I spoke with Whatley, about Mr. Dee, I was looking over messages, so many, and we did learn, but he influenced us in so many ways. He sort of catagorized us as individuals, in class, and outside of class. What I remember some stern evaluations of our english work, papers, reports etc. I now know application is everything, and composition, things he stressed atthe time. I believe Whatley, Donaldson and myself tracked him down a few years later, knocked on his door, and he answered the door, in his briefs, we spoke with him, didn't really recognize us, and we left trying to determine his persuasion. I don't know if the old buzzard ever moved from Tempe, but I I am sure he did.
I think we all have some heavy memories of Mr. Dee. I remember that I baked a cake for his birthday and decorated it with red hots in the shape of a choo choo train. I brought an apron for him to wear (which he did). He used to talk about the red dot express running you over if you got enough red dots (failing marks), so it seemed fitting to decorate the cake that way.
If you look in the Social Security Death Index website, you'll find his birth and death dates as follows: born Nov. 23, 1915 and died Jan. 3, 1989. He died in Ventura, Ca. This means he was 53 ish when we were seniors, younger than we are now.
He was a sly old coot, to be sure, and full of the world, which he shared on occasion with us. I wonder if he knew how much we all idolized him?
Bobby
I remember when the theme for Mr Dee's class was
Being tossed on the horns of a delima. I wrote about
not knowing which girl to take to the next dance.
He told me, to stop thinking about girs they are only
trouble. Damn! I wish I would have paid more attention
in class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tommy
Hey Bobby, a good story. I remember Mr. Dee. What did he teach? Was I there? And I forgot you got picked up by our Bus. I remember you gooder than you think. I have gotten in Trouble with Tommy about my statement early on, of not coming to the Reunion. That was only a probably statement and I will be glad to see you guys. Along with the THS Small Motorcycle Club and everyone else to.
I don't have a motorcycle. Can I ride my 10-speed?
Dee taught English. I spelled dilemma 'dilemna' several years ago and my wife told me it was wrong. A couple of months ago she discovered that it used to be spelled with an 'n', probably the way Mr. Dee spelled it. The guy had hundred mile an hour fingers on the typewriter.
Anyone remember his fantasizing about the woman in the fur coat serving him champagne?
I was provided a special perspective on Mr. Dee. He was my neighbor for 7 or 8 years. Reading that he answered the door in his briefs is not the least suprising. From spring thru fall if not at school the man was in his underware or a swimsuit. He had one daughter, two years behind us. He divorced about the time we were in 8th or 9th grade and moved over to the Broadmor area and remarried. He used to help us put on neighborhood skits, when we caught him in a good mood. He was always crazy. One summer evening he was BBQ'g and caught some grasshoppers, sauced them, tossed them on the grill, turned them once and popped a couple in his mouth and offered us kids , standing there in shocked amazement, some 'poppers' as he called them. We tkids talked about that for years after. The man was on stage all the time!
Hi Gary
When Scott, Bobby, and I went over to Mr Dee's, I think he lived on
13th Street ? very close to the school. Never ate a grasshopper,
however Donaldson did eat the worm out of one of those booze
bottles! He didn't swallow it, he chewed it up. Damn he was sick!
But, that was Scott. Where did you live back then?
Tommy
That is fine with me Larry, but Patton has to get all the guys together and decide.
Going to Pattons house-I know how to drive there. Weird thing is a couple I socialized with years later moved into Pattons old house and I was still going over there from time to time.
I probably had Dee, the neurons will kick Larry soon. Sounds to familiar.
Gary, wonder whatever happened to Steve Marshall. He lived east of you on 9th, right across from the school. He went hippy in the '70's and lived over on Farmer with his brother, then kind of disappeared.
If I remember correctly I finished 18th out of a class of 20 right in front of Hicks. Talked to Hicks for about a half hr the other day, still sounds the same. Scarey. Remember New River Road?
Larry:Steve Marshall had a younger brother named Stewart. I was not aware that he had lived on Farmer Ave. in the'70's. Steve Dennis lived next door W. of the Marshalls and did live on Farmersin the '70's I believe. The Marshalls moved over the McClintock area about the time we started Jr. Hi. I never ran into them again that I can recall.
Regarding Mr. Dee. I did not have him as the very intellectual would have been placed in his class. i.e Payne training kids. However, in reading what you have all written. He seems to have been in a class all his own. Not especially a Rennaisance man but a man of 'All Seasons'. Ahead of his time perhaps?
Whatever he was he was a person who made an impact on your lives... in a positive way.. if not eccentric. I think it is awesome that you all remember and respect him in that way.
Mrs. DeVinney had a similar impact on me. She may have seemed like a 'Rah Rah' kinda gal ... but she said something to me once that was not conventional that left a huge impact on my life.
Wow! Think about the influence these persons had on our lives. Good or Bad! It was what it was. And we are what we are because of them.
