El Reno High School - Boomer Yearbook (El Reno, OK)

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THE SENIORS OF 1937 Out of childhood into manhood Now had grown my Hiawatha As we began our freshman year in El Reno High School under the leadership of Vir- ginia Devitt, president, we al- ready knew our high school building from top to bottom, having been here for two years previous. But the building was not worrying us; our trouble was studying. We were be- fuddled by the various lang- uages. Latin. Spanish and French. Even worse was alge- bra, but we managed to pull through somehow. Lucky boys received bids to clubs, while the girls gazed on with envy, waiting eagerly for the time when they, too, would be invited into club memberships. Time flew, and we greeted another school yea» with great enthusiasm, for we were no longer “green freshies”, but we had made the grade and now were sophomores. The girls gloried in their possession of invitations to join organiz- ations in the school. That year our president was none other than Joe Wallace, with the following assisting class officers: Virginia Devitt, vice-president, Virginia Miller, secretary, and June Kuczyn- ski, treasurer. Again we were confronted by difficult studies, such as geometry and Caesar. W. B. Jennings. Jr., won first in the baritone solo contest in Oklahoma City during his sopho- more year, and Nina War- ren won second place in an essay contest sponsor- ed by the Kiwanis club in commemoration of the three hundredth annivers- ary of the opening of pub- lic schools in America. Greta Carter placed sec- ond in a geometry contest at Edmond, while Hubert Womack was awarded first honors in wrestling at Verden and Hobart. Delmer Haun won a position on the Mid-state team in both the years 1935 and 1936. Margaret Davis was crowned queen of the May festival at Legion Park, and we were very proud to have a “sophomore” queen! Then came the news that all of us, no matter what kind of grades we made, must take semester exams! All our plead- ing and persuasion did not move any of our teachers, so we “faced the music and tried our very hardes to pass them! That year the sophomore lassies had a chance to shine when they served the junior-senior banquet in a charming fairyland. A short summer vacation was followed bv another school year. Junior days could have been easily called pioneer days, for we undertook many new ventures that year. A very successful junior play was presented, a mystery of a thousand horrors, “Tiger House , with Margaret Davis and Leland Crabbe carrying leading roles. Bill Collins, who is noted for playing ripping football, surprised us by breaking the pole-vault record in Mid-state competition and capturing second berth at the state contest in Norman. Juniors who had parts in the operetta “Way Out West” were Frances Lea Hodges, carrying the lead as Carmita , with W. B. Jennings, Jr., playing opposite her. Other juniors with major parts were Lorraine Filkins and Fairry Hamilton. Blazing a new trail, we gave our annual junior-senior banquet in the local gymnasium. This had been regarded as an impossible task, but we managed gloriously. With Thomas Ashinhurst as our very capable president. Fairry Hamilton, vice-president, Lorraine Filkins, secretary, and Juanita Per- due, treasurer, and Miss Ermalee Moore, Miss Vivian Mattox, Mr. E. E. Bradley. Mr. Virgil Tillinghast, and Mr. La Vorn Walker, sponsors, we made our dreams come true. We hon- ored the upperclassmen with a magnificent banquet which will go down in El Reno High School history as a truly great achievement. The gym was beautifully decorated with tam- i.rac, flowers, Cinderellas, fairies, pumpkin coaches and pal- aces. It was indeed a joyous affair—a woodland of delight. With remembrances such as these the junior class faced . bright future as seniors. Again headed by Thomas Ashin- l urst. with Ralph Clovis, Fairry Hamilton and Juanita Per- due as assisting officers, we made a name for ourselves as an outstanding senior class. But our hopes of graduating with regular formalities in our auditor- ium were banished for a time when the entire stage and part of the auditor- ium were destroyed by fire earlv in October. But soon, these were refinish- ed with many improve- ments. We were then proud possessors of one of the most completely equipped stages in Okla- homa. as well as a beautifully decorated auditorium. During the year Bruce Davis was appointed El Reno correspondent for the Daily Oklahoman. Mary Roberts cre- ated a new column. “Fashionable Flo”, for the weekly edi- tion of the “Boomer . This quickly became a most popular regular feature. Misfortune dogged the footsteps of two of our seniors. Virginia Miller was severely injured in a car accident, while Charles Coker was seriously “shaken up” when he was struck by a car. But in spite of these handicaps, both students com- pleted the year’s work and graduated with the class. Miss May Shanklin. head of the history department, Miss Josephine Edwards, head of the natural science department. Miss Josephine Hodnett. head of the English department, and Mr. M. L. Bast, head of the commercial department, served the class faithfully as sponsors, giving the assurance needed. Among other projects, they helped to make our Boomer a (8) SENIOR CLASS SPONSORS Miss May Miss Josephine Miss Josephine M. I.. Bast Shanklin Kdwnrds Hodnett

