Grafton High School - Re Echo Yearbook (Grafton, WV)

Text from Pages 1 - 72 of the 1944 volume:

I The Senior Class of Grafton Senior High School Presents the Re-Echo Yearbook of the Class of ’44 Editor, Dottie Lou Sterling Asst. Editor, Robt. Stout Bus. Mgr. Mildred Newcome FOREWORD 1 N THE PRESENTATION of this book, we, the members of the Re-Echo staff, sincerely hope that it will hold dear all the cherished memories of the school year 1943-1944. In it, we have tried to refreshen to you all the activities and accomplishments of your school life. Whenever reminiscencing through the Re-Echo in the years to come, remember that it is your yearbook, your school and your memories, and may you always receive a reservoir of endless content. DEDICATION w, E, the Senior Class of Grafton High School, dedicate the '44 edition of the Re-Echo to members of the class now serving in all branches of the armed forces. This is our way of expressing our thanks and appreciation of the sacrifice they are making for us. These boys have given up a much needed education so that they might aid in defending our country, its people and all the American rights. We are well aware of the peril in which these boys are placed in this bloody conflict between might and right. Our earnest prayer is that you may all return to Grafton High School only to find it better for all of your sacrifices. Tiro BOARD OF KDUCATION R. Virgil Rohrbough, A. B., M. A., came to Grafton as a principal arid served in that capacity at East Grafton and First Ward for ten years. He was appointed Assistant Superintendent in 1935 and served continuously until September, 1942, when he was appointed Superintendent. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairmont State College in 1935 and his Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University in 1941. Mrs. Delores Bolin Curry received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Glenville State College in 1937 and her Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University in 1941 and did post graduate work at West Virginia University. She has been an efficient and well liked teacher, teaching at Wendel, East Grafton, West Grafton, Grafton Junior High, and Grafton Senior High. In 1943 the hoard appointed her for this position of Assistant Superintendent. The Taylor County Board of Education consists of five members who are selected on a non-partisan ballot for a six year term. They are selected by the people, as their qualified representatives, to see that satisfactory standards and policies are adapted and carried out. Arthur G. Yates, a banker, is president of the hoard. The other members are: J. Lee Evans, who owns and operates a furniture store; William A. Collins, employee of the Imperial Ice Cream Company; Paul P. Warden, a physician; Fred Carder, engaged in farm work, served on the board the first half of the year. He resigned February I, 1944 and was replaced by Harold K. Debendarfer, owner and proprietor of Tourist Camp, who was appointed for the unexpired term. Three Kenneth Haun; A.B., M.A. Principal Fairmont S. T. C. W. Va. University Mary Jean Abbott; A.B. Science W. Va. University Fairmont S. T. C. Barbara Cather; A.B. Language W. Va. University Columbia University Hazel Cole; A.B. Biology W. Va. Wesleyan Fairmont S. T. C. Laura Fries; A.B., A.M. Bible. Latin. English W. Va. University biblical Seminary in N. Y. Columbia University Sherman Haselden; A.B.. A.M. Typing. Salesmanship. Business Law W. Va. University W. Va. Wesleyan W. Va. Business Robert Clayton; A.B. Registrar Am. History W. Va. Wesleyan Ruth Batten; A.B., A.M. English W. Va. University Duke University Mildred Newlon Cleavenger; A.B.. A.M. Am. History Glenville Normal Broaddus College Fairmont S. T. C. W. Va. University Duke University Nellie Cook; A.B., A.M. Home Economics Fairmont S. T. C. W. Va. University Duke University Columbia University Mi’dred Haddox; A.B. Speech, English W. Va. University Gladys Hickman; A.B. Commerce bowling Green College of Commerce Fairmont S. T. C. Four Geneva Hilkey; A.B. Civic , Government, Commercial Geography Fairmont S. T. C. Duke University W. Va. University Charles McDade; A.B. Physical Education. Coach Fairmont S. T. C. W. Va. University Ida Dorsey Parsons; B.S.H.E., MS. Home Economics W. Va. University Iowa S. T. C. Columbia University Chicago University Cornell University Robert Sloan; A.B. Athletic Director Industrial Arts George Peabody College Fairmont S. T. C. Minette Watkins; H.B., A.M. Librarian Wilson College W. Va. University Columbia University Grace White; A.B. English Fairmont S. T. C. George Peabody College W. Va. University University of Colorado Gail Luzader Mathematics Salem College Fairmont S. T. C. W. Va. University Betty Rose Miller; B.M. Music W. Va. University Katherine Shepler; A.B. Social Science Fairmont S. T. C. W. Va. University University of Pennsylvania California S. T. C. Festus Waggoner; B.S.A.G.R. Vo-Ag, General Shop W. Va. University Florence White; A.B. English Fairmont S. T. C. Broadaus College W. Va. University Ruby Ramsey Withers; A.B., A.M. English. Journalism Glenville S. T. C. W. Va. University Fire Klayde Spaur Wolfe; A.B., A.M. Civics Fairmont S. T. C. Glenville S. T. C. W. Va. University Virginia Yost; A.B. Mechanical Drawing, Art Fairmont S. T. C. A. V. Yoho; A.B. Geometry, Algebra Fairmont S. T. C. W. Va. University Margaret Grinnen Secretary to Principal Grafton High School Clarksburg Business College UNPHOTOGRAPHED Mildred Bord; A.B., M.S. Physical Ed. Fairmont S. T. C. W. Va. University Effie M. Watson Bookkeeping, Junior Business Training Sioc Seven SENIOR CLASS HISTORY “Oops, wrong class.’ I just know that this locker wont open! Oh, there it is. I do declare that 1 marked that combination a dozen times” — Such were the expressions of our own class only four years ago when we entered as the first class to begin the year at the new Grafton High School. With Mr. H. E. Odgers as our new principal, we soon became accustomed to the activity in the school. Classes, football games, dances and such, started our “green” freshman year off right. We were very proud after the announcement of honors in the contest plays. Our own Nancy Curry was awarded the title of best actress for portraying the part of the “Little Darling”. The supporting cast included Elizabeth Doerr, Betty Hoffman, Donald Poling, Richard Brown, and Betty Tucker. Nancy Curry was also voted one of our cheerleaders. The rest of the year went by calmly and almost uneventful. We left in May. only to return in September as Sophomores, progressive and perhaps, even a little bit conceited. We painted the meek freshmen as we had been painted with the huge tubes of blood-red lipstick. We started things off by electing our officers — Paul Defenbaugh. president; Dick Brown, vice president; and Betty Tucker, secretary-treasurer. Again we entered in the contest plays with a comedy, “Tommy Takes a Wife”, directed by Tippic Demoss. The cast included Betty Hoffman. Betty Tucker. Virginia Debendarfer. Elizabeth Doerr. Norman Bragg, and Ronald Bartlett. Of course, we thought we had the best play but the judges decided differently and we were sadly disappointed. By the end of the year we were well known and many of us had been selected to join various organizations. Our Junior year was full of many responsibilities so we selected “Dutch” Frey to head our class as president. Paul Defenbaugh, vice president and “Tuffy” bragg as secretary-treasurer. “Dutch” ably guided us for awhile but left school to join the armed forces and was succeeded by Dabney. Our biggest problem was to raise funds in order to give the Seniors a successful prom, one which would not be readi.y forgotten. We really worked hard sponsoring several school dances — some held after the football games. The larger part of our funds were made when we had a magazine campaign with the home rooms and individuals competing with each other. Miss Calkers home room came out on top selling the most magazines, after which they were rewarded by having a party. Ellen Jane Wiseman was the outstanding individual sel.ing high in hte campaign and won a radio. Christmas time rolled around and we stuck to the tradition of the junior class sponsoring the Christmas dance. With a huge beautifully decorated Christmas tree to offset the holiday atmosphere, everything went well and our respective funds were increasing. Time flew through basketball season and on to play time. Our contest play was “Elmer” a hilarious comedy which was directed by Bill Watkins with Jack Crane, Virginia Debendarfer, Eugenia Stevens. Dottie Lou Sterling. Avanell Denton, Frances Stevens, Virginia Freeze, Bob Stout, and Carl Brown as the cast. Were we ever thrilled when we won best play. The annual class play was directed by Mrs. Haddox which was a comedy entitled “June Mad.” After all the long hours of work and fun of practice it really went over with a “hang.” The cast included Nancy Curry, Norman Bragg, Betty Hoffman, Jimmy Weekly. Lloyd Elsey, Bettie Phillips. Eugenia Steven, Carl Crawford, Dottie Lou Sterling, Robert Stout, Jack Crane, Lois Sapp, and Lloyd Nestor. And then came our long awaited for Junior and Senior Reception. We kept patriotic and decorated with red. white and blue. The Field House was quite picturesque with a false ceiling and streamers surrounding the exterior of the gym. The king and queens thrones were also. Everything was gay and festive as we danced to Joe La Rosas orchestra. The highlight of the evening was the crowning of King Claude Dunham and the Queen Margaret Alice Waggoner, and the grand march of their court. The Prince’s and Princess’s from our class were Dottie Lou Sterling, Lorraine McAvoy, Lois Sapp, Betty Hoffman, Virginia Dehendarfer, and Eugenia Stevens. Donald Poling. Bob Stout, Dale McDaniel, Norman Bragg, and Jack Crane. A skating exhibition was given by Calvin Morrisson, Bob Clem, and Dale McDaniel. Due to our excess funds for this year, we, along with the Senior class bought the electric scorer and time keeper for the Field House. This brought to close our memories of our Junior Year. Our Senior year at last. But really the past three years have gone terribly fast, and it would be fun to be a Freshman again. Or would it Football games, school dances, dates, classes examinations, all these activities composed the first part of our busy senior year. We sponsored a football dance after the Grafton-R. W. Football game and the Thanksgiving-Home Coming Dance. The election of class officers was our first means of reorganizing for another school year, when we elected Bob Stout as president; Elizabeth Doerr, vice president; and Martha Rector, secretary-treasurer. Our p ay entered in the contest play was ’Swept Clean Off Her Feet” under the direction of Lloyd E sey. The cast was composed of Lois Sapp. Ronald Bartlett, Jimmy Ford, Bob Vogel, Natalie Dowden, and Beatrice Linn. Ronnie Bartlett had the honor of being chosen best actor. Lois Sapp was chosen by our class to represent our schoo as princess of Y. M. C. A. Salem College Festival. On May 12, we presented our class play, “The Magnificent Obsession ' which was directed by Miss Batten. It was a deep dramatic play with the following cast: Eugenia Stevens. Maxie Rogers, Dottie Lou Sterling, L.oyd Elsey Jimmy Weekley, Bob Stout. Nancy Curry, Natalie Dowden, and Jack Crane. We se.ected Eugenia Stevens as our princess to represent our school at the Band Festival at Clarksburg. On May nineteenth we put on our best suits and new evening gowns and were the proud guests of the juniors at the Junior-Senior Reception with music by Johnny Born’s orchestra. The next week brought exams and Recognition Day and on to our one and only graduation. On May twenty-sixth we presented our class night before our families and friends. May twenty-eighth we attended our Commencement Sermon in a body and three days later, on the thirty-first we received our diplomas. We leave school with cherished memories and many friends. A large number of our boys went into the service before school was out, many more will go now. We have all taken a big step in our lives and will always be able to reminise over our glorious high school days with much pride. Eight Mary Alford Laura Auvil Betty Jane Bartlett GAA Basketball Dorothea Doretta Boice Glee Club Bearcat Carl Brown Re-Echo BRC Honor Society Norman Bragg Hi-Y, President Letterman Thespians Bearcat Rifle Club Football Basketball Secretary Jr. Class Maxine Cline Ronald Bartlett Thespians Athletic Ticket Committee Joe Boyd Hi-Y Marie Brown GAA Bearcat Dale Chenoweth Band Orchestra Honor Society Guy Cole BRC Rifle Club Glee Club Re-Echo Nine Albert Colebank Beatrice Cunningham Clifford Cutright Football Lyle Decker National Honor Society (V.P.) Basketball Billie DeMoss Bearcat Avanelle Denton Band Hec Tec Girl Reserves Bearcat GAA John Crane Thespians Student Council Boys' Glee Club Football Hi-Y BRC Nancy Curry Basketball GAA Commercial Club, Secretary Bearcat Staff Cheerleader 41-42-43 Thespians Contest Play Director Girl Reserves Best Actress (Freshman) Virginia Debendarfer Quill 6c Scroll (Vice-Pres.) GAA (Vice-Pres.) Girl Reserves Thespians (Wardrobe) Honor Society Band---Majorette Bearcat Staff Re-Echo Staff Paul Defenbaugh Hi-Y Basketball National Honor Society Football Letterman Club President Junior Class Vice-Pres. Sophomore Summie DeMoss GAA Basketball Elirabeth Doerr Vice-Pres. Senior Class Hec Tec Ten Natalie Dowden Girl Reserve GAA Hec Tec Bearcat Lloyd Elsey Thespians Contest Play Director Joseph Fawcett James Ford Bearcat ReEcho Band Virginia Freeze Joseph Funk Eileen Edwards Bearcat Commercial Club Re-Echo Ray David Everley Library Science Club Minerology Club Band Paul Flanagan Shirley Jean Francis Re-Echo Commercial Club Honor Society Dorothy Frey Girl Reserves Commercial Club Re-Echo Athletic Ticket Committee Avanelle Furr Carder Eleven Reynolds Gall Band Boys Glee Club Rifle Club Re-Echo Lawrence Gennette Lettermen Football Marine Reserves Betty Jean Grimm GAA Basketball Ruth Haislop GAA Rifle Club Bearcat Re-Echo Basketball Lewis Hebb Student Council Norma Jeffries Jean Gans Fred Gerkin Lettermen Football Ruby Haddix Hec Tec Betty Lee Hoffman Honor Society, Treasurer Thespians, Vice President Re-Echo Bearcat Quill and Scroll, President Director Contest Play Girl Reserves, President Athletic Ticket Committee Student Council GAA Rose Mary Idoni June Jeffries Honor Society, Secretary Re-Echo Student Council Girl Reserves, Secretary Commercial Club T vcelve Reginald Johnson Betty Mae Kenner Barbara Jean Kcmple Hec Tec Bearcat Delores Kincaid ReEcho Gladys Kirby GAA Margaret Kostelac Re-Echo Washington Irving Girl Reserves Choral Club L ktin Club Service Club Bessie Jones Honor Society Commercial Club Girl Reserves GAA Re-Echo Basketball Mary Alice Kelly Helen Jeanne Kiger band Orchestra Bearcat Helen Kinter Helen Knight Commercial Club Re-Echo Paul Lambert Thirteen Beatrice Mae Linn Honor Society Glee Club Orchestra Band Rifle Club GAA Quill 6c Scroll Bearcat Student Council Basketball Calvin Louden Floyd Marshall Re-Echo Harold Miller W. Vincent Moats Dale McDaniel Betty Long Quill 6c Scroll, Sec.