Abington High School - Oracle Yearbook (Abington, PA)

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lit? X31 i Rex thought he cou1dn't win without ELLI RICKERT, '51 '7!ze Salam Maid Rex Adams was the hero of the Crown Point High School cross-country squad, and he looked every bit the part, tall with powerful shoulders and a deep chest, tapering off at the Waist to a pair of long slender running legs that were made to carry him over hill and dale with the speed and grace of a greyhound. Rex had been a varsity harrier since his sophomore year, and this year as a senior he had paced his teamlmates to victory after vic- tory over every opponent on their schedule. Rex had natural talent, and everyone knew this but the boy himself. Like many boys of his religion, he wore a little silver holy medal around his neck. However, Rex had much more confidence in his little silver medal than did most boys. With that medal around his neck Rex felt defeat was impossible and victory inevitable. The team was in perfect shape on the eve of the district championships, and it looked as though Crown Point was a sure thing to win. As Rex made his way home from school deep in thought over the big meet the next day, he passed by a lot where a group of his friends were playing touch football. Rex remembered what the coach had told him. You can't play two games at once and win, don't take a chance by playing football or any other outside sport before the Districts. But when his pals invited him to join their game, Rex just couldn't resist and, Besides, he thought, it'll help me forget the Districts for a little while. As the boy got ready for bed that night, he discovered his loss-the medal was gone! The chain must have broken in this after- noonls game, he thought. Rex pulled on his clothes and, taking a flashlight from his drawer, dashed down stairs and out of the house. He hurried to the lot where he had joined his pals in their game and covered every inch on his hands and knees, never giving up until his batteries gave out. The next day in school he put the same fi S 4

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under , we danced to Bud Reilly 's eerie orchestra until the strains of Good- night Sweetheartn sent starry-eyed couples homeward. While the Latin Clubbers danced, up at the P. S. P. A. convention in Allentown, we walked away with no less than 25 individual awards. The Yearbook and Oracle earned tirsts while the Abingtonian rated second in the state contest. , November 17--School spirit ran to new heights today! The gym was gaily decorated in school colors, and the pre-Panther pep meeting bubbled over with excitement as parents and former grid stars came to give their support. Teachers paraded in, wearing little maroon and white hats, as Jim Montague led the band. Head cheerleader, Betty Lou Wilson, ably assisted by her squad, led with cheering that practically raised the roof. Coach Snodgrass remarked that it was one of the finest exhibitions of pirit that he had ever seen. November 18-We did it again! In the 26th annual game with Cheltenham, Abington defeated the Panthers, 'Li-. 6. Cheltenham scored the first touchdown. but their try for the extra point was blocked by Wally Carroll. Cheltenham rooters screamed for joy, but their celebration didn 't last long. Abington 's John Dennis, a sophomore, caught a 13-yard touchdown pass for the tying score, and Bob Frick kicked the extra point to give the Ghosts their 16th win over the tamed Panthers. Boy, for sheer tight our team just c0u1dn't be beaten. They held that lead through three long quarters with little Ted' Kitson ripping through for long gains whenever he carried the ball. December 8-Tonight was the first performance of Mother Is a Fresh- man . Proud parents beamed from ear to ear and so did cast and coaches. The seniors said they were scared stiif, but they really didn't show it . Practices were certainly hectic with competition from the carpenters working on the fire towers. At times the thespians had to yell at the top of their voice just to be heard. Mrs. Wyatt and Mr. Gantt surely deserve a lot of credit for their efforts. December 22-Vacation at last! The school looked like a winter wonder- land with a beautiful tree in the main hall and all the homerooms decorated for the contest. A godd-hearted grroup of students and teachers made the annual trip to Christ 's Home to give a party for the old people. and the music department added to the Christmas spirit with their Yuletide carols. Everyone is leaving school with the intent to make New Year's resolutions like I'll always have my homework in on time ! Hope they keep them.

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question to everyone he met: Have you seen my medal, you know, my little silver medal? but the answer was always a sympathetic negative. When the time came to leave for the Dis- tricts, the medal still hadn't turned up. Feeling beaten before the gun, Rex climb- ed aboard the bus and sank into a rear seat. As the bus rolled along, Rex became aware of the low, nervous, but confident- chatter of his teammates. He looked around him. They were a melting pot of different faiths, some of his own religion, a Jewish boy, a Baptist, but all working together for one cause, which they all agreed was a worthy one. Without medals, without even the same faith he held so dear, they had followed him through a season of vic- tories long to be remembered in the annals of Crown Point cross-country. They all had faith in the Lord, but they also had another faith he now noticed-a faith in themselves, something he lacked. The medal was made by the hand of man, but he him- self, his legs, his physical strength, they were all direct works of God, and he had to believe in them. As he started to leave the bus for the Districts course, with a feeling of self-con- fidence growing inside him, the coach stopped him and, with the words, I thought you might want this, handed Rex the lost medal. The boy gazed at it in his hand, then, after a moment's hesita- tion, he handed it back to the coach, say- ing, This time I'll do it by myself' ' Today Rex Adams wears two silver medals. There 's an inscription on one that reads: H1950 District V Champion. ROBERT NAYLOR, '52 The Richest Moment of My Life Did you ever see a million dollars all at once? Packs of one, five, ten, twenty, fifty, hundred, five hundred, and thousand dollar bills piled high on a table before your very eyes? This really happened to me. There I was inside a large bank vault with the bank president and an armed guard presiding over the money and television cameramen, newspaper reporters, photographers, bank officials, and students representing other schools surrounding me. This was Bank Day in Philadelphia, and a group of students were touring the Phila- delphia Corn Exchange Bank. I guess we were dreaming at that time what we could do with all that money when a newspaper photographer grabbed my arm and led me to that piled up table. ' Then the bank official informed me that I, with the help of another girl, was to pose for a publicity stunt celebrating Bank Day. Amazingly enough, I was to handle all this money, placing a half a million dollars in the arms of the other girl. l The stage was set, and all eyes were upon us as the picture was snapped. I never expect to have so much money pass through my hands again. JILL BRENNER, '51