Dear Jones Boys,

 

I seem to be more like the Godfather nowadays, with my mind drifting back through all the faces and teams and times.  It blurs a little bit and so does my memories.  Hearing from you guys is always a highlight for me.  I've enclosed another form for you to fill out which updates me on the past few years (or in some cases a whole lot of past years).  Most of your notes begin,

     "I know you haven't heard from me (for a while, for 15 years, etc); but I truly appreciate the updates."

 

Ditto for me, guys.  Just because we don't see each other doesn't mean, I don't care.  Here I am nearly half-way through my next-to-last season, and it's going too fast; nearly as fast as the years since I came here in 1982 for the first time.  Here's some news gleaned from just about everywhere.

 

Brad Bingesser is back in Salina as head coach at Salina Central HS.  He's not married, but is the most eligible bachelor in town.  Ray Kujawa is the head basketball coach at Manhattan HS.  Ray has really improved his golf game.  Perfect day for Kevin Brown described as "half-day skiing, followed by nine holes of golf, and home in time for dinner and a bedtime story."  Kevin sent me a quote, "Kevin, why in Sam Hill are you trying those squirrel moves?  Get down on the block and grab a rebound!"  Surely, I never said that, more than a thousand times anyway.

 

Gary Upshaw was deputized as an Air Marshall right after the 9-11 disaster.  He has now returned to Marfa, TX, as a border patrol officer.  Gary is no longer out with a guard dog on the front lines of the war against drugs/border crossings.  He's been promoted to a pen instead of a gun.  His daughter  is a high scoring basketball forward at 5'9".  Tim Parker has moved to Cleveland.  He continues in medical supply sales.  Tim and Julie hosted me in Gilbert, AZ., on a recruiting trip.  A married, domesticated Jeff Tillman helped too and they showed me a great time.  Brad Larremore is a school administrator now making the bucks and getting paid for his hours (uinlike coaching). 

  Brad Larremore - I did put up your picture in the locker room along with the other Academic All-Americans.  If any of you guys earned some honors while I was in Indiana, let me know and I'll get your picture up too.  Howard Alexander stays in contact pretty well with Jeff Wells who is one of our regular supporters in Salina. Jeff is a co-owner of the USBL Salina Cagerz thanks to his expertise in the insurance game.  Fred Goodnight started his own company (Premiere Credit), got married in February, is making money, and playing a little golf.  From Fred,

     "Records are made to be broken, just don't break mine."

 

Matt Broyles says,

     "Judas Priest!  City league's not as much fun without a coach yelling at me when I miss the cribbies."

 

Brian Mitchess - CEO of Ozarks Family YMNCA.  Brent Avery - Wichita Wings soccer folded, so Brent has moved on to North Carolina and has promised to find me a player there.  Jeff Russell is back on the farm, he grew up on.  I went to watch a player (Brent Hecht) he recommended.  Brent's a stud.  We are after him.  So are the jucos.  Marshall Lloyd visited Matt Broyles and jogged along with Matt in a 10K.  Except Marshall didn't jog.  He won the age 25 class.  Marshall is about done with grad school and will be teaching soon.  Todd Clark, married with child and assistant women's coach at D-I Texas San Antonio.  Dr. Brandon Weidenhaft...

 

   (I've lost the next pages)