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

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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.

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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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■S SM3 ©fl[K)®8G WSflQ fi “Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” ... “If’ ... “Take It To The Limit” ... “Lyin’ Eyes” ... “After The Thrill Is Gone” ... Song titles, as good as any example, typify the moods and feelings felt by many Morton students when they learned about the cancellation of the annual Homecoming parade to be held October 6. “Somewhere along the line students have to realize that many irresponsible activities lead to denial of priviledges. The students have been warned about things like that for several years,” stated Dr. W. Winston Becker, principal. Cancellation of the yearly parade occurred only two times in all of Morton’s history. The first time the cancellation resulted from a heavy downpour of rain. Out of the list of “fun” activities that unmentioned students decided to partake in, egg throwing reigned as the leader of the hair-brain ideas, not to mention toilet papering trees (better known as T-P-ing), destroying personal property and racing automobiles over residential lawns. Problems like these had happened before in recent years but no one bothered to stop them. At last someone stood up to take action. Views differed when discussing the cancellation. “The parade is a tradition in Hessville and it shouldn’t have been cancelled. Why couldn’t someone think of parents and little children who anxiously await it every year?” sighed one senior girl. Surviving the Homecoming parade “mess”, the pep rally, football game, crowning of Homecoming Queen, and the dance after the game remained as part of the celebration as usual. On Thursday during Spirit Week, an assembly held in the large auditorium included an introduction of queen candidates and their escorts — Diana Coots, Janet Cunningham, queen Karen Dauksza, Natalie Geissendorfer, Debbie Hendrix, Bonnie Ramirez, and escorts Dan Cox, Herbie Goodrich, Larry Hladek, Jeff Zurawski, Paul Markovich, and Jeff Gardner. Skits during the assembly satirized the Homecoming Queen candidates when couples performed such acts as singing and acrobatics on stage to win a crown. Seniors Kevin Polkinghorn and Becky Pepper won the contest in both assemblies. Adding to the disappointment of this years Homecoming, icy rain soaked the football field throughout Friday night. Despite the rain, the football team managed to overcome Hammond Tech 21-0 before a sparse crowd. Homecoming