-Treas. Student Council, Secretary Athletic Ticket Committee GAA Girl Reserves, Reporter Bearcat David Lucas Rosella Marshall GAA Re-Echo Jane Miller Glee Club Re-Echo Lorraine McAvoy Girl Reserves Hec Tec GAA Glee Club Re-Echo Athletic Ticket Committee Paul McIntosh Fourteen Florence Morgan Girl Reserves Hec Tec Bearcat Re-Echo Athletic Ticket Committee Harold Neal FFA Betty Gail Newbrough Girl Reserves Honor Society Ruby Peters Rose Mary Poe Commercial Club Donald Poling Band Thespians Basketball Lettermen Re-Echo Orchestra Janice Myres Honor Society, Reporter Girl Reserves Bearcat Paul Nestor Hi-Y Letterman Football Mildred Newcome Honor Society Girl Reserves. Vice-Pres. Re-Echo, Business Manager Commercial Club. Pres. GAA Athletic Ticket Committee Bettie Lou Phillips Bearcat, Editor Thespians Deraid Poling George Poling Fifteen Hailie Preston Martha Rector Sec. Senior Class Honor Society Girl Reserves Bearcat Re-Echo GAA Helen Riggleman Commercial Club Re-Echo Violet Jean Robinson Hec Tec, President Mary Ellen Roof Girl Reserves Honor Society GAA Bearcat Band Orchestra Lois Gene Sapp Hec Tec GAA Student Council Girl Reserves, Treasurer Athletic Ticket Committee Glee Club Ann Elizabeth Rau Girl Reserves Re-Echo Glee Club Billie Ann Ridenour Re-Echo Bearcat GAA Commercial Club Eugene Ringler Football Manager Maxie Rogers Harriet Joan Saffel Re-Echo Commercial Club Honor Society Cathlene Saucer Bearcat Re-Echo Quill and Scroll Honor Society Sixteen Marcelene Saucer Beracat Re-Echo Quill flc Scroll William Simmons Frances Stevens Girl Reserves Bearcat GAA Basketball Robert Stout President Senior Class Thespians Vice-Pres. Student Council Honor Society Band Hi-Y Bearcat Staff Re-Echo Staff, Asst. Editor Director Jr. Contest Play Myrtha Shaffer Mildred Sinsel Joan Snyder Band Eugenia Stevens Hec Tec Thespians Girl Reserves. Asst. Sec. Glee Club Bearcat Ticket Committee Dottie Lou Sterling Honor Society Thespians, Sec.-Treas. Girl Reserves, Reporter Re-Echo, Editor GAA Band Basketball Quill fic Scroll Paul Swisher Football Letterman Basketball Seventeen Martha Tansill Virginia Ruth Thomai Charles Tighe Band Boys’ Glee Club Laurenna Tucker Robert Vogel Rifle Club Anna Mary Weaver Charles West Student Council Hec Tec, Mascot Alice Trader Commercial Club Robert Tucker Re-Echo Lettermen Football Minnie Watson James Harry Weekley Thespians Boys Glee Club Bearcat, Associate Editor James White Eighteen Fred William Carolyn Wither GAA Robert Wyckoff Ellen Jane Wiseman Band Asst. Sec. to the Principal Helen Wyckoff Ann Zorick GAA Re-Echo Basketball SENIORS UNPHOTOGRAPHED Paul Dwyer Genevieve Molisee Adrian Poling Bernice Roger Anna Lee Tri ler Sylvia William Frances Leota Gull Jack McCuc Sylvia Poling Juanita Thorn Dorothy William Wanda Wilson Nineteen BOYS IN SERVICE One of our most versatile seniors, Carl Crawford, was active in numerous school activities. He played football, basketball and was a member of the Lettermans Club. “Bruno” was a member of the National Thespians, Hi-Y, Band and the Bearcat staff. He is now serving in the Army Air Corp. ft Always pleasant. That’s our George “Basil” Delaney. “Basil ’ was an actice member of our football squad and well liked by everybody. He is doing his part in the Navy. “I’m in the Navy now,” says Willis Junior Hebb. Buck was one of our outstanding football players and a member of the lettermans club. Walter Ralph Musgrove is serving with the Coast Guard. “Mussy” played football and was a member of the Lettermans Club and secretary for the Future Farmers of America. Lloyd Burton Nestor was a member of the Future Farmers of America and took part in all their activities. He is a member of the Army. The boy with the likable personality is Martin Luther Richman, who is serving in the Army Air Corp. Luther was a member of our basketball team and displayed true sportsmanship. Charles Dennis Swisher is another Navy man. Although quiet, he had that “stuff” that gets ’em. “Swish” was captain of our football team and a member of the Lettermans Club and the Student Council. Hugh Everett Wagner had a somewhat quiet manner and was pleasing and agreeable in class and out. Hugh is a proud “gob” in the Navy. Rarely did we ever see Percy Weaver without that happy smiling face. Percy was a member of the Future Farmers of America and is now in the Navy. Fred Lewis Williams is serving in the Army. His leadership ability led him to the office of assistant president of the Future Farmers of America. Harold Miller was a member of the band and really pepped things up with his snappy drumbeat. Harold always liked dancing and fun. He wanted to see the world — so he is in the Navy. Happy-go-lucky describes Norman Deakin. Norman played football and was a member of the Lettermans Club. He supervised the liming and care of the football field before games. He is in the Marine Corp now. Cecil Nicola was one of our star players in football and basketball. He earned his gold sweater and letter and was a member of the Lettermans Club. ’’Nick” is rendering his services in the Navy. Other boys in the service from the senior class are Forest Edwards, Army; Deraid Poling, Navy; James Woodyard, Navy; and Dick Brown, Army. All the boys were presented with gold testaments from the senior class upon their departure. Twenty Twenty-one JUNIOR CLASS HISTORY In September of 41, we entered Grafton Senior High School with much amazement and disappointment. We seemed to be looked down upon by all other classes, our lockers refused to open for us, our faces were painted with lipstick, and we were lost in long corridors in between each change of class. Yes, it really seemed that we were mistreated by all, but gradually we seemed to catch on to the general routine, which was a great help to all, not only the students, but also the teachers. When, at last, we became acquainted with our fellow class mates we took time to elect our class officers; Charles Evans, president; Betty McVicker, vice-president; and Dick Watkins, secretary-treasurer. “Blessed Are They directed by Wayne Dougherty was our contest play. The members of the cast consisted of Dick Watkins, Harriet Dempsey, Warner Phillips. Florence Seymore, Betty Purinton, Jack Me Dargh, and Miriam Friedman. Dick Watkins, portraying the part of an old man, an atheist won recognition for himself by being chosen best actor. Our freshman year was spent largely in becoming adopted to high school life. After a time we found out the different clubs we were eligible for: the grades required for exemptions, and, last but not least, the many good times one can have in high school. Well — here it is September once again but quite different from the last, we are now Sophomores, not looked down upon, quite so much by the upper classman. Knowing our mix-up when we were freshmen, we tried to be much easier on the new freshman class, just a little joke-playing and painted. William beavers, Charles Evans, and Irma Jean Tingler were chosen as our class leaders, who proved themselves to be quite capable of their positions. As our contest play this year, we presented a thrilling hair-raising mystery, “The White Phantom, directed by Helen Gay. The cast consisted of June Loar. Martha Holloway, Warner Phillips, Jean Welsh, Richard Warne, Virginia Rosier, and Richard Withers. Although we won no recognition this year, we tried hard, and had much fun practicing. By the end of this year many of our class were taking part in the activities of the school. Mary Kay Withers and Helen Harper, two of the more enthusiastic classmates, were elected cheer leaders, while many of our boys became active in the sports. Yes, our class did have much to be proud of. At last, we are Juniors and honest to goodness upper classmen. We really started out making history this year. Being customary for the Junior class to sponsor the Junior Senior Reception, we started out at the beginning of the year to raise the finances. As our first social event, we held a victory dance immediately after the Philippi-Grafton football game. Serving as a Hollcween dance also, the gymnasium was colorfully decorated with orange and black crepe paper streamers, pumpkins and corn shocks which added much attraction. As in the past, we had a magazine campaign in which the juniors homerooms competed. Miss Watkins' homeroom won first place and was awarded with a silk American flag. The individual first prize, a $25.00 war bond, was presented to Bertha Saffel. Other individual prizes were won by Jane Chrislip and Richard Warne, respectively. Certificates of Achievement were awarded to those who sold ten or more subscriptions Those so honored were Bertha Saffel, Richard Warne, Jane Chrislip and Joe Talago. The magazine sale campaign proved very successful and a large profit was made. Another money making scheme was the Annual Junior Christmas party, colorfully decorated with even a Santa Claus, who gave gifts to all the good boys and girls. Class officers this year were Jerry Pepper, president; Dick Watkins, vice-president; Irma Jean Tingler, secretary-treasurer. A hilarious comedy, dealing with rationing problems entitled, “Paul Faces the Tire Shortage , directed by Bob Stout was our contest play. The stars were Dick Warne, Buddy Yost, Helen Harper, Clyde Norris, Virginia Rosier, and Martha Holloway. Many of our class members have shown prominence on our athletic teams; Bill Russell. Bob Moran, Jerry Pepper, and Edward Knipple were on the football squad; while, these three, and Rogers McAvoy are members of the basketball team. Betty McVicker, Annis Lee Davis, Irma Jean Tingler, Martha Holloway, sponsors, and Jean Welsh, majorette, have coveted positions in the high school band. The Junior Class Play, “My Man Godfrey , one of Longman's 4- Star Hollywood Play Series, was under the direction of Mrs. Haddox. The play, a comedy, starred Howard Fast, Florence Seymour, Frances Fawley, Martha Holloway, Glen Bartlett. Annis Lee Davis, Jane Chrislip. Billie Proudfoot, Warner Phillips, Dick Moran, Mabel Lee Patton, Clyde Norris, Robert Clem and Clifford boylen. This play has been out for amateurs for only a short time. The Junior Senior Reception ended our activities for this year, but we are now looking forward to another glorious year ---- this time as Seniors. Twenty-two Mr. Haselden Mr. Yoho Mrs. Haddox Mrs. Parson Miss Watkins Twenty-three SOPHOMORE CLASS HISTORY-’43-’44 During the year 42-'43 the present Sophomore Class elected the following officers: Anne Vance, President: Etta Frances. Vice-President; and Barbara Donley, Secretary-Treasurer. With these officers in charge the class made some valuable contributions to the school s credit, taking part in various athletics and having a very high standard of scholarship. Under the direction of Doris Waugh, a senior, the play ‘Not To Night was given with the following characters: Daughter—— Aldene Beagle; Boy-Friend— Charles Denton; Aunt—Etta Frances; Father—Hugh Fordyce; Mother—Mary Louise Haskins. This year they continued to show their abilities leadership of Wayne Knotts. President; William Myers. Vice-President; and Jean Decker, Secretary-Treasurer. A contest play, directed by Nancy Curry, entitled The House of Greed provided plenty of thrills and excitement for an enthusiastic audience. The play opened with the murder of Letitia Roberts, a wealthy spinster, played by Etta Frances and with everyone having a justifiable reason for instigating her death. Detective Leonard Collins attempted to find the murderer and to everyone's surprise succeeded. Dorothy Burnside played the part of n servant to perfection while Phyllis Long was a convincing widow. Charles Denton was a nephew of Miss Roberts, and Emily Malone was an actress, with Hugh Fordyce being a perfect salesman. The play made a stirring sensation. Miss Cole Miss Grace White Twenty-ft Mr . Yost Mrs. Wolfe Mrs. Luzader Mr. McDade T wcnty-six Twenty seven THE HISTORY OF THE FRESHMEN CLASS The Freshman Class of 43-44 did not elect any officers hut we have found that it wasn't because the members lacked initiative or ambition. According to our honor records this class has been one ranking very high in scholastic standing. Then when the different classes vied for honors in the contest plays, Marian Hollis who played the leading part in “Land of the Free,” won honors, the title of best actress. This play along with other contest plays was enacted on February 25th. Marion, as Gretchen, was a charming German refugee who resided with Judge and Mrs. Fisher. Paul Waggoner and Chrys-tal Wooddell. Gretchen was perplexed at the carefree American way of living. Her fear of Judge Fisher was banished when he induced Mickey, portrayed by Warren Outright, to tread the beaten path. The supporting cast included Jean Bott, Terry Hcir-onimus, Helen McDermott, Mary Vogel, and Charles Bartlett as neighbor’s children and Joe Staley as truant officer. Miss Cook Miss Fries T went yeight Miss Abbott Miss Hilkey Miss Florence White Mrs. Withers Twenty-nine THE SENIOR CLASS PROPHECY This prophetic document is to inform you, dear reader, how all the twills, eye-fillers, heels, bags, sacks, alcoholic , rats, 4-F