Past blurps

July 23, 2016. 7PM - 11PM. Cross Creek Ranch. 3406 Dublin Road. Parker, Texas 75002. Did you go to our 40th Reunion? It's the same place - they changed the name to Cross Creek Ranch. Why did we have it here again? IT WAS AFFORDABLE. Calls and visits were made to other locations. We could not afford the down payment. Remember we sold blankets to help with our 40th reunion - we were able to really keep the cost down because of those blankets. The money left over from our 40th was used as the down payment for our 45th.

The Ranch is located at 3406 Dublin Rd., in Parker, Texas. The price is Right!

Put all that together & we have our 40th Class Reunion! Plans are being made, people are being found, menus are being selected – all for your REUNION!

The Ranch is located at 3406 Dublin Rd., in Parker, Texas. The price is Right!

WHEN: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 WHERE: GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL TIME: FROM NOON UNTIL 3:00 P. M.

The GHS Alumni Association is sponsoring the sixth annual All-School Reunion. Invitations are being mailed to class members from years: ’30, ’35 – ’73, ’79, ’84, ’87 – ’88 and ’97. Classes not listed do not have class representatives. CLASSES WITHOUT REPRESENTATIVES have a table set up at the reunion. We will have someone available to tell those without class representatives how they can have their own class table at the 2011 reunion.

The Hyatt Place Hotel, 5101 George Bush Freeway, Garland, (972) 414-3500, Fax (972) 414-3550, will have a few rooms available at the reduced rate of $79. When making reservations, you must tell them you are attending the GHS All-School Reunion and to get the reduced rate you must make your reservations by October 1.

Our Distinguished Alumni program begins at 2:00 P. M. This year’s Distinguished Alumni Inductees are: the late Bill Bradfield ’43, Charles Smith ’59, and Cathy Stricklin Krendl ’63.

The Mighty Owl Band Boosters Club will be selling grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, drinks and other snacks.

I look forward to seeing you on October 30. Jay Jones, President (by default of the GHS Alumni Assoc.)

Where: Desperados #2, 3443 W Campbell Rd, Garland, TX 75044 Northeast corner of Jupiter Rd. and Campbell Rd.

GHS All-School Reunion, Saturday, Oct 30 at the GHS gym, beginning at noon with the Distinguished Alumni program at 2 PM.

Next Class of '71 Get-Together is scheduled for Saturday, May 22 at Texas Land and Cattle in the Bass Pro development at Lake Hubbard and I-30 in Garland. Address is 4881 Bass Pro Dr, Garland, TX 75043. Phone: 972-203-1333. Mark your calendar.

Event: February 13th, 2010 - Jakes in Dallas

Start Time: Saturday, February 13 at 7:00pm

End Time: Saturday, February 13 at 11:00pm

Where: Jakes, 5505 Beltline Rd., Dallas

Jakes in Dallas just west of Preston Rd., 5505 Beltline Rd., Dallas, 7pm, 972-503-5253 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 972-503-5253 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, Casual, relay to anyone you are in contact.

Class dinner on Saturday, September 12, 7pm at Love & War in Texas in Plano. Address: 601 E. Plano Pkwy., Plano, TX 75074.

No RSVP, just show up!

Joe T Garcia's in Fort Worth is the site for our next get-together and the date is June 20th. Please be in line by 5:00 p.m. so that we can all sit together!

Saturday, April 4th dinner at Jakes. 701 W. Parker, Plano, TX 75023. NO RSVP necessary. We will have a semi-private room (depending on how many show up) and they have a nice heated patio – if we need that in April!

We are urging our classmates to join the Garland High School Project Alumni website. It has a one time $7.00 fee. It’s cheaper than classmates and can be used in the same manner. http://garlandowls.projectalumni.org/garlandowls

In an effort to keep personal emails out of our business email accounts, BrendaDebbieToni has set up a g-mail acct. Please email your questions/concerns/ideas or anything else to: ghsclassof1971@gmail.com

Bob Matthews has created a FACEBOOK account for our class. Join & let’s all be friends – several of your classmates are already on FACEBOOK.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: We still have about 20 or so blankets left to sell. If you don’t have one, you may never get one, so BUY ONE NOW and help support your class reunions.

