Mahomet Seymour High School - Retro Yearbook (Mahomet, IL)

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Jhdfory of Me 'Hiro U The class of l9l2 of Mahomet High School was a very ambitious and energetic class. They thought the public would want to know what the high school students were doing. A big idea came to them: they would put out the first Mahomet High School yearbook, and it would be known as the Retro. Immediately the Juniors were hustling and bustling about. Pictures were taken and articles were written. The Retro was well under way. The students were assisted by Mr. W. C. Hayward and Miss Jennie E. Pierce who were the entire faculty of MCHS that year. The following facts were learned from the first Retro : the first high school in Mahomet was a building south of the spot where the grade school now stands. At the close of the Civil War, a large brick building was erected on the site of the present grade school. This building served for many years -until l906 when a new building was completed. However, the new build- ing was burned the same year it was finished, and the school had to be re- built. The new building is Mahomet Grade School today, it served as the high school until l92O when the present high school building was completed. The Retro of l9ll showed that the graduating class of that year numbered six members, five girls and one boy. Since that class was so small, the Juniors, numbering seventeen, assumed the responsibilities of publish- ing the first yearbook and managing the literary societies. The custom of publishing the Retro was begun because it was felt that it would increase school pride and spirit. The Retro staff of 1950 was able to get the information for this history by the kind assistance of Mrs. Matt D. Herriott.

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The principal was sitting at a huge marble desk dictating a letter. I was ready to excuse myself and come back later when I recognized the prin- cipal to be none other than Charles Moore. The secretary he had been dic- tating to was his wife, Sue. Sue and Charlie had two children of their own in school here. When we had finished discussing the political situation, Charlie said, I'lI bet you'd be interested in what the rest of our class is doing. First of all, look out the window, he said. Of course I expected to see Branson's house, but instead there was a huge building with a Packard sign on top of it. Bill Bowman certainly proved himself when he left here by becoming top sales- man in the Packard business, said Charlie. That's his place now. It seemed as though many of my classmates had settled down in and around Mahomet, because I soon found that three of the girls were teaching here in MCHS. Imogene Keller was the Driver's Training Instructor as well as being in charge of the library and play production of the school. June Pence was the vocal instructor. The school had won many first division rat- ings in the music contests under her supervision. Wanda Specht was also teaching here. She was the bookkeeping instructor as well as business man- ager for unit three. This is certainly a fine surprise, I said. I'm so glad to see that so man of m former classmates had one to coIIege. Y Y 9 Here is another surprise for you, said Charles handing me the TRIBUNE. I' gasped with amazement when I saw the picture of Paul Mathis, the Home Run King. Charlie told me that PauI's success was due in large part to the excellent management of Richard Maley. Roy Pierce is the Farm Advisor for Champaign County, said Charlie, when I inquired about Roy. He is a fine leader and has been quite helpful to the farmers. There are only three members left now and I suppose you are wonder- ing about them, said Charlie. Well, Bob Barrett has won great fame all over the U. S. A. for his stock car racing. Louis Burnett has profited from Bob's fame since he owns the Mahomet Race Track. There is some form of entertainment there every night. In the winter he floods the track and makes an out-of-door ice rink. Last but not least is Joan Jones. Joan is a busy housewife, but still finds time to assist her husband in his teaching of music at the University of Southern California. They have two boys and one girI. Suddenly I felt as though someone had thrown a bucket of water in my face, but upon awakening I found it was only a September shower. I ran quickly into my house feeling only too happy about the dream which had once more brought me news of my friends of twenty years ago at Mahomet High School.

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ivllil ., 11:1 :WY B4 ,,. Az! . 5 1 A LU1 l0I :f 4 AM., CLASS OFFICERS First Row Student Council Arlene Whitt Student Council Darlene Moore Second Row Treasurer Jerry Brownfield Secretary Marietta Brothers Vice President Lee Ann Gaither President Richard Rayburn ln September of l947, forty-one meek, bashtul babies were snatched away from their mother's apron strings and thrown at the cruel, cruel world -high school! Yes, that fall we entered the sacred building for the first time. We were greeted by the upper classmen with a rousing hairstanding initiation, which we naturally survived. To lead us through this trying first year we elected as our class officers: President, Ann Smith, Vice-Pres., Lee Ann Gaither, Secretary-Treasurer Phyllis Ponder. Our class sponsor was Mrs. Rose. During the year we welcomed one new freshman, Judy Bishop, and bade farewell to Ralph Babb, Don Lewis, Bill Harper, and Richard Parker. We came out of our shells to take an active part in many of the school organizations. ln the winter we had a Leap Year Dance which was our first big success. -tl-