I have been reading the profiles and really enjoying some of the high school stories.  I thought it would be nice to have a running thread for them exclusively.  I'll have to do some thinking before posting one of mine though.

Sarah Phillips wrote:

Sounds good.I'll have to do some thinking on the subject.Most I can remember is Football,Chorus,Playing in a band and Surfing.Hopefully I can come up with something more interesting.

Bill

Hi good looking..

and Sarah do we really haveta? if we all do that then no one will read the profiles.. but then it might be fun.. I haven't checked but I think only about a couple dozen or so are registered..

As for me and a school story.. well I could paste my profile story here.. or I could sum it all up in a sentence or two.. 4 years of waiting for June 1968.. to hurry up and get there.. Especially from our Soph year 1965-66 onwards.. Inbetween, not much went on.. for me at least. College couldn't happen fast enuf. Tho my Freshman year at RBHS was n exciting blur of getting used to high school in general after Kindergarten aka junior high.. but I thought Howell Watkins, where a lot of us went, was pretty cool. What made it bitter sweet for me, and most of us 68ers, was we were probably there in November 1963 in the 8th grade when JFK took a hit and died before the second lunch period.. I'll never forget that hour.. Our principal Edward Eissey, who has a school or two named after him, or some department at PBCC, came on the PA system around 12:45pm. I had already had my PE class and was in a shop class.. working on a leather wallet with some tools. Then the PA went on and we were instructed to sit and listen.. Eissey came on with the bad news. They had a radio or a TV in the principal's office on and tuned in to CBS and you could hear Walter Cronkite giving his report.. maybe it was ABC I dunno. Around 1:10 JKF was pronounced dead and Eissey instructed us to go home. just go home. I took the bus home walked the two blocks past my grandmother's house, didn't go in, and went straight home.. Found Mom sitting in tears on the sofa watching the news.. A very bad time.. and I wonder did kids across the country get to go home, or stay home, during 9/11?

The other memory I have of Watkins, the sweet one.. was when, one month after JFK died.. the Beatles' first US single hit the AM.. I heard it around late December 1963.. I Saw Her Standing There. It knocked me socks off. A few days later I went into Newberry's which had a record store attached and heard that Beatles song blasting from their sound system.. and it became where I and I guess eveyone else bought their 45 singles and LPs, they had all the latest British Invasion LPs tday they would be a record collector's dream. Then the Fabs went on Ed Sullivan and our world changed forever. Years later, in the 70s, I got to know the founders of Newberry's, (which opened around 1962 a KFC opened next door shortly thereafter) the owner and his principal business partner.. he eventualy opened Best Buy Drugs after selling his stake in Newberry's. But from 1964 to about 1966 Newberry's was my record store.. There were a couple other music stores in the Riviera Beach area, and one was owned by Gary Wilson's family.. Wilson's Music Mart(?) over on Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, in Lake Park, which is where everyone started hanging out by 1967.

Well what were you expecting (not you everyone) a story about Band? Couldn't play a note. My work in the Drama department? My role in Oklahoma? Couldn't act my way out of a paper bag. The basketball team I was on? Didn't even try out. And my art? (cough cough) Miss Dennis, who taught the 10th grade art class, aka her kindergarten class, gave the entire class an F. I never took art class again. Of course I worked at home, and at PBJC I majored in Advertising Art and, as I may have told you, exceled even flourished out there. 4.0 GPA in my major. As I said college couldn't happen fast enuf.

But hey, it's cool.. since what really matters to me.. is the overall memory of being that young and in that special time and place and remembering you, my RBHS classmates.. who are what I really care about being on this site and Classmates for.. when it comes to internet forum websites and social networking.. you guys are special, the bees (hornets?) knees, the Holy Grail. Friends from our collective wonder years.

BTW, reply to your email on the way.

**************************************************Rob (1968)

Those were special years and times Robert and I guess that is why they are so special.  We lived them together as teens.  I had forgotten the name until you mentioned it, Howell Watkins.  I remember November 22, 1963.  It is clear as you described.  A terrible day.  I was in school on 9/11.  That was another terrible day that I will never forget.  My daughter was in Jr High or Middle School as we call it now.  I took her into the staff room on the way to her bus and explained to her that there would be no bus that day.  I was too busy on that day with my "other children" to tend to my own, but at the end of the day, my baby girl would be going home with me.  I also remember Newberrys in Lake Park, right?  Another name I had forgotten until you mentioned it.  When the Rolling Stones "Satisfaction" came out, Debbie Mercer and I walked the distance from our homes in NPB to Newberrys so I could buy the 45.  Too funny.  Those days it was safe for kids to walk.  Lake Park was one of my favorite haunts.  The Johnsons five and dime, ROTC dances, Newberrys, the record shoppe, and there was a womans clothing store too.  Thanks for refreshing my memory Robert. 