BrendaDebbieToni would like to sincerely thank those of you who have purchased these blankets! We (Toni, actually) made a leap of faith purchasing these blankets on her credit card! We paid her back and started our reunion account…nice to be in the black again!

Saturday, November 4th, 7:30 to 11:30 pm, at Chandler ’s Landing in Rockwall , TX

Dress - Appropriate. Jeans, slacks, sports jacket, cocktail attire, tuxedo and/or formal wear. Cutoffs discouraged, but if you won't attend unless it's in cutoffs, then..................

Directions - Here is link to a map to Chandler's. Once you connect to the link, use the zoom on the left side to get a better idea of where it is. You could also select Directions To under the Address at the top left and Enter the From Address for specific directions from where you are coming from. Map

This intersection is rather complicated, but don't despair, the streets do intersect. Just remember, you want to stay south of I-30, going away from downtown Rockwall.
From Interstate 30 (I-30) and the Horizon Road/Village Drive/Ridge Road exit (exit 67):
South on Horizon Road/Ridge Road (these roads intersect so it doesn't matter which one you are on. If you are on Horizon you will turn right onto Ridge Road at the light and if you are on Ridge Road you will go straight through the light) and CONTINUE ON RIDGE ROAD. (Note, if you are on Village Drive, you are going north and need to turn around).
Go 1.5miles
and turn right onto Henry M Chandler Drive.
Go 0.1 mile
and turn right onto Chandler Landing/Commodore Plaza (gated). Tell the guard you are there for the Garland High School reunion.
Go 0.1 mile
and turn left onto Yacht Club Drive.
Go 0.7 mile
weaving your way through the neighborhood
and arrive at 501 Yacht Club Drive, left side of street, down a slight incline to the parking lot. Chandler's Landing phone number is 972-771-2051.

Reunion will be held downstairs in the Commodore Room of the main Club House. Parking is self park in front of the main building.

As most of you know, preliminary plans for our 35th class reunion have been in the “working” stages since June, 2006. Absolute, final, NO MORE EXTENSION deadlines for the function are loaming right in front of us. The balance of the class budget is not enough to carry this event forward; therefore, the planning committee is relying upon you, classmate, to make reservations and having you send in your reservation fee immediately --- not tomorrow, next week or at the door, but RIGHT NOW THIS VERY MINUTE (doesn’t that sound like your mother?). The mailout deadline has already passed but several of you did not receive the reunion invitation (bad addresses, no forwarding address, etc.). If you are holding this notice in your hands or reading it on your computer, and you plan on attending the reunion, call (972) 393-9341, or email JilnTexas at aol dot com --- it’s necessary to write out the words or mass email screening tools catch the return email address and block the mailing --- right now to Jill Anderson Blanton. Then pull out your checkbook and send in your reservation fee to Jill Anderson Blanton, 846 Meadowglen Circle , Coppell , TX 75019 . REMEMBER: THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES IF THIS EVENT DOES NOT TAKE PLACE. This is a lovely dining room, with a delicious dinner menu and beautiful scenery. Extreme care has been put into planning a very enjoyable evening for all. Reunion to be held Saturday, November 4th, 7:30 to 11:30 pm, at Chandler ’s Landing in Rockwall , TX . Reservations are $40.00 per person/dinner buffet, dancing and visiting with classmates. Cash bar. If you know where we can locate other classmates, please email or phone in their contact information

Jill Anderson Blanton, Toni Testa Murphy, Brenda Poovey Lunsford, Debbie Ball Goldin

1971 GHS Classmates,
Hello, everyone! (I'm going to apologize right up front for the several duplications you will probably receive of these beginning emails. Email addresses are coming from several resources and I want to avoid not notifying any classmates of the reunion plans---the more input we have, the better---so please be patient.). ** Please respond to receipt of this reunion notice by email to JilnTexas@aol.com.

