I attended San Jose Elementary. I always liked recess (still do). I walked to school, and took my lunch money every day and jumped the wall to go to Cross Roads Market and get real food (not that slop they served in the cafeteria!). Mr. Roundtree, the principal, put an end to my culinary adventures. Summers were spent at San Jose because they had a great recreation program ran by Mr. Greene (Pomona HS's cross-country and track coach) and Ganesha Park (Mr. Dellenhaugh [sp]). Dirt clod battles in the field between San Jose Elementary and Cross Roads Market were interesting, too.

Junior high: Emerson JHS and it opened a whole new world of friends, many of whom I hold dear to this day. I still remember Patty Brown and Robin Burke poking Jon Braden and I in the back with their bass bows (Jon and I were playing cello). Robin was my first real girl fiend and Patty has been prodding me ever since. (But I soon changed to bass so I was equally armed!

I spent my first year of high school at Pomona High and had to make new friends at GHS starting with my junior year. I feel doubly blessed to have great friends from both schools. Always competed in variious sports (cross country, track and senior year tennis).

Music . . . forever (still do) from elementary to graduation and beyond. Orchestra and senior year Madrigals. "Teahouse of the August Moon" was my theatre moment and we had a ball. Most of all competitive debate, which began sophomore year at PHS continued to be a major influence in my life. I coached intercollegiate debate until 1992 and published several books and articles on argumentation and debate.

Peter Philips is correct about driving around town in the brand new Cadillac convertible prior to it being used for Candy Hull's drive around MtSAC stadium for our Home Coming. But that is just one of hundreds of great memories including, but not limited to, harassing Cactus Jack (social studies teacher . . . I don't remember his real name, Mr. Wooten?) with various road signs and blinking work lights from a construction site. I remember once being informed (by Cactus Jack of all people) that a certain two seniors (Pete Philips and I) would not be graduating if a certain 1/2 telephone pole was not removed from the Superintendent of Schools driveway! (Peter was dating the Superintendent's daughter at the time.) Ah, high school - - - I remember playing "tag" with our cars and hiding for what seemed like hours as the cops were parked outside Charlie MacDonald's house as Pete and I were in the middle of tee-peeing Charlie's house. Peter and I visited Charlie during his last few good days on this earth--we miss him.

On reflection, I can think of two: 1. the killing of President Kennedy (I was in math class when the announcement came), and 2. singing at Candy Hull's mother's funeral (I was glad the Madrigals could do it, but it was so very sad). I have a new least favorite memory, not seeing many of you as often as I would like. But you can find me on Facebook or look at some of my photography on my web site or listen to some of my music on YouTube or on FarmDogFolk.bandcamp.com. If the link doesn't work, email me.

Oh, my . . . so many memories. I remember Madrigals, orchestra, jazz band, my own folk trio. I remember debating with Peter Philips and running cross country with Bobby Tarjan and Peter Philips. I loved our production of Teahouse of the August Moon (which I directed a few years later when I was teaching high school). So many memories . . . in part, it's why we have reunions: to share our collective memories.

Mrs. Lepp ... Emerson Jr. High & Ganesha. Many good teachers, but Mrs. Lepp was tops.

Mrs. Lepp was tough and her expectations high. But she was fundamentally concerned about us as students, as individuals. Many of us spent afternoons just hanging around her classroom after school (especially when I had her at Emerson JHS). Always with the homework, minimally five vocabulary words a day plus the regular course work. I still use those vocabulary words and baffled many of my college students. I guess they are too diffident. (Mrs. Lepp would only give me half credit for using diffident in a sentence since it is sort of accurately used, but not quite.)

Took drivers education with Bobby Tarzan . . . how is that possible? He's a year younger than most of us. Hmmmmm. I think he had a fender bender (right or wrong Bobby?). (By the way, just how proud are we of Dr. Robert Tarzan!) My memory may not be firing on all cylinders on this question. I did pass my drivers exam the first time . . . in my dad's Chevy Nova. Ironically, I took the entire test with the parking brake on. At the very end of the test the examiner asked me to set the parking brake. Since it was already set, I just pretended to set it.

