www.boystownalumni.org

Thoughtfulness of others helps make others thoughtful of us. It generates good feeling. It

invites friendships which pave the way for future opportunities.

– Father edward J. Flanagan

IN THIS ISSUE:From The Executive Director . . 2

Alumni Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Alum Inventor Left Mark . . . . 3

New Father Flanagan Book . . . 3

Mini-Convention A Hit! . . . . 4-5

From The BTNAA President . . . 6

From The Alumni Director . . . 6

Letter Between Friends . . . . . . 6

Paver Brick Form . . . . . . . . 7-8

Memberships In Memoriam . . . 9

Gift Shop Specials . . . . . . . . . . 9

From The Auxiliary President . 9

Gene Heslin Remembered . . . 10

In Loving Memory . . . . . . . . 10

Happenings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Where Are They Now? . . . . . 11

WATN? Information Form . . . 11

FALL 2008 – VOLUME 47, ISSUE 3

ALUMNI MISSION: We exist to unite and grow our alumni

family, and champion the dream and values of Father Flanagan

through leadership.

BTNAA PO Box 2 Boys Town, NE 68010(800) 345-0458 www.boystownalumni.org

BOYS TOWN NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Alumni news

BACK-TO-SCHOOL REFLECTIONS FROM OUR BOYS TOWN KIDS

SM

We asked our little kids at Wegner School to set goals at the beginning of this new school year. We share some of them with you here so you may be encouraged and inspired to set goals for yourself as well. Thank you for helping our children.

My goal this new school year is asking for help. If I am having any trouble with my schoolwork, I want to ask for help instead of just going on with my work. I want to get at least a “B” or above in all my classes.

Carmen

My major goal is to improve in writing. I want to have good handwriting. I also want to put more effort into my journaling. I want to learn how to write inspiring papers and I need to learn how to use punctuation correctly. I don’t know the difference between a noun and an adjective, but I am going to learn.

Cameron

My goal is to learn how to play football. I would like to know what the defense is and what the offense is. I would like to know when I should be cheering and when I should be sad. I don’t know that yet. I would also like to catch, throw and kick the ball.

Deanna

I want to learn to be better at writing poems. It is a way to express your feelings. I also would like to learn how to spell the harder words and not just the easier ones.

Ashley

A major thing I want to improve on this year is my anger. I cuss, yell and fight. It seems to hurt other people’s feelings, so I need to learn how to do this. I also need to learn how to cheer others up if they are having good sportsmanship or if they are sad.

Taloy

MINI-CONVENTION 2008 SAN DIEGO

www.boystownalumni.org 3 | Alumni News

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDear Alumni,

On June 19, Father Cliff Stevens, ’44, and I attended the Boys Town Alumni Mini-Convention in San Diego. What a great time! I especially enjoy the opportunity to connect with alumni from all generations.

Joe Renteria, ’35, attended with his dear wife and was recognized by his fellow alums and a

California Native American group for his many years of service to the alumni and to Native Americans throughout California. Joe, who turned 93 on July 17, has given his whole life in the service of others, first with a career in the military and then serving the Native American peoples. A candidate for Mayor of Boys Town in the first such election, he continues to this day to be a leader and role model for all of us. It is not the rewards we receive or the recognition we get for our life’s work, but the toiling in service of others that is the measure of our lives. Father Flanagan sparked in Joe, in his two years at Boys Town, that fire of service, that desire to spend a lifetime helping others and a faith in the Creator God that has served him all these years.

On July 13, the birthday of our beloved founder, the Boys Town Press released a critical biography of Father Flanagan. This book takes a deeper look into the man, his motivations and his passion for helping children. It delves into the obstacles he had to overcome, both personally and professionally, as he strove to make a better life for the boys of America at the dawn of the 20th century. I encourage each of you to purchase a copy of the book from the Gift Shop at Boys Town or through the Boys Town Press at a special alumni price. I know you will find the book both captivating and uplifting. (There’s more on the book later in the newsletter.)

Father Stevens is also writing a biography of Father Flanagan. This biography will touch on the more personal side of Father Flanagan and serve to highlight the strong faith that moved him to give to his adopted country a place we call Boys Town.

The boys and girls have enjoyed a wonderful summer full of fun, learning and healing. There was water skiing at Lake Okoboji, fireworks on the Fourth of July and picnics and outings to create memories that will last a lifetime. We continue to bring new boys and girls in as the class of 2008 has left us and begun making their way in the world. I ask your prayers for them, and for me and our dedicated staff, as we move forward with our plan to expand our many services and more than double the number of children and families we help.

Prayer was central to the success of Father Flanagan and those who followed him. With your prayers, I am confident we will continue the dreams and legacy given us all by Father Flanagan.

