Major Edwards High School - Mesa Yearbook (West Boylston, MA)

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, 'I' . Zhu Control tower to spaceship-control tower to spaceship ........ over ........ over ........ over ........ can you hear me? A clicking sound ........ the waiting ........ endless, tireless waiting ........ millions of people expectant ........ no report ........ no word ........ the ominous stillness of the air waves ........ a silence that could mean either life or ........ And then throughout the hushed control tower office comes the brief staccato sound ........the dashes........the dots........ a sound from another planet........ a great discovery ........the Mesa, the new rocket ship, had landed on the Planet Sun! The message came through tersely- This is Radio Operator, Janet Zuranski, aboard the space ship, Mesa. The time is June 19, 1973. Mission completed ........ the Class of 1953 on its annual reunion trip has landed on the Planet Sun ........ all are unharmed ........ more later ........ Newspaper reporters gasping ....... , .... television cameras recording a picture for posterity ........ radio announcers going berserk ........ a nation waited and cheered! The intrepid travelers could report mission accomplished. But the story behind the story! How did it happen? Where had it started What was the purpose? The reason? The 1953 Major Edwards Jr.-Sr. High School graduating class comprised a small group-just 26 youngsters. It was a good group with the usual talents. Year after year, calm, orderly class reunions were held in the usual manner-another gathering, more handshaking, smiles, a comment on a new bay window, a counting of the new marriages, and then ........ At the 19th. class reunion held in 1972, the usual orderly business meeting was being held when out of the blue came a startling proposal-a revolutionary idea. A trip to the Sun the following year! A trip conceived in every fashion by members of the class in order to investigate new horizons! So it happened. Each member of the class contributed to its success in varying degrees. From later reports pieced together and relayed to gasping millions, apparently the trip-its arrangements and passengers, took the following form. Lorenz E. Whitcomb, renowned designer, spent all his waking hours designing the superior ship. All of his technical knowledge and artistry went into the work. It was his pride and joy! Harold Clarkson, who had set the pace for the building of revolutionary space ships, went to work and from Ebbie's design finished the building of the ship in nine days. Now pilots, cargos, and passengers had to be agreed upon. Orton Downer and Ronald Carson were designated as co-pilots. Orton, jet ace of World War III, had obtained his first experiences at the controls of a machine while driving cars during his high school days. Ronnie, an international pilot, was well-known as The pilot with a girl at every air-field. Audrey Petterson and Shirley Gothing, sewing designers usually catering only to the elite Park Avenue clientele, designed new uniforms of blue and white, a fashion- able ensemble for the crew. These two versatile young ladies also came on the trip in order to check on the latest styles on the Planet Sun. Crew doctor was James Sharpe, respected and admired throughout the universe. Jim had just found an herb that induced day-dreaming in school and had endeared himself to all school youngsters. His medical secretary was Eleanor Haller, on vacation from the Mayo Clinic, where she was serving in the same capacity for the World Surgeons' Clinic. Handsome movie star, Mario Latuga, was the good-will ambassador. After achiev- ing stardom in Hollywood as the Heartbeat, his devastating personality was sure to entrance the Sun girls. nws:n1315-WW xi-zwwujf -, fl-Ff'fHv.1V Q 'Y

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Most Versatile .... Most Witty ......... Quietest ......... Most Efficient .... Friendliest .......... Most Argumentive Noisiest ............. Most Courteous .... Most Bashful ....... Most Unselfish ...... Most Dignified ...... Most Ambitious .. Most Romantic .... Most Carefree ...... Neatest ................ Most Mischievous ayvewcwdaea Donald Morrow Orton Downer Harold Clarkson Richard Barakian Orton Downer Robert Ferrandino Mario Latuga John Mack Donald Morrow Richard Barakian Ebbie Whitcomb John Mack Ebbie VVhitc0mb Mario Latuga Ebbie Whitcomb Orton Downer Ann Garside Edith Timonen Marjorie Carpenter Virginia Cousins Mary Beshai Janet Gardner Elaine Monroe Ruth Aniello Eleanor Haller Leona Cadran Virginia Cousins Edith Timonen Janet Zuranski Shirley Gothing Ruth Amello Audrey Petterson Most Dzgnzfied Nirest Smile Cutest and Best Ioollmq Most Wztty Most Versatile

