Falls City High School - Orange and Black Yearbook (Falls City, NE)

Page 24 text:

Senior Class Prophecy It was just an ordinary spring day — exactly like a million other spring days except that by the time the clock struck midnight, the Senior Class of ’54 would have been duly graduated from Falls City High School and launched on new and separate careers. As I lolled on the chaise longue, I listened to the soft, dreamy music drifting out from the house and wondered just what the Class of ’54 would be doing — say twenty years from now. Gradually the warm sunshine and the soft music began to take effect and I found myself drifting off to sleep — still wondering. Waking to the clinking and clanging of bottles and the gay whistling of Kenny “The Happy Milkman” Bippes, I jump out of bed, dress quickly, swallow some breakfast, and rush down to Patzee’s Beaute Salon. Patzee, commonly known as Patsy Noll, has become world renown as the only American-born genuine French hair stylist in the wrold. There’s RaMetta Ramsey under the first drier! They say she owns a horse ranch, a glue factory, and a meat-packing company. That sounds very suspicious to me. Who’s that hiding behind a magazine? Oh, yes, that’s Ruth Bachman who teaches a night school for Hindus from Pakistan. And there’s Darline Remmers sitting next to her. Darline is the president of the local chapter of the Lonely Hearts’ Club. She sends all her “lonely hearts” to Bill Sorensen’s dancing school. Bill is rated as a second Arthur Murray — and to think he used to be allergic to social dancing, especially with girls! I think I’ll sit over there by Alice Richmond and find out the latest news. Since she’s a lady F. B. I. agent, she’s had a lot of experience in “snooping.” “Hello, Alice, imagine meeting you here. I thought you were in Timbuctoo.” “I came in on the Jenkin’s Limited last night. That reminds me, have you heard that Richard has just perfected a jet-propelled locomotive. Railroaders call him “Richard the Railway Saver.” “Fancy that!” “Oh, there have been a lot of new inventions. Keith Fryer has invented a light-weight frying pan for husbands with temperamental wives. Think of all the cracked skulls that will prevent! And Gary War has revolutionized record players by inventing a robot that stands by ready to flip the records, change the needle, or do any emergency repair work. It gives Gary more time for the girls. The latest thing in automobiles is Jim Chaffee’s Motor Wonder which runs on water. Siphoning will soon be a lost art! Seriously though, he’s really a mechanical wizard. He installed a unique system in Marna Curne’s car. Every time she comes within three feet of a solid obstacle, the automatic control system takes over, which means longer lives for millions of fenders. After all these years Raymond Simon has finally secured a patent on his electronic mouse trap. It should be on the market any time now.” “Speaking of mice, have you seen Vivian Mc-Ilvain’s latest comic strip? She calls it ‘The Adventures of Rickie and Ginnie Mouse in Outer Space.’ You’ll have to excuse me, Patsy is ready for me. I’ll see you later. Well, Patsy, are you ready for this evening?” “Oh, yes, it promises to be a wonderful evening! Why just a few minutes ago RaMetta and I were discussing the changes that have come about in the last twenty years. It’s amazing how many of our class went into manufacturing.” “You must tell me all about it.” “Well, for instance, take Esburn James. Who would ever have guessed that he’d become a RUBBING alcohol tycoon? And Norma Godemann practically owns a monopoly over the manufacturing of park benches. The only part of the process she doesn’t control is the boltmaking. Bryon Marteny’s method for bolts for park benches has never been surpassed. Paul Schatz went into a rather fascinating business, too. He manufactures handcuffs — available in two styles. You can buy either the conventional type or the padded ones for sleep-walkers. Then there’s the nut business. Gary Tudor’s nut factory is really thriving. Everyone simply adores his Kansas-style cashews as they’re both delicious and economical. His slogan, ‘The more nuts the merrier,’ also helps boost sales. Last but not least in this field is Don Ruch. People everywhere are asking for his novel root beer mugs. Don says your mug doe make a difference. There now, you’re ready for the drier.” A half-hour later I breeze out of the Salon and down the street to Pat’s Hat Shop. Pat Johnson’s creations are simply out of this world and are definitely original, although most men deem them extremely frivolous. However, I don’t think men will ever learn to appreciate hats. “Oh—isn’t the one with the petunias simply divine! They look just like those giant petunias Charles Williams raises.” “I’ve been admiring that one, too.” “Why, Barbara Gilliland, what a pleasant surprise! I just finished reading your sequel to Who’

Page 23 text:

