George Mason High School - Mustang Yearbook (Falls Church, VA)

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Senior Class History Gosh! It’s really hard to believe that the time for us to go our separate ways has finally come. Although we, in all probability, will never be together again as a class, we can never forget the good times we’ve shared. Remember how big we felt at being in high school, and how we all “snapped to” at the wishes of- the big seniors who towered overhead? Most of us will recall being in the improvised classrooms in the gym with either Mr. Maher. Mr. Potter, or Miss Knox, and trying to study with the band practicing on the stage and paper airplanes dlying over the partition. This was the year we moved into the new wing, and the band wore their new uniforms at the dedication of the football field. In November there was the unforgetable trip to Wil- liamsburg — need I say more? Gary Martin was the high salesman in the magazine drive, and held this position for the next four years. The eighth grade came and went with nothing too exciting. There were the usual field trips to the Capitol, Treasury Building, and Supreme Court. We also went to Manassas, but I think we saw more of each other than the landmarks. This was the year the varsity basketball team went to State. Our freshman year marked the first year of the Thanks- giving Day Football Tournament with Falls Church High, which ended in a 6-6 tie. This year our class, under the leadership of President Jim Oliver, held its first big dances, the Pandemonium Ball and the spring formal, “May in the Orient.” Remember the hours spent painting that dragon mural and putting up the ceiling? And return- ing one Monday to find that the school had been broken into? Boy! was that an exciting week with detectives walk- ing around the school! Of course we can never forget all those maps we made for Mr. McClellan — and the dancing in gym class. During this year our class began to show some of its outstanding leaders. Sports claimed Lance Seidel, Jim Ebert, Jack Vick, Joan Laufman, Pat Gentry, and Barbara Puckett, while Alan Gayer, Bonnie Benn. Judy Wall, and Patricia Harvey were on the SCA. September 1956 made us sophomores. None of us will ever forget Miss Finnegan’s biology class — those poor crayfish and frogs! On the brighter side, there was the Cafe Dance which we put on and the big Record Hop we had with Bob Rickman, the disc jockey, as emcee — we broke all school records by making nearly $300. This year another new wing was added to the school — this time in- cluding a cafeteria. On Thanksgiving we beat Falls Church High, 13-12, and a new member of our class, Carol Ann Kirtley, made a big addition to the school’s vocal music program. As Christmas we held a big class Christmas Party at the Teen Canteen, and that spring Pancake Day came into existence at GM with Jean Yates as its first Queen. We all suffered a great loss with the death of Mr. Snodgrass, but he, and his contributions to our school, will never be forgotten. In our Junior year, our football, basketball, and baseball teams captured all District Championships, but the Thanks- giving Day game trophy went to Falls Church. Leon Rix won the State Band Music Contest with his superb cello playing, Joanna Michael recaptured the Virginia State baton twirling championship and Carolyn Newell and Bill Pritchard became Virginia State debating champions. Then there w ' as the day the boys wore suspenders instead of belts and the girls retaliated by wearing big bows in their hair . . . remember? The following week the girls’ gym class had their immortal camping trip — were you there? Everyone else seemed to be! During the winter, we put on the Christmas Dance, but had to cancel the Sweetheart Dance because of an unex- pected snow. That was when Mrs. Feagin had to take poor Mr. Metcalfe’s place while he was detained in Ohio. A while later, the history classes went to Gettysburg — Boy, it was cold but it surely was fun! Remember the “Junior Lounge and “Junior Raunch Day”? More field trips to the Senate and Capitol — I think we nearly wore that subway out! As spring made its entrance, juniors were absorbed in one big project — the Junior Variety Show. Anyone who was in it knows all the hard work that went into making it the success that it was. Those rehearsals were more fun! No sooner was that over, than it came time for the long awaited Prom. We have the distinction of being the first class to hold its Prom outside the school. Remember the Arlington Towers Ballroom and Patio and the Break- fast — Swim Party afterwards at the Fenbrook Country Club? It was freezing — fifty degrees in May! Then with graduation of the Class of ’58 we became seniors! Boy, the problems you face when you become a senior! Decisions have to be made on colleges, professions must be considered, and the prospect of starting a new life on wha t you’ve made of yourself in the last twelve years of school faces you. But there’s no getting around the fact that we had our fun this year. We put on the Homecoming Dance, over which Barbara Puckett reigned as Queen. Furthermore, we sponsored Senior Raunch Day, and made a trip to the University of Virginia for the football game. Remember the tour of the campus, the hysterical trip down, and the long ride home? The Falls Church Football Trophy became ours to keep as we .ended the series, 21-20. Lance Seidel in this game became the Virginia State scoring champ and GM was again a winner. Carol Kirtley was our Sweetheart Queen, and everyone gave parties . . . anyone for lasagne? Term papers, final exams, the Prom at Bel Haven Country Club, Graduation, and George Mason has seen the last of the ’59-ers as we become alumni. CLARE RAE 18

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Left to right: Sandy Johnson, Bob Barrett, Bill Hansen, Steve Callanen. Senior Class Officers Officers President BOB BARRETT Vice-President BILL HANSEN Secretary SANDY JOHNSON Treamrer STEVE CALLANEN Sergeant-at-Arms JESSANN HAMBLETON 19