Coquille High School - Laurel Yearbook (Coquille, OR)

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XENICL CLASS LISTCCy CHUCK HANNA President NEIL HAGA Secretary C. H. BILLINGS Representative Chapter I The Class of ’48, a crew of 95, set out on the Coquille High Raft of Learning, September 3, 1944. with Edna Montgomery at the helm. The object of their voyage was to secure, in four years’ time, the sixteen pearls required by Cntractor E. R. James. The officers chosen to guide the raft for the first year were President, Neil Haga; Vice-President, Preston Willis; Secretary, Dorothy Williams; Representative, Clinton Peart; and Inter-Class Rivalry Chairman, Betty Preussler. The poor mariners struggled hard to keep their heads above the troubled waters of the Coquille River. For a few weeks the crew was terrorized by Junior Sharks and Senior Whales. It was not long, however, before the timid seafarers began to show the old “Coquille Fight.” September 25, the Sophomore crew of the C. H. S. Steamer gave them a shuffle on board the raft. In mid-winter they experienced their first tornado in the form of exams; some became weary and seasick and returned to land, while others became indolent and were retai led in the flunker’s section where they were required to perform such menial tasks as scrubbing logs and rechanging the polished oyster shells. Neither quantity nor quality was lacking in this valiant crew. The mariners had proved their courage in more than one gale and had won first place in interclass rivalry ahead of the sharks and whales. Chapter II In the fall of 1945 the mariners were transferred from the raft to the Coquille Boat of Knowledge. The original number was already much smaller; in fact, 25 of the crew left the ship thinking the great reward too far beyond their reach. Realizing that the journey ahead of them would be long and hard, they chose seafaring Jacob Moomaw as their pilot, Clifford Billings as Captain, George Domenighini as first mate, Betty Preussler as second mate, and Jim Bellmore as galley boy. On September 21 the tars gave a fling for the Freshmen Minnows. This was their only diversion on the entire trip as the seas were wild and rough. Each time they rose to some gallant occasion they were buffeted on all sides like chaff in the wind. They were, indeed, glad when they again sailed into the harbor and put down anchor. Chapter III With more connfidence than during the last two voyages, the crew picked up anchor once more on the “Brig of More Knowledge” for another adventure with Idyle Godard, this time, at the helm. The captain for this voyage was Preston Willis; with Neil Haga, first mate; Joanne Savage, second mate; Richard Parrish, steward; and Dorothy Williams, galley girl. The seas were calm and serene; the mariners found time to play as well as to work. On November 21, a delightful comedy, “The Sunshine Twins,” was presented and proved to be a big success. On December 13, the Junior Brig sighted “Candy Land,” a place of make-believe where story-book characters and ice cream mountains, cotton candy and gum drop trees were a beautiful sight to behold. Anchor was dropped once more, and, needless to say, the Freshmen Minnows, the Sophomore Flounders, and the Senior Whales all swam to this gala occasion to participate in one of the season’s most delightful affairs. On May the eighth, the Junior Sharks went overboard with a high banquet in the Senior Whales’ honor. Later, the brig was turned into a showboat for the Junior Class assembly. The audience was greatly impressed by the versatile performers. The Brig sailed into Lakeside on May 15 for their annual picnic which terminated the events of the year for the Junior Sharks. Chapter IV The mariners again set sail in the fall of 1947. This time they had a double purpose—to gain the largest and best pearls for their collection, and attempt to set a high standard for the ones to follow in their footsteps. The officers chosen for the “All Wise” schooner were Thora Watson, pilot; Chuck Hanna, captain; Don Pierce, first mate; Neil Haga, second mate; Betty Preussler, stewardess; and Cliff Billings, galley boy. The Senior Whales also chose as their motto “What we are to be we are becoming.” They chose the rose as their class flower and melon and brown as their class colors. They were the “Senior Whales” at last; they felt safe in introducing themselves as high and mighty personages. Their goal was in sight and could be reached. More of the crew had attained recognition. Officers chosen for the student body from the Senior Class were Preston Willis, President; Richard Parrish, Vice-President; Carol Gray, Secretary; Sally Bonney, Treasurer; and Bob Kuenzli, Business Manager. The “Hi Times” editor for the year was Carol Gray; “Laurel editor, Sally Bonney; and Girls’ League President, Joanne Savage. The D. A. R. Award was granted to Betty Preussler and the Pepsi Cola candidates were Joanne Savage, Betty Preussler, Julius Jepson, and Chuck Hanna. The Band Major for the year was Rose Marie Peart, while Janice Lafferty was President of the Camera Club. In the world of sports, the following names are prominent: in football—Don Pierce, Richard Parrish, Shirley Laird, Sam Miller, and Jay Clayton, and in basketball— Jim Bellmore, Don Pierce, and Bob Sell. On November 21 the Seniors entertained Contractor and builders and other ship crews with a play entitled “Junior Miss.” This was a great success. On December 16 they gave a ball, “Ocean Fantasy,” the first of its kind and one of the highlights of the year. For this ball the Senior Whales enlisted the aid of all sea life to make their decorations more beautiful than any before. Having secured the required number of pearls during their four years of hard labor, the Seniors took leave of the Contractor and builders and again put to sea. Home looked good to the weary voyagers, and it was with regret, as well as hope, that 64 of the mariners received diplomas from the C. H. S. Naval Academy and boarded the phantom “Ship of Life” for their last and longest voyage. 9