In good health still even though I will be 84 in December. Still travel and take trips to Vegas when I can. My Brother William Conner lives out near Barstow. He graduated the same time I did. I also love to garden and you can find me out in the yard most days. Stop by and say Hi.

I served in the U.S.Navy from Dec. 1941 til Oct. 1945; and then worked in the motion picture and television industry as a lighting gaffer until I retired at the age of 65. I have been an avid boater and fisherman all my life; and now my wife and I divide our time between our Palm Springs home and our condo in Marina del Rey.

I went to Caltech and spent the last two years there in the Navy V-12 program, after graduating and getting commissioned I went to Guam and joined a Seabee battalion. Harry Truman's bomb saved me from the Japanese invasion, which were designated for.

After getting a Master's degree at Caltech in 1948 I married Anne Armstrong, Beverly Hills 1942 and Stanford 1946. I spent my professional life in construction engineering on large projects, 25 with Bechtel, including fifteen years living in New Zealand, England and Saudi Arabia.

We have three children and nine grandchildren. Unfortunately Anne died of Lymphoma last May a month before our 53rd anniversary.

I always felt that I got an excellent start on my education at Samohi. My main hobbies, which I still enjoy are golf, duck hunting and fly fishing.

Deceased
Benjamin F. (Ben) McKinney (Class of 1941) Frisco, TX and Gig Harbor, WA passed away on Friday, May 19, 2000

Born August 6, 1923 in Warren, PA, Mr. McKinney grew up in Santa Monica, CA; and married in 1947 to wife Shirley June (Marsden) McKinney. He also lived in Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Dallas, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Tucson, AZ; and Westcliffe, CO.

Mr. McKinney was a prominent businessman, entrepreneur and patron of charitable causes for many years.

His business career in the metals industry spanned over 40 years. During this time, he was primarily associated with the Glass, Paint, and Battery Industries. In 1973 after 23 years with a well known Non-Ferrous Metals Refinery he formed his own company, Oxide and Chemical Corporation in Indiana. As Chairman and CEO until his retirement and sale of this company in 1990, he was credited with several patents along with serving as a Director of the LIA and a committee member for over 25 years In the Battery Council International.

The many charities that Mr. McKinney was associated with were always a private matter with him but he never turned away a request. Pride in what he accomplished was only surpassed by his love of his family, God and his service to his country.

He served with distinction in the U.S. Navy in WWII on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Guadalcanal, which was accredited with capturing a German submarine intact during World War II.

As an avid hunter, sport fisherman, and golfer, he participated in various clubs. He was a long time member at Highland Golf and Country Club, Country Club of Indianapolis, and a Charter Member of the Skyline Club.

When it came to his family, he was a loving and giving father and will he missed by them all. He is survived by his wife, Shirley June (Marsden) McKinney of Frisco, TX; Sisters, Marianne McKinney Pardee (Class of '43) (married to Doug Pardee - Class of '40) of Rancho Santa Fe, CA; and Betty Rosenquist of Williamsville, NY; Sons Jefty McKinney of Indianapolis, IN; and Damian McKinney of Long Beach, CA; along with his daughters Linda B. King of Indianapolis IN, Jacque Kirsh of Indianapolis IN, Michele Gentis (married to Ian Gentis - Class of ‘73) of Germantown TN, Shannon Phillips of Westcliffe CO, and Toni Henke of Frisco TX. Also 18 Grandchildren and 3 Great grandchildren.

I am married. We have three children. One lives in Nevada, one in Texas and one in Puerto Rico. My husband is retired and plays golf. I also play with the ladies at our club. My older brother, now deceased, my sister, Margery is going to be 87 on January 1st, my younger brother who lives in Fallbrook, CA., and myself, all went to Samohi. I will be 80 in 2003.

My husband Cal & I celebrated our 60th in February. He went to be with the Lord in Nov. I have 2 lovely daughters, 5 grandsons, 1 granddaughter & 2 grand kids. Lots of wonderful memories. Glad I was a grad of this wonderful school.

Biggest undertaking, for me, recently was directing the hilarious 1938 play, "The Man Who Came to Dinner". I had not been this connected to theater since my Samohi days when I had a small role in a terrible senior play. I can't even remember the name of the play, but it was directed by Olive Morris, and had a lot of 'flag waving'. My first discovery when I 'volunteered' to direct "The Man Who Came to Dinner" was that it had 36 roles!! I quickly trimmed that to 17 parts. Eliminated the 10 choir boys, plus others. I live in a retirement community of 300+ residents and cast all the roles from this base. A 75 year old played the ingenue, etc. We rehearsed for 6 weeks and gave two performances for our residents in our on campus theater. I now am basking in the compliments. But once was enough...

I have 5 grandchildren now, two in college, two in high school and a new born just learning to walk.