Morton High School - Top Hat Yearbook (Hammond, IN)

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The vast increase of student driving over the past 25 years has-proved-bazardous at times. Morton has the worst record for traffic violations in the Hammond schools. 10 — Anniversary

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cShomii®® Let your mind wander back, past mini-skirts and flower children .. . back, past sack dresses and pointed-toe shoes ... back to September 1953. Instead of earth shoes and toe socks, it’s saddle shoes and bobbie socks. Instead of Robert Redford and Farrah Fawcett-Majors, it’s Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe. Instead of Camaro, it’s DeSoto. Instead of now, it’s then. As the first school bell of the day begins to ring, teenagers fill the halls rushing to their classes. Leather jackets and cashmere sweaters are cast carelessly into lockers. Saddle shoes and sneakers leave imprints on the floor as students proceed to learn the required basics, “reading, writing, and ’rithmatic.” Between classes, the water fountain becomes the local meeting place. The topic being discussed? After-school and evening social plans. Whether to go to the sockhop, Jane’s, or the local roller rink proposes a diffic ult decision. The only solution is to hit all three places. Breaking the school’s rigid dress code, teenagers change into casual clothing before beginning the evening’s activities. Jeans, which weren’t allowed in school, replace dress slacks for the guys. Girls don straight-leg slacks with stirrups instead of “poodle skirts.” After an exciting night at the football game, the gang heads to Jane’s (now the Hessville Restaurant) for a cherry phosphate and then on to Pow-Wow for a quick cruise around the parking lot. Ponytails, bobbie socks, crew cuts, DA’s, sockhops, and soda shops are reminiscent of those yesteryears. And that’s the way it was when Oliver Perry Morton Senior High School began. Some things Seniors Diana Cox experience shared by two. ✓

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Marilyn Monroe m ' 4 l ■ Far rah Fawcett Majors IT’S 25! 25 What? 25 more minutes until lunch? 25 more stairs until you reach the top of the second floor? 25 cents for an order of delicious cafeteria french fries? No, it’s the 25th anniversary of Morton as a four-year high school AND it’s also 25 years since the first publication of TOP HAT was printed. TOP HAT — what’s in a name? Ask Myrna Olson. As a sophomore in 1954, she suggested the name in a contest entitling her to a free annual (yearbook). A surprising number of faculty members — eight in number — have remained at Morton since the beginning of the four-year high school change. In 1954, Dr. W. Winston Becker, principal, taught Speech, English, and was Attendance Counselor. Mr. Charles B. Chidester, head counselor, taught General Math and a class in Commercial Math. Mr. Jack Georgas, U.S. History teacher, taught the same subject in ’54. Miss Jean Martine, Foods teacher, like Mr. Georgas, also taught the same class 25 years ago. Mr. Julian H. Rasmussen, Biology teacher, continued his teaching in the same subject for 25 years. Mr. Walter Ruff, former Dean of Students and teacher of World History, taught classes in Latin and History. Mr. Howard E. Stout, U.S. History teacher, conducted classes in Health and Safety and U.S. History. Mr. Maurey Zlotnik, Physical Education instructor and former Varsity Football coach for 21 years, still teaches Boy’s gym classes. New clubs and classes have entered Morton to fit the needs of students while many of them existing 25 years ago left the curriculum. Junior Red Cross, Junior Historical Society and Hi-Y, to mention a few organizations, no longer exist. The Ski and Caving Clubs appear today as new clubs for Govs to join.