Ok, how many can remember the paddle that Coach Armstrong had, and how many of you got the privilege of signing it.  For those that did not attend South Jr High, The only way you got to sign the paddle was if during your counseling session he brought tears to your eyes.  That dam paddle should be in a museum somewhere. He got me coming out of the shower and tore my bare butt up.

I never got Coach Armstrong's paddle, but I did get Mr. Carpenter's (shop teacher). I wonder if those guys had a club or something they belonged to in college about how to torture jr. hi school boys? Thank God it was all just macho you know what and not something wierd. A SJH. My buddies..Ronnie Johnson, Sammy Flores, Brent Wall, Steve Bardwell, Rodney May, Van Blacklock..and the leader of our South Kentucky gang, Mike Curtis (older brother to Caroline).

Today what those two did would be child abuse.  I shot Tommy Thompson's daughter in the back of the head with a spit wad in science class in the 9th grade I don't remember the teachers name but he brought me up to the front of the class had me bend over and announced to the class this was his 9 Iron shot, and the paddle hit my butt and the levis popped, damn it hurt but I couldn't cry.

I never did get the paddle while at South Junior High, but I did get into trouble alot, well maybe not. A few times in Mr. Binns (Basketball Coach) 9th Grade English class I was shooting spit wads at Ronnie Hutchinson and John Baker, and connecting several times. I always sat in the rear of the class just for this reason.

John and Ronnie got mad and turned around and started shooting back at me. Mr. Binns caught them and they said that I started it first. Mr. Binns stated that I was too nice to have done that and he brought them up in front of the class and made them stay in Push-Up position (On their finger tips) until the end of the class, swatting them with a yard stick if they went down on their palms. If the girls got into trouble, he would make them stand about two feet from the wall and place their finger tips on the wall.

I never did get into trouble except for Band. AAAHH yes, Mr. Dempsey. Did get a few erasurs thrown at us (Drum section) for not paying attention. Although, Logan Baylor, trashed a brand new set of Cymbels. Hit the pair head on and turned them inside out. Mr. Dempsey was not a happy camper. And then there was the time we were going to shave our legs for the 9th Grade trip to Carlsbad Caverns (because we were going to wear shorts). We chickened out but Bill Shell came the morning of the trip shaved legs and 5 band aids on his legs.

Then there was the time.......well better stop here, I'm starting to remember too much. Maybe I did get into more trouble than I thought.

I avoided paddling in school - not out of fear from teachers, but what my father was going to do to me.

The one licking I got was in 9th grade study hall after completeing drivers ed.  Mr Amis (remember him) told everyone to shut up.  At the back of the room an african american guy (i dont remember the name) laughed.   Mr Amis promptly went to the back and grabbed the guy by the ear and started to the office.  Here is Amos holding a 250lb. very dangerous looking (really a nice guy, just dangerous looking) black guy by the ear.  I laughed and on his way by Amis grabs me by the ear and we both go to the office.

The asst-principal -------- duh, I didn't think I would ever forget his name, but it escapes me now.  I know he had a daughter in our class, gave me five licks.

Thank god my father finally learned of this from me after I was out of the USMC.

You guys keep writing - this is intresting - I thought you were all little angels! uhm?????

I think the Asst. Princ's name was Devlin. Nice guy. He let me off the hook one cold morning when I got in a fight by the bicycle racks. Some large guy was in RJ's spot and wouldn't move. So I mouthed offand called the guy a name..and the fight was on. Story of my life..me and my mouth. Favorite memory was sitting in the window of Mr. Rumbaugh's window before Civic's class..cause every day..2 girls with great legs walked by below me. Anna Lee Hays and Dixie Ramm. That worked out pretty good I thnk.

Scotty; That coaches name was Ben Hodges. I got a few whacks from that yard stick for being a smart --- on moren one occasion. Life at SJH was the best. I watch the movie Stand By Me and laugh as I recall how close to the mark that movie comes to a Jr Hi boy's view of the world.

Devlin and Hinman, the paddle operators. I made so many trips to their office I lost count before Thanksgiving. The Friday before the last week of school three of us were sent to Mr Devlins office for something we didn't do. I was the last one in line and refused to take a lickin for something I didn't do. I was expelled.

Here's some info for you, Mr Hodges and the football couch, Mr Armstrong, painted houses in the summer time. I'll never forget meeting coach Armstrong in the hall early one morning. I greeted him with a "good morning couch" and his reply was "what's so good about it".

YUP, you're right, Tommy, my bad, Mr. Ben Hodges was right. Guess I was thinking of Mr. Binns---because I threw the El Paso Times paper for him every morning from West Second to Atkinson and Mcgaffey to College. I would get up every moring at 4 am and pick up the papers. He also owned the book store at the Petroleum Building. I thought the long term memory goes last!

Clyde McKee was the teacher in next classroom. We could go out of his class and onto the fire escape and down stairs fast to get our 20 cent hamburgers across the street, on the north side of South Junior High. Greasy and boy were they good. Can't remember the name of the little store now though. I hear Clyde is a judge now. Maybe he is getting back at us now for being bad and causing a ruckus in his classes. I don't think I'll get any speeding tickets in Roswell when I come for the Reunion.

