| | | Board of Directors | President
Paul Krausman '64
Vice President
Charles Brantley '68
Treasurer
Marilyn Hutto Turner '62
Secretary
Jan Rupe Batik '66
Director of Alumni Affairs
Vicki Key '67
Board Member
Willy Brewer Taylor '65
Board Member
Anne Childs Smith '64
Board Member
Bill Willis '63
Immediate Past President
Doug McPhee '66
Reunion 2013 Committee
Carol Hutto Krausman '64
Anne Childs Smith '64 |
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Greetings!
Hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday Season with family and friends and that you have a Healthy and Happy 2013!
A GREAT way to kick off 2013 is to plan to attend the Dreux AHS All School Reunion, which is a little over 30 days away!! We have TONS of Dreux AHS alumni in Florida as well as in the neighboring States, so I hope everyone close by as well those that live across the country will plan to be there!!
Also, don't forget that the cut-off date to get the discounted rate at the Hotel is January 14th, so make your reservations now if you haven't already! More details are included in the newsletter about how to register for the Reunion and make your hotel reservations.
FEATURES IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
The December newsletter features some of other Dreux AHS Alumni Association Board members, Bill Willis '63 and Anne Childs Smith '64, and Immediate Past President Doug McPhee '66. Also, take a stroll down Memory Lane and check out the photos further down in the Newsletter that were taken at Dreux. See if you recognize the folks in the photos or yourself!!
We started these newsletters in August of 2012, so for those that might have missed the previous newsletters in your inbox or, for some reason, didn't receive it, you can now access them on our Dreux website. If there are other features you would like to see included in the Newsletter, please shoot me an email! OK, OK...I know this newsletter says December 2012 and you didn't get it until January, but I started putting it together in December, if that counts!! HA! |
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Dreux AHS Reunion 2013 - Register Now!
When: February 8-10, 2013
Where: Orlando, Florida
HOTEL INFORMATION: RESERVE YOUR HOTEL ROOM BY JANUARY 14th!! A block of rooms have been reserved at the Orlando World Center Marriott for February 7, 2013 to February 9, 2013. The hotel room rates are $119/night plus 12.5% tax, which is great for Orlando and a hotel of this caliber! To make your hotel reservations online at the Orlando World Center Marriott, please click Book Online. This is a direct link to our hotel page with the special discounted rate. BOOK NOW TO GET THE SPECIAL RATE! The special room rate will be available until January 14th or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. For those that prefer to call the hotel to make your reservations, you may call either the toll-free number 1-888-789-3090 or the hotel directly at 407-238-8618. BE SURE TO MENTION YOU ARE ATTENDING THE "DREUX HIGH SCHOOL REUNION" and the dates in order to get the special rate.
REUNION REGISTRATION INFORMATION:Reunion Registration fee is $250 per person. There is a link on the Dreux AHS website ( www.dreuxalumni.org ) for those that would like to pay by credit card. If you prefer to pay by check, please use this Registration Form and mail it in to the mailing address on the form along with your check. Your registration fee includes participation in all of the functions listed below. The Reunion Schedule of Events and other Reunion Information is listed on the Reunion 2013 page of our Dreux website. Be sure to bring your Dreux memorabilia and brush up on your knowledge of the music from the 1960's!! SEE YOU IN ORLANDO!!!
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
GET TO KNOW YOUR BOARD MEMBERS
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Bill Willis '63
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I graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1967 as a chemistry/mathematics major. I also earned a commission in the US Army through ROTC. I served 21 years active duty and over that course of time I served in Vietnam as an artillery battery commander with II Field Force and as an artillery battery commander with 2nd Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. I served with the Canadian Armed Forces as a student and exchange officer. I participated in the development of the Patriot Missile System and served as program manager for the Army proposed laser weapon system as part of the Strategic Defense Initiative commonly known as "Star Wars" during
the Reagan Administration. I served as the
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Deputy Senior Army Advisor to the Governor of Mississippi. My final assignment was the position of Army Systems Acquisition Review Council (ASARC) Executive Secretary to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. During my tenure in the army I completed the Army Command and General Staff College and I earned a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas, El Paso. I retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Following my retirement from active duty I began a second career as a mathematics and as an (AP/IB)physics teacher in Virginia. During the 20 years I taught I was selected as the 2007 Virginia Teacher of the Year for Education Region IV. I was selected as a Virginia state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Program in 2002 and as the outstanding Virginia physics teacher by the Virginia Association Science Teachers (VAST) in 2007. In a moment of weakness I taught two years at the middle school level but quickly returned to high school.
After leaving the classroom I was retained by the Prince William County Schools System to create a robotics program to promote STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in grades 6-12. I was successful in bringing robotics into the curriculum as well as an extracurricular activity in all middle schools in the school system.
