MEET MADAME PRESIDENT - SANDIE KNUDSEN - 1964

Congratulations to Sandie (Poppen) Knudsen for being elected President of the SHSAA at our January meeting!  Sandie lived at 19th and Washington near Big Joe’s Drive-in during her high school years.  Her father, Bill Poppen, Sr., worked at the packing house and retired from Falstaff Brewery.  Her mother, Mabel (Larsen) Poppen-1934 SHS class, worked at Purex Soap at 2nd and Hickory Streets for many years. Her brother, Bill Poppen, Jr., graduated from SHS in 1956. Sandie’s relatives lived in Buff Town and Little Italy among other great South Omaha neighborhoods. Sandie Poppen Casey Knudsen has proud South Omaha roots.

Shortly after graduating, Sandie married Bob Casey-1965, and had three boys, Bob, Jr., Bill and Barry before they went separate ways.  Sandie and Scott Knudsen-1965, met in late 1981 and married at the Ford Birth Site on July 5, 1997. Sandie and Scott’s combined family includes six children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Sandie’s professional career has focused on her artistic talent. She earned her Commercial Art degree in 1977 from Omaha Art School and completed a Computer Graphics program at the College of Saint Mary in 1985.  Sandie worked as a Graphic Artist at Our Gang Studio and as an Art Director at Smith, Kaplan, Allen, Reynolds Advertising. While employed as the Art Director and Production Manager at Ellis and Johns Advertising, she worked with numerous clients including Godfather’s Pizza, Boys Town Pediatrics, SAC Museum and Easter Seals. Sandie also worked for Ted Grace-1965 of Ted Grace Homes, as the Marketing Director for three years beginning in 1993.

Sandie owned and operated a full-service advertising agency from 1984 to 1991.  Casey Advertising, Inc. specialized in marketing, promotional and graphic art services for the home building industry with the Metropolitan Omaha Builders Association as the primary client.  She also served five years on the National Association of Home Builders Sales and Marketing Council.

Sandie has served on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Omaha Builders Association, (MOBA), the Graphic Artist Guild, (GAG), and on the “Addy Awards” Committee for the Omaha Federation of Advertisers.  She developed promotional and administrative brochures as a member of the Papillion/LaVista School District Adult and Continued Education Advisory Council. She also produced a video promoting economic development for the City of LaVista and designed a DARE Program Visual Aid Portfolio for LaVista and many other Nebraska communities.  She is also an elected Deacon at Dundee Presbyterian Church.

Sandie is a charter lifetime member and was elected to the Omaha South High Alumni Association Board of Directors in 1995.  She was the Entertainment Committee Chairperson for many years and has actively participated on many other committees including the annual Spaghetti Dinner. Sandie was elected Vice President of the Association in 2005.

Sandie Knudsen’s goals for the Alumni Association include expanding the scholarship program and providing more opportunities for recent graduates to participate in Alumni activities.

We are proud to have Sandie as our new President and pledge our support to make the future of our Association bright and successful!

JOHN KRAYNESKI-1961 – THANK YOU FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB
By Paul Kracher

You know that John has done an excellent job as President of your Alumni Association for the past 10 years, but do you know the person behind the office?  You have read his column, you have seen his picture, maybe you have heard him talk, but we’d like to share more information with you about John.

He was a charter member of the Alumni Association Board (formed in 1991) and has been the face and voice of our Association at meetings and gatherings during his tenure.  Paired with Dr. Richard Gulizia, our Executive Director, John was a formidable team member as he guided the Board to complete numerous projects and set new goals.  He has been generous with his time and resources to make things happen and has been involved in all aspects of our growth and success.  

John Krayneski ended his tenure as President of the SHAA in January, but will continue his involvement as a member of the Board of Directors.

John graduated in 1961 and married Bev Moravec-1962 in 1973.  They have two daughters, Jennifer and Alicia, and two grandsons, Andrew 10 and Conner 3.

Even with his outstanding success as President of the Board, and as President of AAA Building Components, owner of Quality Door and Trim in Ralston and owner of the Overhead Door franchise in Papillion, family is the most important thing in John’s life. He has 17 family members working with him in his businesses.  

