Columbus East High School - Altis Yearbook (Columbus, IN)

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As fire lights the sky high above, many spectators at King's Island, as well as Americans all over the country, cele- brate our nation's two hundred and fourth birthday. 8 Fourth of July

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In the days of ancient Greece, the Olympics were a one day celebration, highlighted by one event, a race the length of the stadium. At first the audience was restricted to only Greek men. After several dec- ades women were allowed to attend and eventually allowed to enter the chariot races. Prohibiting discrimination of politics, race, reli- gion, wealth, heritage, and social status, the 1980 Olympics brought the world together for two sea- sonal weeks of amateur sports competition. The winter Olympics were hosted by the United States in New York, while the summer Olympics in Mos- cow became a national controversy. In 1972 the unity of our school was frail and shaky. Only nine clubs were organized and Prom and Fun Day were about the only other extracur- ricular activities available to the young student body. Today, East utilizies the extra energy of its student body in 19 non-academic clubs and numerous cur- rent projects. Principal Philip Houston said when handed the microphone at 2:30 a.m. on November 19,1979, to honor our state champion football team, “This is a school based on students. Our school has succeeded because of its students. So, I'll turn this evening over to our students. With that comment, Principal Houston gave the micro- phone to student body president Mitch Weaver. Success in every aspect, not just athletics, was achieved by our student body. With occasional aide and guidance for teachers and counselors, it was the students of East, the 15 to 18-year-olds, who made East what it is today. Choosing our own representatives, with their leadership our school has been able to produce whatever students decided to do. Our student body has succeeded in planning three seasonal dances, which included all the details from hiring a band to decorating, to planning community publicity. Mem- bers of our student body produced professional dramatic and musical productions, right down to making the sets and mastering individual make-up skills. Every individual club raised their own money to accomplish whatever goals they set for them- selves, whether it be a club banquet or the purchase of food baskets for the needy. The unity of our school is symbolized by the degree of its accom- plishments. Getting the action started, student body president Senior Mitch Weaver persuades students to dance at the “Super Celebration in honor of our state champion football team. Rockin' to the beat. Sophomores Kenny Davis and Temple Perry entertain the student body during the Su- per Celebration. Unity Divisional 7

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Sitting here at Ceraland on top of my car in the crowded parking lot, I catch myself daydreaming, watching the sky come to life with the brilliant rainbow colored sparks ... daydreaming. I have spent my afternoon like most other Columbus high school students do on the fourth of July; swimming, biking, boating, pic- nicing with friends and family and enjoying the mellow music of “The Oakridge Boys. Sitting on top of my car, my thoughts wander ... what is the rest of the nation doing now? The Fourth of July is one day of the year when all of the United States, no matter what race, creed, reli- gion or social status can join in a common celebration. Millions of people all over the nation are sit- ting in similar places, watching similar displays and probably feel- ing similar mixed emotions of pride, excitement and con- tentment. Securing the Squire boat in the docks, pit crew members check and recheck the hydroplane before the 1979 Madison Regatta's qualifying heat, a traditional Fourth of July competition for southern Hoosiers. Two hundred and four years ago our country was similarly united, in celebration of our una- nimous adoption of the Declara- tion of Independence, freeing the 13 colonies from the hold of Great Britain's monarchy. Two hundred and four years ago Americans probably felt the same mixture of emotions, along with a large degree of anxiety and a mind full of unanswered ques- tions. Two hundred and four years ago ... that is more than 20 dec- ades and more than six genera- tions of lives. The tradition lives on. Our country is still surviving. We are one of the oldest and most successful democracies. Sitting here on top of my car, my thoughts project into the fu- ture. I see a child, (perhaps my own), sitting on top of a car in a similar atmosphere, watching a similar display and feeling these same feelings. Performing before acres and acres of people, the Oakridge Boys added en- tertainment to Ceraland's Fourth of July activities. Streaming through the muddy Ohio River waters after a weekend of rain. Miss Budweiser completes her qualifying heat at the 1979 Madison Regatta. Fourth of July 9