John G. Elliott

Hey Yvonne -- Happy Birthday; make today a special one for you. -- Johnny

Hi David --
You are a central character in a story I like to tell about my brief football career at West Junior. We were practicing with the 7th and 8th graders on a field next to the 9th grade team. One of the 9th graders (Richard Swettenham?) broke his facemask and the coach told him to go get a replacement helmet from one of the 8th graders. He took my helmet.
The coaches resumed our scrimmage with me (smallest dude on the field) playing safety wearing no helmet. I heard the next play called from the huddle: “Buck 40” which meant fullback (you) up the middle over center. You burst through the line, running with knees high like Jim Brown, straight at me. I stuck my head between your legs and, as we fell to the ground, my shoulder pads flew up and slapped be hard on both ears. I was so pissed off and stunned that I started to cry.
Thanks for giving me a good laugh as I’ve retold that story over the years. I hope life has been good to you. Take care. – Johnny Elliott

Posted on: Jan 02, 2020 at 10:07 AM

Happy New Year Mark! And an early wish for you to have a good birthday next week.
It was great seeing you at the reunion last fall and thank you for the group photo of the "Chimunks". The lip-sync reunion would have been complete if we had only had "Simon" (Paul Miller), "Dave" (Billy Elliott), and a turntable with us.

Hi Florence -- It was good to touch bases with you at the reunion in September. I say "touch bases" because we just had a few minutes to catch up before we went in separate directions. That evening went by so fast and I didn't even get to say hello to many former classmates. I hope the next year brings you good health and that all is well with your family.
Happy Birthday! -- Johnny

Posted on: Nov 10, 2019 at 10:05 PM

Hey Ron --
We did not know each other in HS unless it was in Chem or Bio or Math class; maybe because I was a shy kid too. My "safe room" was with the track and CC teams, but I grew out of that once I started at the U of Mo. And I'm sorry we didn't cross paths at the reunion this past September. It was a blast and I wish I'd had another 2 nights to catch up with old friends and new ones. One of my best friends in Colorado is a radiologist who I've shamelessly shared my digital images with.
Your cycling "adventure" hooked me. I too have done "endos" over the handle bars, but never into WET concrete (I hope the pavers were gone for the day when that happened so the proof of your biff lives on in cured concrete). And I've ridden across wet asphalt on my hip and elbow (wheels up) too. Cycling is definitley easier on the knees than running.
But since you live in Michigan, may I suggest an even more joint friendly activity you might be inclined to try if you haven't already? Nordic skiing. I tell folks it can be aproached just like cycling: Touring at a nice easy pace, taking in the scenery. Or pushing hard on a pair of skinny skis (like you do on your road bike), getting a total body workout. You can even combine your experience as a marksman with XC skiing in biathlon (we have a biathlon club in Colorado open to all levels). I've XC skied in Michigan a couple of times and already skied here in Colorado this fall with our early snowfall. I'm a volunteer guide for blind XC skiers about 10 days every winter, and that is very gratifying.
Be well and keep up your great work mentoring the next generation and assisting those less well off than those of us.
-- Johnny Elliott

Posted on: Oct 03, 2019 at 7:52 AM

Hi Marty -- I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to talk with you at the 50th reunion last weekend. The Friday night gathering was great and went by too fast. Doug and Steph told me that most of the credit for putting on the event goes to you. So, let me express my thanks for all you did to bring us together again. Be well and see you at the next one. -- Johnny

Happy Birthday, Prez! See you in a few weeks. -- je

Posted on: Aug 27, 2019 at 11:27 AM

Hey Mark -- I just looked at the 2 new photos you posted in the McKinley-Delmar photo gallery. Thanks!
You questioned the photo dates, so let me offer a clue. The group photo on the front steps is at least from the 2nd grade because I did not go to McKinley until the 2nd grade (That's me front and center in the high-waist pants).
The group photo of us dressed to sing Spanish Christmas carols also is at least 2nd grade for the same reason. But since Mrs Kirsch also was our 3rd Grade teacher, it could be 3rd Grade too. I remember wearing a serape, but can't recall the exact year.

Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 at 7:04 PM

Hey Mark -- I've been looking through photo albums posted by classmates and saw your 3rd-Grade class photo of Mrs Kirsch's class. I transferred to McKinley (and Mrs Kirsch's class) in the 2nd grade from Rufus Easton. I remember that Mrs Kirsch's class was composed of both 2nd and 3rd grade students when I was in 2nd grade, and our room was in the "new" wing of the building. But I don't remember being in her class in the 3rd grade. However, I must have (if that photo date is correct). I remember (or I think I do) that my 3rd-grade class (as well as 4th 5th and 6th) was in the old building. Can you (or another McKinley alumn) clear that up for me? See you at the reunion. -- John (formerly known as "Theodore", thanks Betty Burt).

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