1965--2010 Swimming Pool Stories--MGCC

 

1950—2010  THE SWIMMING POOL

Jonya, Dad, Letty, and Marie Stephenson eating ice cream during 4th of July with the swimming pool in the background. 

Melinda Wilson Watterson Thiesing

I grew up swimming in that pool in the late 1940’s and 50’s. I swam a lot and took lessons every summer. I always felt confident in my ability to swim and dive well. My two daughters, Melissa and Juli, were lifeguards and managed the pool during high school and college. They were also excellent swimmers and taught classes for little children.

James Taylor--1957

During the summer of 1957 some of my friends and I would sneak into the swimming pool and swim at night buck naked. Dad was a member, and I didn't have to sneak in, but the pool was closed and none of my buddies’ fathers were members, so I snuck in with them to be with them. We were seen from the veranda, and someone had complained to Johnie. One night when we snuck in, we were raising cane and I was diving off that little wooden board buck naked springing up and down when suddenly there was a snub nosed 32 in my ribs and a rough voice saying, "What are you doing here?" 

Scared me to death, when I finally gathered myself, I could see Johnie laughing and he told us to get. That's all it took, and I never did that again. That is the only time I recall of anyone holding a gun on me, but I still think many of the country club women were disappointed when our swimming ended as we all were fairly physically fit. 

Bob Hill—1957

Kids often went swimming in the pool after the club closed, when there was no fence around the pool. Of course, they were skinny dipping. Eventually, the club put a fence around the pool and lock on the gate to keep the kids out, but as Mary VanBeber explained in a personal comment to me (Letty Stapp Watt 2020) it was really some of the adults who went skinny dipping and drinking past midnight on those hot summer nights. The kids (Phyllis Proper, Patty Lou Gibson, Bob Hill, Joe Thompson), however, were blamed for the police calls by neighbors who reported the noise.

Bill Erwin 1959

One night in 1959 some of my friends and I were not really thinking on a straight line when we decided around midnight, we were going swimming at the club pool. Gene Tucker stripped down to his beds and was bouncing on the diving board when Mike Cherry discovered there was no water in the pool. Could have been a really big bad mistake.

Roger McCollum 1959

Roger McCollum shares a painful story of swimming at the old pool at the country club:  One day when my mom was playing in a Women's club event left me at the swimming pool for the day. I fell asleep on the hard concrete after some swimming and woke hours later. The next morning when I awoke my entire back was blistered. It was pretty painful, and I recall that it took 5-7 days before I could move without pain.

Letty Stapp (Watt) 1955

At age seven, I could dog paddle in the water. I thought I could swim. Mother had drawn an imaginary line as to how far I could swim into the deep side of the pool. There were water pipes that matched up on both side that created a line that I could NOT cross or I would be pulled out of the pool. One day I saw my babysitter, Mary Ann Horner, playing in the deep end with her friends. I wanted her attention, so I grabbed hold of the drainage edge on the lifeguard's side of the pool and pulled myself out into the deep water. I let go of the edge of the pool to scream at Mary Ann and promptly sunk to the bottom. No one could see me. When I came up for air I once again screamed at Mary Ann. Rather than taking in air I swallowed water and sunk to the bottom of the pool. I vividly recall touching bottom because it was scratchy. That is what scared me. When I came up for air, I tried to grab hold of the side and luckily someone saw me struggling. The lifeguard pulled me out and began hitting me on the back until I coughed up the water.

In the commotion dad was called out from the golf shop and mother was crying. Everyone was out of the pool and I was embarrassed. Someone asked me if I wanted anything. I started crying and told them I wanted a grape pop. That was the best grape pop I ever drank.  (Thank you Paul Pipes for sharing that I drank a Grapette that day bottled by Voss .) 

The very next summer Mother enrolled me in swimming lessons at the public pool. I loved that pool and the lessons. My favorite teacher was Jack Schofield. I took lessons over the years, but never took my life guard test because I didn't want to be a life-guard.

John (Jody) Mayer 1961-62

Jody retells his adventures with his two best friends John Carter, and Charlie Dawson, who was a avid golfer like his mother, Florence.

Charlie Dawson, John Carter and I were classmates in the MHS class of 1963. Charlie and John were fortunate enough to attend the WORLD’S FAIR in Seattle in the summer of 1962. As I remember, it was a ‘road trip’ for them. That was a big deal back in the sixties.

