1953 Charles Taylor Blackmore II, aka. "Mr. Kewpie" 2014

I was born in Mexico, Missouri in the Audrain County Hospital early on a Saturday morning May 12, 1945 the day before Mother's Day, to Clela Elizabeth Hayes Blackmore and Taylor Benson Blackmore, while they resided in Martinsburg, Missouri.  My mother was born in Apache, Oklahoma and moved to Wellsville, Missouri as a young girl. She graduated from the Wellsville High School in 1931.  My dad grew up in the area around Rhineland, Missouri, with two brothers and two sisters.  His parents mostly farmed but his dad did teach school.  But my dad never graduated high school.  I was named after my dad's father, who died in January of 1945.  We moved to Wellsville, Missouri in 1946.  My brother Gary Hayes Blackmore was born on Monday, April 21, 1947.  My dad was a M. F. A. Exchange manager and was transferred to Perry, Missouri in 1948.  Eldon, Missouri was our next home, in late 1949, and in 1950 we moved to Shelbina, Missouri.

I started elementary school in Shelbina and where I walked almost a mile to school. Louisiana, Missouri became our next home, in early 1952, and I finished the 1st grade at Field Elementary School, in Mrs. Gabriel's class.  I again went back to Field School for the 2nd grade with Mrs. Stevens as my teacher and had Mrs. Reid for the 3rd grade.  I remember the principal, Arnold Zaeske, actually paddled a boy in front of the whole class in 2nd grade.  We lived in a big red brick duplex on Georgia Street in Louisiana for about a year and Gerry Green and his family lived in the other side.  We then bought a house on Margaret Drive. Our neighbors were; the Grimmers, the Malys, the DeVergers, the Doors and the Longs.  My 4th grade year I attended the brand new Meriwether School, which was just north of the track at the Louisiana High School.  My early school years were a very meaningful time and I still cherish those old early childhood friends from Louisiana, Missouri.  Ever since I got a driver's license in 1961 I have always enjoyed going back to Louisiana and visiting those old friends and have done just that every few years.  I put together a 40th Class Reunion for the Louisiana High School Class of 1963 which was held October 18, 2003. I am now on the board as a consultant for the Louisiana High School Alumni & Friends Association.

My dad was promoted to District Manager with M. F. A.(Missouri Farmers Association) in 1955 and we moved to Columbia, Missouri.  Our home was 1205 West Broadway at the edge of the west city limits.  My brother and I started school at West Boulevard Elementary in September of 1955.  Our principal was Wesley Mayhew, a man who, many years ago, my mother had dated. It's A Small World!  My teachers in the 5th grade were Mrs. Richardson and Mrs. Watson and I had Mrs. Freeland for the 6th grade.  Back in those days, the biggest past time I recall was playing lots of baseball in the yard and where ever we could find the space.

September of 1957 through May of 1960 was spent at Jefferson Junior High School.  Mr. Clark, the principal, had served on the school board while in Montgomery County years ago with my dad.  It's A Small World!  I spent my summers mowing yards, playing baseball and riding my bicycle everywhere on the streets of Columbia.  I started school at David H. Hickman High School in September of 1960 and in February of 1961 I started work at Ward & Sublett Gulf at the corner of East Broadway and Business Hwy 63 South.  My fondest memories of high school, other than all my good friends were; Friday assemblies, James R. Chevalier, Helen D. Williams, speech class, going to all the football and basketball games, seeing the Kewpies win the State Basketball Championship in 1962, all the great parties we had and just listening to all the great music of the late 50's and 60's.  I graduated from Hickman High School on May 28th, 1963, the 67th graduating class from Columbia, Missouri and the 36th graduating class of Kewpies.