At noon everyone would head for the gym to get in line to jump on the trampoline for 5 minutes each. Me being a smart @%&, decided to do a double back flip that I had just learned. Well I flew from the front of the trampoline and through the springs at the back. A spring hook was up and ripped 11 inches up my leg and got hung under my knee cap. I promply got up and started jumping because I still had 3 minutes let to jump. Everyone started to say your sock is red. It just felt like my leg was cool, and did not hurt....THEN. The Assistant Principal, could have been Mr. Devlin, I'm not sure, came over and took out a knife and ripped my jeanes open only to see a large gash. I was taken to St.Mary's Emergency and received 18 stitches. Didn't try that trick again until later at Roswell High.

I ripped out 4 of the sutures twice because I had a Cushman Eagle Motor Scooter, and those people know (that had one) that you hit your knee often when the kick starter didn't mesh right, your knee hits the gas tank and takes out a chunk of bone or just another gash to remember. Just ask Phil Cathey and Mike Willingham.

Speaking of trampolines, I was the big guy that was doing a flip and both heals hit the bar on the end and when I did that, the support bar that went from the leg to the bar that supported  the frame broke and they couldn't fix it.  Also if I am not mistaken Mr. Devlin's daughter was our own Dorothea Elaine Devlin, if not she can correct me.

Scott the name of the store was Ashcrofts and you could get a hamburger and coke for 25 cents.

I also threw a paper route for Burrel Binns - route was north of second street from Lea ave. west around Cahoon park.  When it was cold we rolled the newspapers at the laundry on second ave. And Sunday's we used to get doughnuts from Small's bakery - just like Crispy Creams before the big corporation.

I got the paddle from Devlin, if he was the assistant principle and the  principle paddle operator.  Went to the principles office for throwing things at cars at the bus stop.  The Roswell district attorney, reported us for hitting his car. All boys at the bus stop received the paddle (I remember it as wooden with holes in it). I've always wondered how long it took for the district attorney to notice someone lassoed his antenna. They used it as a sword at school.

The name of the store across from SJH was Ascraft's. Years later I came to know Harold Wayne Ashcraft at 1st Baptist. I guess their family had that place forever. You guys who had the Cushman Eagles..wow, what rides. I remember that a 59 Cadillac tail light fit pretty well and looked great on the Cushman. I remember lot's of lunches at SJH were taken at the bakery on Main, and then a huge 25 cent ice cream cone from DQ. Was it Golden Crust Bakery? Then, if you had a little coin, you could make it to the Confectionary Cafe at the Petroleum Bldg. Richard St. John ran it. He was the coach of the 56' Lion's Hondo Little League World Series winners. Other times well spent was over a snooker table at The 8-Ball pool hall. A 25cent king size coke and a bag of peanuts dumpted into it. One, maybe 2 racks and back to school. RJ and I shot a lot of snooker in those days. I can't find a snooker table in Dallas, TX.

My typing is horrible..I gotta find a way to proof read before I "send". Anyway..store across from SJH..AsHcraft's. Scotty, remember Butch Martin who lived across the street from SJH and drove a sweet Cushman Eagle? I think he got a new one every year. Very cool.

Remember those green and white ribbons they'd sell on Thursday game days? RJ and I would walk from school to DeBremmon (sp?) Stadium for the games. There was a great pomoranate bush we'd rob during the fall on our way to the game. Girl fights in the Spring River bed. Dodging the gangs. Trying to not tork them off and become the object of their wrath. Alex Rodriguez. I think I could take him today, but was scared to death in those days..ha.

I am pretty sure that Dorthea Devilin was his dauhter.

Yes  - the name of the  store was Ashcrfts- they had great food and candy and  stuff too!!!

Mary

When I started at South, 7th grade, I thought Ashcrafts, was the best place in the world.  I thought for the first time I was grown up, order what I wanted, those were the days. You guys are doing a great job bringing back fond memories.  Too bad North had no fun!

One more thing, anyone remember Roger Staubach at NMMI? He was great then, jumping over the defensive line, even though I thought after the Navy, he would be too old.  RHS was did well against Clovis, but Staubach peaked my interest.

Larry

Tommy,

I remember skipping school to play pool, I think someplace on 2nd Street, but don't remember who I played with. you think I have Alzheimer's?

Larry,

I guess Roger Staubach was my only claim to fame. I went to NMMI when he was there. I knew him and a watched him throughout his career. Our Math teacher (different classes), COL Murray, got him into Annapolis(sp) (Navy scholarship) after he finished NMMI. He was one of the few upper classmen that did not give demerits for any stupid thing you did. 

I was always being recognized and caught for yelling "Rootie toot toot" out of my car with my RHS friends (NMMI cadets called the RHS guys "Roswell Rocks"...Kinda like the Westside Story...the Sharks and the Jets. Lots of little run ins. I would get out of NMMI on Saturdays and Sundays at NMMI. Alot of cadets were sent there by their rich parents to get them away from home. They hated that I was from Roswell (there was less than 10 of us from Roswell at that time), but the cadets always got the Roswell girls to date and the RHS guys were pissed. I would come back to NMMI on Sunday afternoons for the weekly 4 PM parade (lots of people from Roswell would show up and watch. One time I waved to friends in the crowd as we were "Passing in Review"...Yikes, did I get into trouble. Being from Roswell was an automatic getting your room torn up regularly, boot shine stepped on and extra duties. But I will say, I had a good opportunity and really enjoyed the time I had a NMMI...Lots of good memories