A Pirate’s View   --  January 2010

Hello fellow Pirates. Jim Lane here, and I’ve returned as president of our Central High School Alumni association—and it’s good to be back.

Effective Sept. 14, I reassumed my duties, the same day other Pirates assumed new duties as your CHSAA officers. My heartfelt thanks to former CHSAA President Veryl Hooks Chamberlain, ‘52, who stepped up to become president again when I stepped down Dec. 1, 2008.

Veryl served eight years as your CHSAA president before I took office Sept. 11, 2006. Thank you Veryl for all that you’ve done, and all that you do.

Health challenges forced me to resign as president in December 2008, and it wasn’t an easy decision. At the time, I felt I no longer could give my fellow Pirates and our alumni association 110 percent of my fullest efforts and best abilities.

I’m doing better now, thank you, and my wife, Phyllis Castle Lane, ‘58, and I look forward to giving 150 percent—and more.

Many exciting activities await Central’s Pirates in the new year. I’m also excited to help my class (1956) start planning our 55th class reunion, set for June, 2011—details to come!

First up, is the 18th Annual Florida Reunion, scheduled for Feb. 8 in Port Charlotte. On a sad note, reunion organizer Carol Pettit Johnson, ’52, recently lost her husband, Dean Johnson. Grace Fisher Stephenson, ‘47, is now overseeing this year’s reunion. Our thanks to Grace, and our sincere condolences to Carol and her family.

On May 8, we’ll proudly present our first-ever Pirate Picnic, set to take place at Whetstone Park in Clintonville.

On July 10, the 28th Annual Golf Outing will get underway again at the Foxfire Country Club, near Commercial Point. Invite your children, grandchildren, friends and fellow Pirates. If you have a door prize you’d like to donate, please call Tom Jones, ‘49, 614-833-2689.

On Oct. 16th we’ll gather for the 27th Annual Bean Dinner, booked again this year at the Mentel Memorial Golf Course Clubhouse at Bolton Field. Plenty of tasty beans and other good food will be served, in addition to a hearty serving of good entertainment and great fun.

If you’d like one of your CHSAA officers to set up a Pirate merchandise table at your reunion or special activity this year—or if you’d like one of us to be a guest speaker—please just let us know. We’ll gladly be there proudly wearing our Pirate colors and lending a helping hand.

Shout it out loud and clear—please tell everyone you know who attended dear ole Central High about our alumni association, anyone from any class. We’d especially like to attract Pirates from the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Please show them your Outlook. Also, share with them some of the good memories you’ve made with your fellow Pirates at our alumni events. Let’s get as many Pirates as possible on board with us!

If you’d like to become a COSI volunteer, please call Barbara Ludden or Roberta Raines Driscoll, ‘55, CHSAA membership secretary.

On behalf of all your CHSAA officers, have a healthy, happy 2010. ‘See you soon!
Jim Lane, ‘56
CHSAA President