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he was selected as teacher of the newly organized Fel- lowship Bible Class of the Central Methodist Church and is still serving in that capacity. This year, through Mr. Taylor's efforts, in cooperation with the Ministerial Alliance of the city, a character building contest has been instituted in both the elementary schools and the high school. As a result of this contest there has been a decided increase in Sunday School attendance among the grade school children, and the attendance at a major church service of the high school stu- dents. Mr. Walter P. Marsh is completing his second year as principal of El Reno High School. Because of his interest in and un«lerstanding of young people and their problems, he has earned for himself a place of high esteem in the hearts of the high school student body. Before coming to El Reno, Mr. Marsh served as principal of the Elk City High School for eleven years and as registrar at the Northwestern State Teachers’ College, Alva, Oklahoma, for three years. He holds an M. A. degree from Oklahoma A. and M. College at Still- water. Mr. Marsh is also active in civic affairs, being vice- president of the Kiwanis club and a member of the Legion. Among the innovations suggested by Mr. Marsh for the improvement of the El Reno High School is the flag raising ceremony, which has been initiated to start each school day. At a specific time each morning the call “To the Colors is given, and everyone stands at attention until the flag is raised; then the pledge of allegiance to the flag is repeated by all. Also, through the efforts of Mr. Marsh, in coopera- tion with a student committee, the design for an official school emblem has been worked out and adopted. Although Mr. Marsh has been with us only two years, he has already proved a great inspiration to the student body that recognizes him as a friend and helper who has a personal interest in the welfare of every student. Through his pep and enthusiastic attitude. Mr. Marsh promotes a feeling of good will and friendship throughout the school. The administrators of the system of schools, feeling a need of someone who could have a more personal contact with a student in assisting him to solve his prob- lems. met this need by appointing Miss Rose Witcher, dean of girls, and Mr. C. L McGill, dean of boys, last year. In connection with her work as dean of girls. Miss Witcher has organized the Girls' Inter-Club Council to promote a better coordination of the work of the var- ious girls' clubs of the high school. Miss Witcher is one of the pioneer teachers of the El Reno High School, having served as teacher and ad- ministrator for twenty-four years. She received her M. A. degree from Columbia University in New York City, last summer. As well as being dean of girls, she is curriculum director in the high school, a position which she has held for the past two years. This year she has stressed an im- proved reading program throughout the high school. In con- nection with this reading project, she has given some valuable suggestions to teachers in all departments. To know Miss Witcher is to love her. Because of her charm, congeniality, and un- selfishness, Miss Witcher has won the honor, respect, and friendship of all who have had the pleasure of working with her. In connection with his work as dean of boys. Mr. McGill has arranged score cards, whereby teachers may check the student's charac- ter traits and attitude. One of the cards stresses the at- titude toward the various phases of school life, while the other is based primarily upon a pe-sonal rating of «iter I . M«r h the boy. Both of these record sheets were designed to help the boy to improve his achievement in class work, and his general behavior and conduct in school. Mr. McGill has been a member of El Reno High School faculty for seventeen years. Since 1930, when he was ap- pointed vocational guidance director, he has devoted much time and energy to the promotion of a better balanced edu- cational course for students. Under his direction, bulletins which offer educational information have been placed in the hands of all students for study and consideration in selecting their vocations. Mr. McGill believes that this type of func- tional education will better prepare high school people to select a program of studies that will best equip them to be- come useful, successful citizens. Assisted by the heads of the various departments. Mr. McGill has outlined a program of studies broad in scope and content for El Reno High School. At the present time seven types of diplomas are offered: commercial, home economics. industrial arts, academic, language arts, scientific, and fine arts. To qualify for any type of diploma one must include in his course of study four units of English, one of mathematics, one of laboratory science, and one of American history. Sixteen units are required for graduation. Other than the basic requirements for graduation each type of diploma calls for additional requirements in that particular course of study. In erder to qualify for a commercial diploma one must choose five units from the commercial depart- ment. For the home economics diploma one must select two units of sewing, two of cooking and one of modern living. To secure the industrial arts diploma, the student must complete five units from the manual training and mechanical drawing courses. The ad- ditional requirements for an academic diploma are one unit of history, one of mathematics, one of science, and two of foreign language. Those for a language arts diploma are four units of foreign language, and one of natural science. To qualify for a scientific diploma one must include in his schedule three units of natural science, and two of mathe- matics. T H E I) K A N S Mi»» lto»c Witcher Mr. V. L McGill (7)

