Classmate Profiles
Instructions: Hello, Classmate! Our once-in-a-lifetime GOLDEN class reunion is coming soon, and your classmates hope to see you in August! Even if you aren't able to join us, please share below about your after-high school life (~350 words), favorite high school memory/ies, and include a current photo of just you, with your face and hair - or lack thereof. And although your contact information won't be visible on this website, your classmates can contact you via email by clicking on "send [name] a message" link at the bottom of each classmate's profile. Enjoy reading the profiles!
One classmate per profile. To change your profile click Log in. Username = your email.
Sheri Clemons (Clemons)
| State / Province: | NY |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Single |
| Children: | 0 |
| Occupation: | Retired Social Work Administrator |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Good girls get to go to heaven, but I wanted to go everywhere, and I did. I am grateful that Ames High School and my classmates gave me the tools that helped me get there. At ISU, I was the representative for the College of Arts and Sciences to the Board of the Government of the Student Body, along with being a founding member of the ISU Student Alumni Association and the founder of ISU Democrats. I worked for Jimmy Carter in the Iowa Caucuses and general election. I managed a general election campaign for the Iowa House, where the candidate won by a margin of more than two to one. I interned in the Iowa House for the chairman of the education committee. I then ran for a seat in the Iowa House. I ran a very good campaign but lost the primary. I was relieved, discovering that being the candidate and an elected official is far more taxing than working for them. The person who won went on to serve a lengthy, distinguished career. After graduating, I became a Real Estate Broker for a Kansas City Bank. I helped with the development of suburban housing and with the development and preservation of housing stock for inner-city residents. I also worked in a halfway house operated by the Greater Kanas City Mental Health Foundation that served career criminals who were granted parole contingent upon their completion of the halfway house program. I also volunteered as a community activist. In 1984, I moved to Manhattan in New York City to work with mentally ill elderly homeless women and men. I have loved living in New York City ever since. During the AIDS crisis in the 1980s and early 90s, I worked for the City of New York, coordinating housing placement, development, and programming for people with AIDS. I also volunteered with ACT-UP and other LGBTQ and AIDS community organizations. I later went on to work for the City Council Member representing Lower Manhattan. In the early 1990s, I enrolled at the City University of New York’s Hunter College School of Social Work and earned a Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis on administration and casework. Throughout the 1990s, I worked for a leading international feminist, Bella Abzug and her daughter, Liz, as a consultant. I got to meet and work with a long list of celebrities, elected officials and activists.. I worked on two Geraldine Ferraro US Senate campaigns and various candidates’ NYC, NY State, and Federal elections. In 1999, I returned to social work, becoming the assistant director for social services at a not-for-profit based in Lower Manhattan, housing challenging-to-serve and formerly incarcerated people living with AIDS. All but 7 people employed by the organization had served many years in prison. I was made an honorary felon. I think they liked me. I was on my way to this job on September 11th, 2001, when I was severely injured and permanently disabled in a life-altering instant during the morning terrorist attack on New York City. In addition to this job, I had also been volunteering with Michael Bloomberg’s campaign for Mayor. I was still able to consult with the campaign from my hospital bed and from home when I was finally released from the hospital in October. Mike won the general election in November; I was invited to stand with him on the dais on election night and was offered a position in his administration, but I could not accept either invitation because of the severity of my injuries. I was also not able to return to work at the not-for-profit. I learned a lot from this experience. The most important thing I learned is that life itself is what’s valuable, and it is best lived with grace and authenticity. It’s not what you do for a living; it is how you are in the world. I am grateful for the time I have had over the past 23 years to spend time with my father, stepmother, and aunt as they lived through and died from dementia. I am grateful for the time I have had to devote to friends and family and endeavors like travel, photography, volunteering a bit around my community and synagogue, serving on the New York Democratic County Committee, and attending this year’s reunion. |
| Share a high school memory: | I loved the wonderful concerts at AHS, from student concerts to rock concerts and dances. Most of all, I enjoyed my friends, fellow classmates, and faculty, who taught me so much. |
Ev Cochrane (Cochrane)
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Single |
| Children: | 0 |