s, wolves, and other speci- mens of the senior class will be mooching their living in 1954. Charles Tighe and Jimmy Weekley spent a fairly humdrum life. Turkey would hum and Spike would drum. After a while people began to notice their musical talents. They still have the scars to prove it. Charles West became an author. His latest books are How Green Is My Alley and The Moon and Six Panys.” Betty Phillips became famous a the only person who didn't have to fill out her form on March 15. Albert Colebank died of heart failure. He was drafted into the army and they gave him a GI haircut. Poor Albert couldn’t stand the shock, and his heart gave way. Norman Bragg is a great star on the aerial offense of West Virginia University football team. Yes sir, he blows up all the footballs for them. Lloyd Elsey became a radio announcer, but didn’t last long in that profession. His commercial went something like this: Gormffnagle's Fifteen-Way Tablets contain not one. not two. not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven, not eight, not nine, not ten, not eleven, not twelve, not thirteen, not fourteen, but FIFTEEN ingredients. Fuzz had trouble because he couldn’t count that high. Dale McDaniel died, poor fellow, he drank a glass of water for the first time since repeal. His liver couldn’t stand the shock. Lois Sapp still likes heels — rubber and human. Donald Solomon became the favorite pin-up boy of the W'ACS. Paul Defenbaugh is a great athlete now. Yup! He’s the second assistant string changer on the B Yoyo team. Bob Vogel became very wealthy. He had twenty-three children, and started a wholesale house in ration points. Bob Wyckoff enlisted in the Navy to relieve a WAVE for active duty. James White became a partner in the firm of Simon Sh. He was Sh----------the silent partner. Fred Gerkins became famous for a strategic play he worked out in football. Both teams would line up on the scrimmage line, but just before the ball was snapped a four-star general would walk by and the other team would snap to attention. It made a touchdown every time. Billie DeMoss and Joe Decker are still trying to get acquainted, but both are too bashful to make the first step. B. G. Newbrough is still hunting class skippers for Mr. Clayton. Vincent Moat is now the leader of an all-girl (but him) orchestra. Some of his players are: Jeanne Kiger, Avanelle Denton, Ellen Jane Wisman. and Jane Miller. Ben Linn was successful in advising the lovelorn of Grafton High that she made a nation-wide business of it. She is now the established sob-sister of the country. Mary Alford, Lizzie Doerr, and Summie DeMoss are all happily married, thanks to Sadie Hawkins day. Sugar Flanagan and Nancy Curry are happily hitched. Natalie Dowden became Grafton’s first lady (?) mayor. Maxine Cline, Mary Alice Kelley, and Ruby Peters are now making rubber baby buggy bumpers, but went crazy because they couldn’t say it. Mrs. Avanelle Carder is very busy washing on Mondays. Eileen Edwards is the one you hear singing about Sweet Miriam, on the Bob Hope program. Laura Auvil, Dorotha Boice. Frances Gull, and Juanita Thorn all decided they didn't like their names, sothey changed them to something preceded by a Mrs. Betty Bartlett, Margaret Kostelac, and Adrian Poling are now singing The Best Tune of All for You to Recall . The show didn't last long. Wonder why I Ruth Haislop, Bessie Jones. Billie Ann Ridenour, Betty Grimm, Frances Stevens, and Anna Zorik comprise a girls basketball team which recently played in Madison Square Garden. Bettv Hoffman is president of the local Woman’s Club. Reynolds Gall was elected president. The only reason he got it was because the people were so tired of Roosevelt they took the first thing that came along, which was Reynolds. Serving in his cabinet were Clifford Cutright, Paul Dwyer, Joseph Funk, Calvin Loudin, and Harold Neal. Janice Myers is now editor of the front page of the New York Times. Virginia Freeze has the job of keeping her well supplied with aspirin, bromo seltzer, and Stanback. Guy Cole became famous as a movie actor. Ho was something like Alan Ladd, though not much. Delores Kincaid and Helen Kinter. our two beautiful redheads, became models, and passed from that to being redheaded sirens. Gladys Kirby couldn't stand it any longer, so she moved to the South Pacific. Now she and her man are comfortably at home on an island for two. She wears a grass skirt, and he lies under the trees and plays the guitar and sings to her all day long. Marie Brown and Hallie Preston are in the Tombstone and Memorial and You-kill-'em-we-bury-’cm business. Gory, ain’t it? Speaking of gore, Billy Poling has taken the place of Our Host, Raymond on Inner Sanctum mystery program. He’s even better than Raymond was. When he says Good Night . Pleasant dreams. Huuuuuuuuuuuuhhh? thousands of women all over the country faint. Eugene Ringler and David Everly became famous as the before and after models for the Ry-Krisp ads. Ronnie Bartlett is now posing for the Charles Atlas ads. The caption under his picture reads: Don’t ever let this happen to you. The Saucer twins and the Williams twins formed a quartet and sang on the radio. They called themselves The Saucer-illians. This didn't last long, however. There’s a reason for that too. Mildred Sinsel and Helen Riggleman are working in the basement of the Wrigley building. They’re working their way up. Joan Snyder married an electrician and fina lly died of shock. Annalee Trisler and Lourenna Tucker are yodelers on WMMN. Dottie Lou Sterling. Carolyn Withers, and Virginia Debendarfer became nurses in the Navy. They would put a thermometer in a sailor's mouth, hold Thirty-one THE SENIOR CLASS PROPHECY [Continued] his hand. sm:le at him, and expect his temperature to go down. Jean Cans and Beatrice Cunningham work in a pretzel factory. They tie the knots in the pretzels. Shirley Francis and Rose Mary Idoni went crazy trying to figure out the problem of What happens to the hole in the doughnut?” Genevieve Mol.see popularized the song Gene-v.eve, my Genevieve. Now she has an hour long program on which they sing nothing but her theme song. She has discovered 5,768,289 different versions of it. Ruby Haddix just disappeared. She tried some now vanishing crecm one day, and just disappeared. Rosella Marshall went hunting one day and caught a dear. They were married and have been iving together in blissful matrimony ever since then. June Jefferies and Barbara Kemple stick the what-ja-ma-cal-its on the thing-a-ma-jigs in the Doodlebug factory. Rosemary Poe had an awful time of it. He just wouldn't propose to her because it was leap year, and she was too lady-like to propose to him. Finally he got a friend of his to propose to her for him, and at the same time she got a friend of hers to propose to him. Their friends arc now happily married, but Rosemary and her man haven't gotten together yet. Who's her man? You figure it out. Lorraine McAvoy has taken Penny Singleton's place on the radio as Blondie. Bob Stout is playing Dagwood, and Carl Brown is Baby Dumpling. Jean Robinson, Bernice Rogers, Frances Slaton, Ruth Thomas, and Wanda Wison are all farmer’s wives. They each have a brood of around eighteen or nineteen, I can't remember. He.en Wyckoff became a.radio singer. Her most famous song is one she wrote herself: Happiness is just a thing called Joe.” Harriet Saffel is a'so singing on the radio. Her favorite song is one called: Moore or less, mostly Moore.” Maxie Rogers moved to Scuth Carolina after she graduated. Wonder why? Ann El zabeth Rau became a combination doctor and singer. Now don't get that confused look on your face. She had quite a system. First she’d sing to her patient till she got him good and sick, and then she'd doctor him and charge a perfectly enormous fee. Martha Rector is now teaching Latin in Grafton High. She has adopted all of Miss Fries’s character's-tics. She always says. Please sit behind yourself p ease,” Turkey-lurkey, Look me over, boys and girls. I'm a cream puff.” and “Let there be light.” Myrtha Shaffer and Jimmy Ford are happily married. They have the most beautiful children you ever saw. Minnie Watson is now deaf. She moved from Blueville to Pearl Street, and the noise of the trains going by deafened her. Joe Boyd is now a lawyer. His most famous case was the case of Perkins versus Perkins, when Joe defended Perkins manfully and Perkins won. His secretary is Helen Knight. Betty Keener and Norma Jeffries are girl car hops at one of those drive-m-and-honk restaurants. They wear shorts and an apron. They were so cute that a talent scout saw them and took them to Hollywood, to be waitresses in a restaurant there. Jean Stevens wrote a book called The Flying Dutchman. Wonder where she got the title. It sold over a million copies, and she got the Pulitzer prize for the best literary work of the year. Besides all this, she got Dutch too. Martha Tansill, Alice Trader, and Anna Mary Weaver went way up in the world. They went into the manufacture of TNT. Dorthy Frey has taken the place of Mary Livingstone on the radio. Guess w'ho her Jack Benny is. Mildred Newcome is now in San Quentin awaiting her execution. She took a shot at the president but missed, killing his valet, broke the Secretary of State's head open with an ax, stabbed the Secretary of the Interior in the exterior posterior, and vamped the vice president. Hanging is too good for her, let mo get my hands on her. 1 want to know what she did w th all that meat. Sylvia Po.ing went deeply into the fruit business. Ycu can buy an apple from her at the corner of Beech and McGraw. Da e Chenow-th had an eventful young life. He took up horseracing, speedboat racing, aquaplaning, and finally airplane racing. It was the period (.) in h s life. Wes Swisher is now happily engaged in marital bliss. I’ll bet you can't guess who with. He and Ruth are busy raising the next basketball team for Mickey McDade and Mrs. Bord. Paul Lambert ate an extra portion of vitamins one day and became a fighter of crime. It was he who, singlehanded, cleaned cut the N'axism, the Fascists, and the Nippons. Tony Gennette became an explorer. He hunted for years through Africa and South America He became famous for his collection of rare orchids. The supreme moment of his life came when he found the rarest orchid of all in South America. It had black eyes and long eyelashes. David l.ucas and Jack McCue have been elected as the two boys most likely. It looks like Floyd Marshal! is going to live to a ripe old age if someone doesn’t shoot him. Bob Tucker is head of the G-men. The Go-Getters. Den Poling left Grafton High heartbroken because M;ss Miller thought more of the band than of him. The last anyone saw of him. he was in a new' model airplane heading straight up. No one ever knew what happened to him, though it is rumored that he has a harem on Mars. Regnald Johnson and Paul Nestor took milk baths and used Palmolive for the fourteen day Palmolive plan. Now they are known for The skin you love to touch. Jack Crane is now the senator from West Virginia. Florence Morgan became another Veronica Lake. We lost all contact with Bett Long. The last we heard, she was with the Marines landing on the shores of Japan. She was their morale lifter. Mary Roof died from the combined blows of all the seniors of ’44. This still remains a mystery, Carl Crawford, George Delaney, Forest Edwards, Louis Hebb. Willis Hebb, Harold Miller. Ralph Mus-grove, Lloyd Nestor, Deraid Poling, Luther Richman, Billy Simmons, Charlie Swisher, Hugh Wagner, Percy Weaver, Fred Williams, and Dickie Brown all joined the service to see the world. They never even got out of the country. Thirty-tiro OUR AMBITIONS Name Ambition Mary Alford—Aviatrix Laura Auvil--School teacher Betty Jane Bartlett—Adopt 18 yr. boys Ronald Bartlett-l-awyer Dorotha boice--Music Instructor Joe Boyd—Burlesque queen Norman Bragg—Fly weight boxing champ Carl Brown—Naval officer Marie Brown--Surgical nurse Dale Chenoweth—To be “Flattop” Maxine Cline-Marry a wolf Guy Cole---Naval Aviator Albert Colebank—Cub scout John Crane---Movie “actor Beatrice Cunningham—Housewife Nancy Curry—Commander in WAVES Clifford Cutright—Naval Aviation Virginia Debendarfer—Ensign in WAVES Lyle Decker—Commentator Paul Defenbaugh--Superman Billie DeMoss—Never to grow old Summit DeMoss---Professional whistler Avanelle Denton—Nurse Elizabeth Doerr—Interior decorator Natalie Dowden—Nurse Paul Dwyer—Sleep Eileen Edwards--Owner of store with men clerks Lloyd Elsey--Burlesque queen David Everly—WAVE Joseph Fawcett--Join the Navy Paul Flanagan—Nancy James Ford---Commercial artist Shirley Francis—Air Hostess Virginia Freeze-Wear “the” pants Name Ambition Dorothy Frey—Metropolitan opera singer Joseph Funk—1st class moron Avanelle Furr Carder—Housewife Reynolds Gall--Naval Aviator Jean Gans—School teacher Lawrence Gennette---Be a secretary to a beautiful woman “boss” Fred Gerkin—Navy Pilot Betty Grimm—Millionaire Frances Gull—Navy Nurse Ruby Haddix----Navy Nurse Ruth Haislop—“Football” coach Don Hamilton—Nice house and car Louis Hebb—Ghost Betty Hoffman--Draftsman in WAVES Rose Mary Idoni—Beautician June Jeffriee Secretary to Tony Norma Jeffries-Navy nurse Reginald Johnson—“Gremlin Bessie Jones---Farmerette Betty Keener—Join the Navy? Mary Alice Kelly—To join the Marines Barbara Kemple---Telephone operator Jeanne Kiger---Aviatrix Delores Kincaid—Navy Nurse Helen Kinter—Be a brunette! Gladys Kirby—Land on Guadalcanal?!? Helen Knight—To be an old maid Margaret Kostelac—Secretary to “The Navy Paul Lambert—A millionaire Beatrice Linn—Musician Betty Long—Interior decorator Calvin Loudin—Paratrooper Floyd Marshall—Billiard shark Thirty-three Name Ambition Name Ambition Rosella Marshal]---Devoted “Army wife Lorraine McAvoy—Designer Dole McDaniel--Just to be a gob Vincent Moats--To own a swing band Jane Miller—X-Ray Technician Florence Morgan—Nurse Janice Myers—To be a foreign interpreter Harold Neal--Commercial Pilot Paul Nestor—Machine gunner Betty Gail Newbrough—Undertaker Mildred Newcome----Secretary to husband Ruby Peters—Cadet Nurse Betty Lou Phillips-Journalist Rosemary Poe---Secretary to husband Adrian Poling—WAVE Donald