Goodbye Jim Angell

I was very shocked and saddened to read about the passing of Walla Walla High School classmate Jim Angell.    Jimmy was a newspaper guy, he wrote a rock music column in the Wa-Hi Journal and eventually became the editor of the paper.  

We both went to WSU and as I remember, were in Communications 101 together.  Jim would continue his reporter career with the Daily Evergreen, the WSU daily paper.  He would also become the editor of that paper.  

I did not have a car during my first year at school, so I would ride back and forth in his car, having discussions about topics of the day.  I did not remember if I helped him with gas expenses or thanked him properly.  

Angell would wind up working in journalism in Wyoming.  The video above was one I found as I scoured You Tube.  

Jim Angell was talented, articulate, friendly, generous, and humble.  I last saw him at our Class's 40th reunion in July of 2016, where we joined other friends in the golf scramble. 

Jim is seated the second to the left.  We were the only fivesome and the last to finish.  We celebrated in the clubhouse.

Later in the evening, he would join friends Bill and John jamming on guitar at the reunion dinner.

Jimmy was wonderful and will truly be missed.  

Wa-Hi ASB Officers From 1975-76

Wa-Hi ASB officers, I found this while looking for a different picture. 

President Mike Clark is in front, along with Lisa Greenville, Secretary, Vice President Mike Cline and Treasurer Erin Walsh.

All very cool 

At the graduation ceremony, Clark, during his speech, took out his acoustical guitar and sang a song that he composed. 

Their pictures were inside the Royal Blue yearbook.

Sadly, both Mike's have since passed away.

Walla Walla Comes Up As Puzzle Solution

 Walla Walla, Washington apparently was the solution to a puzzle on Wheel Of Fortune.  I have no idea when this episode ran, but the picture is creating a good deal of "buzz" on Facebook.

Now, I have to wonder how many people who are contestants have even heard of the town, however, you would only really need a W, an L and an A to really get the answer. 

Brian Casey Wins Walla Walla City Council Seat

Congratulations and good luck to my classmate and buddy, Brian Casey for winning a close race to serve on the Walla Walla City Council. 

I went to school with Brian from, 4th or 5th grade up until our graduation from Walla Walla High School (Wa-Hi Blue Devils) in 1976.  Coming from a family of ranchers, he was a people person and a go-getter. Good looking and popular, he has always been very inclusive.

I bump into Casey once in a while while I'm in town..  Although our political views, I think, are much different, I was happy to see him win.  

Article Celebrating Walla Walla Synagogue Found

 A look in a suitcase  pocket, a few weeks ago, located not just the article, but the entire edition of  the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin with the headline of Congregation Beth Israel celebrating it's 60th anniversary in February of 2001.  

The celebration took place 20 years ago, I was not able to make it down, but brother Steve can be seen in the top picture of the article with other congregants, listening to Rabbi Hillel Cohen who was a special guest.  Steve is the one closest to the wall.  

Rabbi Cohen"s father, Franklin Cohen was the temple's founding, and as far as I know, only rabbi.  He and his family had been sponsored by the Jewish community of Walla Walla after escaping Germany. 

I have not heard if the community has had celebrations for it's 70th and/or 80th.   Congregation Beth Israel, known to us as "the shul" was our place of worship growing up.  It has had it's highs and lows as far as membership numbers, but has been able to continue and thrive through the years. 

Walla Walla's Whitehouse Crawford Restaurant Closes

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reports that Whitehouse-Crawford, one of the city's signature eating establishments has been forced to go out of business, because of lost revenue due to the COVID 19.
The restaurant was opened in May of 2000, and grew along with the Walla Walla's explosion as a winery destination, another thing that may be in peril. 

The restaurant was located in an old planing mill that had been destined for demolition.  Last fall, Deb and I along with some friends and my brother and sister in law, were able to eat their for the first time.

Perhaps, local residents who wished Walla Walla would return to the so-called pre-winery days, will get their wish. 

Former Teacher Jim Tomlin--Montana's First Covid-19 Death

I had Jim Tomlin for a teacher each year that I was at Walla Walla High School.  He was my biology teacher as a sophomore.  In addition, I was took my first semester of Earth Science from him as a Junior and 2nd semester as a senior.
Mr Tomlin, I would probably call him "Jim" today, was an outstanding teacher, it wouldn't be a stretch to say he was my favorite.  He had a lively style  that made everything interesting.  He would discuss things off topic.  He took students on field trips and camp outs, probably spending much of his own money.
I remember a lot of what I learned from his classes.  I remember him having a beard, quite unusual for a teacher at the time, although he would shave it off in the winters since he, I believe, said he officiated interscholastic wrestling matches.
Tomlin had retired to his dream home in Montana when he became the state's first and I believe, so far, only Covid 19 death.   He  was 77.

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered Part 34

I now own the 60 plus year old calendar shown in Part 13 and also Bygone Walla Walla and Puget Sound Media blogs.

Senator Walsh Will Not Run

One of  Washington's most colorful politicians, Republican Senator Maureen Walsh, has announced that she will not seek a second term in the state senate for the 16th District.  

Walsh, from Walla Walla, started her elected career in the house in 2005.  She had previously been a legislative aide.  

Walla Walla had not received much national notice until her viral video on marriage equality.  It earned her affection from across the aisle and nationwide.  

A second speech on the floor as a senator last spring would also go viral, this time angering many groups by suggesting nurses spend too much time playing cards.  She was actually advocating against shift limits for staffing smaller emergency hospitals. 

