Mickey Dolman passed away March 22, 2025. Her sister, Helen Ann, was in the class of 1954.
Joyce “Mickey” (Dolman) Vagasy — Class of 1957
1 Reply
Category Archives: Alumni
Helen Ann (Dolman) Cunningham — Class of 1954
Helen Ann passed away on August,19, 2024.
The 1954 yearbook says, “A newcomer to the class last year, Helen Ann livened up the cast of Nine Girls, the Junior class play. It is a shame Trona High School didn’t continue the tradition of presenting plays in the auditorium it would have made school much more interesting.
Helen’s sister, Joyce “Mickey’ (Dolman) Vagasy, was in the class of 1957.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/273840169/helen-ann-cunningham
Theodore “Ted” Hall — Class of 1956
We recently learned of Ted’s passing. Ted graduated from Trona High School in 1956.
Ted was the son of John and Nettie Hall. He was the last of 10 children. The Hall family lived in Trona from about 1954 to 1960. Before moving to Trona they lived in Tulare County, CA. 4 of the 10 Hall children attended Trona High School. The other three were Harold Hall, class of 1957; Peggy Hall, class of 1959 and Jim Hall, class of 1961.
Ted was married to Sally Klein from the THS class of 1958.
We send our heartfelt condolences to Ted’s family.
Margaret Odine “Peggy” (Hall) Collier– Class of 1959
Margaret Hall Collier age 83 passed from this Earth on April 11, 2024. She was born on December 6, 1940 in Woodville, CA the 9th of 10 children born to Nettie and John Hall.
She was in her youth, an avid athlete. Later in life she became an excellent bowler and golfer. Peg retired in 1999 after 28 years of service working for the Department of Defense U.S. Marine Corps. In her career she achieved many accomplishments and awards and retired as the Inventory Control Officer for the United States Marine Corps. She loved her Marines and served her country proudly.
She and her husband Russel (Russ) Collier moved to The Villages in 1999. They enjoyed traveling, cruising, golfing and dancing. In their lives together they rescued from shelters 6 dogs and loved all animals. They were active members of The Villages Community and are deeply missed by friends and neighbors.
Peggy came from a family of 10 children. The Halls were only in Trona for a few years and left before Peggy graduated. Three of her brothers also went to Trona High School, Ted ’56, Harold ’57, and Jimmy ’61.
Richard Stalnaker — Class of 1962
Richard A. Stalnaker, class of 1962 passed away August 1, 2025, due to complications after a stroke. Richard was proceeded in death by his wife, Margaret (Downs) on 2020, his father and mother Ralph and Mary and his brother Phil who died in Trona in 1961.
Richard (1903-1965) and Margaret (1913-2007) had three children, all boys, who live in Tucson and Prescott AZ.
Richard’s sister, Gale, was in the class of 1955; His brother, Phil, was in the class of 1960 and his sisters, Marcia and Marilyn, were in the class of 1963.
We are deeply sorry for Richard’s family and close friend’s loss.
A VISIT WITH GEORGE & BARBARA SHERMAN
George Sherman (Class 1956, and former Trona web-master) was visiting Los Angeles mid-July with his caregiving daughter, Becky, and his sister, Barbara Sherman Heyl (Class 1960). Barbara arranged for me to visit them for a morning. I was elated to see that George was doing quite well, given some old-age mind deterioration. He was glad to see me, smiling, and listening to conversation between Barbara and myself, sometimes adding to the flow. His mobility was very good and he is his old affable self.
I showed them a picture of my uncle, Walter Mezger, who was manager of the Trona hospital and then plant manager in 1944, indicating that his family was why the Millers moved to Trona. George, without prompting, said: “I remember Steve Mezger”; my cousin Steve and George are about the same age and obviously knew each other.
George loved the desert, often traveling to Searles Valley in his Toyota Camper with kids/grandkids/and/or Dee, his companion in the early 2000’s. Camped up on Slate Range, the Kilns, Great Falls, etc. For this reason, I gave them a dozen or so Desert Magazines from the 1940’s to peruse for memories. Barb said that the next morning George was looking through them during a long breakfast.
They all went to a Paul Simon concert on the 12th at Disney Hall and had a great time.
Really an upbeat visit!
Alan Miller (Class 1963)
2025 All Class Reunion Hotel Information
All Rooms are plus tax. All rooms are double occupancy. Price is per night.
All rooms need to be reserved under Trona All Class Reunion.
Springhill Suites – 760.446.1630
King or double queen $109.00 plus tax
Holding 10 rooms, will add more if needed and available
Hampton Inn and Suites – 760.446.1968
King bed or double queen $109.00 plus tax
Holding 10 rooms, will add more if needed and available
Red Roof (Heritage Inn & Suites) 760.446.6543
King or double queen $95.00 plus tax
Holiday Inn Express 800-439-4745
King or queen double $165.30 plus tax
Includes breakfast
Clarion Inn 760.446.7910
King $106.00 plus tax
Queen $111.00 plus tax
Includes breakfast
Best Western 760.371.2300 Only holding 20 rooms
King $119.99 plus tax
Double Queen* $129.99 plus tax
* Additional adult in room $10 per night per head
Not pet friendly
Includes breakfast
Quality Inn 760.375.9731
5 kings reserved $114.53 plus tax
5 double queens reserved $114.53 plus tax
Includes breakfast
Please note: You must call and reserve room(s) directly with the hotel to get these special
rates. Reserving the room through a 3rd party (Expedia or Booking.com) will NOT get you these rates and rates can not be changed by the hotel later.
