#38 GRADUATION!!

We did it!

You win some and you loose some.

We Won: we graduated.  We got degrees, we marched, we got our pictures taken.  AND, my mom attended, (she missed my last two graduations!)

We Lost:  We made an elaborate balloon "celebration" to be strategically released during the graduation ceremony.  Balloons were stuffed under the pews in the Loma Linda Church.  They were discovered and released outside prior to our marching in.

Below.....the documents.

Congratulations to us!!

#37 Ode To Chuck

I had serious reservations about including this poem in the blog.  I include it to honor Randy Boyd, by good bud.  We see each other twice a year while hosting at CDA Presents.  I always get a great smile and a bear hug from him.

ODE TO CHUCK

There once was a man named Chuck

Who some would say walks like a duck

His woman is Gloria

Who caused him euphoria

Boy, some guys sure have all the luck

Chuck's been the Pres. of our class

And all would admit its been a gas

With him we adore

To some he's a bore

But just give it time, it will pass

Chuck is a very determined, problem-solving man

if there is a big problem see if he can

But some things he can't do

It's left up to you

Or turn it over to clinic reps, Doyle or Dan

Thus my praise of Chuck will end

Till the end of summer to see again

We've really had a ball

I hope I've told you all

How much fun it has really been

Randy Boyd

#36 So Much for Communication

Many of us will be getting together later this week in Palm Springs.  Frankly,  what happened 30 years ago hasn't really resurfaced for me until the last year, as Denny and classmates have been working on our reunion.  That, and finding my long-lost (and forgotten) box of paperwork from dental school has allowed me to re-enjoy our good (mostly) times together.

For those of you with a little time to waste, I have included comments from a News Caries during our senior year, crunch time, that I think is representative of what we created as Eighty6ers.  If so inclined, sit down with your favorite beverage and go Back to the Future.

Charlie

#34 Senior Year Golden Probe Awards

We pulled out the stops on on our 4th annual GPA's.  It was at the San Bernardino County Museum, 6:30pm, Thursday, June 5, 1986.  Tickets were $6.00.

It all started with faculty and administrators valeting our cars for us.  I have included Dean Klooster's "evaluation" of his parking duties.  Briefly, he got a 7.9 out of 10.  He got dinged pretty hard for not opening Gloria's door for her.  Slacker.....

Some interesting awards this year:
--Clueless Individual
--Rona Barrett Award  (Retired, 79yo)
--Thankless Job
--PEP Boys  (Rather PEP Boys wanna-bees)
--Most Embarrassing Situation (7 nominees here)
--Walked into a Practice Award
     ---Subcategory: I could have waked into a Practice Award
--Lavish Dresser
--Golden Hoser Award (students and faculty nominated here)
--Least Time in Lab
--Wah Award
--Most Toys
--Dycal (Wildest Dentistry) Award
--Most Outspoken
--Inspirational Teacher

For "entertainment" we had the Dean's yearly missive, "I Remember When" by Kris and Craig, an "Untitled" play by Doyle and Smith and the "Loma Lina Hustle" by Boyd, G.Moore and Zingler. and a few of my comments.....

-during the four years we had a NET increase of 8 marriages and 7 additional KNOWN children.
--One things that hasn't changed is the unique identity of the class of 86.
--Whether we have are loved, hated, respected or tolerated, we have been different.
--Freshmen Year highlight: Jim Grabow's birthday party in Neuro Anatomy
--Sophomore Year highlight:  Renee got the nickname "honey", (from the faculty)
--Junior Year Highlight:  Gold Foil Follies
--Senior Year Highlight: Clinical success (and required points) meant not only doing the dentistry correctly, but satisfying the clinical instructors whims, inclinations, quirks, eccentricities, peculiarities, and quirks`
--In 4 years 32 classmates held 43 offices.

#35 The Honors Convocation

This bad boy was at the Inland Empire Hilton.  34 awards presented to the Eighty6'ers from the faculty on May 18, 1986.  I won't bore you with the details, but I do want to mention the "honors" that we gave out as well.  Again in brief:

Bren.  This gal must have been an assistant in the pedo department.  Sorry, I don't remember her, but apparently she was amazing.

Endo Department.  Apparently we REALLY liked the endo department.  In part....."Requirements have been fair, attitudes have been supportive and advanced technique instruction available."  Not bad.

Debbie Friesen.  She helped us keep track of our clinic points.  "Always had a smile, even ate lunch with us".

Julie Torrez.  She was a cashier.  "I have never seen her angry, I haven't even seen her frown, ....I think patients actually look forward to giving her money".   (I actually remember Julie, and she WAS nice.....to everyone)

Now,  apparently we gave a "Most Inspirational Teacher Award" each year.
--Freshman year.  Dr. Ben Nava
--Sophomore year. Dr. Larry Day
--Junior year. Dr. Bob Reigal

And the nominations for our senior year?
--Dr. Noel Claffy
--Dr. Kay Clifford
--Dr. Bill Heisler
--Dr. Irv Logan

I listed the exceptional characteristics for each faculty member, two were consistent for all four
1.  Excellent patient rapport
2.  Interested in seeing us succeed in dental school.

As Andy Gooney would say, "I like that".

Oh, the winner??  I didn't write that down.  They were to give their acceptance speech at our Golden Probe Awards, stay tuned for that!

#33 The Final Potpourri, Time to Move On!