God’s Blessings,

Father Steven E. Boes

National Executive Director

Alumni newsBoys Town National Alumni Association

EDITORTerry Hyland

GRAPHIC DESIGNERMike Buckley

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSSarah Williamson-Mohn

John MollisonScot Shaffer

Michael Sterba

PHOTOGRAPHYMike Buckley

ALUMNI ADVISORSMandalyne Atencio '01

George Buckler ’64 Sarah Williamson-Mohn ’92

John Mollison ’64 Edwin Novotny ’43 Stephen Postert '69

Stan Struble ’68

PRINTERBoys Town Print Shop

The Alumni News is published byBoys Town

14100 Crawford St. Boys Town, NE 68010

alumni@boystown.org

1-800-345-0458 (402) 498-1150

Fax: (402) 498-1159

www.boystownalumni.org2 | Alumni News

ALUMNI PROFILE JENNIFER (HILL) COBA, ’96

By becoming the first female Boys Town National Alumni Association regional board director, Jennifer (Hill) Coba, ’96, not only made history but also found a way to say thanks to the place she calls home.

“Boys Town was the best thing for me,” said Jennifer, who lives in Hawthorne, New Jersey. “Hopefully I can get alumni living in my region involved with Boys Town again and motivated to give back.”

In her new position, Jennifer oversees the Association’s Region 3, which includes New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont.

“It’s very exciting to have Jennifer as a regional board director,” said Sarah Williamson-Mohn, Boys Town National Alumni Director. “She has the enthusiasm to get the alumni in her area together to support one another, form friendships and help form

a stronger National Alumni Association.”

Jennifer said when she first came to Boys Town in 1991 she had no regard for authority. Her attitude quickly changed, however, when she became immersed in her Boys Town family. Growing up in the home of Family-Teachers John and Barbara Real, Jennifer learned the value of patience, understanding and how to raise a family.

“My kids have a good mother because of them,” said Jennifer, who with her husband Alfonso has three children – 10-year-old Luis, 2 1/2-year-old Max and new baby Alfonso IV.

Jennifer now hopes to educate her community and the surrounding region about the thousands of suc-cessful girls who have found a new life at Boys Town and to get more women involved in the Alumni Association. One of her main goals is to start a new chapter in the region that welcomes all area alumni.

If you are a Boys Town alum or know of one in your area, please call the BTNAA’s toll-free number at 1-800-345-0458 to become reconnected or to reconnect one of your brothers or sisters to your Boys Town family.

First there was the new portrait.

Now there’s a new book.

Boys Town alumni and others who want to explore the life of Father Flanagan now have a new source of inspiration about the man and his mission.

The aptly named publication, “Father Flanagan of Boys Town: A Man of Vision,” was released July 13, the anniversary of Father Flanagan’s 122nd birthday. Written by Hugh Reilly and Kevin Warneke, both former Boys Town employees, the 196-page book traces the Boys Town founder’s life from his birth in Ballymoe, Ireland, through a childhood fraught with nearly fatal illnesses, to the accomplishment of his dream of a home for troubled boys, to his sudden and untimely death in 1948. The book includes an extensive photo section and an afterword by Father Clifford Stevens, ’44, who currently serves youth at the Home as a senior priest in residence.

“This new work presents for the first time, in his own words, the mission of Father Flanagan,” said Tom Lynch, Director of the Boys Town Hall of History and the Father Flanagan House. “Over time, other publications have created a mythology about Father Flanagan, and this new work shows he was not a one-dimensional person, but tackled numerous complex social issues in a straightforward manner.”

Lynch said he recommends the book as “the most complete examination of Father Flanagan’s life and work to date.”

Reilly and Warneke were commissioned in late 2006 to produce the book as part of plans to celebrate Boys Town’s 90th anniversary. Their research and writing included months of poring over historical files and a trip to Ireland to visit Father Flanagan’s birthplace and other cities where he fought injustice against children in his native land.

“It was fun to follow his footsteps and to see how he was treated like a rock star there,” said Warneke, referring to the priest’s timeless popularity among the Irish people.

Both authors said the experience of writing the book opened their eyes to Father Flanagan’s willingness to buck tradition and take on the biggest social ills of his day.

“He was a rebel and a rabble rouser,” Reilly said. “He was fearless, a man of convictions. He wanted to change the world. That takes inner strength and inner passion, and to some degree, a naïveté that you can actually do that. And he had all of those traits.”

“He was so far ahead of his time in regards to social issues, especially when it came to women, race and religion,” Warneke said. “He did things way before it was acceptable to do those things in society. He really was a man of courage.”

