Choctawhatchee High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Fort Walton Beach, FL)

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Assasination Attempts, Hurricane, Concorde Jetliners Encapsulate 1975 - 76 School Year Patricia Anne Hearst, daughter of the newspaper tycoon, William Hearst, is escorted into the Los Angeles County jail after eluding FBI agents for more than 18 months. The California government has charged Miss Hearst with 11 counts of kidnapping, robbery, and assault. SEPTEMBER Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme at- tempted to assassinate President Ford outside of the California state legisla- ture complex in Sacramento on Sep- tember 5. The Charles Manson follower failed in her attempt when the firing pin on her handgun jammed. On September 15, juniors previewed a showcase set up by Herff Jones rep- resentatives for class rings. Exorbitant base prices forced many to pass up the once highly traditional artifact. Pope Paul VI conducted a ceremony on September 14 that elevated Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton to saint- hood. More than 100,000 onlookers in Saint Peter’s Square viewed the rites which honored America's first native- born saint. School elections were held for the three classes on September 16. After a two-week campaign circuit, Larry Barker, Steve Hall, Paul Petry, and Randy Sansom won the presidencies in Student Council, senior, junior, and sophomore classes, respectively. September 18, Patty Hearst was cap- tured by FBI officials ninety miles south of San Francisco. William and Emily Harris, members of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) which had al- ledgedly kidnapped Patty 19 months earlier, were also apprehended. The Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y clubs held a Pot Luck Youth Legislature kick-off di- nner. Held on September 19. thedinner included guest speaker Jere Tolton, Fort Walton’s incumbent state repre- sentative. America almost lost its Commander- in-Chief for a second time in the same month when Sara Jane Moore at- tempted to shoot President Ford while he was in Los Angeles campaigning on September 22. Miss Moore’s gun shot was deflected by an innocent bystan- der. Hurricane Eloise hit the Florida Panhandle on September 23 wreaking millions of dollars worth of damage to the “Miracle Strip” area between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City. In the wake of the storm, 30 Choctaw stu- dents aided in cleaning up the school grounds preparing it for operation sev- eral days earlier than maintenance had predicted. On September 24 in a shocking dis- closure, the Senate Intelligence Com- mittee revealed that the CIA had been opening mail written to and by promi- nent American political figures for the past twenty years. OCTOBER October 2, Patty Hearst was indicted in LosAngeleson kidnapping, robbery, and assault charges. The week of October 13-17 was Homecoming Week at Choctaw. Celebrating week long, all clubs partic- ipated in the newly founded Initiation Week. During these few days every- thing from mountain climbers to mon- keys roamed the halls. Congress, on October 17, overrode President Ford’s veto on a $2.7 billion broadening of the federal school lunch and child nutrition program. October 25 brought the fourth an- nual Miracle Strip Marching Festival to Memorial Stadium. More than 40 bands from surrounding states partici- pated in the day-long affair, and were totally captivated when host band Choctawhatchee Style Marchers and guest band Troy State University's Sound of the South performed. Also, Choctaw junior James Given rode in the American Heart Association’s an- nual cyclethon. Raising the most money, James was awarded a ten speed bicycle for his all-out effort. The Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y clubs spon- sored their annual Halloween Carnival on October 30, and also helped bring the FSU Flying Circus to Fort Walton for a performance on November 1. 20 Calendar

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 Student Life. 19

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NOVEMBER Twenty-nine students traveled to Houston, Texas on November 6 to par- ticipate in a regional forensics tourna- ment. Those who won awards from CHS were Deanna Duff, third Standard Poetry; Tammy Fortenberry, third Novice Poetry; Jennie Bennet, second Novice Duet Acting; Fraser Sherman, second Novice Duet Acting and “Best Actor.” “Showdown 76” was held in Memo- rial Stadium on Friday, November 21. Cross-town rivals, Fort Walton HS Vik- ings and CHS Indians met before an estimated 18,000 fans. The football crowd previewed the halftime perfor- mance the Style Marchers would pre- sent that Sunday in Miami’s Orange Bowl. The November 23 appearance was the band's sixth in the Orange Bowl with an annual invitation ex- tended by Dolphin officials. New York City was granted a loan of $2.3 billion on November 26 to keep it from bankruptcy. President Ford, after much pressure and controversy on the matter, asked Congress to give the “Big Apple” a helping hand. DECEMBER On December 3, Choctaw students discovered five of our leading cross- country runners had been selected by area coaches as the Pensacola News-Journal’s Northwest Florida Cross-Country Runners of the Year. Mike Clay was selected as number one, Steve Haug second, Mike Curtis fourth, Mike Haug seventh, Tom Kidder eighth. Junior Miss was held on December 6 in the CHS auditorium. Chosen as the new Fort Walton Beach Junior Miss was senior Tammy Fortenberry who later went on to win first runner-up in the state-wide pageant. On December 7, a Prayer Parade was held in Fort Walton with Mayor Gene Smith and state representative Jerry Melvin heading the crusade. Proceed- ing down Racetrack Road, the march ended at Choctaw’s Memorial Stadium where the audience heard Alabama governor George Wallace speak in favor of prayer in the nation’s public schools. The Christmas spirit was instilled at Choctaw as homerooms and clubs displayed their conceptions of the Christmas message. Interact spon- sored a door decorating contest, while Junior Tri-Hi-Y sponsored a club mural contest. Judged on December 18, Mrs. Betty Harrison’s homeroom won the door contest and Beta Club won the mural contest. JANUARY On January 22,23, and 24, Mike Clay, Lisa Weber, Becky Wildberger, Bill Ralph, and Greg Hobson attended the Thirteenth Florida Science, Engineer- ing, and Humanities Symposium at the University of Florida. January 22 and 23, seniors placed orders for graduation supplies. Capitalizing on America’s two- hundredth celebration of its revolu- tion, students were sufficiently bicen- tennialized to death. Free enterprise seemed to invade even this honored anniversary. Student Council held its annual ta- lent show on January 23. Senior Terri Walters won the event, Everette Parrish captured second, and Jim Parrish cop- ped third. Also on the 23rd, presidential hopeful Ronald Reagan made a cam- paign appearance at the Ramada Inn. FEBRUARY Racial tension flared up once again at Pensacola’s Escambia High School. More than 1500 students battled on February 5 over the controversial “re- bel” mascot. Police apprehended one student with a concealed handgun and arrested fifteen others on rioting charges. On February 17, junior Vicky Scherer was announced as Choctaw's STAR student for 1976. Also that day, twenty speech and drama students partici- pated in the District I Forensics Tour- nament at the University of West Florida. Latin Honor members traveled to Pensacola’s Washington High School on February 21 to compete in the Latin District Forum. Winners were Sue Mills, first in Mythology; Kevin Johnson, second in Roman Customs; Anthony Freathy, second in Latin I Grammar; Richard Brickman, third in Mythology. The District I contest for the Future Business Leaders of America was held on February 21. CBE contestant awards went to Cathy Cray, second in accounting; Sharon Cosgrove, second President Gerald Ford signs the highly controversial money grant for New York City in hopes of saving it from bankruptcy. Pressure from Congress gave the grant its final passage. Calendar 21