AFTER NO UPDATES since October 2021 (with feedback from readers about my
booklet on the August 2021 reunion) and December 2021 (about the death of our
classmate Tom Nigbur), I’m baaaaaack! Since the time of those updates, I have been
busy with several time-consuming situations requiring my attention in my role the past
22 years as the volunteer board president at the nonprofit condos where I live and my
role the past 22 years as the volunteer advocate for 200 people in our high-density
residential neighborhood in Denver. Only now have I had extra time to do this update.
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FLASH CADILLAC will perform on Saturday, January 29, 7:00 p.m., at Stargazers
Theatre and Event Center located at 10 South Parkside Drive in Colorado Springs. The
venue is located near East Pikes Peak Avenue between Union Boulevard and Circle
Drive. People have the option to watch the performance in person or via live stream
from home. Tickets are $30 per person to attend the event and $15 per person to watch
the performance live stream from home. To buy tickets, click the following link:
https://stargazerstheatre.com/product/flash-cadillac-2/
Formed in 1969 as "Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids," the performing artists
(one of whom is our classmate Warren Knight) gained national notoriety by playing
traditional rock ‘n’ roll at hundreds of college and concert events in the 1970s and
appearing in two movies, American Graffiti and Apocalypse Now. The band also
appeared on Dick Clark's TV show American Bandstand. In 1976 the band made the
decision to drop “the Continental Kids” from their name and proceeded simply as Flash
Cadillac. They were inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
Warren notes that the band’s first paid performance was on March 7, 1969, at a Friday
Afternoon Club (FAC) function sponsored by an SAE fraternity house in Boulder.
Pointing out that the band earned $100 and all the beer they could drink, he estimates
that the “frat-boy entrepreneurs” (Warren’s words, not mine) cleared over $300 by
charging $1.00 admission for each of at least 500 attendees and buying a couple of
beer kegs for $50 or less at the FAC event.
In reference to Flash Cadillac not performing since November 2019 due to COVID
issues in the entertainment industry, Warren notes that time frame is "by far the longest
period between gigs in the 52-year history of the band.”
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For Those who think he’s not “cultured” because he watched Clint Eastwood
spaghetti westerns years ago, our classmate Levi Bruce McAlexander urges you to
think again. As evidence that he truly is a “cultured” person, he recently recommended
the 2018 performance of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra (DNSO) playing
their version of the “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” theme song from Eastwood’s
1966 movie by the same name.
“I think it was great and would have loved being there with my poncho on,” declared
Levi Bruce as he commented upon the DNSO performance. To access the 6-minute
video, click the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enuOArEfqGo
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FEEDBACK from READERS includes the below-listed entries that were submitted in
response to information contained in previous updates.
Donnie, I loved your 6-minute dance video [as shared in the October 2021 update].
I loved dancing!! I can see you still dancing with Gillie!
— Vickie Guinta Price, Class of 1967
I just viewed Donnie’s dance video [as shared in the October 2021 update]. Wow!! Talk about a
smooth mover. Loved every minute of it. It was a trip down memory lane. Thank you.
— Starr Coakley Miller, Class of 1966
Donnie, I normally look forward to and enjoy your reporting on the class of ‘66 and their events.
I was not happy with your editorialization, however, regarding our event scheduled and canceled
in August [as reported in the October 2021 update]. It was not and never was a continuation of
any 55 reunion event planned and postponed due to COVID. The lunch was merely that, a
lunch, one that has been done fairly regularly over the years allowing classmates the
opportunity to gather in a casual atmosphere and catch up with one another. I'm glad that your
reunion went well and that none of the disaffected ‘65ers had the temerity to "crash" your
event. Wishing you the best.
— Lyle Wikner, Class of 1965
I disagree with the rules that were set forth to which you cite Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Theiss. You
are hiding behind a cloak by separating yourself, not seeing yourself as being a member of the
class on which you report. You see your role as an observer, not part of the class. A more
appropriate name for you would be "Mystery Man." Love from your friend.
— Cheryl Minehart Belt, Class of 1966
[Note from Donnie: Cheryl’s feedback is in reply to the October 2021 update wherein I explained why my bio was not in the booklet produced by me about the August 2021 reunion. I wrote: “It is
a big no-no in journalism for a booklet editor to include extensive bio information about himself
or herself. My booklet was BIO articles from the perspective of the people who submitted them.
