Dave Windley:  

Many moons ago I was honored with a fluorescent orange webbed belt to be worn across my chest and around my waist as a "safety" at St. John's Elementary, That pride was quickly overcome by pain and humiliation when Jeff knocked the wind out of me and bloodied my nose he said I was such a sissy. Ironically that same year I was accused and expelled for hitting a girl. You see Nancy felt I was playing hard to get and decided to swing her purse directly at my face. I naturally threw up my arms to deflect the impact but she said I hit her and no one would believe the truth. New zoning regulations transferred me to Northfield Elementary for fifth grade. It was one of the first "Open Space" schools, and I became school champion of the automated spelling machines that played a spoken word and matching sentence from a strip of magnetic recording tape on 80 column computer punch cards. Mrs. Mergehenn's music class polished my vocal skills and Mr. Frank Lyman taught me how to play rhythm guitar so well that he was able to book our little folk music group to perform Puff the Magic Dragon and Snoopy vs the Red Baron from a small pier on the edge of Lake Kittamaqundi to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of Columbia, MD. I believe Melissa did lead vocals and tambourine, Brian played drums and Steve was on lead guitar. I just learned that Columbia celebrates it's 50th anniversary this year! Patapsco Middle was my next open-space educational experience. Fellow gym students rewarded my inept performance by "de-pantsing" me on the baseball diamond. Ms. Brewster told me my vocal range from male Tenor to female Soprano II was rare and must be celebrated by joining the school's chorus. She worked with me during and after school, preserving my range as my voice changed. At our holiday concert, I was in the limelight, standing beside her piano, with the chorus standing on risers behind me. Stage fright stole my voice at first, but she tickled the 88s softly and whispered words of inspiration which restored my voice and earned a standing ovation! Last but not least was my favorite chemistry teacher who honored me with a special Lab Aide Award for setting up experiments for classes, I was so sad to learn she died a few years after I graduated. Mt. Hebron was a mix of emotions for me. Mr. Melvin Greasley taught me to use even more tools than my Dad had at home and emphasized that patience with woodworking projects would reward me with beautiful pieces, some of which I still have and use today! Mr. "Chuck" Lechters taught me to machine tools on the lathe, cast things in the foundry. electroplate metals, and both gas and electric welding which I used to make the coolest and most luxurious customized go-kart as a special school project. I'll never forget the day Mr. Greasley promoted chose me and Tony as my assistant to make sure all remained safe in wood shop class so he could attend a special conference. Football star Tank was too impatient to follow the rules and wait for my help and cut off the end of his thumb while trying to rip a 1/2" piece of wood with the 18" table saw. He almost passed out and all other students avoided that saw for a long time thinking it was somehow jinxed. I don't know which was worse, getting him to the school nurse so he could get to the hospital, OR retrieving his sliced thumb from within the saw, wrapping it in a wet paper towel and keeping it on ice so it could be stitched back on! DJ Dave Wolf willed his classic rock radio spot and trademark "HULLOW" to me in the WMTH studio in the Library, while Mr. Neil Wolfe made me the best A/V technical student aide and photographer. I learned volumes from Mr. Heaps' Social Studies special outreach program where I taught Photography & Guitar to G/T 8th graders at Dunloggin Middle. My mentor was the now legendary Mr. Myron "Moe" Dutterer who moved south and is now very much alive and kicking as he enjoys his retirement from theater and music. I remember Ms. Ruth Hutchinson was recognized as the first woman in some important political or government role and one day said "proms are one of life's critical milestones". At the time, HC School Board rules only allowed tickets to be sold for Male/Female couples. Class Advisor Ms. Elanor Gnizak confirmed with "J.R" McCrumb that no exceptions could be made, She just couldn't get that "just inviting any girl to Prom" would imply far more than I could possibly do. One day before the deadline to buy tickets, I convinced her that based on Ms. Hutchinson's recommendation, I MUST attend the prom so she reluctantly agreed to replace one of three Segall Majestic photographers with me for the event, I'm proud to say one-third of the Prom photos in our yearbook were taken by me, myself and I! MANY years later I thought I heard Bea Arthur's voice coming from a CCC ESL classroom next to where I was fixing a computer.. I peered into the open door and realized it was Ms. Gnizak!. As her class filed out, I approached and identified myself. She she remembered the Class of '76 but not my name. I wal...Expand for more