 But I digress. My point is that Charlie was the official Lifeguard at the Miami Country club that summer. Seems like he was the year before, also. I substituted for Charlie that summer of 1962 while he and John were traveling.   Unfortunately, I can’t offer any photos. I do remember sort of fallin’ for Randy Weirs, a girl a year younger than me. I kind of think she was Charlie’s girlfriend when he moved away. John and Charlie have been lifelong friends. Sad to say that Charlie died from ALS a few years ago. 

Ann Habeger 1965  
I've been reading your wonderful accounts of the Country Club and sending them to my brother Chuck, who has also enjoyed them.  I can't remember much, but here's what I do remember.

Vicki Newell and I practically lived at the pool, from opening time until mid-afternoon.  Mom would give me 15 cents to buy a candy bar and a Dr. Pepper.  At 2:00 or so, Vicki and I would walk to her house and watch the soap opera Days of Our Lives.  If Opal was out, Vicki would make us cinnamon toast, which for some reason was a no-no.  When Opal returned, she'd always check to see if the toaster was warm (and we'd be caught!)

Lynn Schwertfeger and I had a trick dive, we called the double dive. We'd both be on the diving board, and I'd go off first with Lynn right behind me.  She would catch my ankles midair, and we'd enter the water as one continuous diver.  I don't know how she did that.  She was always fearless.
Joe Thompson (very cute and a couple of years older) was the lifeguard one summer.  All the girls would sit around his chair for hours, flirting with him. 
One morning when we were at the pool, a dog with rabies was running loose.  The police came and shot it.

Mr. Newell would always have a big barbecue on July 4.  The Country Club put on a wonderful fireworks display.  They staged it from the green area at hole #eight.  People drove in from all over town.  After the display, Vicki and I would walk to her house for the barbecue, with traffic bumper to bumper leaving the event.

Lynn, Gale Longacre, and Vicki all had horses and would ride together.
After Lynn’s family moved to Rockdale, she would be at the pool all day as well.  Betty, her mom, would always come for a while.
I think Sally Ulmer must have arrived around our sophomore or junior year.  Sally and Lynn got summer jobs life-guarding at the small pools at the parks during the summer before their senior year.  

Barbara Bomford (Newman) remembers playing Marco Polo (or what my friends called Blind Man's Bluff). We could play games around the pool all afternoon. It was a special time for all of us.  

George Haralson  from L To R:George, Carol, Scotty, Gayle, and ?

The picture shows the children of John G. Haralson family: George, Carol, Scotty, Gail and her friend. Our father John Haralson was a lifelong member of the Miami Country club. Miami Ready Mix Concrete located on the north end of the truck route (D street N.E.) was owned by my father. My father loved to play golf.  We lived in five houses on Yale Street, all just south of the east side of the country club.

 My father would chip on to the 8^th green then play a round of golf with Neil Norton, Dr. Frank Alquist and other club members who lived in Rockdale addition.I know that they all enjoyed playing golf together and they all seemed to enjoy spending time together in the club lounge, back in the days when Oklahoma had draconian liquor laws. 

John Prewitt—1968-76

I remember the late Bob Paine throwing me and other younger kids around in the pool as well as golf lesson for your Dad and playing junior golf at the club.

  Reply: Keith Holmes—That swim was after we ate one of those good hamburgers served for lunch in the clubhouse.

John Prewitt—Tab and zero candy bars were a treat when we were there.

Debbie Hankins Pollard  mid 1960’s

I have a permanent scare under my chin from jumping on the diving board and falling off but hitting the old wooden diving board on the way down. They had to find my Dad on the golf course so that he could take me to the emergency room for stitches.

Kathy Graham Kennedy  mid 1960’s

I remember swimming one day while my parents play golf. The tornado sirens blared as the tornado was sighted. We could all see it and lifeguards rushed everyone to safety. I was so worried about my parents.   

Gary W. Neel (60’s) I thought it was such a large pool when I was a young kid. 

Vicki Martin Reynolds (late 50’s early 60’s)

We swam there in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Lovely pool where we had fun with lots of our friends.  

Bobby Wilson late 60’s

I swam at the pool every day when it was open. My parents played golf and often stayed for dinner and drinks. I must have been an ornery kid. I frequently was told to get out of the pool for my behavior and report to your dad. Eventually Johnie decided to do something about my behavior. One day he walked by the pool with a golf club and basket of golf balls. He stepped in the pool area and called for me before I was even in trouble that day.

