Willis High School - Pirate Yearbook (Willis, KS)

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CLASS HISTORY I On the bright morning of August 31, 1942, fourteen meek chil- dren entered the vast and mighty portals of W. H. S. The first day ended at noon, we just couldn't take it, or rather the teachers could- n't. Everything ran smoothly until the third week of school, when the upper classmen decided that it was time for the initiation of the Gree enhornsf' There is no need for us to go into detail about the event, as you can see we are still alive. At last came our day of reckoning. The end, we were no long- er Freshmen but Sophomores. The things we lost that year were one of our classmates, Patsy Oakes, and our Senior friends. Immediately after we became Sophomores, we were no longer shy Freshmen but we were softy Sophomores. Norman Ross and Bet- ty Lou Hobbs, joined our class that year. Nothing' really spectacular happened that year. A few of us got on the honor roll and some of us didn't. Some got sent to theoffice for various reasons, you know. We also lost four of our classmates that year, leaving us with a total of' eleven students to carry on. They were Ruth Pautz, Betty Hobbs, Gene Harris, and Norman Ross. At the beginning of our third year at Willis High we acquired a new student, Carl Bohnenkemper, and lost one, Betty Wolfe, leaving us still with ,eleven members. Margie was the name of our junior Play. We made enough profit at the play to give a very nice junior- Senior Banquet, we think. The theme of our banquet was Manhattan Merry-go-Round. Well, after three short years we enrolled for our last year with nine students. Carol and Mary Crow went to Horton for their last year: It has been a very busy year, what with assemblies, and various other Senior activities. Our class rings, bracelets, and announcements were ordered the first week of the school term. Not all of us got rings and bracelets, but some did. We had our pictures taken at Pelikan's Studio in january. The camera is still in working order. During our Senior yearas well as our other three years we enjoyed several class parties And of course everyone enjoyed the junior-Senior Banquet given in our honor inApril. The profits made from the Senior play entitled The Old Home Town were used for Sneak Day. Class Night was held May 10, in the school auditorium. Baccalaureate and Commencement have come and have gone, but as the Seniors of 1946 go out into the world they have but one objective in mind, Rather to be, than to seem.

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CLASS PROPI-IE CY When our class of 196 made its arrangements for the class commencement, it fell to my 'lot to assume the role of the prophet. Since I am not especially endorsed with the gifts that make a seer, I first attempted to decline, but my classmates became so insistant that I promised to do the best I could, hoping that some kind fairy would help me out of my trouble. Up to date I have never seen the fairy. Still, I have had some visions, and I am going to picture to you what I beheld in the crystal globe. ' It was on a spring day of May 1956. I had served as President of the First National Bank in Springfield, Illinois, for the past 10 yrs. and on this day had to make a business trip to St. Louis, As I walked down Broadway, I was attracted by a magnificent poster, announcing to the people of the metropolis that Gladys I-Iazen, world famous so- prano soloist would give a concert in the Academy of Music. I remem- bered that Gladys' maiden name was Small. Across the river, in East St. louis, Carl Bohnenkemper was too busy to give me much informa- tion. After leaving the doctor's luxurious offices, I was greeted by a well dressed lady. How do you do? she said to me. I looked at her somewhat puzzled. I am Beulah Mace- and a teacher in the St. Louis Normal School. Gur former teacher of world history is principal of the same institution. Cf course, she is still single, and is an unclaimed blessing. Beulah seemed to know more than any other person I had met. She told me that Jody Willis and that boy fromEverest-had marr- ied and were living in Philadelphia. In addition to raising their family of five, R. C. was keeping a restaurant, while joan, his wife, had taken upon herself to furnish stylish headgears for those who wanted some- thing especially fine and had the money to pay for it. I also heard that Donald Barnes was clerk in a financial institution at Baton Rouge, La. Towards the end of 1957 business brought me to Louisville, Ky. Taking a stroll through the streets of the city, I was attracted by a mas- culine voice, neither beautiful nor sweet, but harsh. But, the words had a familiar ring. I had heard them many times when I used to attend school back at Willis. Charlie, that boy who was always funny and some times mischevious, used to sing this ditty when others .tried to study their lessons. My attention was directed to a sign on a house which read, Charles Zimmerman, teacher of Music. In the next few years my business took me to Europe. On my way back to the states, I came across Owen Modeland, formerly known as Lem or Clem. He told me that he had established himself as an Undertaker in Knoxville, Florida.