Those were special years and times Robert and I guess that is why they are so special.  We lived them together as teens.  I had forgotten the name until you mentioned it, Howell Watkins.  I remember November 22, 1963.  It is clear as you described.  A terrible day.  

THE 1967 PADDLEWHEEL QUEEN CRUISE AFTER-PROM PARTY  In 1967 things were getting a little crazy and it seemed the school wanted to have control over everything we did.  So it was for the Prom and after prom party.  The school as usual had the Prom at White Hall in Palm Beach, which was a wonderful old turn of the century fabulous home with gracious rooms and hardwood floors, the home of Mr. Flagler who brought the train to Florida beginning the real growth of Palm Beach.  The Prom went well and as far as I know everyone had a great time there.

It was the after prom party that took the cake as I believe was the after prom party of all times.  Well, to bring people up to date as to what the school had planned they had made arrangements to have the after prom party at the PGA Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens with a lock-down after everyone arrived so everyone would be safe and under the direct protection of the school.

It turned out that no one wanted to be locked up in a country club for the night, so a few brave souls came up with a plan to have our own after prom party and began quietly and secretly handing out flyer's in the hall ways of RBHS to everyone.  Soon everyone was talking about the party and anticipating it.  I will probably forget someone since its been so long, but the plan was hatched by Myself, along with Greg Bean, Jerry Seabrook, Sam Baglier, and I think a couple of others.  We contracted with the Jungle Cruise Paddle Wheel Queen boat out of Fort Lauderdale to come up to meet us at a semi-central place about 1:30 in the morning in Lantana at a park on the inter-coastal waterway.  We planned and had a band to play on the second floor of the boat, with plenty of refreshments and snacks for the trip.  The boat was scheduled to travel south on the inter-coastal half the remainder of the night and then turn around and bring everyone back to the Lantana Park by about 8:00 or 9:00 am in the morning.  It would be about a 6 to 7 hour cruise with a live band, dancing, and partying all the way.

About a few weeks before the prom, the school got wind of the plan and people had been paying for the trip to us and I believe it was only like $5.00 per person.  We had a lot of people signed up and paid for by this time and the party was definitely on.  However, the school was determined to put a stop to the party and force everyone to go to the PGA.  The teachers were on the look out for us passing out the flyer's and were confiscating them when they saw them.  We would just carry a few and when they were taken we would reach in our notebook and pull out some more and continue as soon as the teacher was out of sight.  Everything went smooth until the school found out we had a couple of teachers that had volunteered to be our chaperons.  I believe Mr. Gould and I don't recall our Drama teachers name Miss ____ were going to chaperon our party.  The school said if any teachers participated in this non-school sanctioned event they would be fired.  So, we now had to find other chaperons.  We ended up with a couple of parents and I do not recall specifically who they were, but we did it and beat the school administration and went on with our party.

We had the boat meet us in Lantana because after the prom it was traditional to go out and get something to eat.  It was also customary for people to travel to various restaurants from the Palm Beaches to as far south as Fort Lauderdale, so Lantana was chosen since it was kind of a central location between Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

I remember how nervous we we at the prom thinking about the party and hoping everything would come off without any problems.  We ended up paying for the cruise, band, and refreshments, and at the prom I believe Greg Bean went around and actually gave each of us around $50 to $75 or so in an envelope that was left over from the cost of the party.  We had not planned to make a profit, but so many people signed up and paid we ended up with a surplus and we just split it up among all the organizers.

I remember my date, Betty Wallace, a girl from Eau Gallie that I had met one time when I went up to go surfing in Cocoa Beach and went to a dance that evening on the old Cape Canaveral Pier, was a little put out because our (my) attention was so focused on the after prom party I ended up neglecting her to make sure the party came off good.  It was a lot of stress we were under as the time came for the party.

I remember we showed up a little early at the park, Greg, Sam, Jerry, and I and the boat was not yet there.  Well, we figured it would get there soon, but it didn't.  People began showing up expecting the boat to be there and they began complaining to us.  As the time slowly pasted you can imagine how we felt with now like some 100 or more people there waiting for the party they all paid for and no boat.  I'll tell you, we were getting a little worried and we could actually hear talk of lynching, but I like to think it was only talk. LOL  But there were some pretty upset people with dates and no place to go.

