memories #15                                                   


                                                               THE FONZ                                                                                                       

  Sometimes  there are friends you never forget                                                                                                                            

The Durabgo "Fonz"

     If you grew up in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were probably some class characters that you would identify with almost 20 or 30 years later.  Almost every class in high school during that time had one or more of these characters. These characters would be brought to life again in a situation comedy called,”Happy Days”.

    The one cool character was Fonz.  Fonz had it all. His choice of girls, a motorcycle, the respect of his friends and enemies and he was a problem solver. Every character that appeared in that show had a look-alike or an act alike person in your high school. Can you name some? I could. Especially the Fonz. Here are the names of two people that may fit the bill at Durango high school during that time. One was an upper classman named Gary Duane Monk. He had the looks and the suave, debonair way about him. Dark, wavy hair combed the way the Fonz would have combed it. He was a senior when I was a sophomore so I really couldn't tell you more about him but he had the "look".

     The one I can tell you more about was Jim Jonas. To me, Jim was Durango high school's "Fonz". Jim did things the way he wanted them done. Sometimes successfully and sometimes not. But regardless of his successes or failures he remained "cool". He was tall, dark and handsome, I guess. He wore his hair in the rebellious style of the"duck tail". His shirt collars were turned up and his T-shirts and short sleeve shirts were always rolled up to the shoulder.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Durango All Star Team

    If you grew up in Durango during this time period, you probably learned to play the game because of Ward Lee. Wardie love the game and the kids who played it. Jim was an exceptional athlete in baseball. He was an   above average pitcher. Unfortunately, when the baseball season came around, Jim was deemed academically ineligible. My junior year, Jim's senior year, we had an outstanding team. We had three pitchers, two left-handers and one righty. Had Jim been eligible I think we would've had a chance for a state championship. Even without him, in a playoff game with Grand Junction, we came close to advancing in the state championships. Leon Turnell pitched with great heart in a game on Saturday morning after our prom. That day was one that most of us wouldn't forget. It was cold,windy and  miserable. Had Jim been able to play, he may have made  a key hit or an extra special play. We may have had a different story.

     Jim sometimes got himself in trouble by just being Jim. His senior year on the basketball team he was dismissed from the team at halftime of the game. The reason given by the coach was that Jim was trying to influence the vote for the basketball Queen. But Jim never backed off any challenge or task that was given him.

    Jim's final year ended rather strangely a week prior to graduation. That weekend the senior class celebrated about the same way most senior classes will celebrate. Lots of parties. Lots of booze. While the seniors celebrated, one of my close friends,Clayton Alexander, was doing a job as the projectionist at the Kiva theater. On the side street south of the main entrance, about three quarters the way up is a tiny window. That was the way in and out of the projection booth. Clayton had finished his job for that night and crawled out of the window, down a ladder to the street below. I was waiting for Clayton and we were planning to attend some parties. Behind the Kiva building were the narrow gauge railroad tracks. It was also a place you didn't want to be caught by some of the local gangs. From out of the shadows of those tracks emerged Jim Jonas. No longer did he look like the Fonz. He had already partied hard and was pretty well gone to the wind. Staggering halfway on the sidewalk and the street, Jim smiled and waved hello to us. We could also hear the gangs behind the building. They were on the hunt and Jim was the prey. We got Jim into Clayton's car and got onto Main Street as quickly as possible. We now had another problem! What do we do with Jim?  

     Having Jim in the car we decided to try and sober him up. It was a cool evening and with the windows rolled down  perhaps the cool breeze would help. Jim was a total waste. What we really needed was some hot coffee and a place away from the places Jim might have been found.

     We decided that my house might be the perfect place. My Mom and my father had both known Jim for some time. They, I'm sure would be a help. Getting Jim out of the car proved to be quite a task as he could hardly stand up. Three steps toward my house Jim went down on his hands and knees throwing up.  We tried to help him up but he continued to crawl and throw up. Finally we were able to get him up on his feet and to my front door. Mom opened the door and her jaw dropped. My father, had apparently gone to bed. He had to work early the next morning. So it was just the three of us, Clayton my mother and I, to try and sober up very drunk senior.

     Now with my mother on the scene we had a few more options. Mom was making coffee so Clayton and I took the next steps. Not knowing what the next steps were and no manual to guide us we just played it by ear. I don't think either one of us had ever tried to sober up a drunk. But here we were doing our best. The next step was to get Jim on his feet and to the backyard. Here we could walk and keep him awake without the world knowing where he was. What I had forgotten in the heat of the moment, was that the principal of Durango high school lived next door. I often wondered what that man heard or saw that night. 

     We walked Jim all over the backyard. Sometimes he would have to stop with the dry heaves before he could continue. When we brought Jim back into the house Mom had coffee ready to drink. All Jim could do was to thank us and apologize for his condition. Jim was still very drunk. Mom suggested that we put him in the bathtub with ice. We did and he didn't like it. More coffee. More walking in the backyard. More talking that actually begin to make sense. Our efforts finally took hold and Jim fell asleep. Mom covered him up with blankets, Clayton went home and I went to bed.

     The next morning Mom had breakfast ready.  All of us, including Jim, ate a good breakfast.  Apparently Jim had called some friends to pick him up on the way to school. Graduation ceremony was yet to come for the seniors of 1961. Jim waved goodbye to us and thanked my mother over and over again for helping him. I often wondered if Mr. Buckley, 

the high school principal, said anything to Jim about that evening.  And if he did, what did he say?

     Over the last few years  Jim and I  made contact again. We caught up with each other’s lives  and he thanked  me again for that night especially my mother.  Jim  ended up  with a successful career  working in the oil fields.  He took with him what most of us did, the knowledge of the game of baseball as taught by Ward Lee.  With that knowledge he coached and taught many more youngsters the game. Although we didn’t party together or see each other we were friends by the bond of sports.  He is now and always will be my friend.