Poling—To be one of Uncle Sammy's best George Poling--To be a buck private Sylvia Poling—Secretary Hallie Preston-Secretary Martha Rector--Teacher Ann Elizabeth Rau—Medical doctor in Marines Billie Ann Ridenour—To find an ambition Eugene Ringler—Ditchdigger Helen Riggleman—Secretary to husband Jean Robinson---Cadet Nurse Bernice Rogers--Nurse Maxie Rogers---Nurse Mary Roof—Millionaire Harriet Saffel-Private Secretary Lois Sapp—Nurse Cathlech Saucer—Bookkeeper Marcelene Saucer—Typist Mildred Sinsel—Cadet Nurse Myrtha Shaffer-Wife to a Navy officer Frances Slaton-Secretary to husband Joan Snider--Play in Benny Goodwin’s Orchestra Donald Soloman—Join Merchant Marines Dottie Lou Sterling-Medical laboratory technician Eugenia Stevens—Nurse Frances Stevens-Nurse Robert Stout-To own a $50,000 filling station Paul Swisher—New York Yankee Bat Boyl Martha Tansill—Nurse Ruth Thomas----Typist Jaunita Thorn—Work in factory Charles Tighe--Driving Turner’s truck—1980 Alice Trader--Cadet Nurse Annalee Trisler-Leave Grafton High Robert Tucker--Pilot Laurenna Tucker—Nurse Robert Vogel---GHS Band Sponsor 11 Minnie Watson--WAVE Anna Mary Weaver----Cadet Nurse James Weekly—Plumbing instructor Charles West—To be a big man James White Trumpeter—Photographer Dorothy Williams—Cadet nurse Wanda Ruth Wilson---Nurse Ellen Jane Wiseman--Undertaker Carolyn Withers—Air stewardess Helen Wyckoff—Nurse Robert Wyckoff—Aviator Anne Zorik—Army Nurse Thirty-four “CLASS WILL” Mary Alford leave her shyness to Florence Seymore. What a joke! Laura Auvil leaves her good behavior to Jane Crislip. that is. if she’ll accept. Betty Bartlett just leaves (she hopes). Rudolph Bartlett leaves Macbeth” to Miss Batten. Dorotha Boice leaves her quiet manners to Hilda Fike. joe Boyd leaves nothing. He’s taking all to her. Which one? We wonder. Tuffy Bragg leaves the football team to Herby Ball. Carl Brown is leaving Physics class to Miss Abbott. Marie Brown is leaving for the Air Corps. Maxine Cline wills her neatness to anyone who wants it. Dale Chenoweth leaves his height to George Kinsey. Guy Cole is taking Bea along with him. Well, why shouldn't he? Albert Colebank leaves all the girls to the remaining boys John Crane wills his polite way to Jack McDargh. Carl Crawford left ’’Doggie” to “Jerry”. Beatrice Cunningham leaves her stature to Mabel Lee Patton. Nancy Curry leaves the Thespians to Harriet Dempsey. Clifford Cutright leaves Bible Class to Leola McGee. Stinky Dcbendarfer leaves her baton to the next majorette. Lyle Decker leaves his brains to Garmey” Ba rtlett. Paul Defenbaugh leaves his middle name. “Thair” to anyone who’ll accept. Basil Delaney left all to his younger brother, Charles. Billie DeMoss leaves Miss Shepler to the oncoming seniors. Summie Demoss leaves her jitterbugging to Etta Francis. Avanelle Denton leaves her daintyness to Charles. “Lizzy Doerr leaves the He c-Tecs to Miss Cook. Natalie Dowden leaves her small feet to Jean Bott. Paul Dwyer leaves his sleeping hour to Paul Hill. Eileen Edwards leaves and is she happy I Forrest Edwards leaves for the Army. Lloyd Elisey leaves in order to get rest. David Everly leaves shorthand to the girls. Joe Fawcett leaves anxiously. Sugar” Flanagan leaves his promptness at reaching class on time to Charles Davis. Jim” Ford leaves his artistic ability to Helen Hollis. Or could he, she doesn’t need it. Shirley Francis leaves her small voice to Martha Holloway. Virginia Freeze leaves the school to her sister, Latreva. Dorothy Frey leaves with Bessie. Joe Funk leaves in the same way he came, when a freshman. Avanelle Furr leaves happily. (She has her man!) Reynold Gall leaves with a broken heart. Jean Gans leaves geometry class to Mr. Yoho, with her best compliments. Lawrence Gennette leaves his football sweater to Kisser Boylen. (Joke) Fred Gerkins leaves his quietness to Gloria. Betty Grimm leaves willingly. Frances Gull leaves the school bus to another rider. Ruby Haddix leaves her locker to another clean housekeeper. Ruth Haislop leaves happily with Wes”. Louis Hebb leaves (at last). Willis Hebb left June, hoping she stays true to him. Betty Hoffman leaves the Girl Reserves to the next president. Rcsemary Idoni leaves her black hair to Mary Kay Withers. June Jeffries leaves shorthand to Veda Cross. Norma Jeffries leaves her locker to her small sister. Bessie Jones leaves with Dorothy. Reginald Johnson leaves most contentedly. Betty Keener leaves her shyness to Betty Jean McVicker. Mery Alice Kelly leaves her silliness to Vonda Jean Bolyard. Barba r Kemple leaves W’arner. Hands off, girls! Jean Kiger leaves the fourth page of Bearcat” to another journalism student. Kinky Kincaid leaves for the good old family life. Helen Kinter leaves all to Kirk, that is. if he wants it. Gladys Kirby would like to leave for that certain island. Helen Knight leaves for the WAVES. Margaret Kostelac leaves her charging ability in basketball to Gladys Miller. Paul Lambert goes after Katie. Bea Linn would like to go to Bruno”, we think. Betty Long leaves to be with the rest of her family. Calvin Loudin leaves his curly hair to Harold Clovis. David Lucas leaves all the girls yearning. Floyd Marshall leaves his red curly locks to Bobby Collins. Rosella Marshall leaves gym class to “Newt” Weaver, also her temper. Lorraine McAvoy leaves her blond hair to Helen Harper. Jack McCue leaves for some branch of the service. Dale McDaniel leaves Jackie.” Stay away from her boys! “Orders from Mac. Paul Macintosh leaves his “mail pouch” to basketball team. Thirty ire CLASS W I L L ” [Continued] Jane Miller leave the Glee Club to Mi Miller. Harold Miller left for the service. That' what he aay . Vincent Moats leaves his ■ax to Mickey Mc-Cue. Genevieve Molisee leaves most willingly. Florence Morgan leaves to go in training. Ralph Musgrove left that certain one just for Uncle Sam. Janice Myers leaves her brains to her brother, “Buddy. Harold Neal leaves Vo-Ag to Eldon Findly. Floyd Nestor left for the service. Paul Nestor leave Jean to the other hoys. Betty Newbrough leaves her great courage to France Smith. Mildred Newcome leaves the Commercial Club to Eva Brown. Ruby Peter leaves for the “Wave . Bettie Philip leaves to become a fortune teller. Rosemary Poe leaves to become office girl at Penney' . Adrian Poling leaves Alfred to take care of himself. Deraid Poling left for the Navy. Don Poling leaves hi position on the basketball team to Buck McAvoy. George Poling leaves Economics to Miss Shep-lcr. Sylvia Poling leaves her quiet way to Aldene Beagle. Hallie Preston leaves her small stature to the little Trisler girl. Ann Elizabeth Rau leave for the University, where she'll study to become a doctor. Martha Rector leaves her scholastic standing to Robert Borneman. Luther Richman left for the Army. Billie Ann Ridenour leaves her basketball ability to Alice Mae Stevenson. Helen Riggleman leaves to work at the dime store. What a life! Eugene Ringler wants to leave for the V-12. Jean Robinson leaves “the boy she's fond of 'til next spring. Virginia Rogers leaves for a trip around the world. That is, after the war. Maxine Lorraine Roger leave her high ambitions to Dick Hoban. Mary Roof leave to become the world's best newspaper editor. Joan Saffel leave her intelligence to Joe Pepper. Lois Sapp leave her sophistication to Lena Mae Poling. Cathleen Saucer leaves her good grades to Paul Cross. Marcelene Saucer leave her shy ways to Betty Moyer. Myrtha Shaffer leaves to become a “drafter of men. ’ Bill Simmons left for the Navy. Mildred Sinsel leave , (period) ..Frances Slaton leaves all to Katheryn. Joan Snyder leaves her flirting ability to Colleen Courtney. Donald Solomon leaves to become pin-up boy of the Wacs.” Dottie Sterling leaves the yearbook to next year's editor. Jean Steven leaves her dark eye to Jean Welch. Frances Stevens leaves her studying ability to Vance McDaniel. Bob Stout leaves to become world’s number one business-man. Charles Swisher left Virginia, but she is staying true to him. Paul Swisher leaves his basketball ability to Harvey Hawkins. Martha Tanail leave senior English class to some Junior. Ruth Thomas leave her tidiness to Dorothy Burnside. Juanita Thorn leaves her dark complexion to Ruby Knight. Charles Tighe leaves his place in the band to George Ashby. Alice Trader leaves quite willingly. Annelee Trisler leave nothing. Well, why shouldn't she? She didn't receive anything when she first came. Lorrenna Tucker leaves with the rest of her friends. Bob Tucker leaves his curly hair to Paul Waggoner. Bob Vogel leaves all to Mary. She’ll manage. Hugh Wagner leave his love for dumb animals to Junior Kines. Minnie Watson leave her chewing gum to Emily Malone. Anna Weaver leave her bashfulnes to Betty Fleshcr. Did 1 say bashfulnrss? Percy Waver leaves, (period) James Weekley leaves his timidness to Jack Koskonki. Charles West leaves the school bus to his brother. James White leaves the study hall to another nice boy. Dorothy Williams leaves with her sister Sylvia for — nobody knows. Fred Williams leaves friendly smiles to Edward Knipple. Wanda Wilson leave Senior English a she found it. Ellen Jane Wiseman leaves the office to next year's secretary. Carolyn Withers leaves her tidiness to Miriam Friedman. Helen Wyckoff leaves as silly as ever. Robert Wyckoff leaves nothing. Martha is going too. Anne Zorik leaves Grafton High School to all juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Dick Brown left his many abilities to the school as a whole. Thirty-six The two student who have been moat industrious in their school career in the class of ’44 are Martha Rector and Lyle Decker. It has been an interesting struggle to watch as there two have vied for honors in their various classes. Besides making good in their studies, they have won the esteem of their fellow students and held important roles in extra curricular activities. Martha, as Secretary-Treasurer of the Senior Class, has proven her ability to be an efficient officer. Along with this work she has been an active member of the Girl Reserves, Girls' Athletic Association. National Honor Society, and has contributed many stories to the Bearcat and the Re-Echo. The student body should be very proud of Martha, who has won the highest honor, valedictorian, our school can offer. Her friends will be delighted with her good fortune and will be pleased to see her lead the class in the graduation ceremonies. Lyle Decker, as Salutatorinn, has also proved his abilities scholastically, in leadership and citizenship. The class has been led in many activities by this able member. He has not only been a valuable member because he possessed scholarship abilities, but was one of the basketball teams valued players. It will be with mingled feelings of regret and happiness that the members of the faculty and student body watch both Lyle and Martha leave our school. Lyle is also a member of the National Honor Society. In order to belong to this organization one must have proven himself a worthy citizen as well as a good student. We as members of the Yearbook Staff offer our congratulations to Lyle and hope his life in the future will meet with as great success. Both students have been very useful and co-operative with both teachers and students all through their school life. Martha won the Golden Horseshoe in her eighth grade work and Lyle has been very fortunate on never having missed a day of school. Neither of these students have ever missed being on the honor roll. The class may well be proud of the following students also, as they have won the next highest honors in order as follows: Janice Myers, Carl Brown. Betty Hoffman, Frances Stevens, Harriet Joan Saffel, Dale Chenoweth, Mildred Newcome, Dottie Lou Sterling, and Betty Keener. Thirty-seven Janice Myers is especially to be honored because of impaired vision and it has been under great difficulty that she has worked in order to achieve this excellent scholarship record. She not only edits the first page of the Bearcat and belongs to the Girl Reserves and the National Honor Society. Carl Brown, a fourth ranking student, belongs to the National Honor Society and is a member of the Circulating Staff of the yearbook. Betty Hoffman is next in rank with the following activities to her credit: Treasurer of National Honor Society, President of the Quill and Scroll, President of the Girl Reserves, and Vice-President of Thespians along with her work on the Bearcat Staff and the Yearbook Staff as a writer. Frances Stevens is sixth in ranking and deserves the honor because she is not only a good student but a good citizen as well, belonging to the following clubs: Girls’ Athletic Association, Girl Reserves. Bearcat Staff and National Honor Society. Harriet Joan Saffel is seventh, being vice president of the Commercial Club, working on the yearbook staff and belongs to the National Honor Society. Mildred Newcome has led many activities, being President of the Commercial Club, Vice President of the Girl Reserves, belongs to Quill and Scroll, National Honor Society, Girls’ Athletic Association and is Business Manager of the Yearbook besides she is a member of the Athletic Ticket Committee. Dottie Lou Sterling is outstanding in that she belongs to all the clubs in Grafton High School open to girls except the Commercial Club. She is President of the National Honor Society, Reporter for the Girl Reserves and Editor of the Yearbook. She belongs to the Girls’ Athletic Association. Thespians, the Quill and Scroll, and is musical because she belongs to both the Band and Glee Club and must be domestic as she is a member of the Hec-Teks. Betty Keener goes to the opposite extreme in that she doesn't belong to any organization. We do not know why Betty doesn’t go in for clubs but are sure that she doesn’t lack ability, or she would not have been chosen to be among this list of high ranking students. CALENDAR SEPTEMBER— 7 School opened. Ready to plunge into another school term. 10 Grafton Bearcats opened their 1944 football season by winning over the Bridgeport Indians 21-7. 1 7 Grafton showed Shinnston Spartans how to play ball. Defeated them 20-0. 2 I Band had first assembly with their new director. Miss Miller. 