For a limited time, Boys Town alumni can purchase their own copy of the book from the Boys Town Press for only $10. The books are regularly $14.95. There is a shipping fee of $3 for the first book and $1 more for each additional book. When ordering either by phone or by mail, buyers should identify themselves as Boys Town alumni. (The shipping charge should be included in the total if paying by check.)

To order on a credit card (name, address, type of card, card no., expiration date required):

• Call 1-800-282-6657 • Fax 1-402-498-1310

To pay by check, mail payment to:

Boys Town Press, 14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010

In addition to the new book, copies of the new portrait of Father Flanagan by Boys Town grad Paul Otero, ’68, are still available. The cost is $65, and the por-trait can be ordered by calling the Alumni Office toll free at 1-800-345-0458.

What do the wire jacket skinner, slitter and insulation for tape-type wire, combination insulation stripper and wire splicer, and an insulation-stripping device have in common?

They all are tools created to make the work of telephone repair people easier and more efficient. And they all were invented and patented by a Boys Town alum.

Marion Bradley, ’34, was one of those inno-vative people who loved to create and develop new gizmos and gadgets. In the 1960s and 1970s, while living in California, Bradley invented the devices mentioned ear-lier, some of which are still in use today. All told, Bradley holds 13 different patents in the United States and Japan for his inventions.

“He was a smart man who came up with lots of things,” said Debbie Gleason, Bradley’s daughter. “I run across telephone men who have one of my dad’s wire strippers that they use in their work.”

Bradley’s success story began in December 1930 when he and his brother Doyle came to live at Boys Town. As a Boys Town citizen, Bradley sang in the choir, served as a head altar boy and learned to cut hair. In 1944, while training for the Air Force, he met his wife, Betty, and the couple married. They later had

a son, Terry Bill, and two daughters, Debbie and Linda. When Bradley passed away in 1981, the couple had four granddaughters and five great-grandsons.

Bradley was proud of the time he spent at Boys Town. He often corresponded with Father Flanagan, sharing what was happening in his life and asking for guidance, until the priest’s death in 1948.

“Father Flanagan was a powerful force on my dad and he thought the world of Father Flanagan,” Gleason said. “His letters gave my dad the courage to help him with big decisions, like getting married and joining the Air Force.”

Bradley was a family man who enjoyed service work, something he learned about and always remembered from his time at Boys Town. For many years, he served as the president of the Boys Town National Alumni Association chapter in Southern California. He was involved in food and clothing drives for many Catholic Children’s Orphanages, and spent time sponsoring youth organizations in the community.

Inventor. Family man. Community servant. Marion Bradley did his best to do Boys Town proud.

BRADLEY MADE MARK IN WORLD THROUGH INVENTIONS

Marion Bradley

NEW BOOK CELEBRATES FATHER FLANAGAN’S LIFE, MISSION

ONE OF FATHER FLANAGAN’S BOYS

Bradley's insulation stripper

Max, Alfonso, Luis and Jennifer Coba

www.boystownalumni.org4 | Alumni News www.boystownalumni.org 5 | Alumni News

Beautiful weather, warm hospitality and lots of smiles welcomed guests to the San Diego mini-convention June 19-21. The Southern California Chapter of the Boys Town National Alumni Association sponsored the event.

“The camaraderie was excellent,” said Larry Untiedt, ’55. “I enjoyed seeing the alumni and their families; they were very nice. I felt like I was at ‘Home’ – Boys Town.”

Forty to 50 alumni and family members joined in the scheduled festivities. On Friday evening, the group was entertained by Polynesian dancers, who chose a few audience members to learn a step or two. Father Boes and John Mollison were two of the lucky students.

Early Saturday morning, the class of 1958 alumni gathered for breakfast at the Antique Row Café, and then paid their respects to Lloyd “Pete” Bucher by laying a wreath at his gravesite. The evening saw attendees gather for a special catered banquet with a live band. Several members of the class of 1958 celebrated their 50th reunion, happily accepting t-shirts and coffee mugs, and taking and posing for photos.

“The mini-convention was a great event,” said Bob Curtin, ’58. “I had a won-derful visit with the eight classmates who showed up for our 50th reunion. My only wish is that a few more would have come and enjoyed the fun.”

A highlight of the convention was the Southern California Chapter’s recognition of one of its most faithful members, Joe Renteria, class of 1935.

Joe, who was born a few years before Boys Town was founded in 1917, was very surprised by the plaque and thoughtful words honoring his service to others throughout his lifetime. The Native American Council also recognized Joe for his lifetime work on behalf of the group, presenting him with a blanket signifying Chief status.

