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

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made an excellent showing in the regional tournament at Great Falls. During the season the local lads defeated such formidable hoopsters as Fort Benton, Kremlin, Chinook, St. Paul's Mission, Shelby, and Chester. According to survey made by R. W. Sandven, director of athletics. Northern Montana State College, Big Sandy ranked fifth among the class B teams of the State. Two seniors graduate from the team this spring. The Senior class takes with it three lettermen this spring. As a junior, Ed Pokorny played center on the football squad, Joe Quinn played left end on the football squad, and guard on the basketball team. Robert Green played forward on the basketball team. BLAZED TRAILS 1945 —Joe Quinn SNEAK DAY On April 24, 1945 our Senior Sneak Day began at five o'clock, a dark five o'clock, with three cars full. We circled the town umpteen times to insure that everyone knew we were leaving if only for a day. About 7:30 we arrived in Fort Benton to pick up Margaret Bakke. But Maggie just couldn't go. It was a case of mumps. So on to Great Falls while we munched bananas. The boys had provided 19 3 4 pounds of bananas for snacks. By nine o'clock we were in Great Falls and held a consultation in front of the Mandarin Cafe in the rain. Everyone was wishing for an umbrella or raincoat, and everyone was hungry. Since Hank's Kitchenette was just across the street, we dashed over and ate breakfast. After satisfying the inner man, we were ready for Giant Springs--even in the rain. Upon arrival we stared the fishes in the eye and felt sorry for them, but sorrier for ourselves because it was so cold. There were no chances for a photo at Giant Springs. We were really all in the mood for our next stop, the W. H. George funeral parlors. A man ushered us into a soft carpeted room. Voices dropped, giggles disappeared, and we tiptoed after our guide into a room where an old gentleman lay peacefully sleeping. We also went down into the lower floor and reviewed the different kinds of coffins. One number was a hand carved walnut imported from China. From the funeral parlor we went to the mausoleum and crematory where we had just missed a funeral. The attendant explained the different kinds of marble used in the inside of the building, the different kinds of urns for cremated remains, and the desirable factors in this type of burial. Several of the girls expressed their desire to be buried in the couch crypts in Montana marble. After we had visited here all we wanted, we felt in need of a drink--so we visited the Coca Cola Bottling 1 5

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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

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Works and got a free handout. We were quite fascinated by the working of the machine, but it would take too long to explain why the thingamabob hops up and down when the whatchmacallit hits, and then the dojigger returns to its original position. Really much too complicated! Each person got a pencil and a ruler with Coca Cola advertisement on them, but some got two pencils. How come? We also visited the Cowboy's Museum, but it was closed so we didn't go in. The Paris was next. We all felt important when we had the reserved dining room to ourselves and an assigned waitress. Everyone had roast turkey and dressing for the main course, (on meatless Tuesday) but desserts differed. We had a choice of chocolate cake, butterscotch chiffon pie or sherbet. After this satisfying meal, the girls roamed through the store or rode up and down the elevator just for the ride of it; (except Blanche Riley, who just couldn't ride because it upset her stomach.) The boys departed for parts unknown. At 1:00 a man took us on a tour of the Paris. We saw the fitting rooms, kitchen, ready-to-wear department, shipping and receiving departments, office, how the elevators work, and the window display workshop. Then our guide treated us to an orange drink. When we came out of the Paris, the rain had stopped. By 2:30 we were ready to visit KFBB and the boys were in fine style and practice with their pea-shooters. Their deadly aim brought amazed looks and cries of anguish from unsuspecting passers-by that got caught in the fire. In the station they were persuaded to pocket these lethal (?) war weapons. LeRoy Stahl explained some of the things that we could understand, then we remained in the studio while Roscoe Kearnen played the Hammond Organ for his regular program. While he was on the air, scarcely a noise was made. Some did not resume normal breathing until it was over. Mr. Hood had joined us here at the station and thanked Mr. Stahl and Mr. Kearnen for their kindness in telling us about the station and the organ, respectively. The Tribune Office was next. We experienced no little difficulty with the revolving door. In fact, Bobbie Green went around five times before Eddie Pokorny had the presence of mind to yank him out. The Great Falls Leader was being run off in the press room. We all craned our necks to watch the process. The man in charge explained the number of rolls of paper and the drums of ink used in a year. While in the building, we visited the Newspaper morgue which is the place where clippings are sorted and filed and kept for references. It is in this file that the Tribune has information and pictures, if obtainable, of all the important people in the world. The attendant dragged out a few items about Big Sandy for our 16