Godemann, Leslie Groff, JoAnn Scheitel and Barbara Wing. Contestants in the District Speech Contest were: Betty Bentley, Jim Chaffee, Jim Doughterty, Jack Hixson, Robert Lewis, and Betty Joy. Joyce Dean and Patricia Stabler also took part in the speech program. Basketball season brought letters to Jim Belleau, Leslie Groff, Bill Sorensen and Gary Tudor. Henry Schwartz was the Student Manager. There were five fellows who lettered in track our Junior year: Leslie Groff, Robert Lewis, Richard McMillen, Gary Tudor, and Gary Wiar. Bob thrilled us by winning a medal at the Meet at Lincoln for his discus. Of course, the highlight of our year was our Junior-Senior Banquet held in the Prichard Auditorium on May 1. The theme for this “Loveliest Night of the Year was “An Evening in Paris.” Jack Hixson, class president, gave the toast; Patsy Noll acted as EMCEE. From here we drifted on into another vacation. “We’re Sitting on Top of the World” — now as Uppers-uppers. There was no limit to what we could do with all our talent. Our class sponsors were: Mr. and Mrs. Cummins, Mr. Jones, Mr. Person and Mr. Symp-son. Robert Lewis was elected President; Patricia Johnson, Vice-president; Jack Hixson, Secretary-treasurer; and Neal Bachman, Gary Wiar and Sheila Yoder, Activity committeemen. Our ORANGE AND BLACK staff consisted of: Editor, Jack Hixson, Business Manager, Sheila Yoder; Assistant Business Manager, Patricia Stabler; Author of the Will, Patsy Noll; Historian, Patricia Johnson; Prophet, Betty Joy; Sales Promoter, Leslie Groff; G. A. A., Kay Shouse; Music, Marilyn Slagle and Rosalie Spahr; Photographer, Gary Wiar; Sports Writer, Gary Tudor; Academic, Vernal Brocker; and Typists, Shirley Apel, Adrienne McMillen and Janis Scholz. The Senior Class of 1954 chose Kay Shouse to be Miss Falls City at the Halloween Festival at Hiawatha, Kansas. For the first time in years, all of the Cheerleaders were chosen from the same class — our class. They were Mary Lou Dykes, Patsy Noll, Kay Shouse, Patricia Stabler, and Sheila Yoder. Rex Bartley earned his third football letter; Leslie Groff, Jack Hixson, Robert Lewis, Paul Rieger, and Henry Schwartz, their second; and Richard Jenkins and Gary Wiar, their first. Our girls, too, were active in sports. Our G. A. A. officers were Patricia Stabler, Sheila Yoder, Kay Shouse, Adrienne McMillen, May Lou Dykes, and Patricia Johnson. First or second state awards were earned by the officers and Beverly Clark, Mama Curnes, Georgia Franke, Barbara Gilliland, Betty Joy, June Kirkendall, Vivian Mellvain, Patsy Noll, Ramet-ta Ramsey, Alice Richmond, Lawanda Ruegge, JoAnn Scheitel, Janis Scholz, Marilyn Slagle, and Barbara Wing. In the music departments many of our fellow classmates took part in various vocal and instrumental groups, and in the clinics and festivals and programs held for them. Jim Chaffee, Leslie Groff, Betty Joy, Patsy Noll, Paul Schatz, Patricia Stalder, and Sheila Yoder were the seniors who attended the State Music Clinic. This year Patricia Johnson and Lawanda Ruegge became members of the Dozenettes. Janis Scholz and Marilyn Slagle capably divided the vocal accompanist’s duties. First year participants in the District Music Contest were Alice Richmond, Jack Hixson, Roger Kiek-haefer, Richard McMillen, and Gary Wiar. The speech department brought other talent to the surface. Besides Betty Joy, JoAnn Scheitel, Patricia Stalder, and LeRoy Stayton, who took part in the District Speech Contest; Betty Bentley, Jack Hixson, Patricia Johnson, and Robert Lewis participated in the local event. Again basketball brought the spotlight to our class when Jim Belleau, Leslie Groff, Roger Kiekhaefer, Bill Sorenson, and Gary Tudor lettered. Many of the Senior boys received track letters this Spring. The blue carnation became our official flower; Navy and sliver, our colors; and “Today we follow, tomorrow we lead,” our motto. On April 30, the Senior Class Play, “I Love Lucy,” was presented under the direction of Mrs. Nutter. Those who helped with the production were Joyce Dean, Georgia Franke, Leslie Groff,, Betsy Hartman, Richard Jenkins, Patricia Johnson, Betty Joy, Roger Kiekhaefer, Richard McMillen, Patsy Noll, Gale Pickard, Lawanda Ruegge, Paul Schatz, Janis Scholz, Patricia Stalder, LeRoy Stayton, Merlyn Win-sor, and Sheila Yoder. We were the honored guests of the Junior Class at the Banquet, held on May 1, at the Prichard Auditorium. Our Prexy, Robert Lewis, gave the response. Class Day exercises were on May 13th. Baccalaureate services were held on May 23rd. The most memorable night of the year was Commencement, on the 27th of May. This was to be the last time that we, as a class, would enter the Auditorium of our Alma Mater. After returning for our last report cards, we each started on our separate ways, hoping that we would all meet again on the Stairway to the Stars. Patricia Johnson Historian, Class of ’54