John was one of 10 children born to John and Betty Krayneski. He attended Ashland Park and Saint Stanislaus grade schools.  While attending SHS, John worked for O’Neill and Union Packing House.  After graduation, he attended business classes at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Creighton University until 1970 when he became a partner with his Uncle Bob at AAA Windows.  

John has been a member of MOBA (Metropolitan Omaha Builders Association) since 1971 and is a Gold Team member of MOBA TAC, Life member of MOBA TAC, Chairman of Associate Council of MOBA and the TAC committee, Member of the State and National MOBA, Member of the Better Business Bureau, Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and also serves as a member of the SHS Packer Sports Greats Committee.  He was inducted into the SHS Hall of Fame in 1996 because of his business success, and his contributions to the community and to SHS.  

For relaxation John enjoys going to Canada (which has fish and release programs) to land the “big ones,” so he brings pictures of his catches back from his trips.  There have been some pretty good card games in Canada according to the stories told.   For instance, once when the lake was still frozen over, the lodge offered to cancel their fishing trip reservations.  John asked them if they had a deck of cards.  The lodge said they did, so they went and caught some real nice trophy fish and had a great time.  Golf is one of John's other hobbies and he also gets together once a month with his Army reserve unit buddies to play poker.  He enjoys a monthly card game with a card club group with his wife.  John is an avid Husker fan and is looking forward to next season.

In the past, when Ak-Sar-Ben was alive and well, John and a group of friends had a few horses running out at the track. Some Saturdays you might catch him at Horseman's Park taking in a few races.

It has been a pleasure to be associated with John over the past 20 some years and I am glad that Bev volunteered him to join our 30-year class reunion committee which led to his SHS Board involvement.

"A finer fellow you will never meet."  Thank you John for your outstanding contributions to the success of the SHSAA!

CONGRATULATIONS 2008 SPORTS GREATS!

A marvelous banquet was held at Anthony’ Restaurant on October 29, 2008 to honor the following individuals, teams, and contributors.  (See the last item in AlumNotes for one attendee’s view of the evening.)

Individuals

1934-Paul Lynch* – received four letters in baseball and one in football, winning All-City baseball honors three times.  His composite batting average was .365.  After the 1936 season, fans were calling him the “Babe Ruth of Omaha softball,” with his 17 home runs in a 35 game schedule.  He was Home Run King of the Greater Omaha Softball League 11 times.  An Omaha softball league was named in his honor, and he was inducted in the Nebraska Softball Association in 1987.  He died 10-13-78.

1944-Cappell Curtis* - received three letters in football and was All-City two years.  He was on the Drake University football team as a freshman, and later coached football at Wymore Public High School.    He was a member of the Omaha Fire Department from 1948 to 1982.  He was very active in the community and received numerous accolades for his unselfish work.  He died in 1982.

1955-Joe Toledo – lettered in football, basketball and baseball.  He received Intercity Honorable Mention in baseball as SHS’s ace pitcher, and signed with the Dodger’s farm team where he played for two years.  After that he played on various semi-pro teams in Omaha and the surrounding area.  He served with the Midwest Umpire’s Association from 1964 to 1970.  He also received OW-H Honorable Mention honors for the All-Star football team his senior year.  Joe coached various youth sports teams in baseball and football, and for several years was the Sports Director for the St. Bernadette’s Parish Athletic Club.  He was active in the Knights of Columbus Lodge 3019 and worked many years for Kellogg’s Company as a tradesman until he retired.  Joe was involved in the music scholarship golf tournament with Joe Cabral, raising $40,000 over 15 years for scholarships in the music field.  He was honored by the Nebraska & Western Iowa Old Timers’ Baseball Association last year.

1957-Michael R. Ramirez – participated in both football and track, lettering three times in football, and once in track.  He was All-State and All-Intercity in football.  After graduation, Mike became the Physical Education Director for the Omaha Boys’ Club, and then director of Job Development concentrating on the Club’s employment program.  He was also a counselor for the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a special agent for the FBI, and attended college one year at UNO while lettering in football and being named Star of the Week.   While attending three years of college and playing football at Peru State College, he was named All-Nebraska College Conference, and to the All-Conference Offensive Team in 1961.  Mike played semi-pro football with the Omaha Mustangs in 1964 and 1965. 

