Just a little news to go with my apology for not getting out a letter last season.  The Jones family saw a lot of action this year.  Kathleen's father died rather suddenly, and we are still adjusting.  Daughter Jessica (now 20 years old) married a young man from Milwaukee.  After living in a KWU dorm room for two and a half years, we purchased a house on Sunset Drive, about eitht blocks from the campus.  My mother (82) was in the hospital for five days before Christmas, and is doing well now, back at her home.

 

KWU hosted a reunion of the 1986 champions.  This I remember...Russ Pleiman has a tall, beautiful wife, and lovely child.  Barney Gray is engaged to an outstandingly intelligent and striking beauty from Canada.  Gus Deering also married a beauty queen who is certainly a match for Gus with her wits.  David Frederick has recovered from cancer, and Dave really does help Lori with the children.

 

Gary Upshaw was deployed from Bosnia, and is now with the U.S. Border Patrol, stationed in Marfa, Texas.  He's had an eventful two years serving as a peace-keeper in the midst of a war.

 

Travis Witman and Angie are still in Goodland, KS, where he has been teaching and coaching for the last four years.  Jeff Wells is our insurance agent in Salina.  He just returned from winning a sales cruise.  Howard Alexander is a care home administrator in Milwaukee, WI.  Scott Polzin, also is a hospital administrator in San Diego.  He married a member of the U.S. Olympic Volleyball team.  Her picture looks great.  Brian Mitchell is YMCA Director in Missouri.  His family continues to expand.  Saw Rob Tanner at a golf tournament in Garden City, KS.  Rob played a lot better than I did.  He's back home again in Larned, and so is his brother.  Todd Clark is assistant at Cowley County CC.  His brother, Kipp, is women's coach at Pratt County CC.  Brandon Weidenhaft is in Vet School at Kansas State.  Dane Pavlovich married Amy, a "Bethany" cheerleader who is brilliant and lovely.  She is in grad school at Kansas State, so Dane will be finishing his degree there.  There's a slew of guys finishing their degrees this Spring:  Jason Gentz, Tony Ingram, Guy McIntire, Kevin Curtis, Jeremy Montgomery.

 

Dwayne and Dwight Coleman graduated in December from Central Missouri State College with degrees in Sociology.  We played a home game and I couldn't get there.

 

Last year, Pleiman and Frederick were inducted into the KWU Athletic Hall of Fame.  This fall, it was Terrence Phox's turn.

 

Stayed a night with Mike Kopmeyer last year.  He and wife, Cheri, are in the chips...swimming pool and home that may make Mike forget he ever lived in the Wesleyan apartments.

 

Went to Al and Maggie Tiller's 25th wedding anniversary in Belleville, KS.  They still live in Burleson, TX.  His son, Chris, is at Stephen F. Austin College.  Ray Kujawa and Molly are still in Manhattan, KS.  Ray coaches the basketball J.V.  He is a serious (good) golfer now.  Tim Parker and Julie are moving to Phoenix this spring.  Brad Bingesser is coaching at Highland HS, KS.  He finished his masters at Washburn.  Only a few of the guys came back to the Alumni Game this year, and it was a runaway as usual; however, last year was a one point spueaker for the varsity.  Outstanding players were Jeff Tillman, now married, still with Arizona Forest Service; and  Billy Smith, owns his own construction company, and their work is beautiful, as are the Mrs. Tillman and Mrs. Smith.  L.C. Crockett and James Gibson came back, too.  Gib and his sister are in a family medical supply business while Laurindo is teaching school in the St. Louis suburbs.  Brad Larremore is planning a wedding, his own.  I think Brad and Pleiman were nearly "always a groomsman."  Eric Smith is still playhing ball in ATlanta; he was in a game over the break with Anthony "C" Hastings, a junior here at KWU.

 

Get those questionaires back so I can update with more sense in the next letter.

 

God bless you, everyone.

 

Ol' Coach Jones