All of us should by now have passed the half a century mark (do we really need to be reminded? Isn't it enough to feel the stiffness in our backs and knees each morning?). We sit, not with our kids, but grandkids (and in some cases, our great-grandkids), watching Barney and Bob the Builder in high definition TV! We've changed our eating habits to include more berries, nuts, dried fruit and other anti-oxidants/anti-aging foods [but still cheat and grab 2 tacos for 99 cents at Jack-in-the Box! (they taste the very same as they did in 1971!)].
And we have found ourselves, more and more, taking care of our parents instead of them taking care of us.

Preliminary 35th Reunion plans stand as follows:

Chandler's Landing Yacht and Tennis Club, Main dining room.
Rockwall, Texas.
Saturday, November 4, 2006.
7:30 pm to 11:30 pm.
Registration: $40.00/person (based on attendance of 200), buffet/tea and water, with a cash bar, disc jockey and dance floor.
(Menu not set as of yet).

This is a beautiful location. The main dining room overlooks the marina and Lake Ray Hubbard. (And most importantly, the restaurant is available on the weekend to allow out-of-town classmates travel time!) This date co-ordinates with the GHS Homecoming. The GHS Homecoming pep rally and football game is Friday, November 3, 2006. The GHS All Classes/School Reunion is Saturday, October 28, 2006 at Garland High (contact GHS Alumni Association, Inc., jayjones.realty@verizon.net, 972-272-5222, for more information).

Your feedback is requested on how to continue with plans for a class reunion. Classmates who have attended the past several casual reunion summer get togethers (at local area restaurants), as well as those classmates far away, have expressed a desire to have larger gatherings on the "5th" and/or "10th" years. Last summer, several venues were suggested, keeping the location as close to Garland as possible. The Patty Granville Atrium (along with its' sister venue, the Atrium at the Eisemann Center, in Richardson) was checked out and found to be booked through and past Christmas 2006. The new Garland Arena is booked (no alcohol). The "Mansions" in Garland/Richardson may not be large enough. Garland has very few hotels, none of which has satisfactory facilities. And school-owned facilities do not allow alcohol. Several Dallas hotels were already booked into 2007. Timing was also an issue. Several classmates wanted summer; several wanted the reunion to be closer to the GHS Homecoming (during the cooler fall season).

WHAT DO YOU WANT??? The class budget is $186.00. The room rental deposit for the above facility is $1,000.00. Your immediate feedback is necessary to proceed. Will you attend this planned reunion? Registration fees will be asked for now to start the collection for the above room deposit reservation.

Other questions to be asked and answered in the future: Do you prefer summer or fall as a reunion time? Are you willing to serve on a planning committee? Are you interested in having larger reunions every 5/10 years? Do you have suggestions/connections for other locations? Remember, out-of-town/state classmates are not able to attend the casual dinner get togethers.

10/18/2006 - At this point, please contact us to let us know you will be there.
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Garland High School, Class of 1971, 35th Reunion Reservation Form

Student Name _____________________________________________________

Spouse/significant other ____________________________________________
Please include maiden name if 1971 classmate

Address _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Phone _(________)_____________________________________
Email _______________________________________________
Mail reservation/check to: Jill Blanton, 846 Meadowglen Circle, Coppell, TX 75019

Number attending, $40.00 registration x ___________________
Amount of check enclosed $_________________________________
Acknowledgement of receipt of check will be given if you provide email address.

More information to come.

The fourth annual GHS All-School Reunion will be held on Saturday, Oct 18, 2008 in the boy's gym at GHS. It begins at noon and runs until 3:00 and it is free. Our reunion committee will visit with classmates until 1:45 and then go to the auditorium for the program to honor several distinguished GHS Alumni.

