James Schwartz

"Memories" by Jerry Millard

I moved from Mason City to Clear Lake in June '49 and spent the summer worrying my head off what he sixth grade would be like in podunk C.L. compared to the city... When school did start I really did not know very many classmates so the time spent out doors on the school grounds were tough and I was always kind of on guard you might say. One day I was standing about halfway down the hill on the west side of dear old Central and here comes Chuck and his band of whatevers and they were going to initiate me into the class. After nearly wetting my pants I decided to stand and fight with my red hair temper. As Chuck got to me I grabbed him by the shoulder as he was on the dead run and he rolled to the bottom of the hill and didn't stop until he hit the fence. Needless to say he never pushed me again and we became classmates but not close friends.

Over the 40 some years we had been out of school I think Chuck only got back for one reunion so we had a short visit then but he was kept busy by other classmates. One day in the late '90s my phone in my office rang and it was Chuck Schwartz and we talked, laughed and cried for a fantastic long time. I can't remember how he even found me but I wouldn't take a million dollars for that and the following phone calls we had that were so special. The last call he made to me was when he decided to come to a rumble we had setup and he was so excited about coming. The rumble came and went but no Chuck Schwartz and I was really hurt as I was really wanting to see him. Only later did we find out the day before he was to come to C.L. his family found him in his apartment in Wisconsin and he had gone on HOME shortly before that. Chuck, you did touch many 56ers and we all love ya kid.