We walked out to the driving range, which was on the west side of the pool and driveway. He handed me a club and began teaching me how to play golf. From then on, I spent my days between the driving range, putting green, and swimming.  I don’t think I got in trouble much after that and I greatly appreciated your dad teaching me how to play golf. 

Rebecca Russell, August 1969

My brother, Wes Wilson, was a lifeguard one summer. I substituted for him one night. Waiting for closing time and no one there but me, I was prancing around the pool, jumped over the ladder, landed wrong and sprained my ankle so bad that I still have issues with it to this day!  That was August 1969. I started college with a giant ace bandage on that ankle.

 Dana Painter 1970-72   

Although I was a regular…in the baby end at this time, I don’t remember it without a fence.  My sister, Gail, was a lifeguard there around 1970-72.

Rebecca Mirjanich  1972-1973

When I was a lifeguard I recall having to paint the pool before it opened that year. David Robinson who was in charge of the pool gave us buckets of paint and put us to work. It was difficult because the bottom was not smooth and during the two days of work my feet got terribly sunburned. Overall, fun times, I loved that job.

Jonya Stapp 1970's

I remember how much fun it was to swim in the summer. What I recall the most is coming back in the summers between college classes and seeing a little kids play in the shallow end of the pool.

In particular, I remember a little Lori Lillard, and how adorable she was.

 Sunny Peacock Carron

My little brother used to drive the riding lawnmower to the club and swim and play golf.!!!! That is until our grandmother found out he was doing that, maybe instead of mowing.

Ann Heyburn Guilford

Oh, the memories! Every summer day for years! I may have a picture or two.

Kieran Reavis Major

I was a lifeguard part of 1975, then, ’76, ’77, ’78. I loved preparing the pool for the day and visiting with Betty Schwertfeger, who would come to swim for adult free swim before the pool opened. She was an interesting, funny and wise woman. We had the best conversations and laughed together like old friends. She told about an FBI agent who was absolutely adorable but not as cute as her Vern. She adored her husband. I learned about the great Henry Iba basketball tradition from Betty’s stories of their days at OSU.

One summer we had unexpected algae bloom due to a rainier than usual season and had to empty then scrub the pool. Green slimy mess.

The children were so sweet. I can still see four-year-old Nancy Rapp swimming towards my arms smiling underwater. She was fearless and would swim across the pool and back. Precious little girl.

When the pool was quiet, the adults were always fun to watch. One of my favorite memories was seeing the ever-gorgeous Ellen Robinson swan in the club one early evening, dressed in a beautiful creamy white pant suit, dark sunglasses, blonde hair. She looked like a movie star.

Three of my favorite teenagers were Sally and Chrissie Neal and Ann Fullerton.

Mrs. Couch would bring her adorable little girls—Gretchen, Rachel, and Kirsten. They loved to swim at the pool and then have lunch together.

Precious times and so many nice memories of so many sweet families.

Letty's reply: Kieran, you have given a full summer of memories to share. I, too, loved Betty Schwertfeger. I can still hear Betty’s laughter from the pool to the golf shop. I greatly admired her inner beauty. It didn’t bother her one bit to adorn a bathing suit and swim. Many of the women would not go to the pool because they didn’t like how they looked in a swim suit, or wear shorts and summer top.  So sad for them and their kids.

Kieran’s reply: I am remembering her laugh! A truly modern lady. I hope she knew what a good influence she was for us.

Vicki Ammerman Campbell

I was a substitute lifeguard in 1973-75. They still had the lifeguard chair, but we would sit lower and talk to the kids. Lots of Marco Polo was played and flips from the diving board. The club served a free meal to the lifeguard and delivered it to your chair. Prior to that I spent my childhood swimming in that pool and my teen years tanning with baby oil and iodine.

Donald J. Wilson  late 1970's

I learned to swim at the country club pool in the late 1970’s. The original pool (before the fire) was closer to the club making for an easier barefoot trek to the Pro Shop for provisions (usually a Coke and Three Musketeers charged to the Wilson account). Good memories at both pools. 

 Karen Crow  1978

My husband dove of the board and scraped his face on the bottom of the pool, 1978. My favorite lifeguard is Chloe Patterson Mullens.  

