What's Up?

It's been almost 45 years since we graduated from Burkburnett High School. Tell us something about yourself, your family, where you have lived, what vocations, hobbies, retired or big plans for the next chapter. 

Cris Hays (Johnson)

Marital status: Married
Children: 3
Occupation: Retired
Comment: I'm so excited that we're celebrating our 40th Class Reunion!  I still don't believe that I'm  almost 60 years old.  Mind you, I feel it; I just still think I'm young. 60 is the new 40.  Right?  

Where to begin?  After graduation, I moved to Dallas to attend the Fashion and Art Institute of Dallas.  I loved my classes and classmates.  One of the students in the Fashion program with me was Marsha Pearson, wife of Dallas Cowboy, Drew Pearson.  He attened several of our events and is a really nice man.  I graduated with my Associates Degree in Fashion Marketing and Design in 1982.

The next phase of my life found me moving back to the big city of Wichita Falls.  I loved Dallas, but missed my family.  At this point the biggest retailer in WF was Sikes Senter Mall, and I didn't want to work mall hours so...I became a teller at First Wichita Bank, (Big Blue).  I worked my way up to Executive Scretary. 2 years  later, I gave notice, got married and settled into the life a of  housewife.  This marriage produced 2 beautiful sons, Justin and Jonathan Ball.  

In 1999 I was divorced.  Shortly after I was lucky enough to fall in love and marry the man of my dreams, Ron Hays.  We just celebrated our 20th anniversary of marriage.  Ron has son, Drew Hays,(my third son).  We have a grandson, Braeden Ball.

Ive worked a lot of different jobs and when I retired from Mesquite ISD, I left the Purchasing department as 1 of 3 Purchasing Agents.  I retired amd have found my artistic side.  I love knitting, crochet, sewing, creating all sorts of crafts, and painting.  I have started an online business, Pink Utopia.  I hope to have the website up and running by this August 2, 2020. 

See you all soon!!!  Go Boomtown Babes!!!  Go Bulldogs!!!

Ruby Neal

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Single
Occupation: It's a secret
Comment: Cris Johnson is correct.... 60 is indeed the new 40 hahaha!

Oh how some things have changed since 1980, some things more than others! For those who haven't already heard, I used to be Neal Howard. I am transgender. Hey, sooner or later one of us BHS alumni had to do it, right? Might as well be me, lol! 40 years ago who'd have ever suspected? Anyways, whatever, I'm still me... just look a little different these days and a little bit less introverted although still socially awkward. At this age I'm glad to still be around, and it seems like I've also ran out of "give-a-f's" what negative people might think of me. We're all getting older, hopefully wiser, and unfortunately there are not as many of us around as there used to be.... including a couple of classmates who I really wanted to get to see and introduce them to the new me, but now I'll never get to do that. So everyone, please take care of yourselves, stay healthy, take this pandemic seriously because it is, but smart precautions will definitely help us all minimize the risks without having to resort to solitary confinement in a sealed bubble, which is not necessary.... just use your noggin and we'll all get thru this. I plan on attending all reunion events that get held, with my mask and hans sanitizer and all the smart behavior and all that.... And think we should be daring at least just enough to orchestrate one group photo with all wearing masks, for historical/posterity sake (while holding our breaths long enough to quickly assemble for the photographer, lol!)
Anyways, I look forward to whatever gatherings we can safely, and smartly, manage to do. This will be an opportunity to show what a smart bunch of kids BHS graduated four decades ago, and have only grown wiser with age.

Peace,
Ruby Ruth Neal (formerly Neal Rudy Howard)

Greg Pendley (Pendley)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Energy Consultant

Kevin Seager

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 1
Occupation: Retired Nuclear Engineer
Comment: I have been married to Annette Seager (Egnoto) since May 1984, and we have one son Cole who is 23 and is in a PhD Chemistry program at Indiana University. I studied Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University after high school, graduating with a PhD in August 1990. I spent my entire working career at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, retiring in February 2018 after 27 and 1/2 years. I worked in the areas of radioactive material transportation, domestic nuclear weapon safeguards, US-Russian nuclear arms control, detection of nuclear weapons for homeland security, and development and fielding of radiation detectors for a number of US Government agencies.

I hunted mule deer, elk and antelope in the mountains and high plains of New Mexico, and I also enjoy coin and stamp collecting, reading science fiction, collecting comic books, camping, spelunking, water skiing, and playing board games and cards with family and friends. And hosting an occasional friendly poker game!

Since high school I have lived either in Texas (while in college at Texas A&M), New Mexico, or the Washington DC area from 2009-2012. My work at Sandia National Laboratories provided me with the great opportunity to travel over 3 million miles of domestic and international travel, including to Russia, England, and twice to Geneva, Switzerland. Annette and I moved back to Wichita Falls in March 2020, and we are delighted to be back in the close company of family and so many high school friends.