East Grand Rapids High School - Interlochen Yearbook (East Grand Rapids, MI)

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LAST WILL AND TEST AMEN T We, the Senior Class of East Grand Rapids High School, being of what we consider sound minds and sufficient memories, do hereby make, publish, and declare this to be our last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills. To the Faculty, who have guided and taken care of us through our unforgettable thirteen years, we leave our admiration and heartfelt sympathy. To our nearest successors, the class of ,411-, we leave our unmeasurable knowledge, visions of our handsome faces. a fund of unnecessary information. and our hallowed residence, room 301. To the wh-ole class of '45, we leave the zest for work, which some have cultivated, and the appre- ciation of our school that all of us hold sacred. The class of 'fl-6. when old enough to comprehend what it is, receives from us the will to get ahead. The personal bequests and desires of this dis- tinguished senior class are as follows: Jerry Byrne leaves his wedgies and 74 inches to Jack Murphy. We think these will make Bill rate twice as high with the women. Betty VanAntwerp leaves a hundred odd freckles to Nancy White. Paul Olsen presents a pair of vocal chords and some extra special cheers to Jim Gilmore. Pat Crothers leaves those enormous blue eyes to Nancy Post. Jeanne Schaap wills her amiable personality to Queenie Wing. Gene Bellis wanted to leave something to a worthy juni-or, but we felt he had already given enough to the school. Nancy TenBroek bequeaths her fashion plate clothes to Eleanor Hager. Bill Webb leaves his composure to Henry Staples. Jim Cowdery left instructions for operating stage lights and constructing scenery to Bill Page. Peggy Furbee, leaves that quality which makes her so likable to Mary Hibbard. Arthur Clements hands over his pad of yellow tardy slips to Gordy Bonfield. Joan Poisson and Charlene Poisson leave their undying friendship to LaFern Reeves and Barbara Oakeson. Martha Roderick leaves her ability to draw those cute stick figures to Lucille Kennedy. John Bissell surrenders his irresistible lisp to Willard Bond. Ith thith aw rite, John? Tom Warren wills his ability to graduate after only one semester in the senior room to any boy who feels it's worth hard work. Nancy Harkness gives her HPowers,' of concen- tration to Eleanor Henry. Louis Wickman leaves his athletic prowess to Gene Johnson. Phyllis Buckman presents her condensed version of 6'How to Win Friends and Influence Peoplel' to Margie Potter. -,Bob Boyer leaves his unique way of solving equations to the faculty for safekeeping. Marion Pray gives Pat Gauthier her friendly good morning. As Marion would say, What a Lifef' Charles Loper leaves his courteous manner to Bob McVoy. Bill Torgerson leaves a large portion of loyalty to Virginia Belknap and Jim Miller. Dorothy Snapp bequeaths her famous toe shoes to Marcia Travis. 1 Bud Powers wills his dramatic ability to anyone who can play Henry Aldrich with a straight face. Virginia Verhey left ten flying fingers for use on the typewriter to Joan Gallymeyer. Elizabeth Bloomstrom- leaves her love of work ffrom upholstering chairs to managing the Victory Councill to Mary Hadley. Gerry Potter leaves his accent from the 'iLone Star Staten to Carrie Allen. Ellen Platte, the Miss East High School of 194-3, wills her beauty to Dorothy Vinkemulder. Fred Perkins presents his success as the strong silent type to Jack Korfiff Anne Patterson leavesi her delight of biological studies to those few fearless women who volun- teered to hold the snakes during assembly last fall. Jim Smith relented and gave his horse laugh and a month's supply of oats to George Farra. Frances Paquette leaves her quiet, unassuming personality to Joyce Vanffltteren. Ted Aalsburg leaves his argumentative manner to .lerrv LeDonne. i Mary Lou Gork, the Four V Girl, leaves her vim. vigor, vitality, and vitamin pills to Monnie Borough. Will Gay Bottje lefti his talent for directing music to Mr. Kincheloe. Joe Pierce leaves his prized -crew cuts to Brooks Applegate. One warning, boys, Joe's barber is related to a head hunter. Roberta Ames bequeaths her way with the men to Marilyn Vos. Pat Muir and Bob Cole leave their favorite corner to Pat Hannagan and Jim McGarry. Bill Oliver gives his all-A card to Jim Taber. Bob Chance would like to hand over his band to the juniors for next yearls dances, but he feels he can't part with it just yet. Gail Bice leaves herxability to compete with Shakespeare to Clay Gysels. Seth Bidwell wills his sauve Hman of the world air to Jim Chamberlinn Autograph hounds can meet Mr. Chamberlin after this assembly. Winnie Knape leaves her extended Japanese- ahem-Chinese fingernails to Elaine Mclntire. Roy Clements leaves his ravishing red hair to David Parmelee. One hupdred strokes every night. Charlene Golay hands down her aspirin tablets and Alka-Seltzer to the next Interlochen editor. Ernest Malkewitz leaves his ability to sing and keep time with his head to Bob Detmers. Bob Healy wills his irivention, a device to make tires for cars without wheels to Dick Tuthill. Edward Fritz leaves a bowling score high in the hundreds to Milton Craven. Doris Knol surrendersl her complete knowledge of Spanish to Lois Kollenberg. Muy bien, Luisa. John Mackay leaves his gift of gab and a col- lection of jokes, good, bad, and Mackayis. to Don Matheson.

