The 70's saw the first signs of things to come with the public introduction of computer games. And what games come to mind?  Chances are good that the first brush with the Age of Technology was a widely distributed table top (literally) game called Pong!.

How many JHS Alumni could imagine what this would someday come to represent?  How easy is it to look back and  you can look back and see you were merely a technologic curiosity  that Jay's bar and Shula's would be your first introduction to high tech? Pong was the mainstay in such upright businesses based in neighboring Michigan.  

Remember that annoying little sound you had to talk over all night? A pong plink! that became a part of your conversation and the sound the owners must have loved since it meant that someone was feeding quarters in to play.  You'd look over and see the two individuals who were obviously 18 years of age, if not older like ourselves, (ok, laying it on a bit thick in case the kids are reading this by accident). I remember looking on wondering what they were doing  as they peered intently into the tabletop.

No respect was given to one of the first hints of things to come, because beer mug rings were always present and made you squint trying to see through all those suds.

Kind of makes you nostalgic for the simple days before your cell phone held ten times the technology than what was in Pong! and you had to cart it around on a dolly rather than sliding a cell phone or a game boy into your pocket? Well guess what, it's back. You can pong undisturbed until your hearts content. No one will get annoyed with the sound and you can test your skills now that you're not sorely tested by the beverages consumed and the loud voices of all your pals.

How about it?  You ready for a game of Pong! Don't tell your kids, they might just laugh you out of the room for being a techno fuddy-duddy. But late at night, close the door and relive the golden days of technology.

Series #2

Series # 1

Next issue will contain the third and final video challenge from the "high tech" '70's....tune in.

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Coming Your Way...

I got hold of the JHS website thanks to Sarah Bowers, in which family I lived while I was an exchange student at JHS in 1970-1971. Had a great and interesting time.  

I was exchange student at JHS in 1970-71 and lived with the Bowers family. Sarah informed me about this website. While scrolling through it, lots of nice memories came back. I learned about the reunion from Sarah and would have loved to participate, but things just won't work out. 

I'm still living in Antwerp, Belgium. I'm married to Leen for 23 years now and we have 2 sons, ages 21 and 19, and a girl age 16.
For almost 24 years I've been working for IBM in 'Customer Engineering', now called ITS (Integrated Technology Services). I lead the technical (as well HW as SW) support department for Belgium and Luxembourg.
The year I spent in South Bend has had, and still has, an important impact in my life. 

Almost daily I look back and remember the wonderful things I have experienced. I met great people, had lots of fun, learned a lot, enjoyed school (because it was different than in Belgium) and sports. The time I was on the track team was extraordinary.

 Thanks to all of you with whom I spent wonderful moments. Have a great reunion and maybe we'll meet again some time. Feel free to contact me via my e-mail.

My e-mail: joris_reymer@be.ibm.com

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He's outta there!!

History, sociology and heading up the history dept were just a few of the titles held during 36 years as a teacher. To JHS alumni he was better known as Coach of the Tiger Fish. Now Dave Dunlap calls it quits according to the Riley web site. You can read the article on the Riley web site as they curiously add up the years Mr. Dunlap spent at Riley. OR

Visit the faculty page for updates on former faculty members.