A Few Comments From Someone Who Was There

When I reread this article 25 years after it was published, I confess some of it made absolutely no sense. Some other points need a little explanation:

• Bruce Myers was (and still is) a mellow kind of guy. The sight of him puffing on a cigar during the trip was somewhat disconcerting. He actually did look a bit like Eastwoood.
• Billy McDonald's 'forty year old man' transformation needs a little elaboration. Billy was a stocky, but mild-mannered guy (not unlike Bruce Myers). However, he was probably one of the few guys I knew then who must have started shaving in the 7th grade. Just before the trip he began growing a mustache. By the time we reached Galveston we all noticed he suddenly looked "mature". So mature in fact that we dared him to go to the 7/11 accross from the motel and buy some beer. He did and was so excited by this that he offered to buy beer for everyone.
• The reference to me and the dance with the wine bottle is a myth. Most of the class was hanging out at some beach club (I think it was called the Hut). I went back to my room and when I came back I made up some story about getting into a fight with some guy in the parking lot and konking him with a bottle of wine (people were easily impressed back then). I hope I cleared that up.
• As far as the reference to Tom Bill Kuykendall goes - let's just say he celebrated a bit too much prior to us leaving the motel for Astro World. I'm sure he still doesn't remember even being there at all. However, all of his classmates will.

What happens to 24 "mature" seniors and two sponsors when they find themselves over 400 miles from home? When Forsan's senior class traveled to the Houson - Galveston area on the 6th the result was five days that will never be forgotten (even though some will try).

One of the major side effects of being away from home turned out to be some startling character changes. Bruce Myers took on a Clint Eastwood look by seemingly never letting a tiparillo leave his lips. Billy McDonald gave into nature and (to everone's awe) became 'the forty year old man'. Rodney hammack demonstrated the newest dance style, using a wine bottle, and Tom Bill Kykendall showed everyone how to really have a blast at AstroWorld.

Surely no one who participated in the trip can honestly say that the trip had no affect on their lives. Ricky Klahr could use his experiences at Jack Tar to write his own version of "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Joyce could probably be qualified to add another chapter to the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire". Bruce really left his mark on Galveston; he's still receiving fan mail.

A great deal of the activities will be around to haunt the pilgrims in the form of a documentary movie filmed by Rodney. Rodney's project resulted in 8 rolls of color film which will be shown to seniors only on graduation night, provided they can prove their maturity since the movie has been rated "R".

Candid Photos From Senior Trip