Danny Reilly took over the training school and continued training for several years from 65-68. I always tried to find a ride so I could stay and visit after the training session because my dad did not like to hang around very long afterwards. There Terri Lynch was teaching and several others were each week like Liz Hernandez, Sally Vega, Judy Sowiniski, Julie Patrick, Jess Adams, Paul Rupert, Ralph Valladares, and I believe John Parker did on occasion, and Danny Reilly. So my dad started taking me to the Olympic to train. I inquired then and they told me yes they were opening one there at the Olympic and there was also one in Valley Gardens. So I did the next game my family attended at the Olympic auditorium. My dad told me to find out if there was one closer. I was told then if you could not stay in the pace you could not skate on a team so we had to practice until we could stay in the pace for at least 20 minutes, if not 30. Midge Brashun was training there, I loved it but fell down a lot. So I told my dad and he took me there once and said it was too far to go. He told me there was and it was in San Bernardino at the Earl Warren Show grounds. I ask him if there was a training school where I could learn how to skate.

I wanted to know if they had a school I could attend so I went to a game years later at the Long Beach Arena, where I went down stairs by the dressing room where Red Smart stood by the dressing rooms. The more I watched it the more I wanted to be a skater. I was always on the edge of my seat while the game was going on. From then on I never wanted to miss a game. That was my first experience of the game. But I remember being fascinated with the game. Shelia McKenna and not sure who number 8 was at this moment. The first team I remember had a line up with the following skaters I remember because I got the team picture and had them all autograph it. Not sure about the teams but I was young then and just was fascinated by the skaters. We found out that the Los Angeles Thunderbirds team was playing against the Brooklyn Devils, I believe. We moved to California and my dad was trying to find it on TV again but could not until a commercial came on with the advertisement of the game at the El Monte Legion Stadium. My Mom was in the hospital having one of my younger sisters, the night we watched the game on TV. He was very interested in it and watched it every week it was on. He decided to watch it that night when it came on. We Lived in Chicago in 1956 and my dad liked sports when one day he was watching a commercial on the TV and it was talking about Roller Derby. Derby Memoirs: A Tribute To Roller Derby History - Patti Stamp

When Pigs Fly by Bob Sanchez