Lafayette High School - Legend Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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i 15'15'15'15 The school reflects the change in the times. These words were spoken by Dr. Oswald, who has been the guide and mentor of all Lafayette students. Dr. Oswald strongly believes in the afore-mentioned senti- ment, as he has seen Lafayette reflect the changing modes of the past 15 years. Dedication ceremonies were conducted by Mayor LaGuardia on a bleak Novem- ber morning in 1939. Structural work was soon completed and the administration soon made Lafayette a functioning high school. From the beginning the Lafayette News was present to record the happenings. Its brother literary publication, The rlffarquis, appeared soon after. To lend a bit of color to the scheme of things, the Pink Card was instituted. Inexorably, we were being drawn closer to the strife in Europe in 1940 but Lafayette still grew. Athletics came out with a boom and soon dominated the scene. To meet the need we were given an athletic Held-someone added a fence to our back yard. December 7, 1941 changed the cosmopolitan outlook and this was well reflected in Lafayette. The frenzied fear of the world was reflected in Lafayette, but in energy that resulted in major contributions to the war effort. To supervise affairs, a Victory Council was organized-so successfully that it was soon adopted by other schools. Another result was a long list of donations to the boys on the front and in the hospitals. In this period, for the Hrst time, the Marquis was awarded the gold medal by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The success in the war effort was reflected in sports. In 1944 we won our first football game-Poly Prep was edged out, 7-6. With the return of peace and optimism students once more had time to whistle and turn their thoughts to sports. The result was a new growth and development in athletics. The years of transition were reflected in the slowdown of the pulse beat of the school. In '46 the halls echoed to the boast of the boys who prophesied their victory when they chanted: School's today from 8 to 3, So are the odds on Faculty. Needless to say the students won in their game against the Faculty. Twenty-two

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wlufion In the swamp there lives a beast, Uncivilized to say the least, It screams and giggles while at play And sucks a lollipop all day, It's really quite a specimen, Our teachers call it FRESH-a-MAN. Yet still another roams the fen, Its age about five years and ten, And though quite young and rather green This creature is far less bovine Than FROSH, and though it irks a prof more It is more favored-we call it SOPHOMORE. The worst is yet to come you see g Voila, it's creature number three The swamp's lead rogue, it's often seen To be so jealous it's turned green To see a FOUR-No, none is goonier Than the beast that's known as jUN-I-OR. But here at last fair evolution Has got itself the grand solution, It's reached the top, it's made the IT With charm and talent, poise and wit, Par excellence! None's keenier May I present-King SEN-I-OR! Nre Q,

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15'15'15'15 In '47 Lafayette added a new firstg we dominated the sports scene by winning 3 out of the 5 Boro titles and 2 City titles. The first of the Tri-School Dances was held at Lincoln, with Lafayette and New Utrecht completing the trio. Our cheering squad won honors in an inter-high school meet. 1949 . . . ten eventful and -tumultous years have passed. There is a vast difference between the present and the past. To commemorate the birthday, gala plans were instituted. Alan Dale and Vic Damone returned for the Alumni Night of Stars. The graduates of '47 and '48 presented Dr. Oswald with his portrait. In direct contrast to this festive year was 1950. The teachers struck for extra pay. A direct result was felt by the students when extra-curricular activities were sharply curtailed. Abroad, freedom was curtailed when hate held Korea at bay. Once more the free world rushed to the defense of freedom and war existed. Repercussions were felt everywhere, not the least in the classrooms at Lafayette. One of the first results of the end of the strike in '52 was the Varsity Show, Cuckoos on the Hearth. With the football season Coach Ostro started his boys to victory-a victory they held 3 undefeated seasons. The football team had reason to expand their chests when they won the coveted City Championship. A new tradition was added when thc Senior Show was held at night. '53 was a year of many changes. The format of the Legend was changed as was its date of publication-future plans included annual instead of semi-annual publish- ing. The Senior Class of '54 was treated as one. Nevertheless the January graduates left in an impressive ceremony held at Lafayette on February 1. The concert was its annual sellout success. Furtive whisperings and mysterious announcements on the bulletin board heralded the approach of the first Sing held February 27 and 28. Rehearsals were held for the Varsity Show and once more plans were started for an anniversary. In '54 Lafayette celebrates its 15th anniversary. In this short period it has become an integral part of its community and its students. Twenty-three