If I remember correctly I finished 18th out of a class of 20 right in front of Hicks. Talked to Hicks for about a half hr the other day, still sounds the same. Scarey. Remember New River Road? I am surprised, Scott, YOU got the verification right. I thought I was a step above you mentally. Remember the Shack?
Thank you so much for this posting. I have been wondering about and searching for Mr. Dee for decades. He was a light in my life during my teaching years at Tempe and I will never forget him. Class of '69 was hot, for sure. Hi to all. Katie Stadem (aka Mrs. DeVinny
I apologize, but it's hard to call you anything but 'Mrs. DeVinny'. Is this really you? Several have been working long and hard to find you. So glad Larry made contact, and I know many others are grateful too. Is there any chance you can come to the reunion in October? It would be so fun to see you again. I have some great memories of times with you, as our Varsity cheer sponsor, when the whole squad was seniors. I remember when you took us all to Mexico before the Yuma game. You made that year unforgettable for us all.
Here's a little trivia I bet nobody knows. After Mr. D retired from teaching he went to Hollywood where he became a stunt double for Yoda in Star Wars. Mr. D where ever you are thanks for being a part of my life.
Regarding Mr. Dee. I did not have him as the very intellectual would have been placed in his class. i.e Payne training kids. However, in reading what you have all written. He seems to have been in a class all his own. Not especially a Rennaisance man but a man of 'All Seasons'. Ahead of his time perhaps?
Whatever he was he was a person who made an impact on your lives... in a positive way.. if not eccentric. I think it is awesome that you all remember and respect him in that way.
Mrs. DeVinney had a similar impact on me. She may have seemed like a 'Rah Rah' kinda gal ... but she said something to me once that was not conventional that left a huge impact on my life.
Wow! Think about the influence these persons had on our lives. Good or Bad! It was what it was. And we are what we are because of them.
Vicki,
Did you see where Kate (Mrs. DeVinny) wrote back to us, in the 'Teachers' heading, I think? So glad she's considering coming to the reunion. I know the guys are taking special care in picking out their outfits now.
What advice did she share with you, Vicki? If it isn't too personal, do you mind sharing? She wrote a very profound message in my year book as well, in a very unique way, accross the tops of several pages. Not so much advice, but just encouragement.
THE SHACK!!!!
Bobby Hicks said:
Remember the Shack?
Bobby, I remember having to kick Scott Donaldson out of the way,so I could
close the door of the shack He was passed out in the way! But that was Scott
A lot of people from ths probably remember the shack, it was an apartment
out at the Whatley's farm, converted from part of the milking barn into 'the
Shack', A lot of virginity was lost there!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Dee just had an effect on me, he was an amazing composition teacher (darn - there I go using the passive case...). The brain cells worked overtime while in his class. I visited him after graduating, as did apparently many of you. He even sent me a brief note from California after he moved, which I cherished for decades.
I always said that if I ever became a teacher I'd make a point of emulating the really good ones that I had (from K all the way through grad. school). & I didn't overlook Ms. Finley or Sister Sarah at Mt. Carmel, either.
Remember when Mr. Wells used to say, 'This is Chemistry' (his point being, don't expect this to be easy)? Well, you should hear me now go on about economics....
One thing my students remark about is enthusiasm for my subject, and respect for the students as individuals. Those things meant a lot to me in the faculty that I had, and they still do to students today. I'm convinced that such an atmosphere leads to them retaining the content (not to mention all of the biases that I cleverly insert here and there...).
I only spent a semester in Ms. Divinney's accelerated Freshman E class - just wasn't ready for advanced at that point, but at ASU I got my English requirement out of the way in a one-semester Accel. E class while still a high school student. The novel we studied was John Updike's 'Poorhouse Fair.' Who knew that decades later Updike (I've read everything he wrote) would have become the US's premier man of letters. He wrote that novel at age 26, far beyond his years. I'm almost embarressed to say what I wrote my term paper on in that class -- Coaching basketball! It was all I knew, I guess (and that would bring me to Sam Duane, whose pic I've att. here - when he was at Corona HS).
Whatley did you just tell the whole world you lost your virginity in the milking barn? Finally the truth comes out.
El Scotto- That was an absolutely horrible thing to say. What, are you mad at
me or something ? I told you it had been converted into an apartment, can't
you read? I may have seen the cattle doing the wild thing, but I assure you,
I never joined in!!!! Tommy
I was looking at the Class of 68 web site message board Re: THS Class of 68 turns 60 Birthday Party RSVP HERE. On 4/10/10 Ron De Mundrun wrote that he is trying to get information abput his father Roland De Mundrun. If you continue to read additional posts, someone responds with a short but interesting bio.
Just a thought, but maybe some of you might want to let Ron know how special Mr. Dee was to us. Write rondemunbrun@com.cast.net.
Jack
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