Ryal Haakenson's Home Page

RYAL HAAKENSON'S HOME PAGE

Welcome to my home page.

Sioux City Central High School "The Castle on the Hill"

Known to rival schools as "The Dump on the Hump", this is where I attended high school. Central High School closed in 1972 and is now an apartment building. Prominent alumni include actor MacDonald Carey and the Friedman twins, Abigail (Dear Abby) Van Buren and Ann Landers. Click on the picture to link to "CastleWeb", a web site for alumni and friends of Central High School.

Sioux City Central High School
"The Castle on the Hill"

Known to rival schools as "The Dump on the Hump", this is where I attended high school. Central High School closed in 1972 and is now an apartment building. Prominent alumni include actor MacDonald Carey and the Friedman twins, Abigail (Dear Abby) Van Buren and Ann Landers. Click on the picture to link to "CastleWeb", a web site for alumni and friends of Central High School.

PICTURES
Miscellaneous pictures of my family as well as other things. Pictures will be added to and removed from here regularly. Click on the thumbnail for a full size picture.
Picture of our granddaughter Hannah pitching softball in April, 2008. Picture of our grandson Cade playing T-Ball in March, 2008. Picture of our five adult children taken at Kris' wedding in April, 2007. Marin County judges at Paul's induction to the Superior Court Bench. Paul donning judicial robe assisted by friend Terisa as Hannah looks on at his induction to the Superior Court Bench. Paul being sworn in with Hannah holding the U. S. Constitution at his induction to the Superior Court Bench. Braiden, Christina, Cade & Joe in on 2006 Christmas Card (also Roxy and Bailey). My granddaughter Hannah at Golden Gate Bridge for a 2006 Christmas card. Steve, Ann, Kimber & Kaylee on 2006 Christmas Card. Joe presenting Bartolo Colon with the 2005 Cy Young award at Angels Stadium. Joe is the chairman of the Los Angeles/Anaheim Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Presentation was on April 8, 2006. Others in the picture are Angels' president Arte Moreno and Angels' general manger Bill Stoneman. My grandson Cade in a school picture taken in Autumn of 2005. My granddaughter Braiden in a school picture taken in Autumn of 2005. My granddaughter Hannah in a school picture taken in Autumn of 2005. Joe presenting Vladimir Guerrero with the 2004 American League MVP award at Angels Stadium. Joe is the chairman of the Los Angeles/Anaheim Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Presentation was on April 6, 2005. Kimber & Kaylee on Ann's 2004 family Christmas Card. Hannah on Paul's 2004 family Christmas Card. Braiden, Christina, Cade & Joe in December 2004 (also Roxy and Bailey). Cade's school picture for the Autumn of 2004. My wife Rose Marie, my grandaughter Hannah, and me at my son Paul's judicial campaign election night party on November 2, 2004. My son Paul, my grandaughter Hannah, and my wife Rose Marie at my son Paul's judicial campaign election night party on November 2, 2004. My grandchildren Cade & Braiden taken in March, 2004. My granddaughters Kaylee and Kimber. Taken on Christmas, 2003. Portrait of my wife, Rose Marie, taken in June, 2003 My five adult children. Taken at Joe's wedding November 2000. Scene from an episode of the TV show Lois & Clark in the early 1990's. I'm one of two detectives with a prisoner, played by former supermodel Beverly Johnson, in handcuffs.

PICTURES

Miscellaneous pictures of my family as well as other things. Pictures will be added to and removed from here regularly. Click on the thumbnail for a full size picture.

Picture of our granddaughter Hannah pitching softball in April, 2008.

Picture of our grandson Cade playing T-Ball in March, 2008.

Picture of our five adult children taken at Kris' wedding in April, 2007.

Marin County judges at Paul's induction to the Superior Court Bench.

Paul donning judicial robe assisted by friend Terisa as
Hannah looks on at his induction to the Superior Court Bench.

Paul being sworn in with Hannah holding the U. S.
Constitution at his induction to the Superior Court Bench.

Braiden, Christina, Cade & Joe in on 2006 Christmas Card (also Roxy and Bailey).

My granddaughter Hannah at Golden Gate Bridge for a 2006 Christmas card.

Steve, Ann, Kimber & Kaylee on 2006 Christmas Card.

Joe presenting Bartolo Colon with the 2005 Cy Young award at Angels Stadium.
Joe is the chairman of the Los Angeles/Anaheim Chapter of the Baseball Writers
Association of America. Presentation was on April 8, 2006. Others in the picture
are Angels' president Arte Moreno and Angels' general manger Bill Stoneman.

My grandson Cade in a school picture taken in Autumn of 2005.

My granddaughter Braiden in a school picture taken in Autumn of 2005.

My granddaughter Hannah in a school picture taken in Autumn of 2005.

Joe presenting Vladimir Guerrero with the 2004 American League MVP award
at Angels Stadium. Joe is the chairman of the Los Angeles/Anaheim Chapter of
the Baseball Writers Association of America. Presentation was on April 6, 2005.

Kimber & Kaylee on Ann's 2004 family Christmas Card.

Hannah on Paul's 2004 family Christmas Card.

Braiden, Christina, Cade & Joe in December 2004 (also Roxy and Bailey).

Cade's school picture for the Autumn of 2004.

My wife Rose Marie, my grandaughter Hannah, and me at my son
Paul's judicial campaign election night party on November 2, 2004.

