Johnson St Paris High School - Parisian Yearbook (Saint Paris, OH)

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PROPHECY Just think, 12 years ago we walked into a classroom, for the first time in our young lives. I wonder what 12 more years will bring? Where will each of us be then? Well, let's set the calendar up a few years to 1966 and come back to St. Paris for a little visit. After being gone for 12 years, I found the old place had really changed. But it was still home and always will be for those of us who graduated from dear 'ole SPHS. 1 was walking calmly down the street reminiscing, when suddenly! Sc reeech ! Someone pulled up to a stop sign in a huge black Cadillac, threw it in second and went on through. Yep! Our old classmate, Shirley Current. Finally landed a big car. Wonder what went with it? At last, I came to the schoolhouse-a new modern building about 3 time s the size of the one from which we graduated. The first room I went into was the first grade. All the kids were huddled in a corner with looks of terror on their faces. As I turned and saw the teacher with a large, black horsewhip in her hand, I understood why they looked so frightened. However, Iwas amazed to find that their teacher was Jayne Fues- ton, better known among the kids as Calamity Jayne. While we were talking to Jayne, one of the little girls fell down and cut her arm. We took her to the school nurse and who do you think it was? Sondra! I didn't catch her last name, so I don't know whether it's been changed or not. Sondra and I took the little girl home, and as we turned into the lane, I saw the name McQuire on the mailbox. Yes, this was Joyce's youngest girl. She told us that she had just received a letter from Mary Cory, who is managing one of Kermit Eaton's many grocery stores. He has a whole chain of groceries called Eats from Eatons. Doing very well for himself, too. As we headed back to town, Sondra said there was someone else she wanted me to see, so we stopped at the next farm. Did I ever get a Shock ! ! ! Yes, Nyoma was now managing seven little Shock's. Plus one big one. It surely was swell to see her. When we reached town, Sondra said that she had to get back to work, so I began strolling down the street again. Suddenly someone stopped me to say hello. He looked like something straight from Paris, but then I realized it was our senior class president, Neil Meyer, in his smock and beret. Still painting signs. I asked him about some of our old classmates and he gave me a fast run-down on some of them. He said that Gertie and Jean Ann had recently opened a little dress shop uptown, called the Gaiety. Now where did they ever find that name!?! ? Maybe Hammy suggested it. By the way, I heard that Norman was living in California with his brother. He's a stage hand at one of the large studios in Hollywood. Neil told me that two of the members from our class had stepped into the sports world. Don Jones is now an umpire in the American League, still ar- guing that he's always right. Looks as if it really got him somewhere this time. Also Bob Neer is coaching an independent basketball team which is in some sort of state league. Neil said he's still that swell guy he always was. This page is sponsored by Elliot's Furniture Company. 13

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THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE CLASS OF 1954 We, the members of the Class of nineteen hundred and fifty-four of John- son-Saint Paris High School, do authorize this to be our last will and testa- ment, in the manner following: I, Sondra Brecount, will my love of chickens and birds to Carolyn Rushaw, I, Mary Cory, will my temper to Moyna Rickard. I, Joyce Cotterman, will my gym class shorts to Sandra Scott. I, Shirley Current, will the third period library to Mike Cook and Joe Fer- gus since they spend to much flying time there. I, Kermit Eaton, will my Plymouth to Don Brant. I, Kay Fergus, will my high soprano voice to Mike Cook who tries to sing soprano in Mixed Chorus. I, Robert Fitzgerald, will my ability to get a Rushaw to Ted Spriggs. I, Joyne Fueston, wish to will Kenneth Garver my naturally curly hair, so he can save money on permanents. I, Norman Hamilton, will my excess weight to Kenneth Meyers. I, Nyoma Hite, will my ability to turn corners to Loretta Rucker. I, Gertrude Jackson, am not going to will anything because I'm going to take it all with me. I, Roger Jenkins, will my BETTER jokes to Bruce Van Culin. I, Don Jones, will my cigarette lighter to Howard Leasure. I, Jean Ann Loudenback, will my driving ability to Beverly Spriggs. I, Neil Meyer, will riny ability to skip school and get away with it to Jim Wren. I, Robert Neer, will my small feet to Louis Jones. I, William Pauly, will my knowledge of Chemistry to Daryl Henderson. I, Ronald Rice, hereby will my Chevrolet to Ralph Stradling. I, Jo Ann Taylor, will my last name to Delores Boyd. I, Robert Thornton, will my nickname Rabbit to Rita Long. I, Kathleen Vorpe, will my outrageous giggle to Mr. Keinfelder and his next year's Chemistry Class. I, Elcena Zerkle, will my bottle of peroxide to Midge Stotler. We, the Seniors, will our nice clean room with private garbage disposal to the Juniors. To the faculty we will what's left of the Senior room after the Juniors get through with it. Lastly: We hereby appoint Mr. Dennis D. Miller executor of our Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills made by us. The Class of 1954 Witnesses: Jo Ann Taylor; Sondra Brecount Sponsored by Clark's Drug Store St. Paris. Ohio 12

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PROPHECY While we were talking, Kay Fergus's mother came by, so we asked her about Kay's whereabouts. She showed us a letter from Kay, postmarked Den- mark. She's accompanying a group of college students on a European tour as their chaperon. Some life, huh??? After saying farewell to Neil, my next stop was Taylor's. I hoped to find out where Jo Ann was from her mother. Much to my surprise, she had liked Alaska so well, that she and Jack had built an ultra-modern igloo and settled down. Gee , I thought to myself, our class really has been scattered to all corners of the world. But wherever we are, we'll always look back on 1954 as one of the happiest years of our lives. Oh well, enough melancholy thinking. I'd better get on with my search for the rest of our clan. After talking to several old friends, I learned that Kathleen Vorpe is living in Florida now; and she has rice for every meal. Books as if Ronnie's psychology worked better than hers, doesn't it? I ran into Bob Thornton, who also was back for a little visit, and WOW ! ! Did he ever look sharp. Dressed to perfection. I asked him what he had been doing and he replied that he had traveled to Europe as a representative from Lazarus, acting as their buyer for men's clothing. I'd say that was a job for which Bob was suited, since he had good taste in clothes. And just guess what Bob Fitzgerald is doing. He works for a mattress company as a model who sleeps on certain mattresses, in large department store windows. He always did walk around half asleep. Oh yes, I almost forgot Roger Jenkins, who always handled the class money so efficiently. Well he's still holding money. He's employed at the mint in Washington D.C. Some people just get all the breaks. By now, my vacation was almost up and I headed for the airport, ready to fly back to my work. My heavens ! I haven't even told you who I am. My name is Elcena Zerkle. I have to be back at the Veteran's Hospital tomorrow. Seems as though everytime I take a vacation, my husband's lab and medical reports get into one big scramble. Well, now I'm on the plane, ready to go. Here comes the pilot with last minute instructions. My gosh, the pilot is Bill Pauly. Haven't seen him for so long. He's married now and guess what? He has 2 little lumberjacks run- ning around at home. After I had chatted a few minutes with Bill, he took his place at the cock- pit, Ifastened my safety-belt, and the plane took off. I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, thinking a little sadly of my classmates and our school days, which would never return. Oh well, such is life. This page is sponsored by Wayne A. Willis, St. Paris 14