George and Sharon (McKamey) Long

After graduating from CHS, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio where I was able to be a member of the Trinity Tigerettes twirling group and also drum major in the band. My focus was on twirling during my college years but on the side, I majored in Elementary Education. I did not actually teach school until 25 years later.

I married Curtis Nelson (president of First National Bank) and we had 3 children: Brad, Greg, and Paige.  We lived in Port Lavaca for 18 more years and then moved to our ranch in Leakey, later to move to Uvalde.  In Port Lavaca, I enjoyed spending time with volunteer work such as Junior Service League president, Calhoun County Library board member, secretary of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and president of Beta Sigma Phi.  In Uvalde, I was treasurer of the Animal Shelter and a member of the Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee.

When I was 48 years old, I actually went to work at a real job teaching school: Reading specialist in first grade.  I remarried at that time to George Long who owns an oil and gas business, Long Resources, Inc. We moved to San Antonio, where we still live.  I thoroughly enjoyed teaching H.O.T.S. (Higher Order Thinking Skills) in Northeast ISD and was honored to be chosen Teacher of the Year in 1996.  Teaching children to think gave so much meaning to my life.

George has one daughter and together we have 10 grandchildren.  One of the greatest joys in my life has been spending extended periods of time with each grandchild individually, talking and solving problems as well as visiting sites in S.A.  Each child visited for a week every summer and I remember that one year I had 8 weeks filled.  Now I only have 2 young enough for summer visits.

I enjoyed playing tennis for many years, but now I concentrate on playing bridge, reading, computer work, tutoring school children and going to movies and Spurs games.  George and I love to travel and we have been on 12 cruises.  We started with England, France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal and then went to countries in Eastern Europe.  One of our favorite trips was to all the Scandinavian countries.  And our most recent cruise was around South America.  I especially loved Lima and Buenos Aires.

I have many wonderful memories from my high school days at P.L.H.S and C.H.S.  The events that stand out are the slumber parties, band trips, hayrides, twirling camps, drive-in movies and dances at The Cove.  Sandra, Jane, Carol Jean and I secretly called ourselves “The Four Flirts” and called in song requests to KNAL radio in Victoria many nights. (Crazy teen-age stuff!)

I have attended every one of our Class of 57 reunions.  I care deeply about all my former high school classmates and I sense that most of them feel the same way about each other.  I am very thankful that so many of them value keeping in touch with old friends despite long distances and decades of time. Thank you, dear friends.  You have blessed my life.