ARTICLES ON THIS PAGE:

(Today through September 28th)

1. NEW article: Bodie Island Lighthouse: Worth the Trip, by webmaster Ron Lowder.

2. NEW article: CNC's First Intercollegiate Sport: Men's Track. Part 3, A Blind Runner and Weinstein's Memories.

3. CNC's First Intercollegiate Sport: Men's Track. Part 2, Ups and Downs.

4. The Naked Lover's Excuse: A Jim Windsor Joke [A Memories Book Bit].

5. UPDATED Planning to Attend List for PICNIC 2017.

6. NEW Feedback.

7. NEW Cartoons: Doctors and Patients.

BI-WEEKLY QUOTE

SILLY DILLY

THIS-N-THAT

Bodie Island Lighthouse:

Worth the Trip

Article and photos by Ron Lowder, Webmaster

          My wife, Maureen, is a fan of lighthouses. On sightseeing trips we have taken over our 41 years of marriage, there was often a lighthouse visit on the agenda. And I must say, she has made me a fan of lighthouses also. Even though all lighthouses have the same purpose of helping guide ships at sea, each has unique features and stories associated with it, some of which are fascinating.

          Our visit last month to the Bodie Island Lighthouse (correctly pronounced “body”) proved to be the highlight of our week-long Outer Banks vacation. Located south of Nags Head on Highway 12 (about a 15-minute drive from the Outlet Mall) on 15 acres of land, the area is well maintained and well managed.

          The name “Bodie” reportedly was originally spelled “Body” or “Boddy.” An early placard in the foyer of the lighthouse has the title “Body's Island Lighthouse.” Locals say that Body (Bodie) Island was named after the original owner of the land. Despite extensive research, I cannot verify that fact. The word “Island” is in the name because the area was once an island. Now it is a peninsula. The history of the land and the name are perhaps a subject for another article!

          When Maureen and I visit any lighthouse, we always opt to climb to the top of it to experience the view of the surrounding area, which we did on this occasion also. When purchasing tickets required for the climb, we were provided with a time to report to the entrance to the lighthouse for the climb. Because of the age of the Bodie Lighthouse (construction completed in1872), the number of people that can be in it at one time (either climbing the stairs or at the top) is restricted. Our allotted entry time was about 1 hour away so we looked for something to do while waiting.

          We decided to venture down a well-built wooden pathway toward an observation platform in the distance. The foot trip to the platform took about 10 minutes winding through marsh, sea grass and other forms of vegetation including the blooming plants pictured. Sights from the platform and along the path were well worth the walk.

          Among the scattered marsh and small lake-like bodies of water, the platform offered a unique view of area wildlife. In the distance, we observed a flock of egrets feasting on the cuisine offered by the marshy wetlands. Other birds that frequent the area are Canada geese, snowy white ibises, great blue herons, and even graceful white swans. Not only is the walk to the platform good exercise, but the views are quite worth the effort.

          At about 10 minutes before our allotted time, we arrived at the entrance of the lighthouse to be greeted by a park employee who relayed some interesting facts about the lighthouse. The 15 acres of land upon which the lighthouse stands were donated by the lighthouse keeper of an earlier nearby lighthouse located on Pea Island. Several lighthouses have previously been constructed on the same 15-acre property that the Bodie Island Lighthouse currently occupies; the previous lighthouse was destroyed by the Confederate Army for fear that Union soldiers would use the lighthouse as an observation post.

          There are 214 steps that lead to the top of the lighthouse with landings every 20 or so steps. Because of the age of the steps and the supporting structure, only one person at a time is allowed to climb the steps between each landing. In other words, when one person reaches a landing, another can venture up those same stairs. There are 9 landings in all on the journey to the top.

FIRST DECADE HISTORY

CNC's First Intercollegiate Sport:

Men's Track.

Part 3, A Blind Runner

and Weinstein's Memories

by A. Jane Chambers

Even with only ONE dual meet victory in my three years 

of coaching, there were moments of victory by an

 individual here, and a relay team there,

 that made it all worthwhile. 

  Raoul Weinstein 

          A Daily Press article in Weinstein's Scrapbook headlined "Captains' Track Coach Weinstein 'Questions' Own Sanity In Light of Program's Obstacles" stated the team's handicaps: no campus track, no showers, no scholarships. But it pointed out the team's progress: a victory over Frederick Military the first year and a seventh place finish in the State college freshmen track meet the second year. So there was hope for more progress the third year.

