A. S. S. ~ Alumni Sandstorm ~ 03/08/22
	So Happy It's Tuesday
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 Bombers sent stuff: 
Dick WIGHT ('52)
Steve CARSON ('58)
Pete BEAULIEU ('62)
Linda REINING ('64)
Nancy MALLORY ('64)
	Next A.S.S. will be published when we have an entry from 5 Bombers
********************************************************
FROM THE EDITOR:
iditarod.com/
	Nobody hs taken any of their mandatory rest stops, so we can't 
REALLY tell who might or might not be in first place yet. Looks like 
Mitch (dad) and Dallas (son) Seavey might be battling each other -- 
AGAIN... The leader is currently out of the Rohn checkpoint... 
(Rohn checkpoint is at mile 188 - about 712 miles from Nome)
********************************************************
>>From: Dick WIGHT ('52)

Re: Richland memories part 3

Physically, Richland was undergoing significant change from 1949 forward.
Some non-government development started....the Uptown Shopping Area was a
harbinger of things to come - retail outlets, restaurants, a movie theater
et al "came to town" as private enterprises housed in buildings not
constructed by "Uncle Sam" contractors. I remember a new church being built
- the Morman Church on Jadwin? The city began to creep northward. Back in
'49 the "north end of town" was not far beyond Van Giesen. Up until then,
North Richland was a big trailer park and barracks housing for Hanford
worjers, and then predominantly a military post.....Army troops that manned
defensive missile sites around Hanford. The big wooden building complex
that comprised Kadlec Hospital in Richland soon began a replacement/
modernization phase. The transition from "govmint town" to a more typical
American community was underway.

My "Col Hi" days ended on Jan. 2, 1952. I'll explain. It was in early
December 1951. A friend Marvin Gay, not a Bomber, was a year older and
worked in the new "dime store" in the Uptown Mall. I worked for Diamond
Variety Store "downtown". We became acquainted when each of us were sent to
our competitor's store to "price-check" certain merchandise. We learned to
do our price comparisons by phone, then would meet for a coke on company
time. One day Marvin, who was of draft age, told me he was going to see the
Coast Guard recruiter in Yakima as he believed his draft number was soon to
be called. As a CAP cadet - and already a licensed pilot - I foresaw the
Air Force in my future. But I had a girl friend now living in Yakima (Col
Hi grad Lou Ann LEE ('51), and asked Marvin if I could go to Yakima with
him. We both saw the recruiter - me out of curiosity - and I took the
entrance test, physical etc. at the recruiter's invitation. He was a
convincing guy! He told me my qualifications were GREAT and predicted I'd
do well, intimating I'd be an officer in no time flat! So I enlisted - but
needed a "permission" slip from my father. That did not go well. Dad
vigorously opposed me leaving school to "join up". I embarked on "plan B" .
Edgar "Dutch" Haag was our vice principal by then, and I went to him for
help. He arranged "work ahead" homework in several classes, and semester
exams to be given to me on Jan. 2, 1952, since the semester didn't end
until late January. Haag said I had plenty of credits for graduation but
would need to complete a U.S. History course to meet a state requirement.
Dad "caved" on Christmas Day '51 and signed my 'permission" slip. I joined
the U.S. Coast Guard on January 4, 1952. I retired from the Coast Guard in
1986, rank of captain (O-6). The recruiter didn't really lie to me! 

But Richland wasn't through with me, nor me of it. My father C.M. "Milt"
Wight stayed on with the Richland Fire Department until he retired, I think
in 1971 or so, and he lived in Richland until his death in 1978. Dad was
fire chiel for a number of years. Because of that, I frequently visited
Richland over the years. Early on, I'd always drop in to Col High and
"report in" to Dutch Haag. Out of "boot camp" and now on a ship. Radio
school and now a petty officer. Electronics technician school. I felt like
I needed to keep Dutch up to date on my progress! In late 1957 I completed
OCS and was commissioned as a regular officer. I didn't see "Dutch" that
time. He had apparently moved on. 

Columbia High produced quite a few career military officers. A few I knew
were Ken ELY ('49), Lt Col USAF; Brig. Gen. Richard MEYER ('51), USAF (a
career fighter pilot); at least two USAF colonels in '52, Jim BLAKE ('52) Lt
Col USAF, Rod LINKOUS ('53) Major General USAF. And we all
know GEN James MATTIS USMC ('68) who also served as our nation's
secretary of defense. MATTIS currently lives in Richland, and I chat with
him once in a while. 

In my ongoing visits to Richland I observed the changes in progress.
Privatization began in earnest in the late '50s. My folks bought a
"ranch" house on Harris Street in 1958 or '59. I know I visited them in
their new home in Sept.' 59, enroute a new assignment in Boston. Historians
can tell us when Richland became a bonafide self-governing city - early
'60s perhaps? But the federal government turned Richland over to "home
rule" in pretty good shape....a functioning and well equipped city
goverment, and ownership of significant real estate. Richland's major
economic engine remained government funded projects, supporting production
of nuclear materials and then later transitioning into many years of
nuclear waste cleanup. But other technical and scientific enterprises began
to crop up as well.

After my father died in spring 1978, my visits to Richland became few and
far between. With his death, my "connection" to the area was severed. And I
still had a lingering bias against the town, remnants of my attitude back
in my high school days. But that later changed. Stayed tuned!

-Dick WIGHT ('52) ~ in sunny Richland, still rambling on about my 
	historical "home turf".
********************************************************
********************************************************
>>From: Steve CARSON (Championship Class of '58)

To: Dick WIGHT ('52)

Enjoying your history. The Civil Air Patrol Cadets were an important part
of my life as well. 

