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Ronald Yates

Profile Updated: April 20, 2012
Residing In:
Dallas, TX USA
Spouse/Partner:
Bess Salomon
Homepage:
Occupation:
Manufacturing software sales and support
Children:
Christina, born 1968, married with 3 children and lives with her family in Castle Pines, Colorado; Damon, More…born 1973, married with one child and lives in east Texas near Kemp. My girlfriend/partner, Bess Salomon, also has two children and one grandson. If I count correctly, that makes a total of 4 kids and 5 grand kids.
Comments:

After graduation I was off to college, actually living in Long Beach, then Santa Barbara, and finally moving to Texas for my career. My parents moved to Saugus right after my graduation so I lost my ties to Torrance. My circle of friends at THS scattered and many of the guys were drafted, plus I got married and started a family, so I never kept the ties to classmates and lost contact.

School Story:

Not a happy story but still vivid: In the fall semester of 1963 my chemistry class was interrupted with news of JFK's assassination. The entire school gathered outside the administration building and Dr. Ahee spoke to us. We usually had pep rallies there so the contrast made it particularly sad.

What did you do right after high school?

Attended Long Beach State 1965-71, earned B.M. and M.A.; UCSB 1971-1973 earned Ph.D. Married Carolyn Beck, whom I met at CSULB, in 1967. Moved to Texas in 1974 for a teaching job and was college music professor for 20 years.

What did you want to do or think you were going to do when you finished high school?

I was destined to go to college because that's the only option I was given by my parents growing up. Plus, I always wanted to be college teacher, particularly after a school trip to UCLA our junior year.

What’s your favorite memory of THS?

Classes with Mr. Douthright (?) my freshman year - remember this guy? It was like an hour with Robin Williams every day! Since I was a band nerd, most of my time was spent around the band hall and I didn't socialize outside of band. Also, I was already playing gigs every weekend with various dance bands around LA and probably went to more proms than anyone - except they were at other schools and I was on the bandstand.

Biggest thing you would do differently if you went back to your time at THS?

Ha! Study more, work harder, etc. Sound familiar? I didn't socialize with classmates outside my small circle of band buddies and, looking back, that was limiting. Not many parties or dates. But I made up for it in college!

Any words of wisdom?

Make of your life what you want it to be! Nobody but you can do that. No one will do it for you. Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability.

Being in high school is a difficult time for many kids, mostly because of the age. But we all get through it and life gets better!

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Apr 27, 2024 at 8:39 AM

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Ronald Yates has left an In Memory comment for Gerald Ronan.
Dec 17, 2021 at 11:56 AM

My first memory of Mr. Ronan was in summer school typing class in 1961 even before I was a freshman where he was the teacher and I was trying to learn how to navigate my recently acquired Royal manual typewriter, a gift from my parents for having just graduated from Madrona 8th grade. I didn't know that the short man teaching the class was to become my class counselor for the next four years. None of us knew at that time how important keyboard skills would be in the decades that followed when computer monitors would replace sheets of paper and our brains learned how to convert abstract thoughts directly into Word docs and emails.

I didn't have a lot of interaction with Mr. Ronan during my time at THS, mainly because I managed to stay out of trouble and, being a band nerd, I had little time outside of the band hall during and after school. We had three different band directors during my four years there, but he was the one constant influence on me at school and I did get to know him at some class activities and events. In particular, I recall his guidance for our senior committee charged to select a painting too hang in the auditorium foyer. My time at Torrance High was happy and I made some good friends, although my family moved just after I graduated so I lost track of my classmates.

Godspeed Mr. Ronan

Ron Yates, Dallas

 

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Apr 27, 2016 at 7:24 AM

Ron. Here's wishing you Happy Birthday WISHES! Enjoy your special day. I remember you in HS, you were always a special guy to all of us. Missed seeing you at out 50th, everyone had a terrific time. See the photos on the site!
Sounds like your life is great and very successful!

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Posted: Dec 16, 2013 at 9:31 PM
Ron Yates in 2009 - picture taken with a band he played with in north Texas called "Ebenezer" (see EbenezerBand.com) until 2012.