Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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Twenty THE MEDINIAN Valedictory JACK G. OATMAN Friends and Classmates:- It is with true regret, yet regret not unmixed with pride, pleasure and expectation that we come here tonight. For our presence here upon this platform comes as an .end to our High School activities, our final gesture as High School students. We cannot but regret to leave behind us, those pleasures, those duties, those pleasant, careffree hours up to now so taken for granted, those invaluable associations, intellectual and social, that make up more than all else, our High School days. Beneath this roof are the scenes of the happiest hours that we shall ever realize. Here we have worked and played. The knowledge that we acquired here is immeasurable. Cur learning has come not only from books, but from the priceless assistance of teachers, the numerous extra activities, associations with our fellow students, and contact with life itself as we have found it. Here we have made countless lifelong friends, whose influence upon us it is impossible to estimate. With some of these we may have constant companionship for years to come, some we may see often, others, seldom or never. But, widely separated as we may be, we know that they are all hoping for us to succeed, that we can count on them in any crisis, that they would willingly do their utmost for us, and we for them. These things no one can take from us, they remain as our most precious possession, a force that will shape our lives more than we know. It is not possible to sever all connections with a type of life which we shall never again enjoy, with- out wishing it otherwise. But, although it is with genuine regret that we turn our backs on all this, it is also with an appreciable degree of pleasure. This p-eriod must come to a close. We are glad to have gone through it, and as we look back over those four years, there are few changes that we would make, had we the power. Some of the best, the happiest, the most careffree days that we shall ever experience are those in which we complete our High School course. We are glad to have completed it, because of the achievement involved and because it opens the way to a new sort of world, where there are other happy days to be lived and enjoyed. With these, unforgettable experiences, these joyous incidents, this invaluable knowledge all an insepf arable part of our lives, our regrets are not as acute as they might otherwise be. We are glad and proud to be classed as High School graduates, and especially as graduates of Medina High School. As individuals we are proud of our work, and as a class we are proud of the record of our members. We have had leaders in all branches of athletics, on the diamond, the gridiron, the basketball floor, the gymnasium and the track. Their records stand as symbols of achieve' ment, as heights of endeavor for those who follow them. So also, have we had outstanding leaders in music, social activities, debating, oratory, and scholarship. Our class history, and the history of every individual member of the class reads as a record of achievement and honor, equal to that of any. We feel proud of every member, because of his or her general accomplish' ments, their honors in special fields of endeavor, or because of their varied talents and achieve' ments as members of Medina High School. There are no failures among them, and there are none but that we are glad and proud to have among us. Just as there are no failures among us now, so, we are confident, there will be none when these graduates enter the world of affairs. Whatever they take up, the profession, business or politics, they will be, I am sure, influential members of the community in which they live. The more fortunate will go to college, others enter directly into business in its various phases. But no matter what the start, we shall be a success in all conceivable ways, reflecting credit and honor on our friends, our school and our teachers. So, moved by these varied emotions, we come here on this, our Commencement Night, our last meeting as a class, fand possibly our last meeting with the roll completej to say fare- well to all the associations of Medina High that have meant so much to us during the past four years: and in behalf of our class-the Class of 1927-to bid you, our parents, teachers and friends, a sincere farewell.

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THE MEDINIAN Nmefeen men, a land of the free and the brave, a country which held a living for everyone who tried. f Finally there came ,a time when our country was all settled and exf pansion became the main topic of the day. Alaska, Hawaii, and the Phillippines were added to the colonial possessions of the United States. Improvements began to be mad, better roads, buildings, towns, and the country in general was improved. Thousands of towns became cities as a result of big factories which were springing up everywhere with new and better equipment. In 1914 the world war began. First came a call for ammunition, guns, foods, materials of all sorts and, inally, men. Then, it was the United States proved herself the greatest of nations. She came forth with an army and a navy of real substance who fought with the best of armies and against those who had had years of training. At the end of the great struggle we were the richest country, one of the largest, had one of the biggest and best armies and the second biggest navy of the world. Emigrants from the war depressed zones became enormous. The flocks of people that flowed into America had soon to be .checked. The standard quota for each country was set and, when filled for the year, no more were allowed to enter. , 'Everybody at this time was confronted with a great economic prob' lem, the high cost of living. But at last it seemed the prices reached their highest and then started the downward course. In the meantime, how' ever, many fortunes were made and many were lost, but the country was unquestionably the richest in the world. Now again the inventor came forward with one of the greatest inf ventions of the century, the radio. A talk through the air became com' mon. It united countries thousands of miles apart, brought entertainment to the home, promoted commerce and industry and in a thousand ways aided and benefitted civilization. 4 Thus we stand as citizens of this mighty nation at the dawn of the greatest geographical, governmental, social and diplomatic possibilities the world has ever known. We must, therefore, consider our future caref fully. There never has been a time for such opportunities for . good, there never has been a time when education without character would have been such a mockery,,when there was such need in young people entering upon their careers for integrity, morality an dstrict adherence to lofty ideals. May the spirit of our forefathers, the true spirit of American achievement, guide and direct this generation. May the world ever point to America as the peerless leader in all things that prtain to the true ad' vancement of the nations of the world.

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THE MEDINIAN Twenty0ne Class Prophecy By FRANK METTIE If Mr. Mettie is in, I want to see him, said the voice that rose from the palatial office of Edsel Ford and, quick as a flash, the messenger was off to get me. Not knowing what the interview was to be about, my voice was a little shaky as I said, Did you care to see me, Mr. Ford? D Why, yes, came the reply as he threw two 'big ledgers in front of me, Here, look for yourself. ' ' Picking them up I rapidly glanced them over to find that our business had been taking a downward curve for over a year, since the latter part of 1946. Can you account for that? he demanded. A I believe we have not been doing enough research work outside of our own laboratories, I ventured to reply. That is just it, and tomorrow you start on a tour of the world to gain newer ideas and principles of business practice. I will give you three months with all expenses paid, and I will also permit you to go out of your way to look up your old classmates of 1927. ' How those few words rang in my ears! It was something that I had always wanted to do and was hoping I could do. How well I could remember when I was just a Freshman looking up to the Senior who was graduating, and realizing that in order to become such a grand ,person one had to study and study hard. And then when we became Seniors, how proud were our parents and friends and oh how proud we ourselves were. In due time we, too, graduated. Close friendships were broken up, some going to college to spend four more years in preparation, others entering the busy world to make or lose their fortune. ' By this time I had collected my thoughts and bidding Mr. Ford goodbye, I bounded through the door to prepare for the tour. It was not long before the noisy streets of Detroit were fading behind me and I was approaching home to tell Mrs. Mettie fnee Fanchion Carterj of the great trip we were to take. Next morning we hopped over to Cleveland in our plane, parking atop Hotel Cleveland, the largest and most beautiful hotel in the city. Taking an elevator down to the lobby, I walked over to the desk where to my unbounded amazement I met Manager Chase. After a short exchange of past experiences, he said he would call some of the gang over for a little party in the evening. Late in the afternoon I left the hotel for a little stroll. Upon crossing Euclid and East Ninth Street I was almost mowed down by a street car, Motorman Roth at the helm. Onward I walked, looking around for some place where I could get a good, cold drink. Almost before I knew it I was in Rollins' Cut Rate Drug Store, where I was greeted by Rollins himself. Not far down from here was the Ellis Bowling and Billiard Gardens, Gerard Ellis, Proprietor. Below was a garage under