East High School - Exodus Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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Jim D.

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THE GOLDEN YEARS By RALPH MELARAGNO In 1849, vast deposits of gold were dis- covered in California. In January, 1949, 117 miners left East High School with price- less scholastic treasures as their reward for three years of hard digging. Three years previously, these miners had anxiously waited outside the doors of East for the greatest event of their young lives— entrance into high school. Many of the Forty-Niners, as they dub- bed themselves later, gained prominence in their first semester at East. As humble lOBs, eight of them made the honor roll. Others were mentioned for outstanding achievement at the 10B recognition assembly. All was not work, however. New friends were made, notes were compared and old friendships were renewed when they at- tended the 10B mixer. Lou Ralston early established himself as an outstanding athlete when he fought his way to a varsity football berth while only a tenth grader. That season, the Bombers grid squad came in second in the East side Sen- ate competition. Although they had known Principal E. E. Smeltz for only one semester, the Forty- Niners were sorry when he was transferred. Dr. P. M. Watson, who replaced Mr. Smeltz, soon won their hearts, and the Forty-Nin- ers dug in to surround him with traditional East High friendly spirit and cooperation. Taking up where the football team left off, the basketball boys won the East Senate title, then lost a thriller to South in the play- off, 36-34. The Forty-Niners were digging deeper and deeper as they entered the eleventh grade. Anne Kutsakis and Jerry Gregorek were inducted into the National Honor So- ciety, and 11 entered the honor roll Hall of Fame. Tom Krantz, Lou Ralston and Dick Pritchard excelled on the gridiron in Greg Conly's last year as football coach. The genial mentor's final season wasn't as suc- cessful as the previous one, as a 19-12 victory over Glenvile kept the Bombers from a win- less lear. Steve Lesiak was the lone Forty- Niner on the basketball team, which won only two of 13 games. That big vein of twelfth grade gold now awaited the Forty-Niners ; they were sen- iors and proud of it! Getting the semester rolling, Steve Lesiak was chosen class presi- den. Also elected were Dean Tsantilas, vice president; Caroline Stahnke, secretary; Dick Goodrick, treasurer, and Ray Rusnak, ser- geant-at-arms. Cindermen Lou Ralston, Dick Pritchard and Dean Tsantilas performed on the track squad, while Ralph Gabella played on the first Bomber baseball team to be organized in six years. The sluggers finished in second place in the East Senate race. In an impressive ceremony, Dr, Watson named Anne Kutsakis Mantle Orator, after sifting through seven other candidates. The National Honor Society inducted Lillian Wichich, Caroline Stahnke, Lou Ralston, Os- wald Zappa and Henry Maier from the ranks of the Forty-Niners. Ten were on the honor roll. Dick Pritchard starred in the annual play Our Town. To start their last semester, the Forty- Niners voted in class officers Warren Ray- mond, president; Jerry Gregorek, vice presi- dent; Jeanne Miller, secretary; Dean Tsan- tilas, treasurer, and Ray Rusnak; sergeant-at- arms. Dean was also elected vice president of the Student Council. Battler Ralston, Tom Krantz and Steve Lesiak completed their athletic careers while 12As. Marion Thulin, Regina Elliott, Warren Ray- mond, Ralph Melaragno, Julia Shane and Hazel Capps were selected for membership in the National Honor Society. In the hurly-burly that is the 12A semester, Dorothy Baran, only “Forty-Niner drum ma- jorette, was elected attendant to the Foot- ball Queen. Prom and commencement prep- arations kept the Forty-Niners busy, and senior dinners kept them filled. A short re- spite came with the mixer, but soon they were digging again, struggling for those last, precious “nuggets. 1949. An important year. Thousands were being drafted, the Indians were defending champions and the LIN had to work, it was agreed. But more important to the Class of January, 1949, the Forty-Niners,” the world needed them. They would vote in the next election—some might even be running for offices. East High would soon be just a mem- ory, a memory of three magnificent years. Will the Class of January, 1949, be success- ful in its quest for that precious gold of in- formation which will help make the world a fit place for future graduating classes? Only time can reveal the answer.

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24 KARAT NUGGETS Dean Tsantilas Oswald Zappa Frank Cicirelli Jerry Gregorek Marty Zielinski Lou Ralston Henry Maier Warren Raymond Mike Retino Bruce Boslaugh Phil LeRoy Bill Tupes Dick Goodrick Robert Wilcox Ernest Gantos Bob Comer Vincent Wayne Richard Pritchard Steve Lesiak Earl Eaton Culver Eyman John Hogan Tom Krantz Nicest Hcrir Sweet and Shy Nicest Eyes Brainy Fashion Plates Most Athletic Most Likely to Succeed Happiest Best Dancers Nicest Nose Bluffers Cut Ups Busiest Midnight Oil Burners Neatest Sleepiest Vocalist Best Talkers Personality Plus Clock Watchers Sky Scrapers Half Pints Nicest Smiles Mary Nickolas Norma Olinske Athena Fotiades Anne Kutsakis Ann Hranolivic Lillian Wichich Regina Elliot Esther Tromp Dorothy Baran Norma Croce Mary Fitros Christine Markos Caroline Stahnke Dorothy Popovic Lenore Vaicunas Maureen McCaffery Clara Warren Margaret Pirro Shirley Cappell Nadine Entsminger June Snider Marian Rudloff Shirley Geddes