24 G. H. S. tied Roosevelt-Wilson. Senior Class sponsored a dance after the game. 28 Rev. Lazenby spoke in assembly. OCTOBER— 1 Tough luck. Washington Irving ran over us 7-21. 5 Rev. Slaton spoke in assembly. 6 First issue of the Bearcat published. 8 Our victory over Buckhannon 33-19. 12 Play in assembly ’’Paul Loses the Ration Books.” 14 Hec Tecs held their formal initiation. Girl Reserves had their informal initiation at school. 15 We dood it!” Beat East Fairmont 12-6. 16 Hec Tecs “dressed their pledges up” for the informal initiation at school. 18 Commercial Club held their formal initiation. Junior class started their magazine campaign. 21 Defeated West Fairmont Polar Bears 20-6. 26 Halloween assembly. 29 Say now. That’s all right, beat Philippi 20-7. School dance in gym after the game. NOVEMBER— 2 Foods department under the direction of Miss Cook gave assembly program. 5 McDademen whipped by Morgantown 0-35. 9 Speech class gave patriotic play “Let Me Come Back.” 10 Student Council started social club (dancing) at noon. I I Football season brought to a close. Defeated by Weston 19-6. 12 Juniors magazine campaign ended. Rip roaring good time at the “Gridiron Ball” sponsored by the Bearcat Staff. 16 Thespian Play, “The Whole Town’s Talking” — really super. 22 Girl Reserves were tough on pledges at informal initiation at Nancy Curry’s home. 23 Thanksgiving play, ’’Cranberry Sause.” 26 Familiar faces back at school — Home Coming Dance, sponsored by the seniors. DECEMBER— 3 Girl Reserves sponsored a benefit dance to help furnish soldiers recreation quarters at Elkins. 8 Impressive Girl Reserve Candlelight service in assembly. 10 Music Follies. Miss Miller really knows how to put it over. 15 G. A. A. Christmas party and formal initiation at Helen Harpers. 17 Christmas pageant given by Ihespians. Christmas vacation commencing — two whole weeks. Juniors sponsored the annual Christmas Party in the Field House. Thirty-eight 18 Wesleyan choir ave our assembly program. Played against Morgantown with a sorry score 29-39. 21 Mowed Buckhannon Upshur down 43-32. 25 Tough going with Shinnston 37-49. 28 Won from West Fairmont Bears 44-40. Our right to howll 3 I Art class presented its talent in assembly. FEBRUARY— 1 Rev. Lois Luzadder reviewed the book ’’Burma Surgeon” and “Mickey McDade gave a good sportsman and conduct talk in assembly. Defeated by Washington Irving 32-43. 4 Grafton defeated Roosevelt-Wilson 27-14. 8 Again we lose to Morgantown 42-45. I I Another defeat by East Fairmont, but close 37-38. 15 Latin class gave a comedy play in assembly. Last game with Buckhannon 4 I -29. Hooray! 17 Victory the second time from R. W. 41-35. 18 W. I. was mean to us 35-44. 22 Pantomine of Star Spangled Banner under supervision of Miss Batten. Almost.. but not quite. Defeated by Elkins 35-37. 24 Contest Plays. Real entertainment. 25 McDademen play Shinnston again. Lost 36-47. 29 Beat West Fairmont 48-25. Plenty O. K. Speech class presented Comin ‘Round the Mountain in assembly. MARCH— 2-3-4 Sectional Basketball tournament at Morgantown. Grafton Bearcats came out on top. 10-11 Regional Basketball Tournament on our floor. Grafton runners-up. 13 Girl Reserves Spaghetti Dinner in the cafeteria. I 4 Rev. Box spoke in assembly. 21 Quill and Scroll members taken in, in assembly, and patriotic pantomine Our Heritage by Thespians. 23 Honor Society party and initiation in the band room. 24 Band concert in the auditorium. Real musicians. APRIL— 2 All state basketball team — Dabney. 4 Easter pageant in assembly. 14 Rev. Johnson gave an address in assembly. Junior class play My Man Godfrey. What a performance! 1 7 Girl Reserves Spring Party at Bessie Jones’ home. 18 Vo-ag department sponsored assembly showing us a movie. 18-19 Interclass basketball tournament in Field House. 21 Spinsters Hop. O! Boy, it’s Leap Year. 26 Bearcat staff Weiner Roast. 27 Election of officers. Girl Reserves. MAY— 2 G. A. A. Assembly. 3-4-5 Band went to Band Festival at Clarksburg. 5 Girl Reserve-Hi-Y Prom. Johnny Borns orchestra. 9 Ejection Day. No school, ain’t it wonderful) 12 Senior class play, Magnificent Obsession. Quite outstanding. I 5 Girl Reserves Mother-Daughter banquet in cafeteria. 16 West Virginia University presented a play for us in assembly. 19 Juniors were hosts to the Junior-Senior Reception. 24 Recognition Day — A. M. Examinations started — P. M. 25-26 Examinations. Enough said. 26 Seniors did their stuff at Class Night. 28 Commencement Sermon. 29 Examination day again. 30 Parade. O! Boy. we got cream cones. 3 I Back to school after report cards. Commencement. Senior say farewell to high school days. 28 Basketball season opened. Alumni trimmed its Alma Mater 48-44. 31 Bearcats went tough on Bridgeport, swamping them 45-23. JANUARY— 3 Back to the old grind again after our vacation and visit from Santa Claus 4 Three cheers for our side. Defeated Barracksville 31-25. 6 Princeton mopped us up on our own floor, 29-49. 7 Close game with East Fairmont on their floor. I-ost by score of 27-32. I I Elkins stepped on us 44-55. 14 Bearcats crushed Parkersburg with flying colors 46-21. 15-16-17 Semester Examinations. Not so much fun. national Honor Society The National Honor Society was established in 1921 as the American Torch Society. The National Association of Secondary School Principals had as its goal the formation of an organization which should include the better elements of the older organizations and also the activity elements which many of these organizations didn't conclude. The Grafton High School Chapter of the National Honor Society was organized in 1927 by Mr. E. M. Tomlinson, who was principal at that time. The sponsor was Miss Watkins. Mr. Rasmussen, Mrs. Warden and Mr. Mish were members of the executive committee. There were eleven members in the original organization. The four cardinal objectives of educational practice are: to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students. To exalt these and hold them before the school as goals, toward which all should strive is the purpose of the organization. The members are selected by the faculty from the upper third of their class, on the basis of scholarship, leadership. character, and service. Not more than fifteen per cent of any graduating class can be elected to membership in this society, and not more than five per cent of the Junior Class may be elected. The election takes place in the sixth semester of the student's career. The emblem of this Society is the keystone and flaming torch. The keystone bears at its base the letters S, L. C. S, which stand for the four cardinal principles of the organization. As the keystone is placed by the builder to hold the perfect arch of perpetual stability, so the structure of our education must be held firm and true to the purposes of life by the virtues represented in the symbol. Thus the keystone symbolizes the high ideals of this Society. The flaming torch is the emblem of our purpose. To bear forward the searching light of truth, to lead that others may follow in the light, to keep burning in our school a high ambition for the enduring value of life, and to serve, these purposes are symbolized in the torch The outstanding activity of the Honor Society this year was the sponsoring of a School Preservation Week, which proved to be most successful. They also acted as guides for the freshmen the first week of school, aided in securing games for the soldiers, located in the maneuvering area on the outskirts of Elkins. West Virginia, who will use them as a means of spending a part of their leisure time. Student Council Under the supervision of Mr. H. E. Odge rs, the Student Council was organized in 1940, as an experiment. The representative government proved so successful; and has continued to grow until it has become one of the organizations of greatest importance. The purpose is to give the students a part in the direction of their activities, to stimulate self control and to promote the general welfare of the school. A member is chosen for his open-mindness in approaching controversial issues; intelligent curiosity with respect to personal and school problems; critical mindedness in the consideration of facts and opinions; willingness and ability to engage in reflective thinking; attitude of school concern relative to conditions which block the growth and enrichment of the personalities of the greater number of our school; cooperativeness in school thinking and actions; willingness to assume responsibility in school situations, self-reliance and self-direction in carrying out well planned activities. The Seniors elect two members of each home room and the Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen are permitted to elect one representative. The officers ar eelected by the members of the council membership. As president. Richard Watkins presides at the semi-month!y meetings, makes interpretations of the Constitution, minutes, and conclusions and is a member ex-officio of all committees. Robert Stout was chosen as vice-president, Betty Long as Secretary and Mr. Clayton as Faculty adv sor. Many problems pertaining to school have been solved by the Student Council this year. Suggestions were offered for better assemblies and the members appealed to the students for an improvement in conduct during assemblies. A different arrangement of the cafeteria was carried out due to the decision of the council which relieved much of the confusion. To the delight of both the faculty and students the congestion in the halls at noon was abandoned by sponsoring dancing in the study hall. In order to preserve the beauty of the hall the students were asked to refrain from defacing them. For the benefit of those who wished to study during the noon hour, the council provided a study hall Forty one Re-f clio Editor.... Assistant Editor Business Manager Faculty Adviser Dottie Lou Sterling .........Robert Stout Mildred Newcome Miss Gladys Hickman Writers Betty Lee Hoffman Martha Rector Dorothy Frey Bessie Jones Frances Slaton Rosella Marshall Mary Ellen Roof Virginia Debendarfer Cathlene Saucer The remainder of the staff is composed of the following: Subscription Staff Robert Wycoff Beatrice Linn Shirley Francis Delores Kincaid Typists Helen Knight Harriet Saffel Eileen Edward Circulation Staff Guy Cole Robert Tucker Reynolds Ga!l Paul Lambert Helen Riggleman Floyd Marshall Carl Brown Donald Poling Billie Ann Ridenour Photography Staff Jane Miller Ruth Haislop Florence Morgan Lorraine McAvoy June Jeffries Eileen Edwards Betty Long Ann E. Rau Rosemary Poe James Ford Margaret Kostelac Na ncy Curry Anne Zorick Forty-two Itie Bearcat Editor Brttir Philips Bus. Mgr. 1 he Bearcat , student publication of Grafton High, which was started in 1941 by Joseph H. Mahaffey, reached its maturity during the ’43- 44 season, under the capable guiding hand of Mrs. Ruby Withers. During the year, the staff studied intently in journalism. books and metropolitan newspapers in order to find the best ways to which to improve their own paper. That the effort is successful is evident by the many favorable comment, received from former members of the staff. The hardest thing a high school publication has to face is to get out a good paper that meets journalistic requirements and also please the majority of students at the same time. For instance: according to journalistic standards, the front page should contain news that is news, and one or two light features; the second page should consist of about two-thirds editorials and one-third lighter material as a feature, crossword puzzle. Wm. Beavers 111 Advisor Mrs. Withers and a cartoon; the third page should contain all sports news, a sports column, sports feature, and advertising; and the fourth page should contain stale news, society, and columns. As the reader can readily ascertain, this arrangement would not please the majority of students for the following reasons, students do not wish to read news, editorials, and advertising. They want to read nothing but light — very light features, and columns. These are not the things that make a good paper. The first purpose of the paper is to serve its readers, but still, a happy medium must be struck. The staff has made every effort to do this. The staff got out many fine issues during the year, but the one which received the most attention was the special Christmas issue which was printed on green paper. It contained the winning essay on “The Meaning of Christmas' written by the senior class, and several other fine features on Christmas. Quill and Scroll President ............................... Betty Hoffman Secretary-Treasurer...................... Betty Long Vice-President ................... Virginia Debendarfer Sponsor ........................... Miss Barbara Cather Quill and Scroll, the international society for high school journalists, numbers over twenty-five hundred charters. There are about fifty thousand young journalists from schools which are outstanding in the quality of their publication work, who wear the badge of the Society. Organized April 10, 1926. by the group of high school supervisors for the purpose of encouraging and rewarding individual achievement in journalism and allied fields. Quill and Scroll has taken an active part in raising standards in this field, and in directing the course of high school journalism. This society has the support of America’s outstanding journalists and educators. Famous educators also endorse its program. The Quill and Scroll is connected with no school or university. The president is a supervisor nominated by the executive board, and elected by a vote of the whole society. The country is divided into seven districts, each of which is represented by at least one officer. According to the constitution, members of Quill and Scroll must be chosen from the students enrolled in the high school who at the time of their election meet the following requirements: ( I ) They must be of at least junior standing. (2) They must be in the upper third in general scholastic standing at time of their election, (3) They must have done superior work in some phase of journalistic