Kalona High School - Centerika Yearbook (Kalona, IA)

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6 THE CE Neise ReWkes Seniors MAYNARD C. REBER VERNON B. BONTRAGER J. F. SWARTZENDRUBER (Toots) (Thomas) (Jake) “I may be down, but I’m never out.” “Some men are born to greatness; “The wisest in council, the ablest : others achieve it.” in debate.” MARY M. EASH OTHA B. JONES W. FERN SWARTZENDRUBER (Giggles) (O-Tee) (Smiles) “Hero’s to a gay life, and a happy one.” “A man of noble mind is he, whose “True courage is always mixed with s : sea 2S Oras oh : 5 chief virtue’s sincerity. circumspection,”’ HAROLD W. MILLER FRANCIS W. PALMER CLIFFORD H. HESS (Hooks) (Sim) (CAH) “To hasten will not lengthen life! “T came, I saw, I Conquored.” “No entertainment is so cheap as read- Why hurry ?’’ ing, nor any pleasure so lasting.’’

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TPES CE NGE RIK A 5 History of Center High School In the year of 1923, a few persons in Washing- ton Township, Johnson County, Iowa, having child- ren of high school age discussed the possibility of offering one year of high school work in the base- ment of the grade school building of District num- ber five. While a few parents in the Township were in- terested, and the project was discussed at various times, no definite steps were taken until June 23, 1924. On this date a meeting was held at Center School, where the merits of a country high school were discussed by several speakers. After a great deal of solicitation, worry, and sus- pense during the summer, thirteen students in the Township were found willing to forego the conven- iences of older, better established, and better equip- ped schools which they might have attended, and thereby make it possible to open a high school in Washington Township. On the 8th of September, 1924, the above men- tioned 13 students gathered in the basement of Cen- ter School, and the first days work of high school was begun. Whether the number thirteen has been unlucky, can be best judged by those who have watched the progress of this school for the past four years. It is gratifying to those responsible for the opening of the school to know that eight of the original thirteen are completing their four years of work at this school this year; one finished three years; only two of the number failed to complete two years of work; and two others moved away and are finishing at other schools, Due credit for the success this school has attained should be given to Miss May E. Francis, then Super- intendent of Public Instruction, for the encourage- ment given. While the first years’ work did not en- tirely meet the standards of the State Department for high school approval, being convinced that an honest effort was being made to make the best of existing circumstances and also seeing that much good work was being accomplished, the State De- partment very wisely approved our first year’s work. Without this aid the school would have died in its infancy, and there would have been nothing fur- ther to write than its obituary. We are pleased to say that the present State Superintendent, Miss Agnes Samuelson, is also anxious that this school shall continue to grow and be an asset to this com- munity. After two years of approved work the problem of adequate room and equipment to handle a full four year high school course confronted the school board, which, it should be made clear, is nothing more than the board for District number five. Ac- cording to law Center High School is a District High School. A number of public meetings were held in order to arouse enough enthusiasm in the Town- ship to make it possible to go on with the school without any interruption and offer a full four year high school course. Again it required a consider- able amount of solicitation and time to raise enough money by public subscription—this being the only way the plan for a high school could be carried out under the present Township school organization, unless the sub-district idea were used, which was and is impractical in our case—to erect a building suitable for high school purposes. But by persis- tent efforts the task was completed June 25, 1926. Five thousand dollars was pledged in amounts ranging from five to five hundred dollars. On June 28, the ground which had been donated to the school, was fenced, and the hauling of ma- terial was begun by people of the community. From this time work went steadily on until the completion of the building and opening of school, September 15, 1926. It has not been the motive of those sponsoring this school to compete with town or city schools, or to forward any selfish purposes, but rather to give the children of the rural districts at least some of the advantages that towns are offering to their young people. As a result of this high school, many are enjoying the benefits of a high school education who otherwise would have had to stop with graduation from the eighth grade. A WORD FROM SUPERINTENDENT OSBORN (Continued from Page 4) the classroom and school activities to enter the stern realities of practical life. May their days spent at Center ever be a pleasant memory and inspira- tion to them. In writing an invitation for new students, as we must have new students each year, I can think of nothing better than to point to the testimony of our graduating class. Each has a character without taint, a friendly attitude which does not speak of boastfulness, and each has in his mind the fruit of four years of diligent application of his energies to his high school work. We have three other classes which will be an equal credit to their school. You will be welcome to Center. You will receive in- dividual attention. You wiil be among your own home friends. Your work will be interesting and stimulating. In fact, you will have all the opportun- ities that a growing home community school with hign ideals and a personal interest in you has to of- fer. You need Center High School. Center High School needs you. Plan to join us. ....By working to- gether, we can make your life fuller, richer, and more worthwhile. Make your decision now to be here when school opens this fall. You will never be sorry.