John Mollison, '64, was honored by Boys Town and the BTNAA for his never-ending support of the Home and the alumni.

“I am deeply grateful for the kind words and the statue of Father Flanagan given to me by the Alumni Association and Father Boes for my retirement from Boys Town,” Mollison said.

Alumni celebrated Mass with Father Boes and Father Clifford Stevens, ’44, on Sunday morning, then enjoyed a picnic to wrap up the mini-convention. There were many hugs, smiles and expressions of gratitude for the hard work and cooperation that went into hosting this special event and making it an enjoyable success for Boys Town brothers and sisters who attended.

“The mini-convention is unique because of the intimacy of the gathering and the opportunity to spend much time in reminiscence and reconnecting with our friends and classmates,” Mollison said. “It is also a wonderful opportunity to meet alumni from other generations and to hear their life stories. I commend the Southern California Chapter for hosting such a warm and enjoyable mini-convention.”

Father Boes and members of the class of 1958 join Rose Bucher as she honors her husband Pete Bucher, ’47, during a wreath-laying ceremony at his gravesite in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.

Lloyd “Pete” Bucher came to Boys Town from Lewiston, Idaho, in 1941. He excelled in athletics and academics while at the Home, and served two terms as class president. Upon graduation, he served two years in the Navy, and then returned to Nebraska to earn a bachelor’s degree in geology. Pete later rejoined the Navy, received his commission and served on or commanded submarines for nearly 10 years. In 1968, North Korean forces captured the USS Pueblo, the surveillance ship Pete was commanding. He and his crew were tortured and imprisoned for 11 months before being released. The ordeal of Pete and his crew has been well chronicled, studied and retold. Pete passed away on January 29, 2004. He was a genuine American hero and an outstanding alumnus of Boys Town.

“Boys Town, through Father Flanagan, supplied me with blessings I had longed for but never had… family, a sense of honor and the value of teamwork.” – Pete Bucher

MINI-CONVENTION PRODUCES MAXIMUM FUNMeeting Old Pals In Sunny Southern Cal − San Diego Mini-Convention 2008

John Mollison, ’64, (center) displays his Father Flanagan statue with Father Boes and Bob Nelson.

Bob Nelson, ’53, and Fred Estevane, ’51, with mini-convention honoree Joe Renteria, ’35 (center).

Michael Venclauskas, ’58, Ted, ’58, and Lyn Pittman, and Roger Treat, ’58, have it made in the shade at the picnic.

A group of alumni and their spouses gather before Sunday Mass.

Members of the class of 1958 celebrated their 50th reunion. (L to R) Ted Pittman, Robert Cross, Robert Curtin, Jim Gordon, Michael Venclauskas, Father Boes and Roger Treat

Ted Perez, ’73, and wife Cindy at Saturday night's banquet. Roy Elam, ’62, and fiancée Rebecca enjoy the festivities.Henry Sokol, ’63, and wife Randi traveled from Mountain Center, California, for the mini-convention.

“I enjoyed seeing the alumni and their families; they were very nice. I felt like I was at ‘Home’ – Boys Town,” said Larry Untiedt, ’55.

www.boystownalumni.org6 | Alumni News www.boystownalumni.org 7 | Alumni News19991963

Sarah Williamson-Mohn recently received this letter from Boys Town alum Scot Shaffer, ’93, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It appears here as a guest writer’s testament to the bond our alumni have with each other and with their home, Boys Town.

Sarah,

I wasn’t going to write you tonight but as I sat there watching that movie (Boys Town), I couldn’t help but think, and maybe I am just being ridiculous or just overly sentimental, but like I said earlier, I can be cheesy sometimes. I guess the whole point of this is that I want you to fully understand how much it means to me to have seen you and to be back in touch with you.

Like I said earlier, there have been very few things over the last years that have made me TRULY happy. It’s not like I’m sad or anything like that. I have a very good life, but few things can have that kind of effect on me. I’ve seen a lot of ugly and horrible things over the years, especially being in countries like Kosovo and Iraq, and sometimes it seems like there aren’t that many really good things in the world. Maybe it can take some effect on you and make you pessimistic about things in general, but seeing you and Boys Town kind of shook me up.

I guess maybe you look for things sometimes and all you can see is the ugliness in the world, and when something comes along and reminds you that there are good things out there, it can make you smile. And it’s been a while since I have smiled like this. Jen calls it unique because I really don’t think she has ever seen that side of me. But I doubt that she ever had something that meant as much to her in her life as my time at Boys Town meant to me.

