My heart is so heavy just thinking about "Kimmy". He was two years younger than I, the same age as my sister, and lived just four houses up the block, on Alki Point.
West Seattle High School at that time just prepared kids to go to work at Bethlehem Steel Mill, through the middle of which everybody had to drive to get to or leave West Seattle. We had just a small handful of graduates that even went on to college and none of Kim's parents or siblings, all older than he, had ever set foot in a classroom after high school.
They were opposed to him spending money on books and tuition when he "should" go out and start earning a living. And, frat boys....they were all over-privileged losers attending to nothing but fluff and chasing girls. So, my work was doubly cut out for me to try to rush Kim against all the family druthers.
The Class Of 1959 really, really made a huge difference in molding Kim's life and setting him on a far different path than that to which he was headed....I'm so thankful to them.
Clay,
ReplyDeleteMy heart is so heavy just thinking about "Kimmy". He was two years younger than I, the same age as my sister, and lived just four houses up the block, on Alki Point.
West Seattle High School at that time just prepared kids to go to work at Bethlehem Steel Mill, through the middle of which everybody had to drive to get to or leave West Seattle. We had just a small handful of graduates that even went on to college and none of Kim's parents or siblings, all older than he, had ever set foot in a classroom after high school.
They were opposed to him spending money on books and tuition when he "should" go out and start earning a living. And, frat boys....they were all over-privileged losers attending to nothing but fluff and chasing girls. So, my work was doubly cut out for me to try to rush Kim against all the family druthers.
The Class Of 1959 really, really made a huge difference in molding Kim's life and setting him on a far different path than that to which he was headed....I'm so thankful to them.
Gary Gaffner '57
Perge'
I first met Kim as a high school sophomore. He played basketball for West Seattle and I played for Queen Anne. He was a great guy.
ReplyDeleteLarry Mounger '59