Fall 4th Quarter Journal 1974 October-December

 

OCTOBER

October was a transitional month for me. I had to leave Provo and return to California as that my finances compelled me to move home to Garden Grove. Wages in Utah were so low in Provo that I couldn’t make a living in order to pay by bills and expenses.

            I was keenly aware that my roommates were all productive and attending school while I was struggling with being a dish washer which was the only work I could find in the depressed economy of 1974. I was virtually starving and having to borrow money off my roommates to eat.

            My affection for Mike Allred kept me tied to Provo for much longer than I should have stayed. So, I left the Mormon cocoon of Provo to return to California with all its homosexual temptations. I landed up working for a Italian Restaurant owned by two Gay men who hired mostly Gay waiters. Even though I was still staunchly Mormon, I was drawn to the Gay elements of working around so many Gay men.

            At the age of 23 and a half I had to move back home with my parents and straddle the fine line between being Mormon and a closeted homosexual.

1 October 1974 Tuesday

I can hardly stand to go into work at the Tiffany Room at  ZMCI, but I can’t afford not to go in. Rent is due and I just don’t have the money for all of it and had to ask for an extension. I barely have enough money for gas to go into work. I walk everywhere or stay home to save money.

In the news Judge John Sirica started the trial of the five Watergate conspirators with John Mitchell, John Erlichman, H R Halderman, Robert Mardian, and Kenneth Parkinson

2 October 1974 Wednesday

President Kimball was at the Marriott Center this morning because Nelson Rockefeller came in place of President Ford who canceled because his wife Betty Ford is sick. I wasn’t’ able to go because I had to work but I heard the place was packed. Rockefeller mainly talked about inflation.

3 October 1974 Thursday

I guess they are saying Nixon doesn’t have cancer after all and will be released from Long Beach sometime this week.  I went up to sauna at BYU and sat to just get out of the apartment. I probably should not have.

4 October 1974 Friday

Today is Michael John Allred’s 23rd birthday and I spent most of the day  at work but was able to listen to some of opening remarks of General Conference. President Kimball said during Conference that the church has launched a cleanup campaign and admonished the Saints to keep their property clean and in good repair. He said we are a “throw-away people.” He also admonished us to keep our lives morally clean in thoughts and deeds. I think sometimes BYU throws away people.

President Kimball also spoke that “God Shall not be mocked” and said “Every form of homosexuality is sin. Pornography is one of the approaches to that transgression. There is not halfway.”  He also addressed what he called “unisex” saying “Some people are ignorant or vicious an apparently attempting to destroy the concept of masculinity and femininity. More and more girls dress, groom, and act like men. More and more men dress groom and act like women. The high purpose s of life are damaged  and destroyed  by the growing uni-sex theory. Good man mad in His own image male and female  made He them. With relatively few accidents of nature, we are born male or female. The Lord knew best. Certainly, men and women who would change their sex status will answer to their maker.”

5 October 1974 Saturday

I had to work during General Conference at ZCMI. I hate not being able to watch it in TV.

“I Honestly Love You” by Olivia Newton-John  has been number 1 for 2 weeks and I don’t care for it and tired of hearing it. Maybe it’s my mood. In the news President Ford called for “sacrifices from the American people” to curb inflation. I don’t know how much more I can sacrifice. At least he’s not going to ration gasoline.

            I hate my job, but I suppose I should be happy I have one. Its reported that 250,000 lost their jobs just last month.

6 October 1974 Sunday

I watched General Conference with Mike Allred and the Mike Pitcher and John Baugh. There was no church meetings today because of it. We were impressed with N. Eldon Tanner, 1st Counselor in the First Presidency. He gave a talk  called "Why Is My Boy Wandering Tonight?". He said in part, "Many find themselves  in the wilderness because of following the poor example in the homes and communities. Traffic in this area is most congested and confusing. Pornography, fornication, adultery, and homosexuality are permitted and practiced in the world today to such an extent that we are truly following the ways of Sodom and Gomorrah.”

7 October 1974 Monday

Kind of a letdown after Conference and all the guys back in class. I had the day off and to get out I went up on campus to the Wilkinson Center to get out. There are places there that are wickedness to me.

            This evening I watched a new show “Rhoda” which is about the  Mary Tyler Moore show character. It’s kind of funny.

Mike Allred and I prayed together before going to bed. It was the first time we did it together in a long time. I think he must have been touched by some of the Conference talks.

8 October 1974 Tuesday

I was so upset at ZCMI during my work shift. The waitresses are so rude to me and treat me like I am the garbage that they dump on me to dispose of and to wash. I am treated so poorly. Then I see all this wasted food and I am so hungry most of the time. The Lord cannot intend for me to live like this no matter what my sins are.

Then this big shot man named Chef Rudy Standish the Omelet King was at ZCMI demonstration some pan he was selling that made us even busier.

            Back at the apartment Mike Allred and I watched Marcus Welby on Chanel 4 which was about a homosexual teacher assaulting a young teenager. The episode was called Outrage and I thought it showed what I have to stop being or they will never let me be a teacher.

9 October 1974 Wednesday

I don’t know how I am going to pay rent for this month. When I came home from ZCMI Mike Allred, and I went out to eat for the first time in a long time. He treated me as I was broke. We went to Sambos on 1200 North because they had a $1 breakfast served all day. I had the French Toast special, and Mike had the Sambo Special.

10 October 1974 Thursday

BYU held its homecoming Parade from Center Street to University Avenue. In the news President Ford wants stricter enforcement of the 55 miles an hour speed limit on highways to save gasoline. People here in the west hate the idea.

11 October 1974 Friday

I quit my job today after my boss was ragging on me for not keeping up with the dish washer machine. They don’t pay me enough to take their crap. I just left and they were upset that I would walk out in the middle of work.

            Back at the Stevens I just stewed and thought I have to leave Provo because there’s nothing here for me anymore. The guys are in school, and I am just spinning my wheels getting deeper and deeper in the hole. I have started even going to places again that I know I will get in trouble.

12 October 1974  Saturday

“Would you fashion for yourself a seemly life? Then do not fret over what is past and gone. In spite of all you may have left behind; Live each day as if your life had just begun.” Goethe

            I had filled all the pages in my previous journal book, and I have to start a new book thus the comment “a new journal.” It’s appropriate that I should start a new journal at this time since so much has changed because of the actions I took today. I left Provo and went home to California for a season. Doing so I have left behind all that I found so much joy in. It was one of the hardest things that the Lord had ever required of me. I feel like I’ve been banished  from Paradise rather than drawn to California for any special purpose or mission.

I had to leave, as each day I was getting deeper and deeper in debt. I could not even make enough money to pay my rent of $45 and a car payment of $65. I owed Mike Pitcher money, and John Baugh money and Mike money with no prospect of a better job, getting back into school, or developing a social life outside of the apartment but still it tore me up to leave. I didn’t want to leave. It was a very, very, very hard decision.

            I did not tell anyone I was leaving. I left silently and quickly. John and Mike Pitcher were gone for the weekend. Mike Allred, good old lazy Mike was still in bed, but it was 7 in the morning on a Saturday. I peeked into our room and looked one last time at my buddy Mike and left a note on my empty bed and then left at 8 in the morning.

 I left all my furniture and possessions behind for the guys to use and for perhaps a reason to come back some day. The sun was just bursting over the multicolored mountains sending beams down into the valley

It was a warm, beautiful, and brilliant autumn morning as if the Lord was reminding me of all that I was leaving behind. I drove away with tears streaming down my cheeks as I wondered when if ever will I return and see my dear friends again.

I reached Cedar City by noon where I paid 53 cents a gallon for gas. I was in Vegas by 3 in the afternoon and paid 60 cents a gallon! From there I drove on home to Garden Grove without incident.

13 October 1974 Sunday

Mom and Dad were surprised to see me come in last night, but they knew  that I was struggling in Provo. Today I attended the Garden Grove 6th Ward. It was a little confusing as they were observing Fast and Testimony  Sunday today since last Sunday was General Conference.

14 October 1974 Monday

Today was Columbus Day holiday. I went over to Frank and Barb Welte in Fullerton to say hi to the kids who were out of school. They sure have grown. Frankie is a Freshman at Fullerton Junior College and Kathy is a high school senior. I guess we all do grow up. Barbara Ann said she wanted to go to church with me next Sunday. That is good.

15 October 1974 Tuesday

I went to the unemployment office on Garden Grove Boulevard. I could not believe the amount of people looking for work! I guess there are a lot of people out of work right now. There was nothing on the board that I was suite for so no luck. I feel so discouraged. Nothing worked out in Provo and now there doesn’t seem to be any work down here in California. I feel out of place here.

16 October 1974 Wednesday

I drove to Cal-State Fullerton this morning to see about getting back into school after I failed to graduate but a half a unit last August. But I was very disgusted with being there because of the counter culture people and how people dressed. Being at Cal State Fullerton, I was tempted to cruise all the old locations where homosexual students went for sex especially in the Music Building on the upper floor.  It sure opened my eyes to the qualities of BYU. It truly is the Lord’s University.

            In the afternoon I went down to the Funky Taco off of Artesia Boulevard in Long Beach where my sister Donna works. It’s the first time I’ve seen her since last March. She’s gained weight since then and I told her to get on the ball and lose it before she gets as big as Mom. I’m down to a 28-inch waist. She said that Ken Jones liked her fat . Well, I said big deal you got your own health to consider. Then she said I better not tell Ken that I thought she was getting heavy, or he would get mad and not let me see her. I told Donna that there was no way he could ever keep me from seeing you if I wanted to do so.

            As we were visiting Ken came up to the Funky Taco and I finally was able to meet him. He wasn’t anything like what I had expected, kind of goofy looking but since he might become Donna’s husband, I won’t say no more. She’ll have to live with him not me.

