Baltimore City College - Green Bag Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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Left to right: Amernick, Professor Fairbank, Norris, Debuskey, Zipper. Headed by Prof. Frank P. Fairbank, honorary president, the Mid-Senior Class 1940 held an elec- tion for its class officers in February, 1939. James Norris was elected president; Merle Debuskey, vice president; Norman Zipper, secretary; Bernie Kravitz, treasurer; and Beranrd Amernick, ser- geant-at-arms. When Kravitz resigned because of illness at home, Norris appointed William Pills- bury, who had served the class well, to the office of treasurer. Starting off the year, the class of only 225 mem- bers launched a drive to rival any of the former classes. The class inaugurated its social season with a “Century Hop” on October 13, 1939, in the school gym, with Billy Antrim furnishing the music. The second social affair was the Victory Ball at the Italian Gardens, which was sponsored in conjunc- tion with the June Senior Class. The event was a huge success, a large crowd dancing to the tunes of Michael Greene. The presentation by the Mid- Senior Class of the annual play, “What a Life,” was one of the year’s highlights. The play was successfully directed by Prof. John E. Desch of the Department of English with the generous aid of the boys and our fair friends from across the way (Eastern). The play ran two nights before a packed house at each performance. As the term drew to a close, talk of the com- ing prom and banquet was on the lips of every Senior. A committee headed by William Pillsbury Q Senior by Nature and consisting of James Norris, Bernard Amernick, Edward Humbert, Gerald Ackerman, and Elmer Epstein began to make plans. A farewell assembly was held on January 31. On this day the “torch” was handed over to the presi- dent of the June Senior class and the Seniors bade adieu to their teachers and studies. The date set for the prom was February 15; the place, Emerson Hotel, the Orchestra, Men -About- town. Approximately 175 couples attended. Dr. Philip H. Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer V. Bell, Mr. Alfred E. Culley, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar L. Helm, Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Yost, Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. W. Schmehl, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Fairbank were also present. The night for the last farewell finally arrived. On February 20, at 8 P. M., the members of the 1940 Mid-Senior class, attired in formal dress, marched down the aisles. Mayor Howard W. Jackson presented the diplo- mas and made a brief speech. Dr. Edwards gave a short talk, and this ceremonious occasion ended with the singing of “City Forever.” About 180 new alumni met at the Emerson Hotel for the traditional banquet. Short talks followed an elaborate meal. A floorshow with a fine array of talent was presented to the graduates. At 1 a. m. with the singing of “City Forever”, the new alumni of a never-to-be-forgotten home marched out.

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ACTIVITIES

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4 Left to right: Riggin, Samuel Harris, Sanford Harris, Professor Bell, Rokos, DeManss, Helldorfer 9% A Social Boing Capably executing its duty as pioneers in the the second century of the Baltimore City College, the June Senior Class of 1940 opened the gates to a new era in the annals of the “Castle on the Hill” and established a record of social, athletic, and scholastic achievement, designed to serve as an inspiration and pattern to subsequent graduating classes. Sparked by William Rokos, class president, and ably piloted by Adviser Prof. Wilmer V. Bell, the class promoted three well-managed dances, an operetta, and the traditional June Week, a series of coordinated social activities in which the grad- uating class officially tips its hat to City College. Champagne was broken over the bow of the June Senior ship of state on May 26, 1939, when the following officers were elected to launch the first Senior graduating class of the new century: Rokos, president; Sanford A. Harris, vice prest- dent; Louis K. Helldorfer, secretary; Samuel Harris, treasurer; and Charles DeManss, sergeant- at-arms. The class officers, together with John Riggin, plugging head of the dance committee, weathered some criticism on their maiden social venture when they signed Michael Greene, a bandleader foreign to City’s social whirl, to play for the Victory Ball. Together with the Mid-Senior Class, co-sponsors of the dance, the officers squelched school pre- judice, however, by promulgating the merits of Greene’s orchestra and vouched for a capacity attendance for the affair. Collaborating with the mid-Junior Class, the Seniors sponsored the Christmas Hop. The new social year was ushered in with the annual Term Dance, the Men-About-Town syncopating. On May 17 and 18, the June Senior Class fused their support with that of the Music Department to present The Student Prince, an operetta by Sigmund Romberg. For the first time in the history of City Col- lege productions the entire auditorium was sold out both nights. This affair was one of the most successful, not only from a financial standpoint, but also from a social one. The dedication was made in the attendance of the entire student body. An idea in the minds of classes for many years was realized in June when the Senior Class dec- orated the front walk leading from Thirty-third Street to the school with a row of elm trees on either side and thus created a permanent memorial to their four-year sojourn at City College. The June Senior Class’s ship of state was brought into dock on June 11 and 13, at the Prom and Banquet, respectively.