David Lee Crismon
TONI CATCHES HER PRIZE
Dave and I met when I was a sophomore at South San Antonio High School and Dave was a senior. We had World History together. I immediately had a crush on him; he was tall, friendly, seemed to always wear blue jeans and a long sleeved blue shirt rolled up to the elbows. He was a lot on the skinny side, but he sure was cute! I almost left a note in his locker inviting him to be my date to a dance hosted by the FHA Club, but I chickened out. Getting together was not yet to be. I started dating one of his best friends, James Collins. At least then I was close to Dave. James, Dave and others in his clique did things together. It always amazed me when we would go to the Jet Drive-In or the Dairy Queen Dave always ordered milk and all us others ordered Cokes. Dave always looked so intelligent (later finding this was NOT just a look, but was very true). When James and I broke up, Dave and I started dating.
DAVE AND TONI'S FIRST DATE
My mom and dad owned Rayz and Suz Ice House next door to the trailer court where Dave and his mother, Bessie, lived. For you younger folks, back in those days there were no convenience stores. Rather, they were called an "Ice House" because they sold a lot of ice for the "ice box"; another term you are probably not familiar with. David frequently came in to buy something. My mom took an instant liking to him and enjoyed talking with him. Some times he and Mom would get so involved in talking I would feel left out. My dad called him "Huesos" (Spanish for bones) and was not as impressed with him as was my mom. Well, one day Dave came in and asked me for a date to the Mission Drive-In Theatre. My heart was ajoy! We double dated and I remember wearing a white pleated skirt with a black and white wide striped blouse. (Now it reminds me of a clown outfit.) We dated for a long time. I always enjoyed Dave telling me stories, especially about Greece and the Greek gods. I could not believe how intelligent he was. At that time Dave smoked a pipe with cherry tobacco or smoked Lucky Strike cigarettes, but not for long. A time during our courtship I thought I needed to try dating other guys. I broke up with Dave by telling him my parents thought I should not be going steady. Then I had a terrible bout with strep throat. He came into the Ice House and my mom told him how sick I was. He came to our home to comfort me and we got back together again, this time forever.
WEDDING
We had not planned to get married until Dave was out of college. One day when I was at home Bessie came over on the bus (at that time they lived across town from our place). She invited me go to town and pick out my wedding dress and going away suit. She even helped me choose my wedding rings! Little did either David nor me know, but Bessie had unilaterally decided it was time we should wed and took control of the situation. Plans were made and Dave and I were married at Bill and Laura's home on May 29, 1964. I had just turned 18; Dave was not quite 21. By Texas law he had to get Bessie's permission to marry. Dave and I both had a good laugh when later we learned the Bessie had not discussed the wedding decision with either of us. Of course we both thought the other had solicited her involvement. Bessie knew we were perfect for each other and simply made it happen!
MOVE TO AUSTIN
Dave finished his classes at San Antonio College. We then moved to Austin, living in married student's quarters while Dave attended The University of Texas. He worked part time at Montgomery Wards as a sales person in the sporting goods department. He remembers having Charles Whitman as a customer. When Charles Whitman was shooting from the Tower at The University, Dave and his German class happened to be off campus celebrating a local German Beer Garden's 100th anniversary. I was working at the Texas Education Agency. The work department, as well as the whole city of Austin, stopped working and listened to the radio. So many of us were wives, husbands, friends, parents, relatives of those attending the University. We did not know until it was all over if our loved ones were okay.
FIRST CHILD, KEN
About six months after we were married I got pregnant. We were so poor I was afraid to tell anyone, even Dave. With the help of family, we got through this and had a wonderful son, Ken. It is amazing to me today that Ken is physically and mentally okay. While I was pregnant I had a very bad tooth. I lived on aspirin all day, every day. I smoked and occasionally drank. Not only that, but when Ken was two weeks old his head became lodged in between the crib railings. Then on our anniversary Ken tripped over the carpet in his walker and a tablespoon penetrated the roof of his mouth. He had to have corrective surgery and still has the scar in the roof of his mouth. Had the handle of the spoon penetrated his mouth it would have entered his brain and he would not be alive today. This is probably why I am so paranoid around small children.
GRADUATION
In 1968 Dave received his Bachelor's Degree in Math Theory. He applied for several positions that would result in a move to the West Coast. We were especially interested in moving to Alaska. Dave's first professional position was in Data Processing at the McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento. We never made it to Alaska. In May, 2004 we celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary.