Jody Wyant

Rest in Peace Michael.  I know you are misssed by all who loved,and knew you.

Guy Gertsch

Mike and I were not close friends.  We just ran with different crowds, not better or worse, just different.  We were close enough however, that I remember him with great fondness.  We did, after all, play football in the same backfield for two years.  He was the team fullback and I was one of the two halfbacks.  I do recall that we both had a fondness for winning games, and evinced enough blood and guts spirit that we were elected co-captains of the team our senior year.  

We won some and lost a few, but win or lose. every team has to own up to its record at the yearly class assembly. Now it seems that Mike and I shared a certain reluctance in the public speaking arena, and as team captains one of us had to say something at the assembly.  Now for two guys that lived with the credo of "sons of God and Thunder, rip that line asunder," mentality we were both given to meekness in the mold of Oskee-Ow-Ow. (sp) and  the more spirited of ceremony.  The truth of the matter is that neither of us cared much for public ministrations, Mike because he was shy and me because I stuttered so damn bad I couldn't say my own name.

We decided that one of us would give a speech and the other would read off the names of the lettermen. I decided that one was as bad as the other, and so suggested that we recruit Dick Mooney and Bob Hawkins to pinch-hit for us.  Mike reminded me that Dick and Bob were busy with plans for sabotaging the Bannock Hotel's toilets for the all-night party and couldn't abide the overload. 

Just as we were arriving at a crucial impasse, Asst. Coach Ken Fackrell overheard the debate.  Having had both of us in his English class he volunteered to save the audience the embarassment of having the two stammering gladiators parry about introducing their teammates and accomplishments so volunteered to do the whole thing for us.

Thanks '61 for allowing me this moment of remembering.