Iroquois Central High School - Iroquoian Yearbook (Elma, NY)

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PRINCIPAL of the DISTRICT Congratulations for your success in school, and upon your yearbook project. Your last year at Iroquois Central comes during a great history making era, when leadership within our own nation changes, and when the events on the International scene reveal a deployment of power pressures to influence opinion and ideologies. It seems to me that one of the paramount issues for each of you is to maintain your individualism in thought and in person. Although most of your school life has been spent in a “togetherness environment, in which you became both a joiner and an organization person, do not let this overshadow your individualism. Remember the school reflects the culture of which it is a part. Sometimes it is easier to adhere to a principle in the company of others, it is even easier to believe in it. For the timid and the uncertain, shifting responsibility for moral decisions to an organ- ization is obviously the path of the least resistance. The substitution of a social conscience for the private conscience disposes of a number of troublesome moral problems. However, when people get in the habit of depending too much on others to solve their problems, they lose their capacity of applying thought and imagina- tion to private analysis and solution. This leads to demoralization of the individual as a private person. Individualism and freedom generate tremendous power. May you always maintain yours. Sincerely yours, A. Donald Bartoo Principal of the District 5

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BOARD OF EDUCATION Mr. Kenneth J. Mcllraith—President of Board of Education; Mr. Brainard Prescott—School Attorney; Mr. J. Howard Smith; Mr. Peter Bos; Mr. A. Donald Bartoo—Principal of the District; Mr. Joseph D. Kurtz—Vice President of Board of Education; Mr. George B. Field; Mr. J. George Nattrass; Mr. Leon A. Piguet. Absent: Mr. Cecil Scott—Clerk of the Board. The Board of Education extends to each of you, members of the Class of 1961, heartiest congratulations on your graduation. Some of you will now pursue higher education in college, technical, or business schools; others of you will now begin your working careers; others may shortly be- gin careers in homemaking. Regardless of which path you follow, it is sincerely hoped that you will put into practice one over-riding lesson which all of us at Iroquois have tried to teach—the pursuit of excellence. Each of you, whether you are a college student or a truck driver, a store clerk or an engineer, a secretary or a housewife, must set high standards for yourselves and then meet these high standards. Only by so doing can we guarantee the survival of our nation as a great and free nation. Pledge yourself to do a better job wherever you are, be a better citizen, live a better life. In brief, pursue excellence! In this spirit of challenge, we extend our greetings to each of you. 4

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ADMINISTRATION TO THE CLASS OF 1961 Congratulations on such a happy and mem- orable occasion—your graduation from high school. You must be filled with mixed emo- tions as you look back upon your past years as students while at the same time looking ahead to your futures and the beginning of new and different lives and careers. There is that feeling of pride and satisfaction you must have in knowing that because of your work and study, you have successfully reached that long awaited goal—graduation. I imagine, though, that you must have that same feeling of nostalgia that comes to every graduate when you think of leaving all the good friends and wonderful times which were so much a part of your life in high school. Instead of your leaving Iroquois, we think rather of your staying with us as a member of our alumni. I sincerely hope that you will find all the happiness and satisfaction you seek, and 1 do wish for each of you the best of everything always. Sincerely yours, Dennis Ryan Congratulations to the Class of 1961: As you leave this fine school, it is my sincere hope that you will never forget your many pleasant expe- riences nor your many fine friends. Graduation means the end of your stay as a student at Iroquois, but always remember it signifies the opening of new vistas. The world into which you are entering is passing through many crises. Even the wisest men find it difficult to keep a sense of balance under these con- ditions. However, remember that you have the ability to think. This involves the risk of misunder- standing, but it also presupposes that the mind can grow, that understanding can mature and that a man can advance from a false assumption to a new grasp of truth. It will take more than thought to redeem man- kind, but we should never underestimate the ability to think and to reason together. “Whatever is true, honest, just, pure, only of good report, think of these things.” Today is a time for sober thought and careful understanding, and I know that your education at Iroquois will give you a sound basis for future de- cisions. If you think and always remember the eternal verities, I feel confident that you will lead happy and successful lives. Good luck to all of you in whatever you pursue. I shall recall with much pleasure and happiness the Class of ’61. Sincerely, Russell E. Corser 6