          Returning lettermen for the third season were distance runner and javelin thrower Wade Williams, high jumper Joe English, and 440 & 880 runner Mike Finnerty. Joining these Captains were freshmen Keith Kahle (long jumper & pole vaulter), Bob Beard (shot putter), Allan Sorrell (sprinter), Bill Smith (hurdler), Don Seymore (distance runner), Bill Leong (880 runner), Mike Riebe--and a blind distance runner: John Dunnavant.

          Before the season opened, the Times-Herald published the following upbeat article (Oct. 25, 1966), which also focused much attention on the blind student-athlete, Dunnavant (misspelled "Donavant"). Wade Williams remembers running the track with John, their little fingers linked as Wade kept him in his lane. Although John never won a race, he was an important morale booster for the team and students.

          The pattern of team losses balanced by individual wins continued this third season, reflected in several articles in Weinstein's Scrapbook. For example, after the Captains' April 11, 1967 loss to Chowan (89 - 51), the Daily Press headline was "Kahle Gains Double Win Despite Loss." The article noted that Keith Kahle won both the broad jump and pole vault events and that Joe English won the triple jump and tied for first place in the high jump. And after the team was badly beaten by Old Dominion's freshman team on April 26 (94-30), the Daily Press headline was "English, Kahle Shine Despite Captain's Loss." Sports writer Norman Covert opened by describing the Captains as "Outmanned," but then stated English won the high jump and triple jump, while Kahle set a school record in the pole vault (12'3") and was 2nd in the broad, high, and triple jumps.

          A major disadvantage for the team was that Wade Williams was "sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury" early in the season ("Kahle Gains ... Despite Loss" article). This injury knocked Williams out of competition for the rest of the season, hurting the team seriously, as had previous team members' injuries in the second season.

WEINSTEIN'S MEMORIES:

Ups and Downs

           At my request, Raoul Weinstein sent me some memories of his three years at CNC, with the comment "Being both a math professor and a track coach had its ups and downs." At age 24 his first year, he was CNC'S youngest faculty member, which meant having to earn the respect of his math students. At first, some of them, especially those older than he, found it hard to address him as "Mr. Weinstein" or "Professor Weinstein." When he was named track coach, however, he was soon addressed campus wide as "Coach."

          When asked by Director Cunningham and Dean Windsor to coach a new track team, he accepted, although feeling "unsure if I could do the job. I had been a sprinter and a quarter-miler in high school and college. What would I know about teaching a young man how to pole vault, or high jump, or throw the shot put, or sling a javelin? I knew it would be a daunting task, but I set my mind to it as quickly as I could.  Fortunately, this was a college, not a high school, and the students who showed up to form the initial team by and large had prior experience in the event of their choice from high school.  I planned our team's workouts, I listened to my guys tell me what kind of workouts they had had in high school."

          A major downside was that "track practice was not the highest priority" for some on his team--a consequence in part, he felt, of having "no facilities on campus like a dressing room or showers or training areas. Or a track!" Rather than "getting on their backs about it," however, he showed his appreciation "when they did show up for practice--and if they showed up for the actual meets. I tried to instill in them a pride in working hard if they wanted to get better. I let them know that when a practice was scheduled, at whatever time or whatever place, I would be there for them.  And I was. I instilled in them some of things that had helped me when I competed in track, and that might help make them more successful. And I felt extremely gratified by the efforts made by some and frustrated by the lack of effort by others. 

          To his credit, Weinstein was "a math professor first, and a track coach second. In each of my first two years, I had the frustrating and disappointing task of giving a D or an F to the top performer on my track team, with the result both years that each flunked out of school. That was hard to do." But it was the right thing to do. 

The Unforgettable Meet 

         "During our second year, the spring of 1966," Weinstein wrote, "I felt we had enough talented freshmen to enter the Virginia State Meet in early May at Washington & Lee's track in Lexington, in the freshman division.  I took six track team members to Lexington: Wade Williams, Lee Abrahamson, Joe English, Joe Hutchko, Mike Finnerty and Bob Webb. It was an experience I'll never forget. The competition included the teams from the Big Six Conference (W&M, VPI, VMI, Richmond, W&L, and UVA) plus numerous other state schools such as Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Randolph-Macon that had been competing in track for many years.

