Boom Town Taft, California By Eddie Coffee (The article by Eddie Coffee about his memories will not be shown this week.) Reader's Responses From Milt Stark, Class of 1950, from Anaheim Hills, California Hi Pete, I have just read your fine article about Gordon Graham (Lt. Gen, Retired) from the July 8 Driller. I was saddened to learn of his passing. I corresponded with General Graham for several years while he was still willing and able to write. Exchanging letters with him was an enlightening experience. At one point when he visited Taft, we set up a time to meet and talk. He also invited my friends Charles Kooken, Dennis Poteete, and Gene Tessandori. All of us had been in the Air Force; so we had that in common as well as being Taft High grads. We met at George Kennedy's home in Ford City and exchanged war stories for several hours. We thought his most interesting story was the one recounting the heroism and death of fellow Taftian, Oran Stalcup (brother of Edsel '48). Graham and Stalcup were fighter pilots stationed in England during WWII. Graham was Stalcup's squadron flight commander. They had been on a mission over France/Germany and were returning over the English Channel to their home base. However, Stalcup was having some problems with his P-51 engine, and he was losing altitude rapidly, but he thought he could make it to land and wanted to save his plane. The two were in radio contact as Graham accompanied Stalcup across the channel, and Graham advised Stalcup to bail out and get into his life raft because he didn't think he could make it to their base. He did jump and parachuted to the water, but he didn't make it into his life raft as the water was very rough and paralyzing cold. Tears were in his eyes as Graham recalled the incident and the loss of one of his pilots - especially this special kid from his hometown of Taft, California. Taft can be proud of its military heroes, and General Gordon Graham and Lt. Oran Stalcup and their exploits should never be forgotten. God Bless ! Milt Stark '50. (NOTE: Oran Stalcup was classmate of mine in the class of 1942. I was aware that he was killed during WWII but didn't know how until my interview of Lt. Gen. Gordon Graham (Retired) during one of his yearly visits to Taft to visit with his friends. Stalcup's went down when his fighter stalled over the English Channel as his squadron was returning to their base in England. Graham had written about that incident in his book, "Down for Double." To read about Stalcup not being able to get into the rubber raft out of the freezing English Channel is very demoralizing event that I can't read without sadness for my classmate.) From Nancy (Walter) Doss, Class of 1968, Idaho Falls, Idaho Dear Pete, Just letting you know that my brother, James Walter passed away July 3. We had a nice service for him at the Taft Westside District Cemetery. Jim was from the TUHS Class of '61. My cousin, Vic Healy, a former TUHS instructor is posting the information about Jim on the Class of '61 website. My cousins, Fredda Walter Carpenter and Art Walter, both TUHS Alums are buying a memorial brick in Jim's name. Hope everything is going well for you, Pete. Nancy Walter Doss, Class of '68

Where is Dimple Robbins? Dimple Robbins was a member of the class of 1942. Her whereabouts are unknown. She never attended any of our reunions, as I recall; so we lost track of her. The Robbins family lived at 413 Kern Street. Her father worked for years for Taft Union High School as a custodian. I thought of Dimple Robbins just recently when I read that Jo Stafford had died on July 16, 2008. Jo Stafford was born in 1917 in Coalinga where her father worked in the oil fields. Those of us who knew Dimple Robbins the Robbins family knew that they were related to Jo Stafford. There were those who met Jo Stafford at the Robbins' house when she came through Taft on her way to Coalinga. Those that I know who had met Jo Stafford at the Robbins' house are John (JP) Patterson and Glenn Black. Dimple was one of the people who taught Stan Barrett from the class of 1943 how to dance. Another Taftian who knew Jo Stafford was Lawrence Ritter who worked in the print shop at Taft Union High School and issued book lockers to students. During his off hours Lawrence played the drums in local bands for years. I recall his talking about Jo Stafford singing with his band on Saturday nights when she was just getting started in her singing career. Among the songs that she made popular were Candy, Hey Good Looking, Star Dust, , and and Far Away. After our class graduated, we lost track of Dimple, although some say that she started going with a serviceman from Gardner Field, the Army Airforce Base at Taft and was seen in Arizona when the Taft Junior College's pilot training program was moved as a precautionary measure from the West Coast and set up at Quartz Site in Arizona. Does anybody out there now where Dimple Robbins is located? (NOTE: Th above article was sent out to members of the Class of 1942 to find out anyone from that class knew anything about Robbins.) From George Gianopulos, Class of 1945, from Fresno, California Pete: Was that her name, "Dimple"? I remember her. She was a pretty girl, dark hair, pleasant face, and nice to us kids. She was older than me, but I didn't remember her being in your Class of '42. I also remember sitting on that front porch at the corner of 5th and Kern talking to Mrs. Robbins, her mother, a nice lady and asking her about Jo Stafford. I just looked her (Dimple) up in the 1942 Derrick, and there she is, pretty as ever. George From Angela Noakes, Class of 1942, from Navato, California Hi, Pete: Wish I could help, Pete, but I didn't keep up with Dimple--I also had heard that she was going with an airman from Gardner Field, but that was the last news. I was sad to read of Jo Stafford's death; I didn't know until the Chronicle obituary that she had come from our stamping ground, so to speak. I loved her voice; she was my favorite of all during those great years. I think "Blueberry Hill" was one of her major hits, too. Her voice was unique--instantly recognizable--and of course I don't remember which orchestra she was singing with for the subsequent recording. We used to dance to that stuff all through college, too. I hope someone still knows Dimple's whereabouts. Angie (NOTE: Jo Stafford was married to band leader , and they lived in the Solvang area. One night at Solvang Mission for a program, I was there when they were honoring Jo Stafford and Paul Weston. She was a distant cousin of Sergeant of WWI fame, and she was known to have perfect pitch -- being able to identify any musical sound.) From Linda (Talbert) Brownfield, Class of 1957, from Maui Thank you for the pictures (of the school bus hit by meteor debris used in a scene from the movie being filmed in Taft.). I am in Maui with my daughter and three small granddaughters. We went to the Maui Ocean Center yesterday and saw all of the beautiful fish, shark, rays and giant sea turtles. Magnificent species under the water!! Love, Linda From Trice Harvey, Class of 1955, from Bakersfield Big Brain: Interesting stuff about Ed running against Andy Noon and Vance Webb. I heard of it when I first ran in 1976. Never had a chance to hear it direct from him (Coffee). He was a man I always enjoyed talking with!! I was in the Elks Club with him when I was 21 years old. That would have been in 1957. Jeanie was so nice to Jacque and me, as was the gentleman, Eddie. See ALL the memories you bring up for me and so many others like me? Little Brain (NOTE: Trice Harvey was county supervisor and state assemblyman for many years from this district. He was also a student in one of my classes in high school.) From Linda Cruzan from the California central coast area Pete, I enjoy your Taft Newsletter. We, Roy and I, recently joined the Mellos, John & Doris, to celebrate their 70th Anniversary hosted by their children: Judy, Barbara, and John. (NOTE: The Melos live in Los Osos, California.) Thanks for all the Taft info.. Linda Cruzan From Phyllis (Johnson) Solberg, Class of 1963, from Redding, California Pete, Do you have a picture of Eddie Coffee ? Would be interested to see it. Phyllis (NOTE: I don't have any pictures of Eddie Coffee.) From Gary Scott, Class of 1954, from Bakersfield, California Trice (Harvey), How is it going? A friend just sent me a link to this website, and you are all over it, is this really you? www.News3Online.com cheers, Gary