or creative endeavors. (4) They must be recommended by the supervisor or by the committee governing publications. They must be approved by the Executive Secretary. The Quill and Scroll was established in our school in 1942, under the sponsorship of Joseph H. Mahaffey. Forty-three Girl Reserves President Betty Hoffman Vice-President . Mildred Newcome Secretary ................................. June Jeffries The Girl Reserves is one of the most active and outstanding organizations of the school. As junior members of the YWCA, they have set high moral standards and endeavor to abide by them. Their worthwhile slogan and purpose is I will try to face life squarely, to find and give the best.” The symbol is a blue triangle within a circle enclosing the letters ”CR”. The three sides of the triangle represent the sides of a girl’s real life — mental, physical, and spiritual. Girls wishing to join this national organization submit applications and are chosen by their character traits, accomplishments and leadership abilities. In past years, the Girl Reserves have provided baskets of food for needy families at Thanksgiving and Treasurer............................... Lois Sapp Reporters Betty Long Dottie Sterling Sponsor Gladys Hickman Christmas seasons. Due to the war and changing conditions they sponsored a dance to provide funds for the purchase of two bridge tables, eight chairs, and an l.E.S. floor lamp. These articles were sent to the troops stationed on maneuvers near Elkins. They also contributed whole heartedly toward the War Relief Fund. In addition to the semi-monthly meetings, the girls attend church in a body and have a social activity monthly. Among the latter have been an informal initiation; Spaghetti Dinner; a Watch Valentine, and theater party. The formal Girl Reserve Prom staged in the highly decorated Field House on May 5 was the function of prime importance in every members eyes. To wind the year’s activities, the Annual Mother-Daughter Banquet made the perfect ending. Hi-y President Norman Bragg Vice-President Richard Watkins The Gr.ifton High School Hi-Y Club was organized in 1924 following a convention in Fairmont. It was organized chiefly through the efforts of Mr. Glenn S. Callahan and since then its membership has grown Secretary-Treasurer ... Chas. Evans Sponsor . ................................... A. V. Yoho rapidlv. The purpose of the organization is to create, maintain and extend character. The Hi-Y is the high school branch of the Y. W. C. A. The Hi-Y has suffered somewhat this year from having so many of its members leaving for the armed forces, but they managed to turn out a better-than-aver-age basketball team this year which gave the Hi-Y teams of hte other schools watch out. Tuffy Bragg very capably pulled his team through many victories during the season. The membership of the club is made up of the outstanding leaders and students of the school, who stand out for their leadership, service, scholastic standing, and good clean body and mind. Its program is religious, social, serving, athletic, and scholastic in its scope. Forty-four Hec-Tek-Club President ................................. Jean Robinson Vice-President . Jane Chrialip Sponsor The Hec-Tek Club was organized in 1936 by the home economics students. It is affiliated with the state and national branch of the Home Economics Association. The purpose of the club is to serve others, to learn to assume responsibility, and to build stronger personality and character. Any student in the school who is enrolled in Home Economics 2 or 3 and has a grade of A or B is eligible for active membership. The name is derived from the following: H is for Honor. E is for Energy, C is for courage. T is for Tact, E is for Enjoyment, and K if for Kindness. During the past two years, the local club has had Secretary Elizabeth Doerr Treasurer ........................... Clara Felton .....Nellie Cook two state officers: Louise Collins. Past President; and Jane Chrislip. the present Secretary-Treasurer. Miss Nellie Cook, the club sponsor, is serving her third year as State Advisor. Some of the outstanding activities of the club for this year were: Making of thirty housewife kits for the Red Cross, contributing $5.00 to the war fund, sponsoring of the sick room, the bake sale, the Mother-Daughter banquet, and the sending of delegates to the two regional meetings at Wheeling and Masontown, the Nutrition Contest, giving a tea to the winning homeroom in this contest, and announcement tea was given for Mrs. Parsons. f. f. ft The Future Farmers of America, or “F. F. A. ”, is a national organization of, by and for boys studying vocational agriculture. In September 1942, the Grafton Chapter was organized with twenty eight charter members. These boys receive valuable leadership training that helps, not only to develop their individual personality, but it ilso gives them self-confidence. The Grafton chapter of the F. F. A. had quite a number of accomplishments this past year. In November, poultry culling demonstration were conducted at Don Ekis”, Harold Neal’s and Alfred Lundy s farms. Mr. Hyre, Poultry Specialist from West Virginia University demonstrated culling. port if-five The Commercial Club President Mildred Newcome Vice-President ................ ......... Harriett Saffel Members of the Commercial Club can point with pr de to the program that this worthwhile organization offe rs. Only students who have achieved a very high standard of scholarship in the commercial curriculum and are either Juniors or Seniors may become members. The first purpose of this club is to increase interest in commercial subjects. The second objective is to acquaint the members with modern business methods, systems, materials and equipment. Other purposes include: development of personal qualifications for business positions, establishment of worthy ideals and habits of thrift, saving, giving, investing, and spending wisely, and encouraging a social spirit by offering opportunity for wholesome recreation and to develop an interest in the business and commercial life of the community. flthlectic Me In 1942. Mr. Robert C. Sloan. Athletic Director of Grafton High School, organized the Athletic Ticket Committee. The committee rose out of the theory of student responsibility. As in most schools over the state, the students did practically none of their own thinking, but the responsibility of success or failure was placed entirely upon the members of the faculty, leaving the students with little or no say in their school activities. Secretary Nancy Curry Treasurer Helen Knight The personal qualifications stressed are loyalty, leadership, character, citizenship, scholarship, and service. The Commercial Club was organized under the direction of Mr. Sherman Haselden in December, 1940. Since that time it has engaged in many diversified activities of the school: such as sponsoring the football and basketball programs: field trips, local and out-of-town: printing of high school songs and yells for the student body: selling booster badges for the Bearcat Team: a Christmas party for the club, adopted a formal induction service for installing new officers and improved the formal initiation ceremony for new members, and selected a pin for the members to wear symbolizing its purposes. t Committee Because of the lack of men teachers in '42, the senior boys worked at the basketball and football games, continuing on through 43. This year, due to the manpower shortage, several girls, with the assistance of cer tain teachers, have taken over the jobs, almost entirely. Of all the charter members, Mr. Haselden is the only remaining one now active. Forty-six Lettermen’s Club The Lettermen’s Club was organized by Mr. R. H. McKinney in 1937 for the purpose of giving special honor to the boys in our high school who have spent long and hard hours in earning the letter G. This symbol stands for Grafton High School or the Bearcats, which are our football and basketball teams. Objects: To promote better scholastic standing among athletes, to promote good sportsmanship, to develop good fellowship among the members of the club and among the boys on the different athletic squads who are not members, to promote wholesome athletic relations with other school opponents, to encourage anticipation in athletics, to assist in protection and preservation of school property especially athletic equipment, to promote school spirit in our high school. Pres G. fl. fl. Ruth Haislop Secy.-Treas. Billy Ann Ridenour Sponsor . Mrs. Richard Board The Girls’ Athletic Association or ”G. A. A.” as commonly known was organized in April 1937 under the leadership of Jean Murray. It is a club composed of girls interested in Athletics. Its chief airn is to promote better sportsmanship and to stress the importance of physical fitness. It endeavors to bring the benefits and values of the athletic program into the reach of all. To be eligible for the G. A. A. one must have earned 200 points in her physical education class or in extracurricular athletic activity. During this year it had held a number of social activities. The informal initiation for new members was combined with Halloween party in the Field House. A Christmas party was combined with the formal initiation of pledges was held at the home of Helen Harper, where all received rosebuds and membership cards. Carried on from last year, the G. A. A. held a ’’Spinster’s Hop” following the basketball games, at which the girls brought and control.ed the man of their dreams. Early in the spring, the organization sponsored the annual girls inter-class basketball tournament. Each year the senior girl having the highest number of points, earned by taking part in the club activities, is given an award by the club. Any girl, whether a G. A. A. member or not, playing on the class basketball team for four consecutive years, is given an athletic letter. Fort irseven GRAFTON HIGH SENIOR CLASS OF 44 Grafton High. Ho you know just what makes us love you so. Just what holds us and enfolds us in your golden glow? Grafton High now we see, tis each face so bringht and free All life’s sadness turns to gladness when we think of thee. Grafton High when you’re near everything in life so dear. Books grow fonder as we wonder up each winding ramp and stair. Cheery lessons bring signs of the coming spring. Always working, never shirking is the song we sing. Vie re the class that never worries. We re the class that has the fun. We're the class that thinks about the future. Though sometimes our lessons are not done. We re the class that never, never tarries. We re the class that’s called to war. Though sometimes our work is left unfinished. We are the class of 44. --By Lorraine McAvoy THE WALLS OF GRAFTON HIGH I saw the Walls of Grafton High A. I was passing by. The snow white walls of Grafton High Against a pearl-grey sky; My heart was with the Grafton boys Who went abroad to die. The years go fast n Grafton High The golden years and gay; The school upon the river bank ’ooked down On careless boys at play, But when the bugles sounded ---------War! They put their books away. They left the peaceful river The football field, the ramps they trod. The well known streets of Grafton To seek a bloody sod. They gave their merry youth away For country and for God. God rest you, happy gentlemen. Who laid your good lives down. Who took the khaki and the gun Instead of cap and gown. God bring you to a fairer place Than even Grafton town. —By Ann Elizabeth Rau With apologies to Winiford M. Letts Forty-eight P Forty-nine flfiT So you don’t care for art? You don’t think it’s necessary or worthwhile? Well, before you go any further with your likes and dislikes let's get an idea as to what it is all about. The aim of art is to develop an appreciation of the beautiful and enable one to produce beautiful things. It is the purpose of art in our school to provide such training as will bring into the lives of the students a knowledge of beauty and a joy in expressing it. Such expression of beauty develops gradually and normally through experience which give the student an opportunity to make his activity more meaningful. Art in the modern school is planned to meet the needs of all, rather than to develop the talents of a few. In general, through training in art the student is helped to develop good taste, the fundamental principles of design and color as a basis for judging the artistic quality of the objects which he selects, uses, and produces for personal, home, industrial, and community life. Through such training and through contact with examples of fine art, the student should grow in the ability to recognize and enjoy beauty wherever beauty may be found. Froebal was one of the earliest to point out the fact that what the child draws or imitates, he is endeavoring to understand. Today, such leaders in educational thought as Dr. John Dewey emphasize the fact that we do not first gain ideas and then express them, but that through attempts to express ideas in play, whether through drawing, painting, or modeling, we clarify ideas and bring them to a fuller meaning and understanding. As a student draws, models, or constructs, the ideas begin to grow clearer, more distinct, and life takes on a new meaning. For this reason, students should look upon art as a required subject, as far as learning to get the most out of life are concerned, and for those who dislike it. to persuade themselves to take art. if for only one year, before they are graduated from high school. It is almost a certainty they will find, in later life, that one year of art was one of the most educational and practical subjects they took in high school. Let me give you an idea of the work that Mrs. Virginia Yost, our most interesting and unusually well informed teacher, has taught the students about art in the first and second year art classes. In the first year art class. Mrs. Yost takes up the modern illustrations of Mother Goose rhymes which are drawn in charcoal. This is done for the students to get an idea as to how a figure is drawn. Next, is the pencil sketchings of trees, and later, when this is completed, the still life drawings of fall flowers and vegetables in colored chalk. Later, lettering and simple poster work is touched upon. At Christmas, the students learn how to cut and print linoleum blocks to make Christmas cards. After this is completed, they work on wrapping paper, first drawn and painted in all-over designs using Christmas motifs and then later making board, stippling, line, and black and white brush work, arc learned. Some of the students do the special cartooning for our school paper, the Bearcat. Later, the students use a model when they begin their study of figure drawing. A special project this year, a mural, was painted for the library by Helen Hollis, a second year art student. The theme of this mode study was the Charles Dickens characters. before the end of the first semester, Mrs. Yost gave an assembly program with most of her students of both the first and second year classes participating. The first year students demonstrated the art of making simple Christmas table decorations and Christmas gift wrapping. The second year students demonstrated the sketching of landscapes, both being accompanied by music which was novel and interesting. The whole assembly program was greatly enjoyed by the student body. Mrs. Yost and one of her advanced students also drew and painted some of the scenery for the stage, and, last year the back ground for the Senior Class play was created by her. Well, now that I have given you an idea as to the educational value of art, do you still think it’s unnecessary in the students curricular aitivities? -------No.