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Celinda (Cindi) Ward (Hanna)
Lloyd: The only thing I remember about the explosion is that I wasn't in school that day and that event got me busted for ditching. I usually skipped once in awhile with some "underclassmen" (girls) and sometimes with an unnamed female classmate (she can tell her own tales so I won't implicate her here). We would drive out of town to Amarillo or Plainview so that we wouldn't be seen around Tulia when we were supposed to be in class. At the time I had a sister-in-law who just happened to have the same first (and of course last) names as my mother. She would call, identify herself (but never say she was my mom) and inform the school (usually Judene Montandon I believe) that I wouldn't be back from lunch. I seem to recall that we were in school until close to 4pm so I would make sure I was home at the appointed time to call my mom at work and report in. On the day you're talking about she asked me if the "explosion" scared me. Of course my first reaction and comment was "what explosion?". That pretty much did me in because there was no way I could have NOT heard it had I been in school. I got caught ditching at least twice that I remember but I don't think my mom ever told my dad and I never received any harsh punishment. My senior year I ditched a LOT but not as much as one of my partners in crime who was a junior! Also, my brother, Jack, would write my excuses and sign my dad's name under a threat of blackmail (ha ha). Little sisters can be wicked at times.
Jo: I never heard of the club you mentioned but am sure I would have fallen for the same BS. I do remember as a freshman that there were some senior girls who adopted some of us as "little sisters". My big sister was Johnny Keim's sister, Jackie. I still have a charm with her name on it that she gave me that year. The big sisters were supposed to help orient us to life in high school which was pretty scary and intimidating to the new "fish".
Debbie C: Your dad never paddled me but he did stand me in the corner more than once. I also remember that I was one of two girls in class that he referred to by a last name, just like the boys. All the other girls he called on by first name, but not me. I was "Ward" and even once he called me "little Ward". I know he taught at least one of my brothers and maybe even all 3 so that could explain it. I do remember calling on him as an adult when my teenage son wrecked a car while we were visiting Tulia from CA. Brian (son) told my nephew and friends that he could drive and the car ended up in a bar ditch. Brian got three citations as I recall. Your dad was Justice of the Peace or was in some official capacity as a judge and I called him about paying the fines after we returned to CA. He was really nice and dropped 2 of the charges and I paid one fine. I figured when I told him who I was he'd throw the book at me (ha).
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