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Houston Kauffman
I was just talking to Jean-Marc Ferraud. He gave me permission to post his response to me from back in September when I asked him how in the heck he ended up at Dear Old AHHS in 1972. Hopefully this will save some of you from asking him the same question this weekend.
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Hello Mr AHHS ‘73 and thank you for your very kind message !
It’s indeed too bad I had not posted before June, our home was undergoing major maintenance “actions” and we moved temporarily, sharing ourselves in Provence, my heart and family country and Biarritz on Sophie’s side ! And you are right and next time you reach Paris, I’ll take you to some very very very fine dining places in Versailles…no way to avoid it ! Versailles is merely 5 miles southwest of Paris “as the crow flies” but it took a whole day for King Louis XIV to travel to the small hunting lodge his father had built…and that’s why he raised a Palace and moved into, even before the closing of the works. My AHHS year was a whirlwind of excitement, enjoyment and discoveries of all kinds. Let’s remember that, at that time, France was “starting to finish” erasing the stigmates of WWII and preparing to enter the world of modernity. My dad, who was trained and “winged” as a fighter pilot in USAF in the early ‘50 after his college years at the French Air Force Academy (via Texas and Arizona air bases… already), had this brilliant idea to send me out and follow, in a way, his footsteps ! All was possible thanks to John Jr and Carrie Anderson, my American parents who live now in Durango. They were an extraordinary warm and welcoming family, very well cultivated and educated and it truly was a chance for the 15 year old kid I was when I dropped in late July 1972. Next person I love to mention is Mr Homer Ludiker, with whom you have been working a lot at the school Council. Two days before registration day, Carrie and I had an appointment with him to “build” my life in AHHS. I came with all my school records which had been translated and validated in English. He went through that quickly and turned to me questioning and me replying : “you’ll done all of that ,son ?”- “Yes, Sir”- “what are your favorite areas, sports and hobbies ?”- “science, swimming and scuba diving, and airplanes, Sir”-“well, I have almost all of that in store. You will take Trigonometry, Calculus, Computer Math, American History, Government, Swimming, Aviation and you will give a hand to Mrs Bright French class at the lab. You will be a senior and graduate at the end of the year. OK for you, son ?”- “ But, I am only 15, Sir”- “That’s fine with me, son, let’s go”-“Thank you, Sir” (my last reply probably having the taste of “Aye Aye, Sir”). What a great great person ! I learned that he passed away at a decent age, but always too early for such a personality. At start, I was a bit worried in socializing with 2 years older classmates (at that age, it counts) but I quickly realized it was very different from French school system and I attended classes with all age group students and everything went seamless. And next came of course Mr Bernard Lionberger, Bernie… I still have a bunch of emotions writing these words because he definitively became “the man I want to look like in my life”. He really passed away prematurely and I am very sad not to have visited him before. I’ll post a picture of his words, written on the Yellow Jacket 1973. Too much to say !
That was the start of what became my life along the years, totally impregnated by what I had experienced in one single year.
Back to France was a bit sour, not going back home with my beloved family of course ! It was rejoining a school system, surely academic, but totally closed to real life. My US graduation was not validated and I went two more years in French Lycée to graduate “made in France”, two more years for “Preparatory Classes” (they are intensive Math / Physics classes to prepare the contests to join major academies, which are distinct from Universités). I had the choice between Civil Aviation Academy, Air Force Academy and Naval Academy…and choose the first one. 4 years to learn my future job, then 1 year for military service. And then, Air France for 40 years ! I have been able to fly on many aircraft types, hold many positions as instructor, manager, V.P. Flight Ops… The dream had came true and it all started in a school room in Fort Worth…
I am very sorry to have taken your time to read my words. It for me a great pleasure to rejoin Class of ‘73 …and to express myself in the language of Shakespeare (though, widely perfectible !) instead of the Airbish and Boeingish I practiced …for more than 45 years !
We will take the time to talk again and again during our reunion next year.
Take care, Houston, as for your family !
Very kind regards. |
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