Finally, after about an hour and a half of anxious waiting and worrying we heard the sound of the old steam whistle blowing as the paddle-wheeler was making its long journey up the inter-coastal.  I remember the cheers and relief I felt knowing it was finally here.  It pulled up to the dock and people began climbing on board, while the band set up on the second floor.  We looked at each other and could finally smile... a little, knowing we still had the rest of the night to go.

A few people had been drinking and we took a couple of pint bottle from them before they got on the boat.  There was not suppose to be any drinking on the boat.  As the boat left the dock, the band was playing and people were dancing, laughing, and having fun.

As the night went on and people began to tire, some made it down to the lower deck to take some short naps and head back to the dance.  On the upper deck, which was exposed to the night sky and stars, I remember that is where couples went to stand or sit and make out.  So, we had sleeping on the first floor, dancing on the second Floor, and all the lovers on the top floor.  Everything seemed to be going better then expected.

I guess it was around 5 or 6 am a small disagreement broke out and several people got to pushing and yelling and after a few chairs and tables were broken or thrown overboard they finally calmed down and went back to dancing or sleeping.  Now, we began to worry about the additional cost of the damage caused. 

Over-all the party went quite smoothly once the boat arrived.  By the time we got back to Lantana Park it seemed everyone had forgotten about the late show and the cruise ended up lasting the full time it was suppose too, only finishing up later to make up for the late arrival.

I remember all the smiles and gratitude spoken to us by everyone as they were leaving the boat.  It really made us feel good to know the party was done and everyone seemed to have a really enjoyable time.  Now it was time for the reckoning to meet with the Captain as find out what we were going to be charged for the damage the group caused.  We went back on board and found the Captain and asked him what we owed.  He smiled and said, "nothing" he said this was one of the best groups he has taken on an all night cruise and adults caused more damage then we did.  OMG... we we so amazed we just all took a deep breath and smiled at each other.

We had pulled it off.  We had beat the school and done our own thing and it all worked out fine.  I think this was about one of the biggest and best experiences I had during all my entire high school daze.

Close behind I would say my working with the play Oklahoma in 1966 helping to guide the actors and running the main spotlight and playing "Frank the Bartender" and one of the  town people in Brigadoon in 1967 would be second best.

Now all you that attended the Paddle-wheel after prom party, know the rest of the story.  Thought it's many years late, I would like to personally thank all of you that went on the cruise and trusted a bunch of young high school students to organize and pull off one of the best all time parties ever at Riviera Beach High School.  I always felt this was and had to be one of the most historical events of the High School, in that we, the students, stood up to the school administration and went and did what they said would never happen.  We should all be proud that we were involved.  Without all of your support and participation we would not have been able to make it happen.

THANK YOU SENIOR CLASS OF 1967

David Amsden

I went on the cruise and I have to say it was the best memory of a prom or dance during my high school years and I went to all of the dances.  It was the best time.  But we went to the PGA party first and then the cruise.  I was trying to place where the PGA came in.  I remember the PGA dance on prom 67 but also the cruise.  So, I went to both.  But you are absolutely right.  The cruise was the absolute best time.  I wore a short lime green, sheer mini dress with matching heels and earrings.  I can't remember my dates name, but he was a 67 grad and a great guy.  The stars were out bright that night and the music played all night.  Great time.

Yes, it was a great night with the stars out as we cruised down the inter-coastal.  I remember someone on shore complaining about the noise of the band since it was between 2 am and 8 am and the police were chasing us from one draw bridge to the next and finally wouldn't let the bridge open till we quited down.  So, we stopped the band until we made it through the bridge and then cranked it back up and partied on.  hahahahah  It really was a great time I think.  I just wish I could have payed more attention to my date then all that was going on, but I felt responsible to make sure everyone else was having a good time, especially after the delay getting started.  So, I didn't get to enjoy it quite as much as everyone else did, but it was fun knowing we did it and it was a relief when it was over.  Just feeling like the whole school was depending on us got really scary when the boat wasn't there on time.  WHEW!!!!!

Glad you enjoyed it Sarah, that's what it was all about!

Sarah Phillips wrote:

Alright Robert, since you brought up Dave........In my life I have had only a "few" really close friends.  These would be people that I haven't spoken to in decades but have made a difference in my life.  They made a difference because they have touched my soul and have never been far from me spiritually.  Dave was such a friend.  Dave was never an artist, he was a genius.  His art flowed effortlessly from his being.  I always felt it was such a shame that more people never realized just how gifted he was and what an opportunity it would be just to be in his presence, perhaps absorb some of his genius through proximity.