Central High School - Prospectus Yearbook (Flint, MI)

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DEBATE SQUAD—Row 1: Louis McNew, Dave Magee, Margaret O’Sullivan, Coach Harold E. Hawley; Row 2: Ralph Snyder, Helen Stevenson, Rodney Briggs, Bill Siegel, Douglar Woody. The 1936-37 Debate Season at Central THE QUESTION debated for the season 1936-1937 was: “Re- solved: All electric utilities should be governmentally owned and op- erated. The class for the first semester of this year was the most success- ful and the largest which has ever been held at Central. In this group was the most available ability but least experience in the history of Central's debate classes. Three de- baters stood out so prominently that they took part in all the state and city league debates. There were Margaret O’Sullivan, Louis McNew, and David Magee. Three slightly less experienced debaters who participated in Valley League debates were Ralph Snyder, Frank- lin Brewer and Richard Shupe. Central’s team had the most strenuous program of practice de- bates and tournaments, for more than one hundred debates were held with other schools. In the River Rouge tournament in the fall 24 debaters participated: 12 were in the Pontiac and Ann Arbor tourna- ments. and 27 in Central’s third an- nual tournament. In addition to this program many trips were made to various cities for practices. While these trips did not affect the team’s standing in the state or city leagues they pro- vided an invaluable background for sophomores and juniors who will return next year. The Valley League debates were non-decision or audience decision this season. In these Central met each Valley League school twice, while several of these contests were held on neutral ground. With this type of contest a Valley League championship was not pos- sible. Therefore, each of the schools participated in the regular state league series of debates. In the state league series Cen- tral’s experienced team lost the first debate on the negative side of the question to Plymouth by a two-to-one decision. In the second debate, on the same side of the question, Central drew Jackson, and the team did one of the finest pieces of work and won. The In- dians added to their laurels by winning both debates on the Af- firmative side of the question. First they defeated Bay City unani- mouslyly and then won the decision from Lansing Eastern. As a result Central won 13 points and qualified for the state elimina- tion series. In this series the first opponent was Howell which brought a well coached trio of boys to Flint and gave the more experi- enced Indians a surprise. After one of the closest debates of the season. Howell was awarded a two to one decision over the home team. The most laudable part of this year’s record is, that for the first time Central won the City cham- pionship. The Indian trio was never better than against Northern. The first debate was lost when in an extremely close battle a two-to-one decision was awarded to the Vi- kings. In the debate Central upheld the negative in Northern’s audi- torium. The second debate was held on Jan. 8. in Central’s auditorium, after one week of intensive study, with Central upholding the affima- tive. It resulted in a very close con- test. However, the decision was awarded to the Indians by a two- to-one vote. Two weeks later the third and final debate was held on neutral territory. Sides were chosen by the coaches, H. E. Hawley and Carney Smith, and winning the toss Cen- tral chose the negative. Excellent work was done by both schools, but the decision was given to Central by all three judges. As a result of winning the City Cham- pionship, Central was awarded for one year the W. W. Blackney tro- phy which has been presented by former congressman, William W. Blackney. Two more successive victories will give permanent pos- session of this beautiful trophy. An interesting feature of the Northern-Central debates is that during the last three years each school has won four debates and has received the same number of votes in the city series. A wealth of material is in pros- pect for the next year’s team, for several outstanding sophomores and juniors should be on hand next September. Special mention should be made to the following four peo- Continued on Page 31 ' t Page Thirty

