Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

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SENIORS IN SERVICE In the fall of 1940, the class of 1944 entered Plainfield High School, looking forward to school and social activities, sports, new friends, and incidentally to prepare for college or business. December 7, 1941 was an awakening day for the United States. Here in PHS we observed its pronounced effect on our boys. They took their studies more seriously; sports were no longer just an after-school activity, but were also preparing them for the Army and Navy. Many took courses in pre-flight aeronautics, radio, and other pre-induction courses. Now we see former students in the uniform of the Army, Navy or Marines, walking through the halls, eating in the cafeteria, and visiting the classes they once attended. They bear a new air about them, one of responsibility and satisfaction that comes from serving their country. Every month finds more seniors leaving school work to enter the armed services. Some are now seeing action while others are still in training. Two have already made the supreme sacrifice. But wherever they may be, we want them to know that we of Plainfield High School will be right behind them to the finish. Our faith is with them... we know they shall be the victors. George Thomas Bishara Joseph A. Kostszycki Robert C. Bissett William Donald Laing J. Wallace Campbell Henry Constantine Lajewski William Causbrook Alexander Lavish E. Anthony Croat Nunzio Louis Loggia Robert E. Daly Gerald Robert Masters Rufus Dent Kevin Joseph McCrea Bruce Bently Dickerson Leon Jameson Missimer, Jr. Alfred Joseph Frankowski Norman Miller Nichols Lee Robert Galvin, Jr. Carmen Perry Carl Robert Giacobbe Harry Merritt Saunders, Jr. Joseph Attwood Giddings, Jr. Robert William Sheriff Jack Gillman John W. Shuster Ralph LeRoy Hann William Arthur Staats Einar Bjorne Hansen Robert Sherwood Tomson George Harris Ben Michael Toresco Philip William Hilley-Swank Raymond Donald Turner George Hoffman Philip Vandeventer Royal Maryland Hubbard Philip Vinci Richard Warren James Amos James Williams David A. Jackson De Witt Willis Clarence Johnson Jr. Killed in action [14]

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news writing and an honorary certificate for the Quill and Scroll International Contest for newswriting. Almost the last event of the year was the awarding of the $5 prize for the winners of the Declamation contest. Carol Bronston took the honors in the girls’ division. Elections popped up everywhere. For our junior class Us chose Bob White, Norman Kantor, June Turner and Joe Corcoran as our leaders. Bob Albers was named Entree chief, Sallie Churchill, managing editor and Joe Corcoran, news editor. September 1942: Us were upperclassmen. Early we began to fight the precedent of producing a variety show. The result, a three act comedy, ‘‘June Mad,’’ was presented November 13 and 14. Phoebe Hardingham and Art deVitatis held the main roles as a love-sick girl and air-crazy boy. Ruth Townsend, Howard Carl, Norman Kantor, Bill Ellis, Bob Albers, Bill Bray, John Gee, Nancy Weglau, and Betty Wilks completed the cast. Just before the play our treasurer left; Carol Bronston was elected his successor. Following her success in the play, Phoebe Hardingham won the school poetry reading contest. Carol Bronston won the school contest in the American Legion Oratorical contest. Both competed in further contests. In early spring a school-wide election put Bob White in as Student Council president, supported by Dick Mooney as Vice- president and Betty Wilks as treasurer. The Victory Corps formation was a school-wide program, but the Council which laid most of the plans had a large junior repre- sentation. Bob White, Madge Evans, and Dick Mooney represented the class; Sallie Churchill and Bob Okell represented the press. About this time the saddest event of the whole class history ar- rived. The Navy department announced the death of two former classmates, Carmen Perry, Navy, and William (Bill) Causbrook, Merchant Marine. The finale to our junior year was the election of officers and the appointments to senior usher squads and Senior Honorary Society. Our officers were Jack Shuster, Greg Carty, June Turner, and Joe Corcoran; Bob Okell was named Entree chief; Bob Lundstrom was chosen to head the Senior Honorary. September 1943: The last fall us would enter PHS as a class. The year began differently somehow. Many of Us had left for the services. Our president, Jack Shuster, had left for the Navy. Greg Carty took over the job, and Marvin Davidson was elected vice- president. The Milestone editorial board appointments were announced. Carol Bronston was chief; Shirley Blume, Ruth Strom, George Deats, Jane Lum, Jean Wendell, and Dale Carlisle held the other high positions. Senior supper was another of our class’s firsts. In January Us held a supper in the cafeteria (decorated so no one would ever recognize it). The food was prepared by the cafeteria staff, the service was by choice of the master of ceremonies, Bob White. En- tertainment included songs by the trio, deVitalis, Hadley, and Carty. Fulton Hines was elected to replace Joe Corcoran as treasurer when Joe left PHS for Seton Hall Divinity School. The senior play, ‘‘Here Comes Mr. Jordan,’ a comical and fan- tastic comedy, was presented on the nights of March 17 and 18. Walt Thielhart starred as Joe Pendleton supported by Bob Lund- strom as Mr. Jordan. Laying the foundation for the Junior Night Club was one of the largest undertakings in PHS this year. Fighting for it from begin- ning to end were Betty Arthur, Louise Loizeaux, and Bob White. Senior class representatives included Ann Caulfield and Bill Bray. And this year comes the end of Us, the class of 1944. This year, as seniors, we leave the auditorium for the last time. This year, as wiser students, we are graduated. From now on, it’s You, not Us. [13] Sr

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i | | | 7 ) Nw SENIOR BOYS IN THE ARMED SERVICES Ist row—left to right—Rufus Dent, Jack Gillman, Elpedio Croat, Ralph Hann. 2nd row—Alfred Frankowski, Philip Vinci, George Harris, Leon Missimer. 3rd row—Robert Daly, Joseph Kosky, Bruce Dickerson, William Laing. Ath row—George Bishara, Joseph Giddings, Ben Toresco, Henry Lajewski. [15]