LHHS CLASS OF 1965

CLASSMATE SPOTLIGHT

JULY 2007

David Lamar

Courtney (Daughter)

1.      What do you remember about your last day at LHHS?  Before graduation, my mother told me to take a good look around and enjoy my fellow classmates as you will never see most of them again.  She was always very insightful, and I did not realize her wisdom until many years later.  As I left the building, I remember looking down the many, many stairs leading to the building and thinking that no one will never make me run up and down those stairs again - what a relief!  The glory days of sports and summer love were now over, and the next chapter of my life was about to begin. 

2.      What did you do in the summer of ’65?  Andy Anderson and I worked with the Dallas Park Department around the Turtle Creek area watering medians in the wee hours of the morning.   We saw some real characters during that experience.  I saved enough money to buy an old Volkswagen that I used to commute to college. But after a month or so, it threw a rod in the engine and again chalked up lessons that I would recall often - parent to the rescue, and engines really do need oil.         

3.      What did you do the next school year?  I attended North Texas State for the fall semester after high school.   I dreamed college was going to be like "Animal House", but honestly I never saw that side of college-life - wishful thinking.  I lived in a dorm with two roommates from Dallas, studied much of the time, and worked most of the time.  I remember seeing David Wise on occasion.  I do recall a few midnight runs across the Oklahoma border to Johnny's for obvious reasons that now escape me.  I left NTSU, after a semester realizing that I would probably never graduate if I stayed in Denton, and enrolled at Arlington State College to pursue an engineering degree - I suppose due to the "man on the moon" thing that we did way-back then.  Looking back, I really wanted to go to medical school, but decided to take the easier, path of least resistance - another lesson learned.  I carpooled back and forth several years until graduation with Andy Anderson, Tommy Lockett, and Susan Yeager.  I remember working each day after school until early morning and making the long haul to school the next morning still half asleep.  I always marveled how Tommy always appeared so energetic in the morning when I felt like a zombie.  One semester my grades were terrible, and I went to a counselor to evaluate my educational prowess.   After much testing, he told me that I was never going to graduate as I did not have the right stuff.   Well, I told him that I would see him on graduation day, and I did!  Looking back, I credit him with the push that I needed to see the light at the end of the tunnel and learned that negative motivation can work as well as positive motivation when applied appropriately to the right person at the right time.

Andrea

4.  College? Anxiously I looked forward to college especially since my original higher educational institution of choice was rated "the number 1 party school in the nation in 1965" by Playboy Magazine, North Texas State College. After gaining my sanity I graduated from University of Texas at Arlington in 1969 and was so glad to finally finish that I did not even take the opportunity to "walk down the aisle in cap and gown" - another regret.  Yet I have a rebel flag on my long-lost but not forgotten college ring.  Afterwards, I began my career in the aerospace industry and attended graduate school at night.  I had an occupational deferment until the day that changed my life forever.  As a young engineer, I worked in research and development and had just finished my first year, been promoted, got a big raise, and returned from my first vacation ever when the bottom fell out of the aerospace industry - another lesson in economics that I failed to consider.  So again, I worked many odd jobs awaiting my big break including a helper for a construction foreman's son who called me his college-boy, sanitary engineer - oh well, the construction crew got a big laugh out of it.  To make a long story short, I lost my deferment and learned that Uncle Sam had a wondrous plan for me.

 5. Other Wildcats with you?  Sadly, I remember the death of Skipper Crane during those college years. Many years later, thanks to Steve Scobee, I was able to contact his daughter and reminisce about my dear departed friend. And to all of those whom I did not mention, I blame old age, bad memory, and other issues but please realize that each and every one of you had a profound impact on my life.   Each time I hear an oldie I fade-back to the many good times we all shared together.  I do not always remember the names, but I will never forget the faces and the emotions.

6.      Military service? In 1965 there was a war on-going, and TV painted a picture that scared me to death.  After high school, I went to college, and I must admit it kept me out of the draft - at least for awhile. I was told they will never get to your lottery number in Dallas County. What a joke! I still recall the many draft physicals and the shear panic young men went through.  At one physical a Sergeant asked me "Boy, what line can you read on the eye chart?"  I nervously replied, "Line 9, Sir"; and, he said, "Fine, 20 - 20".  I thought it was strange that he did not want me to read the line, but I finally realized that no one really cared, and the tests were rigged. After all, there was a war in SE Asia! After spending many years fearing service (probably because of the war), I can honestly say that I really enjoyed the military.  I flew fighters in the USAF, played war games, and traveled the world over for many, many years. 

