Northrop High School - Bear Tracks Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

Page 12 text:

Nurse Rigdon waves an encouraging smile at State Contest. Photo by Bar- bara DeVille. Mrs. Ruth Wiegmann, Head Band Mother, finally takes a relaxing moment to look around at the Band Banquet. Photo by Jeff DeVille. Mrs. Nan Ashton stands proudly with her husband, Barry, in front of the display of the year ' s trophies. Photo by Jeff DeVille. Front Row - Kay Davis, Delores Ankinbruck, Beverly Gun- ter, Marcille Fawley, Marilyn Fischer, Joanne Renner. Middle Row — Mary Clement, Kay McNall, Charolette Rob- inson, Daisy Neil, Janet Pfeffer, Phyllis Klein, Carol Rowe, Linda Schenkel. Back Row — Chuck Rowe, Ron Klein, John Pfeffer, Kermit Robinson, Chuck McNall, Larry Clement. 8 — Band Parents

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Recapturing the appearance of the days of old. Senior Tonna Wisely reflects the Prairie Look. Photo by Jeff DeVille Prepared for anything, Senior Sarah Robart mani- fests the look of a Preppy. Photo by Kara Evard ............ nl Siiiiiiiiniiini Senior Julie Caso exhibits the New Wave Look of the SO ' s. Photo by Kara pAard The casual look with just a touch of feminity is Senior Lucy Trupo ' s favorite style. Photo by Jeff DeVille i 1 f Fashion —

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Parents Make The Difference With The B.O.P. Boy, Barry looks like he ' s prayin ' there , exclaims Crazy Nurse Elsie Rigdon. She and five other band parents look sentimen- tally at a dozen or so photo albums, filled with BOP pictures from everywhere. Oth- ers ' comment, Look at the girls in their nighties! , This must have been after I blew up the coffee pot. , The beely-bop- pers! Are you sure I was with it? With it? Yes, t hey were, The parents of a large part of the Big Orange Pride were with it in band camp, in contests, in travel, in victory, and in disappointments. According to Mr. Ashton, the parents proved indispen- sable. Though ordinary tasks like coordinating wardrobe, chaperoning a bus, and cheering their hearts out were important, the little, personal things made the difference. Com- ing up with a pair of black shoes two min- utes before a contest, passing out band-aids, aspirin, and safety pins, and sewing up pants took quick thinking and prepared- ness. Soothing sore stomachs, legs, feet, and even sore hearts took caring. Caring for the kids is why they devote so much time and energy to the BOP. It ' s something you can share with your kids. A lot of the time there isn ' t that much to share with your kids at this age , explains Ellsie. All the parents agreed that their rela- tionsh ip with their son daughter has im- proved since they have helped with band. One of Kay Davis ' main regrets was that she waited so long to get involved. All of the parents like to see new parents get involved. Carol Rowe said, They come in kind of holding back and not sure what the BOP is all about. But after they go to one event and you see them at the next one, they ' re a little bit more into it every time until finally they ' re won over completely and they ' ll be there every time. Every time, bands parents will defend band, even when it comes to academics. To them, it depends on the student like any- thing else does, Some of those students, if they were in band eight hours a day, they would find time to do that (homework) if they wanted to others could be home and never, ever do it , commented Ruth Wiegmann. The lack of coverage in the newspapers and TV bothers many band parents. Having so many children involved in the whole fine arts program, let alone the band, most feel that it deserves more consideration in the coverage of contests. They support the band because everyone of them loves the kids and the kids love them, one little girl came up to me and she said, I still have to thank you again for what you did for me last year at camp. Re- member, after initiation I lost my sock and you went out and got it and you brcjught it in for me and you tucked me in and everyth- ing, she said. That was so nice!, remem- bers JoAnn Renner. Without the hard work and the many hours of devotion of the band parents, the BOP wouldn ' t have made it. However, the most important thing about the band that the parents declared, wasn ' t themselves, but everyone as Elsie put it. It ' s the unity. It ' s a family. By Kim Simpson Band Parents — 9