Mendota High School - Atodnem Yearbook (Mendota, IL)

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THIS IS THE team which tied for third place at the N. F. L. National in 1933. They are: rear. lohn Eichorn. Ice Sibigtroth. Melvin Schmitz. Mr. Nelson. and, front, Marie Elsesser, Gilford Moss. Robert Goebel, and Doris Van Hy. Schmitz, Charles Schmitz, Ed Baker, and lohn Eichorn. Ed Baker Won second at the state N.F.l.. tournament and the right to go to National ln l935, Mr. Zimdars came to Mendota as debate coach. In l938 his squad Won first in the Northern District Contest and the right to go to State in Class B competition. There they won the Class B State Championship. Those on the squad were Ken Elsesser, and Mary Louise Walzer for the affirmative and Pearl Nixdorf and Willis Ashley for the negative. ln speech competition Margaret Huss and Olive Rapp Won the right to go to State in humorous reading and oratorical declamation respectively. A new conference, The Trade Winds Conference, was formed in l939. Mendota was the first school to Win a first place trophy there. Dean Whitmore also did Mendota proud when he went to the National N.F.L. Tournament in Beverly Hills, Cali! fornia, With his humorous reading. Carol Hanson was his coach. Speech Work was most successful again in 1940. Christ Troupis Won a first at the Sub-district Tournament, a third in district competition, and a fourth at State. He competed in extemporaneous speaking. Dean Whitmore again won honors for himself and his school-this time in serious declamation. He Won first at District and Fourth at State. Coach Zimdar's team had another successful year in l94l. The team, consisting of William Schmitt, Ken Truckenbrod, Christ Troupis, Bob Wooley, Alice Nixdorf, and lack Steele, won first at the District N.F.L. Tournament plus the right to go to the National at Lexington, Kentucky. Due to unfortunate cir- cumstances, the squad was unable to attend. Perhaps Mr. Zimdars most successful season was in l943. He led the silver-tongued seven to first at the North Central Tour- nament, the Augustana lnvitational, at DeKalb. The first at Augustana made the third trophy Won there in nine years-a record no other school of our size had ever equalled. The out- standing record for the year was 35 Wins and 9 losses. Those on this winning squad were William Schmitt, Richard Mauntel, Bonnie Gardner, Francis Matychowiak, Ken Truckenbrod, and Carol Wills. Francis also took the state championship in a speaking contest sponsored by the FFA. In l944 the Zirndars team Won firsts at Augustana Invita- tional and North Central Conference tournaments and a second at Sectional. The record for '44 was 30 Wins and 9 losses, Be- sponsible for this fine season were Francis Matychowiak and Bonnie Gardner, affirmativeg Wayne Ashley and Walter Finley, negative. Francis is the only MHS debater ever to have been on two teams Winning at Augustana. Schmitt, Kenneth Truckenbrod, Carol Wills, and Francis with their coach. Edward Zimdars. THIS IS THE 1943 team that won first at North Central and Augustana. William Matychowiak are shown THIS IS Tl-TE third team 115353 in six years to win the State and enter the National. They were eliminated there alter two and a half days of debating by the second and third place tournament Winners. They are: rear. Iohn Eichorn, Everett Moore. Melvin Schmitz. Ed Baker. Mark Huss, and. front, Mr. Nelson, Eleanor Gross. and Charles Schmitz. Miss Payne directed the first MHS contest play Cloud Burst , in l946. The venture turned out to be highly successful. as the play took a second at Sectional, thus winning the right to go to State. Ruth Engelbrecht won a place on the AllfState cast of six. Others Who took part in Cloud Burst were Roger Butler, Charles Hill, Davis Scott, Barbara Beck, and Vera Ritter. Vera did a comedy reading at State, also. The debate squad Won the Conference trophy again. The next year, '47, was a great one for speech work at Mendota. Our contest play, Afraid of the Dark , its all-boy cast, and Paula Stenger, with a serious reading, Won firsts at both District and Sectional. At State Paula placed seventh and the play, eighth. Roger Butler made the All-State cast. The other boys were Charles Hill, Lamar Brewbaker, lim Hickok, Ierry lackson, and Pen Faber. Miss Payne was their coach. Mr. Houston's debate squad Won first at North Central. Speech seemed to get more popular every year, l948 was no exception. Six students and the contest play, Last Flight Over , were eligible for the District. The play and loanne Oester won firsts. Bob Holler won second in verse reading. At Sectional, the play and Bob both won seconds and were eligi- ble tor State. Those in the play were Pen Faber, lean Van Etten, Mary Grace Spenader, Bob Cotton, and lessie King, The Coach was Miss Payne. lane Laws, in serious reading, and Les Kramer, in ex temp. went out to bring honors in '49, They both won firsts at Con- ference and District. At Sectional, Les won first, and lane, sec- ondg both were eligible for State. Things picked up again in speech in l952. Under Coach Bill Moogk, the contest play, Which is the Way to Boston? Won third at District. Four others Were entitled to go to Section- al in individual events: Mary Lou Bruckner, verse reading, Iames Rave, radio speaking, lane Vogelsang, original oratory, and Gary Olson, original monologue. At Sectional the play took fourth, while lane won a first and the right to go to State. Mary Lou Bruckner did Mendota proud by winning first place at State in poetry reading in l953. She was thus eligible for the National. Again there was a lag in speech and debate-this time for or period of nearly five years. Then in 1958, Mr. Kerchner and his talented four won the Conference title, tied for first at Section- al, and Went to State Where they Won 3 and lost 3. The squad was made up of Larry Olson, Al Price, Ned McCormick, and Ann Lorack. THIS IS THE 1944 team that won first at North Central and Augustana. and second at Sectional. They are: rear. Walter Finley. Francis Matychowiak. Wayne Ashley: and front, Mr. Zimdars and Bonnie Gardner.

