Hastings High School - Saxon Yearbook (Hastings, MI)

Page 14 text:

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY Seated: Hewitt, A. Rider(Bower )Cor Jes, Kenyon, Jones, Jaksec, Mvers, Werner, TL Loftus, L. Foster, F. Foote. NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY The local chapter of the National Honor Soci- ety was named after William T. Wallace, princi- pal emeritus of H.H.S., because he represents the ideals on which the National Honor Society was founded. Mr. Wallace taught at Hastings for 33 years and was principal for 27 years. The object of the National Honor Society is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote worthy lead- ership, and to encourage the development of character in high school pupils. The society is the high school equivalent of the college Phi Beta Kappa. Juniors and seniors who have attended Hastings High School for at least one year and maintained a scholastic average of 2.00, a “B average, are eligible for membership. Mr. Edwin L. Taylor, Mrs. Mary Payne, Mr. Stanley Wheater, Miss Ruth Robson, and Mr. Carl Damson composed the 1947 faculty council. This council selects the membership, taking into consideration scholarship, service, leadership, and character. This year’s initiation was held in Central Audi- torium March 24. The Rev. Leason Sharpe opened the ceremony with the invocation after which a duet, “The Rosary,” was sung by Beverly Drake and Neva Ball. Chapter member lames Burns introduced the speaker, Dr. Wilbur West, direc- tor of the Western Michigan College camp at Clear Lake. Dr. West pointed out that the mem- bers of the society evidently had the right attitude, the ability to finish their tasks, and the proper ideals of service. After Mr. Stanley Wheater ex- Sramiing. Mr. Taylor, adviser, V. Warren, Ball, M. Bryans, R. Groos, Burns, Hodges, Keech, Gwinn, Wilson, M. Drake, E. Conklin, M. Clark, Miss Robson. plained the significance of membership in the Na- tional Honor Society, the candlelighting ceremony took place. Each initiate rose and received a candle which he lighted from the combined flames of four other candles, held by James Bums, Norma Jaksec, Colleen Jones, and Dorvald Keech, s'gnifying scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Each initiate then received a yellow rose, the chapter flower, from Jean Kenyon. The pledge was administered by Principal Edwin L. Taylor, after which Pres. Patrick Hodges welcomed the new members. Mr. Lewis Hine played two oboe solos, and the Rev. Sharpe concluded the cere- mony with the benediction. ,—The mcmh rs initiated in 1947 were Neva Ball, C Dorothy Boweh Marvel Bryans, Mary lane Clark, Edna Conklin, Reynolds Cordes, Marvin Drake, Frances Foote, Lachlan Foster, Richard Groos, Charles Gwinn, Joan Hewitt, Helen Dtftus, Keith Myers, Alan Rider, Virginia Warren, Myrna Wer- ner, and Arnold Wilson. Officers for ’47 were Patrick Hodges, president; Donald Keech, vice-president; Colleen Jones, sec- retary; Miss Ruth Robson, treasurer. The society’s emblem is in the form of a key- stone with a torch emblazoned on it. The key- stone is the supporting stone in an arch and signi- fies a strong, solid foundation or character. The torch signifies learning. The society sent letters of congratulation to students receiving a 2.75 average or above. It sold pop at basketball games, assisted at the Hastings Relays, and will edit the first issue of the Fort- night in the fall. Membership includes both students going to school and those who have graduated.

