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Recollections, memories, anecdotes...jot down something from your school days through graduation, and see how many people remember! Click on "Contact Us", send a quick email with your story and we'll post it right here! |
Once upon a time in 1960, on a crisp moon-lit autumn morning, three adventurous lads from good ol' Irene S. Reed climbed into an old half-ton pickup, southbound for mischief. Jim Smith, the "getaway" driver, along with his partners in crime, me and Dave Meissner, had a plan. Not a particularly well thought out plan, but possibly workable: kidnap Ramrock, North Thurston High School's goat mascot, on the day of our big football game with the rival, undefeated Rams. Ramrock was not really a goat, but a sheep (a Ram in gender). However, for this story I will continue to use the term goat. After all, better to have a goat for a mascot than a sheep...the butt of one too many Montana jokes. The plan was simple: drive to Lacey, find and kidnap the goat, then return to Shelton and await that night's game. I had talked to Reddie Callahan from the goat school, and had learned that Ramrock was housed on the school grounds, inside a shed in a small corral. The trip south was uneventful, just three co-conspirators going over and over the plan. We arrived at the school about four in the morning, and cruised the grounds looking for the goat. We spotted what looked like a corral, and entered the shed armed with a single flashlight. Wrong shed! In a second nearby shed...paydirt! A goat fast asleep, but about to be rudely awakened (it was quick to see the goat did not do mornings). After a couple laps around the shed, it was time for Plan B. One of us took the flashlight and got the goat's full attention, while the other two of us approached from each side and grabbed onto the critter's curled horns. We soon realized that if we lifted up on its horns, the goat became quite civil. The shed door was opened, and out to the truck we went, walking Ramrock (downright peacefully) on his hind legs! Amazingly, Ramrock jumped into the bed of the truck without further tomfoolery. A quick tie-down with a rope, and a small tarp over the goat, and we were ready to make our escape. We left a note on the shed door, crudely crafted from letters clipped from the Seattle P-I: "We have confiscated your goat, ensure safe return. Signed, Us". About this time, were were spotted by a school custodian, who must have written us off as North Thurston boys out goofing off, as he created no interference. Dave was volunteered to ride with Ramrock in the bed of the truck to keep him company on the ride home...and we were off! Half-way home, and things were going well. Ramrock and Dave had become good friends, and the end of our mission was near. Winding down the old two-lane road was reminiscent of the ride of the "headless horsemen"...dark, when out of nowhere came flashing red lights behind us. Jim pulled over and stopped, as panic set in...busted! A state trooper (Don Stacy) approached the truck, flashlight in hand. He no sooner asked what the two of us (Dave had ducked under the tarp with Ramrock) were doing out so early in the morning, when some movement under the tarp caught his attention. Now the jig was really up! Out of the truck we climbed, and went on to explain our morning heist. To this day, I really believe Don was having more fun making us sweat than being the least bit concerned that a crime had been committed. After a short "visit", he sent us on our way. We arrived home, and took the goat to a small farm with a few horses. After only a short stay, thanks to Ramrock's distaste for horses, he was moved to Ken Martig's place and secured to an engine block in a small shed. Ramrock had great fun towing that old engine around for the day! The rest of the story you probably know. The Goats evened the score that night, beating our Highclimbers 25-7, and Ramrock rode the North Thurston school bus back to Lacey with the football team...all in all, a day to remember. Turns out that Ramrock was "terminally ill", and trips as the school's mascot were potentially life-threatening, however he did live for at least another five years. The field trip probably did him good! - Jerry Eby |
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Louie, Louie |