Burl Barer From The Mid 1980s

In this picture from 1986, my cousin, Burl Barer is pictured with family friend, Bill Grant and then Washington Governor Booth Gardiner.  Burl is leaning against the wall, third from the left.

At the time, Grant was campaigning for the Washington State Legislature.  He would be successful and serve until his death in 2009.

This was taken in front of Walla Walla's old Liberty Theatre, which had closed years before and was used as a campaign headquarters. 

This was on the Bygone Walla Walla blog. 

Batman's Burt Ward

Burt Ward, who played Robin and his alter ego Dick Grayson and wife Tracy Ward, address Adam West Day attendees in Walla Walla in a Q And A by videoconference.  Robin was Batman's crimefighting sidekick in the 60s ABC TV show.
In the lower right hand corner is Jonathan Grant, one of the founders of Adam West Day.  Thank you to Amanda of Walla Walla, who attended the conference and took the picture.

Walla Walla's Adam West Day Features Robin

Adam West Day in Walla Walla seems to be thriving and my actually be getting bigger.  The celebration which takes place in West's native town around the time of the late TV star's birthday in mid September.  Super Fan Jonathan Grant along with like minded friends set up the celebration to honor the star who played the iconic role of Batman in the mid 60's TV show of the same name in the months after West's death from leukemia in 2017.
This year, the celebration featured Burt Ward, who played Robin and his alter ego Dick Grayson.  Ward and his wife, Tracy, appeared by videoconference.   Ward told stories about working with Adam West.  Although he appeared invincible on TV, in reality, the first few days of shooting the show would land him in the emergency room frequently.   The Batmobile, the Batcopter, and a number of characters related to the show also made an appearance according to the Walla Walla U-B.

Walla Walla VI--Dinner At Whitehouse Crawford

I had been dying to try the Whitehouse Crawford Restaurant in downtown Walla Walla.  We finally went for the first time last Sunday.
 It is a dinner only upscale restaurant in a restored former sawmill.   Whitehouse Crawford was tied to a lumber yard across the street and the Tum A Lum Lumber yard on West Main.  The Walla Walla based company once had 50 lumber yards across the Northwest, including Bellevue and Renton.  Today, there are three remaining yards, all in Oregon.
Our next door neighbors on Palouse Street were part of the Crawford family, heirs to the founders of the company.
Back to the restaurant, Deb and I joined Marjie and Rick, along with my brother and his wife and had a wonderful dinner.

Walla Walla Trip 4--Windmill

The weather was hot during our trip to Walla Walla, we usually walked the dogs in the early morning.  I wanted to get a picture of one of several houses in the area with windmills.  This was taken a block from where we stayed.

Trip To Walla Walla--Rental House

We spent the Labor Day weekend with Marjie and Rick in Walla Walla.
We rented this house on 758 Rhea Lane  near College Place on Airbnb.  It was very comfortable and had a big back yard.

The Beautiful Blue Mountains

A  mostly gravel road east of Walla Walla known as Scenic Loop in aptly named, providing spectacular views.  Deb and I and another couple are here to see family and  enjoy a little wine tasting.

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered Part 33--K-HIT's Arch LeRoux In Studio

The face may not be familiar to everyone who grew up in Walla Walla, but his voice probably was.  Arch LeRoux (La Roo) was the founder and owner of K-HIT, a radio station that broadcast from the Denney Building from sunrise to sunset.  It played what was known as easy listening music, and as long as I can remember, was automated.   

Leroux with a distinct voice would do a newscast at the top of the hour and headlines at the half hour. LeRoux was also known for his tennis playing prowess.   The station was sold to an out of town ownership group in the mid-70s.

This picture appeared on the Joe Drazen's Bygone Walla Walla page, courtesy of Jean Savage, whose father Bill Lilley was the long time photographer for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. 

Puget Sound Media Profiles Short Lived Walla Walla TV Station

It had been talked about in my childhood,  Walla Walla, at one time, had a broadcast TV station based in the town.  Now, many of my contemporaries will remember cable channel 13, this was a local access channel available to subscribers of what was then Teleprompter TV Cable.  I believe it was required at that time by the FCC.  That is not what we are talking about.  

Walla Walla had an FCC licensed TV station with the call letter KNBS.  It was on channel 22, I'm sure if it was on cable, it had an additional lower channel.   Popular western actor and former baseball player, Chuck Connors was involved in the management. 

Puget Sound Media a radio/tv blog did a post on TV station license applications, which stoked the memory for me of this mostly forgotten Walla Walla entity.  

Sources say that KNBS was on the air January 3 of 1960 to December 14th of the same year.  I was only 3 at the time it went off the air.

You can see Mike Cherry's great article on KNBS here.

Walla Walla History For Today

The Royal Motor Inn as a brand new motel and restaurant in my home town of Walla Walla. This picture was taken in the Spring of 1967.
 It was considered a destination place upon opening, but eventually, the restaurant was torn down and the place had many different renditions.   I'm not sure if a motel is operating at the site today. You can find memories of Walla Walla at Bygone Walla Walla.

Walla Walla Elks Building Meets Wrecking Ball

This will really make me feel old.   The Elks Club on Rose Street in Walla Walla has been torn down. This is the same Elks Club that forced our house of worship to relocated in the very early 70s. I remember when it was brand spanking new, having just moved from it's location on 4th street, downtown.  

The building was torn down to make way for a new housing development.   At last report, the Elks are looking for a new location.  The forced relocation of Congregation Beth Israel, led to a better synagogue on Alder and Roosevelt. 

Thank you Joe Drazan, blogger at Bygone Walla Walla for the picture and the tip on this story.