Any Parks College people here?

[lonelyguy]

Parks College Losers

Anyone remember Brian Slawin??

I heard that Brian Slawin is gay.

 

[citdrver]

Wow a three page Parks thread! I was an "old school" Parks guy, all Cahokia, all the time! I started in '91, and ran out on '95. I almost considered the Parks master degree program, since it was run by Dr. Monoj, who was my old boss from my days as a dishwasher in the lovely hall of decadent cuisine on campus! Once I realized a degree in aviation safety is about as worth wile as the professional pilot degree I got there the first time, I decided to forgo that little adventure. I had the privilege of hanging out with FO Dave Byrd at Comair for a little while. We chatted about old times as we updated our Jepps together on multi hour breaks in CVG, he is actually a decent guy. Even at Parks he wasn't all that bad, now Slawin, that's another story! I heard he left aviation behind him, and perhaps under him, I don't think he ever saw his toes! Last May I made my way down to the campus, it is eerie just like it was 10 years ago! The building are starting to show some neglect, but the signs were still there, grass was cut, and even flowers were still growing. It is very spooky since I and many others have many memories there and it still looks the same. I stay in touch with a few people from parks. I saw a few when I was at Comair, but I am back in corporate now and see very few now. So is everyone trying to guess real names of everyone on this thread?? I'll keep ya from guessing:

Tom Oates
ASPP '95 (funny don't feel very professional?!)
AMM '95 (my REAL degree, actually made money with this one!)
Flying corporate in Chicago (MDW)

Take Care guys (because there were like 4 girls there!)

 

[TWAER]

Crap where were the other 3???

 

[SpyFlysDOTs]

Last I heard Mr. Phillips was at NetJets. Great guy, did some of my MEL and CFI with him in 96.

What was Mr Phillips first name?

Tired for a while to remember the previous name of Stooges, and finally called my best buddy, who ended up marrying his GF at Parks, they both fly for majors now..this was back in late 70's early 80's.
Name was The Ranch.

 

[TWAER]

He went by either Matt or Jim

 

[AWACoff]

He only went be Jim for the years that I knew him. He and I had some great times flying the C152 from Downtown "Scare". In case Jim is reading this thread, my hair is back to it's natural color. Marker Beacon OUT!

 

[FSB99]

one year, the night before the annual open house/fly-in, we bumbled our way back from stooges, and noticed all the pretty blue signs scattered about the campus, signs describing things like 'on this spot once stood the college pub,' or, 'mercury hall was built in 196x', etc. we decided to rearrange the signs for the visitors the next day. luckily i was awake and about the next morning when i witnessed the first tour guide taking a group around campus, and the confusion on his face as he realized the sign in front of aviation hall stated 'parks college cafeteria,' and the cafe sign indicated the once-site of the old maintenance hangar. ah, good times!

 

[citdrver]

I actually have a few signs and I think a parking gate memento somewhere around. It was a rite of passage to "allegedly" obtain or perhaps open a parking lot or two by removing those hated gates. I remember the big controversy those caused, little did anyone know what bigger problems were ahead.

 

[pilotdad]

wet behind the ears

Boy are you guys wet behind the ears. Went there in '67 for one year then transferred to SIU (not in aviation by the way). No, did not flunk out either. Anyway you guys probably don't remember Pappy Horn, Mr. Eros, Bobby Boll, Father Leiker, Mr. Whitmore, Mr. Lin, Mr. Uritus (that was good for a laugh)

 

[CheeseheadinTX]

Tom freakin Oates????!!!! I can still remember you, Kevin, and Frank watching Cheers every night! Yes, I was Franks roommate! How ya been?

 

[citdrver]

Wow! With a name like that it has to be Cliff! What's shakin? PM me if you like.

 

[Mesabi Miner]

Boy are you guys wet behind the ears. Went there in '67 for one year then transferred to SIU (not in aviation by the way). No, did not flunk out either. Anyway you guys probably don't remember Pappy Horn, Mr. Eros, Bobby Boll, Father Leiker, Mr. Whitmore, Mr. Lin, Mr. Uritus (that was good for a laugh)

Bobby Boll. I had Mr. Boll for Calculus 2 and 3 back at the Cahokia Campus in 93-94. His wife, the Parks Campus librarian was a sweet lady and passed away very suddenly a few years after I graduated in 96. Mr. Boll hung in there for on campus for a few more years and passed away 2-3 years ago I think. They were great people and I enjoyed getting to know Mr. Boll as I pushed him around in his wheel chair and wiped his overhead projector clean twice a week! Fond memories of Parks.