Please join your Class for dinner the evening of October 18, 2008, 7:00PM - 10:00PM. 10/14/2008. We have changed locations for our dinner! We can order off the menu, cash bar, & live music. Please RSVP today & tomorrow. We need a head count by tomorrow at 5pm. You can also RSVP by calling Brenda at 214/674-9160 or Toni at 214/668-1837 or Debbie at 469/363-0762. RSVP ASAP!

As always it's not a party unless you're there - otherwise we'll talk about you!! To keep these mini-reunions going, we really need you there for dinner that night. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

David Lee Strom, Sr., 55, of Greenville, died Saturday, August 23, 2008, in Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. Funeral services will be Tuesday, August 26, 2008, at 11:00 AM in Coker-Mathews Chapel with Rev. Bill Eason and Rev. Neal Michell officiating. Burial will be in Money Cemetery.

Mr. Strom was born in Troy, Pennsylvania on September 29, 1952, the son of Edward and Ruth Bennett Strom. He married Robin Pasley on April 19, 1974, in Rockwall, Texas. He was a former store manager for Car Quest and a member of the Kingston United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Greenville Lions Club, active in the Follies, a former member of the Caddo Mills Volunteer Fire Department and a former member of the Caddo Mills School Board.

He is survived by his wife, Robin Strom of Greenville; daughter, Stacey Carter and her husband, Curtis of Celeste; son, Lee Strom and his wife, Jennifer of Celeste; grandchildren, Bailee, Bethany and Brenden Carter of Celeste and Aaron and Makayla Strom of Celeste; sisters, Barbara Austin and her husband, Joe of Celeste, Vickie Chapman and her husband, David of Houston, Becky Sue Holt and her husband, Dale of Ector; brother, Teddy Strom and his wife, Sherie of California; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Rebecca Strom.

Pallbearers will be James Carter, Kenneth Carter, Russell Carter, David Horton, Darby Hubbard and Daryl Hubbard.

Visitation will be Monday, August 25, 2008, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Email from Bill Evans - Class of 1958 - 06/02/2008 - Sounds like our crew has been busy with the blanket sales - Have you bought yours yet?

Thanks to Brenda, Toni & Debbie for participating in our reunion. Glad to help you with your sales and hope you enjoyed the evening. (I know only two of you showed, but, forgot which one did not. Sorry. Lost my notes as you saw on Saturday night.)

Bill Evans
1958 Class Chairman

Congratulations: To GHS Class of 1971!
We're making money! We have sold over 100 blankets (see one on our website & purchase!). We sold them at the All School Reunion last October & at GHS football & basketball games. We have been invited to the Class of 1958's reunion this May to sell more. SUPPORT YOUR CLASS REUNIONS & BUY A BLANKET! We will post earnings on our website soon.

Bert and I want to thank all of you for your support, prayers, and emails for the nine months Jill was so ill. She looked forward to your visits with a twinkle in her eyes and was always so excited to see everyone. Her spirits were lifted when she heard from each of you. During a time like this, we realize how much our friends really mean to us…your expressions of sympathy will always be remembered.

We love all of you and thank you again for helping to make things easier for her, Bert, and myself.

You always hear how a funeral will be a celebration of life. Her service truly was. Bert talked freely before, during and after the service. Jim Dungan officiated along with several family friends of Bert & Jill. It included a video slide show of family pictures. It was so touching. We laughed and cried.

Several classmates were in attendance and believe it or not, we sang our Alma Mater! Toni and Brenda thought it was the right thing to do…. And it was. Debbie

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Some of you may have already heard Jill passed away Saturday evening, December 15th

Her service will be at Restland’s Memorial Chapel, Wednesday, December 19th, 12:30 pm.

At the beginning of Jill’s illness, a fund was set up by their friends in Coppell. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to that fund, or for that matter, any charity of choice.