1958-Mel L. Masek – lettered two years in football, and three years in wrestling.  He was named All-City and All-State in football in 1957, while a member of the 1957 State Championship team.  He was selected All-City and for the KMTV’s All-Regional Wrestling Team while a member of the State Championship teams in 1956, 1957 and 1958.  After serving in the Marine Corps, Mel earned four letters in wrestling at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  He also played football all four years at UNO.  The 1962 team was C.I.C. Conference and all Sports Bowl Champions, and Mel was selected Second Team All-Conference that year.  After receiving his degree he coached wrestling at Benson High School, and then Millard High School posting amazing records, and was named District Coach of the Year six times.  He was inducted into the UNO Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001.  He was president of the Metro Coaches Association twice; serving on the National and State Rules Committee which developed the seeding card system, and was subsequently inducted into the Association’s Hall of Fame.  He retired from coaching in 2004.

Team Honors

1947 Basketball Team – Team Members were:  Charles J. “Shy” Deras, John Wiren, Rich Yost*, Paul Stella*, Charles Martinez, Ed Benak, Bill (Willie) Gray*, Bob Komasinski, Bob Rodgers, Don Hunter*, Ray Yost, Bernie Akromis*, Ray Dennell*, Carroll Jones*, and Dave Bell*.  They had a 14-4 record that year.

1959 Basketball Team – City and District Champions and runner up for State with a 18-3 record.    Team members were:  Bill Vincent*, Jerry Kamphius, Wendell Wiksell, Jim Collin, Don Scarborough, Chuck Bruno, Ron Kellogg, Maurice Wade, Garry Marley*, Bill Hogarth, George Dasovich, Charles Richards; Coach Cornie Collin, Assistant Coach Bob Murray, and Student Manager Robert Urquhart.

Contributors Honors

1977-Tim Holland, a principal at Holland Basham Architects, has been a key member of the SHS team dedicated to improving sports facilities in South Omaha, and has provided architectural services for these projects.

Ponfino General Contractors constructed both Brown Park and the Roy Smith Softball Field, including special work (often donating materials and time) to produce first-class projects.

* - Denotes deceased Sports Greats alumni

Fred Colanino-1962 joined the SHS Alumni Board in January.  He has been a Marketing and Special Events Consultant for International Gameco, Inc. since 1996.  Fred attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha after graduation and joined the Omaha World-Herald.  When he later joined Bozell & Jacobs Advertising, he had the opportunity to lead the start up efforts for River City Roundup activities, and he raised that to a very popular and highly successful celebration.  In 1993, when his wife, Carma Jean Carlentini, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Fred created and coordinated the Special Events Celebrations, dedicated to fight breast cancer.  These celebrations have grown from 50 attendees the first year in 1995 to more than 1,000 currently.  These events have included LPGA Golf Professional Val Skinner participating in a Pro/Am event; a golf tournament hosted by Alan Rosenberg and Marg Helgenberger (of CSI fame), attended by 25 of their Hollywood friends; guest speakers Susan Ford Bales (late President  and Mrs. Ford’s daughter), and Marcia Wallace (from the Bob Newhart Show) at the fund-raising luncheon.  He also has provided public relations assistance to the UN-L Athletic Development Office, David M. Mangelsen’s Store, and Lincoln Benefit Life Insurance Co.   In addition to these accomplishments, he is an excellent cook!  Fred and Carma Jean have a married son, Scott, and a grandchild.   He was inducted into the South High Hall of Fame in 2007 and served on the Hall of Fame Committee in 2008.  Congratulations and welcome to the Board, Fred!