Gearing Up for the All Class Reunion 2025
The festivities will begin Friday night, October 24, with the coronation ceremony and bonfire, followed by a street dance on Frontage Road from 8:00 to midnight. DJ Eric Shoaf of Good Vibrations will again be proving the music. Saturday activities include the pancake breakfast, Homecoming parade, with our very own Andy Ledesma as Alumni Grand Marshall. Lunch will be served from 11:00-1:00 in the high school gym. The Varsity football game against Lone Pine will start around 2:30 pm, preceded by the introduction of the Homecoming Court at 1:45 pm. Saturday evening includes dancing and entertainment from 9:00 pm -1:00 am at the Elks, provided by Monarch Party Band, led by our very own Trona alumni John Young. The evening meal will be heavy Hors d’oeuvres.
Souvenir tee shirts, zip up hoodie sweatshirts, and baseball caps are available for purchase on the order form.
Here is the schedule of events:
Friday, October 24th
• 6:00 pm Coronation on the football field
• 8:00 pm Bonfire and “T” lighting
• 8-12 pm Street Dance – Frontage Rd. (where the liquor store/pizza parlor was)
Saturday, October 25th
• 7:00 am Pancake Breakfast at the Senior Citizens Center
• 10:00 am Homecoming Parade
• 11:00 am Catered Lunch in the high school gym (11:00-1:00)
• 1:45 pm Introduction of Homecoming Court followed by Varsity Game
• 6:00 pm Social hour at the Elks
• 7:00 pm Heavy Hors d’oeuvres meal served from (7:00-9:00)
• 9:00 pm Dancing at the Elks
◊ Reunion souvenirs: Souvenir tee shirts, hoodie sweatshirts, and hats can be ordered on the order form. These souvenirs will NOT be available for sale during the reunion weekend, so buy them now! Souvenir packets will be available for pickup at the street dance on Friday night and after the parade on Saturday in front of the gym. A group picture will be taken at the gym prior to the lunch. Be sure to wear your reunion shirt!!!
◊ Cell phones: Only Verizon cell phones will work in Trona. If you plan to purchase a prepaid
Verizon phone for the event, please make sure to ask if that phone will work in Trona. Apparently some do, and some don’t.
Here is a list of Cell phone providers that use Verizon:
Visible: Owned by Verizon, Visible offers unlimited data, talk, and text plans.
Xfinity Mobile: Offers plans that can be bundled with Xfinity internet services.
Red Pocket: Provides various prepaid plans across Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile networks.
US Mobile: Offers customizable plans with options for premium data and international features.
Straight Talk: Uses Verizon’s network, as well as AT&T and T-Mobile.
Twigby: A low-cost provider with plans for different data needs.
Page Plus: A prepaid provider operating on Verizon’s network.
Spectrum Mobile: Offers plans bundled with Spectrum internet and mobile services.
Total Wireless: A prepaid service provider that utilizes Verizon’s network.
TracFone: Another prepaid provider that uses Verizon’s network, along with other major networks.
Jeffery Dale Newman
June 10, 1955 – May 13, 2025
Jeffery Dale Newman, age 69, passed away on May 13, 2025. A lifelong resident of Trona, California—with a few unforgettable adventures along the way—Jeff was known for his love of music, deep friendships, and unwavering devotion to his family. With a biker’s exterior and a hippie’s heart, he was affectionately known by many as the “Mayor of Argus.”
Jeff was born on June 10, 1955, in Trona, CA to Grady (Dale) and Mary Newman. After graduating from Trona High in 1973, he hitchhiked across the country, a free spirit chasing stories and songs, but he always found his way back to the town he called home, and this is where he started his family and lived most of his life.
Jeff loved the Elks Lodge, where he spent countless hours with friends who became family. His loyalty, humor, warmth, and friendly disposition made him unforgettable to all who knew him. Jeff was preceded in death by his parents Grady and Mary Newman, Brother-in-law Thomas Gossett, and stepson Michael Vogel all of Trona, CA.
He is survived by his three daughters: April Rodriguez and husband Juan of Midland, TX; Nicole and Mary Newman of Trona, CA; his stepson Robert Vogel of Spokane, WA; his grandchildren: Anthony, Maggie, and Samuel Rodriguez of Midland, TX; Julian Newman-Medina, Titan and Odin Valdez of Trona, CA; and his great-grandson, Antonio Rodriguez of Midland, TX.
Jeff also leaves behind his sisters: Donna Dodson and husband Robert of Inyokern, CA; Robin Gossett of Trona, CA; and Lea Ann Unger and husband Dale of Las Vegas, NV; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, he loved being an Uncle! He had a wide circle of lifelong friends who will miss him dearly.
Jeffery Dale Newman lived life on his own terms. His spirit will echo in the music he loved, the stories he told, and the love he gave so freely.
Jeff Newman — Class of 1973
JEFF NEWMAN’s graveside service is Friday, May 30, 2025, 10AM at the Searles Valley Cemetery. Following the service, a Celebration of Life will be held at the Trona Elks Lodge. Family and Friends are invited to come and to wear a tie dye shirt in honor of Jeff.
1968 7th grade