Useful Tools

Just a short note to let you know that some of the features in the latest versions of the Internet browsers has made the Fair Park website even easier to use. For example, the Tab feature in both the Firefox and Internet Explorer 7 browsers is especially helpful. I have found it very useful to open both classmate directory pages and quickly switch back and forth between them as I check the accuracy of data for different classmates. I also watched a slide show of the senior class photos and would occasionally flip over to one of the directory pages to see if a particular classmate has provided his/her email address. Just run both the Photo and the Directory web pages in their own Tabs and flip back and forth as often as you wish. If you find that a classmate does have a linked email address in the classmate directory you can send them a note directly from that directory to let them know you were thinking of them.

Both browsers are free downloads. If you are not sure which you prefer download both and see how they work for you.

Help for Fair Park High School

Camilla Fulco Doughty mentioned to me that she had recently been contacted by Mr. Bruce Daigle concerning fund raising efforts at Fair Park to make improvements for their student athletes. I wrote Mr. Daigle to get more info on what they were trying to do and how others who wanted to help could get involved. Here is his response:

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We are trying to do many new things here at Fair Park. Here is a list of a few of the improvements we are trying to make for our students and athletes.

• We have cleaned out and painted one of our big shop areas in the gym and are trying to convert it into a weight room for all of the athletes. We have a bit of equipment but it is very old and in some cases broken down. Weight equipment is very costly. We hope to be able to raise money with fund raisers and the like, so we can make this a reality for our student /athletes.

• The boys football locker room needs new lockers, many of these have been here probably 20 years or so.

• We are also going to add a reading lab to our campus. Furniture is needed as well as lamps and other items that would go along with making it a first class lab.

Contributions can be sent to Fair Park High School noting in which area the funds are to be used, or folks can contact me at 318-635-8181. I would be happy to talk with any of them.

Thanks,
Bruce Daigle

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From what I understand this effort is related to the recent win by Fair Park's basketball team of the State AAA championship. Prior to getting Camilla's note Jackie Johnny Jones had sent me a newspaper article written by former coach and Principal at Fair Park, Clem Henderson. In his article Mr. Henderson mentioned attending a recent dinner celebrating the basketball championship win and what a tremendous morale boost the win had been for Fair Park. He also noted that the school could use some help. He suggested Fair Park alumni could make donations to the school in the name of Fair Park graduate Faron Young, or your favorite Fair Park teacher.

__________________________

If you want to have a part in this effort the address for Fair Park is:

3222 Greenwood Road
Shreveport, LA 71109
318-635-8181

Here's Looking At You Kid

The website performance statistics that I now receive from the new hit counters I installed on the class website reveal that only about 30 percent of the visits to the website are made on monitors using the 800 x 600 pixel resolution setting. This is important info because the 800 x 600 pixel resolution setting is the one that provides optimized viewing of the website.

For anyone not currently using the 800 x 600 pixel setting I'd like to suggest that you do a test to see if you might prefer this optimized setting on your monitor. If you don't like it better than what you are using now you can easily go back to your old setting. The Windows XP Help directions for changing resolution settings are shown below. (If you use another operating system check their Help functions for information.)

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To change the screen resolution settings:

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Click Display.
On the Settings tab, under Screen resolution, drag the slider to the 800 x 600 pixel setting (if it is not there already), and then click Apply.

After changing your screen resolutions to 800 x 600 open the Fair Park website and see if you like the difference. Check other websites you normally might visit to see what they will look like at 800 x 600 pixels. If you are not pleased, change your resolution settings back to what they were. If you share your computer with others be sure and let them know about the change so they can determine if it works for them.

Adjusting Text Size

Most of us hate to admit it, but it's true. Sometimes the text on a webpage is so small that its difficult to read. The good news is that many internet browsers allow you to adjust the size of the text with the click of your mouse. Go to the menu bar of your browser and click on the View command. A drop down menu should appear that allows you to adjust the Text Size. This whole process may be automated somewhat on some computers. To see if it is on your computer, hold down the Ctrl key and rotate the scroll wheel on your mouse. If that doesn't change the text size on a page then you will have to use the menu commands mentioned above. If the Ctrl key and scroll wheel process works in your internet browser, it may also work in your email browser. Try it and see.

Reunion News Update

Camilla just provided a reunion update to pass along to everyone:

Reunion update-----Hey grads---you will be receiving your mailer with reservation and dollar amounts for our 45th reunion in a short while----make your plans now to attend----there are a few surprises in store and I'll let you know some of them next time-----there seems to be a real interest from everyone. I believe we will see some of our folks for the first time in a long time at this reunion---looking forward to hugs from each and everyone---Camilla

HINT: How would you like to sit in your old home room ? or a desk in Jenny Jones or Mrs. McNeese's room------dum de dum dum

April 2006 Update

March was a fairly active month. I’ll just hit the highlights for you in a somewhat random order.

