The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend. Henry David Thoreau

I just have to tell this story, but I am not sure how it should be told. I don't know if I should start in the present, or go back to the past. Maybe I will just do both.

Past
Many years ago I had a wonderful friend. We met as children, grew into our teenage years, and even dated a few times. We shared great times in a wonderful place. We enjoyed all the things teenagers loved to do in the late 50's, in a small town.

We cruised Main Street, went to the drive-in movies, danced at the "slab" and in the roadside park. You could still drive into it then. We went on band trips to football games and cheered at the basketball tournament. We became best "Buds" and confided our problems to each other.

Present
About three years ago, my husband and I moved to the Fort Worth area. We made a lot of new friends at the church we attended. One of the couples has a daughter in the Navy Reserves. Shortly after September 11, she knew she could be called to active duty at any time. She had met a young man when she first started her training and they fell in love. With the specter of being shipped out at any time, they decided to be married.

Her Mom called me and asked for my help in preparing for their wedding. They set a date, but warned our minister that should the call come, it might be any time of the day or night. The next Sunday, she brought her young man to church and introduced him to us.

I really liked her fiance from the very beginning, but there was something about him that kept creeping into my mind. I just couldn't place what it was. I didn't know if he looked like someone I should know, or if his name sounded familiar, or what. I just knew there was "something" about him I could not put my finger on.

Past
The year I was a junior in High School, a great many things happened. The lake filled up, wonder of wonders! I think it snowed that winter. We sold everything but our bodies to raise money for our senior trip. We didn't have to serve at the Jr, Sr. prom. We actually got to dress up and dance! We started making decisions as to what collage we wanted to attend. My friend fell in love and was voted class favorite.

Present
During the planning of the wedding, I kept having this crazy feeling that I was missing something. I finally remembered a name from the past. I just couldn't wait to talk to my friend, to have her ask if her future son-in-law ever had relatives living in Big Lake.

You guessed it. The young man's father had lived in Big Lake and had named his son after his brother. An uncle the young man had never met.

Past and Present
That year of 1959, a light went out of my life and all those who knew my friend. He was killed in an auto accident. This year a new friend has brought light to our lives. Their name?
Benny Rogers

Is that a great story or what? Thought you might want to enclude it in the next newsletter. The family gave me permission to send it. It gave all of us goose bumps and reminded us what a small world we live in.

Thanks Diane for all the work you do on the web site. It really is a treat. Kay Easter Johnson (Editor Note: What a story!!. I got tingles just reading it. I, as well as many others in my age group, remember that fateful weekend of the accident. I am copying this just as she wrote it. Thanks, Kay)
PostScript: I was sent the following from the Big Lake Wildcat: This if for those who don't know the background:
Thursday, January 24, 2001
West Texas
If you ever had doubts about the weekly newspaper of your community being a living public history, read the following story and see if you can think about events of the past that were confirmed by your local newspaper. In the February 18, 1960 issue of The Wildcat, there was a story with the headline "Collision Claims Four Lives." The story detailed an accident involving local youngsters and their sponsors returning from a band festival in Del Rio. In that accident, the nightmare of every parent in any year, a 17 year old member of the RCHS band, his mother, and the mother of another student were killed in a grinding head on collision 16 miles north of Del Rio. Another man, the driver of the other vehicle was also killed. The accident occurred at 8:50 p.m. Saturday evening, February 13, 1960. It was shortly after the end of the band festival hosted by Del Rio High School. The 17 year old RCHS student had just played in the All Star band concert. The mother of another band student was driving the vehicle and several other Reagan County students were riding in the vehicle. The Big Lake car was struck at a high rate of speed by the driver of the other car. The Big Lake car and occupants were on highway 91. The majority of the RCHS band and bus load of students took highway 90 which leads to Sonora. The bus load of students did not learn of the accident until they arrived in Big Lake after midnight. The Big Lake car was driven by Mrs. Lois Kannady. She was killed instantly in the accident. 17 year old Benny Rogers died of head injuries at 11:00 p.m. in a Del Rio Hospital. Mrs. Beulah Rogers died at 1:00 A.M. Monday. Students Patty Jo Johnson and Finn Watkins were also in the vehicle and suffered head injuries, but were later transferred to Reagan Memorial Hospital where they recovered. I remember the accident quite well and the fear it put in students and their parents. We were quite close to the Watkins family and I remember hearing Finn Watkins was slumped down in the seat asleep which probably saved his life. Eight Reagan County High School senior boys served as pallbearers for Benny Rogers. Uncle Olie sang in a quartet of men at the funeral which I attended at First Baptist Church. It was a double service for Benny Rogers and his mother who also worked at the Food Mart here. Mrs. Kannady left her husband and teenage daughter as survivors. I'm sure the scars of the accident remain on the survivors and many RCHS students of that time to this day. A couple of weeks ago, I got an e-mail from Kay Easter Johnson, a classmate of Benny Rogers. She asked me to look up the exact date of the accident and send her some information. It took quite a while, but I found the story and forwarded it on to her. I guess she knew I would be curious as to why she wanted the clipping. She sent back the following letter by way of explanation: "David, here is the story of why I wanted it" (and she gives him the previous story.)

