The Caplan brothers all attended Southwest. They all served our country and now they are all gone. They lived at 6017 Wornall and their Mother taught school in the Independence School District. She was a sweetheart with alot of responsibility keeping the household together. The brothers were all blue collar guys and experts when it came to motorcycles. They could build, modify, race and rebuild anything with 2 wheels and a motor. Louie was the oldest. When he returned from the military he died in a motorcycle accident. Larry was second oldest and was serving in Vietnam. He had about 2 weeks left before his return and was killed in sniper fire. Our classmate Jerry served as well. While he was not exempt from service he was not sent to Vietnam since he was the sole surviving son. Going into the 80's I lost track of Jerry but I will always remember him for his humor, his mechanical ability and being a champion of the little guy.
First met Jerry at Border Star. True, stand-up guy with a solid gold character and a great friend. A familiar and welcome sight cruising through the neighborhood on his motorcycle.
Jerry was my best friend all through high school and beyond. he got me intrested in racing motorcycles, sold me my first motorcycle and i miss him dearly. we were paper boys together for several years and both railroaders. He went to work for the Burlington Railroad in 1968 the same time i started work at the Missouri Pacific RR. We applied at the Missouri Pacific together but he was not hired because they said he was to short so the Burlington RR hired him. He died of a heart attack at work and i still think of him every day and miss him and his brothers Larry and Cap very much.
Larry Pollard
The Caplan brothers all attended Southwest. They all served our country and now they are all gone. They lived at 6017 Wornall and their Mother taught school in the Independence School District. She was a sweetheart with alot of responsibility keeping the household together. The brothers were all blue collar guys and experts when it came to motorcycles. They could build, modify, race and rebuild anything with 2 wheels and a motor. Louie was the oldest. When he returned from the military he died in a motorcycle accident. Larry was second oldest and was serving in Vietnam. He had about 2 weeks left before his return and was killed in sniper fire. Our classmate Jerry served as well. While he was not exempt from service he was not sent to Vietnam since he was the sole surviving son. Going into the 80's I lost track of Jerry but I will always remember him for his humor, his mechanical ability and being a champion of the little guy.
Larry Pollard
John (Pete) Pierron
First met Jerry at Border Star. True, stand-up guy with a solid gold character and a great friend. A familiar and welcome sight cruising through the neighborhood on his motorcycle.
William Rader
Jerry was my best friend all through high school and beyond. he got me intrested in racing motorcycles, sold me my first motorcycle and i miss him dearly. we were paper boys together for several years and both railroaders. He went to work for the Burlington Railroad in 1968 the same time i started work at the Missouri Pacific RR. We applied at the Missouri Pacific together but he was not hired because they said he was to short so the Burlington RR hired him. He died of a heart attack at work and i still think of him every day and miss him and his brothers Larry and Cap very much.