| Occupation: | Writer |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Staying above ground and hanging out with my friends, most of whom I met at AHS: Chuck Harmison, Dave Knutson, Pete Crump, Julie Hensley, Kathy Harmison, Randy Larson, Kevin Highland, Rick Server, Joe Stohlmeyer, Joel Morton, Greg Bal, Pete Kempthorne and so many others who have asked to remain unmentioned. I have published ten books, including such classics as Reflections of a Gym Rat, Starf*cker, and The Case of the Turquoise Sun (2024). Best wishes to all and thanks much for the fond memories. |
| Share a high school memory: | Literally too many fond memories to chronicle. Suffice it to say that I spent the better part of the early 70's traveling about the Midwest with Dave Knutson, Randy Larson, Chuck Harmison and other cronies following the latest exploits of Joe Namath, Pistol Pete Maravich, and Iggy Pop. We never had a ticket and rarely had a dime or decent car but we never missed a date. And I mean never. Where there's a will there's always a way in. |
Jon Coupal
| State / Province: | CA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | President Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | 1. Graduated from Ames High in 1974. 2. Attended Drake University 1974 to 1976. 3. Transferred to William & Mary in Virginia. Graduated with Honors in 1978. (B.A. degree in Government.) 4. Stayed at William & Mary (Marshall-Wythe School of Law) secured J.D. in 1982. 5. Married in the historic Wren Chapel at W&M (built in 1693) to Catherine Kinner. Still married after 42 years. 6. Fellowship with Pacific Legal Foundation in Sacramento from 1982 to 1984. Litigation attorney with PLF from 1984 to 1990. 7. Director of Legal Affairs, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) from 1990 to 2000. (HJTA, with offices in both Los Angeles and Sacramento, is the largest taxpayers association in California). 8. Became President of HJTA, a position I currently hold, in 2000. From my professional bio: “Coupal is a recognized expert in California fiscal affairs and has argued numerous tax cases before the courts. He is also the principal drafter of Proposition 218, the Right to Vote on Taxes Act, a measure passed by the voters in November 1996. He has served as chairman of several initiative campaigns representing the interests of taxpayers. In 2003, he served as a member of Governor Schwarzenegger’s Transition Team. Coupal serves as Chairman of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Foundation. He writes a weekly column for the Southern California News Group and is a frequent guest on both television and radio programs discussing fiscal policy and political issues.” 9. Jon & Cathy have 2 adult children. Elena, a Genetic Counselor who resides in Salt Lake City, and Adam, who lives in Sacramento and is currently working as an aeronautical engineer for Pyka, a UAV startup company based in Oakland California. 10. Jon & Cathy enjoy hiking and backpacking. Recent trips include Lake Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness, Lassen NP Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequioa National Park. They have also hiked most of the national parks in Utah including Bryce Canyon, Arches NP and Zion NP. Click https://flic.kr/p/2pBfKJm for INYO National Forest hiking photo. 11. Their hiking adventures have also taken them to the Tour de Mount Blanc, hiking through France, Italy and Switzerland as well as hiking the Julian Alps in Slovenia. In January of 2025, they plan a 3 week hiking trip through New Zealand. |
Pat Coyle
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Committed Relationship |
| Children: | 0 |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | On April 11, 2024 Pat will owned and Operated his plumbing business for 30 years in the Iowa City and surrounding communities. During this time he owned 5 different work vans, with the last one purchased in 2016. He says he will drive this one until whichever one gives out first, himself or the van. Another semi recent photo https://flic.kr/p/2pAAgKB |
| Share a high school memory: | In 1974 Pat interned with Franck and Wengert Plumbing in Ames Iowa. 50 years later Pat is still in the same business. |
Steve Craig (Craig)
| State / Province: | OR |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 1 |
| Occupation: | Retired Building Contractor |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | I married Debra Kingsbury in May of 1974. After Deb finished nursing school, in June of 1977 we moved to Coos Bay, Oregon where Deb got a job as a registered nurse at Bay Area Hospital. After working for a couple of local contractors, I got my contractors license in 1978 and began my career as a building contractor. We had a daughter, Abby, in 1979. Over the years we enjoyed camping and fishing all around the beautiful state of Oregon. I retired at 59 and Deb followed the next year. After retirement we purchased a larger boat and we have spent a lot of time fishing on the ocean for salmon and bottom fish as well as albacore tuna and halibut. Since around 1990 I have volunteered with others to build 3 fish Hatchery facilities and developed into a program where we release 2.1 million Chinook salmon into Coos Bay each year. This has created a fishery that is estimated to bring in 7 to 8 million dollars a year to the local economy. After my retirement, I became facilities manager at our largest facility, Morgan Creek Hatchery, where we release 1.1 million Chinook each year. Our daughter Abby married and has 3 wonderful children. Abby and her husband Kris live in Beaverton, Oregon. Unfortunately, my wife Deb has developed early onset alzheimers. She now needs a lot of help and supervision. I have been caregiver for her for 3 or 4 years now. We are still fishing, going on motorcycle rides, riding our ATVs in the sand dunes, and going on walks. I still do a lot of work at the hatcheries and Deb likes to come along as she has friends there too. I want to keep her home with me as long as possible. Our 50th wedding anniversary on May 24! |
