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

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Presidential Candidates Arrive In Northwest Florida For Campaigning In Bicentennial Year This Bicentennial year was also election year for our country. Many of the presidential candidates visited Northwest Florida to cam- paign in one of the biggest and most important primaries. When our own town of Fort Wal- ton Beach was having disputes over prayers in public schools, Governor George Wallace of Alabama came to speak on the issue. It was a rainy day and the rally was held in Memorial Stadium next to Choctawhatchee. A sparse crowd came to listen to the governor and hear his views. Jimmy Carter, former governor of Georgia, visited our neighboring city of Pensacola, which proved to be a worthwhile trip. Even President Ford campaigned in this area. Presidential nominees were be- ginning to see the importance of the growing area of Northwest Florida, as was proved this past year. Since Fort Walton has increased in size, it has attracted more campaign of- fices. In the coming year, more cam- paigning can be expected. Top Right: Jimmy Carter and friends look over the speech he will give to his supporters. Good speeches and the right form are impor- tant to all the presidential nominees. Center Left: Ronald Reagan, former governor of California, signs autographs at one of his political rallies. Reagan seems to have a lot of appeal and was considered for vice president. 24 Elections

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New York City. Tomahawk held its assembly on May 24 in preparation of the summer- delivered book. John Stercho, editor- in-chief, displayed the cover and an- nounced distribution procedures for the August delivery. The student body cheered when they learned the book carried a kelley green cover, instead of a “red, white and blue special.” Elections for the succeeding school year’s Student Council were held May 25. After a runoff the following morn- ing, Amy Autry was announced as the upcoming president; Gary Phillips, vice-president; Linda Gotith, secret- ary; Laura McCarthy, treasurer. While elections were held for juniors and sophomores in the gym, seniors were honored by sophomore volunteers in the auditorium with Senior Apprecia- tion Day. May 28 saw the final day of school arrive for seniors. No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks . . . JUNE Graduation activities commenced as the Class of '76 slowly faded away. Baccalaureate held jointly with Fort Walton Beach High School was deli- vered the night of June 1. Senior Break- fast and Senior Honors' Night came on June 2. Highlight of the week, the year, and every senior s past twelve school years, Graduation Ceremonies, came on the night of June 3. June 9 arrives. Faculty, administra- tion, juniors, and sophomores rejoice as the school year closes. Noon ap- proaches, students tense, teachers re- lievingly sigh. The dismal bell rings re- leasing students to the long awaited summer and faculty to another week of post-planning. A dramatic surface photograph of the planet Mars taken by the Viking I Lander Saturday, July 25.1976. Viking I is the first craft from earth to land on the Red Planet and perform scientific investigations to determine possible life existence. Mysterious figures resembling the letters B and G appear at the extreme left of the picture (arrow). Scientists at the Jet Propulsion laboratory in Pasadena, California, explained them as shadows or an illusion caused by weathering processes, but failed to comment on the possibility of them being a Martian stone carver's discarded ware. Calendar 23

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 Top Left: Governor George Wallace of Alabama gives a typical pose as he talks forcefully to the people. Governor Wallace was the only nominee to speak on a non- elective issue. Top Right: Buttons and bumper stickers dis- play choices given to the people in the 1976 presidential election. These are always a fa- vorite way of showing who you support. 'VHE o Bottom Right: Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia shakes the hand of an 82-year-old retiree at a retirement home in Florida. Carter is the Democratic Presidential nominee. Bottom Left: President Ford gives a warm greeting to all his supporters everywhere in the country. Things look good for him in all the presidential primaries. Elections 25