Joy Vanderburg Rice

Pampa, TX

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With my husband, Ronnie, of 44 years, 4 children and 12 beautiful, healthy grandchildren, Ronnie and I have so much for which to be thankful.  I graduated from college in 1964 and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education four years later.  Two years ago I retired after teaching first grade twenty-five years, and Ronnie retired from Celanese six months later.  I’m not sure one would call it retirement, however, as we’re still ranching - running about 200 head of cows.  In addition to ranching we also have a third interest in a CO2 company that two of our sons are involved in.  Our third son is a minister in New Braunfels and our daughter lives in Memphis, TN and teaches first grade like her mom. 

Our travels have taken us to Germany and Austria a couple of times as our daughter was married to a German for 12 years.  Four years ago we traveled to Russia as missionaries with a group from our church.  Mostly, we are content to go to Ruidoso where I share a cabin on the river with my sisters and brother.  Every Fourth of July Ronnie and I meet six couples in Ruidoso from our college days.  We’ve enjoyed this tradition for nearly 30 years, and of course it includes lots of eating, dominoes, golf, horse races, etc… 

My latest hobby is training my new, quarter horse, “Sis”.  However, I’ve discovered that the real “bronc-bustin” is going to have to be done by someone besides me.  My mind says it can, but my body says it can’t.   Basically, I’m in excellent health since a 5-bypass surgery two years ago. This May three teacher/golfing buddies retired, so we are looking forward to playing golf throughout Texas.  We’re not going to be in Pampa when the school bell rings this year for sure. 

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again at the reunion and think that Mike deserves three cheers for the hard work he’s done in putting all this together.

50th Reunion Update - 2008

Actually, I've delayed writing an update considering not much has changed in the last five years and the fear of it sounding redundant. There's a few more gray hairs, some added pounds but most importantly - a lot more to be thankful for. At this time in our lives I'm sure we're all experiencing the issues of good or bad health. Hopefully my life has more to offer than the discussion of my latest ailments but, briefly, they included a new hip this year and for Ronnie, a near-death experience three years ago.  So enough about the ailments:

We're both doing great. Children and grands are all doing well. Four of the twelve grandchildren are in college now ... two at Texas Tech, one at Belmont in Nashville, TN, and one on a basketball scholarship for Denver University. Of course they're all geniuses, athletic, and all that their grandparents could wish for. Believe me, our kids must have married good mates because they didn't get it from Ronnie or me.

Ronnie and I still ranch but depend a lot more on our sons these days. We try to intentionally be gone -- up in Ruidoso when its time to work the calves. Our place in Ruidoso had quite a bit of damage because of the recent flood. So, after the reunion and a stint in keeping the grandkids for the son in New Braunfels, I'll be spending some time there in a clean-up/fix-up mode. We were a lot more fortunate than some, however. We bought an additional six sections of grass two years ago, so don't imagine we'll be retiring any time soon ...or at least until we get it paid for. We still fish down at Amsted, near Del Rio. My brother and I bought a place there that's lots of fun ... just wish it wasn't so far from the Panhandle.

Our other business is a company called Reliant/FloCo2 ... no affiliation to Reliant Energy, so can't help with your electric bill. Ours is a CO2 company, and we employ about three hundred. Two of our sons work for the company. We've really been blessed with its growth ... now having facilities covering most of the states to the west coast.

In an attempt to keep my mind active, I've taught a ladies Bible study for the last three years. Loved it, but think I'm being led to do something differently this next year. Excluding my Bible studies my next endeavor will be an attempt to learn Spanish. Our daughter recently moved to Puerto Vallarta and is making it her home. She loves it and would like for us to spend more time there.

Its been great being the reunion committee's secretary. I've looked forward to receiving your registrations and can't wait to see everyone. As Ronnie says, I've probably told you a lot more information than you wanted to know, so until then---many, many blessings.