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«I 4 SKIPPERS Seated: John E. Wellwood; standing: Quentin Graham, Herbert Stoutenburg, Peter Panos, Clifford Jaynes, David Magee, Fred Briggs, Leon McNew. The Skippers • THE SKIPPERS club was or- A ganized under the sponsorship of John E. Wellwood, principal, for the purpose of creating and maintaining desirable traditions throughout the school. It is com- posed of certain leading members of the school’s major groups. Being an honorary organization, the club holds only two meetings a year; the first of which ap- peared in the form of a banquet given by Mr. Wellwood. At this meeting all new members were taken in and the history and con- stitution of the club was discussed. It was decided that the plaque in the library, upon which former and present members’ names are recorded, should be brought up to date. In the latter part of May, the members were hosts to a din- ner for Mr. Wellwood. The club is made up of the fol- lowing: Fred Briggs, student un- ion president; Cliff James, senior president: Peter Panos, junior president; Leon McNew. sopho- more president; David Magee, former junior president; Wood- row Smithson, former sophomore president; Herbert Stoutenburg, managing editor of the Prospec- tus, and Gale Townsend, editor-in- chief of the Arrow Head. Commanderins THE COMMANDERINS, spon- sored by Miss Grace Pinel, is an association of the highest rank- ing girl leaders of Central. Its pur- pose is to discuss the problems and regulations of the school with the administration. The non-officer system is employed. The officers of each class, the highest ranking journalists on the publications, the presidents of the Girl Reserves, the Girls’ Athletic Association, and the Thalian Honorary Literary Club automatically become members. Since the club is an honorary organization. the members had only two activities for the year. Commanderins ushered at the Op- era and sold candv at the Pow- Wow. The members are Doris McGlone Eileen Cross, Betty Jane Robinson. Jane Kelly. Arline Gavette. Elean- or Cuthbertson, Catherine Cuth- bertson. Betty Earle. Marion Con- de. Jane Karr, Barbara Strait. Geal Ketchum. Betty Palmer. Margaret Carrier, Ruth Hammond. Betty Harris. Helen Johnson. Margaret Ressler, Nola Schafer. Jane Stone and Dorothy Zandi. COMMANDERINS—First row: Bette Harris, Doroth » Zandi, Margaret Carrier, Betty Earle, Jam Kelly: sec- ond row: Jane Karr, Arlene Gavette. Helen Johnson, Margaret Hammond, Doris McGlone, Betty Jane Robinson; third row: Miss Grace Pinel, Catherine Cuthbertson. Marion Conde, Nola Schafer, Eleanor Cuthbertson, Margaret Ressler, Eileen Cross. Pujte Twenty-Nine

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FORENSIC CONTEST WINNERS—Harold E. Hawley, coach; Wil- liam Siegel, Ellison Straley, Ralph Snyder. The Winners of the Forensic Contests THE ANNUAL Forensic Contest in Central High school was held in March to determine the repre- sentatives in the sub-district con- test. The declamation contest was open to Sophomores of the three public speaking classes. Although several promising declai m e r s participated, a close contest be- tween four students resulted in a second and final elimination. In this William Siegel won first place with Leon McNew, Rodney Briggs, and Charles Bragman fol- lowing closely in order of excel- lence. Only two contestants, El- lison Straley and Vivian Richter, wrote and delivered orations. Of these. Ellison Straley was awarded the decision with his oration “The American Way.” In extempore speaking Ralph Snyder was award- ed first place for his outstanding speech on “Social Security in Foreign Nations.” Douglas Woody placed second. Central High school has ac- cumulated a notable record in the sub-district contests in which the schools of Saginaw Valley league and Ann Arbor compete. During the last four years. Central has captured five out of 12 of the first places awarded, while other schools have received no more than two first places during this same period of time. Central speakers have excelled more times in declamation than in other fields, having taken three out of four first places. In this year’s sub-district con- test Central took one first place and two second places when Wil- liam Siegel, Ellison Straley, and Ralph Snyder represented the schol. William Siegel, with his declamation “Intolerance Still,” placed first, while Ellison Straley placed second in oratory. After a tie in points with the first place winner in extempore speaking, Ralph Snyder was awarded second place by the coach-judge system. The Debate Season Continued from Rage 30 pie who won their letters by par- ticipating in two Valley League de- bates: Helen Stevenson and Doug- las Woody (Juniors); and Rodnev Briggs and William Siegel (Sopho- mores). Although silent, a fourth mem- ber, Ambrose, a tiny alligator, was on the team this year. During the Christmas vacation David Magee brought Ambrose back from Flor- ida with him. He made his debut as a debater in the second North- ern-Central debate, and the team attributed a large measure of their success to Ambrose’s presence. The following debate with Bay City found Ambrose in his usual place, within a box and in the drawer of the desk on the stage. When a unanimous decision was given to Central on this occasion, the power of Ambrose’s luck was firmly es- tablished. However, it seemed that the life of a debate mascot was too much for Ambrose, for shortly after the Bay City debate he died. This caused a great deal of consterna- tion but it was finally decided that Amby” should be stuffed and con- tinue to accompany the Indian trio. And although Ambrose was dead, his spirit stayed with the team and brought them two more victories. A great measure of the squad’s success this year has been due to the untiring efforts of Coach Har- old E. Hawley. Page Thirty-One