| Share a high school memory: | Many memories such as attending basketball and football games and having fun with friends. Remember some crazy parties. Lots of good times! |
Randy Crom
| State / Province: | NV |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 0 |
| Occupation: | Veterinarian / veterinary epidemiologist - retired |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Went to ISU for a veterinary degree, spent a couple years treating companion animals near Minneapolis, then worked for USDA for the next 30 years. Assignments took Julie and me (now married 39 years) to Puerto Rico (twice), Arizona, Colorado, Switzerland, and then 20 years in Washington, DC. Involved with responding to, or preparing for outbreaks of, mad cow disease (BSE), West Nile virus, foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza, among many others. When Julie retired in 2020 we moved to fabulous Las Vegas! Love rooting for the Cyclones, and now the 49ers and Pacers, but don’t bet on them or anything else. Traveled to 47 countries so far — hopefully many more to come. |
Michael Crowe
| Marital status: | Widowed |
|---|---|
| Children: | 0 |
| Occupation: | retired |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | After we graduated i continued to work at the job i obtained from Trade and industry program at Ames High, Collegiate Pacific in Ames. I enjoyed working there for about 9 years. i was the recieving clerk and loved unloading and loading trucks as I was never the office type guy. then i got into auto detailing for a long while where I worked for several auto Dealerships including Mathison Ford in Ames and Deery Bros, and Shottenkirks in Burlington. I moved there in 87 after meeting my soulmate and later my beloved wife wife in 89. Mary Lee was the best thing that ever happened to me. unfortunately I Iost her due to Parkinsons in 2020. Now I muddle on and enjoy bicycle riding and golf and painting with watercolors. |
| Share a high school memory: | When I was a sophomore in Miss Gugel's art class a senior bullied me into doing his artwork. I it for him once but Miss Gugel new it was mine and the guy caught hell. |
Peter Crump
| State / Province: | WI |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | It seems like I’ve been having more fun than anyone should ever be allowed since graduating from AHS. 1974-1978 Attended St Olaf College, majored in math and played D-III basketball. I somehow spent more time in the gym than I did in the library or the Chapel. 1978-1980 Returned to Ames and went to graduate school at Iowa State University and got a Masters in Statistics (ISU is home to the oldest Statistical Lab in the country). Again, spent more time at Old Men’s Gym playing basketball than being in the library, even though the library was next door to the Statistics building. 1980-2019 Worked for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at The University of Wisconsin-Madison as a statistical consultant. I took Mark Twain’s advice, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I had the same office and phone number the whole time working at a job that I was actually trained for. I enjoyed the one on one teaching with motivated students and the wide variety of projects. Being able to play basketball at lunch time was an added benefit. 1990 Married Lisa Davis. I first laid eyes on Lisa at a tennis tournament. We were competing against each other in a mixed doubles tournament. To this day, Lisa doesn’t remember who won the match, so I have to keep reminding her. Lisa retired from her job as a research dietitian at UW Hospital. We occasionally worked with some of the same students from the Nutritional Sciences department. 1992 Learned how to fly a Cessna 152 and 172 and got my VFR license. It was one of the most satisfying skills I ever learned. I soloed on a grass landing strip, now that’s real flying. 1993 Jennifer was born and so my flying days ended and her college fund began. She graduated from Washington University in St Louis in Biology with a neuroscience concentration. She is now a math teacher in New York City in the Bronx at an all-girls public high school. She is not doing what she was trained for, but loves it immensely and we get to chat about math problems. She recently got engaged. Lisa and I got to see it all happen, as we were in a group of a eight people hiding in the bushes when the question was popped. 1998 Johanna was born. Johanna went on to study at Elon University and majored in Public Health. She recently moved back from North Carolina to live with us. She works 100% remotely as a researcher for the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. She has recently taken up the sport of tennis, so I get to be her coach once again (I had a brief couple of years coaching her 14 and under softball team). 