Gettin Peppy with Pepe...

As we head down the home stretch here in what I typically call our "senior busy season" that stretches from early June until Christmas, I heard from a blast from the past and didn't even realize it.

Kim Pepe was calling to set up her daughter's senior pictures, and when I asked how she ended up calling us, the pieces started fitting together.

But first, a brief history lesson.

Many of the locals know some of the story... but for those that don't, here's a refresher.

About 25 years ago, arch rival school districts LDF (LeGrand-Dunbar-Ferguson) and SEMCO (Southeast Marshall Co [Gilman-Laurel]) began discussions to share their districts with eventual plans to consolidate.

That consolidation happened officially with the Class of 1993 when the old traditions were replaced with the current Purple and Gold clad Mustangs of East Marshall.  

The last official classes of the previous school districts was in 1989.   The final LDF and SEMCO grads strode across the stages in LeGrand and Gilman that spring, and a new era began the next fall.

So what about the gap there?   That three year period from 1990 to 1992?   And what in the HECK does all of this have to do with Kim Pepe, her daughter's senior pictures, and Stewart Photography?

There were just three years of "sharing" between the aforementioned school districts.   Still brandishing the red and white Warhawk gear from the LDF side of the fence, but transitioned into a hyphenated conglomeration of LDF-SEMCO.

The author of this blog and Kim's daughter's photographer graduated in the first year of that triad of years that when I look back now, I see some of the schools great accomplishments.  Perhaps this sports nut is a little biased... but the last two state football appearances came then... a state runner-up softball trophy was earned (when there was ONE girls' class in the entire state of Iowa)... most all of the boys school track records were set then... Coach Berggren and Coach Veren's basketball teams were feared.... The baseball team was racking up conference titles.  Forgive me for waxing poetic... but we had it goin' on.

Now... for the connection.   Perhaps it was fitting that Ariel Pepe wore a bright red shirt for one of her outfits because her mother, known to many around here as Kim Simatovich back in the day, graduated just one year after me in 1991.   In 1992, the last year of LDF-SEMCO, her aunt Jami Simatovich graduated along side my wife.

So when Kim, who lives now in the Gladbrook area, told me the REASON he was calling, all the dots were connecting.

She had her senior pictures taken by the former owner of my studio (John Foley, Fotos by Foley), so did her sister Jami... They grew up in Ferguson... went to LDF-SEMCO.

Bingo.

It was all coming back to me. 

So this Gladbrook mom, with a daughter who goes to Marshalltown High School ( I know confusing... but stay with me) was bringing her business back home to a former Warhawk.

Miss Ariel walked in a month ago with Mama Kim... Aunt Jami... and even Grandpa Simatovich (who is still as ornery as ever!)   I particularly enjoyed his recollection of Jami's session with Mr. Foley where he was holding her cat when a stray dog happened by causing a claw-brandishing rage from the kitty that left him scraped and bludgeoned.   Been doing this 20 years now and have yet to see that myself... but, it's safe to say that Mr. Simatovich hadn't forgotten!

It was near the end of the busy season... and the outdoor sites certainly had waned, but it didn't stop us from gettin' the job done.   I joked with our senior girl/Arby's employee extraorinaire about the fact she should've brought her photographer a Big Montana Combo with curly fries as a trade for some wallets.  :)

In the end, it was great to catch up with some old Warhawks.  Thanks team Pepe/Simatovich!!!