Welcome!

This blog has been set up to allow members of the 1982 high school class of Monmouth, Illinois to stay in touch and keep fellow Zippers updated on each other's lives....

If you have photos and/or comments or updates, just send them along to monmouth1982@gmail.com....

The entries are viewable in alphabetical order by simply scrolling down (clicking on Older Posts at the bottom of this page accesses the rest of the class) or by individually selecting a name to the right....

All photos on this site can be enlarged simply by clicking on them...

Thanks!

Mel B. Blasi

>>Where the heck are you now?

I live in the rival city.... Macomb, IL

>>Are you married? Single? Secretly a cult member? What have you been up to all these years?

I'm married (Melissa) and have 3 boys Elijah 13, Noah 11 and Ezra 7.

>>What on earth do you do for a living?

I am the Director of Golf at the University Golf Course at Western Illinois University. I also coach the Men's Golf Team. I enjoy the coaching job much more than chasing college students around in a golf cart.

>>Last time you were in Monmouth?

I'm in Monmouth fairly often. The last time I stopped for any extended time was for a 5th grade basketball game last winter. I helped coach the Macomb 5th grade team and I coached against Monmouth. It's always weird!!

>>How do you explain "Zippers" to people?

Zippers is the greatest team nickname. I don't try to explain it... just tell them about the cheer.. "You can't get our Zippers down."

>>Favorite motion picture of all time?

Caddyshack or Field of Dreams... It's a pretty close call for me.

>>You've come this far.. how bout an email address for folks to keep in contact with ya?

MB-Blasi@wiu.edu

Bart Blum

>>Where the heck are you now?

Berkeley, California.

>>Are you married? Single? Secretly a cult member? What have you been up to all these years?

My wife Tenny and I have been married for 12 years. We have traveled lots -- to Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico. We have 2 kids--Jackson is 8 years old and loves sports and music (currently "What You Got" by Colby O'Donis is his favorite); Jade is 6 years old and is into soccer and gymnastics. She knows all the lyrics of "High School Musical."

It should come as no surprise that I WAS a cult leader -- the "Transcendent Master of Arts in the Great Wars of Consciousness of the Late Twentieth Century"... I got tired of the responsibility that entailed, so abandoned my post and went to graduate school in environmental science and policy at UC Berkeley.

>>What on earth do you do for a living?

I am Vice President of a landscape supply company...www.americansoil.com

In my spare time I play guitar and sing in a classic rock band "Black Guitar Conspiracy"...

>>Last time you were in Monmouth?

My folks still live in the same house I grew up in, so we visit regularly. Last visit was at Christmas, 2007.

>>How do you explain "Zippers" to people?

I put it in my stand-up comedy monologue and get lots of chuckles every time..

>>Favorite motion picture of all time?

"Silence of the Lambs", tied with "The Godfather", with a nod to "Repo Man"...

>>You've come this far.. how bout an email address for folks to keep in contact with ya?

bblum@well.com

>>Finally, any current/old photos to share? (no nudity please...)

Assorted Blum photography ensues...

1. Bart with son Jackson on the way to Soccer...
2. Bart with his daughter Jade
3. Bart with his wife Tenny
4. Bart on stage with his band...

Dan Buck

>>Where the heck are you now?

St. Louis, MO (Imperial, MO actually, 25 minutes south of downtown)

>>Are you married? Single? Secretly a cult member? What have you been up to all these years?

Married. 19 years to Holly Brunken-Buck of Broken Bow, Nebraska. We have 3 healthy kids, Tina (17) who graduates from Cor Jesu Academy (high school) in 2009 who is a competitive softball pitcher (shocker there!), my Daugther Katie (14) is a Freshman at Rosati Kain High School and Kate is really into riding horses. My son Quinn (12) is going into 7th Grade at St. Louis Priory School and he plays on a travel, select Baseball team and also loves volleyball and golf.

>>What on earth do you do for a living?

CEO of St. Patrick Center… An agency that provides Housing, Employment and Mental Health programs to the homeless in our community. The largest single site provider of Homeless Services in Missouri.

>>Last time you were in Monmouth?

Last year at the Reunion! Had a blast with Murf and enjoyed seeing many, many old friends. We picked up right where we left off!

>>How do you explain "Zippers" to people?

Great conversation piece at parties. Always get a roar with our favorite cheer… “You can’t Get Our Zippers Down…No you can’t get our Zippers Down!!”