Have you noticed that I am not sending very many classwide emails anymore? That’s because I am now posting class related info here on the blog page where you can read it at your leisure. Check the blog page once or twice a week and you should have all the latest info. If you have any comments you want to share on a topic posted here just use the comment box that is at the bottom of every article. If you have something you want to pass along to me personally send me an email.

Photos from the Sequoyah of the 1961 senior class have been added to the website photos server. If you haven’t checked them out yet find some time to do it soon! Mickey Phillips did a wonderful job scanning all those photos. Thanks Mickey.

I received an update during March from Betty Carter Stokeld’s brother Sonny. He said Betty seems to be doing very well. During March Betty had another CAT scan and they did not find any recurrence of cancer or anything else unusual. Sonny said he appreciated the continued interest of everyone in the Class of '61 in Betty’s progress. As you may recall Sonny is from the FP Class of 1953.

I received a note from Judy Sewell Wilson regarding a chance meeting she had with classmate Barbara Kennedy Blaylock. Judy said Barbara had not heard of the planning going on for the reunion. Judy provided Barbara the class website address so Barbara could catch up. Judy also provided me an email address for Barbara and I wrote asking her for permission to add her email address to our class directory. If Barbara gives her permission I will include her email address in the May 2006 email directory.

RD and Betty Molcany Barber provided a new email address during March. It is shown in the email directory that I sent you for April 2006.

Henry Pharis from the FP Class of ’62 sent a note that he thought "missing" ’61 classmate Terry Dean had died sometime ago. Checking into that disclosed that Terry died in September 1999. Jackie Johnny Jones used that info to obtain Terry’s obituary from the archives at the Shreve Memorial Library. Terry's obituary has been included on the Memorial page of the web site. Thanks to both Henry and Johnny for their help on this matter.

The Mother of classmate Beverly June Mullins Shay passed away in Shreveport on March 8th, and the Mother of classmate Donald Greene passed away in Shreveport on March 27th. Please continue to remember Beverly and her family, and Donald and his family in your prayers.

I had a note from Jackie Caldwell Valentine in early March that she and Earle had visited with classmate Barbara Addison Cromer during February. Jackie noted that Barbara is a first cousin to Earle and was in town for a 96th birthday party for their aunt. Jackie said she does not have Barbara’s email address but is in email contact with Barbara’s sister. Jackie is supposed to get Barbara's email address and see if she wants to be added to the class email directory. Jackie also noted that Barbara retired in November 2005 and is still living in Florida, but isn't quite sure if she will stay there. As soon as Jackie gets Barbara’s info she said she would pass it along.

Carolyn Holliday Eichner sent a note March 1st that her youngest daughter Christie is finally home in Oregon after completing an extended trip throughout Central America. Christie completed her Peace Corp service in Panama on October 14, 2005, but spent the next four months “moseying” through Central America. No doubt Christie saw sites and had experiences she will remember the rest of her life. Carolyn is just thankful that Christie is safely home. Amazing how our priorities changes as we age.

Planning for the reunion is continuing. Do remember to mention the reunion to any Class of ’61 alumni you may encounter. They may be hearing the news for the first time. Please be prepared to tell them how to find the latest reunion information on the class website. If they have questions not covered there tell them to get in touch with Camilla using the email capabilities of the Classmate Directory webpage.

And finally, at least one reunion committee member is a firm believer that getting involved can be very good for you. Jerry Cook told me back in January that his reunion committee work had brought him back into contact with Carrol Ann Hanson Simpson. He and Carrol had dated while at Fair Park but life took them in different directions. However, after they reconnected Jerry was quite delighted to find that they both still enjoyed being together. On March 28th I received the following note from Jerry. “I am pleased to announce the formal email address change of Carrol Ann Hanson Simpson from carol_simpson99@------ to carrol_cook@------ (all legal and final). As of last Sunday at 2:00 pm, 3/26/2006, my high school sweetheart became Mrs. Jerry Cook, making me the happiest guy on this earth. At least I will be when my feet get back to earth. "Lil' miss goody 2 shoes" has been corrupted by the dirty old man, finally!!!!! Please update the database and change her address and phone # to mine. With a big smile on my face, Jerry Cook .”

Carrol also sent a note and said, “Just a note to let you know that I am Proud and Pleased to have the distinction or being Mrs. Jerry Cook. Jerry said he has corrupted goody 2 shoes, well "goody 2 shoes" as he called me does not feel corrupted. She definitely feels very LOVED. I could not have had a greater honor conferred on me!!!!!!!!”

Carrol also included two photos with her note. One photo was taken in February 1961 when she and Jerry were at their church sweetheart banquet. The other was taken on March 26th at their wedding. I wanted to include both photos but found that I could only get one to show up, so I chose the photo made on their wedding day. Please join with me in wishing Carrol and Jerry the very best the Lord has to offer for their life together. If you want to see both photos go to Album o2 on the Photos page.

Well on that note I will make my exit. I do hope April is a great month for everyone. Stay in touch.