17 October 1974 Thursday

I went to Cal-State Long Beach to see if Piper Ballou had enrolled there but she hadn’t. While I was there, I came across my sister Donna and her boyfriend Ken Jones who are taking classes there. I guess they are back together again but just not engaged.

             I then went over to where Piper’s aunt lives in Long beach and just barely got to visit with her before Piper had to leave for work. I told her I’d come back after 9 tonight when she was off work. It was so good to see her again after all these months. It was April when I last saw Piper and a lot of things had happened since then.

She told me that she was going to Long Beach City College not Cal-State and working. She said  that her spirituality was very low. I said so was mine. She said it sounded so good to hear words like “testimony.” “Joseph Smith” and “Book of Mormon”  again. Her family is very anti-Mormon and won’t let her mention anything about the Church. I guess she and Richard Holmes broke up over the summer. That’s too bad.

In the news President Ford voluntarily appeared before Congress to give sworn testimony about the pardon of Richard Nixon.

It was a terribly hot and smoggy day with the temperature being 105 degrees. I could hardly stand it. It was a cool 50 degrees when I left Provo.

18 October 1974 Friday

I went back to the unemployment office and there sent me out to an Italian Restaurant in Huntington Harbor called “Don Giovanni.” I went out to see the place that is off of Warner and Bolsa Chica, and they said they would call me tomorrow.

19 October 1974 Saturday

I have been back in California for a week now and I feel like I have been banished from all that I had in Provo. Grandma and Grandpa Williams came down with Aunt Minnie from Yucaipa so that Dad and my brother-in-law Dennis Wachs could to adjust the brakes on their car and to celebrate Grandpa and my niece’s birthdays. They were born on the same day, October 22,  70 years apart.

            I showed Grandma Williams all my genealogy that I have researched on the Danforths, and she was really impressed. Aunt Minnie wanted to know what the baptism, endowment, and ceilings dates on the forms were. She is a sly one. I have never told the Williams side of the family that I had become a Mormon.

            I drove Aunt Minnie over to Downey because she wanted to see the places in which she grew up on Dinwiddie Street and Woodruff. I had her show me how to get to the Downey Cemetery so that I could locate Great Grandpa Mabry Danforth’s grave whenever I wanted to do so. Grandma Danforth doesn’t have a marker because no one wanted to have her married name Gordon on the plaque. She had married Mr. Gordon after Grandpa had died.

            This evening some other family members came over for cake and ice cream. Aunt and Uncle Bonnie and Bill Fagen came over from Buena Park and said that my cousin Larry Fagen in joining the Navy. He can’t make a living to support his wife and baby in carpentry.

            My cousin Frances Ann and her husband Eddy Griess also came over with their kids and my brother-in-law Dennis Wach’s folks Walt and Janet Peavy  came too for Denise who is their granddaughter. Janet with her incessant talking sure gets on my nerves.

            With all the hubbub going on in the living room I went into my bedroom to watch TV when Janet came back and started in on me about the Mormons. She doesn’t even know what she is talking about.

            Don Giovanni never called me to see if I was hired.

The song “Nothing From Nothing” by Billy Preston was number 1 for a week.

20 October 1974 Sunday

I went over to Fullerton and picked up Barbara Ann Welte to take her to church in the Garden Grove 6^th Ward with me. She thought it was fun. After taking her home I dropped by the Fullerton University Campus. I guess I just needed to walk around to see if any guys were hanging out in the Fine Arts building.

21 October 1974 Monday

The owners of Don Giovanni called me finally to say I was hired. They want me to come into work starting tomorrow. I will be making $3 an hour as a dishwasher. Oh well the money if good and you have to start somewhere.

Additional Memoirs

 When I started working for John Joseph LoCoco [ 1932-1988], he was 42 years old and his partner Donald Allen Baldwin [1944-1988] was 30. I only knew them as John and Don. John was the son of Italian emigrants  and born in San Francisco where he died of AIDS in October 1988.  Don died two months earlier in August also in San Francisco.

In September 1987 John was chosen by fellow AIDS patients to speak to Pope John Paul II during his visit to San Francisco. The pontiff touched his cheek and said God Bless you.  He was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985 and carried an oxygen tank to keep him alive. I never found an obituary for Don.

John and Don were living together by 1966  in South Laguna Beach. In 1970 John was director of Department of Youth of the St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Tustin. Two years later they were theater people who in 1972 put on a play using a cast of 300 people for a production of Mame for the St. Cecilia’s Church. John was the youth Coordinator for the parish. Don was the set designer for the Mame production and was President of the Tustillians a Tustin Youth Group of unmarried 18–30-year-olds formed in 1963. All the profits from the performance was donated to the Rancho Nazareth Orphanage  near Tecate, Mexico.           

22 October 1974 Tuesday

Today was my first day at Don Giovanni, this swanky Italian Restaurant at 16903 Algonquin street on the Boardwalk,  that will cater to the yacht club set in Huntington Harbor. The business is about 9 miles from the house and takes about 15 minutes to 20 minutes to get there depending on traffic. I drive down Beach Boulevard to Warner where it’s just off of that street.

I went in this afternoon at 3:30 for orientation and worked three hours helping the owners and waiters get the place ready for an open house. The owners are John Lococo and Don Baldwin. They both are really good bosses. They had me come back at 7:30 and I worked a party until 12:30 tonight.

            Tonight, was an open house for the friends of John and Don with all the food and booze for free. The waiters were going crazy with 400 guess to serve. I had dishes, pots, and pans coming out of my ears. The place seems rather mafia like with all these Italians, but I don’t know for sure.

            Today is my Grandpa Williams 72nd birthday and my niece Denise’s 3rd birthday.

23 October 1974 Wednesday

            I only worked from 3:30 this afternoon until 7:30 cleaning up after the party from yesterday. We still are not officially open to the public. John Lococo however paid me until 11:30 because they were tired and wanted to close up and go home themselves.

            As I didn’t want to go right home, I drove down to the Pacific Coast Highway into Long Beach along Ocean Boulevard. I guess I wanted to see where I used to visit back in 1972 before going to BYU. Most of the places I used to visit are gone already

24 October 1974 Thursday

            Today I was promoted from being a dishwater to the supervisor over the bread room and salad prep. I guess they recognized that I had a lot more food preparation experience and that I could be of better use to them than just washing pots and pans. I got a raise to $3.25 an hour now and will work 8 hours in the restaurant. I guess being a hard worker pays off not that Provo ever appreciated it.

25 October 1974 Friday

            I finally got a letter from Mike Allred today. He said everyone misses me. Probably not nearly as much as I miss them.

Tonight, was Don Giovanni’s official Grand Opening and we were really busy. In fact, I worked with Chef Clito more than anyone else. When I was sent in to help him at first,  he was agitated and was yelling at me “What can you do?” And I said right back at him, “I can take orders, I can stir the pots, I can prep.” I think he was taken back by my not being intimidated by his bluster and he immediately took a liking to me.

It was a rather hectic night with me not knowing any of the Italian dishes being served like Chicken Masala, Polenta and Prosciutto, and the different types of red sauces. I didn’t know that scampi were prawns even. Everything seemed to be cooked with olive oil and different types of wine.

Chef Clito speaks in pidgin English with a heavy Italian accent which makes it even harder to understand him, but I kept up and I think he likes me because I was not afraid of the work, and I stayed out of his way but just was there to assist when he needed me.

            We got a new dishwasher tonight who is about 18 years old named Tom Gordy. He’s tall, lanky with stringy blood hair and very immature.

All the waiters are Prima Donnas demanding that their orders be first. They are very selfish. They think they can run everyone else’s job, but they can’t even do their own properly.

            The owner John Lococo said tonight that if he had 10 of me, he’d be a millionaire within a year. That made me feel good.

26 October 1974 Saturday

I went into work at Don Giovanni’s at 3:30 this afternoon and worked again with Chef Clito until 11:30 tonight. John Lococo and Don Baldwin received bad news today. Their liquor license wasn’t granted  so they can’t serve wine or spirits until then. John is pretty upset for how can you have an upscale Italian restaurant without serving wine?

“Then Came You” by Dionne Warwicke & the Spinners was the number 1 song for the week.

27 October 1974 Sunday

John Lococo wanted me to work today and since he’s been so good to me, I said I would to help him out. He had another open house to promote the restaurant and all I did today is crack and clean crabs all day. I got so sick of pulling out the meat and breaking off the legs. I must have cleaned over a 100 of them. I thought I was going to die cleaning the black gunk out of them. I never want to see another crab in my life.

            Steve the smart aleck bus boy from the day shift quit today because Mrs. Sardo kept after him to keep busy. Some kids just don’t know how to work. I put in 8 hours today.

28 October 1974 Monday

Today is my day off. I will always get Mondays off because that is when we are closed. I went to Cal-State Long Beach to look in the library for some genealogy on the Middle Ages. I miss doing research. I miss being in Provo and I miss Mike Allred. I hope he will write me soon with some news of what is going on with the kids there.

            I went by where Bob Wimberley used to live in Long Beach. That seems so long ago. I felt temptation so I went to an adult bookstore on Anaheim Street in Wilmington because I was curious if they were the same as in 1972.  There’s so much temptation for me here back in California.

29 October 1974 Tuesday

I worked from 3:30 in the afternoon until 11:30 at night. Tuesdays are our “Opera Nights.”  We got two new busboys, who are teenagers and who both came from the Bronx in New York City. They came out to California together. Mark is this short plump Jewish kid and George is this tall shaggy hair carrot top kid. They seem to be pretty nice. We will see.

John Lococo keeps expecting his liquor license anytime now. He gives out complementary wine now with the meals.

Almost all the waiters hired are Gay men in their late 20s and early 30’s. They’re mostly handsome but kind of bitchy and very flirty with me as I think they think being Mormon I am a challenge.

