure to us little guys.
-- Bill Dobbs

In Memory of Dad

Here is something I wrote about my dad, Dewey Keck. Since it is Father's Day Weekend, I wanted to share it in his memory.

My dad, Dewey (no middle name) Keck was born Jan. 12th, 1912. We all know the biggest news of that year was the sinking of the Titantic in April, but I am sure that my grandparents' lives were far and away different from those who traveled on that fateful voyage. Dad was born in a dugout house during a bad ice and snow storm to Mollie (Mary Francine) Grove and Olloway Wm. Keck. They had just moved their 2 other sons (Bonnie and Tinker) up to Carter County, Okla., from Nocona, Texas. They traveled in wagons pulled by Mr. Keck's team of mules. A cowboy who, in his youth, rode the Chisolm Trail, my grandfather took his family up to the Oklahoma oil boom area of Wirt (Ragtown), Okla., to find work. He used his teams of mules to move dirt for roads and dikes in those oil fields where slush pits were dug and foundations for the large tanks that held the crude were being built. Mollie was expecting my dad when they crossed the Red River and made their way to their new life.

Mules and Jennys (half mule-half horse) played a large role in my dad and his brothers childhood. Bonnie and Tinker hauled water with their Jennys and sold it to the neighbors in the community. As Dad grew up, he played all over the country and along a creek that ran near the place that the family moved to from the temporary home in the dugout. His Jenny was named, Ole Blue. As was the custom, these Jennys ran free all over the countryside and kids from the area would round them up and ride them and set them loose and then another group of kids would catch them and ride them for a time. After Dad grew older, he ultimately lost track of Ole Blue, until one day a wagon pulled up belonging to an old man that sold odds and ends to the country folk. They called him the old junker.

Suddenly, Dad recognized Old Blue in the team of Jennys pulling the old junker's wagon. He rushed out to see him and found that Ole Blue was not the healthy Jenny he had played with for so many years. He had been beaten and only had one eye and held numerous scars around his head and neck. Dad lost his temper and started yelling at the old junker and all the while started unharnessing Ole Blue. He could not bear to see his old childhood friend in that condition. But my grandfather (The Old Man) stopped him and told him that Ole Blue belonged to the junker now and that Dad had to let him go. Dad told me that watching the junker ride off with Ole Blue was the hardest thing he had ever had to do.

This is a poem I wrote about Dad and Ole Blue.

OLE BLUE

The Old Man lead the Jennys across the path towards the orchard.

The two were jumpy and wild-eyed
New to the place,
A mare and her colt.

The mare became by brother's and the colt was given to me.

I named him, "Ole Blue".

I suppose we were well matched,
Leggy and sprite,
Running wild in the country,

Loners in a crowd.

Together, we played out the old cowboy stories

Told by the Old Man
Leaned back in his chair
On winter nights in the front room.

No one really ever owned Ole Blue
True to his spirit,
Me lying the the dust at his feet.

But we had that understanding.

Time made that understanding binding, as we grew sleek and tall.

Kindly remembering the races,
Running madly through the thickets
To drink finally the cold spring water.

Each of us had our own paths to trod
Inroads to wander,
Pains to endure.

Only to meet once again and embrace for a moment.

Sweet touch of childhood melting,

And I watched you ride away.

By: Vickie Keck Nowlin

Dad died April 1st, 2001. I love you Dad....Happy Father's Day!!
Your "Sweetheart of the Hills", Vickie Sue

Vencil Not Hand

Vera Sue Wilson Golden wrote: Yes – I made a mistake. It was Mrs. Vencil. I had a senior moment. I knew a Mrs. Hand from some other place. Sorry folks!!! Forgive me?I have heard from others. That proves that some are reading and checking.

Temple School Reunion Planning

Temple School Alumni Association officers met Thursday to kick off planning for the biannual reunion coming Saturday November 28th. Attending the meeting: Richard Glenn, president of the Association, Joy Monroe Glenn. VP; Dana Allen McIlhaney, secretary; Sally Campbell Eckhardt, treasurer; Lois Lewis Powell, membership and Harold Powell, past president.

After discussion of various suggestions for changing the day of the reunion, decision was made to poll alumni to determine future reunion days.

Decided was that the reunion format will be similar to past years. Committees will be formed for the various tasks to be done. Decision was made to appoint younger management for the dance. The Temple Chamber of Commerce has volunteered to cater the dinner. A letter will be sent to the Alumni mailing list early in October.

--Harold Powell

Mrs. Hand

Annette Waller Keeter, class of 1956, had a coment about teachers in Temple School:

Sue Golden Wilson said Mrs. Hand read us stories in the sixth grade. I thought it was Mrs. Vencil. I can't imagine Mrs. Vencil turning over her class to someone else.. I looked in the 1950 year book and there is no Mrs. Hand that is in there under the faculty. Any other classmates remember Mrs. Hand?
--Harold Powell

Lewises Host Brick Swap

Tab and Karan Lewis were hosts for an International Brick Collectors Swap Meet at their farm home June 6th. About 100 brick collectors from as far as Florida, California and New York showed up and enjoyed camaraderie and brick trading. The weather and the turnout were perfect. Brick Association members meet a few times annually to trade named bricks. Tab is a past president of the Association and has a large alphabetized collection.

It is a heavy hobby.

--Harold Powell

Business Update: Fire Destroys T.H. Rogers; Dairyland Re-Opens; NewGreenhouse

T.H. Rogers, a long term Temple lumber business suffered a major fire about 2:00 am Tuesday morning, June 9. The business and sales building was totally burned. Quick action by the Temple Fire Department kept the flames off other structures. Manager Micah Lipscomb said that fire inspectors believe the fire was caused by electrical short somewhere in the attic. Micah also said that T.H. Rogers will rebuild.
Other community building losses the past two years are the Lodge building and the Sands Motel. The Lodge building was demolished leaving an open space downtown. The Sands remains a burned out ruin.
The Dairyland restaurant recently reopened. Hopefully it will make a go. The town needs it for food service, tax revenue and jobs.
A new business in town is Wayne Daniels watermelon and cantaloupe producer. Wayne has set out thousands of watermelons and cantaloupe plants on Red River and Cache Creek property. He has purchased the Auto Dealership property northeast of town and set up a green house where he sprouts his plants. The building will be warehouse and distribution center for the produce. Wife Tonya sells plants out of the facility.
--Harold POwell

Memorial Day Ceremony

Thanks to Jack Jackson and Larry Taylor, a Memorial Day ceremony took place at the Temple Cemetery on May 25th. Among the thirty attending were Odessa Grant and sister, Betty Roland. They came from California and were delighted to see the old hometown. Debria Schuler says they and others were in town to attend a reunion of descendants of Howard Turner. Lisa Metcalfe sang the National Anthem beautifully. Guest speaker for the event was LTC (Ret) Paul Metcalfe. A roll call was done of the living WWII veterans in the community: Tuffy Casteel, Jack McGee, Glen McCluskey, Carl Fletcher, Louie Riddles, Grady Cosden, Wesley Bowles, Louis McGee and James Harden.

--Harold Powell