Because the booklet was NOT an autobiographical project, it would have been against
journalism standards for me to include my own bio sheet. The WHS creative-writing teacher
Mrs. Adams and the WHS journalism teacher Mrs. Theiss would agree with me on this.”]
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READERS offered FEEDBACK about TOM NIGBUR who passed into eternal rest on
December 19, 2021. Among several online entries on the funeral home website was
one by Harry Diamond, who was with Tom’s wife Drinda in the Class of 1967. He wrote:
The last opportunity I had to speak with Tom was at the Widefield High School, Class of
1967 20th reunion, in Colorado Springs that he attended with Drinda. We talked about
his football career at the University of Colorado where he played fullback, although he
was recruited as a linebacker. Tom ranks 10th all-time on the longest running plays from
scrimmage list at CU with an 80 yard touchdown against Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas
on November 2, 1968. Tom was so modest he did not remember that play when I
mentioned it to him when we spoke. Tom, you will be missed.
In addition to the above-listed entry by Harry on the funeral-home website, listed below is more
feedback submitted directly to this newsletter.
Donnie, thank you for the sad update about Tom Nigbur. I appreciate your keeping the
memories alive and growing. It is always sad when one of our classmates dies.
— Mick Martin, Class of 1966
Sorry to learn of Tom Nigbur’s passing. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.
— Doug Allen, Class of 1966
Thank you, Donnie, for the article about Tom Nigbur. I didn’t have a crush on Tom, but I did
think both he and Drinda were really nice in school. I’m so sorry for her and their family.
— Mary Ashley Fuchsman, Class of 1966
Drinda, I was always in awe of Tom's football skills. The best and most recent memory was the
day [January 2020] when Barbara and Brian, you and Tom, and my husband Sandy and I met
for lunch here in Mesa. It was great reminiscing and catching up on each other's lives. After
losing my husband Sandy a year ago, I can understand your pain. This time of year [December]
can be especially tough. Even though Tom is physically gone, he will always live in your heart.
Time heals. Hold on to your memories. May you find God's peace and comfort as you work your
way through the grief process. Blessings and love to you always.
— Judy Whitmore Precise, Class of 1966
My high school memories are uniquely mine. We all knew each other but only had an inkling of
who we’d become. That, I suppose is what reunions are for. In high school the only circles Tom
and I traveled in were English, Speech and Biology classes, yet I recognized him as a kind and
loving soul. I was so “blessed” at one of our reunions to find myself seated across from Tom and
Drinda. I was happy to have reconnected with Tom and happy to have met Drinda, the love of
his life. I remember her in high school as a really cute “underclassman” and I could plainly see
how he fell for her like a ton of bricks. I just want to say to Drinda and my fellow classmates at
this sad time for us that we should rejoice in Tom’s choices to have had such a life well lived!
— Barbara (Billingsley) Massarano, Class of 1966
My most vivid memory of Tom Nigbur comes from athletics at Sproul Jr. High. We had four 8th
grade intramural football teams in the fall of 1961. I was on the “Orange” team (orange jerseys)
in a game against Tom on the “White” team (white jerseys). In eighth grade I probably weighed
100 lbs or so; I expect Tom weighed around 160-170 or maybe more. So I’m playing
defensive back when Tom, running with the ball, comes thundering around left end directly
toward me. I flailed at him in a half-hearted tackle attempt; and barreled down the sideline. From flat on my
stomach on the dirt field, I witnessed the rest he ran right over me and past me of the play: Tom galloping
on his way to a long touchdown run, with my Orange teammate Ron Petty in valiant pursuit stride for stride
about two steps behind Tom all the way to the end zone. The rest of the story: Tom and Ron went on to
play high school football and Tom played football in college at CU, while Warren chose tennis for his fall
sport, lettered three years on the WHS team and then played intramural tennis at CU. [P.S. I doubt I’m the
only player who got run over by Tom on a football field.]
— Warren Knight, Class of 1966
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TO VISIT OUR CLASS WEBSITE that was assembled and has been maintained since
April 2009 by our Class Committee member and Webmaster, Paul Snell, please go to:
www.1966whs.com
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That’s all, folks. [Those are the same three words that the famous 1950s cartoon
character Woody Woodpecker always used upon ending each episode.]
This update was prepared by me.
Respectfully submitted,
Donnie Martínez (January 20, 2022)
Security — grade school thru graduation 1966
Known in Security by stepdad’s surname Collier
Martínez is my birth certificate and legal surname