On June 25 of 1963 I got on a Greyhound Bus and headed to Fort Leonard Wood for basic training for the U. S. Army as did about 15 of my classmates of the Class of 1963.  I was at Fort Leonard Wood for 16 weeks, which included 8 weeks of basic training and 8 weeks of clerk school.  The last week of October I woke up in downtown St. Louis at the Warwick Hotel at 15th and Spruce and walked to the Mart Building on 12th to my job as a clerk typist.  I drove home to Columbia every Friday afternoon after dropping my roommate off at Union Station, and then picked him back up on my return to St. Louis on Sunday night.  John Kennedy was killed the same day I had an appendicitis attack, Friday November 22, 1963.  I drove home to Columbia and Anne Parker and my brother checked me into Boone County Hospital Saturday morning.  I stayed in Columbia for 15 days on convalescent leave after my appendectomy, then returned to St. Louis on December 9, 1963 and was discharged from active duty on December 24, 1963.  Richard Wilson, who had come down to visit, rode back home with me to Columbia on Christmas Eve.

After Christmas I went back to work for Ward & Sublett, which now had become Lake of the Woods Shell.  I continued to work for them part time through 1964 and 1965, while I attended two semesters at the University of Missouri.  My career as a student was short lived and on Saturday, June 5, 1965 I started work as a PTF Clerk for the United States Postal Service.  I was married in May of 1966 and my wife, Susan and I lived at 22 Walnut Hills Trailer Court in Columbia until after our son, Robert Shane, a 1986 Kewpie, was born on September 10, 1968. The next year we bought a house and on July 1, 1969 we moved to Valley View Gardens and 1708 Iris Drive became our new home.  July 21, 1972, Melissa Jean, a 1990 Kewpie, was born.

From the early 70's to the mid 80's I served in many different positions; President of Branch 763 of the NALC, Neighborhood Association President of Valley View Gardens Subdivision, PTA President of Fairview Elementary, city baseball coach, Assistant Scoutmaster and participated as a Mr. Legs contestant for MDA for three consecutive years receiving a 2nd, 3rd and finally a 1st place trophy.  Beginning in November of 1977 I started volunteering at KOPN, a non-commercial radio station in Columbia.  I hosted "CRAZY" CHARLEY'S MONDAY NIGHT LIVE and co-hosted, with my son, Rob and his best friend, Keith Clark, a Jeff Junior High School show called "In The Middle" and a Hickman High School show called "Rock And Roll High School."  Rob, Keith and I retired from community radio in August of 1984 after we returned from our trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

In the late 80's Susan and I divorced and I was married to Gaye Lynn Burton, Class of 1963, from 1991 until 1997.  I lived in Jefferson City while Gaye and I were together and sometimes made as many as 10 trips back and forth to Columbia per week.  After I had heart bypass surgery on December 31st of 1996, Gaye and I divorced and I moved back to Columbia.

I started dating Debbie Burks in 1997 and we became engaged.  Debbie died of breast cancer May 6, 2000.  I began work on www.kewpie.net in August of 1998 on a dare Debbie made.  I took her dare and I continue to work on it every day in her memory.  "The dare was that I couldn't find everyone who ever went to Hickman High School."

In addition to working for the US Postal Service as a Clerk, Carrier, Vehicle Maintenance Assistant and Driver Instructor Examiner from June of 1965 to August of 2000, I operated a motor route for the Columbia Daily Tribune from November of 1967 through December of 1996.  I also started DJing as "CRAZY" CHARLEY in September of 1978.  I have retired from ALL FORMS OF WORK, except I can easily be persuaded to do an occasional DJ job.

Karen Janes, who I knew back in the 70's when I delivered her mail, and I started dating after an abrupt closure with Debbie's family after her death.  Karen and I were married on September 29, 2000 and live in southeast Columbia.  Karen and I celebrated our wedding by taking a honeymoon trip to Clear Lake, Iowa, in February of 2001, to the "Winter Dance Party" held annually in memory of Buddy Holly.  We celebrated our first anniversary in Ireland. Karen broke up my little party at home by retiring, May of 2004. I do some volunteer DJing, maintain www.kewpie.net, cut grass, play golf, walk, bike, enjoy my retirement and have five grandchildren.  My job of choice now is being Reunion Chairperson for the Class of 1963 of Hickman High School and the Class of 1963 for Louisiana High School.  As you know, the 45th Reunions were held in October of 2008.  The Kewpie Reunion was October 3rd - 5th, 2008 in Columbia and the Bulldog Reunion was canceled due to lack of interest but the "Annual Alumni Association Reunion" was held October 17th - 19th, 2008 in Louisiana, Missouri.