Recently I completed the Master Gardening Program and spend my time doing just that...gardening. I have been married for over 45 years. We have three children and five grandchildren. My oldest son is a lieutenant Colonel in the US Army as has completed five combat tours in the Middle East. Two grandchildren are in college and the remaining three are in high school.
While at Dreux I was a "suitcaser" so to speak as I lived in a village called Chateauneuf En Thymerais so I went home every day so I did not share the dorm experiences that bond so many of you all still today. My wife and I returned to Dreux American High School in 1968 and visited with Mr. Paul Francis. We toured the base and the school facilities. It was wonderful to see the place.
Bill Willis '63
Board Member, Dreux AHS Alumni Association
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Anne Childs Smith '64
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My parents and I arrived at Evreux AFB in October of 1960 and I was quickly enrolled as a Freshman at Dreux American High School. I had no idea what a life altering experience this would be for me.
As an only child of military parents life could be lonely at times having no other children in the household. My experience at Dreux gave me a dorm full of "sisters" who would become lifelong friends. Carol Hutto Krausman was my first roommate and we remain good friends still. My most memorable experience at Dreux is, of course, the Junior Prom on the Eiffel Tower. That is a conversation stopper every time. My date was Jerry Brown and we also remain good friends after all of these years.
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In the Spring of 1963 my father was reassigned to command the recruitment office in Manhattan in NYC and I was to spend a miserable Senior year at a huge high school on Long Island. My graduating class had almost 500 students ~ probably more than the entire student body of Dreux ever was. Most of these kids started kindergarten together and had no desire to meet anyone new. Military kids would have known better!
I met my future husband my second year at Shorter University, a liberal arts college in Northwest Georgia. After graduation and one beautiful daughter, Carolyne, we moved to NJ, my husband's home state, to begin married life together. Four years later, we welcomed another beautiful daughter, Allison, to our family. Being married at such a young age had it's drawbacks and we were divorced after seven years.
Being a single mother of two daughters was my second life changing experience and I began to grow and learn more than I could have ever learned in school. I became an Administrative Assistant in a prestigious real estate firm and eventually became a salesperson and then a broker. This was the '80s and real estate was profitable!
During my years in real estate I met my husband, Fred Smith, who helped me raise my daughter's to become lovely young women, he walked them down the aisle at their weddings, and we welcomed our first grandson, Dylan in April of 2008 and second grandson, Evan, in August of the same year. In July of 2009, Fred would be diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and pass away in October of 2010. Our third little grandson, Ben, was born in May of 2011. Fred and I had thirty-five wonderful years together.
In the early 1990's I realized every entrepreneur's dream and opened my own retail fabric store, "The Little Shop" in Haddonfield, NJ. I specialized in cotton quilting fabric, notions and instruction. It was great fun having the opportunity to employ so many energetic and creative women but Fred and I were growing tired of the endless winters and snow shoveling and decided to move to Georgia to "simplify" our lives. I had already managed to convince Allison to attend the University of Georgia and her sister, Carolyne, was drawn to Athens also to enjoy the great arts movement there. Once the girls were in place it was easy for us to move South!
Fred and I found a nice house on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, GA, where we enjoyed boating, swimming and taking it easy for the next twelve years. I was able to continue my love for sewing and quilting and start my new business venture "Southern Stitches Custom Quilting and Embroidery Services". As we got a little older we realized even lake living required a lot of maintenance and yard work so we sold our lake house and built a cute cottage in Cresswind, an up and coming "Active" Adult 55+ Community. This would turn out to be the best decision we could have ever made because after only three years I would be widowed and be surrounded by many friends and neighbors who look out for one another. Besides teaching quilting at our clubhouse I have learned to do things I never thought possible for me. I have a pink kayak I love to take on the lake and last May I began training for the Rock N Roll Savannah Marathon and Half Marathon to raise funds for Team in Training Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I raised $3,000 and on November 3rd I completed my first half marathon in three hours and thirty-six minutes. I say "first" half marathon because who knows, I may run another one some day!
Every day is a wonderful new adventure for me. Now my next great adventure will be our own Dreux American High School in February in Orlando. Please make plans to attend and register now. If you have attended a Dreux reunion before you know how much fun they are, If you have never attended then you are really missing a great time with your peers. Carol Hutto Krausman, the DAHS Board and I have put together a great reunion and we hope to see you there!
Anne Childs Smith '64
Board Member, Dreux AHS Alumni Association
Dreux Reunion Planning Committee
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Doug McPhee '66
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Doug McPhee is a professional speaker, life coach, and business and meeting consultant. He has presented to groups in the US and abroad for the last 35 years. His clients include Pfizer, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Home Goods, Allstate Insurance, Farmers Insurance, and the Ken Blanchard Companies. He has provided presentations for the International Alliance for Accelerated Learning, ASCD, and Meeting Professionals International at international conferences and at chapters.
