Central High School - Centralian / Sagas Yearbook (Evansville, IN)

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Dedicated to Cur Retiring Teachers Mrs. Gladys Bevers Retiring from Cent1'al this year, 'rs. Gladys Bevers does not ex- act to find time heavy on her mds. Art, travel, books, watching er young grandson grow up are few of the diversions in which le will be engaged. Mrs. Bevers was born in Grant, linois. She obtained her college agree at Indiana State Teachers' allege in Terre Haute. Then she :gan her art studies in Chicago id later took courses in Columbia niversity, after which she made tour of Europe, visiting the lead- g alt galleries abroad. Mrs. evers began teaching art in Au- ira, Indiana, in the high school om which she had graduated. ien she taught in Oklahoma for ree years and at Lake Erie Col- ge in Painesville, Ohio, for a ear. From Lake Erie she went to iicago, where she taught eight ears. After the death of her hus- md, James M. Bevers, Mrs. avers returned to teaching and .me to Central from Mt. Vernon, diana. Her son, James M. Bevers, '., graduated from Central. Last January Mrs. Bevers was riously injured when struck by car but has almost recovered uw and is beginning to walk with er customary swing and stride. er absence has led us to think what she has meant to Central :ring her eight years here. For hundred ofpersons her ex- bits of art work done in her asses have made crossing 'fthe idge a pleasant experience. The iginality and variety of the work many students, all of it exempli- ing a particular technique or edium or mood, have emphasized rs. Bevers' skill as a teacher. er students say that she demand- , originality and knew just what anges to suggest for improve- ent of their studies. Her ability explain processes and her rea- nable but strict requirements ought out talent where no tal- t had been known to exist and spired the desire for creative pression in form and color. She .s encouraged many to exhibit in Ial, state, and national competi- ms, in which a number have won stinction. All her students have velopcd much greater apprecia- mn of beauty. Mrs. Bevers' inter- ting personality, even temper, aciousness, fairness, and lively nse of humor account for the 'eat affection, respect, and ad- Iration which students and teach- s alike feel for her. We shall iss her keenly but wish for her any satisfactions in the activi- es in which she will be engaging ien she leaves Central. by Dr. LOUISE OSBORN Miss Shelley Mae Harris When school closes at the end of this week, it will mark the end of a long career for a teacher who has probably taught classes in more different rooms in Central than any other teacher. When Miss Shelley Mae Harris began teaching at Central in 1920, her home room and classes were held in Room 129-the room now used for the Attendance Office. Since then she has had classes or home rooms in Rooms 230, 232, 233, 132, 133, 227, 229, 237, and 151. This, she feels, is a record. Before coming to Central, Miss Harris taught at Uniontown and Marion, Kentucky, and Jellico, Tennessee. It was while at Jellico that she had as a pupil Grace Moore, the famous opera singer who was killed a few years ago in an airplane crash. During her first years at Cen- tral. she taught Commercial Arith- metic and Bookkeeping with out- standing success. For three con- secutive years, her bookkeeping pupils won first place in the state commerical contests. This was a remarkable achievement. In 1933, Miss Harris began teaching typing and as she says, I liked it so well that I stayed with it. Many of us will remember Miss Harris for the beautiful flowers that she grew in her garden and used to decorate her room and also shared with other teachers to beautify their rooms. She has for a number of years been chairman of the faculty flower committee. Students will long be grateful for the kind and efficient manner in which reservations for tickets for various productions at Central have been made by Miss Har1'is and her committee. Her educational, cultural, and social activities have included high school graduation at Corydon, Kentucky, B. S. degree from Ev- ansville College, cum laude, busi- ness training at Bowling Green Business University and LaSalle Extension University, membership in Pi Gamma Mu fNational So- cial Science Fraternityl, the Athenaeum Club, Musicians Club, Trinity Methodist Church, and Wesleyan Service Guild. She num- bers among her hobbies such ac- tivities as gardening, tatting, needlepoint, coin collecting, Samba, and touring-especially visiting old homes and national shrines. Miss Harris states, I have loved my work at Central and think we have as fine a student body as can be found anywhere. I consider it a great privilege to be a teacher at Central High School. Our best wishes go with Miss Harris. by MR. DANIEL EGGLESTON Mr. Henry W. Wehr Henry W. Wehr came to Central to teach in 1915, at a time when our schools were faced with a crisis. The program of industrial education had been expanded so suddenly that the need for teach- ers far exceeded the supply. Hav- ing been a teacher of regular grade subjects in Mount Vernon for four years, and having pre- pared himself by courses at State Teachers College, he was unusual- ly well qualified for such a posi- tion. After a year at Central, the need for such teachers in the grades was so urgent that he was sent to several elementary schools on a schedule of alternating days. In 1918, he moved to Columbia School on a full-time basis, and in 1920 he returned to Central to teach mechanical drawing, which has been his subject to the present year. Many of his pupils found employment in drafting because of the very thorough training they received from Mr. Wehr. Not only the boys, but also Mr. Wehr's fellow-teachers will miss his services. His old-time col- leagues of his elementary school days well remember his willing- ness to repair practically anything which was out of order. At Cen- tral. we remember especially his facility at making signs and post- ers for every possible purpose. He advised and helped stage crews at putting pieces of scenery together. His most recent contribution was a set of blue-prints for the new lunch periods. In extra-curricular lines, the old- timers remember Mr. Wehr's en- thusiasm for amateur skits and plays. He really enjoyed perform- ing on the stage, and his clowning always added much to the act.. We remember his lusty singing in the men's quartet on special occasions. And of course we will never forget his excellent imitation of the late Will Rogers, when he tousled his hair and began, All I know's what I read in the papers. He CVGH grinned in such a manner as to look strikingly like the popular entertainer. All these activities helped to keep his enthusiasm for his work and his school at a high pitch. It will not seem quite the same when we no longer see Henry W. Wehr's short. stocky figure with his white thatch moving briskly about the building, and when we no longer hear his voice in faculty meeting calling us back to our common sense when some ill-con- sidered proposal is made. Next year there will be a successor for Mr. Wehr in room 90: but no suc- cessor can quite replace his unique personality. by MR. HENRY A. MEYER Page l M rs. Bevers Miss Harris Mr. Wehr

