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

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ONE OE aV eiinio Unique — that’s Morenci! The huge open pit mine, the community, the high school —the “Hill” is defi- nitely one of a kind. . Morenci is a mining camp —a company town. The center of the community and the heart of our town is the open pit mine. Throughout the years as the open pit mine has expanded, the townsite has gradually been moved from its original site in old Morenci to its present location. From the vantage point of the high school, students and teachers have watched the demolition of the Morenci Club, the tortilla shop, and other build- ings in old Morenci and on “B” Hill. Coronado Elementary School and the Newtown residential area were closed earlier this year. The Schoolside Apartments were hauled away, and houses on “A” Hill are disappearing. Now, as the drilling rigs in the pit can be seen towering over the high school and the dump trucks release their loads nearby, we prepare to leave the “Hill” and move into a long-awaited new building. Our days on the “Hill” hold many memories. We are surely the only school with a daily 3:30 “earth- quake” caused by blasting in the pit. Old mine ruins serve as a backdrop for generations of Morenci stu- dents who have enjoyed scrawling their graffiti. The location of our football field has often been considered a secret weapon. Smelter smoke drifting across the field frequently obscures vision and makes eyes water and lungs smart. The towering rock wall at the north end of the field stands in sharp contrast to the sheer drop-off at the south end. Teams playing on the “Hill” for the first time are surprised when, after scoring a touchdown at the south goal, they must move to the north end to try the kick for the extra point. Visiting teams are also disconcerted to find some Morenci fans watching the game from hazardous vantage points on top of the huge rock wall at one end of the field. Morenci has always been proud of its school and its community spirit. A top-notch academic and athletic program, along with an award-winning band and year- book, are sources of this pride. As we anticipate our new high school, we take time to remember the past and reflect on our memories of Morenci High School - ONE OF A KIND! All the buildings that once surrounded the high school have been devoured by the ex- panding open pit mine. Cheerleading runs in the Maldonado family as shown by Michelle Maldonado, ’83, and her aunt. Ida Maldonado Aguilar, '61. 2-ONE OF A KIND

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CCIPIPYP CAY 1982 Morenci High School Morenci, Arizona 85540 Volume 37 Co-Editors-in-Chief Adviser Eric Hayes Lisa Stacey Sandra Hudgens

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Inside Front Cover: The entire high school complex, as seen in this aerial photo, will soon become part of Morenci’s history. Today’s typing students, Lisa Franco and Terri Anderson, work on modern electric ma- chines—quite a contrast to the typewriters used in the typing room in the first Morenci High School building. Being measured for a cap and gown is a long-standing requirement prior to gradu- ation. Helping to compile the figures for the class of ’82, Kathy Crotts measures fellow classmate, Karen Shupe. THE YEAR PARTICIPATION EDUCATION COMPETITION POPULATION FRESHMEN SOPHOMORES JUNIORS SENIORS COMMUNITY 26 50 72 106 108 111 111 117 130 ONE OF A KIND- 3