Often, they would swat me on my butt when I am helping them prep their carts thinking it would bug me, but it  doesn’t which I know makes them curious about me.

30 October 1974 Wednesday

John Lococo and Don Baldwin hired a new assistant chef for Clito today so I can go back to working the bread room and prep station. His name is Frank Farrare,  and he seems to be a really nice guy probably in his early to mid-30’s and married. He’s very Italian looking and said his family was from Rome. I worked an 8-hour shift.

            A year ago, I was in Provo, Utah with Marta Gillings, Karen Hunt, and Mike Allred and we drove all over Springville looking for cornstalks for the Halloween Party. It was a crisp and very autumn like day then. I miss Utah in the fall with the smell of smoke in the air and the mountains a blaze with color.

It’s been really warm down here in California. I’ve been sick with allergies too, causing me to sneeze constantly and having a runny nose the whole time I have been home. I am sick of being sick. I am allergic to the big Chinese Elm in our back yard.

31 October 1974 Thursday

I spent Halloween night at Don Giovanni work with nothing exciting happening. I worked 7 hours. Here is a list of people I am working with at Don Giovanni. The owners are John Lococo and Don Baldwin. The chef and assistant chef are Clito and Frank Farrare. The Bartenders are Bill and Dave. The waiters are Rick, Jim, Mo, Safwan, Ned, Dale, and Joel. The hostesses are Cindy and Laura. I am the Bread room supervisor. The busboys are Mark and George. The dishwashers are Tom Mack and Tom Gordy. The daytime help are Mrs. Leila Ceiscek and Mrs. Gaye Sardo. Jack is the piano player.

            A year ago, my BYU family had a Halloween Party at the Hostel. We had hot apple cider and pumpkin pies I made. We played games and it was a lot of fun back then. Mike Allred was trying to decide who to date, Linda Prindle or Mardene Francis. Marta Gillings and I were pretty thick back then. She turned out to be kind of crazy after we broke up.

            The 41st Branch also had a Halloween Party. I remember Mike left the party early, but I never knew why until several months later. He had an interview with President Warner over some transgression that occurred on his mission to Argentina. That was the beginning of him thinking that I was a bad influence for him the rest of the school year.

Additional Memoirs

Actually, I think Kathy Ausderau was telling him that I was a homosexual out to seduce him.

 

NOVEMBER

I was working full time at Don Giovanni Italian Restaurant, and I  really enjoyed the job and the people I worked with but unfortunately the place was losing money due to its lack of a liquor license. I had never worked for a failing business before and my work ethic kept me working long after I should have quit especially when my paychecks would not clear for insufficient funds.

            Also, I stayed as that the job market was incredibly tight, and jobs were scarce and all I could focus on was making enough money to return to Utah. The Owners were not actual crooks but were victims of a bad economy as well.

            The environment of my work place was very difficult being as I was obsessed with Mormonism as the remedy for my homosexuality. I was surrounded by many young Gay waiters who would have loved to have seduced me.

The Gay owners of Don Giovanni kept hiring these pretty boys even though we did not have the business to justify it. This one Jesus Freak boy named Robert Staples was a handsome kid who because I was attracted to him, he was the only one that I bothered knowing his full name.

            I often after getting off late at work would frequent the many porno arcades along Garden Grove Boulevard that for 25 cents one could view porn in private booths. I was not interested so much in the porn as I was the young horny men who were there, often masturbating. It was a very confusing time.

            I did not fit in my Ward as I was a single young man, who no one knew, and there were no programs for people of my status. Most of the young people either all knew each up having grown up in the ward or at my age were married. I therefore had a little support from supposedly my home Ward. In reality I was a BYU Mormon.

            I read in the paper how bodies of new young men were being dumped along freeway on and off ramps in Orange County during November. It was not until many years later that the serial killer was caught. Randy Steven Kraft committed a string of grisly murders between 1972 and 1983. He grew up about 5 miles from where I did near Beach Boulevard in Midway by Westminster. In November 1974, Kraft had murdered five victims whose bodies were dumped on the side of Freeways in Orange County. Kraft's M.O. was to pick up young men, ply them with alcohol, then systematically harm them before ending their lives. When Kraft was finally taken into custody in 1983, authorities made an interesting discovery in the trunk of his car: a list containing the names of 61 men, all of whom were thought to be victims of Kraft dating back to 1972.

Back in Salt Lake City, Utah, serial killer Ted Bundy had moved to Utah from Washington State. He was attending the Law School at the University of Utah and an almost victim Carol DaRonch narrowly escaped abduction.  

1 November 1974 Friday

It’s the first of November and I am that much closer to the time when I will be able to come home to Provo. Piper Ballou wants me to wait for her to finish her semester at Long Beach City College before  going back so she can return with me.

            Today John Lococo asked me to be in charge of all the dishwashers and bus boys and I said I would. I worked 9 hours today. When I first started this job, I was making $3 an hour now I am making $3.25. At ZCMI I was only making $2.00 an hour and that was just part time even.

2 November 1974 Saturday

I worked 8 hours today and the restaurant’s liquor license still hasn’t been approved and John Lococo is getting very edgy. George, Mark, and Tom Gordy are giving me a bad time about me being their boss now.

Stevie Wonder’s “You Haven't Done Nothing” is the number 1 song for the week.

3 November 1974 Sunday

John Lococo asked me to come into work for a few hours so I didn’t get to attend church, but he said I could have Sundays off from now on. That was really nice of him. I worked for 4 hours. Everyone is edgy because business is so slow.

4 November 1974 Monday

I went to Cal State Long Beach to do some more genealogy research. Piper Ballou said, when I talked to her, that Richard Holmes is here in Southern California and still wants her to marry him. She doesn’t know what she wants to do yet. She feels the same way being in California as I do. Lost.

5 November 1974 Tuesday

Today was election day for California. Edmund Brown Jr. replaced Ronald Reagan as governor defeating the Republican named Houston Flournoy. A black man named Mervyn Dymally defeated a Mormon John L Harmer to become Lt. Governor. I didn’t get to vote today because I am not registered in California. I want to keep my Utah residence so that if I have to, I can attend the University of Utah, if I need to, without paying out of state tuition.

            In general, The Republicans lost all over the United States because of the Watergate mess. A gay woman named Elaine Noble was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, making her the first openly gay person to be elected to public office.

Nixon is supposed to be really sick with blood clots in his legs. He’s here in the Long Beach hospital.

            I worked 8 hours today and I really enjoy my work and I have the nicest boss in the world.

Additional Material-

Utah Activist Steve Holbrook, while a not “out at work” Gay man, was elected the first known member of the Gay Community to the Utah State Legislature. Holbrook, a SLC Democrat, served 6 years. Even though he was in the “closet” at work, he still managed to bring his Gay sensitivity to the job. Holbrook also began his drive to create a radio station that would be designed to specifically meet the needs of the “alternative” and minority communities of Utah. Holbrook ‘s vision culminated in the creation of KRCL FM 91 in 1979 and at which station was a volunteer host of Concerning Gays and Lesbians in the late 1980’s.

6 November 1974 Wednesday

John Lococo hired this new guy for the day shift that basically does what I do at night. It’s still very slow without that liquor license. I worked 8 hours. Afterwards I went down to Long Beach and drove up and down Ocean Boulevard.

Additional Material-

The Advocate featured an article called “Mormon President Raps Homosexuals” about Kimball’s remarks at last October’s General Conference. The Advocate’s editor, Robert I. McQueen, who was from Price, Utah, had been a full time missionary for the LDS Church.

7 November 1974 Thursday

John Lococo hired another new guy named Lothar to work in the day, helping the day ladies, Mrs. Sardo and Mrs. Ceiscek. John and Don Baldwin said our liquor license will be here by the weekend. I certainly hope so.

            Tom Gordy who works washing dishes has to be one of the dumbest kids I have ever met. He’s 17 but the most immature person I have ever known at that age.

            I worked 8 hours.

Additional Memoirs

I now realize that Tom Gordy was a pot head but never having been involved in the drug culture that much and away from it for 2 years I didn’t realize it at the time.

8 November 1974 Friday

We got paid today. I made $222 but only cleared $171 after that. $130 when to September and October car payments that I was in arrears. Another $40 went to paying for car insurance  so that I didn’t leave me with very much left however I do have $100 in the bank. So, times are looking up.

            I worked 8 hours tonight and we got another new kid named “Lafe”. He’s a long-haired Jesus Freak and attends that Bible College in Costa Mesa sponsored by Calvary Chapel. He wants to talk religion all the time with me because he knows I’m Mormon. My weakness is that I’d rather talk about the Gospel than anything else. Lafe is a protestant through and through.

            There’s another new kid named Robert Staples who just works weekends. I think he is going to be a good worker. He’s 20 years old and seems more responsible than the other new hires.

            Clito keeps threatening to quit if business doesn’t pick up.

9 November 1974 Saturday

I worked 8 hours, and it was a very slow night. This place isn’t doing any business without that liquor license. They can’t even serve wine with the dinners. Mohammed the waiter and I joke around quite a bit, but the other waiters are mainly atheists, and they ridicule me for being a Mormon. I found out today that Ned the waiter is an alcoholic.

 A song I don’t like “You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive is the number 1 song here.  It’s on the radio too much.

10 November 1974 Sunday

Today is my day off and I was able to attend church at the Garden Grove 6th Ward although I don’t think anyone missed me. I don’t even know if my membership records have even been requested from my old BYU Branch. I still haven’t even been assigned home teachers.

I was really bummed out today and I did something I should have and went to an X rated movie at the Orange City Cinema and saw “Flesh Gordon” which was more campy than sexy I thought with characters called Dr. Jerkoff and Planet Porno.