My son Paul, my grandaughter Hannah, and my wife Rose Marie at my
son Paul's judicial campaign election night party on November 2, 2004.

My grandchildren Cade & Braiden taken in March, 2004.

My granddaughters Kaylee and Kimber. Taken on Christmas, 2003.

Portrait of my wife, Rose Marie, taken in June, 2003

My five adult children. Taken at Joe's wedding November 2000.

Scene from an episode of the TV show Lois & Clark in the early 1990's. I'm one of two detectives with a prisoner, played by former supermodel Beverly Johnson, in handcuffs.

WEB PAGES I HAVE DEVELOPED
Who is Ryal Haakenson?	A narrative outline of who I am and what I've done over the years.
Experiences of a Hollywood Extra	A book which I have written about my experiences working as an extra in movies and television.
My Experiences in the Army	An account of the experiences I had while serving in the US Army toward the tail end of the Korean War, both on duty and off duty.
The Girls of Holiday on Ice - Circa 1957 & 1958	Some experiences I had with chorus girls from the Holiday on Ice professional ice skating show during the summers of 1957 and 1958.
Are you left handed or right handed?	People who write with one hand and throw a ball with the other.
Do you look too YOUNG?	A few examples of how young people can be discriminated against because they look very young for their age.

WEB PAGES I HAVE DEVELOPED

Who is Ryal Haakenson?

A narrative outline of who I am and what I've done over the years.

Experiences of a Hollywood Extra

A book which I have written about my experiences working as an extra in movies and television.

My Experiences in the Army

An account of the experiences I had while serving in the US Army toward the tail end of the Korean War, both on duty and off duty.

The Girls of Holiday on Ice - Circa 1957 & 1958

Some experiences I had with chorus girls from the Holiday on Ice professional ice skating show during the summers of 1957 and 1958.

Are you left handed or right handed?

People who write with one hand and throw a ball with the other.

Do you look too YOUNG?

A few examples of how young people can be discriminated against because they look very young for their age.

OTHER WEB SITES THAT I THINK ARE WORTH VISITING
	This logo is the link to a web site for JUVE Creative Company, a marketing communications and graphics design company headed by Christina Haakenson.
CastleWeb	This link is to "CastleWeb", a bran new web site for alumni of Central High School in Sioux City, Iowa. Although it is being developed by and for alumni of the school, there is a lot of good stuff for non-alumni visitors. It includes a lot of features including an alumni directory which is already off to a good start. Alumni of Sioux City Central High School and visitors are both welcome.
Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' & Airmen's Club	The Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' & Airmen's Club in New York City is where I spent many weekends during the two years I was in the army. It certainly made my army stint more pleasant. This link describes what the club offers, including reasonably priced hotel accomodations for military personnel, their dependents, and veterans. For an insight of my experiences at the club click on Weekends in New York City.
A Tribute to Mickey Mantle	I first saw Mickey Mantle play baseball for the New York Yankees in 1951 when my dad and I were vacationing in the east. Subsequently I saw him several more times in 1955 and 1956 when I was in the army stationed near New York. I was a fan of his and felt he had the potential to be one of the greatest players of all time. He had speed, power, a strong throwing arm, and could hit for average. Although he had a great career, it would have been even better if it hadn't been hampered by injuries and his own personal habits. I also think his statistics would have been better if he had batted exclusively right handed instead of being a switch hitter. He may not have hit as many home runs, since Yankee Stadium was good for left handed hitters. But his other statistics would have been better. I have been unsuccessful in finding out his career batting averages as a left handed hitter and as a right handed hitter, but I believe he hit around .350 right handed and .270 left handed. Also, his injuries hampered him more hitting from the left side of the plate.

OTHER WEB SITES THAT I THINK ARE WORTH VISITING

This logo is the link to a web site for JUVE Creative Company, a marketing communications and graphics design company headed by Christina Haakenson.

CastleWeb

This link is to "CastleWeb", a bran new web site for alumni of Central High School in Sioux City, Iowa. Although it is being developed by and for alumni of the school, there is a lot of good stuff for non-alumni visitors. It includes a lot of features including an alumni directory which is already off to a good start. Alumni of Sioux City Central High School and visitors are both welcome.

Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' & Airmen's Club

The Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' & Airmen's Club in New York City is where I spent many weekends during the two years I was in the army. It certainly made my army stint more pleasant. This link describes what the club offers, including reasonably priced hotel accomodations for military personnel, their dependents, and veterans. For an insight of my experiences at the club click on Weekends in New York City.

A Tribute to Mickey Mantle

I first saw Mickey Mantle play baseball for the New York Yankees in 1951 when my dad and I were vacationing in the east. Subsequently I saw him several more times in 1955 and 1956 when I was in the army stationed near New York. I was a fan of his and felt he had the potential to be one of the greatest players of all time. He had speed, power, a strong throwing arm, and could hit for average. Although he had a great career, it would have been even better if it hadn't been hampered by injuries and his own personal habits. I also think his statistics would have been better if he had batted exclusively right handed instead of being a switch hitter. He may not have hit as many home runs, since Yankee Stadium was good for left handed hitters. But his other statistics would have been better. I have been unsuccessful in finding out his career batting averages as a left handed hitter and as a right handed hitter, but I believe he hit around .350 right handed and .270 left handed. Also, his injuries hampered him more hitting from the left side of the plate.

This page was last updated on July 6, 2009