---------Well, I’m glad that you have changed your ideas about art and I hope many others that thought as you did, hove learned something and that this write-up wasn't in vain. Just remember to keep looking for the beautiful things in life and I guarantee that you'll be a happier person. F'fty Fifty-one national Thespians The National Thespian Dramatic Honor Society for High Schools was founded early in the spring of 1929 at Fairmont State Teachers College. Fair mont. West Virginia. Dr. Paul F. Opps. a faculty member of the Dramatics Department, suggested the name of the society and of its official publication. The High School Thespian. The purpose of the organization is to create a more active and intelli-gent interest in high school activities. The aims of the society are most serious and worthy, encouraging students to attain a better mastery of language, to develop poise and self-control, and to appreciate dramatic literature and its techniques. The society is honorary only in that students are honored for having met certain requirements which indicate that they are ready to assume greater responsibilities in dramatic work. In becoming a Thespian, you affiliate yourself with thousands of other high school students who. are doing outstanding work in a non-professional, cultural, leisure time activity. The spirit of the work, co-operation and loyalty are expressed by the motto, “Act well your part; there all honor lies.” The name Thespian comes from the man, Thespis, an actor and writer of tragedies who was the first to use an actor to speak lines on the stage and to help the chorus of singers and dancers to act out the plot of the play, back in the sixth century. It was Thespis who first made a mask so that an actor could represent more than one character. To this day the mask is the usual sign of the Dramatic Art. That is why the actors mask of “Tragedy and Comedy are used in the design for the insignia of the National Thespian Society. The Grafton National Thespian Organization, Troupe 171, was first sponsored by Miss Grace Loar on February 19, 1931. Other sponsors were Mr. Joseph Fordyce. Mr. Vorax Meeks, and our present sponsor. Miss Batten. During the season they have carried out a number of activities. As the custom was, they sponsored the Annual Contest plays for the twelfth year. The directors and play for this year were as follows: Freshman, Land of the Free, a patriotic play directed by Betty Hoffman; Sophomores, House of Greed”, a mystery, by Nancy Curry; Juniors, “Paul Faces the Tire Shortage’ , a play dealing with the present rationing problems; by Bob Stout and Seniors. Swept Clean Off Her Feet”, a comedy under the direction of Lloyd Elisey. Fifty-two Technical Staff Drama Dramatics plays a large part in the extra curricular activities of our school and is of most importance, for it gives one poise, builds character, and teaches emotional control. As the Thespian production for this year, the three-act farce, “The Whole Town's Talking, was presented with Mrs. Haddox as director. This hilarious comedy went over with a “bang , as there was a roar of laughter from beginning to end. Mr. Simmons, Howard Fast wants to marry his daughter, Ethel, Dottie Lou Sterling to his junior partner in business. But Chester, his partner, Lloyd Elsey, is the sort of bachelor no woman would want. With the conclusions that every woman wants and conceives the plan of inventing a few love affairs for Chester. At a book shop he selects pictures of many beautiful women. As a result they pick the photo of Letty Lythe, and in a short time the news spreads all over town. Girls fall for Chester from every di rection. In the midst of all this Letty, Virginia De-bendarfei comes to town with her fiancee. Donald Swift, William Watkins, who happens to be a prize fighter. Trouble then starts for Chester, but survives through it all, and finally ends up with Ethel. Other member of the cast include. Betty Phillips. Bob Stout, Nancy Curry, Florence Seymour, Eugenia Stevens, and Wayne Knotts. As a second event in Dramatics, the Thespians presented the twelfth annual Inter-Class Contest Plays, which after much worry and lack of sleep, turned out to be quite the success. The Seniors gave the one-act comedy, “Swept Clean off Her Feet” with Lloyd Elsty as director. Ronald Bartlett won for himself the title of best actor, after portraying the part of a young salesman, Joe Winters, who tried to meet the young girl Doris. Lois Sapp. Adding to the comedy, were Mack, Jimmy Ford; Ruthie, Bea Linn; and Gwendolyn, Natalie Dowden. “Paul Faces the Tire Shortage , with Bob Stout, director, was presented by the Juniors. This brought out the problem of today, such as rationing and first aid, a worry of Paul, Richard Warne, who must have the car to take his girl, Jane. Martha Holloway, on a date, else he may lose her to another. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, portrayed by Leland Yost and Helen Harper, tried to explain reasonably to him the real facts, that he could by no means use the car. Mary, Virginia Rosier, who must practice her first aid. uses Junior, a younger brother, Clyde Norris, for her dummy. Always before, Paul wouldn't allow a bandage near him, but now he practically begs Mary to bandage him, so as to have an excuse reudy for Jane. Sounds like quite a mix-up; but in the end all turns out just right. For the Sophomores, Nancy Curry directed the play. “The House of Greed, a mystery with which the cast carried away the high honors of best play. Etta Francis portrayed very well the part of Letitia Roberts, a rich old woman, believing that all one needs in life is money. Living with her were her nephew. Charles Denton, and a maid. Dorothy Burnside. Charlotte, Phyllis Long, played the part of a sister, who was very poor and finally went to her sister asking for a loan, for which she was refused, with no hesitation, Cedric, in love with Gwenda Lee, Emily Malone, tells her aunt and asks her permission to marry, but is also refused. A salesman, Hugh Fordyce, tries to sell her a sweeper, and likewise is refused. As all had reasons to murder Letitia, when the occasion happened, none could be convicted. Detective Brooks, Leonard Collins, also gets mixed up, for he has planned to marry the maid, who was not permitted to leave else she be cut out of the will. It was hard to pick the murder, but in final, to everyone's surprise was Hugh Fordyce, convicted. Last, but not least, was the Freshman play. “The Land of the Free, directed by Betty Hoffman. A patriotic play, portraying a little German refugee girl, Marion Hollis, who received high honors by being chosen “best actress. Gretchen was living with relatives, the Fisher family; Crystal Woodell, Paul Waggoner, Charles Bartlett and Jean Bott; who were helping her celebrate her twelfth birthday. Those attending the party were. Terry Heironimus. Helen McDermott, and Mary Vogel. With the peculiar American games such as Cowboys and Indians. Gretchen became frightened, believing that the police would take everyone to jail or maybe even kill them, as so often had happened in Germany. Very much afraid of Judge Fischer her uncle, she keeps her distance when he is around. As time comes for refreshments, a poor boy. Mickey, Warner Cutright, enters as he is being chased by the truant officer, Joe Staley. After a long talk. Mickey is set free; Gretchen really learns that America is the best country, “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. “My Man Godfrey, a comedy based on Eric Hatch' s novel, was presented as the Junior class play, and was under the direction of Mrs. Haddox. This play was noted for unusual plot and its many humorous occasions. Godfrey, portrayed by Howard Fast, is a man of breeding, obviously fallen from high estate and forced to dwell in a shanty-town of forgotten men. He is picked up by a society girl on a scavenger hunt as one of her trophies and is hired as a servant in her home. He pulls her family out of decadent state, saves the banker father from jail, recovers stolen jewelry, fights off the stigma of his own past, and finally marries the girl who saved hi mfrom the refuse heap. Her pursuit of him in rivalry with her sneering sister, makes an exceptionally piquant romance. The cast was as follows: Godfrey, Howard Fast; Mr. and Mrs. Bullock, Glenn Bartlett and Jane Chrisiip; their two daughters, Irene and Cornelia, Florence Seymour and Frances Fawley: Mollie, the maid, Annis Lee Davis; George, Cornelia's faithful boy friend, Warner Philips: Carlo, a friend of the family, Clyde Norris; Viola, Godfrey's first wife, Martha Holloway; Mrs. Nixon, a friend of Mrs. Bullock. Mnble Lee Patton; Joe. Dick Moran; investigator, Robert Clem; photographer, Robert Gifford; reporters, Clifford Boylen, Charles Evans, and George Ashby. The Senior class presented “Magnificent Obsession, a three act drama from Lloyd C. Douglas novel, on which the motion picture was based. A story of a noted brain surgeon who is devoted to humanity because of an unique, vitalizing principle. He drowns when he might have been saved by the means that is used instead to save a wealthy playboy. Helen Hudson, very much devoted to her husband, turns against Bobbie, young playboy, and asks never to see him again. Joyce, the doctor's daughter, who is as flighty with a substratum of sweetness. Monty and Bobbie have quite a struggle, which kept all on the edge of their seats. Bobbie goes into the doctoring profession, and has to make a serious operation on Helen’s head. If he goes in too far, she dies; if not, she goes blind, but to his great success. he docs it just right. At the end of the play, hr overcomes the hostility of the surgeon's lovely widow. The characters were very real, and suffered the heartaches known of all. Fifty-three BAND A major attraction at football and basketball games, the Blue and Gold Band never failed to “deliver the goods to the hundreds of enthusiastic spectators. During the first half of the year the band produced an all-out attempt to prove to the muddy footballers that the best part of the game is played during the half. Amid a blaze of floodlights, a colorful season was ushered in by the high-stepping antics of Drum Major Paul Waggoner, Majorettes Jean Welsh and Virginia Debendarfer, sponsors Betty Jean McVicker, Irma Jean Tingler, Martha Holloway, and Annis Lee Davis and Terry Heironi-mua, and color guards Jackie Kemple and Gladys Lee Miller. The Majorette and sponsors very colorfully supplemented the already dazzling marching performance of the Band. In addition, to bolstering the morale of the players during the games, the girls competently twirled and did gymnastics during the half. The fine showing of the football team during the season was equalled by the Band which staged some 'tween periods performance that were acclaimed by many. During the concurrent cage season, the band presented many new swing arrangements and inaugurated a new modern tempo in their marches. At the halves, the majorettes, sponsors and color guards competently entertained the crowds with feats of gymnastic skill which were acclaimed by all who witnessed them. The band members put a lot of hard work into their routines and their pieces to make sure that they would entertain the spectators. Without uniforms and military bearing, they could have been seen hard at work rehearsing for their cold march every afternoon from three till four. Throughout the year the Band has kept its number around sixty strong. Of these there are approximately 20 clarinets, 10 trumpets, 8 trombones, 2 baritones, 3 saxophones, 8 drums, I Eb Horn, I glockenspiel, and 2 basses. This year an orchestra was organized from the band to play between acts of different productions in the auditorium. They played for the Thespian play, the contest plays, the junior class play, and the senior class play. This year, however, the orchestra played standard dance arrangements, arranged by some of the top-flight dance band leaders of the country. The orchestra was composed of the following people: trumpets. Donald Poling. Mickey McCV.e, and Charles Evans: alto sax and clarinet, Mary Roof; tenor sax and clarinet, Vincent Moats; alto sax and clarinet, Dick Watkins; clarinet, Jeanne Kiger; trombones, Clayton White and George Ashby; traps, Jack Kososkie; and piano. Miss Miller. Four members of the band, accompanied by Miss Betty Rose Miller, attended the annual Bandmasters Clinic in Clarksburg, January 31, February I. They were: Mary Roof, Jeanne Kiger, Beatrice Linn, and Charles Tighe. This meeting was held to point out