11 November 1974 Monday

Piper Ballou called me to say that she and Richard Holmes are going to get married and are going back to Page, Arizona to make preparations for their marriage. I guess the thing that made Piper finally agree to marry Richard was that her Dad was coming out to stay with her Aunt, to look for work. and Piper couldn’t bear to put up with him for the way he treats her for being a Latter Day Saint.

12 November 1974 Tuesday

As of today, I have been back in Garden Grove for a month now. The first month anywhere is the hardest to bare and get used to.

Chef Clito quit today because he said there was no business, and it was too far for him to drive from West Hollywood where he lives. I never learned Chef Clito’s last name, but I had heard that he had worked in five Italian provinces and was well known in the business.

Frank Farrare was made the chef and he asked me to be his assistant. I told him that it would be unfair for me to accept because I will be returning to Utah on the first of January. He then asked Terry and he accepted the position. It was $750 and month job so not too shabby as John Baugh would say.

            Rick, one of the waiters hasn’t shown up in a long time and probably has quit. All the waiters are grumbling because there’s no business which means no tips for them. I worked 8 hours today.

13 November 1974 Wednesday

I worked 8 hours today. I’ve been going crazy trying to keep busy as there is little to do. John Farrare said Terry is working out pretty well.

14 November 1974 Thursday

Another of the Waiters left today. This time it was Jim. I worked 7 and ½ hours. If John Lococo would come across with some payola as a bribe, he’d get the signatures necessary for his liquor license faster, but he won’t do it. I admire his integrity.

            I learned how to make Cannoli’s today. I fried up these tube-shaped pastry shells and filled them with ricotta cheese sweetened with powder sugar with chocolate chips.

15 November 1974 Friday

I worked 8 hours today. John Lococo hired another person, a girl named Mary to help Leila Ceiscek who said she’d quit without some help. She worked tonight but will work days with Mrs. Sardo in food preparation.

16 November 1974 Saturday

I received a letter from Mike Allred in the mail saying that my contract had been sold to some kid named Eric. The guys thought if I moved back in,  it would be too crowded in the apartment with 5 of us. Well, that’s that, I suppose. No fond hopes of going back to Utah now. How soon you are forgotten when you are gone. I don’t know what to do now. I suppose I will have to go up and get all my things I left behind in Provo. This year has been one continuous bummer.

            I worked 7 hours at Don Giovanni’s tonight.

The song “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night” by John Lennon With The Plastic Ono Nuclear Band was number 1 this week. Kind of what I am doing now when I go up to Fullerton University.

17 November 1974 Sunday

I called Mike Allred in Utah to let him, and the guys know that I was going to try and get enough days off to come up and get the rest of my things out of the apartment.

            I keep hearing in my head Diana Ross’ song “Wasn’t it me who said nothing good gonna last forever. Wasn’t it me who said just be glad for the time together.”

18 November 1974 Monday

I am really down in the dumps and depressed over the thought of not living with Mike Allred and the rest of the gang up there in Provo. Those were such happy times. The thought that I was going back is what kept me going and working so hard. Now that bubble has burst. I suppose I won’t be going back to BYU until April when I can save enough money.

            I need to leave California because it’s too easy to fall into sin here. I get so lonely.

19 November 1974 Tuesday

I got a wedding announcement in the mail today from Piper Ballou. She and Richard Holmes are going to be sealed in the Salt Lake Temple tomorrow. I heard that Lothar was fired last Sunday. He was a goof off. I worked 7 ½ hours tonight.

20 November 1974 Wednesday

I went into work at 3:30 and worked until 11 tonight. I asked John Lococo if I could take some time off to make a quick trip to Utah to pack away all my belongings that I had left there. He said yes and was very understanding. He said I could have Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off.

I had to tell Mom that I wouldn’t be home for Thanksgiving this year either. She didn’t seem to mind and understood my having to go get my things.

21 November 1974 Thursday

Mo quit today and that is bringing the total number of waiters just down to a few. I’ll miss him. Mo was different, a real nice man. I worked 8 hours tonight.

 

22 November 1974 Friday

Jodie Clark was married today in the Salt Lake Temple according to the announcement I was sent a while ago. I wish her every happiness.

 I worked 8 hours. If we don’t get any business soon, I might not have a job to return to. There’s nothing worse than trying to keep busy when there’s no work because there’s no customers.

23 November 1974 Saturday

We were paid at work, and I don’t know how much I made but I cleared $218, however, John Lococo asked us not to cash or checks until Monday. I worked 8 hours tonight. Mark and George, the bus boys quit tonight. John asked me to work tomorrow because he was shorthanded. Since he was so good about letting me have all that time off to go to Utah, I said I would. I’m also taking the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off.

“I Can Help” by Billy Swan was number 1 for  the past 2 weeks.  I like the song.

24 November 1974 Sunday

I worked 5 hours today, not very long, for John Lococo as he needed the help. We didn’t have very many people in for the Opera Brunch. Gary the day time help quit and Dave the bartender was fired for stealing. It’s like Ten Little Indians around here. Who’s next to go?

Grandma and Grandpa Williams spent the weekend with us down from Yucaipa because Saturday was my cousin Larry Fagen’s farewell party. He has joined the navy for a 6-year enlistment and won’t get out until 1980! However, I didn’t get to see him before he left because I was at work.

25 November 1974 Monday

I tried cashing my check from Don Giovanni and it bounced! That sure made me upset. As soon as I came home from the bank, I had a big surprise.

Piper and Richard Holmes pulled up to the house in a pickup truck to see me. They came back to California just to retrieve her things from her Aunt’s house. It sure was good to see Piper. I showed her the announcement of Jodie Clarks wedding and coincidently they had taken out their endowments at the same time! Although they didn’t know each other Piper recognized her from the wedding announcement.

            They brought with them two dogs that I said I would keep over night for them while they check into a motel. Her aunt wouldn’t allow her to bring the dogs to her place.

            Piper said they are moving to Springville, Utah and that they would store all my stuff I left in Provo until I come back in April. That is great news.    

26 November 1974 Tuesday

I took $75 out of my savings and Mom wrote me another check for $50 that I could cash when I get to Utah.

I went into work where Don Baldwin wrote me another check and I gave that to Mom to hold onto until I get back. I also bought a blender today for $15 that I thought was a good buy. I worked from 3:30 until 11 and then went home with a huge food tray that John Lococo packed for me for my trip.

            I talked to Mom some before getting on the road back to Provo at Midnight.

27 November 1974 Wednesday

I drove straight through to Las Vegas only stopping there to gas up and eat some breakfast for 49 cents. It was about 5:30 in the morning when driving through the Virgin River Gorge I kept falling asleep, so I pulled over several times for 5-minute winks.

            I was in Provo at 2:30 in the afternoon, Mountain Time, and I went straight up to BYU to pick up an application for Spring term before they closed for the holidays. By coincidence I came across a friend I worked with at ZCMI who said she had just received her Mission Call.

            After that I went the Steven Apartments and crashed on the couch of my old apartment. Mike Pitcher came in about 3:30 and was happy to see me but said that Mike Allred and John Baugh had already left to go home for Thanksgiving. It was so good to visit with Mike Pitcher and catch up. He said that Mike Allred bought himself some contact lenses and is not wearing glasses now.

            Mike Pitcher left at 5 this afternoon to go home for Thanksgiving  and I called up Marietta Clark and Denise Smith expecting that someone would invite me over for Thanksgiving dinner, but nobody did so that’s that. I even called Linda Prindle, but she was gone too.

            So, I went shopping for some groceries before going to bed at 8 this evening. I haven’t slept in 36 hours. I guess I will be spending Thanksgiving alone. It seems strange to be back like everyone has moved on without me.

28 November 1974 Thursday

Today is Thanksgiving and I am spending it all by myself. I feel so disconnected. I am neither fish nor fowl. I don’t feel a part of with California or BYU. I was up at 8 this morning and went through the apartment gathering my things up to pack away. It was a bright clear day. The mountains are so pretty, and it is so good to be back home even if but for a little while.

            I called everybody I thought would still be in Provo but couldn’t connect with anyone because no one was at home. In the afternoon I went to the Academy Theater and saw “Papillion” and the movie “Gold.” There wasn’t hardly anyone in the theater.

            In the evening I went over to see Denise Smith. I had left my TV with her last October  so I thought I could to watch some TV with her, but she wasn’t home either. That kind of made me mad because when I called her earlier, she didn’t even ask me if I was doing anything for Thanksgiving.

Her roommate was home, and I asked for my TV back so I could watch it at my place so as I wouldn’t be so lonely in the apartment all by myself. Later Denise called me up and chewed me out for taking the TV back. What nerve. Denise has changed and I don’t think I like her anymore. I would never have acted like that.

29 November 1974 Friday

Today I drove to Salt Lake City to do some genealogy and I stayed at the library for 8 hours doing research. I concentrated strictly on the Danforths of the 19th Century, and I found marriage certificates for my Grandma Williams’ grandfather Theophilus Danforth and his father Thomas Bassell Danforth.

            My best find was a pension request filed by Grandpa Theophilus grandmother Nancy Morgan that gave a lot of information on that side of the family.

            The Temple and Temple Square were all lit up with Christmas lights and it looked so pretty. All of downtown was decorated for Christmas.

It was very cold today around 32 degrees and I had trouble starting the Pinto. I guess we both got spoiled with California weather.

While downtown I went to the Utah Theater on Main Street and saw the movie “Earthquake” with Charleston Heston in it. It was really good but scared me when the seats started vibrating.

Standing in line, while waiting to get in, I was visiting with a couple who were standing next to me. The guy was John Hyde who said he was a good friend of Mike Allred. It’s a small world.