>>Favorite motion picture of all time?

"Field of Dreams" (I’m sure that shocks all of you who know what a Baseball Junkie I am!)

>>You've come this far.. how bout an email address for folks to keep in contact with ya?

Non-work related… hardballdan@yahoo.com

>>Do you have your own website?

To read more about the Mission that lured me away from TV and Radio Broadcasting (great career move actually, as I now get to be a better Dad and I coach my son and daughters ball teams year round!!! Something my 18 years in broadcasting didn’t allow for!) www.stpatrickcenter.org

>>Finally, any current/old photos to share? (no nudity please...)

Attached is a current head shot… Goodness knows the wrinkles are adding up, the gray is sneaking in and the six pack abs are becoming a half barrel!!! Gotta love getting older!
Also have some family shots below as well....

1. Dan
2. Family Picture 2004
3. Family Picture 2006
4. Team Photos - Pekin Tourney (Dan & Quinn)
5. Tina on Mound...

Gene Burkett

>>Where the heck are you now?

Kuna (Boise) Idaho. Been here sixteen years now. How did I do that? hmm...

>>Are you married? Single?

What have you been up to all these years? Married to Josie bout 7 yrs now. Mixed family. I have a boy 18 and a girl 15. She has two girls 22 and 13 and one boy 16. (no we're not Mormon) and yes insurance is a killer!

>>What on earth do you do for a living?

24 yrs in the Air Force. Been there, done that all over the world and now it's time to retire! yeah! (ok, maybe next summer. I finally made it high enough not to have to work hard anymore)

>>Last time you were in Monmouth?

Dec 07 for my dads funeral.

>>How do you explain "Zippers" to people?

Heh, I don't! how do you get a bear from "zippers"?

>>Favorite motion picture of all time?

Like my music, I don't limit myself to favorites

>>You've come this far.. how bout an email address for folks to keep in contact with ya?

gnburkett@yahoo.com

>>Finally, any current/old photos to share?

I'll find some and send them in...

Barb Carlson (Leighty)

>>Where the heck are you now?

Monmouth!

>>Are you married? Single? What have you been up to all these years?

I am married for the second time. 1st marriage was to Jeff Tatman we were married for almost ten years when he lost his battle to cancer in 1992. At the time he became sick we were living in Sioux City Iowa. Due to his illness we moved back to Monmouth so that he could be closer to family. We have 2 daughters Nikki now 22 and Ashley 20. I remarried in 1994 to a Warren Warrior Jeff Carlson. Yes I said another Jeff. How did that happen? We have a son J.D. age 13. We are also taking care of our 16 year old niece til she graduates from high school.

>>What on earth do you do for a living?

I own a business on the square in Monmouth. I started A Touch of Country in the fall of 1997. This is my 11th year in business. I own 3 buildings on the south east side of the square. The old Bowman buildings and the Glendor children's shop. The store is 11,000 sq. foot of Home Decor items. It has been a lot of fun owning my own business however Monmouth is still a little behind the times and jobs are scarce around here. I received the Athena (Business Woman of the Year award) in 2004.

>>Last time you were in Monmouth?

Daily!

>>How do you explain "Zippers" to people?

I finally just a few years ago figured out why we were the Zippers....

>>Favorite motion picture of all time?

"Sleepless in Seattle", "Pretty Woman"

>>You've come this far.. how bout an email address for folks to keep in contact with ya?

atoc@frontiernet.net

>>Finally, any current/old photos to share?

photos forthcoming...

>>Do you have your own website? You may plug it here....

My website is here


Finally, any current/old photos to share?

1. Shelly Yocum and Barb in Cancun, Oct 2007.

Doug Carlson

>>Where the heck are you now?

Aurora, IL

>>Are you married? Single? Secretly a cult member? What have you been up to all these years?

Married, one son 5 y/o

>>What on earth do you do for a living?

Regional Manager for Johnson Controls in the energy industry (building efficiency, renewable energy, performance contracting, energy supply contracts, etc)

>>Last time you were in Monmouth?

about 4 or five years ago, although I'm usually in Galesburg several times each year to visit family

>>How do you explain "Zippers" to people?

Usually doesn't come up in conversation.

>>Favorite motion picture of all time?

Shawshank Redemption / Once Upon A Time in America

>>You've come this far.. how bout an email address for folks to keep in contact with ya?

douglas.r.carlson@jci.com

>>Finally, any current/old photos to share?

...will send in later