East High School - Exodus Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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Meanwhile members of our class were excelling in their chosen activities. Ruth Boyd was named ,soloist for the Choral Club. A poetry bug had bitten Shirley Ables and her poem My Morning Mirror was published in Horizons. Finishing up the Winter sports, we found Walt Guzik, Tony Fischer and jim Pae practicing and playing with the basketball squad. With the spring, came the track and baseball teams to cheer for. Ed Kilbane and jim Pae were running it out for positions on the track team, while Walt Guzik was throwing curves and speed balls for the Blue Bombers. Scholarship hadn't suffered as a result of too many activities,for eight of us were on the Honor Roll. This completed one more step toward the top. After summer vacation, we returned to our 11A semester to find that Tony Fatica had been named captain of the 1950 football squad. Ed Kilbane, jim Pae and Ken McHvaine were teammates once again. These four boys were also the teammates of Gilbert, Gibby, Kandrac who was seriously injured during one of the Senate football games. The spirit of East came through with flying colors when we raised more than 31,200 to defray medical expenses, and we were all happy in the knowledge that we had helped Gibby. Another activity, bowling, was added to the list of extracurricular activities. Jim Czyzynski beat out Walt Guzik and George Roemich for high average in the newly formed inter-scholastic bowling league. Mr. Conly's homeroom once again won the tax stamp drive by being the first to have their hotrod piloted to San Francisco. The title role of the school operetta, Erminie, was played by Ruth Boyd. Denos Pappas was also on the stage in another of the leading roles in this production. Dolores Bencina, Lois Cattran, Sophie Gerakis, Walter Guzik, Johanna Leposky, Denos Pappas and Gordon Ratliff were on the Honor Roll. Betty Schaser and Denos Pappas were the first to represent our class in the National Honor Society. A backward glance now would show that a good part of the climb was over. At the beginning of our senior year, Ed Kilbane pre sided over the Student Council. He had reached the top in this endeavor. But we had more than one leader, we had five more which the class elected. Jim Pae was the 12B president, Dolores Coco, vice pres- identg Mary Ann Somich, secretary, Evelyn Kramer, treasurer, and james Czyzynski, sergeant at arms. It was at this time that Mr. Stillinger left East High and the many, many friends he had here. He had left us but it was with the mutual understanding that memories would always bind us closely together. His successor, Mr. Russell H. Nyland, we were sure, would be as understanding and as much on the job as he. ' A choice that was loudly approved by the class was Evelyn Kramer as Mantle Orator. Honors continued to pile up on our members now. Ruth Boyd, Dolores Coco, Walter Guzik and Evelyn Kramer were inducted into the National Honor Society. Competition in all fields was still keen between the boys and the girls, and this time 24

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Have you ever looked up a huge stairway and wondered how you were going to reach the top? Can you imagine then, how we, as bewildered 10B's, felt as we approached our new alma mater, East High, and thought of the long climb we would have to make in the next three years? Our thoughts were still of the junior highs we had left. There were 161 of us then who had come from Addison, Empire, Patrick Henry and Willson, each wondering what was in store for him. The first toddling step toward our goal was taken as we went about making new friends at the 10B Mixer, and another when we began to participate in the activities offered us through the 10B activities ticket. It was with this ticket that we started to appreciate the opportunities at East High, to root for our teams, and most important of all, to become part of the East High family. Our spirit became evident when Mr. Conly's homeroom placed first in the tax stamp drive, and Mr. Gilman's homeroom ran a close second. Members of our class got into the swing of things by joining the orchestra. Among the Blue and Gold musicians were Shirley Ables, Ruth Boyd, Russ Marxen, Shirley Schafer and La Veda Stamos. Others, such as Evelyn Kramer, Evelyn Pickel and Betty Schaser, started working in the school office. At this time, the girls outshone the boys when it came to sports, for Pat Dreier and Ruth Stevens were named the Queens of Swat for