1968-Helene Elsasser also joined the Alumni Board in January.  She has been teaching physical education for 36 years.  She is a part-time teacher at St. Matthews in Bellevue, and the coordinator of her own program “Team Players Make a Difference” with college athletes serving as mentors and as coaches in her gym classes.  She is a substitute teacher for District 66/Brownell Talbot, and is the Gymnastics Director at German-American Society.  She is a career bartender for catering events and a sales marketing representative.  She remains active in her community and the South High Alumni office.  Thanks for all you do, Helene, and welcome!

BOARD REPORT

Congratulations to the inductees in the Fall 2008 Hall of Fame and the Packer Sports Greats Hall of Fame.  Both events were well attended and very inspiring and fun.  Nominate your heroes for these honors in the future.

We hope you will participate in our Bowling Tournament and attend the Spaghetti Dinner on March 28.  We invite you to drive your motorcycle or automobile in the 2009 Poker Run on May 16 and to come shop our Second Annual Garage Sale in the office parking lot on May 30.  Also, sign up for our Golf Tournament on July 19.  Send in your reservations for our first ever major fundraising dinner “Tie One On” on September 25.  This fundraiser is so named because we have been collecting signed ties and other items from celebrities such as movie stars, musicians, politicians, sports stars, and our own Warren Buffett to auction at the dinner.  Details of these fun events are on flyers and reservation forms which are in this TOOTER.  The Packer Greats Sports Hall of Fame dinner will be held October 28, and the Hall of Fame brunch will also be held in October.  More information about these events will be in your Fall TOOTER.

If you have time to volunteer for any of these events, or want to buy tickets or sign up to participate, please let us know.  We need workers for each event and we need you to attend and have fun.  If you have garage sale items (especially any antique items) please bring them to the Alumni office so we can tag and arrange the tables.  We will have an expert appraise your antique donations and provide a receipt for all goods donated – antiques, furniture, household and seasonal items, etc.  We will not sell any clothing items, but will accept anything else you care to donate.  Do your spring cleaning early and bring your “treasures” to the office so we can raise money for scholarships. 

You’ll also see a flyer to “Save the Date” for the new Packer Stadium Grand Opening on Sunday, August 23.  The first football game will be played on August 28. 

Several of you have rented our additional office space for showers, family reunions, card parties, birthday parties, etc.  Call the office to book your party early.  Stop up to see the space when you are in the neighborhood, but call first to be sure the office is open.

Again, we need your help to mail future TOOTERS to our 20,000 plus alumni list, so please call the office to offer any time you can spare.  Please contact the office if you would like to establish scholarship memorials for your classmates, help us with teacher grants, or provide other financial assistance needed by your school.  Most of all send in your membership dues!  We are so grateful for your help, as are the students and teachers of SHS.

We’d like to publish news about you, so drop us a note with information we can share with your classmates and friends.  Send us items for our Sports Corner also.  Please continue to share your suggestions and encouragement with your Alumni Association.  We can’t do it without you.

Respectfully submitted,
Judi Limas Koubsky, Secretary

CONGRATULATIONS 2008 LOTTERY WINNERS

1946-Louis Halamek won the $2,000 Grand Prize, and 1975-Pamela (Kocol) Cohee won the second place prize of $1,000.  The four $500 prize winners were 1978-Don Pesek, 1949-Marcus Hernandez, 1988-Ryan Kelly and 1945-Robert Cohn.   (Thank you Robert for donating your winnings back to the Alumni Association!)

PETERSEN & MICHELSEN HARDWARE
108 YEARS SERVING SOUTH OMAHA

KPTM Fox 42 Television Studio has a feature story called “Heartland Proud” and they told the P&M Hardware story in August 2008.  They interviewed the owner, Dan Boland, who said his Grandfather Boland and Marie’s Uncle John Stanek originally owned and ran the store.  The next owner was Dan’s father, who passed it along to him.

Although women in hardware sales were extremely rare in those days, a young Marie (Nemecek) Vacek began working at P&M right after graduating from SHS in 1939--so 2009 marks her 70th year with P&M. 

Dan and Marie both said the store’s success is due to their personal service to their customers, knowing the right product for the project, giving them advice when needed, and treating everyone right.   

In 1988 a fire gutted the store, but the walls were still solid so they rebuilt on the spot and plan to operate the same way for another 108 years!