Jennie Glasman Butterfield  1980's

My grandparents lived on Elm Street and we had a path where we cut through the rough on the golf course when we went to the swimming pool a the club. We were also dropped off or rode our bikes around to the club. We spent every day there after junior golf until I was old enough to work there. I was little when the original clubhouse burned, but I remember watching it from across the street, as my dad was a fireman, and we were members already. That building was beautiful.

We always “charged” our snacks to our member number, someone would bring us sandwiches and on lucky days we’d go to the dining room and get something special.

The bottom of the pool always left sores until our feet got used to them. We played all the games and did things every day of the summer. We were true pool rats. This place was a huge part of our childhood in the summer. I later went on to teach swim lessons and lifeguard at MGCC until I went to college.

My parents are Mike and Debbie Glasman, and my grandparents were John and Betty Finley.  I think “charge it” were my brother’s first words.  

It was the best childhood!!! 

 

  Picture posted by Jennie Glasman Butterfield of “Jennie Glasman and Kaci Lewis”

 

Kieran: I remember sleeping at your house and having French Toast for breakfast! It was so yummy.  It’s crazy how certain memories etch such a solid spot in our hearts.

I swear I ate Slim Jim’s like they were the last thing I’d ever eat.

Kenna Harkins—My favorite lifeguard was Chip! Many a summer day I spent at that pool while my mom worked her fingers to the bone to pay the bills.

Claude Honeycutt—I used to swim in the crik when I was younger.

Debbie Lee Graves

I swam there during my junior high/high school year of 1969-1973. I have such fond memories of the pool and the club. We lived right off of Elm behind the Burford home (president of Security Bank). I climbed the fence at the creek on #2 and walked up the course cutting through the rough on #1.  I still remember our “charge” number. And I had the best tan. I used a lot of zinc oxide on my nose.

1990’s

Benjamin Brady

I lived at that pool open to close during the summer. Missy Darity and I were lifeguards in the summer of 1991. Best memories.

Missy Darity

Benjamin Brady will get me a club sandwich and a Marguerita? Put that on your dad’s account. Ha ha ha

Erin Elaine Patterson

This pool (and junior golf) gave me my best friend of 30+ years Kaci Hoffer . We swam every day during the summers of the 90’s.

 

LIFEGUARDS AT THE MIAMI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

1955--60 Patty Lou Gibson, Phyllis Proper, Joe Thompson

1961—65 Patty Lou Gibson, Joe Thompson, Charlie Dawson

1965-70 Judy Berentz, Jan Farrier Kimbrough, David Blazer, Debbie Gosney, Wes Wilson

1972--Suzy Wickham, Susie Tatum, Rebecca Mirjanich  

1973--Rebecca Mirjanich

1975--1978  Kierean Reavis Major

1976 RETIREMENT PARTY

  THE  PRO

In 1989 Jonya and I and our families faced the death of our parents. Mother, Helen Stapp died in August of 1989 and our father, Johnie F. Stapp, Pro-Emeritus died of a broken heart in October of 1989. We were devastated. I held onto an old picture of mom and dad dancing at the club merely three weeks before "Sepsis" took our mother's life. I cherished that photo and knew that they had enjoyed life down to the last leg of the journey.

The Christmas of 1992 I opened a gift from my sister. Out of the four-foot-long box dropped a doll or a puppet. I couldn’t tell. As I picked up the folded character I looked into those blue eyes and saw my dad. I laughed and we all cried. In my arms that evening I held the figure of our dad in my lap. Thirty years later he sits to my right in my studio and keeps me smiling and persevering. Sometimes he appears on the mantel when we host golf parties.

https://literallyletty.blogspot.com/2011/07/pro.html The Pro’s Story as I wrote 2011 on my personal blog Literally Letty.

Now here I sit February 15, 2024, writing the celebration of his life at the Miami Golf and Country Club retirement party December 1976. Please join me as I reminisce and share the photos.

1976 December 9 ‘Retiring Golf Pro Johnie Stapp Honored”

Some 250 members of the Miami Golf and Country Club were present Wednesday night to honor Johnie F. Stapp, who is retiring at the end of 1976 after serving the past 23 years as the club’s golf professional. The turnout was described as the largest for any social event in the history of the club.