First accident was a very minor fender bender with Peter Philips' '56 Ford station wagon. A beautiful blond I had just met was sitting beside me and my eyes wandered! My first ticket (1967) was also woman instigated! Driving in Pomona on a main drag in the left lane, my new bride, Judi, said "Turn Here!" I did. I wasn't in the left-hand turn lane and the officer was kind enough to remind me of that with a ticket. I did not get another ticket for forty years!

'52 Chevy chocolate brown convertible which I shared with my brother Rick. Couldn't drive it on the freeway, it would not go that fast. Peter Philips "Chariot", '56 Ford station wagon was like a second car to me. The first car I bought that was all mine was a hard-top convertible Reneault Caravelle . . . a sporty little thing that ran lousy. I'll try to remember to post photos.

I just remember being in Mr. Bender's class and I don't even remember being sent home, so I certainly don't remember what I did that day. I do remember that my dad thought there was a bit too much hysteria. When Bobby was shot, I was a few blocks away having decided at the last minute to skip the event in person.

Where ever my friends were . . . pizza joints, Mel's, etc.

The F.B.I. has locked up that information until 2075 as a matter of national security.

This is all highly classified information. Ask me at the next reunion.

Patty Brown (PHS) from junior high school to today! But it's secret, so don't tell her. We remain good friends to this day.

If I get cool rhythms and crazy vibes, I go straight to my doctor to find out what's wrong!

Retirement began June 20, 2020 -- after fifty years of teaching. It's been a year since I retired and I now know how much I didn't get projects done while I was busy professorializing. With Judi gone almost 6 months now, I'm concentrating on fixing up the house, photography and music. September 2023 update -- still working on the house, doing a lot with photography and music, but also traveling a bit -- San Diego, Italy, Canada.

I asked my good friend and economist Peter Philips, Ph.D., about that and he counseled me to keep on teaching and just have a hearse on call outside my academic office. Not bad advice. But how come economists seem to have a lot to say and never fix the economy?

Since I have summarily ignored Pete's advice, I will be concentrating on my photography (photobywood.zenfolio.com) and my music (farmdogfolk.bandcamp.com). By the way, Pete is till rangering in the Tetons in the summer, still taking long sabbaticals and plans on teaching until . . . whenever. His birthday is three days before mine, so every year I afford him three days of respect (actually elevated respect, since I respect him all the time).

My hobbies of photography and music are a part of my day to day being . . . Thankfully my university schedule gave me time for my hobbies and now in retirement and I'm a bachelor, my time is my own. My photos can be viewed on my website:

photobywood.zenfolio.com

My music can be heard at: farmdogfolk.band.camp.com
If you have any trouble seeing my images or hearing my music, then email me at MuleyPoint@cox.net.

I was a professor of Communication and Film Studies at the University of Rhode Island beginning in 1982 until retirement May 2020. My research areas included argumentation and debate, political rhetoric and the rhetoric of both music and film. The last ten years or so I specialized in teaching to senior level electives: "The Rhetoric of Sports in Film" and "The Rhetoric of Music". Hey, someone's had to do it! Now related courses in those areas of study are popping up in various disciplines across campus.

Now? Photography and music.

Worked part time for a land surveyor assistant (you know, the guy holding the stick). We'd leave Pomona early the morning (weekends) and drive to Arrowhead, survey some lots, drive home and called it a day! Good money, little work, beautiful scenery. I also helped to do the finish work in an apartment building (hired and fired Pete Philips--he's still mad about that) that was really very little work, lots of time off and good pay. Recently, Pete and I discussed this little adventure and like good friends do, the story details are somewhat in question. But then again, I know I'm right!!

