Some of you are like me and wake up early whether you want to or not and may even be hoping some pics have been already posted on the blog this early Saturday morning. I don't think I have the right combination of soft and hardware to get photos posted at my in-laws but I'll work on it later this morning. If you don't check e-mail a Nikon Coolpix camera was left at the reunion so contact me if it's your's.
Only two of the guys registered didn't make it last night so the turnout was almost 100%! Thanks for all your expressions of appreciation but just being with all of you is more than thanks enough. You also need to know someone gave me a very generous donation that underwrote almost if not all of the extra expenses I incurred organizing the reunion.
For those who couldn't attend last night the award categories and winners were:

Traveled the farthest distance: Cliff Gauthier from West Virginia
Biggest Waistline: Tom Proulx (over 47") Nobody even tried to compete with him!
Best Blog submission: Ben Blea (Jaouen, Fulcher, Pomeranz and Proulx were also finalists)
Best Handstand: Gary Pomeranz - he actually did a straight arm, straight leg press and held it with good form. This was judges by the coaches. Nicoletti and Schroeder were in contention along with several others.
Best Golden Oldies Blog Creator: Pat Edwards - a unilateral award given by Jack Ryan.
The awards were extra-large t-shirts emblazoned with the words: "I was once a gymnast."

Some random observations:
Dennis Berg actually wears wingtips rather than "beetle boots."
Vince Nicoletti really can do all that stuff in his youtube video.
Ed Klanecky is as big as ever (and as nice).
I have the impression you still don't want to mess with those guys from North.
The guys from DU kept trying to convince me they are just working-class guys who are extra smart and attended school on scholarships.
People like Sam Sargent, Bob Popp, Ed Klanecky and Larry Hoffschneider don't seem to age like the rest of us.
Some of the guys brought "trophy wives" but they shall remain nameless.

I'm looking forward to posting your observations and photos in the next few weeks so don't let me down.
Pat

Larry Hoffschneider writes: Blogging is not my cup of tea. Better late than never.
After graduation in January 1969, Carla and I moved to Connecticut for my first job. I went to work for Pratt & Whiney Aircraft designing and testing jet engines. While in Connecticut we had our first child (She is married to an F16 pilot and lives in Texas). We moved to Florida in 1970 and continued working for Pratt & Whitney at their Florida Research & Development Center. We had our second child in Florida in 1972 and he lives in Aurora, CO.

We moved back to Denver/Aurora in mid 1974 and I went to work for Stearns-Roger in September of 1974. We have lived in Aurora since 1974. I have worked for Stearns Roger/Stearns-Catalytic/Air Products/United Engineers & Constructors/Raytheon Engineers & Constructors/Washington Group International since 1974 except for 3 years working for Martin Marietta. The current name of the company I work for is URS Washington Division. I am currently a Project Engineering Manager for the company. I have had the good fortune of working on launch complexes at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base. I worked on the Titan IV project while at Martin Marietta. I have had the opportunity to work on power plants, petroleum & petrochemical, test facilities, and numerous other assignments over my carrier. Also had the opportunity to visit Pad 39 with the Space Ship Atlantis on the pad and stood under the engines.
As our son was growing up he participated in gymnastics at the Aurora School of Gymnastics and was coached by Gil Salazar. I also helped coach on a part time basis for Gil.
Since I was not able to maintain my activities in gymnastics I branched out in to other sport activities. I have been running since 1981 and have participated in 16 marathons including the Boston Marathon. Since 1991 have been biking off and on just to stay in shape as well as running at a much slower pace. I have gotten into playing golf as well.
I have a wonderful and loving wife whom most of you know since we were married in 1967. Yes! This year makes it 42 years. Of course Jack & Tracey have us beat on that record. I’ll give them a 10. As you may have noted above we have two children, which has now resulted in 4 grandchildren of which the oldest is 14 and the youngest is 4. We enjoy spending time with our grandchildren and I look forward to the days when I am retired and have more time to enjoy them. Carla has worked until recently and she has retired this year. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.

