Bennington High School - Catamount Yearbook (Bennington, VT)

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s C Mid-Century Thoughts Dear Readers: Here it is 1950, and here we are settled right in the center of the twentieth century. What a century this has been. Maybe the Greeks thought their centuries of culture and enlightenment were outstanding, as did the English under Queen Victoria and her little helpers, Gladstone and Disraeli, and the French under their Sun King, Louis XIV, but they were all inconsequential compared to this century of achievement, des- truction and predictions. Yes, this is mid-century, the year of the H-Bomb, constant friction with Russia, threats of a third world war which might possibly extermi- nate mankind, and the year we graduate from Bennington High School. Through our newspapers, magazines, radio and movies we are inform- ed of the state of world afairs. Information plays such an omnipotent hagnd in the game of understanding our fellow men in the search for world peace, that throughout our annual chronicle we have placed images of ourselves searching for information. Our older friends, counselors and parents, disheartened with the events of the first half century of 1900, may condone our ejorts to seek peace through understanding based on unbiased information, as useless. Yet we do not want to be defeatists even before we plunge into the sea of life. As General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower said in speaking to the twenty-sixth annual Columbia Scholastic Press Conference last Marqh in New York, Every gefneration has had its H-Bombs - - don't be defeatists and pessimists, for tomorrorw you make today! Yes, we believe as General Ike that by realizing that today, not years from now, is the time to make the world we want tomorrow. Here are my classmates, who believe as 1, that we can better the existing conditions in the world by meeting them, fully informed, with an open mind and a determined heart. K Thoughtfully yours, EILEEN CONE, Catamount Editor, 1950 8

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Class History C46-'SOJ September 1946, and there we were nervously clutching our schedule cards ready to take our first step into the bewildering halls of Ben-hi. Our young faces plainly showed our amazement and wonder at the mighty upperclassmeni' but, after making the usual freshman blunders, like getting lost and appearing in the wrong rooms at the wrong time, we proceeded to elect our class ofhcers. Our slate of ofiicers consisted of Bob El- well, president, jim Ralph, vice-president, Pat Gray, secretary, Teddy Quinlan, treasur- er. The two main events of our first year in high school were the Freshman Reception, sponsored by the seniors, and our class picnic at Hedges Lake. The fall of '47 found us occupying the sophomore ranks with more privileges and responsibilities. As sophomores we joined the Outing Club, the G. A. A., the J. V. Chee1'- ing squad, the athletic teams, and other organizations whose doors were closed to us as freshmen. That year our officers were Bob Elwell, Jim Ralph, Peg Cahill and Sam Hib- bard. We ordered our class rings in the early spring and eagerly looked forward to wear- ing them during our third year in the halls of Ben-hi. Class picnic day again found us at Hedges Lake enjoying ourselves in spite of the rain. The next September we entered Ben-hi as juniors and for the first time we were considered to be the upperclassmenf' We had a busy year and the first thing We did was to elect Jim Ralph, pres-identg Sam Hibbard, vice-president, Rita Cleminson, secretary, and Richie Nolan counted our money until he moved out of town, at which time Bob Elwell filled his office. Our class rings arrived early in the year and we proudly displayed them to any and all admirers. In April eight members of our class proved themselves capable of public speaking in the Junior Prize-Speaking Contest. First prize was awarded to jim Ralph who spoke on Socialized Medicine in England. In May the seniors sponsored the annual Junior Prom in our honor and Bob Elwell and Pat Gray were chosen iking and queen. In June sixteen members of our class were chosen Junior Marshals at grad- uation and all of us enjoyed another picnic at Hedges Lake. After school closed five girls were sent to Girls' State at Vermont Junior College in Montpelier and four boys went to Boys' State at Norwich University in Northfield. Our last and most important year! Finally we were the dignified seniors with a yearbook to edit, more responsibilities, and only a few more months in the halls of Ben- hi that had now become very familiar to us all. At our elections held in june of orur junior year, we elected Sam Hibbard to hold the presidential reins. He was ably assisted by Ivor Pelsue, vice-president, Joanne Douglass, secretary, and Bob Levine, treasurer. President Hibbard appointed his cabinet and we got underway toward our goal which was graduation. We had our pictures taken, received calling cards, put on the Christmas Cotillion, and the Junior Prom, and edited our yearbook under the guidance of Mr. Littlefield, our class advisor, and Miss Ross, our yearbook advisor. Barbara Mackey was chosen as D. A. R. Girl. The year s-wiftly disappeared and before we knew it June was here again. We shall never forget Senior Week with its banquet, picnic, Senior Ball, Pre-Com- mencement Exercises, and- Graduation, as long as we live. Ah, yes, we had a good tim. in Ben-hi and we will never forget those good times. 7

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J Q ,QQ,f4JJ-fl VK gy-Cxcfffl ,g,4?qg,4,, ,ff 0, rg ' ' fd-86 ,AZ Gaul Q. ,,, JAMES WALTER BARSCHDORF Lefty Books are good enough in their own way, but they are a mighty bloodless substitute for life. Basketball Varsity 43 Junior Varsity 33 Hatchet League 1, 2, 3, 43 Baseball Varsity 2, 3, 43 Junior Varsity 13 Fosotball Varsity 43 Junior Varsity 1, 35 Catamount 3, 43 Sports Editor 43 Year Book Board 45 Hammond, In-diana, High School 23 Tumbling Exhibition 33 Senior Review 2. JUDITH RIKER BEACH Judy Nothing great was ever accomplished wthont en- thusiasmf' Outing Club 43 Drama 3, 43 The Case of the Weird Sisters QState Playl- 35 Sardines 35 The Pur- ple Doorknobn 43 Seeing Double 43 Student Coun- c1l 45 'Girls' State 35 Representative to Girls Nation, Washington, D. C., 35 State ,Play 33 Junior Prize Speaking 33 Home Room Officers 3. ETIENNE GEORGE BERARD George A well-bred silence always at command. Home Room Sports 45 Home Room Representative 4. CHARLES W. BETIT Chuck Facts are stubborn things. Football Varsity 3, 43 Junior Varsity 23 Track 3, 4. 9