          I was more nervous than my men.  I wanted a good night's sleep the night before, I wanted to eat the right breakfast, the right training meal, get warmed up properly -- it was like I was the one competing. As the gun went off for each running event in which we had a contestant, whether trials or finals, I was a basket case.  As each one of our guys came running down the runways for the long jump or the high jump or heaving a weight out into space, I was fluttering inside with nerves.  It was a long and hot afternoon and my energy was completely sapped even though I never ran a single yard.

          When the mile relay was over and the points were added up, CNC was in 7th place--right behind only the Big Six schools and AHEAD of everyone else!  Hardly another coach or team up to that time had ever heard of Christopher Newport College, but on that day, it seemed that our navy and grey uniforms were everywhere. CNC's 6 guys had managed here and there to upset a few pretty good unsuspecting freshmen from some of the bigger schools. I was proud that day -- proud of my guys and proud to bring the name of Christopher Newport College to the attention of the rest of the state."  

          Raoul Weinstein has attended many of our reunions, beginning in 2011. The above photo, made by CNU Photos, was made at the 50th Reunion of CNC's Class of 1967, held in CNU'S Alumni House. Shown are Weinstein with some of his former CNC track men. Left to right are Norman Blankenship, Coach Weinstein, Wade Williams, Bill Smith, and Dave Hall. Raoul and his wife, Nancy, plan to attend also the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1968.

_____________________________________________

We welcome your FEEDBACK. Send to

cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com

or cnc6171@cox.net.

Published September 15, 2017

CNC's First Intercollegiate Sport:

Men's Track.

Part 2, Ups and Downs

by A. Jane Chambers

          The second year of CNC's first track team, academic year 1965 - 66, was a mixture of highs and lows, positives and negatives--reflected in the 18 articles for that year in Coach Weinstein's Scrapbook--3 articles from CNC's Captain's Log and 15 from Daily Press morning and evening papers.

          Both the Log and the Daily Press predicted a stronger year than the first one. Returning were four lettermen: distance runner and sprinter Bob Deans (co-captain again), high jumper Mike Payne, pole vaulter Ted McFalls (see above photo) and high jumper David Ahearn. The above Captain's Log article described the freshmen joining them as "Bright Prospects": Lee Abrahamson, State Low Hurdle Champion his senior year at Ferguson High (now deceased); Wade Williams, sprinter and middle-distance runner (and co-captain); Joe English, high jumper; Terry Minnick, shot put and javelin; Bill Corba, broad jumper; and Bob Webb, distance runner.

          The Daily Press article "Weinstein's Captains Look Better In Track" stated, "More strength and depth in the running events should make Christopher Newport stronger in this second season," even though "graduation of John Harrison and Henry Bennett leaves some gaps in the weight picture."

          In its first meet, March 22, at Wilson High in Portsmouth, the Captains lost a close battle with Frederick Military Academy by only 5 points (75-70). The Daily Press article "Captains Set 5 Marks But Lose Track Meet" pointed out that Abrahamson, English, Hutchko, Ray, and Williams achieved "five record performances." A pattern emerged in this first meet that was to continue throughout the season: individual victories but team losses.

          The undated Captain's Log article above states the Captains had 8 first place wins in that meet. The article also gives the team's schedule and names many additional members. Three of them were located several years ago: Norman Blankenship, Wayne Rammell, and Les Pendleton. These two are deceased: Don Lake and John Dyksen (misspelled once as "Syksen"). The part about a February match is confusing, unfortunately.

          Another positive that year was that the team had what the first Log article overstated as a "Varsity Dressing Room with Lockers." In his March 27, 2015 essay on this website, Wade Williams wrote that Mike Cazares, CNC’s maintenance man, "built clothing racks in the boiler room of Newport Hall that served as the team’s locker room" ("A Tribute to Raoul Weinstein: Teacher, Coach, Mentor"). There were still no showers, however.

           Bob Deans, in Coach Jim Hubbard's essay, "Of Track Shoes," wrote about another plus that year: " Mr. Baldwin, president of the Peninsula Asphalt Company, donated material for a 140' long and 3' wide runway for the track team to use for pole vault, triple jump, and broad jump events. He didn't donate the labor, however, which had to be supplied by Coach Weinstein and his team. They were not too good at laying that asphalt, so the runway ended up rivaling a ride at Busch Gardens" (Memories of Christopher Newport College, p. 113).

