Morenci High School - Copper Cat Yearbook (Morenci, AZ)

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 Representing the class of 1926, Mr. Frank Ruedas poses with senior, Nancy Na- varrete. Nancy is wearing a two-piece dress worn by Mr. Ruedas' wife, Elvira Arrieta Rue- das, when she attended Morenci High School in the 30’s. Well-known southwestern artist, Ted DeGrazia, is a 1932 graduate of M.H.S. WE’VE CC UIE A LONG WAT Things have really changed from those early days in the old brick building. The new $11 million facility, presently under construction, will be ready for the opening of school in 1982. Our present high school, completed in 1949 for the modest sum of $739,000 has served us well for 33 years. The building originally housed grades seven through twelve. Four additional classrooms were built in 1954, and the auditorium was added a year later. Due to rapidly increasing enrollments in the upper grades, the seventh grade classes were moved from the high school building in September of 1955 and placed in the Longfellow building. When Fairbanks Middle School was completed in 1971, the eighth grade classes were moved to the new facility located in the expanding townsite. Auto mechanics was added to the curriculum in 1972 and a prefabricated building was placed on the parking lot near the football field to house the equip- ment. The art department, originally located on the first floor of the high school, was moved to the Hum- bolt building in 1975. This year, however, it found its way back to its original location on the bottom floor. Morenci’s athletic program, along with its reputa- tion, has grown tremendously since those early days in the 1900’s when basketball was the only interscho- lastic sport played by the Wildcats. The first football team “hit the field” in 1927. Games were played on the present field which, up to that time, had served as a baseball field only. Morenci became one of the first schools in the state to hold night football games when lights were installed in 1935. Winning state championships, something which eluded the Cats for several decades, became a com- mon occurrence in the 70’s. State championships, along with numerous conference titles, were captured in both boys’ and girls’ basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, and boys’ tennis. Individual athletes also won state championships in wrestling, boys’ track, and boys’ tennis. We are proud of our achievements over the years and look forward to meeting future challenges as we anticipate leaving the “Hill” and moving into our new, modern facilities.

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A GLANCE IB ACL In 1902, a budget of $1000 was allocated to edu- cate Morenci’s first high school student, Miss Merna Robison. Miss Robison occupied a seat in one of the grade school classrooms located in the one-story brick building, later to be known as the Longfellow Building. Graduating in May of 1906, Miss Robison was both the first and only high school graduate until 1908 when three students went through commencement exercises. A second story was added to the brick building in 1907 and a large classroom was set aside for high school use. The building continued to be used for both high school and elementary students until about 1918 when the high school classes were moved to the old Episcopal Church, which also housed the American Legion Hall on the bottom floor. In 1919, Morenci’s first high school building was completed. The structure was eight half-stories and was constructed in such a way that each floor had a ground level entrance. Ramps, rather than stairs, were used between floors. When fire drills were held, students enjoyed sliding down the spiral fire escape to the ground below. A machine shop, woodshop, and garage for auto mechanics were located on the bottom floor of the structure. An auditorium with a stage, which also served as a gym, was located on the top floor. A net was set up at the end of the elevated court to keep the basketball players from falling off and to prevent the ball from hitting the spectators. A large study hall was located on the main floor. The entire student body would gather there the first thing each morning for group singing before going to class. Due to the language problem incurred by the Mexi- can and Indian students moving to Morenci, students were often as old as 21 before graduating from high school. Separate primary grade classrooms were maintained and youngsters were often kept in first grade for several years until they learned English well enough to be promoted. Following the stock market crash in 1929, copper prices plummetted and the Morenci operations were shut down in March of 1932. Mining did not resume until the pit opened in the fall of 1941. School enroll- ment dropped considerably during the 30’s as many people packed up their belongings and left town. Undaunted, however, the community and its schools hung on. fflorenct $igfj Retool jHorrnct. 3n ona Chi» Certifir Chat 'Eloina “iB. Arricto toa fomplrteb Ibr Cotirsr of frfubtr» prrafribtb bp fljr BoarS of Cbucatton anb is ibrrrfotr atoarbrb this Bijilcma 6tbtn tb« nstnip-tourfb bap of JUjp. onr tbousanb mnr bunbrrb anb lbulp tibr. A diploma presented to Elvira Arrieta in 1935. The old high school, pictured in the 20’s, with it’s five-story slide spiral fire escape. We really should remember it It’s been a part of our life We’ve lived through it in happiness We’ve lived through it in strife But now we are all leaving It is time for us to depart And we’ll remember the memories deep, within our heart. Keven Sterling A GLANCE BACK-5

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Memories of old and new Linger on my mind to stay Pride of old Morenci High. Victories and goals Speak of our accomplishments Morenci High-We stand proud. -Debbie Burt “Big Red,” the new activity bus, is admired by students and members of the administra- tion on its arrival in 1976. A new high school building, located in the Fairbanks area, is under construction. Accumulated graffiti adorns the walls of the old 6 mine. State championship banners on the gym wall proclaim just how far our athletic pro- gram has come in the past nine years. WILD CAT C □ U N 4 MORENCI HIGH SCHOOL ' MORENCI NISH SCHOOL T R Y 4 1 MORENCI HIGH SCHOOL I c I 4 | MORENCI HIGH SCHOOL V I97S-I977 0ALL WE’VE COME A LONG WAY-7