Once a Viking, always a Viking

Cecil Hathaway graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School 79 years ago. Harry S. Truman was president and the population of Coeur d’Alene was about 10,000.

At 97, Cecil’s quite a guy, fit and firing on all cylinders. I had the opportunity to visit with him Saturday at the 2026 CHS All-Class Reunion. Needless to say, he was the only one present from the Class of 1947. Otis Fencl, Class of ’51, was the second most senior attendee.

When I introduced myself, one of the women at his table told him I write a column in the Coeur d’Alene Press. Cecil said he’s a longtime Press reader but didn’t recognize me. I told him I’m larger in person than the postage stamp photo that runs with my column.

He countered with the things he does read in the paper in addition to the front page … obituaries, sports and the comics. I laughed and said I hoped he’d make an exception on Wednesdays and add Main Street to his list.

Note to Cecil if you’re reading this … my email address is at the bottom of the column, I’d love to hear from you!

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Back in the 1960s, Jack Fullwiler was the super cool big brother of my girlfriend, Wendy. Jack was attending North Idaho Junior College and a member of the really cool Fabulous Shadows. Believe me, that was the big time when the band would play City Park slab dances.

Fast forward to this past Saturday when Jack and I crossed paths at the CHS All Class Reunion. Before leaving, I stopped by his Class of ’65 table to ask him for contact info for his sister, Jill. What ensued was worthy of a "Saturday Night Live" skit or maybe an AARP commercial.

We struggled with our iPhones to share info and give each other our phone numbers. Meanwhile, Jack’s classmate, Ron Hodge, was wielding his phone like a maestro, sharing/sending photos he’d taken throughout the afternoon. We were all chuckling about old dogs/new tricks and the challenge of technology and unwanted updates. Finally, Jack and I successfully exchanged our information, laughing with the victory. Jack looked at me, deadpan, and said, “You’re going to write about this, aren’t you?”

Apparently so old friend.

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For the second year, Doug Jaworski and Tom Booth set up a Viking Booster Club info table for the reunion. This year, they brought a variety of CHS Viking apparel from the DECA store at the school. I shopped a new shirt and supported the student-run store. Winning!

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Kudos to CHS Band/Orchestra Director Jim Phillips and music students Parker, Hannah, Elizabeth and Kenzie for stepping up as reunion volunteers. Jim chauffeured attendees to and from the parking lot in a CHS golf cart and the students handed out programs, bussed tables and cheerfully visited with a roomful of vintage Vikings. As one of those vintage Vikings, it was a pleasure to see the great representation of Coeur d’Alene High School by another generation. Hopefully the students witnessed the lifelong enduring connections they’ll one day experience with their own classmates.

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For the record, when the last full day of summer boasts sunny 85-degree temperatures, I celebrated filing this week’s column with a swan song splash in my backyard pool. Yes, the unheated water was a bit brisk but I needed to stock up on Vitamin D before all things pumpkin spice take over the landscape.

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Happy Main Street Birthdays today to Laura King, Autumn Hanson, Craig Owens, Wendy Young, Patty Kilcup, Stacie McGrath, David Thompson, Sue Enright, Brian Harris, Denise Bechel and Madeline Singleton. Tomorrow, father and son Charles Alexander and Scott Alexander, John Hawkins, Tracey Vaughn, Debbie Michalak, Justin Capaul, Steve Evert, Dorothy Benoit, Carlena Shove and Cathy Schaede celebrate. On Friday, James Hagman, Linda Riley, Susan Evans, Beck Jacobsen, Brenda Watkins, Gladys Sullivan, Michael McGee, Ronald Schlepp, Rebecca Greer, Marcia Hughes, Cheryl Snyder, Cate Kuhlmann, Teri Oliver and Charlie Taranto take another trip around the sun. Darci Allert, Hannah Riorden, John Oaks, Lisa McElwain, Teresa Hooker and Dan Tesutov do the birthday dance Saturday. On Sunday, our great grandson, Bennett Snider, turns 2, sharing the date with Cindy Lash, Delraya Anstine, Kaley Fowler, Julie DeGon, Robert Hoyt and Paul Landers. Monday celebrations for Linda Snider, Kayla Troxell, Kylie Solberg, Meg Elyard, Natalie Loval, Ken Cook, Wayne Riddle and Bryan Czarapata. On Tuesday, our oldest grandson, Matt Snider, John Holley, A’mya Ohlig, Gina Myers, Peg Mettalia, Phil Corliss, Greg Youngman, Jim Rosenlund, Shellie Mundy and Marilyn Griffitts blow out the candles.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and a former publisher/editor with the Hagadone Newspaper division. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Kerri can be reached on Facebook or via email at [email protected].