Richmond High School - Shield Yearbook (Richmond, CA)

Page 11 text:

Bubletiw Board The Richmond High bulletin board, located between the academic building and the science building, was built and dedicated this year. The board was dedicated to the late Richard Christensen, former RUHS fac- ulty member. Mr. Christensen, during his years as vice-principal, showed an intense interest in having a bulletin board as a fo- cal point for school activities, but the board was not realized until this year. The bulletin board is the new edition to the landscape of RUHS. The preliminary details for the board were worked out by the Board of Commissioners and approved by Vice-Principal Yates. The lettering on the bulletin board is pre- pared each week by the Commissioner of Publicity. Each individual letter must be laid out in order, transferred to the backing, and then placed on the board. The Board was built by a crew of boys from Mr. Walter Hattich’s wood shop. They are Mr. Hattich, Haymond Williams, Jerry Sena- tor, Ed Begley, and Ron Booth. ,

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Dedication There is no question but that Mr. Richard Gaskins occupies a place in our hearts not unlike those oc- cupied by God, flag and country. Olympian, im- pervious to shot and shell, and mighty in combat, ‘Big G’’ took on our Senior Play and rocked the world of Richmond with a hit. With threats and awful blasts, he pushed us to glory. We shall nev- er forget this feat or our delight. Overwhelmed as we are by Mr. Gaskins as pro- ducer, director, choreographer, set designer and dialogue-writer of our play, we can only say that we should have expected it. In his classroom, for example, he is always the Maestro; although his language is rending, his lessons stick. We know this because his students go off to college, taking with them many of ‘‘Big G's’? mannerisms. Using words like ‘‘plethora,’’ ‘serendipity,’ and ‘‘ani- madvert,’’ they get A’s in freshman English. They also keep flocking to his house, just as we do our- selves, at the slightest excuse. Indeed there are endless things which indicate that Mr. Gaskins is unique. One of our fondest high school memories shall always be the sight of ‘Big G’’ standing in the hall of RUHS, shouting down a police officer who was after him about his carful of dogs. Then again there are such items as that he was born in Indiana, grew up in Wyo- ming, fought the Nazis in Normandy and Belgium, learned Latin in Boston College, had twenty-seven jobs in one year, was a cabbie while attending U.C., where he defeated the Oxford debating team. He also paints pictures (also houses), sculpts, poetizes, mimics, mimes, acts, dances and, we are not very sure, sings. In short, “Big G ’ is a phenomenon. Twice in March we carried him on our shoulders as the audience stood and cheered. We wanted to hoist him up again in June, but lacked the proper occa- sion. So we seized upon this less athletic way of showing how we feel about our infinitely gen- erous, talented, warmhearted friend, and dedicate to him our Shield. It is our last, only and perma- nent way of giving ‘‘Big G ’ the million dollar smile he likes so much. }

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[w of Robert C. Cthes One moment he was with us, and the next moment he was gone. Robert Charles Sikes was unexpectedly taken from us Monday, February 10, 1964, after a brief ill- ness. The loss of Mr. Sikes was a great personal loss to many students and teachers who worked closely with him during his thirty years at Richmond Union High School. Mr. Sikes was a counselor, but he was perhaps bet- ter known for his work in student government. He served as advisor to both the Board of Commission- ers and the Representative Council, where he gave unselfishly his own time to instruct students in par- liamentary procedure and democratic principles. When he first came to Richmond Union High School in September of 1933, he worked as a substitute teacher. During this time he was drafted to do many jobs in the print shop. In 1941 he was appointed to the position of counselor and maint ained that job until his untimely death last February. Mr. Sikes was a meticulous worker who was not satisfied unless every job he undertook was accom- plished to perfection. No task was too small to be given his concentrated attention. No task was too large to be tackled by him. Every problem, large or small, became his personal prob- lem, and he could not rest peacefully unless he had done everything in his power to assist in its solution. Mr. Sikes never cowered in the face of responsibility. The task of student government advisor required his assistance at weekly meetings, in addition to after-school hours spent in preparing agendas, helping the officers, and overseeing the activities. How- ever, this work did not detract from the responsibilities he had as a counselor. He was always ready and willing to aid any student who sought his advice and counsel. Mr. Sikes did his work without glory or recognition. He worked behind the scenes and never wanted the spotlight placed on himself. He worked quietly. In a sense, he died as he lived. His death was just as he would have wanted it—peaceful and quick.