30 November 1974 Saturday

I tried to start my car this morning, but it just wouldn’t fire up. I’m afraid that it’s the choke or something about the altitude and cold weather. So, I walked up to campus and did some genealogy there in the Harold B. Library. While there, I came across Leila Olsen, but she didn’t stop to talk. I guess I am ancient history.

            I didn’t find anything much at the library but upon walking home I found a $20 bill! That will help fix my car if it’s anything serious with it. I called Marietta Clark up to see if she could help me, but she said she didn’t have a car. So, I sat home tonight and watched TV between cleaning.

            A year ago, at Thanksgiving, I was with Marta Gillings, Karen Hunt, and Piper  Ballou down in Page, Arizona with the Johnsons, Barriers, and Holmes families. They were such wonderful people. We climbed down the sides of Glen Canyon which was fun, but Marta and I had a terrible argument and we more or less broke up afterwards. The breakup was hard on both of us. It was just the prelude to a bad year all around.

 

DECEMBER

I worked at Don Giovanni, hoping the business would turn around but even with the holiday catering parties the business failed. It was another bad experience to what turned out to be horrible year.

Whenever my homosexual nature and desires surfaced, I would repressed them by becoming more of a religious devotee. I was very attracted to this boy named Robert Staples who worked at Don Giovanni;s that I often would give rides home to.  I think he was also attracted to me except we were using religion to suppress any physical desire we might have had for each other. He was about 21 years old, good looking, with long shoulder length straight hair. He gave off a very sensual vibe and I fantasized being with him a lot.

I was cruising Long Beach at night often after work, just to see if the places I had frequented in 1972 were still active, but many of the porno arcades had closed and the amount of Navy guys dwindled since the Vietnam War had wound down. The amount of lonely sailors looking for a quick blow job was greatly reduced.

The Nu-Pike, which was once a grand amusement park, in 1968, was renamed  "Queen's Park", to coincide with the public opening of the RMS Queen Mary, which the city had purchased as a combination tourist attraction and hotel. Most locals continued calling it "The Pike" and because of all the tattoo parlors it was a magnet for sailors from the Long Beach Naval Base. It also had a dangerous reputation after dark.

While I was trying to suppress my homosexuality in December at the same time Gay Rights were making headways. The first International Gay Rights Conference began in December. It would lead to the formation of the International Lesbian and Gay Association in 1978.

Politically the nation had been without a vice President since August when Gerald Ford assumed the presidency. In December former Republican New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller was sworn in as Vice President of the United States.

1 December 1974 Sunday

I didn’t attend church today as it was Fast, and Testimony Sunday and I didn’t have the time schedule for any of the branches her at BYU. I mainly finished getting all my things packed away into the Pinto and left the Stevens apartment clean for when the guys come home from the long break as a thank you for letting me stay. I also fixed some corn chowder and corn bread along with a meatloaf for when the guys come in.

While I was up on campus at the Harold B Library doing some genealogy, I found a Peacock and a Purser Family Association which I am going to write to when I get back to California and see if they can help me any. Grandpa Williams’s Mom was a Perser and Grandma Williams mother was a Peacock.

            I called Linda Prindle up tonight, but her roommates said she still wasn’t back from her break when she went to Montana. I asked them to have her call me in the morning before I go back if she is back.  

I wanted to go the Ten Stake Fireside to hear Elder Pingree speak  but I didn’t go. Because I wanted to be in the apartment when the guys came home.

            Mike Pitcher was the first one home about 8 this evening and then Mike Allred came about 8:15 followed by John Baugh at 8:30. We all visited and learned how we all were doing since we last saw each other. It was good to be at the apartment even if Mike Allred was a little stand offish at first, but when he knew I wasn’t hurt by them not saving a spot for me, we totally began to really talk to each other again.

            We stayed up until 11 at night but then we hit the sack. However, I know that Mike Allred and I didn’t get to sleep until at least 2 in the morning, as we were up late visiting and  talking. There was so much to say in so little time. I really love Mike Allred. He is one of the best persons I’ve ever known. I didn’t want to stop talking but I had to let him get some sleep for work and school tomorrow.

            I don’t want to leave here, I really don’t. I can’t get over see Mike Allred again. Mike really looks good in contact lenses, but I guess he’s pretty poverty stricken because of the cost of them.

2 December 1974 Monday

Mike Allred left for school at 8 this morning. Before he left, we shook hands and said our goodbyes. I then talked to John Baugh for much of the morning until Linda Prindle called before going off to her classes. She said she would be home at noon, so I said I wouldn’t leave for California until then so I could come by to see her.

            When Mike Pitcher and John Baugh came home from their morning classes, they used jumper cables to start jump the Pinto. I then went to Albertson’s Market on Center Street and bought some milk and a cake for them to say thank you.

            In Mike Allred’s room I left a little note with $5 in it for him. Then I left the Stevens’ Apartment at noon and drove over to seen Linda Prindle. She looked pretty good, just tired from her trip to Montana over the Thanksgiving Break. We talked for a while, and we promised to write to each other after I leave. I wonder how things will turn out between us.

            I finally left Provo behind in my rear-view mirror at 1 in the afternoon and was on the road again. It was a very pretty day to be traveling, the weather nice and clear. I didn’t have any trouble on the road except just outside of Beaver, where the Pinto stalled crossing the mountain. Fortunately, there was a road construction crew nearby and they helped me get the car started again where I was able to drive to a service station in Beaver. There the attendant said my distributor cable was burned out and he was nice enough to fix it for free. That was very nice of him.

            I listened to KSL for almost all the way home on the radio. It was a very tiring drive, and a 14-hour trip, but it was not as bad as going up when I was so tired from lack of sleep. I got into Garden Grove at 3 in the morning.

3 December 1974 Tuesday

I was so tired from the whirl wind trip and the long drive that I slept for most of the day. I didn’t have to go into work, so I just stayed home to recuperate. What a dream like trip it was. It’s made me all the more lonesome my being here in California, however.

4 December 1974 Wednesday

I went back to work at Don Giovanni at 3:30 this afternoon and everyone there said that they was glad I was back. The bread room has an all-new coffee machine, a kind of an Italian espresso one they said. I will have to be trained how to use it even if I don’t drink it. The restaurant is all decorated for the holidays with a Christmas Tree and garland.

I worked a 9-hour shift and spent a lot of time with Robert Staples helping him. He was depressed because his girlfriend broke up with him and I know the feeling of a breakup from last year with Marta Gillings.

            The Eagles’ Best of My love is my favorite song out right now. I also like “When Will I see you again” by the Third Degrees because it reminds me of wanting to be back in Provo. “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places” however is how I feel about my life right now as “Wickedness was never happiness.”

In the news two ministers in New Milford Connecticut threatened to sue the school board for requiring sixth grade boys to take home economics, saying it would turn them into homosexuals.

5 December 1974 Thursday

Frank Fararre, the head chef, asked if I would come in early today because we have three catering parties this weekend that we have to prepare for. So, I came in at 1 in the afternoon and ended up working until 1 in the morning, a 12-hour shift.

            Leila Ceiscek and Mrs. Gaye Sardo, the two women who usually only work the day shift was here all night also. I made rice balls stuffed with mozzarella cheese and then rolled them in bread crumbs to be fried later when I wasn’t doing my normal work.

            Leila was really funny today making fun of Gaye who is very Italian. They are good friends, but Leila was imitating her by saying Gayle couldn't explain how to make anything without making wild gestures with her hands. She said that Italians would be mutes if they lost the use of their hands. She was hilarious and I thought how true of all the Italians down there.

6 December 1974 Friday

It was a very busy, busy night finally, plus we had to get items prepared for the catering parties. I came in at 3:30 and worked until 2:30 in the morning. After we had closed for dinner, we stayed late frying up breaded zucchini sticks and the rice balls. Another very long day but I figure I made almost $40 towards going back to BYU. I barely could make that in a week in Provo.

7 December 1974 Saturday

I came into work at 3:30 and worked until 12:30 in the morning. Another long day but at least I like the guys I work with mostly. The night was really busy, and it was also really hectic. I told John Lococo I would work tomorrow to help them out with the private party Don Giovanni was catering. He was so nice about giving ne the time off to go to Utah I felt I owed him to help out. Every muscle in my legs and body has ached all week from standing and working so hard all this past week.

Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas has been the number 1 song for 2 weeks now on the radio.

8 December 1974 Sunday

I went with Mom and Dad over to Frank and Barb Welte’s in Fullerton for most of the afternoon. Dad and Frank were working on my Pinto setting the timing belt and putting in new plugs and spark plugs. I told Barbara Ann Welte and her sister Kathy that I would let them use my car to get their driver’s license whenever they needed to go.

            I came into work later today at 5 this afternoon. At Don Giovanni’s we got a new girl, named Nancy, to help out to replace Mary who quit. She seems a very efficient worker. I saw her once at the Garden Grove unemployment office when I was there looking for work last October.

            The 70-person dinner party tonight went very smoothly with no problems. I made the salads and dessert plates and helped Robert Staples with the dishes, pots, and pans afterwards. While working together we got to know each other better and he’s a neat guy but is a Jesus Freak. So glad he doesn’t have to be worried about being drafted like we did when I were his age.

            Robert and I worked until 1 in the morning before closing up. I gave him a ride to his house and then went straight home rather than get in trouble being out late cruising Long Beach. Not that it matters much because I know the Lord has withdrawn his spirit from me because of my wickedness.

9 December 1974 Monday

This evening I took Mom and Dad down to Don Giovanni for dinner and to go on a Huntington Harbor cruise to see the Christmas lights. John Lococo provided dinner for all his employees and their families or who they brought along as a Christmas thank you  . He also chartered a cruise yacht to take us out afterwards in to the harbor.

 I’m glad Mom and Dad came so they could see where I worked and meet some of the people I work with.