Most of our photos in our senior Potpourri were updated from the previous three years.  We actually looked a bit older, a bit more facial hair, a few more clinic coats and ties, and everyone's picture but Wallis.  Where were you?!  \

The cover photo from the Potpourri to start us out.  That guy in the second row, middle still creeps me out even after 30 years.

#32 The "Dark Side" to Class of 86

First, the four stages of a dental lecture at 8AM.  Left to right.

In my research, I did dig up a couple of less then exemplary items noted in News Caries.  First "debt issues".

Jeri was on this like a hawk.  A great Secretary-Treasurer.  I hope you guys paid up.....It is never too late.

Secondly, a rather disturbing entry on our News Caries Sports Page........

9-40 hmm............"Worst attendance for sporting events of the entire campus".  We KNOW you guys weren't studying!

#31 Senior Class schedule

First, a moment in time that many will remember where they were when they heard the news.  For me it was January 28, 1986.  I was walking on the main clinic floor going to the pedo department when I heard that the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded soon after takeoff, killing all on board.  I've always been a space nerd.  My uncle was one of the engineers on the Apollo moon program.  We got lazy......

#30 Some serious "butt-kicking" by a future Assemblyman

But First......

The infant known as Baby Fae was born in the desert town of Barstow, California with a heart defect that's fatal within days. The parents chose an experimental treatment, and surgeon Leonard Bailey placed inside the infant the transplanted heart of a baboon …

Many of us remember the news media roaming LLU campus in October 1984 after the historic, and one time, baboon heart transplant of Baby Fae.  This controversial procedure was a stepping stone for Dr. Bailey to perform the first successful infant allograft heart transplant a year later.

Now........  On to Woody.......

I won't reproduce the single spaced legal page size dressing-down that Jim Wood, the DSA representative, (and editor of the Ballburnisher), printed in the Ballburnisher concerning the "alleged" leadership of the DSA.....but a few highlights.

--He call to task the various DSA officers for accountability of costs and information.  The DSA president, Greg Mitchell, called a Student Life Committee meeting for those representatives to give such an accounting.  None of them showed up.  Woody was not happy.

--He reminded all dental students that "a flurry of activity from the DSA as present officers try to improve their images in pursuit of a higher position in the DSA hierarchy.  "I hope you remember that the DSA has NOT accomplished this year for the improvement of the student body when you consider who to cast your vote for in April".  Woody was not happy.

--And this is my favorite....."Our class has been singled out as "expecting too much" out of DSA, of being too critical and scrutinizing.  DSA is funded by student tuition, yours and mine, and therefore we have a right to expect something for our money.  So maybe it is about time that we voiced our concern for their inactivity".  Woody was not happy.

--And a look into the future for Jim........"The DSA should not be a platform for the "would-be" politician who are all smooth talk and no action.  It should be a medium for concerned individuals to unite the student body and work for its benefit".  Woody is planning ahead.

POSTCRIPT:  Our  class "took over" the DSA the next year to put the train back on the track, with Kelly as President, Denny B. as Vice-Pres., Richard Kunihira as secretary, Bruce as treasurer and Woody as PR officer and Ballburnisher Editor.  

Go Eighty6'ers!!!!!!!!!!

#29 Chan and Cowley to the Netherlands……what?

Backstory----According to the Ballburnisher, Curtis and Peter won the the Grand Prize at the LLUSD Alumni/Student Convention for their table clinic, “Fracture Resistance and Resistance to Dislodgement in Dentin Bonded Core Systems”.  Congratulations guys.  They went on to present their table clinic in Anaheim for the CDA, then to San Francisco for the ADA.  (Too bad the ADA wasn’t in Orlando that year).
Further, they were rewarded a travel grant of $900 by the American Association of Dental Research to present their “poster clinic” during the International Association of Dental Research meeting June 26-28, 1986 in the Hague, Netherlands.  Now, first question:  Did you guys go?, Second question: What all did you do while in the Netherlands?  We need a full report at the reunion!!

#27 The Ballburnisher

I have a stack of these.  As you may recall, this was the monthly newsletter for the entire dental school.  (I might add, a pale comparison to our award-winning News Caries!).  A few  highlights from just one issue:

--Edited by Jim Wood
--Cartoons by Chris Chu
--Timely reports by John Liu who was our CDA student represented for two years.  He was already speaking out at the CDA House of Delegates.  An early start to his illustrious leadership career.
--Kelly Mohr, our DSA President proposing a Dental School Forum to allow/encourage/improve communication between students, faculty, administration and employees.
--Side note, in the Kiplinger Washington Lettter dated July 12, 1985 three “soon to be available” dental treatment modalities: a fluoride tablet attached to a tooth to release fluoride for six months, a vaccine to prevent cavities (expected in the early 90’s), an electrodes to straighten teeth, no braces……..Hmm, still waiting on all three of these, 30 years later.
--A two page comprehensive assessment of the parking fiasco around LLUSD penned by Mark Romanelli.  Briefly, 250 spaces for 445 parking permits. 
--Larry Kaban’s report from the Dental Research Conference in Boston. 


Now, did you notice a common thread here??  Our class, exclusively, produced the Ball Burnisher!  In addition to everything else our class was involved in, we took the time and energy to be involved at all levels of leadership in the dental school.  And, this was with typewriters, white-out and copy machines!