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There have been nine four-year groups that have graduated from BHS in the 34 years since we walked across the stage to
get our diplomas. I never thought I would be 51 one day and look back to those salad days in Batesville. My, what fun
I had! If Einstein's theory of relativity is correct and there are folds in time, then perhaps I could just walk through one
of those folds and be at Tommy's Drive-In sipping a cherry coke with my friends after school or during school if we decided
to play hooky.
My love of the theatre started at Batesville High School in 1965 when Ms. Rhoades cast me in a production of The
Diary of Ann Frank. After graduation, I majored in Speech and Drama at Ouachita, then got an MA in Radio-Television-Film
at the University of Kansas and worked toward a Ph.D. in Theatre Arts at the University of Missouri. I got additional
training at the Actors Studio in L.A. I am a professional actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild who supports those many
unemployed times consulting, teaching and writing. ( http://www.4clearcommunication.com)
I worked several years in radio and television news as an anchorman and reporter with freelance assignments for National
Public Radio's All Things Considered, ABC Radio News, and The Voice of America. I was a professor of broadcasting
at a private college for seven years.
My significant other, Dawn, and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with our two cats (Gandalf and Stardust). My son,
Bryce, is a former White House Intern and is active in San Francisco and California politics. Bonnie, my daughter, is
a student at Missouri Southern State College where she is majoring in nursing.
Well, enough of my bragging. Dr. M. Scott Peck opens his wonderful book A Road Less Traveled with these words:
"Life is difficult." A divorce from my high school sweetheart, the deaths of most of my family in Batesville, a serious
health problem, and, of course, the usual day-to-day problems of living on this planet have all challenged everything I thought was
true when I was among you at BHS in the 1960s. Those challenges, of course, could have killed me or caused me to grow. I chose
the latter. I hope each of you have, too.
Tom Roberts, May 2002
Robert J. "Bob" Skinner's Story
Many things have happened to me in the 34 years since I left BHS. After a brief stint at Arkansas College, I dropped
out and - feeling Uncle Sam's breath on the back of my neck - enlisted as a seaman recruit in the Navy, eventually retiring
as a lieutenant commander and having obtained an MS in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. I've lived in
three foreign countries and I've spent varying amounts of time in 22 other countries, colonies and overseas territories. I've
had many interesting experiences, including the time I escorted an elephant from Thailand to Sri Lanka. My visit to Iwo Jima
("Sulfur Island") was sobering. Australia was a nice diversion, Pakistan was, shall we say, "different," and my excursions
into communist nations were worrisome. I was the Seventh Fleet duty officer when the Soviets shot down Korean Air Lines Flight
007. I teach 8th grade PRE (Sunday School) and I'm married to the former Myrna Vergara of Olongapo City, Republic of the Philippines.
I have three children: Alex, 24, Michael, 16, and T.J., 14. I am now a DOD civilian employee working as webmaster and web
content manager for the Navy Recruiting Command. Visit us at www.navy.com or - for an Hispanic flavor - www.elnavy.com!
Bob Skinner - May 2002
Don Stair's Story
BHS memories ... how they linger! High school days are times we all should experience and never forget. It was during that
time most all us had our first date, experienced growth in life, got our first car, and made plans that would affect the rest
of our lives.
Memories of BHS we all share are Mr. Ferrill's U.S. History class. We could sham through some courses,
but not the case for this class. I chose not to take the hard courses, figuring I would never need them ... and right, I
never needed them. Before coming a Freshman, the teaching terrors of the Vandenbergs had hit my mind, but there was simply
no way to avoid them, for they taught English and Algebra, two required courses. With a "B" grade at midpoint,
I managed to raise it to a "D" by the end of the year. Whew!
I do not remember the Sophmore year as
very eventful, except that we were no longer newbee's. Finally, someone we could harrass. Yet who could forget Mr. Archie
King? I think I was one of the few in the class who did not cheat on tests, and was therefore one of the few who flunked
the class.
Mrs. Moore's typing class stands out in my Junior year, the only class I made all "A's" in.
I remember Mrs. Moore being amazed at the rate I learned to type. A secret not known ... I could type over 60 WPM before
I ever took the class. I had used a book and learned in the 6th grade. However, I do remember Johnny Houston and Vicki Lanier
being close behind.
The most outstanding event of my Senior year was graduation. Graduation was what we all worked
for. We made it!
After BHS, I went to Foothills Vo-Tech for 2 years. Upon graduation it was an honor to get a letter
from the President of the United States, asking me to come work for him ... in the ARMY with an expense paid trip to Vietnam.
Vietnam was a blast. But I never care to see some places more than once.
This led to a career in the Army where
I spent the next 21 year, retiring in 1991. Those 21 years allowed me to experience many adventures. I lived for 6 years
in Germany and visited much of Europe. My most memorable time in Europe was being in East Berlin watching the cranes tear
down the wall, standing at the wall with a hammer and chisel and getting as much of a piece of history as I could.
I
now live in Leesville, LA (near Fort Polk). I am the happiest married man in the world with two children, ages 30 and 28.
I currently work as a Department of the Army Civilian, looking forward to another retirement in 3 years.
Time
spent now includes an occasional golf game and then much time on the PC. Most of our time is consumed in the Service of our
Lord. We all have done many things since high school, and they are just that ... things. One day they will all pass, but
what is done for God will last ...
Don Stair
twinman@bellsouth.net
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