Don Atchison, Johnie Stapp, Doc Jackson

 

Preparatory to Stapp’s retirement as the golf pro, greens-keeper and the man responsible for the golf shop, golf course, golf carts, and swimming pool, Don Atchison served as master of ceremonies. Called on to “roast” the honored guest were Claire Oliver, John F. Robinson, Marion Zajic, Chi Galloway, Bill Hirsch, Pat Campbell and daughter Letty Stapp Rains of Greensburg, Kansas. 

Helen Stapp, Bob Paul, Don Atchison, Flo Ragsdale, Johnie Stapp, John Robinson, Jonya Stapp, and Joe Hankins.

 

Presentations of plaques, certificates and special gifts were made by Florence Ragsdale on behalf of employees at the club; Joe Hankins, 1976 club president; Robbie (H.D.) Robinson; Doc Jackson and Harry Dean.  

Don Atchison, Johnie Stapp, Judy Atchison, Doc Jackson, Harry Dean reaching across and Dick Lillard on far right.

 A sample of remarks included: “He has made the Miami golf course one of the nicest to be found anywhere.” …” He has saved the club thousands of dollars through hard work beyond his regular duties.”…”Thanks to Johnie Stapp, there is no club I’d rather be a member of than this one.”…”The nicest thing about Johnie is his family, Helen, Letty, and Jonya.”

Don Atchison, Letty Stapp Rains, Rose Pratt, Johnie and Helen Stapp, John Robinson, and Jonya Stapp.

 

 

 Stapp received a standing ovation as he rose to make the final talk. “Thanks to all,” he said, “In 23 years here, there are so many who have helped me in so many ways that I wouldn’t attempt to call individual names. There is absolutely no way for me to express my true appreciation of what you have done. The success of this club belongs to its members and not me,” he declared. 

Jane Trussler, John and Ruth Chambers, Francis and Dail West, Helen Moore, Evelyn and Bill Hatfield.

Left, Mary Robinson. Center to front right: Grace and Rex Painter, Gail Beck, Pauline Taylor, Tammy Romick, Paul Parker

Left to right around the table: Mike and Jackie Craig, Dr. Elmer and Bernice Ogle, Billie and Lowell Lay, Jan and David Thomas.

Another 1976 honor for Stapp came in September when he was chosen “Golf Professional of the Year” in the Eastern Oklahoma chapter of the SC section of the PGA.

A Farewell Message from Johnie Stapp

 They say that if you live long enough they'll turn you out to pasture, and that's just what's happening to me. I've been looking forward to it for quite some time with mixed emotions. you would think with 40 acres, 40 cows, 4 ducks, 2 dogs, and 1 cat, and Helen that there would be plenty to do, not to mention a travel trailer to get away from it all. 

There was still something missing, and those of you who have frequented the Pro Shop the past few weeks have no doubt noticed the concerned expression on my face. Well, that has been the trouble, and just last week I discovered the solution to the whole thing right in my own backyard. 

Three pigeons on the putting clock, namely Barton, Kerr, and Carselowey. Of course, there are others too, such as May, Hatfield, Beck, and Shouse. I am not so sure about Shouse; he's back at work part-time. Maybe the first three got too deep into his pocket or could be inflation or too much garden work. But if things come to the worst there's always the C.S. club, I mean the Jolly Boys. I can fall back on them and pick up a few nickels. 

(My father along with Marion Zajic, Charlie Trussler and many more over the years began the C.S. (chicken shit) club about 1957 in the two-car garage attached behind our house on H N.E. The men gathered every Thursday night to play ping-pong for nickels, dimes but mostly to drink, smoke, and have fun. Jonya and I would watch through the window into the smoke-filled room, spying on the men. When the club was redecorated in 1962-63 the C.S. club moved to men's upstairs card room, the bar, and where-ever else there was room. The lights on the putting clock invited many hours of drinks and memories.) 

Now that my problems are worked out, I'll tell you what Helen and I plan to do for Christmas. Instead of sending cards to all of our friends (the entire membership), we thought it would be nice to plant a cluster of four dogwood trees in the rough between #15 tee and #18 green. The slicers will love that location and we will be remembered for a long time.

 We won't say goodbye because you will probably be seeing just as much of us as ever, but we want to thank you each and every one for being so kind, cooperative, and wonderful beyond explanation to a family who has spent 23 of the happiest years of their lives with you.  

Sincerely,

The Stapp Family