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PROPHECY OF THE CLASS OF '43 For a long time that evening I listened to my radio. I had nothing else to do until it was time for me to dress to go to the theatre, where I was to see a new play called School Daysv, the biggest hit Broadway had seen for years. But for the time being I sat back indolently, while the radio played my favorite programs. The first one I heard as I twirled the dial was Seth Bidwell in Tell It To The D.A.7'. This pro- gram was one of the nationis favorites, since Seth in person presented some of his own experiences as the young and successful District Attorney of New York, where he had been called after a short but brilliant career as a criminal lawyer. Everyone knew that Sleepy had almost single-handedly put down the crime wave after the Second World War. A sports broadcast by Gerald Muir followed. Gerald's play-by-play descriptions of football games and his shorts in the movies rivalled Ted Husing's in popularity. Then came the Crown Cola Hour, starring Martha Roderick singing the music of Will Gay Bottje. Bill's music equalled that of Gershwin in the eyes of both critics and public, while Marty had man- aged to combine successfully an opera career with domestic life. She had been happily married for several years. An added attraction on this musical program was Eugene Bellis, who had been hailed as the most superb crooner of his time. I turned off my radio just as the announcer remarked that these programs had been made pos- sible through the expert technical assistance of the noted radio engineer, Bill Oliver. It was time for me to leave for the theatre. I happened to know that 4'School Daysw dealt with a supposedly fictitious graduating class, but that the class in question was none other than the senior class of 1943 of East Grand Rapids High School. I was eager to see what had become of my old classmates and to find out how accurately I had guessed when I had written the class prophecy years ago. From my seat in the third row on the aisle, I noticed Roberta Ames, scribbling busily on a tablet. Bert was the editor of a nationally syndi- cated gossip column which finally drove Walter Winchell from the tabloid field in disgust. Carefully scrutinizing all the members of the audience was Boy Clements, the brilliant detective and head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Two rows back I spotted Phyllis Buckman, edi- tor of '4Clubby Clothesn, which sold more copies per issue that either 6'V0gue or 4'Mademoiselle . With her was Bob Chance, the original and clever fashion designer, whom we had all' expected to become a band leader. I noticed that Phyll was looking fixedly across the aisle, and following the direction of her gaze, I saw George Gregoire, proprietor of Gregoire's Model Agency. With him were three of his beautiful models: Nancy Ten Broek, Jeanne Moore, and Susanne Wade. In a private box I caught a glimpse of General .lim Cowdery who had distinguished himself so signally during -the Second World War. With him were LaVange Coleman, head of all the W.A.A.C.'s in the United States, Phil Cornelius, the eminent aeronautical engineer, and Paul Olsen, a pilot who probably knew more about dive bombers than any other man alive. The house lights were dimming and I had time only to glance at my programme to see that '4School Daysv was produced, directed, and acted in by Ted Brink, with Phyllis McVoy as the leading lady. Ted had frequently been compared by critics to a cross between Orson Welles and Noel Coward, while Phyllis had been a brilliant actress even in high school. This pair was frequently known as 'cThe King and Queen of Broadwayw. The play was apparently to be a series of short sketches regarding the lives of each member of the senior class. Patty Muir was the first occupant of the stage. She wore the pointed slippers and bouffant skirts of a ballerina, and I remembered having heard that she was the premiere danseuse at the Russian Ballet that winter. Bob Cole, foot- ball coach at the University of Michigan, whose crack teams had won the Big Ten championship for the past seven years, was said to have gotten the idea for one of his most successful plays from a dance step of Pattyis. Jerry Byrne was the next occupant of the stage. In his businesslike-looking overcoat and soft hat with a pencil behind his ear, he presented the per- fect picture of a busy reporter. There was no need to explain the situation, for everyone knew that .lerry was one of the top reporters and news ana- lysts in the country. The end of the .first act had come, and I arose and wandered out into the lobby. I saw John Mackay, Senator from Michigan for twelve years, standing there in a crowd of admiring friends and autograph seekers, all wishing him well in his campaign for re-election. I went over to speak to .AW ? 13? Alix it 1 LIB

