Illinois Valley Central High School - Sequence Yearbook (Chillicothe, IL)

Page 10 text:

Genial. well-grocmed Gladys Morrison (B.S., Monmouth) teaches five math courses at Chilli High. An innovation of the 1945-46 schedule was a new trigonometry course. Miss Morrison s keen mind finds relaxation in her bridge game and in bowling. To learn the way to a man's heart , consult Mrs. Dorothy Pruett (B.S., University of Illinois), head of Chilli's homo economics department. It s in her classes that those future housewives of local America are trained in the culinary arts. The annual Style Show sponsored by Mrs. Pruett attracted its usual large audience. Girls exhibited their homemade dresses, women sipped tea and crunched on cookies, and everyone had a nice time. That tall, good-looking woman you see hurrying through the halls with her arms weighted down by speed test papers is Pauline Hurt (B.Ed., Illinois State Normal University). As head of the commercial department. Miss Hurt is remembered for her genuine interest in students and in the preparation they make for business careers. The faithful adviser of the SCRIBE. Wayne Wilkinson (B.Ed.. Normal University), teaches classes of English and dramatics to CHS students. Willie coached the very original Our Town to a smashing success, which was followed by Nine Girls, another hit. In his not-so-spare time, he adds to his collection of Ellington, Stravinsky, and Prokofieff records and tries to improve his bridge technique. This good-natured teacher is rated tops with all the kids at Chilli. Ethel Gerber (B.Ed., Normal University) introduced Spanish to the CHS curriculum in 1944, and last year an advanced class was added to the beginning group. Miss Gerber cops honors among the faculty for athletic participation, being adept in ice- skating. swimming, bowling, and horseback-riding. Fred Bohannon (A.B., Knox College) taught science classes during the absence of Jean Parvin. who was in service. Mr. Bohannon's gentility and good humor made him a favorite among both students and faculty. In 1945 he organized the Science club. Last January he left Chillicothe to take a position at the high school in Mabton, Washington.

Page 9 text:

'Dean, Diany Golly, the summer went fast. It's hard to believe, but here I am back at school again. In a way I'm glad. Working downtown was fun for a change, and those picnics the gang held down at Detweiller and out in the country were delish—but there's some- thing about going back to school that feels pretty good, too. I guess maybe it's seeing all the kids again, and the games and good times we have throughout the year. Ye Olde Chilli High looks pretty much the same, except that Harve has done ’a grand job refinishing the building. The Study Hall desks look like new. Why? Because the initials of the grue- some twosomes of bygone days have been sanded off and the desks are sporting new coats of varnish. No more will we be sitting at our desk, writing leisurely away, and then all of a sudden have our pencil hit a groove and leave a nice hole in the middle of a theme we've already copied twice. Love it! Love it! Almost every year some kids start expressions that soon become old favorites around the school, and this year is no exception. Whadaya say? is really out of this world when Bill Sturgeon or Jack ''Pod'' Mooney utter it. You mad? I ain’t mad! also arose to popularity at this time. We have the most agreeable school no one is ever mad. Most of the teachers are back, too. No matter how you feel about teachers when you have an English theme or a chemistry outline due the next day, you've got to admit you miss them a little during vacation. There I was. walking up the steps of the lab (and trying to talk over my shoulder to Nadine at the same time) when I bumped smack into Mr. Nothdurft. I guess no one was hurt, for he simply smiled and said good morning as if nothing had happened. Miss Morrison is back too, and teaching Trig this year. I wish I could be a BRAIN in math some time, but I ain't mad. (See! Everyone's saying it.) Miss Gerber and Miss Hurt are teaching commercial courses. Spanish is another of Miss Gerber's duties. It certainly is catching, for most of the Spanish students have a brogue—or is it an accent? Miss Hurt is busy giving speed tests in typing and shorthand. Oh, will I ever pass that stuff? Attempting to teach the girls the arts of cullery and sewing is Mrs. Pruett's job. She is the one with the hubby in the Marines—and she is proud of him, too. Mr. Mercer has the F. F. A. and the Ag class to contend with; and Mr. Bohannon guides the biology, chemistry, and physics classes through the rough spots. Mr. Wee Willie Orville Nothdurft (M.A., Northwestern University), has been the capable, well-liked principal at CHS for nearly three years. In February, his family welcomed a new arrival to their home at 444 North Fourth street. The little lady's name is Janis Ann. Mr. Nothdurft was pestered several days for cigars. Wilkinson teaches English and speech, leaving Mr. Jordan to in- struct the classes in history. Alas, history! That still leaves five new teachers. Mr. Plapp. a jovial fellow. is director of band and chorus. He also has a brother-in-law who flew an airplane in a picture with VAN JOHNSON!! Oh. Brother-in- law! Mr. Taylor, a favorite of the girls, is our new coach. Miss Moulton is the new librarian and English teacher. She is making great improvements ir. our library, which is now down in the Ag room. Then comes our little Southern gym teacher, Miss Cren- shaw. She came straight from Kaintucky. Miss Martens is the new English and Latin teacher. She also has the Tempest to worry about. Now. last but not least, are our faithful Louise. Harve, Mr. Stewart, and Bucky, four very essential factors of Chillicothe High School. After all, someone has to keep the records straight, the rooms clean, the floors swept, and the bus running. Well. Diary, it is time for me to sign off. I am still dazzled by the privileges of being a senior (though goodness only knows that I've worked hard enough to be one). It will take a while to get used to the lockers, the exclusive use of Senior Hall, and the back seats in the study hall; but it is so-ooo-ooooo nice being a senior. This year promises to have many interesting moments— including a certain good-looking fellow who has the locker two doors down the hall from me. Ah-h! Goodbye for now. Diary.

