Davis Vocational and Technical High School - Beacon Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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senior class history ln Sepfember, I937, as freshmen we grudgingly began sharpening our pencils and our wifs in preparafion for our firsf year af Davis Tech. On regisfra- fion day, we freshies were senf up fo fhe gym fo be regisfered. From fhen on we were on our own. Nafurally we were confused, and as we look back, we laugh and say, Remember how we ran around like chickens wifh our heads cuf off, frying so hard fo find room numbers, and memorizing our programs: and how embarrassed we were fo find ourselves in fhe wrong class! Then foo, we all acfed fhe parf of shy, innocenf liffle creafures who in fheir hearfs resolved ardenfly fo paffern fheir high school life affer seniors and upperclassmen. Yes, hero worship was fhe fhing. Well, enough of fhis reminiscing. lf we were going fo be like our upperclassmen, we had fo have advisers fo help us wifh our froubles and sfeer our course successfully. In fhe lafe fall Miss Mary Kafz and Mr. Louis Flower were appoinfed fo guide us fhrough our high school days. In January our advisers called a meefing for fhe purpose of elecfing officers. The oufcome was: presidenf, Roberf Cole: vice-presidenf, Efhel Nelson, secre- fary, Rufh Schoenhofenp freasurer, Kennefh Engelsman. This being complefed, we waifed unfil May, when we gave our one acfivify, fhe Memorial Day Assembly. We freshies made all fhe arrangemenfs, wifh several members faking an acfive parf. As freshmen, we confined ourselves fo fhe Fun Fesf, pep assemblies, excifing foofball games, and serious sfudy. ln June we began our long-anficipafed summer vacafion wifh our new experience behind us and a sophomore year fo look forward fo. As sophomores, we were beffer acquainfed wifh high school life and ifs uncerfain ways. An elecfion would soon be coming up: and we would enioy fhe excifemenf of giving our firsf parfy. The officers elecfed were: presidenf, Norman Dunnebackg vice-presidenf, Lucille Wolfe, secrefary, Ben Oafleyg and freasurer, Mary Jane Chrisfensen. Foresf Knoper was elecfed fo represenf fhe sophomore class on fhe afhlefic board fhaf was newly organized af Tech. Our parfy being scheduled for March I7, we gave fhe Shamrock Shag in keeping wifh Sf. Pafrick's Day. Af fhe Thanksgiving assembly Lucille Wolfe read fhe Presidenf's proclamafion. The guesf speaker was Rabbi Jerome Folkman whose speech was one of inferesf fo all. Then before we knew if, we were self-assured iuniors. The officers we elecfed fo carry on our year's work were: presidenf, Roberf Sfolzyg vice-presidenf, Frances Judson: secrefary, Margaref Lamperg freasurer, Norman Saurg assembly chair- men, Foresf Knoper and Norma Hampel. Impressive was fhe word for our Armisfice Day Assembly. An original reading was given by our falenfed Nella Mae London, and confrary fo rule, a senior, Phyllis Scoff, gave a reading which porfrayed fhe horrible resulfs of war. The finishing fouch was added by Margaref l lerringfon's solo. An evening of fruckin', enferfainmenf, and refreshmenfs was enioyed af fhe

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Girl Shark . . Boy Shark . . Mosi' Bashful Girl . . Mosi' Bashful Boy . Mosi' Digniiied Girl . Mos+ Dignified Boy Girl Opfimisi . . Boy Opiimisi' . . Girl Mosf Likely +o Succeed . Boy Mos+ Likely +o Succeed . Girl ChaHerbox . Boy ChaHerbox Girl Class Pe'r . Boy' Class Pei . Class Arguer . Class Musician . Class Warbler . Class Polifician . Pre'H'ies+ Girl . . Handsomesf Boy . Mosf Popular Girl . Mos'r Popular Boy . Bes+ All-Round Girl Besi' All-Round Boy . Did Mos+ for Tech . Cufesi' Girl . . Cufesf Boy . . Girl lnseparables . Boy lnseparables . Mosl' Admired Senior Girl Humorisl' . Boy Humorisi . Girl Afhlefe . Boy A1'hle+e . . Girl