Do you recall? In 1966, our Graduation ceremony was June 8 and our Baccalaurate was June 5

Ads from April 29, 1966, issue of Lakes Ledger, student newspaper of Lakes High School.

--Lakewood Ice Arena was on the shores of Lake Steilacoom. It opened in 1923 as the Oakes Pavillion where dancing and other events took place. By 1934, it was a nightclub, the Towers. In 1938 it was converted into the ice area. In 1974, the arena was closed as a fire hazard. In 1982, the arena’s roof and a wall collapsed. Soon thereafter the building was demolished. At the location now are lakefront condos.

--Cow Palace Drive-In at 8504 Hipkins Road, S.W. in Lakewood. Phone Juniper 4-2224. Offering “Orders to Go.” At the address today is a Jack in the Box drive-in restaurant and, across the street, is a Walgreens.

Charles W. Croasdill, U.S. Army

In May 2015, Helen Croasdill Monfort posted this photo of her father, Charles W. Croasdill, on Facebook. She said it was taken while he served in the U.S. Army. He was drafted after earning a degree in education from the University of Washington and teaching in eastern Washington in Wallula, Wash., near the Washington-Oregon border, the "Army sent him to the Aleutian Islands and he was trained as a radio operator," she said. "There was a very small base and because of the brutal weather, not much to do.  The Army supplied the men with cigarettes and playing cards.  He smoked until the day he passed away of a stroke at age 80.  As many of you know, he was a much-loved man and educator.  He was a great father."

Charles Watson Croasdill III

Story updated and new photos added 9/2/2015

Charles Watson Croasdill III, 80, died May 12, 1997, in Tacoma, Wash.

Born in Seattle on Jan. 1, 1917, he graduated in June 1935 from Seattle's Roosevelt High School. He competed in track & field and cross-country. His student activities included being an editor of the "Roosevelt News" student newspaper.

He studied at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Very athletic and extremely competitive, while a UW student, he completed and lettered in cross-country and was a miler and half-miler for the track & field UW Huskies. He was a UW team captain. And, he played varsity tennis, too.

The 1938 UW “Tyee” yearbook, covering the 1937-1938 academic year when he was a junior, said his 3.9 grade point helped improve his Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house's member grade average.

One “Tyee” item called him "Chuck," the name he preferred. His students called him "Mr. Croasdill" or "Mr. C."

After graduating in June 1940 with a bachelor of arts degree in education from the UW College of Arts and Sciences, he taught at Columbia Union High School in Wallula (Walla Walla Co.), Wash., before joining the military during World War II.

Charles and Walter, his younger brother, a 1939 Roosevelt High grad, served in the U.S. Army.

A story in the July 4, 1944, Seattle Times says, “Pvt. Charles W. Croasdill, Jr., has returned to duty in Juneau after a furlough. He is with the Alaska Communication System, and has spent the last 15 months in the Aleutians. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and was teaching at Columbia before enlistment. Pfc. J. Walter Croasdill is stationed at Pecos Army Air Field, Texs., where he is a Link trainer instructor. He attended the University of Washington before entering the Army. Both boys, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Croasdill …. Seattle are graduates of Roosevelt High School and members of Phi Kappa Sigma.”

A Seattle Times Nov 12, 1945, story lists Charles as among 90 Seattle soldiers honorably discharged from the military at the Separation Center at U.S. Army Fort Lewis, Wash.

Following military service, Charles moved to Aberdeen (Grays Harbor Co.), Wash., where, over nine years, he worked first for Grays Harbor (junior) College and later for Aberdeen (Weatherwax) High School.

At the college, his duties included serving as an adviser of the "Timber Line" student newspaper. At the high school, he taught English and journalism and was adviser of the “Ocean Breeze” student newspaper.

From Aberdeen, he moved to Lakewood (suburban Tacoma, Pierce Co.) and was a high school teacher and adviser for 23 years in the Clover Park School District.

Initially, he taught English and journalism at Clover Park High School and advised the "Clover Leaves" student newspaper.

During three consecutive summers in the early 1960s, the Croasdill family lived in Provo, Utah, while Charles attended and taught journalism classes at Brigham Young University. He was among a select number of high school journalism teachers from across the nation awarded fellowships from The Newspaper Fund, Inc., made possible by grants from the Wall Street Journal.  The fellowships were designed to "encourage more talented young people to choose journalism as a career by assisting high school newspaper advisers and journalism teachers, according to an Associated Press story in May 1960.

In 1962 the Clover Park District's new Lakes High School opened. Starting in the 1963-1964 academic year, Charles continued at Clover Park, but added teaching journalism at Lakes and advising the "Lakes Ledger" student newspaper to his duties.

Following his 1978 retirement from the Clover Park District, he taught English for seven years (1979-1986) at Fort Steilacoom Community College which today is called Pierce College.

After his second retirement in 1986, he and his wife, Ruth, enjoyed traveling.

He was an avid sports fan, loved to play golf, including with fellow teachers, and solving crossword puzzles.

At his passing, survivors included Ruth, his wife of 51 years; daughters Helen Montfort (Ed), Carolyn Hill (Rick) and son Charles Watson Croasdill (Kristine); sister Kit Hall; brother Walter Croasdill; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held May 16, 1997, at Little Church on the Prairie in Lakewood.