Guys,
I arrived safely in Denver last night and Ben Blea and I are going to check on the banquet facilities in a few minutes for your dining pleasure.
Eric Singer wrote to say health issues are going to keep him from coming so if you pray keep him in your prayers. BOB MULLINS, BEN COLEMAN, DENNIS AND JIM HARTMAN just called and will be joining us. We're guys in our 60's who competed in the 60's and now there are more than 60 at the reunion! Gymnasts can still sign up easily today - tomorrow is problematic but we'll try to get everybody in who wants to and of course Saturday is totally open. I'm looking forward to the next few days.
Pat

Steve Schroeder – I still have, in my back yard, the 8x16 Gym Master folding trampoline I bought from Jim Hartman in 1968. We have put dozens of beds on it over the years. I can still swing backs and fulls, although the doubles, triples and half in rudy out flifus are things of the past. I was the Arapahoe High School’s Men’s gymnastics coach in the late 80’s & early 90’s; my boys were on the team.

My wife Janie (32 years of marriage now) is a gift from God. We raised my 3 boys Troy 39, Todd 36, Travis 34 and our daughter Tiffany 29.

We are blessed with 3 grandchildren Jackson 2 ½, Landon 9 mo and Eva 3 mo. I can’t wait to get them up on the trampoline.

I have been in the Real Estate and Mortgage business since I graduated from DU where I received a Real Estate degree. I am still in the business full time, but today I am also a graduate student at Denver Seminary. I am very active in my Church and someday hope to retire into full time ministry.

For the last 18 years on Saturday mornings (9:00 am - 12:00 noon) I have been in the South Suburban Goodson gym teaching gymnastics to little boys ages 5 – 12, it gets harder every year to walk on my hands across the gym.

Only one thing keeps me from going with Vince Nicoletti to fly on the trapeze, and that is FEAR. I just know my mind will write a check that my body can’t cash!

I sent over a picture of Jim Hartman, I owe him everything. He made sure that I went to college in 1968 to UNLV on a full gymnastics scholarship. Then in 1969 he and Doug Dewitt helped me transfer to DU on a half gymnastics and half diving scholarship. DU was killing their gymnastics in 1970 so I received the last scholarship they gave for gymnastics, which I received until graduation in 1973.

Thank you Jimmy & Doug, you made a difference in my life.

Steve Schroeder

303-809-7789 cell

Thought you would like to know Tom Jenkins felt the need to defend his honor so I include the following note which refers to my "artsy" photo post. It still didn't aggravate the other collegiate athletes enough to get me more photos to post.

Good Eye on the photos.......but me spend money? I was so dirt poor in college that I remember Bob Poston and I raiding the dorm coke machine for returns to get enough for a pitcher at the Tule. As I remember Daves picture was taken same time as mine by the same photographer. I was soph and Dave a senior. Some guy came over from the school paper and did an afternoon of shots. He blocked out all the windows and used lights. He used that same picture and turned it into a high contrast silhouette that was used in the year book. I just lucked out. Thanks for noticing. Tom

Dan Evans and Brian Krogman just signed up to attend the reunion so keep contacting people.

Well, I took your money to the bank today and they accepted it so I think I'll be able to pay for the banquet although I think it goes on Ben Blea's tab and he gets stuck if I don't give him enough! I have deposits for 50 of you and 6 more who say they're coming to the banquet but I'll have to wring the money out of them Friday night. I'm sure some of you ringmen will help me if necessary. In addition to the 56 there are others who can't come Friday but will be attending Saturday's events. So far the blog has had about 1200 hits so lot's of people are reading it. Don't forget one of the awards Friday night will be for the best bio/article so read them carefully and come prepared to vote for your favorite.

I don't have any more material from you guys but I know almost every gymnast likes artistic photos so I'll post a couple of my favorites. I think the coolest one on the blog is of Tom Jenkins doing a maltese on the rings - he must have spent the bucks for some professional to do it! Some I chose primarily for artistic merit (according to me) and others because of the execution shown - like Dave Wardell's perfect iron cross.

In my experience the worst place to take photos was in CU's practice gym (if it could be called that) and the best place was Moby Gym at CSU because it was so huge you got these dramatic black backgrounds. If you have an artsy photo send it in and some of you have been promising me material for several months now so get going - TIME IS SHORT.

And in case you didn't notice these are all of CU guys because the guys from DU, CSU and CSC refuse to provide glam shots for me to post!