Rhonda Cadwell:  

So much has happened since High School..... Some may remember me as quiet and those that really knew me would disagree. I lived in the trailer park with my mother, worked at Del Taco, I drove a little red sports car and filled it with friends to go cruise or hang out as often as possible. As a senior I decided I wanted to make friends and try to show that I wasn't a nerd so I ran for Homecoming Queen, what a joke, but it was fun and I made lots of friends. Then I entered the "hot legs contest". I was the only white girl and we weren't permitted to wear any nylons so my legs probably stood out. Much to my surprise I won 3rd place! One of the biggest surprises I had was when a very handsome and pretty popular boy asked me to Prom, Armando Porres. We doubled with his best friend and his girlfriend and then he (b/f) was crowned as Prom King. We had quite an evening and I have never forgotten him. After graduation I went on vacation to Puerto Vallarta to visit old friends. When I returned I went to a party in San Pedro, where I met my first husband Oscar Banuelos (BHS '72). We lived together for almost 2 years then we got married in 1984. Things weren't going very good for us so I sold my mobile home and on a rebound met my babies daddy... I lived with Eddie Ferrerra (twice my age) for about 30 days, after I had moved on to San Pedro I found out I was pregnant. Something I didn't think was possible. My beautiful daughter Michelle Renee was born 12-12-86. My mother lived with me and I worked and took care of everyone. Oscar and I were still legally married but I had moved on. Feb. 1988 I met Mathew Cadwell. Didn't want to have a releationship with him because once I found out he was Japanese/Cauc. I just knew we would have nothing in common. I have always been more attracted to Hispanic men. Well he vowed that I would learn to love him and he would grow on me. I just laughed. Well I divorced Oscar Sept. 89 and Matt asked me to marry him on Christmas '89, five days later we were married. We lived in San Pedro, Huntington Beach, Lomita and finally we moved to Doniphan, MO to open a liquor store on MO/AR stateline. My father was going to retire back there so we were to get things going and dad would join us later. "Cadwell's Corner" opened 12/92, my father was diagnosed with cancer 4/93 and passed away 12/93. I was devistated. Matt adopted Michelle and the 3 of us continued to live in MO. Our store grew too fast and the employees were robbing us blind. I wanted to sell Matt did not. We separated and our store closed within 3 mos. My mother had found her way out to MO and she had become a full blown alcoholic. ...Expand for more