Edison High School - Edisonian Yearbook (Lake Station, IN)

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SENIOR CLASS On September 3, 1946, a group of somewhat timid and bewildered but very important fresh- men entered the doors of Edison High School to spend what proved to lie the most delightful and memorable years of their lives. At the beginning of their high school career, the members of the class elected their first group of officers for their first year in high school : Robert Blaney, president ; William Potts, vice-president ; Geraldine Jablonski, secretary : Maureen Sullivan, treasurer, under the guidance of their class sponsors, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Hoffman. The Class of ’50 sponsored its first high school activity, which was a school dance, on November 2, 1946. Since they were very energetic freshmen, they decorated the gymnasium with gay and beauti- ful colors which helped to make the dance the “hit” of the year and set a precedent for the dances the rest of the year. According to the traditional check at the close of the school year, the freshmen were found to be much wiser and quite anxious to become sophomores the next year. Probably the first time in the history of Edi- son, all the classes had the privilege of choosing their class sponsors ; thus, the members of the class chose Mr. Baliff and Mrs. Etienne as their sponsors and Victor Fronczak as class president ; Donald Schleff , vice-president ; Donald Gustafson, secretary; and James Metz, treasurer. The boys of the class had the privi- lege of participating in a new sport at Edison for the first time in the history of the school, and those who did not play on the squad joined Edison’s group of enthusiastic football fans. A member of the sophomore class, Victor Fronczak, gained the honor of making Edison’s first touchdown on September 6, 1947, in Edi- son’s first game with Merrillville in Brickie Bowl in Hobart. However, Vic left the sopho- more class to join the juniors the second se- mester. In sponsoring activities as a class, the high light of the year was the sophomore skating party at Crystal Roller Rink. As they entered their junior year, a very important year, they were classed as upper classmen — and, oh, how they did strut. Since the Class of ’50 seemed to have a knack of se- lecting capable officers, it has quite a record of giving good officers a chance to perform a still better job after having experience and elected the following: Donald Walker, president; Geraldine Jablonski, vice-president ; Esther Demo, secretary ; Maureen Sullivan, treasurer. They chose Mr. Brennan and Mrs. Crisman as class sponsors at the beginning of the year ; however, Mr. Brennan was replaced by Mrs. Etienne during the year. “Take Your Medi- cine,” the junior class play, was the first im- portant event of the year and was presented on November 12, 1948, a night on which every would-be junior star shone brightly. The juniors sponsored quite a variety of activities. Their first dance, in which they set a precedent by using movies instead of records, was fol- lowed by a Variety Show and Pre-Prom Dance. Their happiest school day of the year was the eventful day on which their pride and joy — their class rings — arrived ; in fact, the juniors were excited for days as they exhibited their prize possession. The juniors spent many long hours in planning and preparing for their next event to which they had looked forward for three years — the Junior-Senior Prom, which was held at Marquette Pavilion on May 26, the night before the close of school. This was the night that they dressed in formal at- tire— many of them for the first time — and spent an enchanted evening while dancing to the music of Ken Nolan’s orchestra. After the prom, they journeyed to places far and wide in order to have a complete as well as perfect evening. After the Prom, the juniors began to look forward to their future and most im- portant year — the senior year. To begin their last year of their high school career, they elected William Potts as president ; Geraldine Jablonski, vice-president; Nancy Fejes, secretary ; Robert Stegall, treasurer, and chose Mrs. Jana and Mr. Sexton as class spon- sors. The seniors opened their activities of the year by giving a sock dance in the new gym. The class began working diligently at the task of raising funds for their pre-graduation trip. As one means of raising funds, the class gave a series of movies on Wednesday night of each week. Although the seniors had a fine selection of movies this year, they just could not seem to make any profit on them. To ease the money situation, they sponsored a bingo party and surprised every one by making it a great suc- cess ; thus, they were assured of their long awaited trip. The senior class play, “Bolts and Nuts,” was given on April 21. The members of the cast worked very hard to make the play a success and were rewarded by such compliments as “It was the best play 1 ever saw.” Then, at last the early hour of the great day of May 17 arrived, as the seniors scrambled into the bus that took them to Detroit. Upon arriving in Detroit, they boarded the luxurious ship, “The Greater Detroit,” and embarked upon a memorable three-dav cruise. 24 The Edisonian of 1950

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THOMAS F. WEBBER Pooch” Hi-Y, E-Men’s Club, Football, Track, Senior Class Play. KAY DON WILLIAMS Rusty” Hi-Y, Senior Speech Club, Science Club, Boys’ Chorus, Mixed Choir, Band President and Student Conductor, Pep Band, Saxophone Sextet and Quartet, Eagle Feathers Staff, Cheerleader. JOAN WILSON “Jo” Sunshine Society, Edison Commercial Club, Senior Speech Club, Eagle Feathers Staff, Principal’s As- sistant, Senior Class Play. Senior Steering Committee Top row — Robert Hires, Robert Stegall, Esther Demo, Donald Schleff, Donald Walker. Front row— Eleanor Schaffer, Leota Sanders, Geraldine Jablonski, Marlene Scharf. Sponsors MR. SEXTON AND MRS. JANA The Edisonian of 1950

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SENIOR CLASS (Continued) Following the trip, the seniors were rushed into a frenzied week consisting of Baccalaureate, examinations, Junior-Senior Prom, and Com- mencement. Many times, they stopped and wondered whether they would finish the week. Yes, when it was over, they breathed a sigh of relief although every one felt a little sorrowful about leaving dear old Edison. COMMENCEMENT The traditional sad week of leave-taking by the senior class was opened with the Bac- calaureate Service, which was held on Sunday, May 21, at which time Rev. Koors of the East Gary Catholic Church gave the sermon. For- rest Jackson gave the invocation, and James Fletcher gave the benediction. The Boys’ Quartet sang “Stouthearted Men.” The mem- bers marched to the processional played by Mrs. Jana. After the sermon the Choralenes rendered “The Lord’s Prayer.” As the familiar strains of the traditional com- mencement march, “Pomp and Circumstance,” was played by the Band, the fifty-nine members of the graduating class slowly began their dignified march to the stage — the last activity of the Class of ’50. The boys attired in Yale blue and the girls in white, made a very dis- tinguished looking procession. The valedictorian, salutatorian, and third ranking member — Arnold Barbknecht, Flelen Maretich, and Alan Ganz — and the class presi- dent, William Potts, gave speeches respectively entitled “The Road Ahead,” “The Drama of Education,” “The Material Value of Educa- tion,” and “The President’s Farewell.” Mar- lene Scharf offered the invocation at com- mencement, with Raymond Arington giving the benediction. During the program, the Band played “Melodies by Grieg.” Mr. Roos presented the awards of merit, with the valedictorian medal going to Arnold Barbknecht and the salutatorian medal to Helen Maretich. Nancy Fejes, Sally Fejes, and Donald Gustafson received activities awards. Michael Lubeck, the all-round athlete, received the athletic award. American Legion awards were presented to Maureen Sullivan and Alan Ganz. Geraldine Jablonski and Robert Blaney received the awards given by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Edisonian of 1950 25