Francis Joseph Reitz High School - Reflections Yearbook (Evansville, IN)

Page 12 text:

It Out Panther Pride members just couldn't stop being Peppy for Football Sec- tionals. Panthers! The new Peppy became an important part of Pep Assemblies. Pep Assemblies Spark True Blue Spirit When Pep Assemblies were taken away from area schools, students protested. At Reitz, something was done. Panther Pride was formed. Unlike most organizations, Panw ther Pride works hard but isnit recognized. Buttons, Ban- ners and Peppy the Panther are a few of the things this group has achieved. Unfortunately, all the hard work from Panther Pride, teachers, band members, and cheerleaders has not done as much good as it should. The reason is the poor spirit shown by students. During the few pep assem- blies awarded to us, students sat and laughed at their peers that did their best to get support for the school. Luckily, though, the hard work hasn't failed. During Football and Basketball games, the teams benefitted from their crowds, and thats why all this hard work is done. The cheerleaders, as they traditionally do, led the assem- blies with many dances and cheers.

Page 11 text:

Humphm Natl ' Mun; KATA, lnnh. Mmturl unpoctod Headlines proclaimed the space shuttle tragedy to everyone, even high school students, who were awaiting the flight. Motorists couldn't help but stare as they passed by the construction site of the new Mead Johnson's office building. A trolley is just as much fun to drive as students feel it is to ride. Will there be a strike? That question was on all minds in February and March as the teachers and the School Board took nearly nine months to reach a contract agreement. They came to an understanding just one day before a walkout. Next to the personalness of the strike story, the most shocking news was the destruction of the space shuttle. The first civilian in space was a school teacher, Christa McAuliffe, from New Hamphsire. The seven challenger crew mem- bers died in the explosion watched by millions over a nationwide television broadcast. This was also the year that Main Street was reconstructed. Despite controversy about the projects value, the city tore down parts of Downtown to put bricks on the street, and start a trolley car to give the area an atmosphere of the 1930's, with a 1980's touch. Construction on Division and Riverside continued to disrupt ev- eryone, but Mead Johnson began construction on a new building near the school that promises future jobs for many Panthers. Some people said it would never happen, but gasoline prices dropped below a dollar for un- leaded. Some said we never have to worry about a poisoned local environment either, but across the Ohio river, a PCB processing plant was approved and the fight between environmental- ists families and plant officials began.

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Reitz High School stands at the top of a hill, overlooking the eity of Evansville. Our School 5 PJ. Reitz High School would not be here today if it had not been for members of the Centennial School Mothers Club, under the leadership of Mrs. CF. Werner who were concerned with the education of their children. In 1913 Children did not have to attend sehool beyond the sixth grade. Almost oneehalf of the pupils graduating from Centennial Elementary School did not continue in sehool attei that pomt. Grades seven through twelve were only offered at Evansville High School which was located downtown. Many West Side mothers eouldn t afford the street car fare or the lunch money it would take for their children to attend the Uptown School. The mothers wanted a school which would offer seventh and eighth grade with possibly ninth and tenth grades being added later, where their children could complete their edmation tlmer to home. After much deliberation on Januai y 30, 1017, the Superintendent of Schools, LP. Benezet and the school board approved the site of Forest Hills four after the mothers stat ted their drive. No one seemed to question the building being built on top of a honeycomb of underground mine tunnels. The Forest Hills site WdS then eommonly Ivtcriul to aK Coal Mine Hill. The new school would consist of two stories and a basement; brick and stone with fluted columns supporting itx tmnt entrante. unp- The t-irat emnerstnne was laid on Novemlwr 3, 1017. The next day, the Evansville Courier stated, . . . A beautiful building is to be built in one of Natures nohltwt path on an eminente that will eommand a view for miles around. It will be a showcase for the city .., It means that a better, finer manhood and womanhood is to he developed here in the city. The new w luml was named in ltunm ml lldnt ix Joseph Reitz, the city's leading banker and civic benefactor. He was instrumental in the sale of the bonds For the building. He in probably the unlj; person in the United States today having two high schools in the same city bearing his name. W'hen the m hnol ymi opened in 1015 the building was not yet completed. No walks were poured so the students had to walk on planks to keep out Of the mud The only entrant e that k miltl he iN-tl was in the rearr The front steps had not yet been poured. The basement floor was the only one ready so all classea were held there vxu-pt gym, whnh wax held on the hill top where the student parking lot is now located. There were 287 pupils enrolled in the new NtlIOUl. Lighty-tive of these were high school students and 202 were seventh and eighth graders. In 1921, the tint graduating tlass tonxistetl wt 21 etutlvnts. Sinee then, l l, Reitx lllglt chunl has IlHt'n tiom an enrollment of 287 to the 1986 enrollment of 1,345. Stutlentx ilHlxt'Ll hit it And they have it hat L, That ia a Human Relations Club. About twenty-five students met each Tuesday for l the revival ot' one ml the xthtml s ultler tluhs. New members were always welcome. I The eluh sponsoietl a banquet in! the teachers in November and had a tutoring program to help kids around school. Originally the tluh was for blank students only. It was a Club to help them adjust to intergration in a new school. The club has l changed over the yeah and is now a elub for any students interested in helping and understanding others and themselves better. l The color of a person's skin is not important to membership ! First Row: Melody Pfender, Terri 4 Mormon, Second Row: Billie Werner, Ali Ward, Julie Ward, Christine Wag- ner, Sherry Fleming, Third Row: Lynette Lynfers, Cor- etta Hicks, Raqueul Williams, Staci Gibson, Alycia Boston, Shel- ly Hobby, Fourth Row: Mrs. Jackson, Toni Hickman, Maurice Mayes, Candi Sanders, Lee Northington, Demi- tries Crow.