 7.      Did you ever get married?  More than once?  During college I married Sherry Grant and had a baby girl, Andrea.  After returning from overseas I meet my wife, Luanne, of 30 years in Phoenix. AZ.   She was a special education teacher who became my true inspiration and best friend.  To this day I can think of no more honorable profession than education and think it is a shame that we do not pay teachers what they truly deserve. Oddly, Luanne was named after Lou Ann's Club in Dallas where her father who played the saxophone in the band met her mother.

 Shayne and his girlfriend Shawnte

8.      Children?  I have 5 great kids (3 girls and 2 boys) that are the light of my life.  I love them all dearly and only hope that I have set a good example for them to follow.   My oldest daughter, Andrea, is an entrepreneur who owns and operates Document Binding Company in Dallas with her partner, Liz.  I am very proud of her accomplishments as she started with nothing to become a legend in her time.  Shannon, my second daughter, is an especially talented teacher of gifted children in Killeen, TX where she lives with her husband, Hector, a West Point graduate serving his second tour in Iraq and her three dogs who keep her company, Max, Chance, and LuLu.  My oldest son, Shayne, teaches business and marketing courses in the Pasadena School District and operates a car dealership with my wife.  Together they started N2 Deals 11 years ago and have grown this enterprise into a thriving business.  If you need a car at a great price, check out www.n2deals.net.  They have access to auctions all over the nation.  Kyle is the family's creative catalyst.  He is a film maker and videographer that recently started a new venture similar to You Tube called www.streetnetwork.tv for young talent with dreams without money looking to become an American Icon.   Courtney, my youngest, attends Texas State University excelling in business and marketing while helping Mom and Shayne with the car business.  She is also a senior RA in her dorm and a waitress at the Gristmill Restaurant in historical Gruene, TX.

 9.      What did you do for a living for the first ten years after LHHS?  I went to school, graduated, worked, got laid off, then drafted, and played war games.

     Shannon and Hector

10. What did you do for the second ten years plus? I have just remodeled my home, watched my kids grow up and move out, worked, directed teams of people, and managed companies in the aerospace industry.   I have had many titles, but must admit I detest titles and rarely put them on business cards.   I am not impressed by titles or degrees.  I tend to be an intuitive, "show me" type of person. 

 11. Where do you live? Houston, TX

 12. What do you do now?  I am ending my career as I began - seeking the mysteries of the universe through space exploration knowing these findings will truly benefit mankind someway, sometime. 

 13. Do you stay in contact with any LH classmates?  On occasion, I have seen Steve and Beverly Phillips, my dear friends.  I have also visited with Andy Anderson and his family in the past.  I was truly touched and will never forget Steve and Tommy Lockett attending my mother's funeral - what a nice surprise!

David and Hector

 14. If you could change anything about your high school experience, what would it be?  Nothing! Those experiences made me what I am, and I have no regrets.

Lamar Family Dinner

15.  As you approach retirement age . . . are you ready?  I do not think that I will ever retire.  I do not have any hobbies, only a big family to enjoy.  My wife just retired from teaching after 29 years and is now doing her "car thing" full time, and it keeps her quite busy too.   If I could afford it, I would coach and teach kids, but have decided I will wait for the grandchildren.  I recently offered a friend who is the HR administrator in a local ISD to teach for free after school and on weekends and was told that there were too many rules that preclude such - and we are still looking for ways to solve budget problems.

 16.  In your opinion, what is that “certain something” that has kept so many of our class so connected for so long?  I think relationships and memories help people stay connected.

 17.  If David Wise would share his “Way back Machine” and take you to 1962, would you go?  No, I really enjoy my life now.

18.  Is there anything you want to ramble about?  Looking back I wish I had spent more time enjoying my family instead of trying to claw my way to the top of a profession or company.   In the end, I know that I have lived, loved, and left a legacy that I hope my family is proud of.  After all, all we have in the end is our family, and isn’t that really enough?