It really was one of the happiest times of my life, if not the happiest, and you were a part of that. There are very few people I have known over the years that I can call true friends; I think if most people have 3 or 4 they are doing pretty good. And knowing that I have one more that I can count now means more than I can possibly explain to you Sarah. I have always looked back on that time and wished I had stayed in touch with a few people and you were always one of them. I know things happen and people drift apart; I guess that’s just life. But when they come back in for whatever reason, it is truly something to be happy about. So for that, if nothing else, thank you.

I really didn’t want this to be cheesy or too sentimental but I guess it got that way. Insomnia and feelings of great gratitude are not a good combination. But while I was watching that movie, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s very rare in this world when something comes along and can bring you back into focus with kindness, respect and love. All of which happened in that special time and place that was ours at Boys Town. Things can get so disorganized and distorted, and it helps to have that special thing that grounds you and can give you faith in something that you can’t always see. And coming back and seeing you has brought that to me. So for that, too, thank you.

You really are a wonderful person Sarah. I always thought the world of you, and seeing what you have done with your life doesn’t surprise me at all. I wish I was still involved with that community and could give back like you are. You really are rare. And I wish I had the words to explain to you how happy, proud and thankful I am to call you my friend. And I promise you, there will never be a time gap again that you don’t hear from me.

I have to go walk Max and Ralphie before they go to bed. It’s almost 1:30 a.m. here anyway and I guess I should try to get some sleep myself. I hope you have a wonderful day today Sarah. And thank you again for everything.

Your bro,

Scot

Located near the Father Flanagan statue, the Father Flanagan View Paver area will recognize and honor fellow alumni, staff members, family members and friends with a mixture of 600 4 x 8-inch and 8 x 8-inch pavers, surrounded by six benches. Purchase a paver for someone you know or for yourself.

1) A 4 x 8-inch individual paver with the name and sentiment of your choice engraved (2 lines, 14 characters per line) costs $50.

2) An 8 x 8-inch individual paver with the name and sentiment of your choice engraved (4 lines, 14 characters per line) costs $100.

You can purchase more than one paver in either size. A limited number of pavers are available, so call 1-800-345-0458 to reserve yours now! Our goal is to complete this Phase II Paver Brick project by the 2009 National Biennial Convention. DON’T MISS OUT! BUY YOUR PAVER TODAY! ! !

Complete the form and mail to: BTNAA, Paver Brick Project (Phase II), PO Box 2, Boys Town, NE 68010

RESERVE MY INDIVIDUAL PAVER TODAYI want _______ 4 x 8-inch pavers at $50.00 each. Amount __________

(Number)

I want ________ 8 x 8-inch pavers at $100.00 each. Amount __________

(Number)

Total _____________

Full Payment Required In Advance: Name: _________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________________________

Please bill my: MasterCard___ Visa___ Discover___ American Express___

Card Number:_____________________________________Expiration Date_______ Amount $________

Make checks payable to: BTNAA-Paver Brick II (Please do not mail cash payments .)

WORDING MUST BE EXACTLY AS YOU WISH IT TO APPEAR.My 4 x 8-in. paver should say: 1) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

My 8 x 8-in. paver should say: 1) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

NOTE: PLEASE USE THE BACK PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL PURCHASES

RECOGNIZE STAFF, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH A FATHER FLANAGAN VIEW PAVER

Sample 4 x 8-Inch Paver

Sample 8 x 8-Inch Paver

Ira George

J Mollison ‘64

Mitt Stoffel

Great Coach

and Mentor

Paul Otero ‘68

photo by George Buckler ‘64

Scot Shaffer

FROM THE BTNAA PRESIDENTGreetings Brothers and Sisters,

I hope this finds all well. Summer is over and I hope everyone found time to relax and enjoy the warm weather months.

It’s been a year since I was chosen for this honored position. I am proud to report your Alumni Association and its members are doing very well. Our finances are in excellent condition, our membership is growing, a new chapter is starting in New York and we have our first sister on the Board of Directors.

The mini-convention in San Diego went very well. With our Biennial Convention less than a year away, planning and preparations are underway. The Convention grows larger every year, and I hope everyone will make an attempt to attend. I know Dennis Binkowski, Carl Cook, Dan Donovan, Paul Walters and I are looking forward to seeing you next July at the Home.

Next year, five regional directorships will be open for election. If you are a BTNAA member, please consider serving on the Alumni Board of Directors. More information will be included in a future issue of the Alumni News.

Thank you for making this first year as BTNAA president an exciting and educational experience.

I am fraternally yours,

Bruce R. Dolan, ’68, President

BTNAA

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The kids had a great summer and are happy to return to school. The Alumni Office has made

progress on several projects, and we are beginning to plan for the 2009 Alumni Convention.