Fashion Plafe . Boy Fashion Plafe . Mosi' Courfeous Senior Girl Pessimisi' . Boy Pessimisf . Class Wii . senior electllln . Eunice Gunn . . Bob Siolzy . . Louise De Maagd . Bernard Piper . Doroihy Bashore . . Bob Brown . Florence WalcoH' . . Bill Nelson . Lucille Wolfe . Ben Oailey . Helen De Hari' . . Eugene Falba . Margarei Lamper . Arihur Mahlebashian . . . Ed Malone . Charles Dykhuizen . . Henry Heald . Forresf Johnson . Ruih Schoenhofen . Harold Derfeen . Frances Judson . Milfon Pierce Mignon Merren . . Pe+e Kladder . Nella Mae London . . . . . Efhel Nelson . . . . . . . Gerry Telman Chrisiine Hoogewind, Evelyn De Vree . . Bob De Kam, Charles Dykhuizen . . . . Shirley Nelson . Sylvia Wiersma . Wilbur O'Dell . Mina Bolema . Ed Nelson . Wilma Cox . . . Gene Hill . . . . Bob De Kam . Marilyn Thompson . John Weeber . . Rufh Gill

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senior class histllly Junior Snowball Shuffle, in charge of Norma Hampel and Foresf Knoper. The parfy was a greaf success, and fhe besf given by our class. Then - fhe Junior- Senior Prom. Roberf Sfolzy gave a speech of welcome and infroduced Paul Burch, senior class presidenf. Bill Tarbell was fhe capable masfer of ceremonies and presided over fhe program which included speeches by Nella Mae London and Ben Oafley. The senior moffo, Eyes fo fhe Fufure was fhe fheme of fhe deco- rafion and speeches. Seniors af lasf! Three years spenf in sfudy, laughfer, assemblies, and proper guidance fo be fopped off by fhe grand, glorious senior year - and graduafion. To sfarf fhe ball rolling fowards ifs goal of June, I94I, fhe elecfion of officers resulfed in: presidenf, Don Fairbrofherg vice-presidenf, Mignon Merrong secrefary, Rufh Schoenhofeng freasurer, Edward Malone, general chairman, Lucille Wolfe. The senior pre-holiday ball in charge of Ed Nelson and Frances Judson was given in December. The decorafions were a combinafion of Chrisfmas frimmings and fhe popular color scheme of red, whife, and blue. Lucille Wolfe was chosen as queen fo rule over fhe ball, and Mr. Emery, our Sanfa Claus, presenfed giffs fo guesfs. The enferfainmenf was highly seasonal, and fhe parfy ended wifh a grand march led by Lucille and her parfner. In February senior rings were vofed upon and measuremenfs falcen. Class colors, green, whife, and yellow, and fhe class flower, fhe daffodil, were chosen by our commiffee. Our moffo, lmpossibIe is Un-American, is our by-word for fhe fufure. In fhe laffer parf of February fhe casf was chosen for our play enfifled, lf's Greaf fo be Crazy, a fhree-acf comedy concerning fhe efforfs of a domineering mofher frying fo marry her daughfer off fo a counf. Wifh an excellenf casf, fhe play wenf over well on April 25 af Soufh High Audiforium. From fhen on fhe pace became fasfer, and a peculiar sensafion was felf. When we affended fhe Junior-Senior Prom - our lasf parfy and celebrafion wifh classmafes and feachers. Perhaps many years from now fhese fhings will seem insignificanf, buf now fhey are a consfanf reminder fhaf life is nof all play and fhaf business comes sooner fhan we mighf wish if fo. We are very grafeful fo fhe iuniors for making fhe occasion a ioyous one and hope in refurn fhaf fheirs will be as wonderful as ours. Then wifh mingled feelings of gladness and regref came Class Day exercises and Commencemenf. Through our minds marched memories of fhose four years -if was fun recalling fhem: some, parficularly funny: ofhers embarrassing: and a few slighfly finged wifh sadness. Buf fhe pasf is behind us now, and before us lies uncerfain pafhs fhaf in fimes like fhese are overcrowded wifh compefifion of fhe presenf unemployed and war refugees. H' is up fo us fo climb our own ladder of success and gain our own experience wifh fhe aid of fhe educafion fhaf has been given fo us for fhe pasf fwelve years.