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f, . 44.:e.:v:m,w SLS. f K :.,.,,.-.,k..,,,7,,,,,,,,,.,,.. 9-'P Serving as airline hostess was to be trim-figured Jean MacKay. Jean was also to serve as interpreter, declaring confidently that the Sun beings will be Latin and I really know that language. To preserve records for future generations, Margie Scoop Carpenter came along with her battered typewriter. A reporter for the New York Sun, Scoop had just completed a world-wide lecture tour on the subject, How to Enjoy Public Speak- ing? Edith Timonen, The Lady in Black, who dedicated her life to missionary work after Adlai Stevenson's unfortunate defeat in 1952, numbered among the passengers. She had achieved special notoriety by returning annually to the grave of Ex-President Truman and placing a wreath at the tombstone, with an inscription on the wreath reading I'm still with you, Harry. She was to be dedicated to making the Sun in- habitants, Sunocrats. Also aboard was petite, diminutive Sandra NO1'dSt1'0m, the Powers model without peer. Her appearance on the Sun was to cause all of the fashionable ladies to attempt to emulate her chic dress and movement characteristics. None succeeded. In an effort to improve livestock procedures on the new planet, Richard Barakian, the animal husbandry expe1't, was brought along. While on earth, Richard had success- fully cross-bred a cat and a mouse, producing an animal which he called the Camo, and which frightened boys as well as girls. His genius is unlimited. Disciplinarian and general supervisor of the crew was Major General John Mack, U. S. Army. In addition to his military exploits, General Mack had achieved fame for his calm, cold logic in a conference with Malenkov, in which he forced Malenkov to cede Russia to the U. S. and exile himself to Siberia. Professor Robert Ferrandino, A. B., Ed. M., Ph. D., competent history teacher, made the journey with the avowed intentions of instructing the Sun people in the new, correct version of the U. S. two party system-the Democrats and the Democrats. The financial aspects of the trip were capably taken care of by Virginia Cousins. After a successful business career, Gin was married but made the trip in a sincere effort to collect the 1953 class dues. Svelte-figured Elaine Monroe, now living as a recluse, but former buyer for the Macy Department stores, came seeking new fields to conquer. She was now retired, living from the income of her recent best-seller, Why Men Fear Me. A domestic touch was brought to the scene by the personages of Leona Cadran, Ruth Amello, and Janet Gardner. The three were housewives of long standing-their husbands never let them sit down. Leona was eventually to start a domestic club on the Sun entitled Happy Housewives. Janet organized a baking club called the Bak- ettes, while Ruth supervised a nursery program. Mary Beshai, office employee, was to install a completely revitalized office system on the Sun that amazed all executives. Finally, no trip would be complete without musical accompaniment and Ann Garside ably provided this feature, assisted by Donald Morrow and Ralpholo Mario Hall. Ann played for the gathering preceding the takeoff, playing My Country 'Tis of Thee while Ralpholo sang. Ann, now an acclaimed music teacher, revolutionized the Sunites with her teaching and was responsible for their motto, A piano in every home. Don, for whom Carnegie Hall and New York Metropolitan held no fears, played his way to fame on the trip by tinkling out the tune, The Sun Is Waiting For Us. Ralpholo, whose baritone voice has thrilled all America, came prepared with thous- ands of souveniers for Sun damsels who could be expected to acclaim him as he would claim them. Thus the trip was made. An impossibility, they said, but the never-say-die Class of 1953 did it. The trip is really history now, but it will always stand as a monument to the fortitude of a courageous band of pilgrims-always seeking, always searching for new horizons to conquer. They forced their way into the annals of fame. All hail to the Class of '53.