to the band leaders and students the techniques of good attack, shading, timing, phonetics, and other fine points. Fifty-four Coys and Girls Glee Clubs The Glee Clubs have become important organizations in the eyes of the Student Body. The purpose of these successful musical organizations are to create a higher culture and g:ve some ideas of the fundamentals of music, harmony, and rhythm. Through the combined efforts of the one hundred voices, all types of songs including folk songs, negro spirituals, classics, novelty numbers, and current hits are learned. To provide the students with the type of music they enjoy working with, light and entertaining pieces are chosen. Melodies provide an outlet for the emotions of these students. The Girls’ and Boys’ Glee Clubs meet at noon on each Wednesday and Monday respectively. The Glee Clubs, which are accompanied by Miss Anna Jean Boylen, have highlighted several of our assemblies. During the Christmas pageant, the members sang favorite Christmas Carols. From the Boys’ Glee Club, a Boys Quartet composed of Charles Tighe, Jimmy Weekley, part in the success of the production. During the last week in April, the Boys’ and Girls' Glee Clubs presented an operetta. The operetta, which took the place of the annual spring concert, wa under the direction of Miss Miller. The setting for the original operetta was a college campus. Again Grafton High School became famous for its “Chorus Girls.” All of the songs were original. The lighting effects and the clever costumes helped to make the operetta a success. Fifty-fie Baby Pictures Robert Stout Nancy Curry Bessie Jones Eugenia Stevens Ann Elizabeth Rau Betty Long Mary Roof Ann Vance Helen Hollis Anna Jean Boylen Jane Miller Rose Lee Jones Helen Wyckoff Hallie Preston Natalie Dowden Lorraine McAvoy Jean Welch Billie Ann Ridenour Barbara Kemple Floyd Marshall Donald Soloman Lois Sapp Joan Saffel It doesn t seem possible that these ambitious youngsters compose a part of Grafton Senior High s Junior and Senior classes. But it’s true! How good are you at puzzles? Do you think you could find the President of the Senior Class, if you tried? I wonder how many of these students ever thought that their baby pictures would be published in their year book. It’s a strange world, isn’t it? It’s unusually hard to guess who a person is from his baby picture, so 1 11 give you a list of some of those who are on this page and I’ll leave the rest to you. Happy guessing!!! I Fifty six football With a successful season of 6 wins. 3 losses, and one tie of a 10 game schedule, the “Bearcats made a creditable showing under the able coaching of Charles F. “Mickey McDade. After three weeks of hard practice and just one week after the opening of school the “Bearcats’ meet the Bridgeport High “Indians” on the home field of Grafton for a lid lifting game. The highlight of the evening came when Captain Charles Swisher made a reverse play and went over for a touch down. After scoring 5 touch downs and an extra point the score totaled 31 to 7. The following week they disposed of the hard battling “Spartons” from Shinnston High with a highlight from Wes Swisher. Vies made a spectacular run down the field of 70 yards for a touch down. The final score indicated an air of dryness but this game proved to be one of the most exciting of the season. Shinnston was unable to score in this in the game against Graftons 3 touchdowns and two extra points. The highlight of the season brought the R. W. band to boast there team for Graftons only tie of the season on September 24. Neither of the teams were able to score during this spectacular game. Grafton High Bearcats journeyed to Clarksburg for the first defeat of the season when the Hitesmen outplayed Grafton High through the first three quarters of the game. In the fourth quarter Grafton came out with one touchdown to three and a final score of 20 to 7. October 8 the “Bearcats” won a hard fought victory overcoming a 19-0 lead in the first half. Captain Charles Swisher made 2 touchdowns, Wes Swisher made one, and the star center plunge Tony Gennette made two. The final score show-ed Grafton with 33 while Buckhannon held only 19. October I 5, the East Fairmont “yellowjackets were defeated on the Riverside Drive field by a good margin of 12 to 7. Grafton scored in the first and third quarters while the East side made their lone score in the forth quarter. The following week the “Bearcats” journeyed to the West Fairmont field for another victory over the Polar Bears of 20-0. The most excitement of the evening came when West Fairmont lost the ball by a bad fumble on the two yard lone and Ed Nipple recovered it over the goal for a touchdown for Grafton. The Phillippi “Bulldogs arrived in town on Oct. 29 only to be bitten by the mad “Bearcats. The checkerplayers sent them home defeated by a score of 20 to 7. The last home game of the season was lost by the “Bearcats” to Morgantown. Much resistance was put into the game from the “Bearcats although they missed Captain Charlie Swisher who joined the armed forces. Morgantown plowed through the field at the Riverside Drive Stadium for five touchdowns and Grafton was not able to score during the evening. On Armistice Day the Grafton Bearcats journeyed to Weston to be defeated by the Lewis Coun-tians in a foot of snow. The stormy weather was no more dreary than he poor Grafton fans and team who had ventured to Weston only to be beaten by 6-19. Wes Swisher and Fred Gerkins made the team, school, and themselves proud and distinguished after Wes received special recognition for all-state team, and Fred received honorable mention. Also “Wes, “Fred. and “Tuffy” Bragg received recognition in the all big ten conference eleven. Grafton scored 149 points to their opponents’ 113. Fifty-n ine Basketball Blue and gold team, gold and blue team, Grafton Hi Team — fight, fight, fiight. This is one of the yells which inspired and cheered the Bearcats ’43- 44 basketball team onward, helped them win 9 of the 20 scheduled games, and finish in 7th place in the Big Ten. Practice began the middle of Dec., with a large group of boys trying to make the grade. It was not long until by process of elimination, the varsity team was chosen with “Dabney Defenbaugh as captain. These I 5 played long and hard every evening learning just how to manage themselves on the floor under all types of circumstances. On Dec. 28 the green and inexperienced team met the Grafton High Alumni, consisting of Joe Hienzeman, Marion Bolyard, Bill Starford, Lyle Edwards. Kenneth Newlon, Paul Linn, and Clyde Henderson. We bowed preciously to our elders when the final whistle left the score 32-28. The year started off right with a 45 23 victory over the Bridgeport Indians. Jan. 4 saw our second win, the Barrackville High team, score 31-25. Two days later the McDademen met the strong southern Princeton team. From the toss-up to the very end. the game was one fast and furious struggle. All-State Captain Wathall demonstrated his ability to play ball by setting up shots for Ball who was high scorer of the evening with 20 points. We lost 49-29. The following night, the Bearcats traveled to East Fairmont only to bring home the news of defeat. The Yellow Jackets raised the score enough in the third quarter to top our lead and win 32-27. During the rapid Elkins game on Jan. II. Scott scored 24 points, Gardner 14, and for the locals, Defenbaugh scored 18. Even though this was one of the best games played, we lost to a good team. Score 55-44. Home again on Jan. 14. the score of 46-21 in the Parkersburg game showed the excellency of our teamwork. The Morgantown game began with a bang and remained in the lead until the third period when the Bearcats held scoreless while the boys from Morgantown made 7 baskets. Finals 39-29, Morgantown’s favor. The Buckhannon-Upshur game on Jan. 21 became another victory by a margin of I I points. Grafton was behind in the scoring field during the greater part of the struggle with Shinnston here. Futile attempt was made to retaliate but the end came all too early leaving a 12 point difference. The Bearcats met the West Fairmont Polar Bears on their own floor 3 days later, and by playing a remarkable offensive and defensive game was able to come out on top by a score of 44 to 42. We suffered another defeat this time by the Hitemen of Wl to the tune of 43-32. The comparatively slow game with Roosevelt-Wilson ended in our favor. The decision 27-14. On Feb. 8 the Morgantown team again took honors, this time scoring 45-42. The East Fairmont game on Feb. I I was certainly a heartbreaker. The locals were ahead by I point with less than I minute to play. The Yellow Jackets recovered the ball and were able to sink it just as the buzzer ended the feat. Score 38-37. On Tuesday, our now well seasoned ball club, traveled to Buckhannon where they outclassed the Buck-Ups. Score 41-29. The RW game of Feb. I 7 commenced slowly but gathered speed and rose to triumphant suicide McAvoy and Hawkins replaced Defenbaugh and Moran who were removed by fouls. Hawkins “the man of the hour” sunk enough baskets to override the opponents lead and set the 41-35 decision to our favor. Our luck failed the next night as we faced the Hilltoppers again. At the end of this fast game, the Hitemen were ahead 44-35. Gardner was in the spotlight as the Elkins Tigers plunged ahead to score 37-35 on Feb. 22 on our home floor. For the last time in the regular season we journeyed to Shinnston. The contest ended with a 47-36 victory for the host team. We ended the season in fine style by conquering the Polar Bears of West Fairmont 48-25. After the regular season, the boys continued to practice for the coming tournaments. It seemed to have aided greatly because the Bearcats defeated University High 37-33 in the first round of the Sectional and Morgantown in the finals 41-37. We were victorious by 6 points over the Man-nington five in the Region Is first game. Grafton lost to Elkins 35-25 on the following night giving us the runners-up position. Sixty COMMENCEMENT The class will present “Magnificent Obsession' as their Class play under the direction of Miss Batten. On May the 12 the curtain will go up and the cast will in elude Jean Stevens. Lloyd Elsey, Bob Stout, John Crane, Nancy Curry, James Ford, Natalie Dow den, Betty Long. Maxie Rogers. James Weekley, Dot-tie Sterling, and Ronald Bartlett. The Commencement Week will open with class night performances on May 26. Miss Ruth Batten and the Senior Class Officers are those in charge of preparations. Martha Rector will give the Valedictorian address and Lyle Dicker will present the Salu-tatorian address. These will be the most outstanding features of the evening due to their representation. Another event will be the Class Will, written by Betty Hoffman, which will relate each member’s beneficiary. Then the prophesy, a stirring sensation tends to give the members a wide and varied future along with humorous trends. On Sunday, May 28. Rev. Earl Slaton will pre- sent a sermon in honor of the graduating class. Preceding the sermon, an invocation will be offered by Rev. J. B. Staley. The Glee Club will give several selections. Rev. W. C. Gifford will give the Benediction. The Processional will be played by Anna Jean Boylen. The final event, Commencement, will be held on May 31, opening with the band playing Land of Hope and Glory. The Invocation will be given by Rev. Lois Luxzader. Dr. William Durn, who is one of America s truly great humorists will be the principal speaker of the evening. His philosophy and humor will stir the hearts and spirits of his listeners because he has a sympathetic understanding nature. Following Dr. Durn's address the Class will be presented with diplomas by Mr. Arthur G. Yates, then Rev. Lazenhy will give the Benediction and the Class will be dismissed as Anna Jean Boylen plays Priest March from Atralia as a Recessional. Sixty-one GOODBYE, WE’RE LEAVING As the class of '44 leaves the halls of Grafton High School, they look forward with various degrees of valor, excitement and anxiety to entering the fight for our country’s freedom. With this objective in m ind. several will find themselves many miles from home by the time another year has gone by. Their teachers and friends stand back of them for their success and happiness, as they enter this perilous struggle. Those who are left, will find urgent tasks needing all the skill they possess. This class began its successful career with Mr. Odgers, as a valuable and able director. We were under his direction for two years, then in the fall of 1942, Mr. Haun came to take up the leadership of our school. School seemed to go by slowly, until the last few weeks of our senior year, then all began reminiscing back over the past four years, full of success and failure, pride and amazement, joy and regret, which we traveled to reach the satisfaction that our high school goal has been attained, and now we begin to wonder why it could not go on forever! With the curtain drawing to a close, all we can say is: ’’although we do not remember every little detail, we will always look back with a warm glow of happiness upon the years spent in Grafton High School”. As the old saying goes, “don’t put off what has to be said”, we leave you with just a few words, “Goodbye, we’re leaving.” APPRECIATION We wish to express our sincerest thanks and appreciation to the numerous people who have helped and guided the inexperienced staff in publishing the 1944 edition of the Re-Echo ; to Mrs. Virginia Yost and Helen Hollis for their plans and art work on the division pages; to Miss Gladys Hickman for her competent guidance in both editorial and business field; to Mr. Kenneth Haun for his willing aid from the office; to the entire office staff; to Miss Ruth Batten and Miss Katheryn Shepler for their invaluable assistance; to the Art Class for their posters and advertisings. We are also grateful to The Morgantown Printing and Binding Company for their excellent printing job; to the engravers, The Jahn Ollier Company for excellent services and to Zamsky Studio for portraits of distinction. fiirtil-threc Qutejlaplts Sixty-four