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Dear Seniors: Seek the Truth . . . and use it as a light to guide you through Iife's journey. Service Linotyping Co FRANK A. MARYNELL, Proprieto

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paaifenf Doninger Clarence Henry Doninger came from Delaware, was freshman class president and vice-president of the Student Council. He was a member of National Honor So- ciety, varsity basketball and base- ball teams, was in the Christmas pageant, and received Scholarship E for four years. W-we Copeland Marianna Copeland came from Wheeler, was secretary of the sophomore class, a junior senator, editor-in-chief of the Centralian, flower-girl, cub cheerleader, a member of National Honor So- ciety, and received Scholarship E for four years. Semelafzy Bufkin Barbara Bufkin came from Henry Reis grade school. She was a mem- ber of National Honor Society and a May Day attendant. Barbara moved to California because of ill health but will receive her diploma from Central. Sec. 7491. Linda Kathryn Hulsey came from Emma Roach, was secretary of the freshman class, a com- mencement flower girl, attendance office assistant, representative for the health council and student council, an usher for the junior and senior plays, and a band mem- ber. Class History In September, 1949, 400 excep- tionally green freshies entered the doors of Central. With cau- tion, we tried to find our way around while not appearing too green. All our suspicions were aroused when not long after our initial entrance in this institution of higher learning, the ceiling in the auditorium fell! We were told it was an accident but, neverthe- less we were a bit distrustful of upperclassmen for a while after that. ln an inquiry made by the Centralian concerning opinions of CHS, .Ierry Moore was quoted as saying, It's too big, that's all. From the first, our class proved it was made of leaders. Those elected by the class were: Clar- ence Doninger, president, Ray Groben, vice-president, Linda Hul- sey, secretary, and Marjorie Conk- wright, treasurer. Joyce Maier dis- tinguished the class by becoming a majorette. Virginia Son designed the prize-winning sticker in an all-school contest. Her design fea- tured a C with a teddy bear in the center. She was also one of the three freshmen who were mem- by Marianna Copeland bers of the varsity debate team that year. The others: Jack Shu- mate and Rosemary McNeely. Jack also was busy as he along with Ronnie Knight won a place in the How We Live In America contest which we all were al- lowed to write and he also rep- resented Central in the Optimist Club's contest. In the spring, one of the school highlights, May Day, came about. We were pi-ond because three of the candidates for queen were members of our class. When one of them, Judy Hampton, was selected as queen, we were exceptionally happy. Marjorie Conkwright and Barbara Bufkin were two of her attendants. To bring our first year to a close, we had a picnic on May 4 at Old Heidelburg. Games lead by Mr. Riggs and Mr. Eckerman were featured. September, 1950, we shed our little green beanies and became full-fledged sophomores. By this time we were all avid football fans. Before one of the games we attended a bon fire. At game COVER PICTURE Some of Central's outstanding students are, from top to bottom: Clarence Doninger, Class president, Raymond Keller, Student Council president, Geraldine White, first page editor of The Centraliang David Mernitz, National Honor society presdentg and Jack Shumate, who won the state championship in the speech contest I Speak for Democracy? and placed first in the Science Talent search division of Evansville college's Science fair. Pag S halves the snappy majorettes held our attention. Among them were two members of our class, Joyce Maier, back for the second year and Karen Scraper. Karen brought fame to our class in another way by defeating all her opponents and becoming ping-pong champion. Virginia Son wielded the gavel, Shirley Oakley served as vice- president, Marianna Copeland kept the minutes, and Jim Springfield counted the coins for our class. In that year, our talent began to show. Genie Agee for the second year was a member of the dance band. Ronald Rayburn, Jan Nie- haus, and Bill Huff lent their tal- ents to the band also while Dona McDaniel became a popular dancer for school affairs. Although it was not the topic of the debate team. The thing was a topic of general discussion. Per- haps Jack Shumate, Carol Schell- hase, and Connie Miller, va1'sity debators, spent some of their time discussing this problem of prime importance. In the middle of the year, we found that something new had been added. To the pleasure of the girls and the disgust of the male population, mixed dancing was in- stituted in ggfri class. After one of these sessions, one of the boys was heard to mention that 'tthose bloomer things the girls wear in gym are undoubtedly the fabulous thing. Tragedy struck early in thc year with the untimely death of one of our friendliest and prettiest class- mates, Margie Conkwright. Her continued on Page 15 2 Seniors not pictured are: Belcher, Buddy Darwin Board, Jack E. Bowling, James Lester Dunbar, Patricia Joyce Estes, John Ronald Euler, Wilbur Donald Faith, Carl Richard Floyd, Richard Arnold Gray, James H. Huff, Donald Ray Sikes, Paul Stanley, Edna Louise Stutsman, Charles Wesly West, Harvey Dean White, Ronald Keith Whitfield, Charles H. Williams, David Rodney Williamson, Daniel Reisinger, Robt. Gene Armstrong, Shirley Ann Marjorie Conkwright, class of 1953, who was killed in an auto- mobile accident on January 21, 1951. Margie came to Central from Columbia grade school. She was active in many activities around Central.