Congratulations to a very successful South Omaha landmark store and we wish you well.

MEET CARA RIGGS, PRINCIPAL OF SHS

We are pleased to introduce you to SHS’s new Principal, Cara (Churchich) Riggs, a 1980 graduate from Northwest High School.  She received her undergraduate degree in Secondary Instruction with a major in English and a minor in Sociology in 1984 from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and her Masters degree in Secondary School Administration in 1986 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Ms. Riggs taught English for seven years at Benson High School and then served as Assistant Principal/Athletic Director for another eight years at Benson.  She then served as Principal at Beveridge Magnet Middle School for nine years.  Her latest assignment has brought her to our own beloved SHS – and we say welcome!

She was born in Omaha to Madeline and the late Ely Churchich, and has a sister, Suzanne Mariucci, and a brother, Jeff Churchich.  Her daughter, Shelby, a future Packer, is a seventh grader at Beveridge Magnet School and is SHS’s greatest booster wearing SHS logos on her clothes.

Cara enjoys attending her daughter’s school activities, reading, antiquing, collecting classic novels and travel.   She enjoys regular trips to her family’s lake home in Bella Vista, Arkansas and yearly trips to New York City with her mother.

Cara Riggs states that “SHS is already beginning to feel like home” and she enjoys being part of the SHS “family.”  Welcome and best of luck in your new position!

DRAMA AND INSTRUMENTAL DEPARTMENT - Mark your calendars to attend an innovative experience at the SHS Theater on March 26, 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m.  The theater group at SHS is featuring RYTHMOLOGY, a SHS student production blending stomp, blue man, blast, and barrage which is based on typical sounds which students hear during a normal school day.  This is the first time a high school has produced such a show.  Cost is $5.  (We will also sell tickets at our Spaghetti Dinner on March 28 for this production.)  Check the Omaha Public School’s website at www.ops.org/high/south for more information or call Dave Weisser, Director of Theater Arts, at 557-3662 or write to him at david.weisser@ops.org

SPORTS – Soccer Coach Joe Maass was featured in the May 2008 Coach Feature sponsored by the Durham Western Heritage Museum.  Joe and his family have hosted a foreign exchange student the last two years, and are doing it again this year.  Each of the exchange students has been a soccer player.  He said they started with 11 players when he began coaching soccer 10 years ago, and now have 60 players and a reserve team.  His goal is to make state again, but this time to win state.  With the team’s 15-4 season, they took second in the metro tournament and plan to meet that goal as soon as possible.

MEET THE NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR/ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL-Dr. Roni Huerta who joined SHS in 2007 as the first female A.D. for the school.  Roni sets the schedule for the games, works with the coaches to be sure they have the resources they need to work with the students, and ensures that the rules of each sport are followed by the coaches and athletes.  She attends all athletic events possible, and meets with parents and athletes on a regular basis.  She also counsels and disciplines students during the school day.  Roni is a former softball coach at SHS (1994-2000), and also taught PE, was a department chair and curriculum specialist from 1992-2005.  She spent two years as an Omaha Public Schools District Curriculum Supervisor before returning to SHS in the fall of 2007.

JUSTINA MILLER, a senior at SHS, was selected to participate in a national oratory event in Seattle, WA.  The topic was “Crossroads – Pulling Together Our Indigenous Knowledge.”  She was chosen based on her grade point average, school activities and involvement in the school’s Native American club and speaking ability.  Justina received a scholarship as part of the event.  Congratulations!  (Excerpt from OW-H article dated 11-15-08.)

POETRY CONTEST – Dr. Mary Elizabeth Lomax, the Librarian at SHS, was quoted in The Neithardt Foundation Newsletter regarding a SHS student who won second place in last year’s Neithardt poetry contest.  Naomi Shihab Nye, a noted poet, was speaking to SHS creative writing students and asked to meet the winner of the contest.  She asked the young girl to read her poem to the group and said she was especially impressed that she had incorporated her Lakota language seamlessly into the poem.  Dr. Lomax said the poem had a strong impact on the group, “and the silence was there for a moment, and then applause began.  A touching moment!”