Grant High School - Memoirs Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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Coach Mark Cotton records the time of his son. Greg, after running the alumni cross-country meet. Former Grant student Eric Sten and his father, relax following the race. A graduate of 1926 recalls memories while exhibiting her yearbook to a television cameraman, reporter, and former classmate. Sixteen alumni from the class of '26 appear young at heart as they pose on the front steps On reaching the finish line, the top five runners receive awards and recognition: John Dimoff '88. Dan Kavet 76. Brad Johnson 74. Rick Messier '88. and Hal Jackson '65. Introduction 15

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 HAD TO BE THERE Alumni return pride You had to be there when members of the class of '26 returned to Grant for their sixty year reunion. Yes, that's right! Grant's first graduating class assembled one more time. The stunning LeVeda Gearhart arrived in style as she stepped out from her sleek Rolls Royce. Dressed in a fancy gray skirt and jacket, shiny black shoes, and jewelry galore, Gearhart declared, It's marvelous to be back! Classmate Albert Arnst greeted her with pleasure along with a Channel 8 photographer. Arnst organized this reunion attempting to locate his ninety-member class. Eighteen were contacted and excited to hear the news. On September 20, the 1926 alumni posed for pictures, socialized, and found Grant to be much different from before. They seated themselves in Room 113 and chuckled when Arnst asked, Okay students, are you ready for a test? Minutes later, senior James Moss welcomed them and began speaking about the many changes and additions over the past sixty years. Moss continued by taking the former students on a tour of the school. Walter Heitkemper, Grant's first student body president, pointed out some of the dif ferences: There was certainly no auditorium, and the cafeteria was located in a portable. We had a drum corps, but not a complete band. When reaching the library, they seemed in awe of the larger room and number of books. Ed Ansty and Lyle Harrington chatted about ther championship football team. Ansty announced that he played center, while captain Harrington played tackle. Suddenly, Harrington pulled a yellowed newspaper, dated September 30, 1925, out of his briefcase. He had saved every Grant article published pertaining to his high school years. Graduate Ferrin Morelan explained that although there were many clubs and organizations, students could join only two. I was in Buskins (now Thespians); the first play we performed was 'Out of the Kitchen'. As the end of the tour neared, Morelan seemed to speak for everyone when he remarked, I'm just glad I'm here to be back! On the same day of this gathering, more than thirty former Grant runners met with this season’s cross country team. The alumni divided themselves into two separate races: one for those who felt they were in fairly good shape and one for the others. Cross country coach, Mark Cotton, felt the races were not only satisfying for the returning runners, but also a rewarding experience for his young athletes. 14 Introduction

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 n HAD TO BE THERE 1 [1 U U Freshmen reveal fears Viewing numerous freshmen struggling with those initial high school fears was a .... well, you simply had to be there. Panic!!! Where do I go now? What do I do? Who are those monstrous people? While some freshmen felt calm, cool, and collected, others had quite a task of forging through the first few weeks of confusion. What were the freshmen's greatest fears? Sarah Houghton replied, By the time I was to schedule my classes, they would all be filled, and I wouldn't be able to go to Grant this year! Fortunately, she managed to acquire her desired classes. Even worse. ”1 feared that I would run into a big, senior girl in the hall, and she would get highly upset with me in front of everyone, exclaimed Kim Riggins. Similar to several freshmen, Tony Harris yelled, Initiation! while Lisa Parker and Heather Weigant agreed, We feared the confrontations we would make with people we already knew at Grant. Among the most common fears of freshmen, Amanda Kotsovos confided, I came from a smaller school, so I feared the new atmosphere of a high school. That was how those young ones felt as they stared up at the giant juniors and seniors of Grant in the long, crowded hallways. My biggest worry was that I'd get lost! declared Mike Sterling. To save embarrassment, many freshmen glanced at their schedule of classes al least twice a minute, making sure to go the right way. LaDreama McBride concluded in awe, I feared all those big kids... Most of these fears disappeared by the end of the first term. Adapting to the crazy high school atmosphere went fairly well. However, concerns occas-sionally overwhelmed them Penny Jones stated, I was really afraid there would be a certain way everyone acted, many books, too much homework, and other stereotypes of typical high school teenagers. I'm glad to see it's not true. 16 Introduction