Ed Henzi:  

I was born and lived on on the family prune orchards and ranch in the Rucker district of Gilroy. Attended Rucker School until 8th grade (1959). My Grandma Henzi graduated from Rucker in 1912. As did her brother my great Uncle Carl Reif in 1915. My dad Walt and his sister Edna also graduated from Rucker School in the late 1920s. My brother Dennis, brother Walt and sister Jeanie were also lucky to have graduated from the old Rucker School auditorium which has since been demolished. So Rucker school is part of my family's life and a part of my life. I will fondly remember Rucker School all my life. I remember when it was surrounded by huge Eucalyptus Trees and that wonderful smell from the trees permeated every class room. Our teachers were more like Uncles and Aunts than Teachers. Mrs. Hadley, Mrs. Madulich, Mrs.Strickland, Mrs. Hornell, Mr. Humbert, Mr. Medley (who was also Principal) were all part of my life. I had Polio as a boy which was hard to overcome but I did with the help of My wonderful Mom Vickie and the Shriner's Hospital in San Francisco. I was very shy in Rucker and was very much a loner. Not being strong like other kids my age, because of the job the Polio did on me, made me withdraw inside myself while at school. I was very self concsious about my arms and legs not working properly. Going from Rucker School, our small country grammer school, to Gilroy High was like cultural shock for a shy farm boy like me. At Rucker everyone knew everyone else. At high school there were just so many students, over 1000, I felt lost and overwhelmed. I quit High School my sophmore year, but after realizing what an Idiot I was, I went back determined to work hard. I did and became a very good student. I should have graduated with the class of 1963 but Had to go an extra year to make up lost time so I graduated with class of 1964. My best friend at high School was Roland Prien. Son of Doctor and Mary Prien.(Mary was instrumental in starting the Gilroy Museum.) Roland died in 1964 after a long stay at the Stanford Hospital. Loosing him was a sad and horrible time of my life. I became recluse for a long time after his death. I became a real loner. Roland knew he was dying and was so upbeat about it. He believed in the hearafter and helped me to also. I was agnostic before Roland's death, but not after. He was one of the smartest kids I ever knew. I still think of him often and miss him even to this day. He loved Chess so we played hundreds of Chess games together. I could never best him. My Uncle Elton Heck, who was a Santa Clara County Sheriff Capt. was a hot shot pilot Who flew P47 Thunderbolt in WWII Europe. Knowing him inspired me to desire to be a pilot. He was also pilot for the Sheriff's Dept. He owned a slant wing Beachcraft radial engine Biplane made in the 1930s. I was lucky to have flown with him. He had everyone who flew with him throwing up except me. I loved the loop to loops and power dives. Stupid me! Loved the way that radial Engine roared in a dive and loved it's high rate of climb. It's engine noise was like music to my ears. I did take private flying lessons, but never became the Jet Fighter Pilot I dreamed of being when I was a kid. Can't qualify if you had polio. Living on a prune ranch and being close to my Mom's folks, my grandparents, who had an apricot orchard on Roop road, the road to Coyote Lake and Gilroy Hot Springs, gave me opportunity to work on their ranch while growing up. Working on our ranch I drove tractor, changed irrigation pipes, picked fruit and did all that orchard stuff. Loved working in the apricots at my grandparent's place best---except when we opened the sulfer house door each morning. Fumes from that could knock out an elephant. Picked apricots, cut them, helped dry them and sort them. Of course I loved eating them too. I attended Gavilan College after High School, got my A.A. degree, attended Stanislaus and Sacramento State. I was a Substitute Teacher for seven years waiting for an opening to become a full time teacher. I worked for Morgan Hill School District and also Gilroy Unified District. Also subbed at my old beloved Rucker before they tore down the main building. All of us who remember it were saddened when they did that. Loved working with the kids. They were a riot. My Dad had a stroke and needed help around the ranch so I gave up teachi...Expand for more