Received from Otilia Sanchez, '66(Editor Note: I received this after contacting Otilia through her brother, Emilio)Hi, Diane. Goodness! Big Lake days were many moons ago! Our family moved to San Angelo in '63, and I graduated from Central High in '66. I received scholarships and loans to attend North Texas State University in Denton, where I received my B.A. in English and French in '69. From Denton, I went on to New York University, where I completed my M.A. degree in English (American Literature) in July 1970. From New York, I went to teach at a community college in San Bernardino, CA. I was married briefly and had a daughter (who is also a graduate of North Texas); however, I do go by my maiden name now. I embarked on a new career in technical publications in 1973. I have lived in Houston (about 18 years but not consecutively), Tucson (about 4 years), and now the Austin area (2 years). I had some very good years in Houston, where I was actively involved in the American Indian community and was honored twice: In 1996, I received the Outstanding American Indian Individual award from the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas; and in 1997, I received the Wordcrafter of the Year award from Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. I have received recognition numerous times for accomplishments in my profession, but I feel especially honored to receive recognition from my community. Now that I work in Austin, I am glad to state that the Austin City Council approved my appointment to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs in late September. I have also received approval to serve as a mentor to an elementary school child. Other than these two appointments, I participate in charitable events as often as I can.

Now that I'm living in the Hill Country, I hope to get back into hiking -- one of my favorite outdoor pastimes. So far, I've managed to play some tennis a few times with some colleagues of mine. I am hoping that after the first of the year, I can play tennis more regularly.

Well, that's about it for me. I hope that I haven't rambled too badly! It will be interesting to hear about some of the people who were in my classes. I am sorry about Mrs. Tatum; she was a very good teacher -- I enjoyed my P.E. classes.

Received from Margaret Nossent Nixon - We had a small crowd for the luncheon today, but we always have a good time and enjoy each other.Persons attending were: Garden City, TX: JoAnn Wooten Turner Odessa, TX: Nancy Boyd Chapman Oklahoma City, OK: Jack Owens Abilene, TX: Ruth Theus Livezey Stephenville, TX: Nancy Barnes & Jack Corbell Big Lake, TX: Shirley Swanzy Miller, Bobbie Malone & Lloyd McAlister & Ric McAlister San Angelo, TX: Grace Owens Buckbee, Gerald Owens, Lucille Warriner & James Vinson, Margaret Nossent & Max Nixon We did schedule Jan. & Feb. Luncheon dates as January 26, 2002 and February 23, 2002.

Received from Emilio Sanchez, ' 63 - I graduated from Reagan County High on May 1963. My sisters, are Mary, Sylvia, and Otilia. I am doing well, living in San Antonio and have been working at the same place (USAA) since 1973. Getting older now, wiser I hope, but still "kicking". I am also a graduate of ASU '69 with a BBA-General Business. I have a very short memory-it seems -so cannot remember my classmates over the years. Remember John Ratliff, Mike Holmes, Janice Coates.

Received from Margaret Nossent Nixon, '56 - The next Nifty 50 's Luncheon will be on December 29th.

Received from Janice Cockrell Briggs, '67 - I live in Artesia NM and am married. I work for the City of Artesia as an Assistant City Clerk-Treasurer and a System Administrator. I have one son and two step daughters. Yes, it does seem like just yesterday we were riding the PepClub bus and having a good time.

And to show that things are different depending on where you are. Boyd Roberts '64 shared the following in an e message. He is part of the Enduring Freedom campaign and I am not sure where he is, but thought this put a whole new perspective on butter: "I was eating dinner tonight at a restaurant in Landstuhl and when I asked the waitress what the spread was I was rubbing on the bread, she replied: 'Port laj' 'Port laj?' I replied. 'No....Port Lot' 'Port lot?' I said again. 'No. No. Port lahd' I Pushed the spread away after already eating a tablespoon or so realizing she said 'Pork lard.' I asked if she had any butter and she said, 'Ya, sometimes.' I think I just lost a millimeter or two on my artery walls.…………

SPECIAL REQUEST: If Santa brings any of you the new, fancy, digital cameras or a scanner, please share pictures that you would like posted to the RCHS Photo Album. Your editor knows how to load onto the page when the pictures are sent in JPEG format and would enjoy the practice.