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Gerald Muir, wills his interest in radio to Bob Vi ilson. Phyllis McVoy bequeaths her sincere manner to Jill VandenBerg. Bill Haynes leaves his collection of assorted lines with efficiency guaranteed to Marcia Ames. Bruce Clark gives an all around musical ability to Sam Creenwalt. Jeanne Moore leaves her sunny disposition to Susie Vllhittier. There's an Art to it. Jacob Markham and Tom Finch will their latest best seller, fallow to Enter the Navy in Ten Easy Lessonsw to all boys desiring a girl in every port. Bruce Veltman leaves his secret recipe of sugar- less sugar cookies to Elaine Mackay. LaVange Coleman presents her four years of experience in G.A.A. to Mary Webb. This means, Mary, that you'll have to give up cokes at Dut's. George Gregoire surrenders several well-padded suit coats and a picture of Atlas to Phil Beukema. Louanne Johnson will leave Mary Alice 0'Gor- man her assortment .of unusual shoes if Mary Alice will furnish the necessary coupons. Ted Brink left his unforgettable impersonations pf Lior6el Bagygiore, Scrooge, and Sahib to all uture rson 'e es. Dean Spaulding leaves-no, he doesnit either --he's thankful hels just leaving. Lois Stegenga leaves translations for the short- hand assignments to next year's students. We hope you wonlt mind, Mrs. Nelson. Bob Paley gives up his position as chairman in charge of Candy-Selling-During-Noon-Hour to Jim Mclieynolds. Susanne Wade leaves several moth-eaten and dog-eared text books to the up and coming Wades. Phil Cornelius wills his ready wit to Art Prange. All Phil would say is, 6'I'm only three and a half years oldf' In witness whereof, I have here unto set my hand and seal this tenth day of June one thousand nine hundred and forty three. Witnesses: Signed, MISS SCHNOOBERGICR THE CLASS OF 1943 MR. ELLIOTT SUSANNE WADE MRS. YONKMAN MR. COURTRIGHT f ,l,4f-, ,- H3522 , 47? gf? 'U I, 5 of X 4 if f , un 7 VJ I' , 155' X- 4' J mepv M X ff 4 gf F, f , .22 N -' j Massa' f X HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF '43 The stillness of the night was broken only by the sound of distant gunfire. A cool, damp breeze ruffled the hair of the tanned young army officer, Captain Jim Smith, who lay peacefully sleeping in the narrow, white hospital cot. Slowly opening his eyes, he gazed in amazement at the white-clad doctors and nurses and the many rows of patients. Not until he heard his name spoken, did his gaze return to the bedside where he beheld a pretty, little, dark-haired nurse. She smiled pleasantly and asked, Remember me? His mind carried him back a few years and he recognized none other than his old school chum, Ellen Platte. Not only had one of his old friends appeared suddenly in the middle of the African desert, but miraculously enough, she held under her arm that magnificent publication, the 1943 ulnterlochenv. In his eagerness to look at the book, Jim bravely attempted to sit up but received several sharp pains in the back. After warning him against too violent exertions, she arranged him comfortably and in- trusted into his hands that prized volume. He remembered well that first, fateful day when his mother had fairly dragged him up the steps of the grey stone kindergarten to be met by the sweet smile of Mrs. Wife and the Slingshot of Seth Bid- well. There was also the annoying personality of little Betty Van Antwerp. who insisted upon refer- ring to him as f'Carrot Topw. The 'two Clements brothers were there toog Artie. proudly displayed his model wagon, which had won first place in a radio contest, while Boy hotly insisted that he had made half of it and wanted some credit. Even in kindergarten one found Eugene Bellis whistling continually and the class owed thanks for most of its elegant parties to the generosity of Marion Pray. In a far corner Jim had seen three sedate young ladies: Patty Muir, who even then knew how to handle men, Roberta Ames, crying because she didn't want mother to leave her, and Ellen Platte, whose chief interest, as usual, was food. The daredevil of his chums was none other than Dean Spaulding. Bob Chance had started his suc- cessful musical career by shaking a tambourine to the tune of London Bridge Is Falling Downf, Another musician in their young group had been Vllill Gay Bottje, who often accompanied Bob on the piano with one finger. Virginia Verhey and Joan Poisson argued continually as to which one of their dolls looked the most like a real baby. Jacob Markham, because of his manly voice, was chosen to be conductor of their wooden block train and Doris Knol, Lois Stegenga, and La Vange Coleman, posing as grown up ladies, dutifully paid him coins fashioned out of clay by the hands of Chuck Loper. The following year the class was divided into two sections. The little boys had nearly come to blows arguing over who was going to sit next to