James Wilson:  

School T.O.H.S. was interesting. Started my first day just like everyone else(scared!!) when we had to get our class schedules at the south end of the football field. Classes became easier after the first month. Originally joined the Frosh Football team, then switched to Cross Country after watching the team run by during a practice. First race I broke the Frosh record and that led to other great sports experiences. One of my nephews (class of 2005) related to me that two of my Frosh records were still standing until Fall 2004. Unbelievable after so many years. My best and most amusing memory was when Coach Shotliff was walking by the hand ball courts (main gym/outside walls), making fun of those of us playing and then WHAM! he ran into one of the support poles of the overhead walkway cover. Stayed with Cross Country through Sophomore year then switched back to football as a Junior. Did Track all four years, summer basketball league, played in the first T.O.H.S. vs N.P.H.S. Alumni football game, worked in Santa Monica on some weekends at an electronics store, Burroughs computers (Westlake) my Senior year, made the Honor Roll each year, was in two of Mrs. Rose's plays (I was one of the wisemen in one of the winter programs, non- talking role), enjoyed her debate/speech classes too (the impromptu speeches were fun-does anyone remember Kerri Fontaine?). Mrs. Hyman's spanish class is where I met Karen, eventually married her (it was not easy-her old man was an FBI Agent). Mrs Hyman attended our wedding in Lake Sherwood. Our older son graduated from CSU Fullerton with an Art degree & our younger son graduated from Cal Lutheran Univ. Mr. Keith Wilson's history classes is where I got the idea to see the world (and the military entered my thoughts). The other teachers were just as much fun too (Mr. Richards, Mrs. McCann, Mr. Berg, Mrs Julia Rose, etc). Anyone remember Mr. Vernon Friesen's shop classes? The Senior Quad was always good for meeting up with all of my friends and catching up with what was going on with everyone else. I don't regret missing so many parties. All people did was get drunk and throw up. I didn't drink beer until well after HS (I average a drink of wine about 2x a year), and never smoked (still don't). Tried to work with the Principal and athletic department chair to organize a challenge race between the "old" X-country runners and the current team as a fund raiser for the school but it fell on deaf ears. Too bad. It would've been held during a football home game as a halftime event. The e-mails stopped in late June 05. I held the old Freshman record for the original course-they took it off the record board in Fall 2004. Any ideas? I'll admit I wasn't part of any "in-crowd", had too much to accomplish, still do. Retired from the Soc. Sec. Administration on 31 December 2010 and hopefully move back to T.O. We worked with the CLU Men's Tennis Team all 4 yrs that our younger son attended & played on the team - he's now a ATP Touring pro.. If you've seen the pictures I've posted it's obvious we like Ford Mustangs (Cobras/Shelbys/70 & 69 MACH 1's). We like the return of the Camaro & it's retro look. Wish they would bring back the Cuda. You can find me at Canyon Crest Country Club playing tennis in the mornings, taking care of the "Do" list in the afternoons &...&... just having fun the rest of the day ...Expand for more