-Steve CARSON (Championship Class of '58)
********************************************************
********************************************************
>>From: Pete BEAULIEU ('62)

To: Dick WIGHT ('52)

Re: Richland experiences

I'm totally enjoying your reminiscences... 

About your return in 1949, and finding that "the city had no history," in
that very same year (I was just going on five) I had the same experience
about a lacking history, and even wondering whether Richland was a
permanent place. After all, it could easily blow away in the next dust
storm coming over Badger Mountain. I was off to the edge of town, between
the bypass highway and the Yakima River, with my mother, picking wild
asparagus.

I noticed that there were still furrows in the dry ground, and a strange
concrete standpipe off to one side. My question: "what happened here?" To
which my mother answered, "Oh, there used to be farms here, but now they're
gone." At that impressionable age, I was struck to the core about things
"gone now," transitory-the simple fact that things had disappeared,
somehow, and been displaced (by alphabet houses, themselves originally
intended to last only two or three years until war's end).

The "plant" commuter buses were yellow and maroon and, at the south end of
town one stop was on Benham, eastbound directly across the street from our
corner house on Douglass Ave. "No landmarks, no old town memories," you
write. Well, on the way to Lewis & Clark Elementary, there were still
barely three such strange remnants. One of the (still-intact) nineteen
tract houses left over from farming days (southwest corner of Cullum and
Davenport); the mysterious and looming original 1911 high school on the
southwest corner of the grade school property (still in use in 1943); and
the elementary school itself, atypical brick, and dating all the way back
to 1939 (!).

But, then, you mention "no elderly people," and Richland as a "two-
generation city." Very true, some sociologist should have gotten out a
notepad in front of that thrown-together crowd from all over, and then
fifty or sixty years later should have interviewed some folks still hanging
around. Oral history. (Dick, you might want to contact the Hanford History
Project to give an oral history. Just a thought:
www.tricities.wsu.edu/hanfordhistory.) I do remember the strange oddity of
an "H" house on the way to school (on the northeast corner of Cullum and
Comstock). Word got around that the husband had died from something called
a heart attack. Did anyone in Richland, ever really die in those days? That
house seemed unique even in the very enlarged neighborhood. We walked past
quietly. I think I recall one day seeing the wife working alone in a flower
bed against the side of the house. Incomprehensible at the time.

Your mention that the high school "seemed to offer lots of math and
sciences". I recall in the '60s already, advanced Geometry, Math Analysis,
Calculus, and even an experimental class in Quantum Mechanics, but also
somewhat of a balance with the humanities, including advanced English, Art,
and high-level languages under Mrs. Harmon. But, also the full range in
shop and auto mechanics. A good school, something for everyone. The
universal religion, of course, as you note, was basketball. Hoops all over
town and at least one of the junior high school gyms open in the winter on
Saturdays. I notice we came in sixth in the state this year. Not as good as
hoped, but surely maintaining the tradition.

-Pete BEAULIEU ('62) ~ Shoreline, WA
********************************************************
********************************************************
>>From: Linda REINING ('64)

SENT: 3/6/22

No idea when this will "hit" the Sandstorm. Found a SPUDNUT place in Nampa,
Idaho! The gal that makes them, uses mashed potatoes instead of potato
flour, regardless, they were delicious! Ordered maple bars and glazed---at
the moment, she doesn't have a huge variety and makes them out of her home,
but plans to open a store-front in June---she's had her business since
March of 2021. Since she doesn't have a store, she delivers. *grin*. Got a
dozen for just under $17.

Re: Pappy

Sorry to hear of the passing of George "Pappy" SWAN ('59-RIP)---loved his
tales of the escapades of the elves. 

Re: Tales of Richland

Also been enjoying Dick WIGHT's ('52) tales of Richland---so interesting.
Am guessing we were very lucky, as we had our grandparents living in
Richland---my grandfather worked at Hanford (drove a truck) and my great-
uncle (my grandmother's brother) was a janitor in "the areas".

-Linda REINING ('64) ~ Kuna, Idaho
********************************************************
********************************************************
>>From: Nancy MALLORY Johnson ('64)

SENT: 3/6/22

Re: Chapter 2 by Dick WIGHT ('52)

This reminds me of how unique our town is. How the government owned
everything, getting on a list for housing (needing x number of people for
three bedrooms. I remember how every few years you could get your house
painted (color choices horrible, awful, and terrible) lol. 

It's always fun to tell folks I grew up in the DESERT part of Washington
state (always making sure they knew I was talking about the state thereof
not the large city. Sand storms (walking to school during them in a dress!)
Tumbleweeds (lots of them) and how big they get. GE was the contractor of
record most of my growing up years and most everyone's Dad worked there
-- not knowing what they did (I was on up before I knew you could know what
your Dad did at work). I tell people I was among the first generation born
in Richland -- no one was from there. Folks came from all over to work
there. No old family homes and no one had lots of relatives there. As
stated groups of houses that are alike (no reversed floor plans or
different bricks). I guess that's why I've always liked seeing houses where
ever I am.

Guess that's enough for now.

-Nancy MALLORY Johnson ('64) ~ in springlike Western TN
********************************************************
********************************************************
	END OF SANDSTORM ENTRIES. Please send more.
********************************************************
	END OF PAGE LINKS
********************************************************
BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
	Click the event you want to know more about.

Alumni Sandstorm website and archives:
AlumniSandstorm.com

Send Alumni Sandstorm entries (including pictures) to:
sandstorm@richlandbombers.com 

All Bomber Alumni Links website:
RichlandBombers.com

Click if you would like to Unsubscribe
********************************************************
********************************************************