East High School - Echoes Yearbook (Wichita, KS)

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::.', .rv 4 L.5k,U Elly? mirhiian Class Chrorricle HE CLASS of 1919 made its Hrst appearance at Wichita High School in the fall of 1915. Not being exceptions to the general rule, the members of the class were naturally timid and in awe of the upperclassmen. However, as the year progressed, and they became better acquainted with the school and its customs, they began to enter into the spirit of the school. According to custom, this class was not organized, and consequently attracted very little attention from the rest of the school. However, a few of the more studious ones settled down to making grades which attracted attention, and in this way they started their high school career. The fall of 1916 found most of the class back at school and ready to prove themselves an important factor in the school. No timidity or backwardness was in evidence now, for these people no longer were freshmen, but sophomores-wise, lively sophomores. As early as possible, a meeting was called and the following ofhcers were elected: Harold Rounsavell, president, Garnet Westbrook, vice- president, Louise Avey, secretary, Carrol Brown, treasurer, Max Buckingham, sergeant-at-arms, and Paul Duke, yell-leader. Later in the year Ruth Schollen- berger was elected vice-president to take the place of Garnet Westbrook who moved out of town. Under the capable leadership of these people, everything undertaken was a decided success. The first sophomore party was greatly en- joyed, but the second was a greater success, because of the unusual and exceedingly attractive features of the program. That year the class was well represented in the school activities. One of their number brought honor to the class by making the debating team. Several members of the class served on second teams in ath- letics, and in the interclass meets the nineteeners made a splendid showing. At the end of-the school year, the class was considered very progressive. When school opened in the fall of 1917, the junior class had dwindled some- what, but each of those who remained realized the importance of the work ahead of him and his duty to the class and to the school. After a few weeks the class met and was organized. Donald Boggs was elected president, Pauline Welwood, vice-president, Virginia Giroux, secretary, Thornton Sargent, treasurer, George Pease, sergeant-at-arms, Louise Avey, class reporter, and Virgil Cunliffe, yell- leader. After a short time it was decided to have a junior-senior party with the seniors acting as hosts. The party was well attended by both juniors and seniors The second party given about the middle of the year was a joint party, and the juniors and seniors equally shared the honors of hosts. This party proved to be as successful as the first one. The third party was given in the spring, and was a party in which the juniors had a chance to display their ability as hosts. -Needless to say, the juniors kept their reputation and showed the seniors that they could furnish real entertainment in the way of a very clever party. By this time the class of 1919 was well represented in all kinds of school activities. There were class representatives on the Hrst football team, the hrst basket-ball team, and on the track and baseball teams. In addition to this, the class was again represented on the debating team. 'At the annual held day, the juniors showed the seniors a good fight. At the end of the school year, they were all ready for a vacation to rest for the big year of high school life, the senior year. The effects of the war on the class was shown by the small number enrolled for school in the fall of 1918. The number of boys had decreased noticeably, because many of them had answered the country's call and entered government IIlIlllIllllIIlIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIIlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllI 1 H 1 g IIIIllIIIIllIIIIIIIIllllllllllIIIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllI Page Thirreen

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any mffhffan ulnuunlmlmunlmunlmlununumuumummlnlu service of some kind. The boys who did not return because of the war numbered about twenty-Hve. Some of them made enviable records in France, but the ser- vices of the most of them were confined to this country. Few classes in any Kansas high school have as good records in this respect as the 1919 class of W. H. S. Early in the year the class held a meeting and elected: Virgil Cunliffe, presi- dentg Pauline Welwood, vice-presidentg Ruth Schollenberger, secretary, Max Buckingham, treasurer, William Holleicke, sergeant-at-armsg Howard McCune, yell-leaderg and Margaret Wilbur, class reporter. Later in the year Esther Carothers was chosen class poet. Work had just started in earnest when the in- fluenza epidemic became so serious that it was necessary for the schools to close for about four weeks. This was a great hindrance to the work of all the classes. At the end of the four weeks, the situation being somewhat improved, school began again with half-day sessions. This continued for two weeks, and then the influenza situation was so improved that school work was again resumed on the regular schedule. The first junior-senior party which had been scheduled to take place in October had to be postponed four different times on account of the quaren- tine. Because of the postponement it was decided that only two parties would be held instead ofthe customary three. The first one was held in February with the seniors acting as hosts. The second party with the juniors as hosts took place later in the year and was indeed a very pleasing and interesting affair. A committee was appointed to select a play for the class to present. After a great deal of consideration the play, Mice and Men, by Madeleine Ryley was selected. The work on the play was begun late in the first semester and Mr. Gossett, who coached the play the previous year, was again secured as the director. Almost all seniors who were eligible came to the tryouts and were very enthusiastic and eager to see who would be selected for the main cast. After a great deal of consultation and a week of tryouts, the final east was selected. Real work began almost immediately, and after about two months of rehearsing, the play was ready to present. The three performances were given on Monday and Tuesday, March 3 and 4. School was dismissed early on Tuedsay afternoon to accommodate those who wished to attend the matinee. Every performance was attended by large crowds, much to the satisfaction of the whole senior class. All who saw any performance of the play proclaimed it a decided success. The play was also a success Hnancially, as more than 15700 was cleared. This was almost 3100 more than the prohts on the play the year before. The seniors were exceedingly well represented in every form of athletics. It was seniors who formed the backbone of both the football and basket-ball teams, and two seniors were named on the all-state team. Also the seniors were well represented in track and baseball. Four members of the senior class were on the debating team which so ably represented the school in the debating contests. As is the custom the school publications were edited by a senior English class. The annual, as usual, was published by the seniors. Although the class this year worked against many difficulties, due to the unsettled conditions of everything, when all wassummed up it is found that the class ot 1919 has always been one of the foremost classes in the school. The fact that the number left to be graduated was considerably smaller than it has been for several years, is accounted for by the fact that so many of the boys were called in the service. Every member of the senior class realizes that it would have been impossible to spend more profitably the four years spent in W. H. S.,and, as a whole, the class wishes to be remembered for its service, knowledge and chivalry. UIIIIIIlllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1 H 1 g lIIIIlllIIIIIllllIIIIlllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllIIlllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Page Fourteen