2024 In retirement, Lisa and I have been playing a lot of tennis, biking and hiking and our vacations are centered around these activities. Lisa keeps me busy with all her volunteer work as I occasionally tag along, primarily working in our community garden to supply fresh food to the local food pantries. We are currently without a dog, having lost our yellow lab in December, 2023. We lost our black lab a couple of years ago. My fellow classmate and teammate, Ev Cochrane, gave us our first dog, a German Shepherd pup, back in the early 90’s. Another classmate, John Elliott, keeps us right with the IRS by preparing our taxes and reminding me to keep the faith that the Green Bay Packers will once again make it to the Super Bowl. I’m looking forward to the reunion weekend and visiting Ames once again. |
| Share a high school memory: | I remember driving the driver’s education cars to gas stations to fill them up with gas. John Elliott and I always drove the speed limit, but we got them up to the speed limit in record time. I also remember all the free cans of Mountain Dew I got from the vending machine in the AHS gym our senior year. The soda was only free for those that knew the trick. |
Ann Culver (Kelso)
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Graphic design/marketing. Retired |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | I feel fortunate to have been a student at Ames High and for the influence friends, classmates, and teachers had on me. As I scanned our senior photos for the reunion book, I realized I remembered most of us and still felt that connection. I think band and synchronized swimming were my favorite school memories. My DECCA job at the Ames Tribune jump started my career in advertising and graphic design. I quickly decided it was the degree for me and received a BA in Advertising Design at Iowa State. My class was the first to graduate under the College of Design. In the mid 80’s, I began designing on the new Macintosh computers which enabled me to work from home when my kids were young. I laugh now at how my first Mac had a 20MB hard drive. I hung on through all the changes in technology throughout my career and enjoyed the fun projects and opportunities. I recently retired from real estate marketing and as an Art Director for Our Iowa Magazine. And for the best part of my past 50 years - I gave my life to Christ along the way and married Dale Culver in 1980. We are blessed to have two sons, Alex and Evan. It was fun being a soccer mom, cub scout den mother, PTA duties, music, dogs - boys stuff. Alex is married, has a son, and a baby boy on the way. We love being grandparents and watching our family grow! Evan is an engineer and just moved back to Ames. Dale and I share hobbies that include landscaping, photography, nature and home projects. We like to travel, check out wineries, coffee shops, and area performances with friends. I hope to see you at the reunion! |
| Share a high school memory: | Traveling to Hawaii for spring break with classmate Sandy Hubbert and experiencing the Rolling Stones in concert. |
Kathy Dagestino (Peters)
| State / Province: | CA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 4 |
| Occupation: | Management Consultant / Professional Engineer Retired |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | I have lived 30+ years in southern California. About 10 years ago I bought a home in northwest Washington where I spend the summers so I can avoid the heat of California. It’s so peaceful and lovely in the woods by a lake that my summers have extended to five months. I’ve been married to my husband Barry for over 30 years and have three step sons who all live in southern California, are married and have children. I have five grandchildren ages 21 to ten. They are all growing up too fast. We enjoy getting together, usually at our home. My husband and I have a son, Nicholas, who lives in Washington, which is another reason I spend so much time up there. I’m a registered Professional Engineer, and have spent most of my career as a management consultant working for Ernst and Young. I was part of a national practice so travelled extensively most of the time. I always enjoyed the challenge and variety of the projects that I ran. I made partner with EY, yet had to retire early due to limitations caused by my Multiple Sclerosis which was diagnosed in 2001. Over the past two years I’ve enjoyed being on our church’s Vestry and working on the project that’s building 65 apartments for low income seniors on land that used to require extensive mowing and watering. The last year and a half I have been fighting Stage 4 Squamish Cell cancer. The first two types of treatments ended up not working, but the current one seems to be shrinking the tumors, so we are grateful. We appreciate the prayers for healing from so many of you. I’m disappointed that I am unable to attend this year’s reunion. I just don’t get around very well and tire easily. I’m including a picture of me that was taken this past June. Our class has so many interesting and accomplished people. Hopefully if you have a 55 year gathering I’ll be able to attend. Thanks to the planning committee for all their hard work. |