            The Harbor Christmas Lights was really pretty, and I think Mom and Dad enjoyed the cruise around Huntington Harbor. There was a lot of money tied up in the mansions and yachts located around and in the harbor.

            While it was really a neat night, I miss being in Provo at Christmas time with snow and downtown being all decorated up like a Christmas Card.

10 December 1974 Tuesday

I worked my usually 3:30 to 11:30 dinner shift.  It wasn't such a bad night, but I am having trouble with Tom Mack, the daytime dishwasher who won’t do his job properly. He is leaving too much for the evening crew to do which isn’t right. Things better shape up some. Lafe worked doing dishes tonight instead of Rob Staples who had the night off. I don’t think Lafe likes me being over him, but I am not that hard on anyone.

11 December 1974 Wednesday

I worked 7 and 1/2 hours tonight. John Lococo hired three new waiters today: Robin, Ernesto, and Doug. I am not sure why because business hasn’t really picked up any. Ernesto is very flamboyant like my old college friend at Cypress, Bob Wimberly. It’s kind of embarrassing how obvious he is but maybe he’s an actor like Bob was.

12 December 1974 Thursday

I worked 8 hours tonight. I don’t know what else to write. I need to reexamine my life as I have fallen into bad habits again like John Wagner did last summer. I think I am just extremely lonely when I go out after work sometimes not coming back to the house until 3 in the morning.

13 December 1974 Friday

I worked from 3:30 in the afternoon to 1:30 in the morning preparing for a Christmas cocktail party for 70 people and the clean up afterwards. I am too wired to just go home so I like to drive the freeway at night just to clear my head. Often, I head to Long beach and drive up and down Ocean Boulevard.

            I’ve stopped saying my prayer and reading the Scriptures. Don Giovanni is not a good place for me to be although I like the people there and the work but it’s not a good environment for me to be spiritually as I am a carnal being and weak man of the flesh.

14 December 1974 Saturday

I went into work at 1 this afternoon and worked until 12:30 in the morning. John Lococo chewed the waiters out today telling them to get on the stick and start doing some work around here. From the time they come into work, they just sit around until customers come in instead of setting up their carts, folding napkins, filling salt shakers, and such.

I also complained to John about Tom Mack, the day dishwasher, because he is really sluffing off and leaving the place a mess for the evening kids.

            Only Rob Staples was in tonight, so I helped him with the dishes, pots, and pans when I was not busy in the bread room. I really like being with Rob even if he’s kind of a Jesus Freak but at least he loves Jesus. He’s easy to be around and kids with me a lot by swatting me playfully on the butt when I don’t get a pan as clean as he thinks I should. It’s kind of funny and I like the attention.

            I’ve been very moody and unhappy lately. I miss the close association of the Saints at BYU that kept my worse side in check. In Alma 41 it says, “Wickedness was never happiness”. Maybe that is why I am so unhappy because my thoughts are impure, especially around Rob.

            I bought a car bumper sticker today that said “Discover America: Read the Book of Mormon. I should take my own advice and get back to reading it again.

15 December 1974 Sunday

I drove up to Yucaipa after attending church to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa Williams. However first I stopped in Corona so that my brother-in-law Dennis Wachs could set the timing on my Pinto since it was acting up again. My nephew and niece, James, and Denise, sure are getting excited for Christmas since Charline has put up the tree up and Dennis has strung lights.

            I arrived in Yucaipa at 7 this evening and I surprised them as that they didn’t know I was coming for a visit. We talked about a lot of different things mostly family history. Grandma Williams really thought it was something that I found copies of her Grandparent Danforths and Great grandparents marriage certificates.

Grandpa Williams went to bed early. He doesn’t care anything about family stories, but Grandma and I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning. She’s always been proud of her Danforth people. She knew Grandpa Theophilus Danforth really well as she was the first grandchild, and she was almost 30 when he died.

16 December 1974 Monday

After getting up this morning I chatted with Grandma and Grandpa Williams some. Later Grandma fixed a nice dinner of fried chicken, black eye peas, carrots, potatoes, milk gravy and biscuits. Grandpa Williams wasn’t feeling up to going with me to see his Aunt Nora Blanton Davis, so I went by myself to Upland.

            Aunt Nora is Granny Rose’s youngest sister and once there in Upland, we talked about the Persers, the Carters, and the Williamses who she knew from Cass County, Texas days. I thought it curious that she had this big Myna bird who would talk occasionally. I never knew anyone to have such a large bird. He must have been 2 feet tall.

Aunt Nora remembered my Grandpa Williams’ grandpa George Kearse Williams very well and loved him so much that she even named a son after him. I guess he was a well-beloved Baptist preacher. She showed me two photographs she has that I’d give almost anything for. One was a portrait of George Kearse Williams and the other was of Grandpa Williams’ Dad Edgar Lewis Williams. I stayed with Aunt Nora for about 3 hours before I drove back down to Orange County from Upland.

At home I found that I had a letter from Linda Prindle. What am I going to do about our relationship? I love her but I am I “in love” with her? I want her affection, but I am afraid of it at the same time. I am not the man she thinks I am, but God commands that we marry for our eternal progression. I have strayed so far from the Lord God, some of it from working among wicked and worldly people at Don Giovanni.

God, who has been so gracious and merciful to me; even as I have been so vile and a lowly sinner, has been long suffering with me. I used to feel so close to the Lord God but now I feel as if the universe stands between us, and I put it there through the sins of the flesh. The Book of Mormon says The Natural man is an enemy to God.       

17 December 1974 Tuesday

I was up at 11:30 this morning after staying out so late last night and not going to bed until 3:30 in the morning. I need repentance before I transgress to the point of no return. So, I studied from the Book of Mormon before going into work. I truly love that Book. By studying the consistent use of the geography, mentioned in the Book of Mormon, it proves that Joseph Smith could not have written it out of his imagination but that it was written by ancient prophets inspired by God.

            I went down to work at 3:30 and worked until 11 at night. I have been having so much fun with Robert Staples at work just goofing off and kidding around. He’s such a fun character. I wish we could be closer friends.

When I left it was a very foggy night and was hard to drive home in especially on Golden West.

            There’s only two more weeks left in this horrible year. I pray they next year is better than this one. It just got to be.

I still haven’t written Linda Prindle like I should. I need to do some serious fasting praying about whether I should ask Linda to marry me. Maybe that would put me right with God.

18 December 1974 Wednesday

Before going into work, I took the Pinto into a car wash to have it cleaned and waxed. Then I went out and bought a Christmas Card to send to Linda Prindle. I received a letter from a distant cousin of mine Mattie Fenter. She said she got the history I sent her alright and thanked me for it.

My spirituality needed a boost, so I read some more from the Book of Mormon. I studied mainly the military campaigns of General Moroni.

            It was a pretty day as far as I can tell. I went into work at 4 this afternoon and worked until 11:30 mixing up a batch of Italian dressing to keep in the cooler and stuffing ricotta cheese, sweeten with powder sugar and chocolate chips, into Cannoli pastry shells. It was very slow until about 8:30 when business really picked up and I was busy slicing bread and plating up dinner salads.

            Before that though, I washed and wiped down the walls in the bread room and made my station look sharp.

            John Lococo was in a bad mood. I could tell something was bothering him. I hope it’s not me. Don Baldwin paid me $100 in cash of what I am owed up to the 1st of December so that I can at least make a car payment.

            My sister Charline Wachs still hasn’t had her baby and she is as big as a house. I am giving her $50 for Christmas that she can spend on her, Dennis, and the kids.

People aren’t sending out Christmas Cards much this year as they used too. Money is tight with inflation on the rise. Sugar right now is outrageously high and it’s time for all the holiday baking.

The end is upon us President Lee prophesized  and soon God shall rein and woe to the wicked.

19 December 1974 Thursday

I went into work at 3:30 and worked until 11:30 tonight. I helped prepare for the catered Christmas party tomorrow. Rob Staples and I goofed around some being silly. I like him a lot. Frank Farrare our chef is trying to talk me into staying on as the Salad Chef, but I won’t do it because I want to return to Utah as soon  as I can.

20 December 1974 Friday

I was up at 9 this morning to get ready to go to Fullerton to take Barbara Ann Welte down to the DMV to get her driver’s license. She passed her written and driving test just fine. I was back in Garden Grove at 12:30 this afternoon but I was super tired for some reason.

            I received a letter from Grandma Johnson’s cousin Grace Shue about the Fenter history I sent her. She was glad to get the genealogy. I also wrote my great uncle Jack Perser today hoping for a response from him. He’s my Granny Rose’s younger brother.

            I was sure tired going into work, but it wasn’t too busy of a night. I worked from 3:45 until 11 at night. When my shift was over, I didn’t go home but just sat around with Robert Staples and some of the waiters just talking about life and getting to know them better. Some I think would like to put the moves on me and tempt me to fall back into old bad behaviors.

I didn’t get home until 1 in the morning. I feel rather lonely, and it doesn’t even feel like Christmas time to me.  I miss Mike Allred something awful.

21 December 1974 Saturday

Before going into work at 3:30, Mom and I found this Victor Fenter in the telephone book who lives in the City of Orange. I called him up, but he wasn’t home just his son Craig Fenter was. I told him who I was, and I was trying to connect their relationship to our Fenters. I know they are kin somehow but its undetermined right now,

            At work it was rather slow again although John Lococo asked if I’d come into help tomorrow as we have lost so much staff. I said I would.

I received a Christmas Card from Denise Smith today. She wanted me to call her when, she comes home to California for Christmas. I guess I should stop being mad at her for how she treated me at Thanksgiving.

            Don Baldwin paid me $41 more which was the remainder of the rest of that paycheck they owed me from November, but I haven’t received any wages for December yet. .

Cat's In The Cradle by Harry Chapin is the number 1 song for the week. I like it a lot.

