Page 10 - Fall Winter 2023 FINAL FILE FOR WEBSITE USE

Interview With Bob Fields -

Class of 1951

By Jon A. McLaughlin ’73,
Editor & Executive Director

Bob Fields is a storied author. His Letters to Lyla was
reviewed, with a glowing endorsement, in a past issue
of The North Star Magazine by Rick Nickerson ’88. I was
contacted by Mr. Fields to discuss his thoughts about
developing a full-page ad for this issue of the North Bob:
Star Magazine to promote his upcoming romance novel “Wonderful! Thank you so much, Bob. These are the type of
entitled Velma. After a few iterations we developed the things we usually ask for inclusion in a story. Some of your
ad together and it is in this issue on page 56. memories, favorite teacher(s), your group you hung around

I was intrigued, working with Bob. Not being too quick with, dances, some of the area’s places you went to that
on the draw, I finally put two and two together and bring back memories and probably are no longer there. Any
realized that being in the Class of 1951 makes Bob about stories about your buddies and what you did, old flames,
90 years of age. Impressive enough in its own right but etc.” “Oh yes, also how your education at Houlton High
add a new book – a romance book - to the equation and School prepared you for your future.” - Jon
I thought that it would be great if he would take part in Jon:
an interview for a story for the magazine. This has to be “If you could read my first book, Letters to Lyla, you
an interesting man and folks would love to hear his story would understand. I am not your classic HHS graduate.
I thought. I belonged to no group, the only friends I had were

Little did I know that his story would bring tears to basketball players, and I never saw them socially, I went
my eyes for his school years were not the fun years we to no school dance. had no local old flames but had
associate with high school. His life is one of extremes, many favorite places: Nickerson Lake pavilion and the
from early tormented sad times to a fantastic, wonderful, dance hall at Birch Point in Island Falls - my favorites. I
and productive later life. Mr. Fields should be a mentor had a social life outside of Houlton. I had dates for the
for every young school-age student who has issues, junior and senior proms in Island Falls, Presque Isle,
understanding that you can overcome your problems Caribou, Fort Fairfield, and Van Buren. I never attended a
and be a successful and happy individual. This is Bob’s prom in Houlton.”
story; let us all learn from it and, oh yes, read his new “You also wanted comments on ‘how your education at
book: HHS prepared you for your future.’ If you mean textbook

Bob: education, the answer is not at all. It took me five years
“I have a favor to ask you and you can say no, but would to finish high school. My freshman year I had rheumatic
you be willing to do an interview for an article for the Fall fever and did not go to school from December through
issue about your memories of growing up in Houlton and April. When I returned, I was so far behind in all studies,
how your education from HHS helped you? We older alums I could not catch up. I had to repeat the year. I lost all
really like articles like this for sentimental reasons, but I find interest in school and studies. My family was a welfare
that the young alums love to hear stories about the past in family for most of my school years. I never did homework
Houlton as well.” --Jon at home. My bedroom in high school was the couch in a
three-room apartment. I never read a book. My grades
Jon: at school were all C and an occasional D. It took me three
“I can give it a try. What are you looking for?” – Bob years to get a D in freshman arithmetic. The teachers
passed me for my minimal effort to keep me on the

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