North High was the center of the universe when I was going to school there. Everything was bigger than life. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I had the best friends, I was on the golf team, a member of the Letterman’s Club, on the staff of The North Star, one of the best high school newspapers in the nation and on the Tower Year Book Staff. My closest friends were David Cox, Terry and Jerry Witt, and Larry Alderman. The five of us would hang out every Friday and Saturday night. We were all Lettermen so that was one bond, members of the Lettermen’s Club and enjoyed doing everything together. The worst thing we ever did was siphon gasoline. Seems pretty stupid looking back but it was something to do. We also did our share of toilet papering houses. We got pretty good at it. On Friday and Saturday nights we would go to Sandy’s which was a hamburger place at one end of Douglas and cruise from there down Douglas to the Sandy’s on the other end of Douglas. We were always wearing our letter jackets so there was no confusion about where we went to school which also seems kind of stupid. Larry was one of the biggest guys at North High School, he was a tackle on the football team, Terry and Jerry Witt were both lineman for the football team and wrestlers, David was a football player and a wrestler, he was an outstanding athlete and probably my closest friend. I guess the worst thing we did was go looking for fights. Talk about stupid. They would find a car loaded with guys from another high school and challenge them to a fight. We would drive to some agreed on location and basically Larry, Terry, Jerry and David would square off and fight the guys in the other car. I never participated. I was no fighter, good lord, I was small and I played golf. I just hung out with these guys. As I recall, nothing bad ever happened. Maybe some bloody noses, but that was it. Every night ended at one of the Sandy’s for burgers and fries. I still think their fries were better than any from McDonalds. At that time McDonalds was not a household name. That happened much later and eventually they caused Sandy’s to go out of business. Bummer. Once I graduated from High School and went on to Wichita State, I lost touch with all of these guys except David Cox. He did go to a junior college so he could play football. I remember one night he and I were going over to his grandfather’s house. We parked in back and when we were getting out of the car there were 2 or 3 guys that were looking for trouble. That was not me. It didn’t seem to phase David. I remember him protecting me and he broke his hand on one of those guys. It kept him from playing football the coming year. I always remember how he stood up for me and wouldn’t let anything happen to me. Unbelievable. I still feel guilty about that. I know it was a freak accident but he still did it to protect me. We remained friends until I went in the Military after college…that was when we lost touch. I feel bad that I haven’t spoken to any of those guys for over 50 years.
A few years ago, there was a 50-year high school reunion. David and Terry Witt were there. I couldn’t make it and I regret missing it. It would have been great because Kathy was still alive and I would have loved for her to see both of them. I did get a letter from Terry after the reunion and again being a class-A jerk, I did not respond to his letter. I think they are planning a 55th reunion and I believe that I will try to make that one. Hopefully David and Terry will be able to be there.
This whole article is making me kind of sad. I am going to end it here. Looking back can be wonderful and painful all at the same time. One thing that David and I both were hooked on was Jazz. Especially Dave Brubeck. I would like to get together with both of those guys and talk over old times.