A Croasdill family member, the John Spellman Library at Grays Harbor College (GHC) and Special Collections of the University of Washington Libraries provided information.  Also, info came from University of Washington “Tyee,” GHC “Nautilus” and Aberdeen (Weatherwax) High School “Quinault.” Photos from Lakes High School 1964 “Legend”  yearbook and Seattle Times July 4, 1944.

 

..........

 

May 14, 1997, TNT/Tacoma News Tribune

 

Songleader Nancy Olsen, Class of 1966

Black and white photo of Songleader Nancy Olsen, Lakes High Class of 1966, from 1966 Lakes Legend. Color photo of Nancy's sweater taken 8/23/2016 in Lakewood.

1963-1964 LAKES BOYS' BASKETBALL: Won 1964 Puget Sound League title, beat favored Renton at Highline High. Post-season (in Puyallup): Lost to Cleveland of Seattle. Beat Lincoln of Tacoma

In the 1963-1964 season, Lakes boys varsity basketball team won the 1964 Puget Sound League championship.


But, during the season it lost its PSL game on Fri., Jan. 10, 1964, in Auburn to the Auburn High School Trojans. This photo was taken during that game.


Lancer Bill Saxton (#33) at the free throw line. To the far right Whit Hemion (#41) and near right Rick Austin (#43). On the far left Gary Larsen (#45). 


On the wall of the Auburn gym in all capital letters was “EVERY SPORTS IS A GOOD ONE IF YOU ARE.”


In the PSL title game on Friday, March, 6, 1964, played in the Highline High School gym, Lakes beat Renton, 47-46.


By winning the title, Lakes had a chance to play in the 40^th annual (1964) Class AA State High School Basketball Tournament in Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle.


For the first time, the tourney was split into two parts, regional and finals. Four districts each held their own tournaments with four teams in each. Winners advanced to the state tournament. Thus, 16 teams competed to be the final eight to win the state 1964 tournament.


In Region 2, Lakes, Renton, Cleveland of Seattle and Lincoln of Tacoma competed in the Puyallup High School gym.:

·       Friday, March 13, 1964, Lakes lost, 89-48 to Cleveland.

·       Saturday., March 14, 1964, Lakes beat Lincoln, 49-39.

Seasons over for Lakes and Lincoln. Renton advanced to the state tournament where it lost in the championship game.

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March 14, 1964, Seattle Times reporting on the Friday, March 13, 1964, game in the Puyallup High gym said 2,300 fans saw it. 

 “Cleveland (was) Seattle’s first public high school team to play outside the city in 50 years.” 

 “Cleveland’s fast break never worked better than it did in the first half.” The Eagles had a 28-9 first quarter lead. Midway in the second period Cleveland’s lead was 44-11. At halftime, it was Cleveland by 55-19. 

 Center 6-foot-3 Rick Austin led Lakes with 12 points, followed by Whit Hemion and Steve Walker with 10 each. Hemion had 13 rebounds. 

 For the game, Cleveland out rebounded Lakes 75-52. In field goal shooting, it was Cleveland with 44.2 percent vs. Lakes 22.5 percent. Cleveland had 38 fields goals and Lakes 18.

In free throws, Lakes was 12-25 and Cleveland 13-24.

Coach Holly Gee – Clover Park, Lakes High Schools

=The 1963-1964 season was Holly Gee’s second as Lakes head boys’ basketball coach. He coached that sport at Lakes through 1969. He came to Lakes from Clover Park, where he was head baseball coach and an assistant boys’ basketball coach. At Lakes his resume included p. e. department chair, asst. baseball and asst. football coach, senior class adviser and administration rep to Lakes student govt.

=With additional info added, this from Winter 2016 Arches alumni magazine from Holly Gee’s alma mater, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma:

"In Memoriam" – Hollister Roland “Holly” Gee, College (now University) of Puget Sound Class of 1949, died Nov. 10, 2015. He was 91. Holly was a leader in the Lakewood, Wash., community, where he was a longtime educator and coach. He was instrumental in organizing youth sports programs in the area and had a passion for helping athletes accomplish their goals. His family remembers him for his compassion, work ethic, and quick wit. His wife, Mary Louise “Mary Lou” Rogers Gee, died at age 90 in 2013. A member of the College of Puget Sound Class of 1945, she was a Stadium High School (Tacoma) and UW (English, 1946) grad. Her background included teaching English at Clover Park High. A son, Ron Gee, and grandchildren Jevan and Dillon, survive Holly and Mary Lou.

=“In Memoriam” based on his obituary here:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tribnet/obituary.aspx?pid=176529171

=More about Holly Gee and his baseball connections here:

oldtimerbaseball.com/hall.php?name=Holly%20Gee

=Before Holly Gee came to the Clover Park School District (initially at Clover Park High School and later, when it opened in 1962, to the new Lakes High School), he was in Centralia.

July 2, 1952, Centralia, Wash., Daily Chronicle -- 'New Position For Gee at Clover Park 'Centralia high school was looking for another coach Wednesday -- one to replace Holly Gee who resigned from the Centralia district and will teach at Clover Park this fall. Gee has the head baseball coach at Centralia high, and also assisted in football and taught classes In health. At Clover Park, he will be the head junior high football coach, teach physical education and health in the high school, and will also probably have another coaching job in the high school. Gee said. Besides, coaching, Gee. has also been an active participant In sports in Centralia--usually on one of the teams sponsored by Dick Scott. During the summer, the former Centralia coach has been attending the University of Washington, completing his work for a master’s degree in physical education. He plans to complete moving to Tacoma this weekend.

Originally posted 12/13/2017