Kensington High School - Compass Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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DEDICATICN Mr. McMahon John J. McMahon, a student counselor of Ken- sington High School, was sincerely devoted to his faith, family, home and students. He was a zeal- ous worker in his church, a loyal and thoughtful son, a wise and understanding father, and a prac- tical guide and mentor to Kensington boys. Mr. McMahon was born in Buffalo, July 25, l902. He was a graduate of Saint Joseph's lnsti- tute and Buffalo State Teachers College, and he received both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from Canisius College. Before teaching industrial arts at Kensington High School, he taught at Schools 3l and 24. As an industrial arts teacher he came to know and understand boys on a more personal basis and as boys' guidance counselor, he gave very sound advice and valuable recommendations. How- ever, his devotedness rounded itself into a great confidence and everyone looked to him as a guide. He was admired for his optimistic zeal in his daily work and respected even by those who did not share his sometimes vigorous opinions. He had infinite energy and endless enthusiasm for his work. His deep interest in his home and his family made him quick to solve similar problems with the Kensington pupils. His natural good humor and ready laughter easily disspelled any annoyance with the whims and idiosyncracies of youth. His hobbies of gardening, craft work, painting and golf made him that much more valuable in encourag- ing young men and women to higher standards. They that instruct many to justice shall shine as stars for all eternity. John McMahon has gone from our midst but his spirit abides with us. No one who sincerely loved guiding young people as he did can leave us orphans. IN MEMORIAM JOHN J. MCMAHON, JR. Born: July 25, 1902 Died: October 'I'I, 1954 Death is the door that leads to light.

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INTRODUCTION TO THE THEME IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. FROM THE DARKNESS OF CREATION, THROUGH THE ANCIENT DAYS OF DINOSAURS, REPTILES AND CAVE MEN, SINCE THE DAYS OF EGYPT, GREECE AND ROME UP TO THE ERAS OF EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY, SCIENCE AND LEARNING, TO OUR MODERN ATOMIC AGE, MAN HAS PROGRESSED AND THRIV- ED. FROM HIS CHANGING IDEAS OF GOD THROUGH THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, FROM IG- NORANCE TO SCIENTIFIC MASTERY, FROM THE DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE AND MECHANIZED INDUSTRIALISM, MAN HAS DIVESTED HIMSELF OF THE RAGS OF ILLITERACY AND DONNED THE SPLENDOR OF MAGNIFICENT CREATIVENESS. MAN HAS WRITTEN AND IS STILL WRITING THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE. HIS INGE- NUITY HAS TAMED THE ANIMALS, CROSSED THE SEAS AND CHANGED THE FACE OF THE EARTH. IN THE BEGINNING, MOTHER EARTH NURSED AND NURTURED MAN AND HIS ANIMAL FRIENDS AND ENEMIES. SHE WAS MAN'S HOME, FOOD, CLOTHING. SHE WAS HIS HINDRANCE AS WELL AS HIS HELP, CHANGING OR DESTROYING LIFE AS SHE SAW FIT, WITH TORNADOES, TIDAL WAVES, EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS. BUT LATER, THROUGH HIS DEVEL- OPING INTELLIGENCE, HE BECAME STRONGER AND LEARNED TO HOUSE, CLOTHE AND FEED HIMSELF. MAN BEGAN TO CONQUER EARTH, CROSSED HER MOUNTAINS AND OCEAN BAR- RIERS, BRIDGED HER CHASMS AND DAMMED HER RIVERS. HE DROVE DEEP INTO HER HEART AND BROUGHT FORTH IRON, COAL, OIL AND GAS, UPON NNHICH OUR MODERN WORLD SUR- VIVES. SKYSCRAPERS, OCEAN VESSELS, AND FINALLY .ATOMIC ENERGY CAME FORTH FROM HER VAST STORES OF RESOURCES. WARS HAVE SCARRED HER, BUT MODERN ADVANCEMENT HAS BEAUTIFIED HER. MAN HAS BELITTLED HER WITH FASTER AND FASTER COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORTATION SYS- TEMS, BUT EARTH HAS RETALIATED WITH DESTRUCTIONS IN THE FORM OF TYPHOONS, HURRI- CANES AND BLIZZARDS, SHOWING MAN AS THE MINUTE PART OF CREATION HE REALLY IS. BUT WE BELIEVE THAT MAN'S IDEALISM AND IMAGINATION HAVE GIVEN HIM THE POWER TO OVER- COME THESE OBSTACLES AND BUILD HIMSELF UP TO GREATER HEIGHTS. 6