Update from David Hayden

I attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington and ended up on the 5 year plan. I graduated in ‘92 with a double major in Elementary Education and Music. Getting a first teaching position after college was not as easy as was promised so I worked as a Substitute for Central A&M for two years including a long-term position next to Miss Durbin.

I obtained my first teaching position as a K-8 Music/Chorus teacher at what was Heritage District which included Homer, Allerton, Longview and Broadlands in 1994. A year later I took on a second job with Barnes and Noble Bookstores to help pay off those college loans. In the spring of ‘96 I visited a friend in Phoenix on spring break and fell in love with the area. I decided to make a change and moved to Phoenix that July. It was kind of a scary move giving up a teaching position and moving to the unknown. I transferred my Barnes and Noble Job to Phoenix and then quickly got another long term substitute music teaching position in Mesa. That position only lasted one semester but then another teacher resigned at the same time so I was placed at Adams Elementary in 97 and have been there ever since. I teach K-6 General Music and Beginning Bands. Adams is in a low socio-economic area and has a lot of transient students. Despite the challenges I love working there, there are a great bunch of good kids. Mesa School District is the largest in the state with about 75,000 students with 54 elementaries, 13 Jr. Highs 6 High schools and other various programs. Adams serves about 950 of those and I have to keep on my toes to remember all the names!

Shortly after moving to Phoenix I joined the Orpheus Male Chorus, a musical organization currently in its 79th years of continual singing. We have produced several CDs and traveled to various parts of the state, country and recently Canada. It is a great group to sing with these past 10 years. I am currently 1st Tenor section leader and Assistant Director.

I continued to work with Barnes and Noble, you get addicted to the discount and other benefits. It was working there that I met my partner Jon Frank. We have been together 2 and a-half years. He is currently a Resident Life Coordinator for the Art Institute of Phoenix. He is a Phoenix native and enjoys visiting the quiet laid-back life in Central Illinois. His sister recently moved to Peoria giving us more reason to visit often. I finally resigned from Barnes and Noble this January after 11 years. This is the first summer I have had off and am enjoying it thoroughly.

I try to get back to Moweaqua at least once a year.? I was back during the holidays for my parents 40th anniversary and was able to attend Jerry’s Visitation. I apparently arrived before most of our classmates but I did see a few including Cindy and my Cousin Michael. I know it meant a lot to his parents for us to be there, they certainly seemed to remember all of us.

I’ll see you all soon. You can reach David at dhayden2@cox.net

Do you remember Mrs. McKinney from 1st Grade?

Many of you may remember our first grade teacher Mrs. Judy McKinney. SuEllen informed me that she has cancer and is currently undergoing a stem cell transplant. I thought it might be nice if some of us send her a note from her first grade class from 30 years ago - WOW! Now I really feel old - how about you! Here is the address she will be at for the next week or so. I am sure she would greatly appreciate your good thoughts or memories! She will soon have her immune system hitting zero - I can't think of a better time to get back in touch with a super nice teacher! Gotta run for now! - Julie

Judy McKinney
Barnes Jewish Hospital
216 South Kings Highway
Division 5900 Room 5933
North Campus
Schoenberg Bld.
St. Louis, Mo. 63110

Invitations are Out and a Memorial for Jerry Lee

I hope most everyone has received their class reunion invitations and are planning to come to the reunion! We are looking forward to hearing from you! Hope you will send us some updates for the website! Send me an email at dplumer@casscomm.com if you didn't receive your invite or have any questions!

Cindy was great to share this information about a memorial for Jerry..... thought I would pass it along -

Memorial poke run to benefit Shelby County Dive Team
Date: 12.JUN.07
A Memorial Poker Run will be held Saturday June 16 in memory of Jerry Lee “Sport” Horton, a Decatur fisherman who lost his life while fishing in Lake Shelbyville in December of 2006.

The benefit is being planned by family members of Mr. Horton, and all proceeds from the event will be given to the Shelby County Dive Team.

“We spent an intense seven days with the Horton family last December while we were recovering Jerry Lee and his lost fishing boat,” said SCDT Commander Scott Enkoff.

“The entire Horton family held vigil at the lake during the recovery, and as a result the family and emergency response teams felt like one united force,” said SCDT Assistant Commander Sara Bendler.

“The Horton family wanted something positive to come out of their family’s tragedy last Christmas, and they have decided to help the Shelby County Dive Team by holding this benefit next Saturday. The event is meant to serve as a memorial for Jerry Lee Horton and an opportunity for the Horton family to give back to the dive team and help us further our goals with new equipment,” Bendler continued.

Sign-up for the Memorial Poker Run is Saturday, June 16 at Coziahr Harley Davidson in Decatur, from 11am to noon. The riders will leave Coziahr at noon and travel a route which includes stops in Atwood, Lovington, Sullivan, and ends at the VFW in Shelbyville.

The events at the VFW start with hot food service at noon and continuing all through the day with carry-out food also available. The riders will end up at the VFW in Shelbyville with the last card drawn at 4:30 p.m. and events and food for everyone.

A DJ service will be playing from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and then a band will play from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. A live auction with a wide variety of items is also planned to start at 5 p.m.

The activities at the benefit are open to all ages until 8 p.m. After 8 p.m., all patrons must obey VFW age requirements.

Though this event is being planned by the Horton family, members of the Shelby County Dive Team will be present to meet the public and answer questions about the dive team.

“We are planning to bring down the truck and some of our equipment for people to see,” said Commander Enkoff.

“The dive van and equipment will be open for children and adults to explore, and we hope that the people of Shelbyville will come out and support the Horton family with this memorial benefit to enjoy some food, music, and fun.”
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