It’s the Blanton Family Fund. Checks must be made out to Bert Blanton, with Blanton Family Fund in the notes. Please mail the checks to:

******************************************************************************************************

Jill Blanton, 54, of Coppell, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, December 15, 2007. She was born June 17, 1953 to Howard and Merlene (Smith) Anderson in Dallas, TX. She attended Garland High School and graduated from UT Southwestern Medical School as a P.A. Jill married Bert Blanton in 1971. They lived in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Greece, Germany, and Italy during his military service.

Jill was a devoted mother to son Matthew and daughter Hailey. She volunteered many hours to her children's activities through scouting and PTO, and never missed a football game, dance recital or theater production. She loved Christmas, garage sales, and was famous for her homecoming mum creations.

Jill was preceded in death by her father, and is survived by her mother and sister Jan Anderson of Garland; husband Bert, and children Matt, 19, and Hailey, 16.

Memorial services were held at 12:30 on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at Restland Memorial Chapel, Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Blanton Family Fund, Town Center Bank, 654 N. Denton Tap Rd., Coppell, TX 75019. Checks should be made payable to Bert Blanton. The loving thoughts, prayers and hugs of all her family and friends are greatly appreciated.

The 3rd GHS All School Reunion went on as planned. Our class was represented by Debbie (Ball) Goldin and Brenda (Poovey) Lunsford. When we get more information of attendees, we will post them here. This year's Distinguished Alumni Honorees were the late D. Marion (Cecil) Williams, Class of 1909, Docia Schultz Williams, Class of 1947, Sue Holmes Watkins, Class of 1947, and C. Lynn Skelton M.D., Class of 1957.

Our class mini-reunion at Casa Milagro was very nice and it was good to see everyone that was able to attend. We will post the stats on attendance and pictures as soon as they are available.

Our class will have a mini-reunion the evening of October 20, 2007 at Casa Milagro. We do need a head count by October 10th. Click on any of this message to email Debbie Goldin for a head count or to leave any information needed to contact you for future get-togethers or just to say "Howdy".

It’s a FAJITA BUFFET from 7-8:30 PM - $15.39 per person. This INCLUDES the Buffet, Tea/Water, Tax & Gratuity! CASH BAR. We will have a private room. Casa Milagro is a nice family-owned restaurant – great Mexican Food!

I hope to hear from each of you soon. Other classes are amazed that we do this just about every year. It makes keeping in touch so much easier. So come on, you know you’re going to be hungry the night of October 20th….and you probably love Mexican food…you especially love it with a Big Glass of Iced Tea or a Margarita!

The GHS All-School Reunion is still on for Saturday, October 20, 2007 at the GISD Special Events Center. We are hoping to have a mini reunion later on that evening. We'll let you know when there is some more definite news. Email any addresses, email or otherwise, to this site and we'll forward them on to our reunion committee.

Thanks to Bob Mathews for some class pictures of Beaver Elementary and our graduation commencement program. Thanks to some of our classmates for helping with some of the names. As you look over any of our photos and you recognize anyone, including yourself, contact us with that information.

Just got some news on Jill (Anderson) Blanton. She is still receiving treaments but is getting stronger and going through physical therapy while in the hospital.

Received my Owl News today. Looks like the GHS All-School Reunion will be held Saturday, October 20, 2007. This is the one that the Alumni Association has organized the last couple of years for all class years to attend. We will post more information as it becomes available. For your own copy of Owl News, it comes with a membership to the Alumni Association. For more information, contact GHS Alumni Assoc., 322 Faircrest Drive, Garland, TX 75040, (972) 272-5222 or email jayjones.realty@verizon.net. Our own '71 classmates, Brenda (Poovey) Lunsford and Toni (Testa) Murphy are on the staff of helpers with the Alumni Association.

Speaking of reunions, our leader of reunion organizers, Jill (Anderson) Blanton just got out of the hospital after surgery and a few rounds of chemo. We wish her a long and speedy recovery and I am sure she would love to hear from all you well-wishers. Her email is jilntexas@aol.com.