Page 25 text:

Who, and, in my opinion, What’ What is tops. You must have met a lot of people while you were doing your research work.” “Oh, I did. You’d be astounded at how many of our friends I ran into.” “I love to hear all about it.” “Well, I met David Wetmore, Jack Hixson, Merlyn Winsor, Barbara Wing, and Joyce Dean in Washington. David has a government job burning worn-out money — he goes around with a fiendish look in his eye, whistling ‘Temptation’; Jack has just been commissioned an admiral of Nebraska’s Navy — quite an honor for a high school graduate; Merlyn is considered the best woman lawyer in the country, probably because of her ability to out-talk any of the others; Barbara runs a resort for dogs with vacationing masters; Joyce, the Wave with a sailor in every port, was there on leave. I saw Etna ‘Play it cool’ Brannin and Beverly Clark in Paris. All Beverly would say concerning France and her resources was, ‘Oooh-la-la, zese Frenchmen!!’ while Etna pleaded ‘No comment.’ JoAnn Scheitel is in Scotland teaching hula dancing. Just think — kilts and the hula! I talked to Lord Kiekhaefer in London, too. It seems Roger caught the Queen’s favorite lady-in-waiting when she fell out of a balcony and thus earned his title. He ay» he just happened to be passing by— a likely story. I sailed back on the same boat as Richard Mc-Millen. Dick was just completing a successful tour and is still the world’s champion chess player. Several of our classmates were musically inclined. Lois Kirkendall’s latest tune, ‘A Barrel and a Peck,’ should be out any day. ‘Bachman’s Rag’ is the rage in Boston. Neal wrote it after taking a short course on Bach. He decided classical music needed modernizing. Paul Rieger owns a huge cactus ranch in Arizona where he raises all sizes and shapes. Nearby Cactus Center sponsors tourist trips through the ranch, all of which Betty Nitzsche has taken advantage. She operates a small store with two products featured — tweezers and merthiolate. Virginia Weinert owns a dude ranch in Texas. It’s like most dude ranches except for one thing — Virginia provides trained ostriches for riding. Once a year she holds a Wild Goose Chase and, mounted on an ostrich, leads the pack. Harvey Vollmer is a demonstration artist. He tests mattresses in department store windows. But wait, I’ve been doing all the talking. What’s everyone doing here at home?” “Well, Barb, let’s i»ee. The former Sheila Yoder won the title of Mrs. House-wife 1974. She gets a trip to Bermuda and a year’s supply of Sudsy-Wudsy. Rosalie Brannin has just finished her book, How to Hen-peck a Husband and Make Him Like It. She did all her research right at home. Don Tutt is working furiously on his autobiography, The Rise and Fall of a Pin-Ball Machine Magnate. Dick Spaulding is still trying to rediscover his formula for freckle remover. The original mixture worked marvelously — while it lasted. Jim Dougherty has opened a correspondence school in American History due to the influence of Mr. Jeffers, his former teacher. This same Mr. Jeffers launched Gail Ruegge on his career. Gail became so interested in his theory of child psychology that he expects to take his Ph. D. in it. The school board hired Gale Pickard as principal. It seems he gained quite a bit of inside information about the job during his high school career. Along this same line, June Kirkendall has started a reform movement for a six year high school. The students, of course, consider it highly unfair. Mary Lou Dykes has a cigar store. In addition to the usual brands, she also sells a hand-made cigar especially for ladies who wish to indulge. Bob Lewis was appointed as head chemist at Salome’s Salami Plant a few years ago. He and his private secretary Lawanda Ruegge spend most of their evenings ‘working’ — or so they say. We also boast a home-town wrestler here. If Lorna Kelly wins her next match she’ll be the U. S. champion lady wrestler. Jack Kelley is also excelling in the sports field. He’s a modern William Tell — so far there have been only two causualties. Pat Stalder is a housemother at the Delta Pi Psi fraternity. She still has that old charm, and a certain admiral is still in there pitching. Carole Lee Sander has organized a Babysitters’ Agency. She keeps a file on the children, both the angels and those whose halos are slightly tarnished, and assigns the sitters accordingly. Vernal Brocker is a chiropractor and, if reports are true, a good one. At least you never leave his office with the same aches that went in with you. LeRoy Stayton has an excellent job as a photographer for the famous magazine, ‘Peek-a-Boo.’ It takes you into the homes of all the renown personalities. Betsy Hartman is living off the fat of the land— she designs clothes for ‘plump’ women and has even organized a Fat Girls’ Club. Jim Belleau makes his living by building houses. No garden is complete without one of his modern bird houses. He even puts picture windows in them. Bob Sutter has made his place in the world or rather on top of old Baldy. He makes toupees for all the prominent business men.