Big Sandy High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Big Sandy, MT)

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During the school year of 1939-40, we began working on solos and small ensembles and were excited when told that if we could memorize our music, we could enter the State Music Festival in Missoula. Mr. Boess drove his new blue Ford with five aspiring musicians crowded into front and back seats, hardly leaving enough room for our director driver. To this day, it is difficult to fathom where we stowed our instruments, let alone an over-night bag and toothbrush. The trombone quartet, consisting of Willis Welty, Ruth Hansen, Joe Quinn, and Dean Courtnage, performed. Joe Quinn played SOUL OF THE SURF (trombone solo) and Bob Green performed the trumpet solo, CARNIVAL OF VENICE. We were eighth-graders at the time. One of our adjudicators was the band director of the Montana State College Bozeman Bobcat Band, Mr. Edmond Sedivy. We were so proud with the results and our ratings of SUPERIOR. Imagine, SUPERIOR ratings in competition with high school students. Is it any wonder why we seized every opportunity to go down to the band room and practice? We were allowed the opportunity to sign out of study hall and to go practice, even if the instructor was not present. It comes to mind now that there would be very little chance of any teacher being able to hear our musical efforts any place in the main building. This suggests a genuine trust teachers had for those of us who were aspiring to become proficient musicians. It was common to get to school before first period and practice for an hour, then commence again during study hall and practice during the regularly scheduled band period. Then, if basketball or other sports were not demanding our time, some returned to practice after school. Many evenings during the week, regular evening rehearsals allowed us another two hour stint. Thus, it was possible to average from four to six hours of practice every day of the school week. This was much of our entertainment.... and we loved iti Until some form of music enters our lives, some way, we cannot hope to claim full understanding of the peace and happiness that can be attained by mankind. --Robert L. Green JUNIOR-SENIOR PROM 1944 May 13, 1944 was the date we, as Juniors, gave the annual prom in honor of the Class of 1944 . At 6:30 a banquet was served by the Sophomore girls which had been prepared by some of the Juniors' mothers and aided by Mrs. Bertha Smith. The girls serving wore white blouses and dark skirts. The tables were arranged in a V-shape and decorated with roses which were later given to the Juniors and Seniors to wear as corsages and hair 1 3

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PAVANNE and LOHENGRIN? There were many other wonderful selections along with those mentioned here. However, these stood out as works which demanded a great deal of time and concentration, ultimately receiving great appreciation from our faithful concert audiences. Incidentally, the audience was not all parents. As one recalls, many of our citizens who normally didn't attend school functions came to hear us perform and show their interest and appreciation. Our audiences were overwhelming and continued to make us all proud of our accomplishments over the years. Our drum major was Nora Berg, a senior who played baritone in the band. We practiced marching on the street and on the football field. Many sessions with drums only while rank members carried 2x4's behind the small of their backs. This, we thought was all part of preparing for the Havre Music Festival in May. Why are we forming this huge airplane, complete with low brass engine sounds? Little did we know that we were to perform for the King and Queen of England and an enthusiastic Canadian audience inside a covered stadium in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. The year was 1939. The Royal couple was obviously impressed with this 54 piece concert and marching band from the colonies . How proud we were when they stopped in front of the band and met and visited a few minutes with Mr. Boess and Nora. This moment is vividly recalled by each and every one of us that had the good fortune to be in that band. Remember playing POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE as the King and Queen stepped from that beautiful blue, gold, and whatever other color locomotives are? They walked so stately, and on that royal blue carpet....not red, but blue. The driving force behind our Canadian tour was our Superintendent, Mr. Elmer Skeie (Shay). He also was responsible for our performances for the Montana State Legislature and Carroll College in Helena. Gordon Lippard, from Fort Benton, was our representative in the legislature at the time and it was his great honor to introduce the Big Sandy High School Band to the other lawmakers of the state. We were given very little space in which to perform, but we managed and actually were able to hear other instrumental parts more distinctly. The Havre Music Festival was always a very special occasion. An opportunity to hear many other bands and, yes, make comparisons. May generally afforded good weather where sun glasses and sun burns were included as part of the uniform of the day. The final massed bands concert was presented by all participating bands. This was much fun but not really musically sound. As a matter of fact, many students took this occasion to play their parts up one or two octaves, consequently drawing daggers from guest conductors. SWEET SIXTEEN was the name of the march book that bands were supposed to be prepared to perform. Needless to say, many (from other schools) saw this music for the first time....THEN AND THERE. We had prepared! 12

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decorations. Speakers were Mrs. Kleinschmidt, Mr. Hood, Mr. Miley, Margaret Stremcha, Edward Pokorny, Josephine Henderson, Violet Lanik, and Toastmaster George Jelinek. Blue and white streamers curved around the stage and were hung with silver stars forming an effective background for the Tophatters, the orchestra of the evening. The Tophatters played the Grand March song which was Anchors Aweigh, for the march at 9:00 that was led by Robert Green and Margaret Stremcha. A flag was on display in the center of the floor and the focal point for the spotlight which was mounted in the left balcony. The dances were held under this spotlight and made the theme Moonlight and Roses more realistic. The dance tickets were red, white, and pink paper roses that had been made by the girls of the Junior Class. Josephine Henderson and Deane Courtnage were crowned at midnight, the Queen and King, of the Prom, by Patricia Machgan. Following the coronation, there was a half-hour intermission after which the dancing continued until 2:00. BLAZED TRAILS 1945 SPORTS During the school year of 1944-45, Big Sandy has realized glorious achievements in Athletics. Under superb coaching and management, the Big Sandy Pioneers emerged victoriously with titles in both major sports. Now, as the school year nears completion, we look back with much pride and satisfaction in having two district championship teams in one year. The football squad showed much spirit and drive once it was developed and roamed at will over its opponents. Only in the final game of the season were the Pioneers defeated. They won the Judith Basin district championship from Geyser by an overwhelming score of 42-6. During the season the Big Sandy squad drove roughshod across the turf to defeat such gridiron foes as Geraldine, Harlem, Turner, Geyser, and St. Mary's. The prospects for next year's team are good, for, fortunately, only one member of the squad is graduating. The basketball season was equally successful. Out of the enormous number of 32 games played this season, the local quint turned in 27 wins. In the final stages of the season, the team played in four tournaments. The Pioneers won their district championship in basketball by defeating Rudyard, Chester and Chinook at the district tournament in Chinook. Also the squad 1 4