Hello to all....

My name is Nancy [Lemacks] Meek.  I was a member of the first graduating class of Middleton High School, 1971.

I was voted "Miss Witch, 1971" upon winning the Halloween Costume Contest for that year.  My prize was a $1.69 box of fruit-shaped, sugar-frosted gummy candy. Hopefully, some will remember me better by my impersonation of Lily Thomlin (unsure now of her last name).  She was the "One ringy dingy" switchboard operator....LOL

You will not be able to find a photo of me in the Senior Class section in the Variations yearbook for 1971.  I was too camera-shy to attend the photo session. I am, however, pictured in the St. Andrews school annuals for prior years.  If I had passed the 10th grade the first time, I would have graduated from as a Rock, instead of Razorback....Hmmmm  I remember there was a great deal of turmoil among the students who were forced to change schools when Middleton was established.  I will never forget the tiny water fountains and the itty bitty desks left over from when it was the Junior High. 

My sister is Trudy Lemacks.  A picture of her appears on your memorial page.  Thank you so much for posting it.  I didn't have a copy of that particular school pic, so I took the liberty of saving a copy of it to my hard drive.  I didn't think you would mind.  

Jim Maranville was a good friend of ours.  We were shocked when we heard about his sudden heart attack while eating dinner.  My husband and I first met him several years before he died. He soon became a daily visitor to our home.  We nicknamed him "Hemi Jimmy". Our cockatiel, Sparky, took to him right away.  Whenever she would hear Jimmy's truck pull up in our driveway, she would take off flying around the room screeching with excitement. She would then perch atop our open kitchen door and wait for Jimmy to enter.  After coming through the doorway, Jimmy would reach his hand up toward Sparky, who would eagerly jump onto it.  Jimmy would then transfer her to his shoulder.  He would then commence to rub her neck and talk sweet to her.

He told us that he used to own a cockatiel, but it died.  He said he used to feed it hot sauce, which it loved. I suggested to him that the hot sauce probably killed it. I don't think he appreciated me accusing him of killilng his bird. 

I didn't know Billy personally, but I composed a poem honoring all nine firefighters who perished in the Sofa Superstore fire.  It wasn't until today, when I ran across Trudy's picture on the memorial page, that I learned that Billy had attended Middleton.  My heart goes out to his family.

I am posting the memorial poem here, for those who might appreciate it, along with the link to its two current locations on the web.

NINE COURAGEOUS MEN

Rushing toward the flames,
the billowing smoke and ash,
nine brave men ran in;
then, BAROOM!! came the flash . . .
a roaring ball of fire
making putty out of steel
falling upon their heads,
arms reaching out to feel
walls that were not walls,
rooms without a door,
sofas... tables-to-the-ceiling,
suddenly crumbling to the floor
strewn with lifeless bodies,
so burnt, so brave, so true,
dying to save somebody.
Thank God it wasn't you!

Thank God it wasn't you
who lost his life inside
as nine courageous men
faced the foe and died,
in search of any others
who might be trapped within,
men, willing and determined
to fight until the end,
which came despite their efforts
or willingness to serve,
their fate in higher hands
which created every nerve,
each organ in their bodies
each muscle, bone and cell
and souls who take the oath
to race into such hell,
where the timid dare not go
but are saved if found within,
thanks to our firefighters,
courageous to the end.

©Copyright Nancy L. Meek June 24, 2007
Revised June 22, 2008
 

"Nine Courageous Men" (includes memorial photo)
http://iwvpa.net/meek-nl/zz-nine-cou.php
Note: The IWVPA is the International War Veterans' Poetry Archive, of which I have been a member since its inception in 2001).

"Nine Courageous Men"
In response to Bryce Donovan's article, "Real American Heroes"
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2007/jun/21/real_american_heroes/#c104368

May they rest in peace.