          On the downside, the team's second season was marked by injuries and weaknesses in certain areas, as first recorded in the following article, written after the second meet and before the third.

           By late April, as the Captains faced the season's second meet with Frederick Military Academy, the list of injuries had grown considerably. In "Injury-Hit Christopher Newport's Trackmen Host FMA at Ferguson," the Daily Press reported that three athletes would not be able to perform: Abrahamson, suffering from an infected ankle; Deans, sidelined with a pulled muscle; and McFalls, still out with that bad ankle. The hero of that April 26th home event at Ferguson was "Iron Man" Wade Williams, shown here in an excerpt from a 1968 Trident photo on p. 61.

          Near the end of the season, Larry McCoy, of the Captain's Log, wrote a fine summary of the team's performance that is worthy of being included here.

           At the season's end, CNC history professor Robert M. Usry continued a tradition he started the first year of CNC's first intercollegiate sport. He again sponsored (paid for) a banquet for the team. Part 2 of this series ends with the following Daily Press photo for that year from Coach Weinstein's Scrapbook. Stay tuned for Part 3, covering season 3 and reflections from Weinstein.

_____________________________________________

We welcome your FEEDBACK. Send to

cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com

or cnc6171@cox.net.

Published September 1, 2017

MEMORIES BOOK BIT

A Memories Book Bit:

The Naked Lover's Excuse:

A Jim Windsor Joke

Professor Barry Wood's Memory

Excerpt from page 168 *

Editor's Note: Having demonstrated CNC's President James C. Windsor's traits of "forbearance, integrity, and rationality," in this part of his essay Barry Wood gives an example of Dr. Windsor's fourth important character trait: his sense of humor.

          He could tell a joke and could find his place in a joke. To illustrate, every year, in June, we held a dinner meeting for the communities' leaders, both to review the year completed and to look forward to the year ahead. Jim had made one of our usual points--that we were at the bottom of all public colleges and universities [in Virginia] in funding per student. I believe it was Senator Hunter Andrews who interrupted to observe, "Well, someone has to be at the bottom."

           Jim paused in deference, but then replied: "Hunter, that reminds me of a story--it seems that there was this young couple who had just moved into a new house, and after the husband had left for work the next morning, the young wife's old boyfriend showed at the kitchen door, only to find the young wife still had passionate feelings for him. And so passion filled the air. As it happened, the young husband, remembering too heatedly his prior night, had turned his car around and sped home.

          When he opened the front door calling 'Honey,' shock waves went through the kitchen. The young wife opened the refrigerator and said to her lover, 'There's nothing in here--so hide there.' The ardent husband comes into the kitchen, and seeing his wife naked, sweeps her into his passion, only to hear a strange noise coming from the refrigerator. He quickly lets go of his wife, opens the door, and, amid his shock of seeing a naked man, shouts 'What are you doing in here?'

          To which the clothesless man replied--'Well, everybody has to be somewhere!' So you see, Hunter, being somewhere does not always make it right." Hunter, being himself a rather clever jester, laughed a good laugh--as did the whole crowd. Well, after the next General Assembly Budget Session, we were still in last place. But Jim, reassuming patience, still smiled.

* “James C. Windsor: President, 1970-1979," by Barry Wood, in Memories of Christopher Newport College: The First Decade, by A. Jane Chambers, Rita C. Hubbard, & Lawrence B. Wood, Jr. (Hallmark, 2008). TO ORDER BOOK: Send check for $20 made out to Jane Chambers to: Dr. Jane Chambers, 15267 Candy Island Lane, Carrollton, VA 23314. The money (minus mailing cost) is donated to the CNC First Decaders' Treasury.

______________________________________

We welcome your FEEDBACK. Send to

cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com

OR cnc6171@cox.net.

Published September 1, 2017

1ST DECADER PICNIC

2017

PICNIC 2017: Sept. 24

PLANNING TO ATTEND LIST and DETAILS

TIME: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. PLACE: Shelter 19, Newport News Park.

DEADLINE for EVERYTHING: signing up, giving meat choices, and stating side dishes: Sept. 20

SIGN UP by sending to cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com your NAME & name(s) OR numbers of GUEST(S) you'll bring (if any).