We’ve made some updates to the BTNAA Web site on the National page. We’ve included an edited Biography Form, a Lifetime Membership application and a list of all Lifetime Members in numerical order and by class order. We hope you will log on to find out who is a Lifetime Member and challenge yourself to encourage your classmates to join, too!

One mistake we made turned out to be a blessing. We accidentally sent the 2008 Boys Town seniors their invitation to join the BTNAA early. So, during the annual senior luncheon, sponsored by the Omaha Chapter, we had a record number of graduates sign up for their complimentary annual membership. We will continue to make that mistake!

We would love to hear from you, help you find an old pal or just chat. So please feel free to call our toll free number – 1-800-345-0458.

God Bless,

Sarah E. Mohn, ’92

National Alumni Director

FROM THE ALUMNI DIRECTOR

A LETTER BETWEEN FRIENDS

www.boystownalumni.org8 | Alumni News www.boystownalumni.org 9 | Alumni News

FROM THE AUXILIARY PRESIDENTAuxiliary Members and Friends,

I encourage you to say a prayer for persons in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and other parts of the country and the world who have suffered from

floods, tornados and fires. They have many challenges to face and our prayers will help them know they are not facing them alone.

The $50 contribution in Glenna Curtin’s memory was made to the Alumni Scholarship Fund rather than the Auxiliary as I stated in the previous newsletter.

We are continuing our tradition of supporting Boys Town graduates. This year’s recipient of the Auxiliary’s Scholarship was Carol Greer. The Auxiliary received a thank-you note from Carol letting us know the money will be used to help her with college expenses. She plans to attend Metro Community College in Omaha, Nebraska, and then go on to Iowa Western. Her goal is to matriculate in the dental hygiene program.

The following actions were taken at our 2007 Convention meeting:• Minutes of the 2006 mini-convention were approved.• The treasurer’s report was approved.• A motion to increase lifetime dues from $40 to $50 was

approved.• The president appointed the Election Committee officers for

2007-2009.• The president appointed the Audit Committee

– Marcy Vogt and Lois Welles.• A motion to return lifetime dues with no interest accrued to

questioned lifetime memberships was approved.

The outstanding issue from the 2007 National Convention is a review of the criteria for membership in the Auxiliary. Any suggestions to amend the constitution or bylaws at the next Biennial Convention must be made in writing to the Auxiliary Executive Committee so the intent may be published for the membership. Please send your suggestions to me no later than September 30, 2008, so I can share your suggestions with the membership.

Be Safe and God Bless,Margaret CrossNational Auxiliary President

My 4 x 8-in. paver should say: 1) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

1) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

1) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

My 8 x 8-in. paver should say: 1) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

1) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

3) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

4) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

214 Beckingham Loop Cary, NC 27519 email: amargaretcross@bellsouth.net

ATTENTION ALL ALUMNI!GET YOUR NEW BOYS TOWN MERCHANDISE AT A GIGANTIC SAVINGS!The Boys Town Visitors Center is offering all alumni a 40% discount on all items with the new Boys Town logo

Here’s just a few of the great deals waiting for you!

Polo ShirtsOriginal price: $26.99 Your Price: $16.19

Travel MugsOriginal price: $12.99 Your Price: $7.79

Visit us on-line at www .boystowngifts .org to see the complete inventory of new items .

If you would like a printed catalog to be mailed out to you, call us at 1-800-325-1400. You also can write us at 13628 Flanagan Blvd., Boys Town, NE 68010, or e-mail us at visitorsc@boystown.org.

REMEMBER YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WITH A BTNAA LIFETIME MEMBERSHIPDid you know you can take out a Lifetime Membership in the Boys Town National Alumni Association in memory of alumni who have passed away? Whether former Boys Town citizens were a relative or a friend, they can have a permanent place at the Home, with a bronze plate bearing their name on the special wall at the Hall of History. This very personal gift is a wonderful way to honor those who will remain close to us always.

More than 900 members have now received their permanent membership card and lapel pin. Those who become lifetime members also receive a handcrafted pen, made by Dan Banz, ’57, with wood from Father Flanagan’s home.

Remember, if you have paid your Lifetime Membership, or are paying on it, you need not pay annual dues! Membership in the BTNAA also grants alumni access to extended privileges on the new Web site, www.boystownalumni.org.

We realize that not everyone can afford to pay the total Lifetime Membership fee ($200) at one time, so we have developed a payment plan. Just remember that the total amount must be paid within two years.

For more information, contact the Boys Town Alumni Office at 402-498-1150.

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IN LOVING MEMORY

MANUEL APARICIO, ’42, passed away June 13, 2008, in Tampa, Florida.

GABRIEL CALDERON, ’41, passed away May 9, 2008, in Denver, Colorado.