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worthy one, being ably assisted by the ever ready” Raymond Williams, our ed- itor. Many and varied have been the honors won and the accomplishments of the sen- iors. Frances Lea Hodges was elected out- standing senior girl by the senior class and faculty. Joe Wallace turned politician on us and took over a job as one of the pages for the Oklahoma Legislature. Operetta leads were held by Greta Carter, Lorraine Filkins, W. B. Jennings. Jr., Bruce Davis, and William Osborne. Then came the carnival, sponsored by the Band Mothers’ Club on the first of April. This proved to be profitable, so the affair will probably become an annual one. Senior candidates for carnival king and queen were Joe Slattery and Fairry Ham- ilton. Bill Kelly and Juanita Perdue, and Ralph Clovis and Virginia Devitt. And for the first time in ages and ages we had a senior king and queen—Fairry and Joe! Joe Wallace presided as master of ceremo- nies and efficiently served as student car- nival manager. Ralph Clovis received the E club trophy and also shared honors with Francis Thompson as the outstanding boy from El Reno High School for the University of Oklahoma award. Delmer Haun made the mythical all-state second football team, while Clay Al- bright won first place for wrestling in the district and third in the state tournaments. Mary Montgomery wrote a splendid essay for which she received highest honors in a contest sponsored by the local Women's Christian Temperance Union. Rosemary Fox established a highly commendable rec- ord as the state’s best actress and also won several firsts for her fine dramatic reading. She and Wilmot Bolinger participated in the winning state contest one-act play. Smoke Screen”. Looking over the band records, we found Bob Grove, “the wizard of the trum- pet , to be the only player holding mem- bership for seven years. Senior members of the high school quartets were Adah Van Wagoner. Greta Carter. Robert Cory, W. B. Jennings. Jr., and Lester Stoehr. The Forum debate club awarded a loving cup to the outstanding senior boy, Raymond Williams. Rosemary Fox and W. B. Jennings. Jr., had leads in the senior p’ay, “Rosemary— for Remembrance, a dramatic war story. This production, one of the best ever pre- sented to a high school audience here, was so touching that there was not a dry eye in the house. Its presentation marked a memorable milestone in cur senior history. Charles Hubbard had the honor of be- ing the youngest senior. Holding high honors were Fairry Hamilton and Virginia Miller as valedic- torian and salutatorian of the Senior Class of 1937. On the completion of commencement arrangements, the school officials announc- ed that Reverend J. W. Hodges would deliver the commence- ment sermon Sunday night. May 16. Class night was held Tuesday. May 18, when honors were bestowed upon many deserving seniors. The guest speaker for commencement exercises Thursday, May 20, was Mr. C. K. Reiff, superinten- dent of the Oklahoma City Schools. Then came May 21, and the Seniors of 1937, now grad- uates of El Reno High School, lifted their chins, and looking forward, marched straight ahead! —Greta Carter. SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS Thomas Axhinhurxt. I'rrxldent Itulph CIovIh, Vi... Fairry Hamilton. Secretary Juanita Perdue. Treaxuror CLASS POEM F rom our Alma Mater we sadly depart With pangs of deep regret and tranquil sorrow; Though still haunted by lingering memories. We seniors now face the luminous morrow. Our various arts of genius we have often displayed: The kindness of our helpmates we wish doubly repaid, lake gusts of emotional wintry flurries. Both merriment and sorrow now have come and gone; Earned we our merits, with a store of knowledge learned. Now a measure of success, ’tis said, we’ve won. So a tribute we wish to pay To our dear El Reno High To cxpicss our gratitude Fot the standaids it doth specify. Four very pleasant years we coped with wisdom. Hoping that in some of its arts we’d surpass. And that friendships true and lasting we would form. And we’d rejoice with comrades in our class. Life invisible lies ahead, till at its own command We shall peer within its depths and try to understand. When clouds were roaring and the paths were stony. We seniors have oft times paid our humble toll; And now that our high school career is completed. Elated, we appear on the graduates roll. This departing Class of ’37 Is voicing this one plea— That our remaining imprints Will have left a pleasant memory.—Mary Montgomery. (9)