The Port Arthur Package
Introduction • Chapter 1 • Chapter 1-Page 2 • Chapter 1-Page 3 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 2-Page 2 • Chapter 2- Page 3 • Junior Year • Junior Year-Page 2 • Junior Year-Page 3 • Junior Year-Page 4 • Head Hunters • Black Friday • We Beat Beaumont • Sweethearts • Wrapper Page 1 • Wrapper Page 2
The Wrapper on the Package - Page 2
My friend Tommy and I sat in the studio at KPAC radio in 1962, singing along with the music and making friends with the DJ. "Sittin' in La La waitin for my Ya Ya, uh-huh!" Inspirational words indeed. We sometimes sat next to each other on the bus to the football game and talked about school, girls, and the future. In between songs one day he said to me "Freddy! I'm going to be president at high school-are you going to vote for me?"
After we got to TJ, we were still friends, but our paths did not cross so often. I became closer to David, a football team mate of mine and Tommy's future opponent for that very office. What a dilemma!? I kept my promise and actively campaigned for Tommy, and was speaking secretary at his Gold Convention. I'm afraid I lost a little bit of David for that but what could I do. One can't break a promise made on a piano bench in KPAC in 1962. Tommy was a great president.
On his last day as SB President, Tommy gave his farewell address as his predecessors had before him. When Chris Bray (1964), and David Watts, (1965) gave theirs, they were rewarded with the most compelling ovations I've ever heard. Tommy's speech was as eloquent as any he'd ever delivered. I was very proud to have been friends with him and David. There was a deafening silence at the end of his address. He stood there, probably expecting some response to his farewell, and we just sat there. I wanted to jump to my feet and shout at the top of my lungs, but I too just sat there. What manner of friend was I? What were we thinking?
It is impossible to claim success or failure for a goal so anticipated. I was not the only person who passed through those halls with certain expectations. It is likely that there were as many different versions of these memories as there were classmates. My goals were no more important than anyone else's and I've tried to point toward more than one avenue in this article. What I observe now through un-wiped bifocals, is that for the most part, we all made it. Our contributions whatever they were, were the prescription for the very same results our former Jackets attained. WE were ALL Jackets! We screamed in the stands and clambered in the halls. We made the drag and hung out at Nu-Zest. We went to the game and the dance, we studied, we passed and we graduated. However the traditions developed that made us all part of the Port Arthur Package, they influenced us without us really being aware of it. It sneaked up on us and we just did it. And, did it well!