RICHARD DARRELL, ’06, passed away May 18, 2008, in Maskell, Nebraska.

GEORGE R. DELINE, ’41, passed away April 28, 2008, in Rancho Mirage, California.

DAVID HENRY DIRKX, ’63, passed away March 26, 2008, in El Paso, Texas.

MICHAEL HUMBLE, ’73, passed away May 2, 2008,

in Olathe, Kansas.

RICHARD EUGENE KELLEY, ’40, passed away June 7, 2008, in Freeport, Illinois.

DAVID J. LORSUNG, ’53, passed away May 9, 2008, in Oelwein, Iowa.

TIMOTHY STANTON, ’69, passed away June 2, 2008, in Austin, Texas.

Eugene “Gene” David Heslin is and always will be the heart of the Boys Town class of 1954. He now rests in the bosom of our Lord and Father Flanagan.

A dedicated member of the Boys Town National Alumni Association and a mentor for youth in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, Gene received the prestigious “Mentor of the Year” award in 2004 for his untiring work with and for children.

After leaving the Home, Gene worked a variety of jobs, including programming computers at Northwestern University, and served in the Army Signal Corps. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education in 1965, and taught school for a short time.

Gene later joined the IBM team and spent 22 years moving through the ranks of management as a market analyst and industry specialist in the education field. He retired from IBM in 1987 and took a job in Arizona as vice president of the software division for a vocational education business. In 1995, he returned to Atlanta to spend more quality time with his family.

Gene, a lifetime member of the BTNAA and a board member serving Region 5, spent much of his free time keeping in touch with his Boys Town brothers,

especially his graduating class of 1954. His class newsletter was always full of information about everyone and everything. He kept tabs on those who were ill, comforted the family and classmates of those who had passed and celebrated the milestones and accomplishments of everyone in his class. He set the standard for all classes to come when it came to keeping in touch and gathering his classmates to celebrate their time at Boys Town and as lifelong and childhood friends.

Gene passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on April 15, 2008. His passing leaves an empty spot in the hearts of all he touched with his common sense, his commitment to his class and Boys Town and his faith in God. He will be dearly missed by all. Let us all celebrate the life of one of Father Flanagan’s and Monsignor Wegner’s boys. Let us take his zest for life and share that with someone we know. In that way, he will live forever. Let us, as classmates and alumni, join in prayer across this great land of ours for Gene and his wife Pat, his five children, his brothers and sisters and his grandchildren.

Gene spent his life in the service of others, and that is as he was taught at Boys Town. Let us each, in our own way and in honor of Gene, reach out to others who need help and pass on the lesson we all learned from him.

GENE HESLIN, THE HEART OF THE CLASS OF 1954 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?and is thankful for the teaching he received when he was at the Home.

HARRY CARNES, ’64, lives in Surprise, Arizona, with his wife Paulita. They have seven grown children. Harry entered the United States Army after graduating from Boys Town. He later worked for the Department of Defense. The couple’s plans are to live and enjoy life. He fondly remembers Monsignor Wegner’s kindness.

JOHN C. FREEMAN, ’64, currently lives in Bennington, Nebraska, with his wife of 37 years, Carol. They have three grown sons – Richard, Andrew and Bradley. John currently works as a government-contracted security officer. He also worked as a security officer for Union Pacific Railroad, a truck driver and a construction worker. John’s future plans are to continue working, to help Carol show her dogs and to play golf with his sons. The Boys Town movie was the reason John and his brothers came to Boys Town.

1970sRUSSELL REYNOLDS, ’70, lives in Garland, Texas, with his wife Debbie. They have been married for 20 years and have two children – Douglas and Kim. After graduation, Russell went to school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and eventually got a job installing telephone systems across the country. He has made a living in the telecommunications industry. Russell enjoys spending his

1950sROBERT E. BOCKMAN, ’52, lives in Tacoma, Washington. He and his late wife, Mary, were married for 46 years. They have four sons, seven grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Robert enlisted in the United States Air Force after leaving Boys Town. Upon his retirement from the military, he worked for the civil service branch in the narcotics division. Robert fondly remembers his many talks with his counselor, Father Everett Trebtoske.

ROBERT A. “RUBE” JONES, ’52, lives in Vallenar, Chile. He spent two years in the United States Army and two years in college. Robert is a world traveler who has been to six countries and lived in many states. He plans to continue traveling in the future to visit his five children. One of his favorite hobbies is building scale-model railroads. Robert is grateful for Father Walsh because of his good character. He feels that Father Walsh taught him to be an honorable man.