22 December 1974 Sunday

I was up by 9:30 this morning to get ready for Sunday School but I couldn’t go to Sacrament because John Lococo wants me to work today.  It was so good to be back in Church again. It was especially nice since it was the Christmas Program. I was surprised to learn that Bishop Larry Juchau has been released and called to a position in the Garden Grove Stake which now has expanded for 7 to 8 Wards. Our new Bishop is Bishop McKay. I think Bishop Juchau never gave much thought to me, however.

Grandma and Grandpa Williams had spent the night so Mom and Dad could take them the 70 miles back to Yucaipa. They had been staying at Aunt Bonnie’s but for some reason they wanted Mom and Dad to take the home.

            I called Laura Edmundson before going into work at 3:30 to visit. She is fine but there’s really not much to talk about anymore. All the old Cal State Fullerton dorm kids have scattered and gone their own ways. I only worked until 8:30 before coming home after helping out with a catering party.

23 December 1974 Monday

Today is the anniversary of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s birth. I received a Christmas Card from Randy Leavitt of all people who is still on his Mission in French Quebec. That was a pleasant surprise. I also received a card from Grandma Johnson’s cousin Nellie Lum who I have been writing and asking for genealogical information.

            I watched a 1946 movie on TV called “Bad Bascombe”. In it Wallace Berry played an outlaw who along with another bandit joined a Mormon Wagon Train on its way to Utah. Marjorie Main played a Mormon grandmother to Margaret O’Brien’s little girl character who melts Berry’s hard heart. It was interesting seeing Mormon history depicted by Hollywood.

            Since it was my day off, I went out in the evening to the movies and saw Walt Disney’s “Island at the Top of the World” at the Westminster United Artist Theater and later went and saw “The Phantom of the Paradise.”  I really enjoyed The Phantom of the Paradise because of all the music but it was really kind of racy. I saw in at the Santa Ana United Artist Theater on 17^th and Bristol. The “Island at the Top of the World” was very forgettable for a Walt Disney film.

Additional Memoirs-

I barely mentioned seeing Phantom of the Paradise because it was so risqué  and had an obvious nelly Gay character in it called “Beef”. The 1974 film was an American musical rock opera horror comedy written and directed by Brian De Palma and scored by and starring Paul Williams.

In the film, a disfigured composer writes his music for a woman he loves so that she will sing it. However, a record producer betrays him and steals his music to open his rock palace, The Paradise. Betrayed, the composer dons a new appearance and exacts revenge on the producer. It co-stars William Finley and Jessica Harper.

24 December 1974 Tuesday

It’s the day before Christmas but there’s no Christmas in my heart like last year. Today is my Aunt Minnie Lee’s birthday. She was born in 1929 the same year as Mom. She’s back in Earth, Texas living with my great Aunt Beulah Danforth as a caretaker for Beulah’s mother Miz Kelly. Mom is busy making pies for tonight and tomorrow.

            In the mail I received a Christmas Card from Mike Allred and another one from Mardene Francis. She said she received her Mission Call to Spain and Mike said he’s home in Afton for the Holidays. I wrote him back a letter and sent him some money. I know what it’s like to be broke in Provo.

            I had to work Christmas Eve and went in at 3:30 but we were so dead that the place closed early, and I was out of there by 10:30. We are closed tomorrow for Christmas.

            Dad said his company gave him $100 Christmas bonus but of course I didn’t get anything from Don Giovanni.  Not even my regular pay check.

25 December 1974 Wednesday

Today is Christmas Day but for me it’s like any other day. I was up at 10 this morning, Mom, and Dad had already left to go to Corona to go over to my sister Charline’s for Christmas Morning to spend it with their grandkids.

            I drove over to Dad’s cousin and his wife Norman and Betty Danforth to give them a copy of the family history I have compiled. They are more like an uncle and aunt than a first cousins once removed. I visited with them until 3 in the afternoon before driving up to Corona to see my sister Charline’s kids. Mom and Dad had already left by the time I arrived up there. Dennis Wach’s family however was still there. I ate a little of the leftover Turkey dinner and played with James and Denise some.

            When I have children, Christmas will be more than a toy explosion. The kids get so hyper with expectations so that when they misbehave, which they will, parents are frustrated, and punishments are perpetrated on the children, and everybody ends up unhappy on what should be a joyful occasion. If the Lord Christ was remembered at Christmas things would be different.

            Mom bought me a warm ski sweater for Christmas and Grandma Williams crocheted a colorful Afghan made of granny squares for my bed. It is really beautiful, and she made one for each of her grandkids. Grandma and Grandpa Williams are staying with us and my aunt and uncle Bonnie and Bill Fagen in Buena Park until they go back up to Yucaipa.

            Last year after Thanksgiving, Marta Gillings and I broke up and Mike Allred was going through his own personal crisis concerning his standing in the church. He was dating Mardene Francis back then.

            On the 16th of December, I went with Rita Wilcox, Mardene, and Mike to the Salt Lake Tabernacle to hear the choir sing Handel’s Messiah. It was beautiful and thrilling except later the evening was ruined by Kathy Ausderau turning Mike against me. We had been like a trio, but Kathy convinced Mike that I was a bad influence on him, and I was then excluded. Mike and I were estranged during much of December however because of Kathy’s interference but I wasn’t to find that out until January of this year.

            Darwin Ross joined the Army Reserves and left on November 30th  so until Greg Earl took over his contract and moved in, there was just Ken Lewis, Mike, and I at the Hostel Apartment. Mike moved into my room once Darwin left, and we shared the same bedroom for the remainder of the school year. Mike said Ken’s snoring was too much for him.

            I wasn’t planning on going home for Christmas last year until everyone else took off and I was left alone in the apartment staring at my Christmas tree. Everybody had left BYU except for Kathy who was avoiding me. I just couldn’t bare being by myself alone for Christmas so at the last minute I took a bus home to San Bernardino where Mom, Dad, and Donna came and picked me up. I had no money for Christmas that year. I suppose coming home was a present enough.

            My uncle and aunt RL and Jerrie Williams came down from Northern California and uncle and aunt Wallace and Mattie Lee Williams came for Christmas eve that year. On the 26th the prophet suddenly died and that was a shock. On the 29th I went with Piper Ballou and Denise Smith to Ports O’ Call in San Pedro before taking a bus back to Utah and later brought up my own car.            

26 December 1974 Thursday

A year ago, the Prophet Harold B Lee died. I heard it on the late news and the newscasters didn’t elaborate but just mentioned it in passing. But to me it was a total shock. I immediately called Denise Smith who was out in California on Christmas break from BYU, but she wasn’t home, but her father confirmed for me that the prophet had died.

            I then burst into tears and ran to my bedroom. My uncle and aunt R.L. and Jerrie Williams were over visiting Mom and Dad and my sudden outburst alarmed and startled them. They could not understand my deep sorrow and grief at the loss of the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. They did not know the man as I knew him and loved him.

            Today I went into work and because it was the day after Christmas, we were very slow. Robert Staples, one of the guys I worked with totaled his car on Christmas Eve, so I gave him a ride home after work. I was at Don Giovanni’s from 3:30 until 11 tonight.

            John Lococo gave me a bottle of Champagne for Christmas  which I just gave to Mom and Dad since I won’t drink alcohol.

Grandma and Grandpa Williams spent the night with us again. My nephew and niece James and Denise also spent the night with us. James slept with me, and the little bugger wet the bed and I had to get up and change the sheets while he was sound asleep still, I still love him but ugh!

27 December 1974 Friday

Mom took down the Christmas tree today. She always wants it down right after Christmas. Now there’s no trace of Christmas ’74.

            I went into work at 3:45 and worked until 11:15, helping Robert Staples a lot with the dish washing because it was so slow in the bread room. I wasn’t feeling too great tonight like I may be coming down with something.

            Rob and I talked, while working together, about our concepts of Salvation. He believed the great Protestant heresy that to believe in Christ without any works constituted salvation. The great Catholic heresy is that works without faith can save you through confession and the sacraments.

            I tried to explain to Rob that the Gospel says that faith without works is dead as much as works without faith is. If you have faith which is given by the Grace of God, you will keep the commandments and do good works. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

            The doctrine of the Jesus People movement to which Lafe and Robert subscribe are falsely leading their followers to believe that their faith in Jesus Christ will save them therefore they keep not the commandments. They believe they are entitled to do what they want and still be with Christ.

            The Catholics believe they don’t have to be faithful to Christ keeping His commandments as long as the observe the Sacraments.

            I thank God that His sure and guiding hand has led me to the Gospel. What a wicked and perverse generation that surrounds me and mingles with me. I am so aware of my own sins working here and they condemn me. I sometimes feel that Satan has control and dominion over the entire world.

            Thankfully, the missionaries are daily seeking out the righteous to bring them to Zion even while the world scorns and mocks the True Religion.

            How am I to be in the world and not of the world? I am now praying daily that I might have the Grace to keep my light kindled even when I am wicked and perverse.

But how I delight in the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I thank God I have the Book of Mormon, the greatest of all books ever written. It is flawless, perfect, and bold in its pronouncement that Jesus is the Son of God. Blessed is the Prophet Joseph Smith’s holy name for it was his blood which sealed the Book of Mormon, the book of books.

28 December 1974 Saturday

I didn’t go into work tonight. I felt very sick to my stomach like I have the stomach flu. It rained and hailed for most of the day anyway. They say as much as an inch of rain fell in  Los Angeles. There’s still no word from my sister Charline about having her baby so maybe he will bring in the new year.

            In the news the comedian Jack Benny died the other day on the 26th. He was 80 years old. I’ve always enjoyed his comedy.

