I went to Logan w/ Gary and I especially remember 6th grade w/ Miss Moody. Before class it was pretty wild if she was not there yet and she was very strict, so he would keep watch at the door for her to come up the hall. When he saw her he would duck into the room and call out "Here she comes! Here she comes!" Of course we thought we had her fooled, but she later confessed that she knew all along what Gary was doing. Good memories. Sorry to lose him so early.
A junior high school Gary memory---The politically famous Kennedys were encouraging fitness, with at least one Kennedy going on a highly publicized 50-mile hike. Gary, John Katherman and I said "we can do that." So Gary's dad drove and mapped a route for us. On a late winter Saturday we walked that route thinking we covered 50 miles. And, of course quite proud of ourselves for completing such a big-deal mission. I can still remember the route---Moline to south of Coal Valley to Milan and back to Gary's house--and wonder to this day how many miles we actually walked that sunny day. But I guess I really don't want to know cuz I've never driven the route.
And a post-high school Gary memory. Gary followed in his father's footsteps to become a highly-skilled journeyman carpenter. A portion of learning is competition among apprentices to individually build identical projects that are judged by accuracy, quality and speed. Not only did Gary win local competition but he went on to be the best apprentice in Illinois that year. Not bad for a lefty. And in his leisure time, Gary became a very accomplished firearm and bow hunter.
Ellen Gizynski (Greene)
I went to Logan w/ Gary and I especially remember 6th grade w/ Miss Moody. Before class it was pretty wild if she was not there yet and she was very strict, so he would keep watch at the door for her to come up the hall. When he saw her he would duck into the room and call out "Here she comes! Here she comes!" Of course we thought we had her fooled, but she later confessed that she knew all along what Gary was doing. Good memories. Sorry to lose him so early.
Bob Groene
A junior high school Gary memory---The politically famous Kennedys were encouraging fitness, with at least one Kennedy going on a highly publicized 50-mile hike. Gary, John Katherman and I said "we can do that." So Gary's dad drove and mapped a route for us. On a late winter Saturday we walked that route thinking we covered 50 miles. And, of course quite proud of ourselves for completing such a big-deal mission. I can still remember the route---Moline to south of Coal Valley to Milan and back to Gary's house--and wonder to this day how many miles we actually walked that sunny day. But I guess I really don't want to know cuz I've never driven the route.
And a post-high school Gary memory. Gary followed in his father's footsteps to become a highly-skilled journeyman carpenter. A portion of learning is competition among apprentices to individually build identical projects that are judged by accuracy, quality and speed. Not only did Gary win local competition but he went on to be the best apprentice in Illinois that year. Not bad for a lefty. And in his leisure time, Gary became a very accomplished firearm and bow hunter.
Bob Groene