New Athens High School - Vespa Yearbook (New Athens, IL)

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Class History On October 10, we made our traditional journey to Van Millers to have our pictures taken. Mr. Spieth of Centralia has been contracted to print our annual, which has been our major problem for this year. We have selected maroon and white for our class colors and the dark red rose for our class flower. We wish to thank everyone who has made it possible to achieve our one cherished ambition—Graduation.

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Class History On September 2, 1944, forty-two eager and enthusiastic Freshmen entered the door of NACHS and gained the fame of being one of the largest (and possibly the most intelligent) class in the school’s history. Some few, short days later we learned the meaning of initiation. (Oh, Yes!) We struggled from one class to another with a doll in one arm and a bucket and books in the other. A pretty sight we were indeed! Our makeup for the day consisted of flour and lipstick applied very artistically by the Sophomores. Endurance of all this was made possible by the thought that next year we would have our fun. We began our Sophomore year with thirty-nine pupils. Three girls, namely Doris Stoll, Rose Hoffman and Hattie Glenn dropped out at the closing of our first year. That feeling of excitement that we experienced in our Freshman year had vanished. We now considered ourselves full-fledged members of NACHS. At the beginning of the second semester we lost Lloyd Schaller who continued his high school studies in Belleville. We also lost Grace Loeb, Pat Crosby, and Doris Stehl. During our Junior year things began to happen. Class rings were ordered in September and we patiently waited for their arrival which occured in January. Next came the Junior play, “Bolts and Nuts” which proved to be a hilarious affair. It will long be remembered as an outstanding performance which everyone enjoyed. Immediately after the play, preparations were begun for the Prom. Through the brain work and imagination put forth by our class, we finally settled upon a “Southern Garden Party” as our theme. Music was furnished by Howard Gant’s Orchestra. Along the way we lost Norma Stamm, Vera Wilson, Helen Lehr, Edna Darmstaedt, Eileen Beck, Marilyn Steinheimer, Clyde Wiggand, and Joanne Sauerwein. We began our Senior year with twenty-six members. Our life-long ambition had finally been fulfilled—Seniors at last! Election of class officers was held and we chose Darnell Reichert, president; Robert Joseph .vice president; June Baehr, sec. and treas.; Yvonne Sauerwein, reporter; Robert Joseph and Emil Klingenfus, Student Council and Mr. A. J. Woods as sponsor. (Continued On Next Page)

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Class Prophecy It was a cold, typical MidrWestern, winter night. The ground was covered with snow and as the moon came from behind a cloud, a man was seen stalking up to the V. F. W. Hall. As he approached, he heard music and the sound of gay and happy voices. Gradually he edged his way towards the nearest window. The first thing that drew his attention was a loud roar of laughter and a booming voice. It could be and was no one else but Emil Klingen-fus, Jr. Emil is now a member of the United States Senate and very frequently exercises his lungs on many world subjects. Standing nex t to Emil, and as usual, lending an attentive ear, is William Schreiber. Bill is now owner of a large Tom Boy Store. Instead of the usual self-service system, Bill has devised a much simpler method. The carts are now pushed by mechanical men and all the customer needs to do is push a button and the mechanical men will pick up the items wanted. Moving on to another group, two familiar people are seen talking very earnestly and then suddenly there is heard that unforgettable giggle. Yes, it is Audrey Wolf and Frances Schmelzel. Audrey, having returned from New York, said that she would open an interior decorating school. She now knows what color wall-paper to use with what colored furniture, in what room, for what time of the season and for what cost. Frances, on the other hand, has just returned from Paris where she observed all the latest styles. She plans to make a tour of the United States, giving women timely tips on the latest thing in fashions. As these girls were talking, a tall, broad-shouldered, young man walked towards them. With those shoulders, it could be no one else but Maurice Weidemann, President of the Illinois Central. Since his advancement to this high offce, many improvements within the railroad system have been made, an atomic powered engine being the most recent of these. Leaving these three to discuss old times, the next to be seen is a group of four, namely Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Loesche and Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Leinecke. Virgil has now fulfilled his cherished ambition to be a renowned baseball plaver by being a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Mrs. Loesche will be remembered as June Baehr, who prior to her marriage, was the private secretary of the President of the United States. Stanley is now chief-instuctor of the Illinois Diesel Association. Besides being chief-instructor of the I. D. A., he has made several contributions in the advancement or diesel engineering. Mrs. Leinecke is the former Audrey Hill. Previous to her marriage she gave a series of piano concerts at Carnegie Hall and is now giving private piano lessons in her home. As the stranger’s eves wandered over the room, they fell upon a group of young men. Creeping to the next window to get a better view and to get within hearing distance, he heard the words—corn, hay, oats, horses, pigs, tractors, and cows. Without a doubt it could only be Melvin Hoffman, Ralph Kinzin er, Donald Mueller, and Alfred Mueller. Melvin and Ralph are now engaged in farming, but Donald has left the farm to become a well-known radio personage. Fe now plays the part of Mr. District Attorney which has its weekly broadcast on Sunday evenings. Alfred has just returned from the state of Washin on where he has a chain of lumber mills in the great forest of the Pacific Northwest. It seems he is now commonly known as Bunyon Al. (Continued On Next Page)