Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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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

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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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TwentyTwo the management of Harold Rodgers. By this time it was getting late so I started back for the hotel. Passing the Ohio theatre my notice was attracted by the billboard which read, The Mikers, Under the Leadership of Offineer, assisted by Bowman, Black Bottom Queen. I reached the Hotel lobby about eight o'clock and, sure enough the gang was there to greet me: the most prominent men and women in Cleveland, such as Fisher and McNeal, the electrical experts, Campbell, the country's foremost artist, Council' man Fulton, Fred Baird, president of the 'Euclid Beach Co, Miss Fretter of the Fretter Horseradish Co, Fulmer and Pelton, the milliners, and Fuller, of the Fuller Baking Co. After a long chat we disbanded, not realizing that we might never meet or see each other again. . But surely I could not go on without visiting Medina. Strolling around there in search of more classmates I happened to drop into a restaurant where, much to my surprise, I found Ruder tossing hamburgs and juggling dishes. He gave me the information that I wanted. He told me that Katherine Root was now president of the Root Company, that Close was living on an experimental farm, trying to grow potatoes on tomato vines, and that Howard Selzer was on a large chicken farm that furnished friers to all the hotels and restaurants in Cleveland. i However, most of the famous class of 1927 had left Medina, so I soon started for Philadelphia. You have probably heard of the great firm of Fenn E3 Leather' man, which bought out the Wanamaker Store, I paid them a short visit. But Philadelphia is a poor place for a person on a world tour, so I started off for the City of Fortune, New York. I arrived at the Yankee Stadium just in time to watch Wade strut his stuff at first base for nine innings. He is making the grade in baseball the same as Dundas in football for the Chicago Elks, and Yost in basket' ball for the Rosenblums. The sporting world may well be grateful to Medina for these three men. After the game I went to the Abrams and Aylard Dining Parlor, where I had possibly the best feed since the alumni banquet in '27. It was then just 7 :SQ and I had to hurry to get over to the Madison Square Gardens to see Ausman box Gibson for the world heavyweight championship title. Of course I could not leave New York without. looking into the Carlton Chain Stores, managed by Norene, Norma and Genevieve. From there I dashed down to the City Hospital to see Marian Bagley, head nurse, and her assistant, Helen Clark. As I was delayed several hours at New York before I could sail, I decided to go down to Washington. There I had the great pleasure of meeting Rear Admiral Catman, Secretary of Agriculture Shaw, and his private secretary, Naomi Neumann. Late that same night I went on board ship, and two days later the stately Leviathan pulled into port at South Hampton, England. It was not long after I landed before I found out that Kraver was a chauffeur for the King of England. While crossing the Channel to Holland I could see in the distance on the main' land beautiful flowers, bushes and shrubs. Upon inquiring, I found out that these belonged to the internationally known horticulturist, jay Lash.