2012 Annual MWHS Reunion - June 8-9

Information Letter and Forms about our 2012 Annual MWHS Reunion can be found here on our MWHS 50 Year Club website. The reunion is scheduled for June 8th and 9th in the new High School at 3801 Ram Boulevard. Friday evening's registration will begin at 5:30 P.M. and end at 7:30 P.M. Light refreshments (not a meal) will be provided by the class of 1961 beginning at 6:00 P.M. in the food court. Saturday morning's fellowship and registration will begin at 8:00 A.M. with coffee, juice and pastries available. Registration will end at 10:30 A.M. so we can all attend the Induction of Class of 1962 program at 10:45 A.M. in the High School Auditorium. Lunch will be served in the food court at 12:00 noon. Click HERE to read the rest of the letter and forms mailed to the membership and Class of 1962 on April 11, 2012.

Be sure and retrieve and mail the Teacher Hall of Fame Registration and Nominations Form ~ Vote for your favorite teacher!

URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT - DECEMBER 1, 2011

The Executive Board of the MWHS 50 Year Club has voted to continue renovation of the Home Economics Building at Mountaineer Heritage Park.

Do I have a "way to go" or it's about time"?? Let us tell you the work that has already been done.

• New roof and new windows installed
• Grounds graded and retaining wall built to prevent future drainage problems
• Adjacent open-air amphitheater restored and in use
• Next step - asbestos abatement bids taken, contract to be awarded
• Future use of the Home Ec Building - Office space for the 50 Year Club and large meeting rooms for rent by community organizations and individuals for meetings, reunions, weddings, receptions, and the like to generate revenue for the Club
• Note: This is a renovation to period project, not a restoration to former classroom functions

We are calling for your help to see this project to completion. A challenge has been made by Janna Chandler McDonald, Class of 1958. She has given $25,000.00 in memory of her husband, Roy McDonald, also Class of 1958, toward this project.

Now it is time for the General Membership of the club to pitch in to bring this project home. With Janna's challenge in mind, we are asking you to consider an end-of-year donation or pledge toward this project. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated. Mail your check or pledge to the 50 Year Club with the notation "Home Ec Building Fund." We will give you periodic reports of funds received and progress made. If you have any questions, call the office and we will respond.

"Envision this time as a period of growth, leadership, contribution, and leaving a legacy - living Life with a Purpose." - R. E. Mason

JOHN S. MURPHY, JR., Veteran Tribute

As many of us still have our veterans on our minds and in our hearts today, I want to share with you the story of one of our own. 

A Mineral Wells High School graduate from the class of 1958, John S. Murphy, Jr. began his long career with the U. S. Air Force in the Reserves in 1961 after spending some time in the Texas Army National Guard. He was commissioned a 2^nd Lt through the Air Force ROTC program at Texas Technological College in 1964, and went on active duty beginning in July of that year. He then completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings at Reese AFB, Texas, in August 1965, followed by B-52 Stratofortress Combat Crew Training.

His first assignment was as a B-52 pilot with the 26^th Bomb Squadron at Altus AFB, Oklahoma, and after completing F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training, he served as an F-105 pilot with the 34^th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from February to October 1968.

Capt Murphy served as an instructor pilot with the 3500^th and 3501^st Pilot Training Squadrons at Reese AFB from November 1968 to August 1971, and then completed F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training before serving as an F-4 pilot with the 469^th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB from November 1971.

On June 8, 1972 he was forced to eject over South Vietnam while flying a Tiger Fast FAC mission, and was taken as a Prisoner of War by North Vietnamese forces. This was his second shoot-down, having been forced to eject over Laos during an earlier Tiger Fast FAC mission on February 10, 1972, and being rescued the next day. After spending 293 days in captivity, Capt. Murphy was released during Operation Homecoming on March 27, 1973.

He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and then served as an F-4 pilot with the 32^nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Camp New Amsterdam in the Netherlands from Sept 1973 to June 1976, followed by Air command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

Maj Murphy's final assignment was on the staff of Headquarters U. S. Air Force in the Pentagon, where he served as an Air Operations Staff Officer with the Tactical Division in the Office of the Deputy Director for Combat Readiness, Directorate of Operations and Readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, from June 1977 until he resigned his commission in the Air Force on June 15, 1978.

John and Jo McCloud (Class of 1959) have been married since 1959 and have 3 children and 8 grandchildren.

