The Rolla Boys™- Chapter 6

Wyman Elementary School is where I met and became life long friends with not only Beaver Moses, but also the likes of Rick Milner, Randy Warrenton, Larry Hodgey and a host of other Goomers, most of whom I've had only speratic contact with since our years in Rolla. I started school at Wyman Elementary in the 2nd grade in 1967, after having spent 2 years across town in the 1st grade at Mark Twain (actually Mark Twain Elementary was a fine school, but old loyalties die hard and I'll always be a Wyman man at heart).

I loved all my teachers in grade school, starting with Miss Gribz in the 2nd grade; Mrs. Shackelford in the 3rd; as mentioned Miss McCutcheon in 4th; Mrs. Rutherford in the 5th, and finally, Mrs. Less in the 6th (her son David was one of my good friends and a nice school "asset" when good plans went afoul).

Elementary school was great for most if not all of the Rolla Boys as far as I know, but I find myself remembering the 4th grade as one of those moments in time. It was essentially "Elementary Camelot". Not only were Beaver, Rick, Randy, Larry, Steve Patter, Brent Moyerstone, Harold Dunnstreet, Tommy Williamson, Shorty Harris and David Lester in my class, we also had a host of pretty girls like Gretchen Fine, Vickie Volts, Carrie Milner and numerous others. The fact we had a teacher who was surly the prettiest and nicest teacher in the 8 state area, was a major bonus. I don't remember voting on the issue of how "Hot" Miss McCutcheon was, but if we had, I'm pretty sure we would have voted her "The Teacher Most Likely To Be Fantisized About" in junior high. As memory serves me, this was her first teaching assignment out of College. Not that it mattered to us-I don't think we would have cared whether or not she could read or write, as long as she stood in front of the class every day and let us look at her and watch her talk.

She actually could read, however, and did just that for about 10 minutes or so nearly every afternoon when we finished up with lunch and recess. One of the books I vividly recall her reading to the class was Charlotte's Web, by acclaimed author E.B. White. I remember her in a mini-skirt standing in front of the class reading that darn book. (I can't be certain how often Miss McCutcheon wore a mini skirt to school, but I know for sure she did on at least one occasion-it was blue.) All the while she displayed perfect posture and her signature dimpled smile. To our amusement, she would often times laugh out loud at the antics of Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider and Templeton the rat.

I've often wondered whether or not she realized at the time the lasting impact she'd have on the kids she taught that school year; those who were fortunate enough to be drafted into her inaugural 4th grade class in the late Summer of 1969. I know she had a profound impact on me. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never forget that blue dress!