Hello Everyone and Happy New Year! Just a few quick notes about this month's update. I REALLY appreciate the feedback, news and sharing of poems. You will see the return of M T Whallette and a new poet. Please, get in touch with those contributors of this month's issue and give them your thanks. I have put in this issue all that I received during the past month. If any of you have Owl's Hoots' from years other than 1963 - 1964, share the articles you would like printed here and I'll include them in next month's issue.

E BYTES RECEIVED:
Hi Friends,The luncheon reunion meeting for Feb. 3rd will be postponed until March 3rd, SO...mark calendars and please try to attend if at all possible. We have had some great visits but need more to attend. Maybe there will be good traveling weather by March.
Time: 12:30
Place: Golden Corral, Brownwood, Texas
Linda Short Burnett '59
Hi! Dianne, I am Deanna (Bost) Beaver. Do you remember me from Big Lake? I married Billy Beaver and he was killed in oilfield accident in 1981. I went to the RCHS reunion this summer saw a lot of old friends. Brought back a lot of memories. Since I am a close friend of Thereassa and David's, I went to his site a lot. I am the Eden Public Librarian here at Eden and love the job. I worked in the school systems for 21 years and now can kind of take it easy. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Sincerely, Deanna
Diane.. here is a poem by MT Whallete that you may want to add to the new RCHS site.... Keep up the good work... David Stewart (Ed Note - see elsewhere for poem)

CLASS NEWS:
Just a reminder about the Nifty Fifties lunch to be held at Zentner's Steak House on January 27, 2001, at 1 pm.

FROM RECENT ISSUES OF THE BIG LAKE WILDCAT ....
PARK IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN PLANNING STAGE - Reagan County Commissioners are working on putting together a master park plan with improvement in almost every area. The Master Park plan will have at least a five year span of projects slated for improvement. The Reagan County Community Center is slated for several improvements and for increasing the space for use by the public.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, RCHS TOURNEY HAS FLOURISHED - With the 70th annual Reagan County Invitational Basketball Tournament getting underway this weekend, old timers can look back with a lot of memories and literally thousands can remember their playing days as participant in the tournament, now known as the Mary Tatum Invitational. The tournament began in 1929 and was played on February 24 and 25. The first tournament was such a success, plans were made in January of 1930 to hold a second tourney. At that time, Big Lake had the only indoor basketball court in West Texas. West Texas schools were apparently in one big district and held several district tournaments to select district winners. Several teams asked to have the district tournament of 1930 in Big Lake rather than San Angelo so area teams could get indoor experience on a real gymnasium floor because the bi-district and state tourneys were also played on indoor courts with wooden floors. The Tournament continued with more names and players contributing to its success. In the 28th tournament, 24 teams vied for the title eventually won by the class B Wall Hawks. Reagan County's Karman Weatherby poured in 23 points in a loss to Brady. Later on in the tournament's history, Reagan County's Johnny Howard was named to the All Tournament team for the third straight year. Tournament founder F. F. Tannery was present at the 50 anniversary of the tournament and was honored along with San Angelo's Nathan Donsky for his donations to basketball in West Texas throughout the years, and J. L. Werst, Jr. of the Big Lake Wildcat.

FROM 1963 - 1964 OWL'S HOOT ISSUES...
THE 32ND ANNUAL REAGAN County 4H Livestock Show will be held Saturday, January 25, at the livestock barn. The following RCHS students will be showing either sheep, cows, or horses: Bill Farr, Brownie Hayes, Monte Nevills, Cheryl Parker, Bill Arms, Steve Coates, Nancy Powell, Kenneth McFarland, Tommy Miller, Annabeth Turner, Phil Arms, James Baggett, Enoch Estes, Phil Farr, Edmundo Lara, James Ratliff, Harvill Settle, Willie Watkins, and James Woodall.
THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM FOR 1964 has been selected. Mrs. Tatum, coach of the team for several past years, has selected the following: Judy Franklin, Diane Massey, Eva Jo Hicks, Frances Johnson, Sheryl Ann Bolton, Betty Poage, Glenda Jameson, Margaret Friend, Sandy Strickler, Cherry David, Patti Holt, Billie Poage, Shelly Armstrong, Kay Heflin, Janie Dupree, Glynda Robbins and Carol Winn.
THE PEAK ENROLLMENT OF 227 FOR RCHS was reached on Monday, January 20, 1964, with the beginning of the second semester of school and with the enrollment of 5 new students. School began in September with an enrollment of 224. The freshman class is the largest with 86 students enrolled, the junior class is second with 58 students, the sophomores third with 47, and the seniors last with 36 members.

