As the August Alumni Spotlight, Neal (Ric) Johnson shares his replies to the NHSAF Spotlight questions. NHSAF appreciates all that Ric has done over the years to keep the Viking spirit alive and well for NHS alums!
1. Who was your favorite teacher, class, friend and hang out?
– Any teacher who would put up with me… Mrs. Nordstrom, Miss
Harrell, Mr. Lewis. But probably my favorite teacher was Trudy
Plummer.
– My favorite class was world history.
– I had a lot of friends but my closest – Rick Slane, my neighbor, who
walked to school with me every day for five years (mostly we ran
because we were ALWAYS late).
– Hangouts – They evolved over the years, Northland Mall, Minelli’s
Pizza, Ohio State Fair Grounds for Sunday concerts, and The OSU
campus – I volunteered at The Open Door Clinic
2. Most memorable moment at Northland High School
– It’s hard for me to pinpoint one. I was not the best student, I was a
day dreamer. But I liked learning new things, and meeting new
people. Northland HS was perfect for both of these. All my teachers
challenged me, and made me think before I spoke. Life and learning
had no simple answers. Northland, because it was in a “new” housing
development, every day a new student would come in. That is where I
learned networking, though I didn’t have a name for it back then. The
short answer, every day was memorable.
3. What was your family expectation of you?
-Be happy with yourself
4. How did your Northland experience help in your life/job?
– I think the number one thing Northland helped with, be open to new
experiences.
5. Why, when and how did you start the alumni reunion?
– I have told this story many times over the last fourteen years. I never
went to any reunions per se till my 30th. In September 1999 to June
2000, over that nine month period, I lost my younger sister Penny, my
Mom, and my Grandma. I was pretty depressed and lost. What I needed
was to reconnect and recharge. So when my 30th reunion came up in
2001, I was going. Now, I prided myself in high school with knowing just
about everyone’s name at Northland. When I opened my year book up
for the first time in 30 years – I was shocked someone had changed out
everyone’s picture (not really). I didn’t recognize a lot of the people who
I was so sure I knew.
After attending the 30th, I had such a good time I thought, why can’t
we do this every year? Get ten to fifteen people to meet at the same
place, same time every year. Well, Laurie (Howden) Spinosi ’72 and
Debbie Wedemeyer Hunter ’70 were interested in doing this too. Eventually,
Johnnie Castle ’68, Kathi (Carifia) Rader ’69, Pam (Jones) Zierott ’72, and
John Morrow ’73 came on board, and we started tracking people down. I was
a little surprised I wasn’t charged with stalking nor had any restraining orders
drawn up against me.
While putting this together I kept my class president, Tom Hilt, in the
loop. He later confided in me, that he suspected my motives. Tom was
sure once I had everyone at Flannagans that I was going to lock the
doors and sell everyone Amway products. This was, also, the beginning
of my relationship with Chuck Deyo. Chuck came to the first reunion by
my invitation, but he did not know me. He got there early and almost left
when he didn’t see anyone he knew until I introduced myself. Needless
to say Chuck stayed till closing and never missed a reunion.
I’m pleased to say our reunion has grown considerably over the years.
And proceeds from the reunion paid for hotel accommodations for fifty
four NHS STEM club kids to attend a national completion in Cincinnati.
The biggest kick for me is when I hear someone scream out, “(put in
someone’s name) where have you been??? I haven’t seen you in twenty
years!!!”
Alumni Tailgate September 2014
Presenting Chuck Deyo with the first NHSAF membership card
Being named as “Mr. Northland” by Alum Steve Conreaux.
NHS and Minnesota Viking fan!