MO: Ozark Winnies

Twenty-four made the trip to the Dietz Family Restaurant in Clinton, MO on December 7 for the Ozark Winnies Christmas dinner. Attending were Bergant, Collings, Eaheart, Flasch, Huff, Johnson, Mahaffey, Mulvihill, Murphy, Stone, Van Meter, honorary members Don and Connie Smith and guests Craig and Lynn Hobler. Clinton is the most centrally located from all of our members, but it is a long drive for most. Having this many make the trip for dinner shows the commitment this group has for each other.

There were two Springfield gatherings in December. On the 17th, nine Ozark Winnies members met at the Longhorn Steakhouse for lunch; Donnelly, Kelling, Mastis, Mulvihill and Murphy. On the 19th seven met at TGI Friday’s; Johnson, Murphy, Stone and Van Meter. While not an official Ozark Winnies activity, on January 1 the Steward’s did their part to ensure members that were in the Rio Grande Valley would have a healthy and wealthy 2020 by continuing a tradition started in the south back in the Civil War days by hosting a meal of blackeye peas, slaw and cornbread, with dessert of ice cream and cookies. Attending were Mahaffey, Parsons, Steward, Van Meter and Wollin. The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting; learning of the Wollin’s Hawaii trip, the Steward’s Christmas decorations and the Parsons’ missing antenna, among other subjects.

The seventh Annual Winnie-MO-Tasca Winter Texan Reunion was held on January 29, 2020 at the Longhorn Cattle Company in San Benito, TX. This event was organized by Rick Kennedy. There were twenty-four attending this gathering, enjoying the charro beans and BBQ. Twelve were Ozark Winnies; Collings, Mahaffey, Parsons, Spene, Van Meter and Wollin.