1960sDARYL MURPHY, ’60, currently lives in Indio, California, with his wife Lisa. Once he graduated from Boys Town, he entered the United States Navy and earned a degree in electronics. Daryl owned a trucking company for 25 years and was a computer specialist at a community college for the past 20 years. He is very proud to be a Boys Town alum

free time outdoors and playing with his granddaughter Samantha. His fondest memories of the Home are being a member of the cross country team and selling hamburgers from the basement in Cottage 21. Christmas at Boys Town is the best!

1980sRUSSELL J. ACOSTA, ’81, currently lives in Murrietta, California, with his wife of 10 years, Jacquie. They have three children – Jessica, Sammantha and Joshua. Shortly after graduat-ing from Boys Town, Russell joined the United States Marine Corps. He retired in 2006 with various awards and medals, including the Meritorious Service Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon for Iraqi Freedom. He currently works as a defense contractor. Russell’s dream is to write a book and he hopes to include the lessons he learned while at Boys Town. He felt that Frank Hart was very fair and set a good example on how to live life.

1990sMIKE POLAND, ’92, lives in Grand Island, Nebraska, with his wife Amanda. They have been married for five years and have two children – Alexis and Kade – and one on the way. Mike works in sales at Applied Industrial Technologies. He enjoys racing four-cylinder “hornets” at Mid-Nebraska Speedway in Doniphan, Nebraska. While living at the Home, he admired Mr. and Mrs. Keiser (Ludgate) because they always

gave good advice. Mike says that he would not change his experience for

anything in the world.

WILLIAM “SCOT” SHAFFER, ’93, lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is a student at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in German and culinary arts. He was in the United States Army for five years and earned medals for fighting in Kosovo and Iraq. Scot’s goals are to finish school and hopefully move back to Germany. He is thankful to Father Peter and Father Eugene for teaching him that he was okay and helping him realize he had potential

in life.

2000sD’MITRI R. AGNES, ’07, is enrolled in summer school at Arizona State University, where he spent his freshman year in pursuit of a journalism degree. He also began working with a company that hosts industry parties and large-scale fashion shows to raise awareness of AIDS and promote YouthAIDS, a worldwide AIDS initiative out of Washington. D’Mitri will begin 10 months of service with the AmeriCorps City Year program in Stratham, New Hampshire. He is very thankful to everyone who helped him during his time at Boys Town. D’Mitri feels that he owes all of his success to those who tirelessly gave to him to keep him on the right path.

Your alumni brothers and sisters want to know what you’re doing. Help keep them part of your family through the Alumni News! Anyone whose story is published will receive a FREE GIFT!

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HAPPENINGS• The Omaha Chapter picnic at Elmwood Park went very well with 30

alumni, spouses, children and grandchildren attending. They enjoyed a barbeque lunch of burgers, hot dogs, brats, Italian sausage, potato salad, coleslaw and baked beans. Everyone brought their own drinks and desserts. Both young and old played soccer and Frisbee®, and the kids had fun on the swing sets. The officers did not hold an official meeting but decided that the current officers will hold office until someone volunteers to run. We hope there are alumni in the Omaha area who are willing to get involved and participate.

• TheRev. CarlNelson, ’66, has been accepted as anewmember of theCarmel Lions Club in Carmel, Indiana. Congrats!

• Tanya Wyatt-Walker, ’94, had a baby boy, Richard James Walker, onFebruary 28.

• ValerieRichter,’97,wasmarriedatDowdMemorialChapelonJune7.

• AllalumniareinvitedtoattendtheIllinoisChaptercookouttheweekendof October 4-5 in Bloomington, Illinois. If interested, please contact Sarah Mohn at 1-800-345-0458 for more details.

• TheKansasCityChapterenjoyedseveralactivitiesoverthesummer.OnJune 6 and 7, Ted and Cindy Perez hosted a garage sale at their home. Several members braved the rain, wind and humidity to help out and raise funds for the Chapter’s Scholarship Fund. Garage sales are an art, and those who shop them are truly professionals! About 60 people celebrated the

seventh annual picnic July 19 at the home of John and Lisa Abare. Alumni Director Sarah Mohn and her husband Curtis attended the event, which has become a favorite. The group enjoyed grilling, playing horseshoes, swimming and socializing. During a brief meeting, the Chapter planned for the fall and beyond, including continuing fundraising efforts for the Chapter-sponsored Father Brown Scholarship, adopting less fortunate families for Christmas and spreading the vision of Boys Town.

Ted Perez, '73, and David Aaron, '68, had a swinging time at the KC picnic.

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Whether it’s playing basketball amidst the cornfields, heavy lifting in the pumpkin patch or making the early-morning walk to classes, everyone enjoys that special, unique beauty fall brings to the Village.

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