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As Time Went By Less than a score of years ago 122 laughing and crying souls came into being — as if the depression weren’t bad enough. The academic element was added to the struggle for survival, when at the tender age of about five years, the chosen few entered kindergarten. Nine years later, having given up in their at- tempt to master the fundamentals of readin’, ’rit- in’, and ’rithmetic, the class of ’47 hit Hastings High, making its good judgment known by choos- ing Keith Myers, president; Ronald Rivers, vice- president; Barbara Nixon, secretary; and Jean Kenyon, treasurer. All aided in the fight for fame and fortune. One of the first acknowledgments of our now- undisputed superiority came as Ronald Rivers re- ceived the only fixnball letter awarded to a fresh- man. Raymond Branch’s outstanding basketball play also drew acclaim. Observing the adage about changing horses in the middle of the stream, the greenies re-elected “Tiddo” as president, for the second semester, at the same time choosing Raymond Branch to assist him; James Burns to keep the buckskin and Joan Hewitt to prevent embezzlement of class funds. Miss Emily McElwain and Mr. Tac Gies remained as faculty advisers. Track season found Ronald Rivers, Kingsley Zerbel, Robert Hopkins, Keith Myers, and Rich- ard Feldpausch leading the freshman candidates. Barbara Nixon was the only freshman cheer- leader and demonstrated agility and rhythm enough to help keep the world from forgetting the class of ’47. Remarkable academic achievement was recog- nized when James Bums collected all “A’s” for the first semester. And so it came to pass that the busy year drew to a close in June, 1944, followed by what might have been a busier summer. However, it is in con- flict with editorial policy to record such activities, so we must skip the warmer months and take up the struggle again, this time receiving advice from Mr. Gies and Miss Ruth Robson in September, 1944, when we elected James Burns to head the class. As a token of gratitude for his election, Jim assumed the role of chief stamp-and-bond sales booster and turned in creditable showings in bas- ketball and baseball. Vice-pres. Colleen Jones and Jean Kenyon com- bined with a newcomer, Norma Jaksec, to set a class record in number of perfect report cards. Owen Peters was elected secretary, and Joan Hewitt, treasurer. Richard Feldpausch, Ronald Rivers, and Arn- old Wilson were rewarded with football letters for their excellent line play. Call it reaction or whatever you like, but Keith Myers was elected head-man for a third term, only five years too late to smash the old no-third- term precedent. Dick Feldpausch was named vice- president; Marcia Johnson, secretary, and Jean Kenyon, treasurer. The junior varsity cagers had an unbeaten season, paced by Ray Branch, Dick Feldpausch, Bob Hopkins, Keith Myers, and Arnold Wilson. Branch, Feldpausch, Zerbel, and Ronald Rivers lent strong support to the track team, while Wil- son, Jim Burns, Bill Payne, Keith Myers, and John Kendall made their presence felt on the other side of the spring sports program. Anne O’Connor was among the most active girls, par- ticipating in G. L B., band, and G. A. A. and serving as general manager of the last. With two years of valuable experience behind them, the juniors of September, 1945, resumed their struggle for recognition under the leadership of Richard Feldpausch, president; John Kendall, vice-president; Patricia Belsito, secretary; Owen Peters, treasurer; and Mrs. Mary Payne and Mr. G. Avery Aten, advisers. Richard Feldpausch was elected vice-chairman of the Faculty-Student Council, and Patrick Hodges served as chief justice, replacing Burl Val- entine. All four school commissions were en- riched by the presence of juniors, including James Burns, Anne O'Connor, also treasurer of the Girls League Board, Norma Jaksec, and Charles Gwinn, who led the class honor roll. Colleen Jones was elected secretary of the Girls League Board. Berths on the all-conference football squad went to Richard Feldpausch and Arnold Wilson, while Ronald Rivers’ excellent play earned him the captaincy for ’46. Jean Kenyon, captain, Beverly Drake, Marian Stevens, and Phyllis Lord demonstrated ability in cheerleading. Norma Jaksec was chosen second semester to head the juniors and served as general chairman of the J-Hop. Other officers were John Kendall, vice-president; Beverly Drake, secretary; and Don- ald Keech, treasurer. Arnold Wilson was the only junior named to the all-conference basketball squad, while Ray Branch and Dick Feldpausch also turned in ex- cellent records as regular starters on the Saxon five which won its fifth straight league title. The track team relied on the contributions of the class of ’47 to win the W. C. L. crown. Lettermen were Raymond Branch, James Burns, Linden Cunning- ham, Richard Feldpausch, John Kendall, Murray Otis, Paul Otis, Arnold Wilson, and Kingsley Zer- bel. Arnold Wilson, William Payne, Russell Stanton, and Keith Myers won baseball letters. Lynn Wallace attempted to murder James Burns and Georgia Spiris and cast suspicion on Donald Keech and Paul Otis, much to the con- cern of Norma Jaksec, but Ex-detective Linden Cunningham proved that crime does not pay in the junior play, “The Visitor.” Mr. Lester Schill- ing and Jean Kenyon directed the murder mystery. As we rounded the last curve and headed into the home stretch, it was clear that we would need a fast leader who would not let small obstacles