In this last post of 2019, Amy suggested the theme, "you". I think she wants us to write something about ourselves. So, here goes...
I am the 4th child (4th son) of 5 children. My oldest brother, George Ronald "Ronny" Springer, was born in 1940 in Dallas, TX and died in 2003 in Greenville, Lamar Co, TX.
The next son, David Ray Springer, was born in 1944 in Big Spring, TX. I have written about him here
https://regnirpsstories.blogspot.com/2019/08/my-brother-david-ray-springer.html. Then there was another son, then me, then my sister. We were quite spread out in ages. Here is me as a baby.
When I was born, we lived in a house in Fort Worth, at 3632 College Ave. Here are my older brothers and me in front of the College Ave house.
About 1956, my family went on vacation to Colorado. We visited Pike's Peak, the Royal Gorge, and other places of interest. At one of these places, apparently one that celebrated the Native American heritage of the area, my dad took this picture of me with "a real Indian boy", as my mom wrote on the back.
I was baptized as an infant at St. Paul Methodist Church, where my parents had been members since 1946. My dad's parents were also members there, so we sat with them each Sunday. The church had a Perfect Attendance award system going for several years, while I was a child/youth. Here are the awards I received for Perfect Attendance.
Here is the church located at 920 W. Hammond St.
The church was about half way between our house and where my grandparents lived. My dad's parents had a garage apartment at the back of their property and my mom's dad lived there, after my grandmother, died in 1958. Not long after that he moved to Fort Worth.
Here is my family in August, 1960.
I remember Sunday afternoons as being a time of visiting. Sometimes, after lunch, my family would go to a hospital and visit people my parents knew - from church, most often. My brothers and father would often watch football on TV, and then we would go to my grandparents house in the late afternoon. When I was in the youth group, they would drop me off at the church and then go visit my grandparents. We had services at the church on Sunday nights, so they would come back to the church for the service, then we would go home. Or, sometimes, when the youth were having "after-glow", I was able to participate in that.
In 1959, I began 1st grade at Hubbard Heights Elementary School. It was about 6 blocks from our house and as I got older, I walked to school. In the 4th grade, I started taking violin lessons in the string class, taught by Mrs. Hanson. We had a violin that my older brother had played when he was younger, so, I got to use that. In the fifth grade, Mrs. Hanson invited me to switch from violin to cello. I did and learned to read the bass clef. I really like the cello, but did not have an instrument, so had to use the one from the school. (As it turned out, playing the cello and tuba got me scholarships to college!) I was also a Patrol Boy, standing on the corner of the schoolyard, helping kids be safe crossing the streets. We also had the privilege of putting the flag up each morning. Nowadays, they have paid adults as Crossing Guards, but back then, it was responsible students. Here are the pins I earned as a Patrol Boy.
When it was time for Jr High School, I went to Rosemont - across the street. I was able to wait until the 1st bell rang and then leave my house and run over to the school and still make it to class before the 2nd bell. I also went home for lunch. We had 20 minutes - and I was able to get home, eat, and get back in that time. I believe that is where I learned to eat fast! Haha! I continued to play the cello at Rosemont and even played in an after school string quartet. Since I could read the music bass clef, the band director, Mr. Raybine, invited me to join the stage band, playing the string bass, when I was in the 8th grade. It was not a huge transition from the cello, but I remember the blisters I got on my fingers from the large cat gut and wound metal strings, pressing down to make the right notes and plucking. OUCH!! We did some pretty neat things in that group, including accompanying an event called "Stairway to the Stars" at Casa Manana. I continued to play the cello, and in the 9th was invited to join the band by Mr. Harris and learned to play the sousaphone! I was awarded the "Orchestra Award" in 1968 at Rosemont Jr. High.
When I went to high school, things were a bit more of a challenge. That same year, 2 new high schools opened up - Southwest High School and O D Wyatt High School. The district lines for these 2 school were a bit fuzzy at first and so I could have chosen to go to either of these new schools or Paschal, where my brothers had gone. Both of the band directors from Southwest and O D Wyatt visited me, inviting me to go to their school, and be in their new bands. But, I decided to go to Paschal, like my brothers. At Paschal, I played the sousaphone/tuba in the band, under the direction of Mr. Phil Aikman, and cello in the orchestra my 1st year, but dropped out of the orchestra after one year. Mrs. Atkinson was the orchestra director and in my junior and senior years, she invited me to play the tuba in orchestra concerts, because there was no other tuba player available. I also played tuba in the jazz band, also under the direction of Mr. Aikman.
