Readers share thoughts of Mr. Honey and old times at the pool

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to James Wetzel.

Happy birthday to Amanda Horrell, Billy Davis, Lynn Felton, Bridgett Rains, Chad Beard, Jody Rister, Don Sheeley, Andy Wilhite, Esten Cooper, Candi Hargrove, Maxine Scott, Nathan McIntosh, Bill Dysinger, Sammie Poe, Berta Payne, Shawn Nix, Stephanie Phillips, Beth Eichhorn, Thomas Moore, Janice Trankler, Chris Qualls, Ryan Dirnberger, Amber Schlitt, Jason Umfleet, Amanda Ford, Frank Proffer and Carl Kagle. And, a special, although belated, happy birthday to my brother in law, Bill Hawkins.

Happy anniversary to Jon and Tonyua Townsend, Charles and Sara Hemingway, David and Laura Herbst, Randy and Berta Payne, David and Dayneen Glastetter, Bob and Jo Stovall and Jim and Robyn Hindman.

Make special plans now for Father's Day next Sunday.

Just ducky

Aaron Horrell featured wood ducks in last Sunday's column, and we are keeping watch on a pair in our backyard in Dallas. The colorful drake shows up early most mornings, patiently waits until she comes out of the box and they fly off together. We like to think he comes by to take his sweetie to breakfast.

Chamber of Commerce has selected the home of Jackie Fowler as Residence of the Month. It is always delightful to see her beautiful flowers and yard at her home on East Parker.

The Historical Museum is now open! Our town is looking nice again now that lawns that were upheaved during the water project have been leveled and reseeded. Let's keep our lawns mowed and free of clutter.

Memories of music

The mention of Oscar T. Honey and Harmon Field Pool brought back memories for many readers. Mayor Honey took a year leave of absence in 1940 for the Army's National Defense Program; Les Lankford served as interim mayor until 1942. Mr. Honey returned and was Chaffee High School Band director from 1945 through 1954; he had also been responsible for the band stand at Circle Park. As director of the 140th Infantry Band and the CHS Band, he held concerts there and in nearby towns. Many people remember those days of sitting at Circle Park on a blanket, listening to the music.

I asked my sister Carolyn what memories she had of Mr. Honey. She remembers wanting to play drums but he convinced her to take up the clarinet. That was back in the day when the precision marching band members numbered well into the 40s. Kids were eager to learn an instrument so they could play in the big band. The musically talented members in their bright blue and gold uniforms played with great pride. I remember my cousin Norm "Tyke" Finney, I and other little kids watching the band with much excitement. There were the drum majorette, the twirlers, color bearers, the band, and I especially remember Larry Himmelspoch. He played the bells and drums but was especially thrilling to watch as he played the big bass drum with such fanfare; crossing and twirling those big drum sticks high over the drum. Tyke later took up the trombone in the third grade under Mr. Honey and I, the clarinet, in the fourth grade under director Walter E. Parks.

Water you know?

A few readers shared some pool memories with us. One lady said she remembers playing in the baby pool and looking forward to being old enough to swim in the big pool on the shallow end, later graduating to the deep end of the pool and the high diveboard. Co-columnist Mark Hopkins tells us that when he was seven, a season pass was $3; in 1947, the daily pass cost 10 cents. Another person recalls the day the lifeguard fetched a towel for a young girl after a couple of rowdy boys managed to remove her new robin blue swimsuit in the deep end. The boys were banned from the pool, and the story ended there. The embarrassed young girl didn't tell her parents for fear that her dad would get his shotgun out -- something most dads threatened to do back in the day if any boy got near his daughters.

Special words

Remember to tell those special people in your life you love them -- those three words mean so very much.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are missing loved ones, our homebound, those in hospitals and nursing homes. Email your news and comments to darbuck2@airmail.net or leave a message at 573-887-6430 or 214-207-7839.

And then ...

Then there was the push for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah to be named Sportsman of the Year.