On a related note, a fellow Parks grad from STL just let me know that Mr. Kamm recently passed away. I didn't know him well or have him for any classes, but many AME's and AMM people spoke very highly of him.

Richard W. "Dick" Kamm
Kamm, Richard 'Dick' W 77, Dupo, IL, died Sat., Feb. 4, 2006.

This has been a nice thread to read.

MM

 

[citdrver]

Mr. Kam was an excellent instructor for the A&P program. He was rough around the edges, but had a ton of enthusiasm for waht he did. I still think that was the one class where I learned the most of the entire A&P program. Eventhough he made fun of me for going through the pilot prgram at the same time as I was working towards my A&P, he may have been right on that one! He would take small groups of students (2 - 3) and grill us on the intricacies of carbs, fuel injection systems, fuel system components, and they didnt call it the sweat box for nothing. You couldnt BS your way through his class because the man really did know it al. He was also an FE on the B-36, and he had good stories to tell. He is man who is fondly remebered by many.

 

[CallmeJB]

Any of you guys remember Steve Fugina? Maybe know what he's up to? I was a student of his at ksus in 2000-01. Think he was class of '99 maybe?

Thanks

 

[rightrudder]

.ififikf

 

[whitey]

Class of 2002. Currently at SKYW. Andora was (is) pretty cool. What happened to Hoover? Wasn't a big fan of Belt. Tim A was a pretty big jerk too, which is why I wasn't surprised to hear of him going to GJ. I hear the whole place has pretty much gone down hill since a new dean took over a couple of years ago. I think he is some engineering type who wants the whole aviation school to just go away. Are they still allowing you to do your flying for free, or do you have to pay flight fees now?

 

[citdrver]

Flying for free??? How did that little gem work? I remeber trying to barely cover the flying costs while there, especially from the lovely and large lady who worked in the cashier office who always accepted a check with a smile and a grunt.

 

[2EASYPilot]

Here's a question...for those old timers out there, who remembers Frank Tucker, Jack Kotacki (sp) from the 60's. I lived in beautiful Cahokia back then and was drawn to aviation by the excitment of having Parks in the neighborhood. Ended up learning to fly at Sisk Aviation at Parks/Bi-State and attending SIU. Still at it many years later...but wanted to say thanks to those guys for geting me started. I have loved every minute of my career !!!

 

[whitey]

Flying for free??? How did that little gem work? I remeber trying to barely cover the flying costs while there, especially from the lovely and large lady who worked in the cashier office who always accepted a check with a smile and a grunt.

For a couple of years (I think 2000-?) they experimented in no additional fees for the flight program. I don't know if they still do it, but I was able get my degree, a little certificate in Business and all of my ratings for the same cost of tuition as any other SLU student. I did have to pay a little extra during the semesters when my credit hours exeeded 20 or something, but it was a good deal. Just wondering if they were still dong that.

 

[pilotdad]

Where is the campus now?

Been out of the loop for a long time. Where is the campus now? Over at St. Louis U. or are they still part of St. Louis U.? Sure dont miss the smell of the rubber recycling plant and chemical plant. Used to sit outside the door of Mercury Hall during a rainstorm just to smell fresh air. :laugh:

 

[TWAER]

Oh the smell, I bet living in Cajokia has taken a few years off my life. Nothing like a chemical plant smell in the morning. The campus is now over at SLU, but the flying is still at CPS. I don't think it is even called Parks College anymore. ANyone remember Mr. Hopper or Chopper Hopper. He used to fly his heli. into campus every once in a while.

TWAER class of 94

 

[site41]

Hi Parks People - I graduated from Parks in 1999. 2 years on each campus and I have a lot of good memories.

BTW - CALLMEJB ---> Fugina is at CHQ based in STL

Site41

 

[Cat3C]

Yep, those were the days. I also remember the girls from Patricia Stevens coming over for the parties and leaving the dorms by the car load on Sunday morning. Stooges used to have the coldest beer I have ever had and very cheap as well. Who was the daughter of the owner who bartended there? Brenda I think.

 

[CheeseheadinTX]

Hey there TOM, sorry it took a few days, in the middle of vacation. Ill get in touch with ya in a week or two, heading to WI tomorrow for some ice fishing(i.e. beer drinking)!