Angie Baby by Helen Reddy is the number 1 song for the  week here in Southern California

29 December 1974 Sunday

My Uncle and Aunt, Wallace, and Mattie Lee Williams, came by the house to pick up Grandma and Grandpa to take them back to Yucaipa on their way back to Texas. Mom is mad at them because for the whole time they have been in California along with my cousins Marilyn Stevens and Gary Williams, they have never made any effort to see Grandma and Grandpa over the Christmas holidays. I suppose they will spend New Year’s Eve with them in Yucaipa before heading back to Lubbock. Big Deal.

            I guess my cousin, their daughter Terrie Lamb, is separated from her old man. He’s in jail for dope and thievery. Gary is working as a machinist scraping out a living in Texas for his wife and baby. He’s had his scrapes with the law too. Marilyn’s old man works only as long as Wallace keeps after him, so Mom says. I bet my cousin Francis Ann Griess is glad to be out here in California and away from that mess.

            My Aunt and Uncle Bonnie and Bill Fagen came over to see Wallace and Mattie Lee and Bonnie said my cousin Larry Fagen will graduate from the Naval  boot camp on January 25th next year.

            In the afternoon when everyone had left, I moved back into the front bedroom from the little middle bedroom which was always my room growing up. Dad was out in the garage working on his rock cutting and polishing which is his new hobby with the rock cutter Mom back him for Christmas.

            I went to Sacrament at 4 this afternoon. I have no interest in going to Priesthood or Sunday School anymore as I just don’t fit in especially since I am still just a Deacon. Bishop McKay read a statement from the First Presidency asking us to be more fugal in conserving energy and food. We are supposed to keep a year supply of food during these end times, and to observe the monthly fast strictly and give fast offerings for the use of the needy.

            I happened to see Sister Larsen at Sacrament, Kent’s mother, but other than greeting her didn’t have much to say. I haven’t heard a word from Kent Larsen in years.

            Jerry Smith called this evening to see how I was doing, and we plan on going to the show next weekend to catch up.

            Mom said that my sister Charline has decided to name her baby Michael Louis and if it’s a girl Rebecca Louise. The middle name is for Grandpa Louis Williams. I was pleased with the choice Michael Louis because I had suggested Michael a while back to her because of Michael Allred but she doesn’t know that.

            I still haven’t heard a word from my sister Donna. I think her fiancée Ken Jones keeps her mad and upset at the family.

            In the news they buried the comedian Jack Benny today. I always liked his show and movies.

30 December 1974 Monday

Today is my day off so in the afternoon I went to the show and saw “The Little Prince” and “ The Legend of Sleepy Hallow.” The Little Prince really touched my heart.

            In the evening I drove out to Orange to see my Fenter distant cousins for the first time. They were very pleasant to me. Their oldest boy who I had spoken to on the phone had already gone back to college, but I met Steve Fenter, his younger brother. They seemed interested in helping get this Fenter Family line straightened out. They know that I am a Mormon, but they don’t seem to mind. They must be Protestants, but I don’t know what denomination. I’m interested in forming a Fenter Family Association to distribute the family history better to my kinfolk.

Additional Material-

The Little Prince is based on the story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. This magical musical fable begins as a pilot makes a forced landing on the barren Sahara Desert. He is befriended by a "little" prince from the planet Asteroid B-612. In the days that follow, the pilot learns of the small boy's history and planet-hopping journeys in which he met a King, a businessman, an historian, and a general. It isn't until he comes to Earth that the Little Prince learns the secrets of the importance of life from a Fox, a Snake, and the pilot.

31 December 1974 Tuesday

Today is the last day of 1974 and it wasn’t a very good year for me. It held a lot of grief and sorrow for me.

However, this morning, before going into work, the mail came, and I received a card from Bill Hall from his mission in North Carolina. In it he sent a picture of himself in a Confederate Uniform. I loved it. It was so good to hear from him and that he’s thinking of me still.

            I wrote three letters to send out today wishing people a Happier New Year. I sent one to Mardene Francis because it’s her birthday, one to Mike Allred, and one to Bill Hall. I am so homesick for Utah that I can’t hardly stand it.

            Also in the mail, a pay check that I deposited in the bank was returned for insufficient funds. That really made me upset. I just don’t know what is going on down at work but if it doesn’t straighten up soon, I’m going to have to quit.

            I went into work at 3:30 and worked until midnight. That is how I spent New Year’s Eve. I was so upset with John Lococo and Don Baldwin that I wasn’t in a very good mood. They now owe me 2 paychecks for over $500 and I really need it. I have absolutely no money and I have to pay $150 in tithing and $100 I borrowed from my sister Donna. Besides, they should never get that far behind on the pay checks.

 Additional Material

The Top 30 songs for 1974 were:

1"The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand

2 "Seasons in the Sun" Terry Jacks

3 "Love's Theme" Love Unlimited Orchestra

4 "Come and Get Your Love" Redbone

5 "Dancing Machine" The Jackson 5

6 "The Loco-Motion" Grand Funk Railroad

7 "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" MFSB

8 "The Streak" Ray Stevens

9 "Bennie and the Jets" Elton John

10 "One Hell of a Woman" Mac Davis

11 "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" Aretha Franklin

12 "Jungle Boogie" Kool & the Gang

13 "Midnight at the Oasis" Maria Muldaur

14 "You Make Me Feel Brand New" The Stylistics

15 "Show and Tell" Al Wilson

16 "Spiders and Snakes" Jim Stafford

17 "Rock On" David Essex

18 "Sunshine on My Shoulders" John Denver

19 "Sideshow" Blue Magic

20 "Hooked on a Feeling" Blue Swede

21 "Billy Don't Be a Hero" Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods

22 "Band on the Run" Paul McCartney and Wings

23 "The Most Beautiful Girl" Charlie Rich

24 "Time in a Bottle" Jim Croce

25 "Annie's Song" John Denver

26 "Let Me Be There" Olivia Newton-John

27 "Sundown" Gordon Lightfoot

28 "(You're) Having My Baby" Paul Anka 

29 "Rock Me Gently" Andy Kim

30 "Boogie Down" Eddie Kendricks

 

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL WRITTEN IN MY JOURNAL

Grandpa Williams’ West Texas Chili Recipe

1-pound coarse ground beef, 1/8 bottle of Eagle Brand Chili Powder, 1 tsp of crushed New Mexico Chili, ¼ of a garlic pod minced, 1/8 tsp of ground cumin, ½ tbsp of paprika

Salt to taste, Boil in a quart of water than simmer to consistency desired.

 

Grandma Williams Apple Butter

3 cups of cooked apples real dry , 1 cup sugar, ½ tsp of cinnamon, ginger, and allspice

¼ tsp of cloves, Watch that it doesn’t burn after adding sugar.

 

The First Presidency in 1974 consisted of Spencer W. Kimball, N Eldon Tanner, and Marion G Romney. The Council of the Twelve Apostles consisted of Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E Petersen, Delbert L Stapley, LeGrand Richards, Hugh B. Brown, Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S Monson, Boyd K Packer, Marvin J Ashton, Bruce R McConkie, and L Thomas Perry

 

Addresses of Family

Kay Johnson Ballard Cousin 7313 Northline Apt 8, Houston, Texas 77022

Beulah Kelley Danforth Great Aunt Star Route 2, Earth, Texas

Norman Danforth 1st Cousin 1st Removed 9730 Garvey Avenue, El Monte, California 91733

Nora J Perser Davis Great Aunt 997 East 8th Street, Upland, California 91786

Ada McLeod Dunn Great Aunt 1940 Trimble Way, Sacramento, California 95825

Bonnie Williams Fagan Aunt 5796 Honduras Way Buena Park, California 90620

Mattie Fenter Distant Cousin 407  West Irvington Road, Tucson, Arizona 85714

W.L. (Bill) Fenter Jr Distant Cousin  408 West Navajo Road  Flagstaff, Arizona & 1055 Hono Trail, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001

Alice Johnson Lippard Great Aunt 1405 Florida, Alamogordo, New Mexico

Velma Danforth Neville 1st Cousin twice removed 14th Street, Portales, New Mexico

Wilmer P Peacock Great-Great Uncle General Delivery, Rule, Texas

William P Perser Great-Great Uncle Linden, Texas 75563

Clee McLeod Petty Great Aunt Route 1 Childress, Texas 79201

Zetta Fenter Reed Distant Cousin 109 South 23rd, Phoenix, Arizona

Grace Fenter Shue 1st Cousin twice removed 1118 Kirkwood Avenue, Abilene, Texas 79603

Audie McLeod Smith 1st Cousin Once Removed 1660 B Street, Napa California 94558

Eula Fenter Stubbs 1st Cousin Twice Removed  PO Box 249  Cardell, Oklahoma

Charline Williams Wachs  Sister 700 Poplar, Corona, California

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Milton Williams Grandparents 12380 space 79 4th Street Yucaipa, California 92399

Uncle Milton B Williams 5815 East La Palma #255, Anaheim, California

Pearl Callaway Williams Great Aunt PO Box 588, Linden, Texas 75563

R.L. Williams Uncle Box 123 Weimar California 95736

Wallace Williams Uncle 2603 28th Street Lubbock, Texas 79143

Essie McLeod Word Great Aunt 1526 North Bryant Ave, Tucson, AZ 85712

3024 North Santa Rita, Tucson, Arizona 85719

Addresses of Friends

Michael Allred Box 24 Afton, Wyoming 83110

Piper Ballou PO

Marietta Clark 590 East 3460 North, Provo, Utah 84601

Bill Hall 110 Torrance Circle, Lenoir, North Carolina 28645

405 ½ East Chatham, Cary, NC 27511

Mr. and Mrs. Sandy Larsen 12052 St. Mark, Garden Grove, California

Richard Ventura 456 North Palm #B Beverley Hills, California 90210

John P Wagner 3411 Chapline Street, Wheeling, West Virginia 26004

Frank Welte 2243 Hartford, Fullerton, California 92631