their ability to hit the horsehidef' Mr. Con1y's boys, however, kept in front in attendance and won the trophy for the semester. To complete our first uncertain steps, Ed Kilbane was elected sergeant at arms of the Student Council. The hardest part of the climb was over. In the field of athletics, the boys retaliated in the 10A semester, and our Tony Fatica, Ed Kilbane and jim Pae were named for the varsity football squad. These boys contributed their part when East started the season by defeating our old rival, Shaw, 7-6. The schedule ended with the Blue Bombers ranking third in Senate competition. Thegirls were in there too. When it came to intramural basketball, Miss Lacy's homeroom walked off with the championship of the school. Our class wasn't lacking in scholarship, either, for 14 of us were named for special subject awards at the tenth grade Recognition Assembly. Dolores Bencina, Dolores Coco, James Czyzynski, Shirley Shafer, Betty Schaser and Gordon Ratliff were on the Honor Roll. Ruth Boyd won the city-wide singing contest, and La Veda Stamos an award in the 1949 National Art Exhibit. Our class wasn't lacking talent, nor leadership, for that matter, for Ed Kilbane went a step further and was elected treasurer of the Student Council. Now, part way up the steps, it still looked like a long climb ahead. During our junior year we endeavored to keep the pace we had started with. Each of us eagerly anticipated taking part in the Golden jubilee Program to celebrate East High School's fiftieth birthday. We had had a sample of the spirit of the jubilee the previous November when a birthday party was held in the auditorium. Here we met the man who had been the first principal of East, B. U. Rannells. Mr. Rannells made a permanent notch in our hearts that day as he looked out at us and greeted us in simple sincerity. In June, we were in a frenzy with 15,000 alumni expected to return to their alma mater. It was a great day for the East High family. 23

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'Me Zag Supa the fair ladies proved themselves stronger when Miss Markus's homeroom walked off with the attendance award. The boys had a full athletic load this semesterj Walt Guzik and Ken Mcllvaine will never' forget the inspiring send off the whole school gave to the team when they went to Columbus to tackle the State Championship. The Ockermen were defeated 4-1, but not without a fight, you can be sure. Our sights were also set for laurels when it came to track, and, with runners like Ed Kilbane, Jim Pae and Ken Mcllvaine, our hopes were high. A new and fast addition to the team was Dick Korkan. Jim Pae's long legs took him to Columbus where he was ranked among the best track stars of the state. The drama production for the semester was Rebecca with Fred Southwell playing a leading role. Realizing their youth was fleeing, members of our class became literary geniuses. This was to be proven with the publication of Horizons. Here we found lim Pae's composition What A Minute. had won first prize. Lois Cattran submitted four poems and Evelyn Pickel, a story, Daddy,s Girl. Could it be true that we had just about reached the top? That the stairway we thought so high, had been climbed so safely and swiftly? Almost at the top of our stairway of ideals, we chose Dolores Bencina to lead our 12A Class. Other officers elected were Betty Schaser, Secretary, Walter Guzik, Treasurer and Tony Fisher, Sergeant at Arms. Our activities started early as heart, soul, and kitchen sink went into our big pro- duction, the Senior Revue, which we called As the Years Go By. The pace went faster. Work was progressing, fun was increasing, and more honors were being won. Mary Ann Somich, Johanna Leposky, james Czyzynski, Dolores Bencina and James Pae completed their year with the distinction of becoming members of the National Honor Society. Josephine Volpi was elected as Football Queen Attendant. jim Pae, Tony Fatica, Ken Mcllvaine, Iim Unick, and Ed Kilbane played for the last time on the Bomber football team. Ed Kilbane, co-captain of the squad had his season cut short because of the injury which occurred in the Collinwood game. Pictures, prom, senior recognition day, and finally, our commencement. The class of january, 1952, now looks back with a twinge of nostalgia. Then, facing ahead, we realize that although we have reached one destination, there are now new and greater goals ahead. With faith in our hearts and dreams in our eyes we shall reach our new destina- tions by steady progress ever upward on our stairway of life. 25