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i 5 5, ,, 'QE WHITE COLLAR CLUB - BACK ROW: I. Norris, I. Richards. S. Schiefelbein, B. Melzen. B. Rider, S. Scharnmel. S. Cook. S. Kerchner, G. Baumann: FRONT HOW: A. Bauer, D. Virgil. K. Handley. B. Gordon, B. Glaser. P. Piller, Miss Paul, Advisor: ABSENT: G. Handley Whlte COll8I' was formed this year. Membership is open to students interested in furthering understanding of office procedures. The re- quirement for membership is that the student must have at least a half credit in a commercial course. The officers for this first year were Sandy Schiefelbein, president, Sandy Cook, vice-president, Karen Handley, secretary-treasurer. The advisor for the club was Miss Paul. MHS speech activities have e long, long story DRAMATICS, speech activities, and debate have been part of the activities at Mendota High for many, many years. The first play, Silas Marner , was put on in the auditorium of the new high school by the sophomores in 1917. Since then the junior and senior class plays have become a tradition. Each class has undoubtedly felt that its play was the best, and memories of the rehearsals and performances have lin- gered With each cast. Plays have ranged in type from light comedy and melodrama to serious plays such as Lost Horizon C'48l, Dino f'58l. and this year's Abe Lincoln in Illinois. Unfortunately space does not permit a more complete listing. Before debate became a part of the curriculum, there were declama- tory societies, occasional interscholastic debates, and numerous speech activities put on just for fun. Professional arguing became a part of Mendota's curriculum in l924 under Stanley Knapp, and under his direction debate became quite popular. MHS joined The National Forensic League in 1926. NFL was reorganized and reactivated in l93l under Mr. Theodore Nelson, who Came to Mendota in that year. ln the spring of '31 his debaters, Robert Goebel, William Swisher, Gilford lvloss, Alfred Engelbrecht, Faith Fitch, and Arthur Sauer Won the State Forensic League championship and took part in the National contest at Ripon, Wisconsin, where they tied for fourth place. ln 1933 Mr. Nelson took his teams to the State music and Literary Contest where Mendota won the Governors Cup for having gained the most points. Also in 1933 Kewanee and Mendota tied for the state cham- pionship in the N.E.L. contest. A toss of the coin gave Mendota first THIS IS THE team which lied for fourth place at the N. F. L. place, Both schools went to the National at Wooster, Ohio, Where they Ndtifmel in 1931- TINY me? 'BUY' Robefl Goebel' MY- Nelson' again tied, this time for third place. The '33 squad was made up of lohn Eichorn, Ioseph Sibigtroth, Melvin Schmitz, Marie Elsesser, Gilford Moss, Robert Goebel, and Doris Van Ry. A relatively inexperienced '34 squad tMark Huss, Everett Moore, Eleanor Gross, Melvin Schmitz, lack Westerman, Iohn Eichorn, Karl Sams, Edwin Stamberger, and Ed Bakerl took second in the North Cen- tral Conterence, second at Sectional, and third at State. Mr. Nelson's debaters, for the third time in six years, won at State and entered the National in l935. They also won tirsts at the Augustana, the North Central Conference and the N.F,l... tournaments, At N.P,L. Mendota won 9 out of lO debates. Those that brought these honors to our school Were Everett Moore, Eleanor Gross, Mark Huss, Melvin William Swisher. and, iront, Gilford Moss. Alfred Ei-igelhrecht, Faith Fitch and Arthur Sauer.

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NFL - BACK ROW: I. Goebel, H. Weitzel. G. Barth, D. Carnahan. D. Weber: SECOND ROW: S. Carlson, B. Bice. T. Matychowicxk, S. Slick: FRONT ROW T. Dawes. M. Muthesius, R. Hilst. M. Hinkle: ABSENT: M, Smith, S. Marko. Mr. Workun. advisor The National Forensic League is fm existing organization which originated thirty-four years ago, This year NFL sponsored an extra- curricular debate class at Northbrook. The officers were Tom Matychowiak, presidentg Steve Carlson, vice-presidentg Martha Smith, secretaryetreasurerg and Mr. Workun, the advisor. Drama proved very successful, this being its second year. The purpose ot this organization is to inform the members on dramatic produc- tions, creative Writings, and individual speech work. The Thymelians did much to help all plays that were put on this year, besides putting on three skits for pep sessions. A Halloween party was enjoyed by all. DRAMA CLUB-BACK HOW: T. Matychowiuk, N. Stokes, M. Springer. G. Mcmeny. P. Donahue. C. Archer. I. Engle, Miss Unakis. advisor: D. Iuckson. M. Metzen. A. Kuehl. H. Keele. M. Smith. R. Weitzel: SECOND ROW: C. Chockley. T. Poisel. S. Wehmeyer, M. Dubbs. D. Scndgeroth. I. Iordal, A. Tower. B. Kessler, C. Andrews, I. Iohns. S. Snyder. N. Iuccb: FRONT HOW: I. Powers. I. Terry. president: C. Iohnson. secretary-treasurer: S. Carlson, vice- president: I.. Ladenburqer. I 5 ay -