Ames High School - Spirit Yearbook (Ames, IA)

Page 91 text:

SCATTER Contrary to popular belief, the 100th graduating class of Ames High set off no firecrackers, no smoke bombs, and released no greased pigs. Four hundred and fifty relatively quiet seniors, dressed in royal blue, received their diplomas from Ruth Hamilton and became 1978 graduates. James Wilson and Gretchen Potter were elected by the senior class to speak at commencement. Potter asked students to evaluate their lives and think of those to whom thanks were due. Wilson spoke of preparing for the world ahead, and getting the best education possible. Preceding graduation ceremonies was the senior picnic held at the Country Club. Many seniors came for the food and recreation and to hear the band “Sapphire.” | “It's the highlight of our senior year and we're having fun and we wouldn't have missed it for anything! " commented Elaine Finnegan and Nalene Kyle. For the 1978 graduating class this was the last time that they were all together. In the words of class speaker Wilson, " Tonight the senior class will scatter into 450 different directions.” Left: TENNIS ANYONE? Doug Biggs and Jon Lewis play tennis at the senior picnic. Upper Left: WE'RE DONE! Senior girls return to their seats after receiving their diplomas. Graduation 87

Page 90 text:

Below: I'M READY. Doran Geise patiently awaits his diploma. Lower Right: HONOR GRADS. Dr. Farrar presents the honor graduates with awards. Tae 86 611٦

Page 92 text:

In the strict post-Watergate morality of the '77-'78 school year, the nation became increasingly aware of corruption in government. As Carter's popularity took a steady downfall and Bert Lance switched jobs from a national finance director to a commentator on WXIA-TV in Atlanta, many people boycotted the Nixon memoirs with the slogan ''don't buy a book from a crook.'' As the nation soon realized, Nixon's book was nothing we hadn't heard before his resignation or in the overplayed David Frost interviews, where the blame for Watergate was placed on Martha Mitchell. The United Mine Worker's union staged the longest union strike in history. During this period of uncertainty, the Panama Canal matter was settled. The canal was more or less given to Panama, with the U.S. still having some power during wartime. The Equal Rights Amendment was in deep trouble, even though 35 of the 38 states needed by March of 1979 have approved the bill. The National Organization for Women conference was held in December in Houston. The women, most of them ERA advocates, rallied for the ERA and fought Congress to extend the deadline for the state's ERA approval. President Carter devoted much of his time to foreign policy and travels. Egyptian president Anwar Sadat was chosen as Time magazine's ‘‘Man of the Year” for 1977. 88 National News NATIONALS The year had its fill of Cinderella stories. After a near bankruptcy, the Radio City Rockettes ''staged'' a recovery and their future looked promising. On a fairly light work schedule, Johnny Carson (heeeeere's Johnny!) pulled in $2.5 million a year on the Tonight Show. At age 18, Steve Cauthen took the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont on Affirmed. At the time of this writing, Cauthen was shooting for the Triple Crown. A real-life ‘‘Rocky,’’ Leon Spinks, beat the 36-year-old Muhammad Ali to claim the heavyweight title. Spinks had only competed professionally seven times in contrast to Ali's 24 years in the ring. “I'm the best young heavyweight,” Stated Spinks, " but | ain't the greatest. He was the " Television, one big Cinderella story in itself, suffered its worst ratings drop in its history. According to the Nielson ratings there was a 6.496 drop in TV viewing. Some of the season's top shows were Laverne and Shirley, Happy Days, M A S H, 60 Minutes and Charlie's Angels. MERI‏ و ی NR a acu. te? Left: IN MEMORY. Elvis Presley, ‘‘the King of Rock and Roll,” performs at the last concert before his death in August. Above Right: BATTER UP. Jimmy Carter, one of the nation's most ‘‘down-home " presidents, takes time out from his busy schedule to participate in a charity softball game. Above: THE GREATEST? Leon Spinks flashes his toothless grin after defeating the aging world boxing champion Muhammad Ali. Top Right: BROTHER BILLY. At times it seemed that Billy Carter was in the media spotlight more than his White House brother. During the year 1977 Billy earned over $500,000. ۱ ۱ ۶ a ۱ E ۱ «4 1 | ۱ [| `