April 2, 2019 - Last week, Doug Fincher received an email from his old-time friend, Jack Fontaine. In 1939, they entered the First Grade in Center and graduated in 1950. They shared many memories together and are the best of friends. Jack is now living in Frankston, Texas.
Jack Fontaine's letter to Doug Fincher
Dear Old Friend Henry,
Do you remember Carolyn Day? She was the daughter of, I believe, the high school principal and was in our class from 1st to the 4th or 5th grade. I think her father found a better job somewhere and they moved. She was a tomboy and always wore her hair in two pigtails and never wore a dress. She had rather play with the boys than the girls. One day we were playing some game, and she ran me down, put me on the ground, pinned my arms with her knees and blew in my face until I cried, "uncle"! It's the only time I have ever been physically bested by the so-called weaker sex!
We played some of the most vicious tackle football games on the playground behind the school. One day Travis Chaney was running with the ball, was tackled, and about 15 boys piled on. We heard Travis crying and when he got up, he was holding his shoulder--he had a broken collarbone! Another time Banks Williams ran full speed to catch a pass and when he caught it and turned to run, he hit a volleyball net post head on! It produced a bump as big as a tennis ball on his forehead. Of course, we had milder games such as spinning tops, marbles (but absolutely no "keeps"), pigball, where we dug several inline holes in the ground and each player picked a hole. Then a hard rubber ball was rolled across the holes, and whomever's hole the ball landed in, that player had to pick up the ball and try to hit another player who had scattered like a covey of quail.
One last memory, that I always laugh when I think of it, was the sight of Mr. Wheeler sneaking around on the school's outside ledge to peek into his classroom's window to see who was being naughty!
Some good memories at Center Grammar School.
Your Old Friend, Jack