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 Energetic, dynamic George Mercer (M.A., University of Illinois) gives instiuction to Chilli's rural youth. We remember him for the improvements made in the Farm Shop, the GI education program, and the seventh hour study hall. As No. 1 agriculturist of CHS. Mr. Mercer is adviser to FFA members. Heart-throb of Chilli High is George Taylor (B.S.. Eureka College), the coach who led the basketball squad to its best season in seven years. Taylors shy smile, rugged humor, and engaging manner made him a favorite with the feminine element of CHS from the moment he stepped before assembly to predict the results of the Washington game. “A peach, a dream .... (in the words of the school cheer)—that's the Coach. The red-haired history teacher, William Jordan (B.A.. Bradley), can be seen riding his bicycle up the winding drive of Chilli High every morning about 8:00. A devotee of history, he likes to bury himself in books with historical backgrounds and biographies. Flash takes a good deal of kidding about his budget. Every other Tuesday night he attends the Chilli- cothe Choral Society. Just finishing her first year of teaching at Chillicothe. and her second year anywhere, is Kathryn Martens IB.Ed., Normal University). With her help, a Tempest was stirred up every two weeks. This year, for the first time, it was printed by the Bulletin office. Miss Martens has a sharp sense of the dramatic, whether she be (note the subjunctive mood) emoting as Lady Macbeth or declining a Latin noun. First full-time librarian at CHS in many a year is Merietta Moulton (B.Ed., Illinois State Normal). In addition to reorgan- izing what had been a disordered book catalog and adding hundreds of new books. Miss Moulton taught three sections of English. Her pleasant personality attracts many friends. Vance Plapp (B.M., Illinois Wesleyan), head of the music department, made his teaching debut at Chillicothe last fall. His unpredictable wit and genuine sincerity are outstanding among Mr. Plapp's characteristics. Organizations under his direction are band, girls' and boys' choruses, a freshman group, and the city choral society. One of the pleasantest people we know north of the Mason- Dixon Line is Eleanor Crenshaw (B.S.. Western Kentucky), girls' physical education instructor. Versatile is the word for El'naw, who likes bridge, ballet, and books with equal enthusiasm and is no slouch at horseback-riding and bowling, either. A longtime member of our faculty in pre-war days. Jean Parvln (A.B., Central College) returned to teaching in January after three years of Navy service. That mellow quality in Mr. Parvin's voice makes science courses twice as interesting as the textbooks might indicate. The students at Chilli rapidly pronounced him O.K.”