In 1969, a very important event occurred - the first manned landing on the moon.
One of the crew, Alan Bean, was a graduate of Paschal High School and after they returned home, Fort Worth held a parade honoring him. And, the Paschal Band had the honor of being the band just ahead of him. Here are some photos from the parade.
I believe this is a photo of the flag that Astronaut Bean took to the moon, representing Paschal.
During the summer after my Junior year, the jazz band went on a concert tour in Europe. Here I am with all of my luggage and instrument.
We traveled through 9 countries in 22 days and played concerts in many of the cities. In addition to the jazz band, there were other faculty members, students and friends. Here is part of the group in Rome, Italy.
We did a lot of sightseeing and I took some photos. Here are a few.
The same summer I went to Europe, my parents and sister went to the Holy Lands. My mom's dad had died in January of that year, so there was a bit of an inheritance. My parents said that it could be used for my trip to Europe or with them to the Holy Lands. That was a tough decision for me. Also, that summer, I volunteered at All Saints Episcopal Hospital. At the time, I was thinking about going into the medical field and wanted to experience it first hand. Our volunteer group attended a convention and did a skit on the history of nursing. I go to be the cave man "nurse" with my anesthesia (a large club)! lol!
I graduated from Paschal in 1971 and continued to work at the hospital for a while during the summers and weekends after beginning college. But, that is another story! More to come later.
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
I am the 4th child (4th son) of 5 children. My oldest brother, George Ronald "Ronny" Springer, was born in 1940 in Dallas, TX and died in 2003 in Greenville, Lamar Co, TX.
 |
| George Ronald Springer, Personal Collection |
The next son, David Ray Springer, was born in 1944 in Big Spring, TX. I have written about him here
https://regnirpsstories.blogspot.com/2019/08/my-brother-david-ray-springer.html. Then there was another son, then me, then my sister. We were quite spread out in ages. Here is me as a baby.
When I was born, we lived in a house in Fort Worth, at 3632 College Ave. Here are my older brothers and me in front of the College Ave house.
 |
| About 1955 - Christmas loot |
About 1956, my family went on vacation to Colorado. We visited Pike's Peak, the Royal Gorge, and other places of interest. At one of these places, apparently one that celebrated the Native American heritage of the area, my dad took this picture of me with "a real Indian boy", as my mom wrote on the back.
 |
| Somewhere in Colorado, 1955 - my mother and older brothers in the background |
A few months before my sister was born, we moved to 1443 W. Beddell, Fort Worth, right behind Rosemont Jr High School. Here is the house before my dad remodeled and expanded it.
I was baptized as an infant at St. Paul Methodist Church, where my parents had been members since 1946. My dad's parents were also members there, so we sat with them each Sunday. The church had a Perfect Attendance award system going for several years, while I was a child/youth. Here are the awards I received for Perfect Attendance.
Here is the church located at 920 W. Hammond St.
The church was about half way between our house and where my grandparents lived. My dad's parents had a garage apartment at the back of their property and my mom's dad lived there, after my grandmother, died in 1958. Not long after that he moved to Fort Worth.
 |
| My mom's parents, Elmer and Agnes (Spurlock) Clark |
Here is my family in August, 1960.
I remember Sunday afternoons as being a time of visiting. Sometimes, after lunch, my family would go to a hospital and visit people my parents knew - from church, most often. My brothers and father would often watch football on TV, and then we would go to my grandparents house in the late afternoon. When I was in the youth group, they would drop me off at the church and then go visit my grandparents. We had services at the church on Sunday nights, so they would come back to the church for the service, then we would go home. Or, sometimes, when the youth were having "after-glow", I was able to participate in that.
