Winter Newsletter 2016 Editor-Catherine C. Myers ’67

P.O. Box 164, Pass Christian, Mississippi 39571 _________________

PCHSAA.1@mail.com (facebook) Pass Christian High School Alumni Association

Pass Christian High School

Alumni Association _________________________________________________________________________________________

THE LATERAL PASS

celebrating the anniversaries of

1966 (Golden Anniversary),

1946 (70th Anniversary), 1956 (60th Anniversary), and 1991 (Silver Anniversary).

West Harrison Civic Center, Espy Avenue

2016 PASS CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL REUNION CELEBRATION

APRIL 30, 2016

Dues and reservations are due no later than

April 9, 2016.

No reservations will be accepted at the door.

This is a BYOB event.

REUNION FORMAT CHANGED

The 2015-2016 PCHSAA Board of Directors has been working diligently to make this year quite special and

has made several changes to our annual gathering of classes this April.

The title “Reunion Banquet” has been changed to “Reunion Celebration.”

There will no longer be a buffet line. Instead, several food stations offering delicacies for the palate will

be open at 6 and continue until 9. At 9, the food stations will offer light snacks and desserts until 10:30.

The Reunion Celebration will begin at 6 o’clock on April 30, 2016.

After registering and receiving your name tag, you can reconnect with great friends and classmates. While you are

enjoying the offerings of the various food stations, the PCHS Band will entertain.

At 7 o’clock, a short business meeting and introduction of honored classes will take center stage.

Following the business portion, music will begin and all are invited to dance and continue visiting.

Music will be provided by Ron Hammons Production.

The Board of Directors hopes that you enjoy eating at your leisure and visiting with classmates.

2015-2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President-Jim Wescovich ‘67

Vice-President-Janice McDonald Pickich ‘66

Secretary-Elsie Mitchell Starita ‘68

Treasurer-Peggy Ladner Hertz ‘70

Past President-Debbie Rachuba Fournier ‘69

Member-Susan Wittmann ‘71

Member-Walt Lonnborg ‘65

50th Anniversary Rep.-John Pulkowski ‘66

Health concerns prevented Will Koolsbergen ‘67 from

serving on the Board. Janice McDonald Pickich ‘66 was

elected to his position as Vice-President.

PCHS MEMORABILIA

Available behind the registration table for $5 each will be

a variety of PCHS memorabilia—car tags, notecards, and

coffee mugs.

Help support your alumni association by taking a chance

on beautiful artwork and the 50/50 drawing.

2 THE LATERAL PASS ONCE A PIRATE-ALWAYS A PIRATE PAGE 2

LeRoy Lizana

1931-2015

A Life of Excellence

LeRoy— A 1951 PCHS Senior

Most of us remember “Mr. Lizana”—as the adult,

the principal, the superintendent, the elder statesman of

the Pass Christian community.

In 1951, LeRoy was one of 16 PCHS seniors looking

forward to the future. The Forward Pass, 1951, Senior Edi-

tion, gives us some insight to the boy who would make a

significant impact on our lives and school. Date of Birth: February 15, 1931

Place of birth: Gulfport, Mississippi

Years at PCHS: Four

Activities: Senior Class Vice President; Football-4 years;

Basketball-1 year; Softball-2 years; Tennis-1

year; Dramatic Club-2 years; Choral Club-2

years; Camera Club-1 year; Art Editor on For-

ward Pass-2 years; P. Club-2 years; Harvest

Ball-3 years; Harvest Ball King; Homecoming

Captain; Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Plays.

Ambition: To be a success.

Favorite Color: Lavender

Favorite Song: “If”

Favorite Pastime: Eating

Hobby: Swimming and Drawing

Class Will: I, LeRoy Lizana, hereby will:

my ability to grow a beard to Troy Howell,

my ability to play football (and live through it) to

John Peranich.

my ability to dance and get along with girls to

Mac Winstead,

my artistic ability to Jimmy Terell,

my flirty ways to Byron Ladner.

PCHSAA Spring Banquet—2014

LeRoy and Willa join the PCHSAA

2013-2014 Board of Directors following the naming of the 2014

scholarships in his honor.

