English High School - Blue and Blue / Record Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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The English-Latin football fever hit the school as we prepared for the 71st annual Thanksgiving Day Classic. The Alumni Association held a rally, preceded by an enthusiastic student rally. It seems that the rally really did a lot of good: English 26 — Latin 20. This victory gave English a tie for the City Championship in football. After the Christmas vacation we returned to find the new gym floor. The old gym floor had been slicked down, polished, and shined until it was easier to fall down during Phys. Ed. It was an awesome sight to see this new basketball floor with Mr. Gillis, starry-eyed, polishing it. At the end of January, Mr. Ronan formed a new Athletic Captains Association, the members of which were to be elected each year by the homerooms. This association had the responsibility of organizing athletic games between homerooms and keeping the school informed of the activities of our Var¬ sity Teams. Late in March, the second annual E.H.S. Variety Show was presented for a one-day, limited engagement. Critics, students and guests were all pleased with the show. After their appearance on the E.H.S. stage the Variety Show moved to the Rialto Theatre in Scollay Square for a two-week engagement. Early in March, Mr. Arthur Evans, affection¬ ately known as “Chic,” and a devoted member of the Science Department, left on sick leave. Mr. Evans later passed away. May saw Prize Drill and “The Death March of the 1700 through the Fens Stadium.” SENIOR Supported by the theory of “strength in num¬ bers” the four hundred and fifty members of the Class of 1959 returned for “The Last Hurrah.” Shortly after the opening of the school year, the Senior Class, under the direction of “Doc” Frazier, elected class officers. After many hours of promises and threats, the following results were announced: Steven Fallon . President Don Kennedy . Vice-President Bob Ernst . Secretary-Treasurer Abe Haddad and Chet Sidell . Executive Committee Early in November we received our first set back — report cards. Flashes from the world of Sport . . . After capturing the city basketball championship, the EHS quintet dribbled its way into the Tech Tourney held at the Boston Garden. Unfortunately they lost. Coach Gillis later ex¬ plained, “When the English team was first entered in the tourney the officials at the Garden felt that the only team which could be fairly matched against us was the Celtics.” (Seriously, we were beaten by Everett High) . . . The EHS hockey team was similarly beaten by Malden High . . . The indoor track team sparkled with returnees from last year’s championship team and won an¬ other Reggie. Carrying their enthusiasm to White Stadium, they later captured the outdoor crown.

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duly elected by the student body, efficiently set to work and new shiny mirrors were soon installed. This same law-making body decided to set up en¬ trance examinations which each applicant con¬ sidered for future enrollment would have to pass. Sports wise . . . Latin defeated our eleven, 19-12; the basketball and hockey team survived with respectable records. The surprise of the year came when Mr. Elmer Phelps, the Iron man of English High, retired. Having completed two years of our high school career at English, we looked forward to two more. Hmmmmmm. JUNIOR At the beginning of our third year, everyone was either talking about, suffering with, or spreading the Asian Flu. In November, we all regretted the death of Colonel Meanix, who was only briefly seen by us at the beginning of our Sophomore Year. The price of milk was raised from two to three cents. Inflation! The immediate reaction of the typical E.H.S. student was, “Is that right?” From Russia came the earth-shaking news of the first successful launching of an earth satellite, Sputnik I. Soon to follow was Sputnik II and Muttnik. These events had a profound effect on our curriculum. Mathematics and the Sciences became an integral part of our studies. It should also be mentioned that since the launching of Sputnik I, no English High School man has skipped a Math or Science period. In October, Mr. Devore led a group of arch¬ patriots to the U.N. building in New York City to observe the action. One day in November, Captain Fisher, tears pouring from both eyes, came into 303 and an¬ nounced with bursting pride “WE have a hard top pavement in the back yard—and it was made es¬ pecially for drilling . . .” At the same time, the Class of 1913 honored the Alma Mater with a stone in memory of those students of The English High School who died for their country. The stone was placed out on the left front lawn and was immediately surrounded with shrubbery. It was so well surrounded by shrubbery that on the day of Dedication Exercises, Captain Fisher, on an order from Mr. Malone, sent out a regiment of his favorite cadets to find it. We also acquired a statue from the old building on Montgomery Street, too. In one corner of the assembly hall four plaques were hung, each depicting one of the freedoms mentioned in the Bill of Rights.

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Class Dues, Activities Fund, Yearbook pictures, now what? WHAT? No we don’t wanna put an ad in this Thanksgiving Day program. Wha d’ya mean it’s a diploma requirement? Thanksgiving Day-Well, at least we were in the program. On March 29, 1959, Joseph L. Malone, in asso¬ ciation with Mr. I. Michael Sallen and members of the student body, presented the Third Annual EHS Variety Show before a capacity crowd. Small situation comedy skits, interestingly written and superbly executed were interwoven with music, and dance numbers to provide a well-rounded program. Each year “The Varieties” becomes more and more successful, both in entertainment and financial aspects. Career Days highlighted the early part of the month of March. Interesting speakers from all fields of endeavor, many of whom were former graduates from this school, spoke to members of the Senior class. Highlighting the exercises was the appearance of five exchange students from Needham High . . . HIGHLIGHT? three boys, two girls. OH! In April, all eyes of the fashion world turned to English High for the First Annual Fashion Show to benefit the Home and School Association Schol¬ arship Fund. Turkey Dinner, mashed potatoes, banana fritters —no it’s not the menu prepared by our pretty colleens in the spacious lunchroom. It’s the menu for the 3rd Annual Home Coming Banquet. Present were many noted sports figures and prom¬ inent alumni. Prize Drill came and, as usual, things ran smoothly. Congratulations! We won the Schoolboy Parade! After four years of saving and waiting, the Prom was held at the Hotel Statler. The problem of finding adequate parking space made the evening even more interesting. It was certainly an inspiring sight to see certain fellow students wearing clean shirts, pressed pants and ties not rented from the office. Graduation exercises on June 4th at North¬ eastern brought our careers at English to a mo¬ mentous conclusion.