East High School - Exodus Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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jan., June ’42 EXODUS Class History of January, 1942 By Mary Hodges, Class Historian As reveille sounded during the early morning hours of a day in January, 1939, a battalion of students marched proudly forward to take up an advan- tageous position at Decker and East 82nd Streets. This group was formed of draftees and volunteers recently re- cruited from Addison, Willson, Patrick Henry and Empire and Fairmount Jun- ior camps. As is always the feeling of new selectees entering training, they were a wee bit scared and thoughtful. What would the three years of the im- mediate future hold for them? This was the main thought that was circu- lating through their noggins as they waited in the cafeteria to be assigned to their various commanding officers. Advancing steadily through the first semester the valiantries of certain members of the ranks were officially acknowledged on the 10B recognition day. Private First Class George Fong received the most honors, and National Award Winner, Corporal Dick Geb- hardt, beat out a field drum solo. Pri- vate Eva Tucker’s vocal talent first came to light at this assembly when she sang “Velia.” During the recrea- tion periods Jim Adams, Leigh Baker, Frank Umstead, Don Harris, Evelino Mastrangelo, Levester Corly, and Talis Garrett could be found among those giving the 10B football squad a try. . . or vice versa. As the second semester of training got into full swing the students were becoming more accustomed to the sur- roundings and began to rate member- ships in such organizations as the Stu- dent Council and the Jr. French and Friendship Clubs. It was also along about this time that the public address system was installed to keep everyone up-to-the-minute on the latest news flashes and reports from headquarters. A group of feminine militarists com- posed mainly of Ruth Stewart, Laura Auble, Leona Mady and your historian presented the idea of a Girls’ Rifle Club to Commander-in-Chief Floyd Simmons, who agreed to sponsor this enterprise. The organization flour- ished for three semesters, but had to be disbanded because of an order from the Board of Education. The 1 1 B term brought the new Pine Room into active duty. This recrea- tional room was financed by the saving of tax stamps by the entire rank and file. The Choral Club claimed many of the draftees and volunteers, and of these Jack Whitelock and your his- torian became members of the mixed ensemble. During this period students began thinking seriously about what their eventual goals in life would be after honorable discharge from Camp East High. They were helped along in this by different vocational guid- ance meetings at which outstanding members of various professions were guests. The thrill of hearing their names called out for membership during the solemn National Honor induction cere- mony was given to Florida Fajfar, Jim Adams, Laura Auble, Jim Edwards, George Fong, Richard Cebhardt, Don Harris, Leona Mady, Lillian Hing, and Alden Wilson. This training period also saw such tracksters as Bob Wood- ruff, Jim Adams, and Tony Colangelo practicing in the second floor corridor. The wrestling squad had as a member Pfc. Frank Umstead, while the hockey team was well aided and abetted by Privates Leigh Baker and Harold Bar- tell. Then in March '41 our Comman- der-in-Chief, Floyd L. Simmons, de- parted for the armed forces of Uncle Sam, and the job of acting principal was undertaken by Chief Comman- dant James B. Fenwick. When pre- sented with the desires of some of the students, First Sergeant Joseph E. Mid- dagh decided to sponsor a Bowling Club of which Lester Urban was a high scoring member. At last came the time when the army reached a long-looked-forward- to goal, the all-important stronghold of seniorship towards which it had been working for the last two years. 7

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4B EXODUS Jan., June ’42 January Officers Jack White lock, President Tony Germano, Vice-President, Lillian Hing, Secretary Dick Gebhardt, Treasurer Jim Haddad, Sergeant-at-Arms Dinner Dance Committee Alden Wilson Lois Ann Obrock Joe Zupancic Frances Moody Tom Erwin Jane Metzger Myra Ann Frye Agnes Chuhran Margaret White Tony Carabotta Richard Manning Florence Vacka Leigh Baker Bernice Hoffman Mary Falasco Dorothy King Al Miklavick Hazel Rhyand Joe Mirilovich Genevieve Sebuls 6

