Kingswood Oxford High School - Retrospect Yearbook (West Hartford, CT)

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Cortland Henry Schroder “Cort” When Cort came to Kingswood from Robinson School in 1950, he was looked upon as a skillful acrobat. He swung along on his crutches without touching his feet to the ground as he served as Lancaster’s timekeeper, and in spite of his hip injury, made the rifle team. During summer vacation, Cort’s hip mended and he threw away his famous crutches. In Fourth Form Cort became assistant man- ager and ball chaser on the soccer team. That winter he became a member of Coach Knapp's newly formed wrestling team. In the spring he spent more time arguing with Van about who hit whom over the head first, than he spent playing lacrosse. Summer found Cort relaxing behind a desk at a local insurance company. Weekends would find him lounging on a beach at Groton Long Point. It was said that the attraction there was blonde about five foot six. It was in Fifth Form that Cort earned his first major letter in soccer. Mr. Elben’s lacrosse team attracted Cort again in the spring. He would take a particular joy in tripping his opposing player in the wettest and muddiest end of the field and acquired the name of “Mud” throughout that season. He won his letter in lacrosse that year. Last summer he had a job with a tree service company. Rut what goes up must come down and Cort left the trees and headed for the north woods of Canada with Van, then west to Chicago. In Sixth Form, Cort joined the Dramatic Club and the Rifle Club and won his letter in soccer. Best wishes, Cort, from all of us. 22

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John David Olson “Oley” When Oley first came to Kingswood in the Third Form, he immediately became a popular man around the campus. His humor, wit, and story telling, whether factual or not, always drew a crowd. Oley played Lancaster soccer in the fall of his first year. In the spring his Lacrosse ability caught the eye of Coach Duck O’Harc who placed him on the first squad. Because of his aggressiveness and drive to win he started many of the games that spring. After a summer of working at a camp in Maine doing kitchen duty, he returned a com- plete wreck to report for preseason soccer practise. Though it took him a while to get in condition, he won a starting berth on the Big Red Team and was awarded his letter for his efforts. He played J. V. basketball in the winter and lacrosse in the spring. His agressivc- ncss made him a constant scoring threat, and at the end of the season he was elected co-captain on the basis of his fine play. His junior year was Oley’s biggest. Beside excelling in his usual sports, he was elected assistant manager of the Dramatic Club, business manager of the News and was one of the five Juniors able to attend Bart’s party With all these outside activities, Oley managed to pass into his senior year. In his final year he shocked the athletic world by playing football, a life long threat which finally materialized. After trying the backficld he was switched to the line where he did a commendable job in the Wyvern wall. During the winter Oley forsook a promising hoop career to work on his studies. When the sun came out again in the spring Oley lead his lacrosse team through its fine paces. Oley’s fine spirit, good nature and ability to take care of himself made him a popular member of the class of ’54. We wish him the best of luck and hope he will succeed in all he undertakes. 21

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Peter Crosby Smith “Pete” Pete, a tall, lanky fellow who was known and respected by all in his class before he entered Kingswood, soon made a name for himself here also. To strangers he is quiet and appears to be bashful. However, as you begin to know him, he becomes very easy to talk with. The class of ’54 was very fortunate to receive such a person in 1950 when Pete entered the Third Form. As the year passed on, he became one of the stable members of the class and won the confidence of both the faculty and other students. York was Pete’s choice of club and all his efforts on both the soccer field and basketball court in the winter were directed towards it. Peter’s talents on the stage were not brought to light until he took the lead in Our Town, a joint production with Oxford in the spring of his Fourth Form year. When Pete walked on stage the night of the first performance, he was nervous and doubtful of the outcome of his efTorts. Shortly after the beginning he had gained self-confidence, and was well on the way to doing a great job. In the two following years Pete's schoolwork demanded most of his time, but he did serve the Dramatic Club faithfully on the business board. Pete’s welcome smile was missing at the beginning of the following year when school reopened. However, it was not long before it was again part of our class after a short stay at Trinity Pawling. Members of the soccer team will long remember the spendid job Pete did this past tall. His sportsman-like spirit and will to win was a definite asset to the club. The members of the class of '54 will not forget the job he has done for the class, as Business Manager of the Wyvern, as a member of the Foreign Policy Association, and other activities. Lots of luck and success in college, Pete. 23