Karen graduated from high school in 1964 in Piggott, Arkansas.  We attended the 45th Reunion over 4th of July weekend 2009 in Piggott.

We are both happily retired; me from the Tribune, since 1997 & the Post Office since 2000 and Karen from State Farm since 2004.

In October of 2008 I started the 'kewpie.net Scholarship' and since my Hickman Kewpie Class of 1963 wanted a scholarship in my name, I am also managing the 'Charley Blackmore's Class of '63 Scholarship.' So in the five years since the start of the scholarships; I have raised over $52,000.00 for the 'kewpie.net Scholarship' and over $15,000.00 for the 'Charley Blackmore's Class of '63 Scholarship.' Thank you, thank you very much!!!!!!!! The great Class of '63 donated $5,000.00 to Hickman High School in 1998, when I kicked off www.kewpie.net and in 2005 the users of www.kewpie.net made donations in the amount of almost $8,000.00 which was used to add the audio/video electronics to the Commons which was dedicated in 2003, before my 40th Reunion.

Updated September, 2013; I still stay active with the scholarships and the webpages for www.kewpie.net, www.crazycharley.net, www.bluffcreekestates.com, www.columbiagardenclub.org, www.centralmodaylily.org, www.kewpie.net/piggott/mohawk64.html, www.kewpie.net/PaxtonKeeley/paxtonkeeley2020.html, www.kewpie.net/1963.html. I also do a DJ job every other month at the ARC for the City of Columbia for the members of Columbia Adapted Community Recreation. In September of 2011 when my best old buddy Alan Fugit was a guardian for his father-in-law, Don Dugan on Central Missouri Honor Flight #16, I got started taking pictures at the Honor Flight send off and return. I still take pictures but they now call me an Honor Flight photographer. I accept the title and enjoy meeting all the Veterans the real heroes of our country and get to ride on Honor Flight with them, take their pictures, make them slideshows of their trip as well as provide the music of their era on their bus ride to and from St. Louis. I have made two trips to DC and plan to go on Honor Flights #25 & #26 in October and November of 2013. Also I enjoy entertaining Kewpies of all ages anytime they have the time to stop by Kewpie Headquarters.... we have overnight Kewpies as well but I guess our favorite is Russ Sloan and his wife Peggy Fisher ('56 & '59 Kewpies). Russ was the assistant coach to Coach McLeod and Coach Roark while I was a junior at Hickman High School in 1961-1962. Whenever Russ is in town we always get together will Russ & Peggy's buddies and ours; Nancy Ginn and Bob Martin ('57 & '56 Kewpies) usually at Angelo's or Murray's. Oh in case you are interested Russ and I have a mutual love for the great Lonnie Donegan and are hosts of a Facebook Page in memory of Lonnie.

My 50th reunion was a beast.... the  bar was raised for Kewpie reunions.....we raised $7,430.00 for the Charley Blackmore's Class of '63 Scholarship, 1st three-day reunion held during the week and the 1st ever Kewpie reunion to have The Krazy Kats, I still can't believe I pulled that off, not a soul knew a thing except for Karen..... the wall was pushed back at the Courtyard Marriott Oct 9th, and there were The Krazy Kats, singing "Ol' Time Rock 'N Roll".......on a very sad note, it was also the last Kewpie reunion to have The Krazy Kats as they announced their retirement after our reunion to be October 18, 2014 and Lee passed away before they gave that final performance.

FYI, Karen after having served and still serving as President of the Columbia Garden Club and the Central Missouri Daylily Club, she is now Second Vice-President of the Missouri State Garden Club. I occasionally get to follow her to these events to do the programs with pictures she and I have taken on their trips and at their events. We are now working on a project to get photographs of the seventy + Blue Star Memorials in the state placed by Garden Clubs in memory of all those who served in the military.

