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

Page 10 text:

MEMOIRS OF A 1938 SENIOR April 14, 1940. Homo from school for spring vacation, to be greeted with dust mop with Mom’s compliments and prod- ded up to the attic, there to excavate literally tons of trifles and litter which had collected in scraggly piles through my high school days. . . . Hard to realize what conceivable value any of these old mildewed report cards. A-graded class papers (very few in number. I found), programs, favors, and a million and one other useless things ever had .... must have been price- less to have collected in such numbers. . . . Found whole morning's entertainment between the covers of a ragged little vol- ume. My Diary . . . . Twelve o’clock noon, and I was still perusing its crowded entries . . . funny and a little saddening! • • “September 8, 1934. Enrolled today in high school...........I am now a freshman..........I am going to try to make all A’s this year ...” The egotism of it all! It would put Lord Byron to shame. From all appearances. I could have easily been the only freshman there on that important day. but there were about a hundred and fifty other little egotists there, too, all just as wide-eyed and eager as I was, and every bit as impressed with the grave solemnity of the occasion. There was no humility about us. As if it were only yesterday. I remember how we stood in that long, fidgety line of freckled faces and impatient feet, and passed on to each other what big brother had said about the terrors of algebra, and made comments behind the backs of our hands about the new student standing fourth down from Bob. Minutes dragged by like hours while we wait- ed our turn at the desk where an energetic teacher briskly initialed an O. K.” on our schedules, if correct. I recall, how- ever, that she sent many long-faced unfortunates back for corrections and changes in classes, which caused much grief when pals found they could no longer enjoy Latin verbs and subjunctive moods at the same hour. Well, it was a great day for all of us, and the last straggler left the building weary and tired, but happy to know that he had at long last risen from nonentity to become an important part of what was once almost legendary to him. but was now quite real—high school, and to be a freshman! Probably because I was too proud to admit it. there was nothing at all in the following pages of “My Diarv” about the awful feeling we all had when our little world was invaded on the first day of school bv the jostle and demands of hordes of sharp-elbowed sophomores, juniors and seniors, who would have us know right away that they were our superiors. Once again, and at the climax of our glory, we were hustled back to the ranks, and before that first bewildering semester was over, we had all assumed the proper degree of humility that befits all freshmen, regardless of the intensity of their grecn- October 12, 1934. Election of class officers .... Roy Faubion. president: Pat Collins, vice-president: Billy Oxford, secretary; Mr. Dick Horton, sponsor . . . . ” That was the first time we had ever conducted a formal election, so we were a bit scrupulous in the procedure; but under the direction of several teachers, we selected a good corps of class officrs. Needless to say, their official duties weren’t exactly overburdening that year. “February 21, 1935. School........” No mention of anything that happened—just school. Many pages to follow were just as bare and empty. Those freshman days passed quickly, and I sometimes think what a genius I might have been had all that extra space in “My Diary been filled with the things we learned at school each day. and remembered. Impossible task. I know, but it would have been helpful in recalling things which have long since been forgotten. April 23 1935. State Intorscholastic Meet at University of Oklahoma today .... Clara Ellen Waldo in Latin .... Who says “us freshmen are green? ...” placed first I remember now how we “swelled” with pride when Clara Ellen showed us that she could conjugate dare with the best of them. And so on through the pages. Happy days they were, days of youth, with all merriment and unconcern that are a part of them. Little thought on our part of the opportunities at hand which would have slipped beyond our grasp unnoticed and unrealized, if it had not been for the directing hands of parents and teachers. • « • June. July. August .... idle days of a carefree summer .... the silent fall of burnished leaves, a world bursting with color, and then back to school again, as sophomores. SEPTEMBER 11. 1935. Our new principal. Mr. Walter P. Marsh, and Mr. Paul R. Taylor, our new superintendent were presented to us in joint assembly today-----Mr. Marsh urged to flap-doodles to try to acquire more “spizzcrinctum. SEPTEMBER 22. 1935. Class meeting today for election of officers .... Martin Rudlang. president; Dorothy Hensley, vice-president; Velma MeNew, secretary; and Marie Jones, treasurer. Miss Nadine Runyan will be our sponsor. £Ct°ker forked ' e heavers to put the finishing touches on the float for coronation ceremonies. . . . Dorothy Merveldt. a sophomore like the rest of us. looking every bit the queen she was, was crowned by Dolmar Haun. football captain, who was so nettled he almost crowned an attendant instead.” October 14. 1935. Day of reckoning. Report cards were given out. Many pale-faced students sneaked home with ugly-looking U s, leaving others to marvel silently over S’s. while the class prodigies gurgled blissfully over coveted M’s -----all a part of our new grading system: U. unsatisfactory; S, satisfactory; M, merit, outstanding ....’’ “October 21, 1935. Girls club bids issued today .... awfully thrilling .... much joy and excitement .... and a That was a day to be remembered always. The girls fairly quaked with nervous excitement as those small white en- velopes containing Squaw, Pepett, Phi. B. M. C. and L. L. T. bids were quietly handed to them. After that the halls echoed with squeals and shrieks of club members who pinned ribbons on the pledges and rushed them off to celebrate. Of course, there were a few disappointments, but these were quickly swept away by the high spirits of everyone. . 1?36, ,argaret Lanman won second place in original oratory at the State National Forensic League con- test held in Chickasha today .... just another one of the smart sophomores ... (8)