In 1959, I began 1st grade at Hubbard Heights Elementary School. It was about 6 blocks from our house and as I got older, I walked to school. In the 4th grade, I started taking violin lessons in the string class, taught by Mrs. Hanson. We had a violin that my older brother had played when he was younger, so, I got to use that. In the fifth grade, Mrs. Hanson invited me to switch from violin to cello. I did and learned to read the bass clef. I really like the cello, but did not have an instrument, so had to use the one from the school. (As it turned out, playing the cello and tuba got me scholarships to college!) I was also a Patrol Boy, standing on the corner of the schoolyard, helping kids be safe crossing the streets. We also had the privilege of putting the flag up each morning. Nowadays, they have paid adults as Crossing Guards, but back then, it was responsible students. Here are the pins I earned as a Patrol Boy.
When it was time for Jr High School, I went to Rosemont - across the street. I was able to wait until the 1st bell rang and then leave my house and run over to the school and still make it to class before the 2nd bell. I also went home for lunch. We had 20 minutes - and I was able to get home, eat, and get back in that time. I believe that is where I learned to eat fast! Haha! I continued to play the cello at Rosemont and even played in an after school string quartet. Since I could read the music bass clef, the band director, Mr. Raybine, invited me to join the stage band, playing the string bass, when I was in the 8th grade. It was not a huge transition from the cello, but I remember the blisters I got on my fingers from the large cat gut and wound metal strings, pressing down to make the right notes and plucking. OUCH!! We did some pretty neat things in that group, including accompanying an event called "Stairway to the Stars" at Casa Manana. I continued to play the cello, and in the 9th was invited to join the band by Mr. Harris and learned to play the sousaphone! I was awarded the "Orchestra Award" in 1968 at Rosemont Jr. High.
 |
| The plaque is not striped, it just scanned that way. Oh, well! |
When I went to high school, things were a bit more of a challenge. That same year, 2 new high schools opened up - Southwest High School and O D Wyatt High School. The district lines for these 2 school were a bit fuzzy at first and so I could have chosen to go to either of these new schools or Paschal, where my brothers had gone. Both of the band directors from Southwest and O D Wyatt visited me, inviting me to go to their school, and be in their new bands. But, I decided to go to Paschal, like my brothers. At Paschal, I played the sousaphone/tuba in the band, under the direction of Mr. Phil Aikman, and cello in the orchestra my 1st year, but dropped out of the orchestra after one year. Mrs. Atkinson was the orchestra director and in my junior and senior years, she invited me to play the tuba in orchestra concerts, because there was no other tuba player available. I also played tuba in the jazz band, also under the direction of Mr. Aikman.
In 1969, a very important event occurred - the first manned landing on the moon.
 |
| Photo I took of TV coverage of landing |
One of the crew, Alan Bean, was a graduate of Paschal High School and after they returned home, Fort Worth held a parade honoring him. And, the Paschal Band had the honor of being the band just ahead of him. Here are some photos from the parade.
I believe this is a photo of the flag that Astronaut Bean took to the moon, representing Paschal.
During the summer after my Junior year, the jazz band went on a concert tour in Europe. Here I am with all of my luggage and instrument.
We traveled through 9 countries in 22 days and played concerts in many of the cities. In addition to the jazz band, there were other faculty members, students and friends. Here is part of the group in Rome, Italy.
We did a lot of sightseeing and I took some photos. Here are a few.
 |
| Along a river in Germany, I think |
 |
| Castle in Germany, I think |
 |
| St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy |
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| St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy |
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| St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy |
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| Reformation Memorial in Switzerland |
The same summer I went to Europe, my parents and sister went to the Holy Lands. My mom's dad had died in January of that year, so there was a bit of an inheritance. My parents said that it could be used for my trip to Europe or with them to the Holy Lands. That was a tough decision for me. Also, that summer, I volunteered at All Saints Episcopal Hospital. At the time, I was thinking about going into the medical field and wanted to experience it first hand. Our volunteer group attended a convention and did a skit on the history of nursing. I go to be the cave man "nurse" with my anesthesia (a large club)! lol!
I graduated from Paschal in 1971 and continued to work at the hospital for a while during the summers and weekends after beginning college. But, that is another story! More to come later.
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
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