West High School - Class of 1958

09/26/2025

01/22/2025

During the filming of "Romancing the Stone" (1984) in the rugged jungles of Mexico, a hair-raising moment unfolded when Michael Douglas found himself face-to-face with a live snake. The scene, meant to heighten the movie’s adventurous tone, quickly turned into a terrifying real-life predicament. As the cameras rolled, the snake lunged dangerously close to Douglas, startling the crew and threatening to derail the shoot. Danny DeVito, known for his sharp wit and small stature, sprang into action with surprising speed and bravery.

DeVito grabbed a nearby stick and fearlessly approached the snake, managing to redirect it away from Douglas with swift movements. The set, previously filled with nervous chatter, erupted into relieved laughter as DeVito cracked a joke about his unexpected heroics. While the snake incident could have led to disaster, DeVito’s quick thinking and humor not only averted potential harm but also eased the tension on set.

The camaraderie between Douglas and DeVito extended far beyond the screen. Their chemistry as co-stars was palpable, but moments like these revealed the depth of their off-screen friendship. Despite the danger, DeVito later recounted the event with his signature humor, describing himself as a “snake charmer for the day.” Douglas, ever grateful, credited DeVito with saving him from what could have been a serious injury.

This dramatic yet humorous moment during the production of "Romancing the Stone" not only exemplified the unpredictable challenges of filming in wild environments but also highlighted the trust and bond between the two actors. The scene that followed, with Douglas confidently navigating the jungle, was only possible thanks to DeVito’s quick action and sharp wit.

The story remains a legendary behind-the-scenes tale, demonstrating that sometimes, the most memorable movie moments happen off-camera.

05/21/2024

02/03/2023

An astonishing number of cats!

Police said they found the couple dead in their bedroom while conducting a welfare check.

11/04/2022

Spring Forward Fall Back this Sunday November 6, 2022 Turn Your Clocks Back 1 Hour 🇺🇸

10/20/2022

I want to let our Class of 1958 know about the passing of our classmate Ron Ogden. Ron passed away on October 4, 2022 and his Celebration of Life Service was held on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 1:30. I attended the service along with classmate Marvin Angleton who was a longtime friend of Ron and his family. Following the service at Broadway Mortuary, several of us met at Rons home with his three sons and other family members. We want to pass along our prayers and condolences to his family at this difficult time.

Gary Martin - October 20, 2022

08/01/2022

I want to notify our classmates from West High Class of 1958 that our classmate Beverly Mitchell Dewey has passed away here in Wichita, KS on July 12, 2022. The Webb-Shinkle Mortuary in Clearwater, KS is handling funeral arrangements. A funeral notice appeared in yesterday’s Wichita Eagle (Sunday, 7/31) in the obituary section. I took a couple of screenshots from the obituary and also a photo provided by the family. I will post these items so that classmates on FB can pass on the information to interested classmates. Classmates can also access the obituary at the legacy.com web site by selecting Kansas as the state and Sedgwick as the county. Beverly’s name is listed as Beverly Ann Dewey.

Gary Martin

Legacy.com is a global network of online obituaries that provides timely news of death and allows users to pay respect and celebrate life.

04/28/2022

It is with sadness that I announce the passing of our classmate Vada Harkelroad. I received a call from her niece Elaine a few days ago that Vada had passed away in St. Louis, MO on Friday, April 22, 2022. There will be no formal funeral service but a family gathering for her immediate family. For those of you who knew her, I have a phone number where her niece can be contacted to express condolences or request additional information. As the years pass, we are reminded that we all will be at that point in our lives. We are grateful to have gone to school with her and extend our condolence to her family at this time. Gary Martin. 🙏🙏🙏

03/16/2022

I want to take this opportunity to notify my classmates of the passing of our friend Jim Wait. His wife Marilyn called me and announced that Jim’s obituary appeared in the Wichita Eagle newspaper this past Sunday. A memorial for Jim will be held this coming Friday, March 18th at 2:00 pm at the Greenwood Cemetery Chapel. The address for the cemetery is:

6231 W 47th Street S., Wichita, KS. 67215. I am including a photo I took of the obituary.. Our condolences go out to Marilyn and Jim’s family. Classmates who can attend the memorial service are warmly invited. Gary Martin