Jul 12, 2013

Hello fellow Morgan Park Alums

Hello fellow Morgan Park Alums – it’s been a while since you heard from your Reunion Committee, so we thought we’d better bring you up to date before you are completely embroiled in summer vacations with family and the prospects of your favorite baseball team. Speaking of sports, how about those Blackhawks?
 
Still on the subject of sports, the 2012 Mustangs football team were City Championship Runner Ups -  2nd Place in the entire City!  They did that with no access to a weight room over last summer due to the construction that also prevented us from touring the school during the August reunion.  The weight room they were finally able to access is woefully inadequate, and a group has been organized to totally renovate the facility.  (Frankly, the equipment might be the same as when we were there!) Check out the options for contributing at http://mustangsfootball.eventbrite.com/#. All contributions will be acknowledged with plaques and such – and YOU can help raise the estimated $5,000 needed to give the Mighty Mustangs the weight room they deserve.
 
Do you remember the excitement of a new Principal when Dr. Moore arrived at Morgan Park High School?  Well, this past March, another new Principal began HER tenure at Empehi. Read about Beverly resident Dr. Carolyn Epps at http://beverly-mtgreenwood.patch.com/groups/schools/p/morgan-park-high-school-new-principal-showcase-academic-offerings.
 
Sadly, your Reunion Committee must advise you of the death of two outstanding members of our Mid-60s classes.  Jennifer Elaine Adams distinguished herself as the first African-American senior class president at Morgan Park High School in 1967 and later as the first African-American woman to chair the board of the San Diego Foundation  These were just two of many personal and professional achievements before her death on April 11, 2013 from cancer.  Please read her beautiful and comprehensive obituary athttp://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/15/adams-brooks-dead-housing/.
 
In late May, Empehi’s own Lewis Yocum, Class of 1965, passed away after battling cancer. Dr. Yocum, “a giant in the world of sports orthopedic medicine,” was in his 36th season with the Los Angeles Angels and was considered to have saved the careers of countless professional athletes, many of them major-league and minor-league pitchers who underwent Tommy John surgery.  His equally impressive obituary can be found at http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/29/local/la-me-lewis-yocum-20130529.
 
We hope you will let us know of the death of any of our classmates, as each is respected and mourned by his/her family, friends and community.  Please post links or announcements on our website at http://www.morganparkhigh.com  And yes, we know it’s been months since we updated the website, and we fully intend to attend to that very soon.  We’ll start by re-posting the list of Missing Classmates.  The list is just too long to believe, and WE know that YOU know where many of these folks are located.  Don’t become one of the missing – let us know if you retire, move, give up your land line or otherwise change your contact info.  E-mail us atmorganparkhigh@gmail.com with the Subject “Change of Information.”
 
Can you believe that 2016 will mark 100 years of Morgan Park High School serving the families of the Morgan Park/Beverly Community?  A committee has been formed to plan an entire year of activities in celebration of our school’s history and achievements.  If you’d like to be a part of the planning, contact Carisa Parker, Class of 1992, at 773-967-5310 or via email at morganparkmustangs@gmail.com.
 
Your Reunion Committee must confess that there is tremendous appeal in the idea of a 50threunion for the Class of 1966 (and Class of '67 friends, of course!) nestled among the hoopla of Empehi’s 100th birthday celebration.  We’re looking at options, and we'll let you know as plans develop.  Have a great summer!



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