Updated February 2014; I was honored to be the Central Missouri Honor Flight photographer on the last four flights of 2013; (23, 24, 25 & 26) and plan to continue as long as they want me to help and I am able to do so. This year will mark my 16th year as volunteer DJ for the "Seniors for Seniors Prom" at Hickman High School. As of 2014 the 'kewpie.net Scholarship' and the 'Charley Blackmore's Class of '63 Scholarship' are now endowed for a total of two, $1,000.00 and two $500.00 scholarships will be awarded annually. Karen is still involved with the Daylily, Iris and Columbia Garden clubs and is Second Vice President of the State Garden Club, so she will have a busy 2014. I will be assisting Kewpie classes with their reunions this year as usual; specifically the classes of 1954, 1959, 1964 and 1974. Karen will also have a reunion this year; the 50th Reunion of the Piggott Mohawk, Class of '64.

Updated December 2014; Oh well, we started off in March attending 'The Ledendary Piano Play-Off' at Boone County Historical Society, yep I got a few pics and some video.....also in March I took some engagement pictures for Rachel Hayden and Chris our dear friends Susan & Richard Hayden's daughter. Also shot some pictures of Lisa Wayland and her horse, Nicki Minaj. I still DJ for my pals at the ARC every other month, the Columbia Community Adapted Recreation group and in May did a 5-Year in Review slideshow for them of my five years DJing for them! Honor Flight #27 was May 13th and I was again the photographer for the trip, this my last Honor Flight as I couldn't make #28 on June 9th as Karen & I were on the Annual Garden Club trip to Mackinac Island. I got to take lots of pics at the wedding of Rachel and Chris on June 14th and they are expecting this May. In July we headed to Piggott, Arkansas over the 4th for Karen's 50th reunion of the '64 Piggott Mohawks (I got to do slideshows, a memorial and the music IMAGINE THAT...and take pictures!!!!) and Karen's nephew, Travis (Shannon, Molly & Maggie) hosted the 1st Annual Aunt Karen 4th of July Fish Fry..... and Karen out shot all comers when the skeet started to fall!!!!!!! Two weeks after returning from Piggott we drove to Panama City Beach, Florida..... and spent a WHOLE WEEK in the beach house we rented.... just 14 of us.... Karen & me, Rob and Rachel, Jacob, Hannah, Maggie, Sam, Tuna & Lil, Melissa and Kevin, Tyler & Zachary.... would have been 18 but Travis, Shannon, Molly and Maggie couldn't come.... we returned alive, still love each and still talk to each other..... Man I don't know how the Griswold's did it so many times...!

Then in September went to the Veteran's Hospital in Mexico, Missouri for the dedication of another Blue Star Memorial Marker and a few days later I drove to Louisville, Kentucky and surprised Melissa, Kevin and Zachary at their Taekwondo Tournament... and got to see where they make the Louisville Slugger baseball bats! Gave Melissa, Zachary, Rob, Rachel, Jacob & Sam early Christmas present and got them tickets for Cardinal playoff games!

Got to see Jacob graduate from Rock Bridge and receive the Advanced Electronics & Robotics Award in May. Hannah was inducted to National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and was crowned the 1st Homecoming Queen for Battle High School, (Homecoming Dance) wow and she's only halfway through her senior year....! On Veteran's Day, another Blue Star Memorial Marker, this one dedicated by the Columbia Garden Club and at the University of Missouri. And November 26th Karen's Uncle Laverne's funeral in Poplar Bluff and dinner with Travis, Shannon, Molly and Maggie and right back home for Thanksgiving dinner with Rob, Rachel, Sam, Susan and Karen & me!

Sure can't forget all the great "Wednesday Nite Blackmore Suppers" with Jacob, Hannah, Maggie and sometimes some of their friends...; girlfriends, boyfriends,etc., all the great Kewpie friends that stop to visit through the year, like 'The Fuzz & Piggy' true Hickman High Heroes of my Kewpie Decade and all those great Kewpie reunions I was a part of, Kewpie Classes (1954, 1959, 1964, 1974, 1979 and 1984)! Whew.... and there is still a month left!!!!!!!

Stay tuned as www.kewpie.net is now three months into it's seventeen year.... who'd a ever thought that!

If you are a Kewpie, a Mohawk or a Bulldog or just remember either of us, give us a call next time you are in or near "Kewpietown" and stop by for a visit! We'd love to see you anytime, you're always welcome!!!!