Neponset High School - Zephyr Yearbook (Neponset, IL)

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In 1956 sixteen insignificant but eager freshies left the beloved grade school and ventured into the big high school. Mr. Don Quinn and Mrs. Kathryn Crow soil attempted to get them settled, with the help of the officers selected by the class: Jack Scott, vice president; Gary Coates, secretary; Gary Stabler, treasurer, and, because of his tower of strength and protective abilities Sam Berry as head of the house for this little family. Initiation did the trick. They settled right down to this new phase of their lives. George Boehne and Marshall Holmes enrolled in time to help the class throw an all-school Valentine's Party. Eighteen sophomores who now knew what it was all about enjoyed letting the freshies know that they knew. Controlling the lusty troup were Mr. Ralph Manley and Mrs. Truett High. Jack Scott received the robe of presidency with Gary Stabler for stooge or in his absence the title of vice president, secretary Marshall Holmes, and treasurer Gary Coates. Two years in high school seemed to prove the class a bit trying. They had worn out four advisors when Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Price with a we-can-take-it look in their eyes shouldered the task. As juniors the class turned its interests to earning money. They furiously sold candy at games and at noon hours and magazines down every street and road in order to sponsor the lavish Junior-Senior Prom and Banquet held in the Kewanee Hotel. The theme was Oriental Gardens . Linda Shaner kept committees working as president, Gary Coates was busy with the minutes of the many meetings, and Sam Berry played with the coins. To lead them their last year together they chose Gary Coates as president with Carolyn Pratt as Secretary and Jack Scott as treasurer. Their advisors were Mr. William Seals and Mr. John Lavelle. With the generous support and energetic skill of their classmates, teammates, coaches, accompanists, and others, members of the class of '60 were able to bring special recognitions to N.H.S.: Verna Miller earned First , Superior Rating , with a blue-ribbon medal at the Illinois State Music Contest (as well as in the District Contest) for her French horn solo. During her grade and high school years Verna established an outstanding record in horn solo and sextet and vocal solo and trio work, bringing thirty-two blue-ribbon music medals to Neponset, fifteen of which were won in State Contests. In addition she often served as piano accompanist for other contestants. Jack Scott was awarded the Illinois State Farmer Degree for his excellent F. F.A. record. In the All-Conference balloting by Little Six basketball and Little Eight basketball and football coaches Neponset seniors received positions: Little Six Basketball—Marshall Holmes First Team Forward, Gary Coates Second Team Forward; Little Eight Basketball—Marshall Holmes Second Team Forward, Alan Kaiser and Gary Coates Honorable Mention; Little Eight Football—Gary Coates First Team End, Allan Bates Honorable Mention Quarterback. In this, the final year of the Little Six”, basketball was their last and only area of competition. The 1960 Neponset varsity team won the Little Six Basketball second place trophy. Placings in the Little Eight Conference Track Meet by the Neponset team were: pole vault second place tie, Allan Bates and Larry Pratt; discus third place medal, Marshall Holmes; high hurdles second place, broad jump fourth, eight-eighty fifth place, Gary Coates. In the Bureau County Track Meet Gary Coates was fifth place in each the high hurdles, low hurdles, and broad jump. Financing a class trip to Chicago was the motivation for the many money making schemes undertaken as seniors—a little work and most enlightening but lots of fun: the Senior Dance, the Carnival (a smashing success), the Homecoming float, the chilli dinners, the Christmas party, magazine sales, pencil sales, and the Senior Play. The three act play The Unguided Miss was hardly ready in time but drew one of the largest crowds to Neponset High theater in many years. So, chaperoned by Mr. and Mrs. Lavelle, thirteen of the graduates spent June first through fourth and the year's earnings—in Chicago, eating everything in sight , seeing the stage show The World of Susie Wong , etc. (See picture story.) The seniors were guests of the juniors at the highly successful Prom, April 30, and were guests of the Alumni Association at their annual banquet and dance. May 28, featuring Max Kuster, Joliet Junior College, and Charles Norton, Kansas State University, of the class of 1935. The Reverend F. G. Foster addressed them at the Baccalaureate Services held in the Methodist Church, May 22. At Commencement the seniors spent little time looking back , with regretful farewells. Each eagerly looked forward to challenging futures including summer school, military service, marriage, business with farmer-dads, new jobs, and college in the fall. Their last joint venture, June, 1960, was helping Mr. Lavelle complete the current issue of the Zephyr . Gary C. Coates