Mount Tahoma High School - Totem Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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LETTER FROM THE EDITGFZ NOW AND THEN, the theme of this year's annual, reflects on the past twenty years of Mount Tahoma. As l look back on the production of this yearbook I see eighteen people who put their time and hard work into mak- ing this book the masterpiece that it is. From printing every picture, pasting, writing copy, staying after school and on weekends, the 1980-81 Totem statt did it all. As for our advisor, Mr. Gammell, we couldn't have asked for a better man. He devoted as much it not more than anyone on the statf. His expert knowledge in photography helped up reach our highly set goals for this edition of the Totem. l hope you enjoy this year's annual. Alot ot hard work and dedication went into it and I am very proud to have been the editor Best wishes to the classes ot 81, 82 and 83. Kim Hoover l

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This year . . . Activities . , . Homecoming and more ., For some it was our first for some ,... our last . . . we will use this book to remember Staff members getting ready to ride at the Donkey Basketball game. 33 ' Q ,Q 3,-nur 3- NB Q

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IN IVIEIVICRY CF CAPTAIN PATRICK WELCH The life of Captain Patrick A. Welch, 27, was abruptly ended with a crash of a U.S. Air Force C-141 transport, in Egypt. All 13 persons aboard, including 6 McChord airmen, were killed instantly when the aircraft exploded ih the desert outside Cairo. The airmen, all members of the 8th military airlift squadron at McChord Air Force Base, were on a mis- sion to test the new U.S. Rapid Deployment Force. The death of Captain Welch takes on a special significance to those of the Tacoma area, because not only was he a life long resident of Tacoma, but also a graduate of Mount Ta- homa in 1971. Welch is also the brother-in-law of Dean Rennie, a Mount Tahoma faculty member, Welch became aware of the military at an early age, be- cause his father, Robert Welch, was a pilot with the Army Air Corps. Later Patrick developed a stronger interest in the Air Force at Mount Tahoma. Welch marked his stay at Mount Tahoma with many achievements. As a sophomore, he was a member of the Cadet Band, and as a Junior, he played J.V. Basketball and Baseball. In his Senior year, Welch was the homecoming chairman, and a member of the A.S.F., Studio Choir, Concert Band, and the varsity baseball team. After graduating in 1971, he went on to Central Washing- ton University where he earned his degree in geography, by way of a two year ROTC scholorship. After graduating in 1975, Welch received cryptography assignments, which took him to bases in Texas, and Alaska. lt wasn'f until later that he received the much awaited flight school assignment. Follow- ing that assignment Welch went on to a C-141 school in Oaklahoma. He received his Captain's bars in February of 1980 and was only on his 6th overseas mission as a co-pilot, when the crash occurred. Survivors include, his wife, Ruth, two children, Robert and Audrey, his mother Betty Berling, and His father Robert Welch. Captain Welch also has two sisters, Robbie Rennie, and Barbee Booth.