LeRoy Lizana, 84, passed away August 7, 2015, in Houston, Texas following a lengthy illness. He was a lifelong resident of the Pass Christian community. LeRoy served the Pass Christian school community with dignity and excellence beginning with his 1951 gradu-ation from Pass High. In 1954, he began his educational career as a Business Education teacher and bus driver. He is remembered by most of us as PCHS Principal and Assis-tant Superintendent. He served as Federal Programs Coor-dinator and Assistant Superintendent for the Harrison County School District until 1972 when he returned to Pass Christian to serve as Superintendent of Education for twenty years until his retirement in 1992. In addition to his service to public education, LeRoy served his community through the Pass Christian Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Mississip-pi P.T.A. (to name a few). He was recognized with numer-ous awards and acclamations for his untiring work in both educational and civic endeavors. His service was recog-nized with the naming of the Pass Christian School District Central Office Complex in his honor. He was an avid genealogist and extensively re-searched the history of his family. The Pass Christian High School Alumni Association conveys deep sympathy to Willa Dean, Elizabeth, John, and their families on LeRoy’s passing.

PCHS Class of 1951

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

2015-2016 has been a great year for your Association! Your Board of Directors has embraced the past while trying to re-

vitalize our annual reunion. We hope that you will join us in April. As President I would like to offer each of you an invitation to

join us at any of our monthly board meetings. Your wealth of experiences, insight, ideas, and suggestions will greatly benefit our

Association. Our Alma Mater’s refrain begins “Forward Ever, Be our Watchword…….” Please join us as we move forward.

Our scheduled meetings are the third Monday of each month at 5 P.M. at the Hancock Bank Community Building

(formerly Dr. Taylor’s office) on Davis.

Jim Wescovich

3 THE LATERAL PASS ONCE A PIRATE-ALWAYS A PIRATE PAGE 3

It’s hard to believe that 50 years have so quickly flown by since the Class of 66 walked and played

through the halls of Pass High. Our April Reunion Celebration will honor them and we hope that this night will

be one of antics and activities revisited, laughter, and the rekindling of friendships with classmates and friends.

—need contact information *deceased

Christian Bell Theobald Jon Hans —Mike Nolan

Pearl Bentz Benigno —Roxy Hathaway Diane Pavolini Ladner

Henry Bonney Randy Jones Gene Peralta

Ann Bowden Hollis Dennis Kelly John Pulkowski

Tofie Bradley* Diane Ladner* Gary Rachuba

—Genease Brantley Eddie Ladner —Alcee Ramelli

Candace Clay Loper Floyd Ladner Joe Ratliff

Candy Coder West Harry Ladner Mike Simpson

John Coker* Kenny Ladner Bill Spearance

—Terry Coover Troy Ladner —Mary Ellen Steube

Billie Dickerson Jr. —Jim Lansing —Lynn Waldie

—Linda Eaton Janice Lonnborg McFall Mike Webb

—Kit Fontaine Janice McDonald Pickich Wayne Wilcox

—Ronnie Garrett —Sue Mowery —Jerry WIlliamson

Linda Garriga Theobald Eugene Necaise Jimmy (Jamie) Wittmann*

Bryant Gilmore* Veronica Niolet —Cheryl Wykoff

Billy Gwin Kouns Tim Young

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CLASS—1966

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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Santa’s elves, Janice McDonald Pickich ‘66, Elsie Mitchell

Starita ‘68, John Pulkowski “66, and Sandy Cox St. Pierre

‘62, were on hand to assist the little shoppers with their

holiday purchases at the Association’s Santa’s Shop at

Christmas in the Pass 2015.

(Not pictured is Phyllis Mitchell Allen ‘69.)

KATRINA MEMORIAL CEREMONY

August 29, 2015

The City of Pass Christian hosted a memorial ceremony to

remember her 29 citizens who lost their lives in Katrina and

to mark the resilience of her people in their recovery. Elsie

and Peggy chaired our fundraiser and many thanks go to

those who funded our supplies. It was a great celebra-

tion!

Gayle Parker ‘58 retired in December 2015

as Harrison County Circuit Clerk. Gayle’s

contributions to Harrison County are im-

measurable. We wish Gayle great travels

and outstanding adventures.