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EXODUS Jan., June ’42 The boys and girls of the olive drab selected as their commissioned officers Don Harris, President; Leona Mady, Vice-Pres.; Dick Cebhardt, Secretary; Leigh Baker, Treasurer, and Ronald Smith, Sergeant-at-Arms. With this came the Athenaeum Society, claiming a good number of the girls of ’42 as members and the National Honor So- ciety again bestowed memberships on such recruits as Agnes Chuhran, Frances Moody, Lois Ann Obrock, Florence Vacka, and Jane Fong, along with yours truly. Meanwhile, such aspiring journalists as Dale Clark, Wayne Turgeon, Ella Bollinger, Ruth Ainsworth, Alice Hein, Dorothy King, Ronald Smith, Bob Platt, Jane Metz- ger, Anna Jane Sirey, and Agnes Stacks became members of the cub staff, and James Edwards became the Blue and Cold's photographer; they later be- came members of the regular staff. The last semester saw new officers spring from the ranks of the Blue Bomber Battalion of '42. Don Harris and Leigh Baker became the President, and Vice-President, respectively, of the Student Council. Jack Whitelock became president of the class, while the other officers elected were Tony Germano, Vice-President; Lillian Hing, Secretary; Dick Cebhardt, Treasurer, and Jim Haddad, Sergeant-at-Arms Elections in the Athenaeum saw Flor- ida Fajfar become President. The day that the class had looked forward to with a feeling of suspense finally came, and Laura Auble became the Mantle Orator. For the first time at East High the idea of a 12-A discussion class was tried. It was the duty of the class to write and plan the Senior Revue, one of the most important events in the life of the seniors. In this production First Lieutenant Ronald Smith had the part of the Master of Ceremonies, Ser- geant Don Harris was the villain, Pri- vate Dorothy McCuffin the poor, de- fenseless widow, and Corporal Don Butler the tightwad producer. It was a big night for the seniors, and it can be safely said that it was a big success. The football squad came into the spotlight and had as enlisted members Frank Umstead and the two Jims— Adams and Haddad. The team had a good season, climaxed by the choice of Jimmy Haddad as a member of the Press All-Scholastic team that went to Florida for the Kumquat Bowl game, which of course was won by the inva- ders. Jim Adams received honorable mention for his work as a guard on the team. There were quite a number of athletics letters represented in the graduating class; for instance, Three Letterman Jim Adams had received a letter for football, track, and wrest- ling. Also there were Two Lettermen, Bob Woodruff and Tony Colangelo, each having received two awards for track work. In hockey Leigh Baker and Harold Bartell each received let- ters, and the fields of wrestling and baseball were represented by Frank Umstead and Levester Corley, respect- ively. As the period of intensive training drew to a close, the full-fledged sol- diers turned their thoughts toward the Dinner High for some time, the sen- iors' last social get-together was held in the ball room of Wade Park Manor. At this event Capt. Ronald Smith took over the job of toastmaster, and Miss Gertrude V. Powers and Mr. James B. Fenwick were guest speakers. The solemn occasion of commence- ment left the students brave and well equipped to go forward and attack the trials and tribulations of everyday life outside the school. The commence- ment program was high-lighted by speeches given by three students on the subject Education for Defense.” The speakers were Florida Fajfar, Al- den Wilson, and Jim Adams. It has been a very full twelve years . . .years in which many friends were made and many experiences of deal- ing thoughtfully and tactfully with others were obtained. Some of the once-so-shy-and-thoughtful recruits will continue on in such offcers’ train- ing camps as Western Reserve Univer- sity and Cleveland College, while oth- ers will do battle in the everyday working world, and it is highly proba- ble that many will be called into the real armed forces of Uncle Sam. Well. . .it’s all over. . . we’ll miss it, and the pleasant associations we’ve made. 8