SIGNED UP AS OF SEPTEMBER 15th:

FIRST DECADERS .........GUESTS...............MEATS.......BRINGING

1. Jo Berry Sinclair.................none ...................1 burgers ..... baked beans

2. Gail Latta Pearce

3. Dave Spriggs.......................none...................2 burgers 

4. Cecelia Short

5. Sonny Short

6. Wade Williams 

7. Phil Saville

8. Lois Wright ......................................1 chik.......................................veggie dish

9. Tom Redman ..........wife, Ann ....... 1 HDog, 1 Burg, & 1 Chik.......cole slaw

10. Charlie Snead .... wife, Thommy.. 2 Burgs ...................................pasta

11. Patty Mayes ......husband, Fred ...1 HDog & 2 Burgs ...............

12. Ellen Wirt ............husband, John .3 CBurgs, 1 CK.......deviled eggs & strawberry shortcake

13. Jan Clarke ......................................CHK..........................................Potato Salad

FACULTY & OTHERS..........GUESTS.............................MEATS

1. Barry Wood

2. Jane Chambers............................1 ....................................1 CBurg & 1 HD

3. Mario Mazzarella ........wife, Becky

4. Baxter Vendrick

5. Sean Heuvel

6. Katie Monteith.... husband, Troy 

7. Kenneth Kidd

8. Monica Hill

9. Andrew Bagwell

MEATS, CONDIMENTS, & BEVERAGES PROVIDED

Charcoal-grilled Burgers & Cheeseburgers, Hot Dogs, & Boneless, Skinless Marinated Chicken Breasts provided.  NO LIMIT on number(s) & kinds(s) per person. No later than Sept. 20,  please email your ESTIMATE of your group's expected consumption of these.

A variety of cold canned sodas and bottled water provided. Alcohol is not allowed in the park.

SIDES REQUESTED

FIRST DECADERS (or FD couples)--but NOT guests or faculty--are asked to bring ONE SIDE DISH--such as Pasta or Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Chips & Dips, Veggies, or Dessert.  No later than Sept. 20,  please email your CHOICE of ONE such item to bring. Plan to take home your leftovers. Otherwise, we will have to throw them away, alas!

No later than Sept. 20, EMAIL your MEAT CHOICE(S) and SIDE CHOICE to cncmemories61_71@yahoo.com.   

DONATIONS REQUESTED

$5 per person DONATION requested at the site for expenses such as SITE RENTAL, MEATS, BEVERAGES, and PAPER & PLASTIC goods. "Extra" cash (if any) will be applied toward the annual WEBSITE fee.

DIRECTIONS TO NEWPORT NEWS PARK AND PAVILION 19

FROM I-64 (EAST OR WEST)

• Take EXIT 250 B to Fort Eustis Blvd (SR 105 East)

• At the Jefferson Ave. intersection, go left (North) onto Jefferson.

• Go approx. 1/4th mi. & enter NN Park on right on Constitution Way.

• Follow Constitution Way as it curves to the right. At the end of the wooden fence and at the signpost, go right. (Restroom area is on the left before turning).

• Follow the road until you see the 2 large pavilions (shelters) on the right.

• Park to the left side of the road. Our blue CNC SIGN will be on Shelter 19.

AERIAL MAP

FEEDBACK

Re: CNC's First Intercollegiate Sport: Men's Track.

From David Mike Williams: In the late seventies, CNC had the privilege of having former NNHS and state star athlete Doug Dickinson as the track coach at CNC. Doug led a rag tag group of athletes to the school's first conference championship and set a standard for the teams that followed. No big stadium or field house during those times and teams spent many days training at Ferguson High School's cinder track or running over to Todd Stadium to practice. At 60, I am much slower, but still cherish those times and the time with Coach Dickinson.

Editor: Thank you for this piece of CNC's second decade history, David.

From Norman Covert: Mr. Usry was a demanding professor. He was a different person out of the lecture hall, which then was in a classroom adjacent to the auditorium at J.W. Daniel Elementary.

Editor: You seem to be a CNC First Decader, Norman. Please read the "About Us" tab on this website and contact me if you want to join the group!

From Joey Fink: Thank you for the article. Raoul is my wife's first cousin.

Editor: Hope all in the family will enjoy Part 3.

CARTOONS

DOCTORS AND PATIENTS

SILLY DILLY ANSWER

Your DECADER committee ALWAYS enjoys feedback on items that appear on this website. The feedback can be positive or negative...doesn't matter. It is just super for us to know that you are actually visiting YOUR website and have something to share.