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THE CEN TE RIK A v The Class of Twenty-eight CLIPPINGS FROM THE CENTERIKA, MAY 1953 Clifford Hess, eminent writer of popular fiction, has just sailed for Lithuania on the U. S. S. Levia- than, where he is being sent as a speical consul to the Lithuanian government by the president of the United States—From The New York Democrat. Maynard C. Reber, contender for the heavyweight crown, has been scheduled to fight the champion a twelve-round bout on September 21 of this year. Mr. Reber has done a great deal to raise the stan- dards of boxing until now each boxer wears a base- ball catcher’s mask and other appropriate armor. —From The Chicago Herald-Tribune. Jacob F. Swartzendruber, scientist and inventor, has just secured a patent on a new kind of pill which may be taken for the better development of one’s mental and spiritual powers, just as we now take such medicine for physical ills—From The Pathfinder. The Eugene Redcap baseball team has just com- pleted a pennant-winning season in which they have won twenty-eight of thirty-one games, under the direction of Coach Vernon B. Bontrager, formerly of Iowa. He has gained much support from the fans by an unusual inovation which he has originat- ed of personally singing in his rich, tenor voice a number of humorous selections to the spectators be- fore the game.—From The Eugene Oregon Daily Press. Francis W. Palmer, publisher of the American Weekly, is gaining considerable comment in news- paper circles with his new practice of publishing his paper in a large dirigible. The paper has no per- manent headquarters and is seldom published in the same town twice. This will no doubt revolution- ize newspaper publishing.—From The Los Angeles Daily Tribune. The above sketches clipped from prominent pre- sent-day newspapers speak for themselves. The other members of the class of ’28 have been located as follows: Mary Eash is married and living on a farm sev- eral miles north of Wellman. Word comes from Springfield, Indiana, that Otha B. Jones has just been advanced to his position as field manager of the Springfield Air Transport Com- pany. Fern Swartzendruber, after completing a type- writing course at the Irish Business College is now private secretary to the president of the Illinois Central Railroad. Harold Miller is owner of a two-thousand acre cat- tle ranch in Montana. Reports are that his course in Economics at Center High School has helped him to make vast profits in his business. WHAT WILL BE TOLD We, the Seniors of Center High, Are going to tell you of days gone by— What we have learned, what we have done, And what others have begun. We'll tell it in pictures; we’ll tell it in stories; We'll also tell of our fame and glories. In athletic and declamatory work No one ever tried to shirk. We sometimes won and sometimes lost, But never at a very great cost. All of this will with the greatest of care Be arranged in the Centerika where It will look the neatest and best. I hope that you will like the rest That I forgot To tell about. —M. R. ’28 SENIOR CLASS WILL We, the class of 1928 of Center High School, being of strong body and sound mind, do hereby bequeath the following property to our fellow stu- dents in this our last will and testimony. To the Juniors we leave our Physics equipment and an air of superiority in the classrooms, To the Sophomores we leave our English text- books and classics, much the worse for use. To the Freshies we leave and bequeath a part of our knowledge, which we hope will be of use to them in future years. Vernon Bontrager leaves his captaincy of the athletic teams to George Hess. Jacob Swartzendruber leaves his super-ability to solicit advertisements to Lyle Yoder. Otha Jones leaves his pompadour, plus a supply of stacomb, to Clifton Gingerich. Mary Eash wishes to will her dates to Marjorie Hukill. Clifford Hess leaves his literary ability to Charles Semler. Maynard Reber leaves the scientific secret of making galvanic cells, of which he is the sole pos- sessor at present, to the next year’s Junior class president. Francis Palmer wills his Webster fountain pen, much the worse for four long years of strenuous use but still possesed of it’s magic grade-getting properties, to Lloyd Bender. Fern Swartzendruber leaves her smile for all the sober Sophomores. Harold Miller gives his Model T Ford, veteran of the road for many years, to the National Museum of Art, situated at Center High School. The president of the school board, Mr. Joel D.