Flying into the Morning . . .

At five in the morning Ferdie came to get us at our apartment on the Temple grounds in Quezon City to take us to the International Airport. After shuffling through lines and lines to check through the security inspections, we eventually left Manila on a 747 at 8:00 a.m. It was Thursday, May 29. This was an unusual trip. Missionaries are generally not allowed to leave their assigned work location. But we had special permission, permission granted more than a year ago before we entered the field.

We flew to Tokyo, a four hour jaunt. After a couple hours there, we boarded another big Boeing 747 flown by Northwest Airline. Flying into the morning sun, we crossed the International Date Line somewhere over the Pacific Ocean and slipped unperceptively back into Thursday, May 29 when we landed in Los Angeles. We were met in Las Vegas about 11:30 Thursday morning by Cathy and Taj Owen who were at the airport to pick us up.

The purpose of our trip was to participate in the dedication of the Dr. C. Owen Roundy Elementary School in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event had been planned a year ago before we were assigned to the Philippines. We were given permission to attend at the time of our call.

Tuesday was the day for the big event. Around 5:00 in the evening we gathered at the Dr. C. Owen Roundy School for a family tour. Mr. Knowles, the principal, escorted us around the school to see what the students and teachers had done to memorialize Dr. Roundy’s life. The school has four “pods” (and a kindergarten wing). In each of the four pods segments of his life were depicted – his childhood, his high school years, the colleges and universities, and his professional career. In this view, Dr. Roundy and his brother Nolen and Nolen's wife, Beth, are observing one of the displays.

Each student made a hand-print tile and the staff and family members made a tile (in the center section). This are permanently mounted on the wall of the interior courtyard. If you look carefully, you'll notice a diagonal pattern -- each grade had a different color. These are the students during the first year at the Dr. C. Owen Roundy Elementary School.

With Dr. Roundy are (to his right) his sister Zelda, brother Nolen, sister-in-law Beth, and Cathy, one of his favorite daughters. There were too many others to show, but on Tuesday we learned that some of Elder Roundy’s brothers were coming down from Salt Lake City, something he had not expected. Nolen and Beth came in the early afternoon and brought with them Quim and Zelda (another brother and his sister). We had a nice, but short visit with them. They said Shane, the youngest brother, was on his way. (Shane and Zelda live in New Mexico.) We had also learned that Gail’s oldest brother, Ronald, was coming up from California. And then Mary and Bob, Pete and Dee (and Wayne and Lisa), and Dorothy (from Texas). Surprise, surprise.

These are the Roundy boys: Nolen (oldest), Don (next to youngest), Shane (the youngest), Owen (most handsome, but younger than Nolen and older than Quim), and Quim (third to the youngest). Robert (age between Quim and Don) was not able to get off from work, so we had to do without him.
The student choir performed. The students and teachers sang the school song that Dr. Roundy had written for the school.

Dr. Roundy has enjoyed a long professional association with Dr. Marjorie Conner (ABD). He was pleased to have her speak at the dedication.

Federick Watson is one of the favorite principals with whom Dr. Roundy worked. He was a speaker at the dedication. This is Travis, Rick, and Dr. Roundy.

Some of the guests gathering. In this shot you can see several of the grand kids (Kenna Martin, Taylor Simmons, Drake Martin, Chase Simmons) and Dr. Aaron Waite, a son-in-law. The room was full of friends, family, colleagues. On the front row beyond are Aunt Dee and Uncle Pete. Behind him are Mary Sue and Bob Bishop and Uncle Ron. If you know whom to look for you can see behind them Uncle Nolen talking with a cousin, Glenna Anderson. Dan and Aleen McGuire. Jenifer and Wayne Horlacher are on the far left. Jenifer is telling her dad a secret . . . and he'll never tell.

Travis, Dr. Roundy, Rick Watson, and Marjorie Conner on stage. Marjorie Conner and Rick Watson, gave short tributes. The governor’s representative presented a proclamation designating June 3 as “Dr. C. Owen Roundy Day” in Nevada. The student presented Dr. Roundy with gifts: two books of student writing about why they liked the school, a yearbooks with all their pictures, a large poster with every child’s picture on it, a jacket from NASCAR (which has essentially adopted the school because of its Roundy Racer mascot, an idea, by the way, which Travis came up with). The students and teachers sang the school song (which Dr. Roundy had written for the school). Travis, representing the family, gave a nice tribute to his mom and dad.

Senator Reid had a short recorded video. The other congressmen presented flags, proclamations, pictures and other memorials.

Here are all of us Roundys: (f row) Cathy, Jenifer, Gail, Carolyn; (b row) Travis, Owen, Jill. These kids are the best in the world, so the rest of you will have to struggle along with your own lot in life; we got the cream of the crop.

Mr. Knowles, the principal, has cleverly used the Roundy Racer theme and has hooked up with NASCAR and others for a mascot theme. This model race car is on display in the library. It's about four or five feet long.

Here is another clever use of the checkered flags and the sports car tires. You can see evidence of this theme throughout the school.

The Las Vegas Speedway donated a lot of used tires. These have been displayed here and there in the school to good effect.

If you want a Roundy Racers T-shirt, here's the place (the one and only place) to get it.

All in all, it was a glorious day.

Lots of good things have happened in our lives. This was one of them.