Baker High School - Novus Yearbook (Mobile, AL)

Page 55 text:

Queen of Stripers Activities 51

Page 54 text:

March Gras: A Mobile Tradition Mardi Gras 1983 was no different from any Mardi Gras in the past with revelry and celebration. But where did it all come from? The LeMoyne Brothers, in 1702, brought their Latin celebration of Mardi Gras with them to the New World. The first record- ed Mardi Gras celebration on the Gulf Coast was the Societe de la Saint Louis. Mobile ' s Mystic societies were begun dur- ing the I830 ' s. The Striper ' s Independent Society, organized in 1842, became the ol- dest of Mobile ' s Mystic Societies. The Crescent City, New Orleans, got its carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations from Mobile. In the early l85Cs, several Mobilians succeeded in taking the tradi- tion along with them to New Orleans, which is now Mobile ' s only opposition in Mardi Gras proceedings. After the Civil War, a man named Joe Cain received the Mardi Gras jubilee in Mobile. He has since been celebrated on Mardi Gras Sunday with the Joe Cain pa- rade. Since then, the joy and nonsense of Mardi Gras is anticipated by young and old alike, and when the season comes upon us each year, we can feel the excitement in the air! Senior, Mary Jane Rice, was crowned queen of the Mystic Stripers in Mardi Gras 1983. Her father has been a member of the Mystic Stripers for more than a decade and he was Mary Jane ' s king. Mary Jane rode on the queen ' s float in the Stripers parade, and then reigned over the Striper ' s Ball. 5C Activities

Page 56 text:

An Old Tradition Updated As usual, class awards were given to those students chosen by their peers. To get these awards, these people must be highly respected and well-liked by their fellow classmates. One of the most presti- gious awards given at Baker is Mr. and Miss Baker High School and this year the recipients were Allen Carroll and Bonnie Cooke. While the judges were making the final decisions, the audience was entertained by Carol Ann Gibbs with You Are Always On My Mind. As time for the big moment drew near, all was quiet and there was electricity in air when the winners were announced. Senior, Kandy Blackburn was 3rd. runner-up, Freshman, Kelly Sheffield, was 2nd runner-up, and Senior Bonnie Cooke was crowned Most Beautiful of Ba- ker High School for 1983. An old tradition with new changes made Hornet Night very memorable this year. The pageant still had many lovely young ladies, but the number was just a little smaller. The format of the program was also changed with two new Masters of Ceremonies, Mr. John Butler and Mrs. Sherrie Mullin. Another refreshing change was having all of the contestants give a quote that (ill 7? p Ui v P WkX w Venus Walston was special to them. This gave the judges a chance to hear the contestants ' speak- ing voices and get an insight on their per- sonalities. The top four most beautiful girls-. 3rd. runner up, Kandy Blackburn-, most beautiful, Bonnie Cook; 1st. runner up, Venus Walston-, and Kelly Sheffield, 2nd. runner up. r 1 jVfc-S ti -■•• 1 A rffhr 1 m f Kandy Blai kburn Hornet Night