His 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross w/Valor Citation reads:

Captain John S. Murphy distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as an F-4E Forward Air Controller in Southeast Asia on 30 April 1972. On that date Captain Murphy repeatedly led strike flights into lucrative warehouse and storage complexes despite deteriorating weather and intense antiaircraft fire. Remaining in the target area for over four hours, his directions, under extremely trying circumstances, were responsible for the destruction of eleven warehouses and large amounts of supplies with no friendly losses. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Captain Murphy reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Thank you for your service, John, and your love of country; and we also thank Jo for her faithfulness and courage, holding your beautiful family together until you returned.

Capt. Murphy with his F-105 Thunderchief in 1968

JOHN S. MURPHY, JR.

Major O-4,  U.S. Air Force

Texas Army National Guard 1957-1961
U.S. Air Force Reserve 1961-1964
U.S. Air Force 1964-1978
Cold War 1957-1978
Vietnam War 1968, 1971-1973 (POW)


SOURCES:
John S. Murphy, Jr., Veteran Tribute, http://www.veterantributes.org, accessed November 12, 2011

Mineral Wells High School Yearbooks, 1958, 1959

In Appreciation of Those Who Serve

On this eve of another Veteran’s Day, I would like to take a moment to reflect upon the service of the men and women who have served our country in our Armed Services here and abroad.

Mineral Wells High School has many names on that honored roll of Veterans who have defended our freedom and represented our country over the years. Many have husbands, wives, fathers and mothers who served. Many have children that still serve.

We express our appreciation to the Mineral Wells High School Alumni and their families who represented us in every branch of the service.

       Photo from 1945 MWHS Burro

Minutes of June 10, 2011 Board Meeting - Next Meeting Scheduled

The next Executive Board Meeting has now been scheduled. Information about the meeting can be found on the Executive Board Meetings Page as well as a copy of the minutes of the last meeting held on June 10, 2011. Just click the tab above entitled Executive Board Meetings or the red link in the left column and it will take you there. Please report any broken links to me, Judy Shubert, bscrooge@charter.net.

The Latest

 

Charles Dwayne Carter

November 29, 1939 - October 23, 2011

The 50 Year Club and the Class of 1959 lost a beloved friend Sunday when Charles Carter, age 71, passed away at his home in Mineral Wells, Texas. He was an active member of the club as are his sister and brother-in-law, R. E. and Neta Carter Mason.

Charles was a member of the American Legion, as well as the 50 Year Club. His Class of 1959 were inducted into the club in 2009. The above picture was taken during the class reunion dinner that year. Charles owned and operated Carter Station in Mineral Wells.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at the Southside Church of Christ in Mineral Wells. His burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery in Millsap. His family received visitors from 6:00-8:00 P.M at the Baum Carlock Bumgardner Funeral Home on Tuesday evening.

Charles was the son of Paul and Merdell Rhodes Carter who preceded him in death. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law: Noel and Patsy Carter, sister and brother-in-law: Neta and R. E. Mason, longtime companion: Nancy Hawkins and family, all of Mineral Wells, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister: Oreta Vincent, and nephew: Ricky Mason.

So many will miss you, Charles. May you rest in peace.

SOURCES

PHOTOGRAPH:

Archived digital format belonging to MWHS 50 Year Club, taken 2009 at annual reunion and induction of MWHS Class of 1959

Some information taken from obituary posted on Mineral Wells Index

 

"Highpockets"

In memory of Ricky

1955 - 2006

Walk to Defeat ALS

 

Our son, Ricky Mason, lost his battle with this horrible disease, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, May 24, 2006, at the age of fifty, leaving two beautiful daughters, ages ten and nine at the time.  It was in his memory that every member of our family, except one - nineteen of us - participated  in the Fort Worth Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011.  R. E. had called Ricky "Highpockets" from the time he could walk, and that is what his girls chose for the team's name.

Members of his graduating Class of 1974 and close friends of ours joined the team and walked with us. Since our team raised more money for ALS than any other team there  - $8,903 - Ricky's daughters, Carter & Bailey, got to cut the ribbon and our team led off the walk. 

It was such a great day for such a great cause!

Neta Mason

SOURCE:

PHOTOGRAPH

Fort Worth Walk to Defeat ALS "Highpockets" team, digital format belonging to Neta Mason and sent to Judith Richards Shubert October 22, 2011

 

Yvonne Smith Vaughan
MWHS Class of 1947

2011 Coming Home Queen

Escorted by Husband Bob Vaughan

SOURCE
PHOTOGRAPH:

Vaughan, Yvonne Smith, Digital Format, original taken and owned by Judith Richards Shubert,

September 2011