Before the University of Rhode Island, I was at the University of Maryland as an instructor as I earned my Ph.D. Before that, I was a graduate assistant at the University of Maine while earning my M.A.. Before that, I taught high school at Biddeford High (Maine) for 7 years right after finishing my undergraduate work at CalPoly. While at Biddeford, part of what I did was direct theatre and I directed Teahouse of the August Moon, Bye Bye Birdie and Little Abner (all inspired by GHS productions). While at Mt. SAC and CalPoly, I worked at Ruffing Music store and for Wayne Book Photography. (Strange, my two hobbies continue to be photography and music!)

Music and photography. .

More than some, less than others. Photo outings are the most common and include, in recent years, Death Valley, Zion, Bryce, the Four Corners area, Everglades, San Miguel de Allende (Mexico), Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Yellowstone, Tetons (with a special guided tour by Ranger, aka Ph.D., Peter Philips), San Francisco, Oregon Coast & Columbia River Gorge. South Africa, October 2011--what a trip. If you haven't seen the photos, let me know. I may post the YouTube links for a few videos I shot in HD.

More recent travels include Hawaii, San Diego (for Rhode Island, it is a vacation destination), Italy and Canada.

Repeated visits to photograph NYC with my co-author/colleague David Pincus. Last trip, to finish our project, was August 2016. On the last night of shooting, we were on a small rocky beach at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge looking at the Manhattan skyline (beautiful). I finished shooting, turned to leave the beach and slipped on the rocks. I dislocated and broke my right ankle! Brooklyn emergency hospital fixed me up to travel back home to Rhode Island. Despite two surgeries and a newer, stronger ankle . . . it still reminds when it is going to rain!

I love traveling around New England, upstate NY, and I love the west and never tire of the scenery. I had a great time working with a National Geographic photographer in Mexico and another in the Yellowstone. There is so much beauty in this country that I'm not often tempted to travel outside the country, but New Zealand and/or Cuba is calling. Italy is also a possibility. But I'm an opportunist when it comes to travel locations. I plan to be in California for my neice's wedding early in January, so I'll stay awhile and explore some photo options -- yes, maybe even Yosemite in the winter!

I also enjoy vicarious travel by our fellow GHS alum as they post their photos on Facebook.

Once every 18-24 months. I should be out that way early in January, 2022 (which I was), but don't know when I'll get out to SoCalif again (soon I hope).

Born in Connecticut, lived in Nebraska (1 year), grew up in Pomona (grades 1-12 plus Mt.SAC and CalPoly), lived in Maine (1969-1978), Maryland (1979-1982) and Rhode Island (since 1982).

If I was filthy rich, I might have a home in Hawaii, California, New Mexico, and Africa. But I'm not filthy rich and I don't mind having to save my money to visit these wonderful places. Luckily, I have a small place (good for retirement) near the beach in a resort community.

Peter Philips remains my closest friend from that time period and we manage to keep in touch and see each other from time to time. He is the name-sake for my first born. I really enjoy reigniting my friendship with Emerald Stara (Jacquie Good) and others like Chris Holm and Charles MacDonald. Before Charles MacDonald passed on, Peter Philips and I spent some quality time with him . . . good memories, a sad passing.

That I have so little gray hair! . . . and so little hair compared to high school. Although since first writing this, the percentage of gray hair is increasing while the total percentage of hair is decreasing. My career path is surprising to me, if you had told me in high school that I was going to earn a Ph.D., teach at a university and chair the largest department on campus for over 12 years, I would have broken into uncontrollable laughter. I told Pete Philips that if I wrote an autobiography it would be titled: "Luck!" He said, "oh no, it would be titled Dumb Luck!" As usual, he is right.

Music and photography. I spend too much time and too much money on each, but like all vices, I like all my vices!
However, I need to spend even more time on my music and photography.

Yes

Yes

Nothing that's not classified or readily available on-line or at our next reunion!
My wife of 54 years, passed away on December 22 from and year long, often painful, battle with lung and bone cancer. Her fight was long and hard, her death was painless and peaceful. In spite of CoVid, the hospital went to extraordinary lengths so I could be by her side as she passed. Sad and heartbreaking.

"Pain makes one think,
Thought makes one wise,
Wisdom makes life endurable."
(Sakini, Teahouse of the August Moon)