Gayle Parker Chipper McDermott

Leo “Chipper” McDermott ‘67 was hon-

ored and recognized as Pass Christian’s

Outstanding Citizen at the Rotary Club/

Main Street’s annual recognition dinner on

January 13. Chipper stepped up after

Katrina’s wrath and has led the city’s re-

covery as her mayor.

Congratulations, Gayle and Chipper!

ALUMS IN ACTION

4

Thanks

This will always come first: Grace Farragut; her sister, Alice Farragut Russell; and her niece, Jean Adam Burt

are the dedicated Pirates who kept our association alive and active for years. The three of them were the

reigning force that gave life and substance to PCHSAA. There were others who are not to be overlooked. I

give thanks for all of you and your hard work.

Enjoyable

I loved the time spent with Pirates who are, also, dear friends. I will forever cherish the time I spent with Linda McDonald and the long tele-

phone conversations we had. She instilled in me the commitment and wishes she had for our alumni association. Her hope for PCHSAA

became my ambition. Linda passed away in January 2014.

Insight

I discovered how the associations, schools, the civic groups, our religious organizations, and our city’s governing board work together to

make Pass Christian a safe place for our families to live and play and the place to call home! I never gave it any thought before.

Project Work

Once more participating in Christmas in the Pass and discovering how generous the donations (sweets) for our booth rolled into us. Jean-

nie Burman was so kind to make sure we had a tent, lights, and tables. Grace Farragut Necaise brought some wonderful Pirate displays.

Pirate Jim (Wescovich) is always so talented with the decorations (and his saber). Henny Wescovich Moran, took every step I took (thank

Heavens)!

Hard Work

Our goal for 2012-2013 was to organize and complete what was missing; to ensure we had a firm foundation to govern our actions; and to

increase membership and participation in our association.

The banquet actually takes a dedicated team to carry off—renting a place; ordering table cloths; hiring a caterer; hiring a DJ or

band; picking up, ordering , and borrowing plants and flowers; setting up tables and chairs; wrapping place settings; decorating; request-

ing the Pass Christian Jazz Ensemble to play; and finding a guest speak-

er. I’m sure I have omitted numerous tasks—like all the work Henny

Wescovich Moran did on all of the picture displays and the Star Family

Project or the program produced by Catherine Myers.

Accomplishments of the 2012-2013 PCHSAA Board

*Constitution and By-Laws

*A Facebook page with 566 members to date

*Tax Identification Number

*Renewed participation in Christmas in the Pass

*Annual audit of PCHSAA bank accounts

*Star Family Recognition at our annual reunion

*Timeline guide for what & when tasks should be done

*Annual end-of-year-Senior Ice Cream Party

Wishes

*A list of every class that graduated from Pass Christian High including

occupations & date of death

*A statis of how many contractors, carpenters, mechanics, doctors,

accountants, policemen, scientists, and artists, etc. were Pirates

*All year books on CDs

Many Hands and Many Thanks

My dedicated board put in many long hours and I thank them: Alice

Farragut Russell; Linda McDonald Stuart; Grace Farragut Necaise; Jean

Adam Burt; Mary Gay Moran Stelly; Betty Jo Carco Bishop; Henny

Wescovich Moran; and Catherine Cerra Myers.

It was an honor and a privilege to be President of Pass Christian High

School Alumni Association and to work with dedicated Pirates.

THE LATERAL PASS ONCE A PIRATE-ALWAYS A PIRATE PAGE 4

REFLECTION:

MY EXPERIENCE AS THE 2012-2013 PCHSAA PRESIDENT

BY SANDY COX ST. PIERRE ‘62

Pirates in the Park

On August 21, 2015, Pass

Christian welcomed Good Morning,

America to War Memorial Park in

anticipation of the airing of

Robin Roberts’ documentary:

Katrina—Ten Years Later After the Storm.

Hundreds of well-wishers, including lots of

Pirates, enjoyed warm breezes and celebrated

the shared memories

and recovery of the

Pass!

Will Koolsbergen ‘67 and

PCHSAA Pirate Jim

Wescovich ‘67.

Jim Wescovich ’67,

Janice McDonald

PIckich ‘66, Rick Adam

‘66, and Rick’s wife,

Sally,