Hi Wes, I am so grateful they contacted me and included me in getting in touch with you. How well I remember when you qualified for GATE or was it AT then? You were so handsome, responsible and eager to learn and take risks with things you had never done before. You seemed to be so pleased to have qualified for GATE/AT and just gave it everything you had. I remember you being well organized, quite mature, and contributing great things to class discussions. I remember you accepting challenges and persevering until they were completed with your best efforts. What a special group of kids were in your class......so many were LDS. You were all such good friends. You may not have known that I was LDS, but I knew that you were..... you were a great example to those around you. I retired in 2008, never having left Dondero, although I split my week with many other schools during those 26 years. I hope your memories of the "Dondero Dolphins " are rich ones. It was a great elementary school, kids and teachers included.
Judy Pingpank was a friend of mine, and knew that you had been one of my students. She always kept me informed of your successes and milestones in your life. I also remember really connecting with your Mom, and having so much admiration for her as a woman and as a parent. Her respect and love for your welfare were always very apparent. You gave her great cause to be proud of you.
I wish I had some pictures of you and your friends to include today, but I don't. Memories will have to suffice. Oh....I saw a beautiful picture of you with your lovely wife and wonderful children. What a beautiful family you have. God bless you and your family. You are in my prayers.
Fondly,
Bonnie Yumul
Mrs. Yumul,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you mentioned the Pingpanks. When we were about 13, their backyard was the scene of one of Wes' great life lessons to us. Joe, Nate, Wes, and I were in front of Wes' house playing basketball one summer afternoon. The Pingpanks drove by and asked if we could help them haul some bricks out of their backyard. We were happy for something to do, and agreed this would make a great service project for our boyscout merit badge requirement. We spent a couple hours moving the bricks, and started to walk back to the Trumans. As we walked off, the Pingpanks placed a crisp $20 bill in each of our dirty, sweaty little palms. Joe, Nate, and I promptly folded our newfound wealth and stuck it in our pockets. This was 4 weeks allowance, for just 2 hours of work! The 3 of us simultaneously agreed that this had been extremely profitable labor, and that we still needed to find a "service" project. It usually takes about 3 seconds for Wes' conscience to get the best of him. 4 seconds later he was returning the money, stating that this had been a service project, and that he couldn't accept it. I bought Wes a Big Gulp as a token of my appreciation for his goodness. Then I spent the remaining $19 on 7-11 candy for myself. I guess Wes understood that some things were bigger than economics, and logical reason. That just because you can find a loophole for your conscience doesn't necessarily mean you should take it.
Mrs. Yumul,
ReplyDeleteI distinctly remember our 4th grade GATE trip to San Diego. Wes was there. I have this great photo of him covering his face with his jacket so he didn't have to smell the fish we were dissecting. This page is so bitter-sweet. My thoughts are with Wes' family.
Noel Yucuis (formerly Noel White)