The 1962 Joe Gomez Election Campaign for Student Body President of Walla Walla High School, to be Filmed as part of Series.
This auditorium scene will be recreated for a Netflix type series that is in the beginning stages of production. This early part of the series will focus on what happened at the Student Body Campaign Speeches at a School Assembly, just before the election of our Wa-Hi Student Body Officers.
The Auditorium was part of the old Walla Walla High School that I attended from 1960-1962. We were the last Class to attend this old Wa-Hi. In 1963, Wa-Hi moved to a new location.
During those days some us thought we were almost invincible and forever. Shortly later Wa-Hi classmates and others that were friends were being wounded and killed in Vietnam. We quickly realized that we were neither forever nor invincible.
Now, in 2019, slowly but surely, members of the Class of 1962 are making their journey to the "Other Side Camp." This process seems to be accelerating. Those of us who are still living, have very thankfully passed beyond our average life expectancy. So every day and year we live today and into the future is a bonus.
Now on to the Campaign to Elect Joe Gomez as the Student Body President of Wa-Hi.
On the way, in an old pick-up truck, that I used to drive to Track practice every day, a small group of us decided to start an election campaign for Joe Gomez for Student Body President. The fun was that Joe Gomez did not exist.
Mike Friedman was one of the co-conspirators in the Joe Gomez Election Campaign. This, as well, was during the time that I heard Mike was going to hitch-hike to Europe from Walla Walla and he welcomed me to join him.
We left on this journey, in late August 1962, from the edge of Walla Walla, with a sign, my father made, on our one suitcase. My father drew a big thumb with the words, "New York or Bust!" After 44 rides, some wild, like the Bible Salesmen who picked us up and drove us through Nebraska who brought swearing and foul language to a new level.
Anyway, the next day after we moved forward with our Joe Gomez Election Campaign. We begin our Campaign with stories of a new student that had just moved to Walla Walla, Joe Gomez. He could run the 100 yd dash in 10 seconds flat, broad jump over 20 feet, run 200 yds under 23 seconds, As well, Joe was super intelligent, very warm and friendly and very handsome.
As well, for weeks we put up Joe Gomez election posters. At first openly, and then our HS Administration, especially the vice-principal and our Student Body President became very unhappy with our actions.
Then we continued our Campaign during class time. We would ask to go to the bathroom and during our journey put up Joe Gomez Election Posters. They could not be too big, because we had to get them out of the Classroom. Sometime we would stash them in the bathroom and pick them up and put them up there.
During the breaks and lunch hour School Administrators and the President of our Student Body would tear them down. The growing Joe Gomez for President Campaign would post them again.
As well, our Vice-Principal, Mr. Kramer, summoned me to his office, because of his belief that I was one of the originators and ring leaders of the Campaign. I have no idea why he would have thought such a thought. LOL
Mr. Kramer told me that if this Joe Gomez for President Campaign did not end that he would not allow me any school time to visit any potential colleges or universities I that I may have wanted to attend.
Then the time came for the School-Wide Assembly for campaign speeches, etc. The day before the Assembly we had a secret meeting at our old house on Mill Creek. Mike Freidman, and I, with my father as our elder advisor, together we crafted a one page Joe Gomez Manifesto.
We are searching for a copy now. In essence, it said in a very beautiful way that he had decided to humbly withdraw from the election, because he decided he did not want to be part of a system based on personalities and social status, without the participation of all. But if Joe Gomez was attacked at the Assembly that we would defend him. Signed the Joe Gomez Election Campaign.
Through our Campaign network, we were able to have 1000 copies of the Manifesto printed, via the kindness of Walla Walla High School. ((Now how was that who had access to those old Wa-Hi copying machines? Only the shadow knows. )
Then came the morning for the School-Wide Assembly for campaign speeches that were usually was initiated and introduced by Mr. Kramer. We also knew Mr. Kramer was very angry because we would not respond to his threats or follow his rules in regards to Joe Gomez.
We hatched a plan. We would rush the stage if Vice-Principal Kramer criticized Joe Gomez and literally restrain Mr. Kramer and then I would make a speech to defend Joe Gomez, who we considered a reflection of our Sovereign Rights. Our plan didn't go much further than that as I look back and remember. Good thing it ended up as it did.
We enlisted the assistance of some Jr's and Sophomores to pass out our Manifesto to every student, at every entrance entering Wa-Hi. I made a special effort to quietly leave one in the mail slot of the Administration office and one under the door of Mr. Kramer's office.
In those days of unrealized sexism, the jocks, and friends would sit in the middle four or five rows. A front couple of rows were for Seniors and behind them the Jr's, and so on.
That morning I was sitting on a leg of Ed Weitz and a leg of Ron Bradstreet's, between them, close to where I am sitting in the attached picture in the middle front row, on the right-hand side, again next Ed Weitz and my old friend Mike Dunham, who passed to the Other Side Camp, not long after I last saw him in Walla Walla at our Class of 1962, 50th Reunion.
It was noticeably was much quieter, than usual, as the auditorium filled with students, each with a copy of the Joe Gomez Manifesto. As they read the Manifesto, the Auditorium became silent in the anticipation and the suspense of what was going to happen.
When the Auditorium became silent, our Wa-Hi Principal, Tedrick, parted and stepped through the stage curtains and surprised us all.
Hanging from Principal Tedrick's neck was a sign that said, "I'm for Joe Gomez." As I look back, thank God, Principal Tedrick saved the day.
It was a victory, but at the time, I was somewhat foolishly disappointed that our plans to rush the stage, takedown Vice-Principal Kramer and give a speech defending our rights were not realized. Of course, this action would have not have worked out so well.
In the end, Mr. Kramer and I became friends. He wrote me a wonderful letter of recognition to the University of Washington, where I was accepted and attended after our European Adventure. As well, our Student Body President and I made peace and later lived together at the same place, at the University of Washington
Following Wa-HI we went on our hitchhiking journey to, from, and through Western Europe. At this stage, our journey became much wilder, sometimes x-rated and very. humorous.
The episodes of the first part of the series are focused on my in Wa Hi and the many characters and escapades of the Class of 1962. The next episodes focus on our Journey to Europe, 1962-1963.
The past September Mike and I spent three days together being filmed by Dinah Morrison, daughter of my classmate Dean and his beloved wife Verdie. This was for scripting purposes. As this series will not be based on a true story, it is a true story.
Dean sat on the side and laughed and cheered us on. As well, we were very pleased to have our old friend, Steve Allen, Steve Allen Photography, take still shots.
As I shared, there are parts of this journey that some would call very "very wild", and it may be so, but it felt very good and healing to completely let go and laugh and cry.
Warm Love and Greetings,
Crow (My high school nickname.)