RCHS EXES AND TEACHERS REMEMBER....
Recd from Sandy Stives Williamson '66:
Who influenced my decisions? That is a difficult question because I have always been a rather radical thinker and no one would like to take credit for my thoughts. Seriously, the longer I teach the more I realize what a quality education we received in Big Lake. Many of our thoughts and values were taught to us from the school system and the wonderful dedicated teachers who were willing to live in an isolated small town. I also had many other adults who helped shape my life. Mr. and Mrs. Whitley started me going to church when I was very small and I still love to go to church. I would have to fill up pages if I really started remembering for you because I think the adults in my childhood were interested in children and helped us to become successful at making decisions. I read a book to my class called, "It Takes A Village." It states that a child is raised by everyone around him. I think that is true for me growing up in Big Lake. I was influenced by the people and times around me. I didn't make all the right decisions but I did keep trying to become a better person and maybe that is the best decision of all.

From Jeneva Joyner Leifeste '64
Just thinking of memories of those who influenced me from Big Lake and the list is huge. Narrowing it down brings me to Mrs. Havenhill. I recall being a shy, rather lonely girl and Mrs. Havenhill seemed to take me under her wing. (Probably she did that with lots of girls, but I thought it was just me!) She would take me home with her for lunch on many occasions, she called out countless spelling words for UIL spelling competitions, she guided me to read anything and everything in the library, and she served as a beautiful role model with her character and loving demeanor. I guess I wanted to "become" Mrs. Havenhill. I have been a librarian for many years, have coached UIL spelling, and have tried to have her composure and dignity when I deal with students today. Knowing Mr. and Mrs. Havenhill through church and school and seeing their interaction with others made me see what I wanted in my future. I admire both so much and when I retire in May 2001, I plan to begin my career as an author as Mrs. H. did! I am church librarian also, and will have more time to devote to that endeavor upon retirement.

POEMS WRITTEN BY RCHS EXES:
The Doodlebug
Whatever happened to the old doodlebug?
That unusual looking little train.
It went from San Angelo to Fort Stockton,
In the wind, dust, heat and occasional rain.

It came through Big Lake every morning,
Usually somewhere between nine and ten.
And then before suppertime, heading
Back to Angelo, it came through again.

Carrying a few passengers and some freight,
As it made its daily round.
Taken for granted, and usually,
Unnoticed as it stopped, then passed through town.
It chugged along rather slowly,
As it traveled that lonely stretch of rail.
It brought me home to Big Lake one day,
Along with the U. S. Mail!

Whatever happened to the old doodlebug?
That unusual looking little train.
I often wonder with nostalgia,
Because I'd like to ride it once again!

M. T. Whallete 2000

BIG LAKE IN THE 1960'S
I was young and so naive, but I thought I knew it all.
Some of the things I did back then, I'm embarrassed to recall.
We teenagers came out after supper, like bats from a cave.
We would drag up and down main and seldom even wave.
Teenagers formed small clics wanting to be special and unique----
but if someone was too different we labeled them a freak.
I wanted to be rich and famous and to get far, far way
From the little town whose main street I drove up and down each day.
I didn't realize how safe and simple my life was in a crisis filled world.
All around our little town strife and problems whirled.
The hippie movement was in San Francisco spreading love and peace
I was only worried about my zits from eating too much grease.
Freedom marches, civil rights, current events about the peoples rights----
Did not affect me as much as not having a date on Saturday night.
The Viet Nam Conflict raged and boys I knew went away to enter the war.
But in my ignorance and innocence I didn't realize what the boys faced on the foreign shore.
I'm not offering you excuses-----just trying to share my memories
Of a teenager in Big Lake in the 1960's
I was living a good life and I never knew
Until I grew older and had time to review.
I've wondered sometimes if teenagers today
Still yearn to go somewhere far, far away.

Sandy Stives Williamson '66

Thought for January, 2001 (Rec'd via e mail (author unknown):
Subject: FW: 22 ways you know you're from West Texas:(Ed Note - I have not listed all 22 ways)
1.You have used the phrase "fixin to" during the last twelve months.
2.Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date.
4.You can properly pronounce Pecos, Pyote, and Iraan.
5.You know exactly what calf fries are, and eat them anyway.
7.You KNOW why there 's a town named "Notrees".
11.You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door but by the availability of shade.
22.Finally, you are definitely from West Texas if you have ever had this conversation:
"You wanna Coke?"
"Yeah."
"What kind?"
"Dr. Pepper."