He is past President and Executive Director of the International Alliance for Accelerated Learning. Doug is Past President of Meeting Professionals International Northeastern New York Chapter, past board member of San Diego MPI, and is Past Chair of the CIC APEX Standards Review Council. He serves on the Executive Committee and the Board of the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is also immediate Past President of the Schenectady Kiwanis Club.
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He has authored three books on learning. Limitless Learning, Making Powerful Learning an Everyday Event, The Science of Learning: The Art of Teaching and a Field Guide to the Science of Learning and the Art of Teaching
Doug did his undergraduate work in San Diego at California Western University and gained a teaching credential at United States International University. He completed his Masters Degree in Education at UCLA. He is a Certified Meeting Professional and gained his Certificate in Meeting Management in 2008. He has worked with Experient since 2000 as part of the Experient Sales Network.
Doug and his wife Cecelia live in a farmhouse built in 1828, which they have renovated. They moved from San Diego to upstate New York to enjoy four seasons and to start a reverse migration trend.
Doug McPhee '66
Immediate Past President, Dreux AHS Alumni Association
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Vic Kelly '61
September 2, 1943-November 25, 2012
As several of you have heard, Vic Kelly '61 passed away in November. Vic was very active early on in the Dreux American HS Alumni Association history, serving on the Board of Directors and then serving as President of the Association for several years.  Vic was unable to attend the last two Reunions, however, I believe that he was planning to attend the Reunion in Orlando this year. He will be sadly missed! Below is the obituary I found online and it is also posted on the Dreux website: Victor Kelly, 69, of University City unexpectedly passed away on Sunday, November 25, 2012. Loving husband of 41 years of Betsy; beloved father of Aaron (Sarah), Ben (Jenny) and Emily (Alex) Tryson; brother of the late Logan and Jessica Mears; son of Victor and Dorothy Kelly and Mildred Stern. Adored by his five grandchildren, Milo, Gracie, Slater, Finnegan and Molly, Vic will also be mourned by many family members and friends. Graveside service Tuesday, November 27, 11:30 a.m., at United Hebrew Cemetery, 7855 Canton Ave., University City, MO 63130. Memorial contributions in Vic's memory can be made to Congregation Shaare Emeth, 11645 Ladue Road, St. Louis, MO 63141.November 1, 2012
 | | Vic at the 2004 Reunion in Atlanta |
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TAKE A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE!
Here are some photos that you might enjoy! See if you recognize the people in the photos or yourself!!
  1st Graduating Class - Class of 1961  |
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UPDATING YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
If you need to update your contact information (i.e. email address, postal address, telephone number, please email that information to Vicki Key. |
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Come Join Us on Facebook!
In case you are not aware, we have a Dreux American High School Group page on Facebook with 485 members and growing. It's been a lot of fun with former friends reconnecting, uploading photos from Dreux, and general discussion about the time spent at Dreux. I have the group as a closed group so that only those people associated with Dreux are involved. If you are interested in joining us, just use the "request to join" feature on that page or send me a friend request and I would be happy to add you!
If you are on Facebook and have not already joined the group or are thinking about joining Facebook, here is the link to our page: Dreux American High School Group Page
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You can now pay your DAHS Alumni Association Dues and Reunion Registration by credit card! We had lots of alumni asking for this option. Dues are $40/yr and you can pay for one year or multiple years, just as in the past. Just go to our Dreux AHS website at www.dreuxalumni.org and click on the Dues/Directories button. You will then see the PayPal box. You can still pay by check as well if you prefer that method.
If you prefer to pay by check, you can send your Dues payment to:
Marilyn Hutto Turner
9831 Marine View Drive
Mukilteo, WA 98275
As a perk of paying dues and supporting our efforts, you will receive via email a copy of the latest Dreux AHS Alumni Directory. It's now 94 pages! As always, we appreciate your support in paying dues! It keeps this association going and helps fund the costs to find former classmates, maintain the database, website, newsletters, etc. We can't do it without you! So thanks!
NOTE: For those that recently paid dues, I am working on a major update to the Directory. Since we did the Reunion postcard mail-out, there are A LOT of changes to make in updating addresses, etc. So I apologize for not getting the directory emailed to you in a timely fashion. As soon as the update is complete, I will send it to you. Thanks for your patience!! |
Past Dreux AHS Newsletters are now available to view!
In case you missed receiving any of the past Dreux AHS Newsletters for whatever reason, they are now archived and available to view on our Dreux AHS website. Just click on the link on the front page of the website to access them.
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Dreux American High School was open from 1960-1967. The first graduating class was 1961. The school closed in January of 1967. We have a very active alumni association. There have been 6 major reunions over the past 17 years, the last being held in August of 2010 in Reston, VA. We have found 1,200+ alumni, faculty and staff!
Vicki Key
Dreux American High School Alumni Association
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