Page 9 text:

J ’ I 1 1 1 ’ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ' r 1 HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY MR. REX KELLEY A. B.. Baylor University. Waco, Tex- as— Coach of Athletics and Spanish MISS BEA MANTOOTH A. B., M. A.. University of Oklaho- ma. Norman — History. Spanish, and Library MISS IRENE MARCH B. A.. University of Oklahoma. Nor- man: M. A., Columbia University. New York City. New York — Head of Modern Language Department MISS VIVIAN MATTOX A. B., University of Oklahoma, Nor- man — Head of Mathematics Depart- ment MISS MILDRED MEHEW A. B.. University of Oklahoma. Nor- man; M. A.. Columbia University. New York City. New York — Com- merce MR. RAY PORTER A. B., Southwestern. Winfield. Kan- sas; M. S.. University of Oklahoma. Norman — Biological Science MR. DELBERT SCOTT B. F. A.. Oklahoma City University; B. A., Southwestern. Winfield. Kan- sas; Ed. M.. University of Oklahoma. Norman — English MISS MAY SHANKLIN B. S., University of Oklahoma. Nor- man — Head of History Department MR. TOM SHIRLEY B. S., Oklahoma A. and M. College. Stillwater. Special student of Jaro- slav Cimera. Northwestern Univers- ity. Chicago. Illinois — Band and Or- chestra MR. JOHN WALDRIP B. S.. Southwestern State Teachers College. Weatherford; M. A.. Univer- sity of Oklahoma. Norman Head of Art Department MR. LOVORN F. WALKER B. S., Central State Teachers College. Edmond — Head of Industrial Arts Department MR. JOHN WOODWARD A. B.. M. A., University of Oklahoma. Norman — Mathematics (7)

Page 11 text:

“April 20, 1930. Several students attended the Interscholastic Meet at Norman. Edward W. Bell and Clara Ellen Waldo bringing home the bacon” this time. Edward, placing second in geometry, worked miracles with angles and parallels: and Clara Ellen, winning third place in Latin, convinced everyone there that what she didn't know about Caesar wasn't worth consideration. “May 1. 1936. Our spirits fell with the rain, but we moved all the fixin's down to the gym and had our May Day Fes- tival anyway, May Pole and everything. Mary Lee Finley, queen for a night, caused quite a stir, she looked so lovely. “May 15. 1936. Several sophomore girls were privileged to enter Fairyland this evening and acquaint themselves anew with the story of Cinderella. They served at the annual junior-senior banquet held in the high school gymnasium. “May 20. 1936. School is out. and one hundred and fifty would-be juniors welcome another summer vacation . . . . ” • “September 10. 1936. Rubbed elbows officially with the seniors today as the brotherly juniors. After all, us upper- classmen should stick together. We’re getting to be mighty important these days . . . . September 25. 1936. We elected Roy Faubion to serve as president of the class today; Bob Shuttee. vice-president: “Tony” Wallis, secretary, and Dorothy Merveldt, as treasurer, to safeguard any money which might happen our way . . . . ” “January 22. 1937. Junior play cast selected this afternoon by Miss Ruth Torpey, the director. The play, “Skidding , is a good one. and upon its success hinges the success of the banquet that it is now our turn to give the seniors. The cast it- self will warrant that—Bill Hendrix, Betty Fox, Helen Wick, Merwyn Smith, Helen Wallis, Georgia Kathryn Smith. Billy Oxford. Clarence Pearce, Olsen Hodges, and Willard Brame—they have talent and to spare. “February 4. 1937. We had our first assembly in the auditorium since it has been redecorated in lovely neutral colors. The tiny mural decorations depicting the history of El Reno in stencil figures caught everyone's eye for uniqueness.” February 18, 1937. The “big night arrived at last, and adoring mammas, papas and others gathered to watch us “skid- ding” smoothly through our class play, allowing only exits and entrances to interrupt its steady flow of polished, well-acted scenes.” “March 11, 1937. The whole town turned out for the annual high school operetta, Once in a Blue Moon.” Juanita Barrco. Dorothy Lee Smith, Mary Lee Finley, Evelyn Jennings and Louise Whitney warbled their best in the leading roles, and were supported by scores of other young Galli-Curcis and Lauritz Melchoirs. To be very modest about the success of the thing, nary a patron wanted his money back.” “April 1, 1937. Everybody who crowded into the gym tonight for the annual April Fool's Day Carnival had a “dclir- ous time and got thoroughly confettied. Our class was responsible for the freak show which won first place in the booth contest. Stuart MacSwain ran up the gate receipts as a hula-hula dancer. Royalty moved over, and Fairry Hamilton and Joe Slattery reigned as king and queen of this riotous affair. “April 7, 1937. Those judging the contests who entered the Tri-State Band Festival at Enid knew what they were doing when they rated Harry Porter first for his tenor saxophone solo. He’s a gift from the muses for said instrument. April 23, 1937. And here's that geometrically-inclined Edward W. Bell again, expounding all that Miss Vivian Mattox has taught him. at Norman at the State Interscholastic Meet, and literally shoving his peers into the shade. Excelled by none, he placed first.” May 14, 1937. If the seniors enjoyed it as much as we juniors enjoyed working on it. then we feel safe in saying that a grand time was had by all at the banquet we gave them tonight. The transformation of the high school gym was surpris- ing; it was a genuine three-ring circus, complete with real live animals in cages which lined the walls. (Confidentially, though. I think I recognized a little eighth-grader behind a monkey's mask.) Old Phineas T. Barnum himself would have felt right at home. We had but to observe the seniors’ pleased expressions to assure ourselves that those hours of painstak- ing labor in preparation had been well spent. May 20. 1937. School is out at last. We have shelved all thoughts of books and studying, and will rush headlong into another long summer vacation. We noticed that most of the seniors weren't quite so merry and gay about school's being out. Guess they “sorta hate to leave the old school!” • • • “September 1. 1937. Enrolled as a senior this morning. It doesn’t seem possible that three years have passed since we all enrolled as rowdy little freshmen, and that this is our last year in school. It’s going to feel rather strange not having someone to look up to as we have in the years past . . . . ” 25. 1937. Bob Shuttee and Roy Faubion traded places in the class election today. Bob will serve as pres- ic.ent. and Roy as vice-president. Dorothy Hensley was elected secretary, and Dorothy Merveldt will once more look after ;«? «,anc,al en 1 ° ll' n8s. Our head sponsor is Miss Josephine Edwards, who will be assisted in supervising our affairs by Miss Vivian Mattox. Mr. LoVorn Walker and Mr. Jack Douglas.” “October 8, 1937. Clarence Pearce is to be the editor of our school page, the Boomer, to be published weekly in the Tr- bune. Be wary. These news-hounds are ever with us. and anything you say, do or thinn may be reduced to inches and col- umns. to be read by the eyes of many. Olsen Hodges will keep the world informed about our doings through a weekly page in the American. High School Happenings. “February 22. 1938. Love Goes South for the night, and Clarence Pearce. Louise Whitney, Bob Porta and Olsen Hodges make the most of it. That is the name of the musical comedy presented this evening by the high school glee clubs. Louise lent her magic touch in helping design the costumes which brightened the production. “February 28. 1938. Something new, different and thoroughly interesting is the daily news broadcast which has been inaugurated by the creative writing class, with Bob Porta acting as student manager. “News While It Spews,” it’s called. (Continued on page 52) “ :: A MESSAGE TO THE SENIORS OF 1938 May I. in behalf of all the teachers you have ever had. express pride and pleasure in your accomplishments, rherc have been moments when you wondered why your teacher was so insistent, so exacting, perhaps so se- • • • Examine yourself today. . . . Whatever of fineness, of enduring worth or value, you find there is yours today because in the past someone—your parent, your teacher, your own nobler self—has forced you past handi- caps, over hurdles, and on the steady pull upward. We were kindest to you when we made you make good. You, henceforth, will be kindest to yourself as you compel yourself to do, always, the fine things you know you ought to do; to be, always, the fine individual you know you ought to be. As the ties that have bound you to active duty in your high school are severed this Commencement season, your teachers, all ot them through the years, will be wishing for you in all the future the most abundant life it is possible for you to know. PAUL R. TAYLOR, Superintendent of Schools. ............... mmm miimM .'1111 ... ............... .......mini iiiiiiiii limit J» (9)