Onancock High School - Trident / Beacon Yearbook (Onancock, VA)

Page 22 text:

SENIOR CLASS HISTORY As we approach the close of our high school days, we like to let our memory drift backward and recall the many activities in which we have participated. We remember the many dances, parties, and plays we had fun giving and the many scrapes we had fun getting out of. Let’s go back to that September when we entered high school as the Freshman class of 1950. Our homeroom teacher for that first year was Mrs. Marie Pennewell. We elected class officers for the first time and they were as follows: President, Bettye Pennewell; Vice-President, Linda Brittingham; Secretary and Treasurer, Mary Jane Wood. We were sorry to lose Dotty Custis, Norma Custis, Nora Robbins, NanCy Scott, Rose Mitchell, and Frank Taptman to marriage and other schools. For the first time some of our boys and girls were eligible to attend the Basketball, Football, and Family Ball, and they were thoroughly enjoyed. We settled down to master the new, unfamiliar subjects such as Latin and algebra. We gave bakes that year to raise money for our class treasury and ended the year with a hayride at Sand Hills. We entered our Sophomore year feeling a little more confident. Our class was di¬ vided this year with some having Mrs. Marie Pennewell as homeroom teacher and some having Mr. Anthony Judy. We elected officers and they were: President, Parker Belote; Vice-President, BenG. Nicolls; Secretary, Mary Jane Wood; Treasurer, Barbara Ed¬ wards. We were sorry to lose Bettie Sue Scott, but glad to gain Allen Gibbons and Wayne Parker. This year we exercised many money-making projects and these were high¬ lighted by a Christmas dance at the Onley Community Hall. More members of our class attended the Ball this year and more letters and bars were awarded. Our Junior year! Where had the years gone? Again we had Mrs. Marie Pennewell for our homeroom teacher and there was the responsibility of putting fluorescent lights in our room and painting it. This was to be our gift to the school and we have enjoyed it as others will in years to come. We elected officers and they were: President, H. B. East; Vice-President, Bettye Pennewell; Secretary, Donald Meadows; Treasurer, Mary Jane Wood. We were happy to have Barry Dorsch as a new member of our class, but sad to lose BenG. Nicolls to R. M. A. There was the thrill of ordering class rings and a trip to Washington to see President Eisenhower inaugurated. Our class then started the popu¬ lar Soc Hops by giving two in close succession. The Class rings came about t4ie week before our initial production “No Boys Allowed’’ vhich was a smash hit. The Ball was again enjoyed by everyone and before we knew it, it was the week before the Prom and we had a million things to do. Getting ready for it was a lot of work but our inspired Hawaiian motif made it a lot of fun also, and when we saw the results of our work, everyone agreed it was well worth it. The big night came at last and everyone had a marvelous time danc¬ ing to music furnished by the Aristocrats. At the end of this year, our class sang at the Senior’s Baccalaureate sermon. September, 1953, found us proud and dignified Seniors. Departing from our midst this year were Bruce Edwards, Donald Meadow's, Doris Scott, and Frances Young. We were happy to add Edith Simmons and Bobby Budd to our class and also to have BenG. Nicolls back with us. Mrs. Marie Pennewell had moved up with us and we elected offi¬ cers for the last time. They were: President, BenG. Nicolls; Vice-President, Billy Pennewell; Secretary, Edith Simmons; Treasurer, Mary Jane Wood. Our play had to be presented before Christmas and “Just Ducky’’ was another huge success. Then it was time for the Ball again and this year it was bigger and better than ever. Soon after the Ball, we ordered our name cards, thank you notes, and invitations. By now, the Annual was well under way and it was nearly Prom time again. The Juniors really outdid them¬ selves on this. We had begun to think about college and already applications had been sent to V.P.I., Mary Washington, Western Maryland, Hollins, Westhampton, William and Mary, and many others. Our caps and gowns were ordered with an eye toward Baccalaureate and Graduation exercises. Class night with its laughter and tears made us realize that our high school days were really coming to a close. We look back at the years at OHS as the most carefree and memorable of our life. Whether we continu ur education or whether we remain at home, we will always have a place in our memory for the days spent at Onancock High School. Linda Brittingham

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SCUGS VE LOVE n.e O. H. S. RQUSER Oh, the Onancock High School has come thru’ In teaching what to know and what to do. For it is ever as in days of yore The best school on the Eastern Shore; the Eastern Shore. All honor and glory to the O. H. S., There’s nothing coming to you but success. For the Onancock High School’s got the pep. Yes, you bet - O. H. S. VICTORY SONG Cheer, cheer for O. H. S., Wake up the echoes cheering your Send a volley cheer on high Shake down the thunder from the What though the odds be great oi O. H. S. will win over all. While our loyal sons are marching Onward to victory.

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CLASS PROPHECY Since this has been such a lovely day, I decided to walk downtown--walk, mind you! While I was down there, 1 ran into an old classmate. Miss Bettye Pennewell, who is now President of Pan American Business School. We began talking about all the good times we had when we attended Onancock High School together. That reminded me that ten years had elapsed since I graduated from Onancock High School. After I arrived home from downtown, 1 dragged out the electric train that I received when I was a child. It had been so long since I had used it that it just struck my fancy to play with it. I sat thinking of all the times I played with the train even when I was in high school. All of a sudden, the train, the track, and the lights started spinning around, whirling me into dreamland. On the dream-train, the two conductors taking up tickets looked familiar to me. Of course they were familiar. They were Harry Taylor and Allen Gibbons. Arriving there late that afternoon, my first stop was to visit Mr. and Mrs. Ben G. Nicolls and their family. Mrs. Nicolls is the former Miss Tommy Chandler. They in¬ vited us to attend the Metropolitan Opera that evening. Suddenly I saw someone whom I recognized as the former Miss Mary Will Copes pulling a poor little man with a rope around his neck. Well, if it wasn’t her hen-pecked husband, H. B. East. I wondered if H. B. still had his dear, young, affectionate ways. I began wondering who in the world I would see next. Who should usher us to our seats but Wayne Parker. Finally the cur¬ tain rose and the first artist on the program was the youngest of Metropolitan Opera stars. Miss Joan Tuttle. She was accompanied at the piano by Miss Barbara Edwards. The next day, I attended a major league baseball game to see Hatton Phillips and Wade Lewis playing for the Yankees. While Parker Belote, manager of the Yankees, held the mirror for Wade to adjust his cap, Hatton stepped up to bat and knocked a home run, bringing the Yankees to victory over the Red Sox by a score of one to nothing. From Wade I learned that Billy Pennewell was teaching history and coaching football in Marilyn Monroe High School in New York City. The former Miss Mary Jane Wood, now Mrs. David Godwin, had a position as the coach of Onancock Basketball team. This former Onancock High School athlete was happy in teaching the ideals of good sportsmanship and the desire to win by skill and clean playing. It was soon time for me to start traveling southward toward home, so I thought I’d better call and make my train reservations. The operator’s voice was familiar, so I asked who she was. I learned that it was Miss Claralee Allen who had become chief telephone operator for New York City. Just as I was about to board my train for Phila¬ delphia, I noticed a young couple looking on radiantly. It was none other than Miss Shir¬ ley Pruitt and a millionaire resembling Rock Hudson, to whom she had just become engaged. After I had taken my seat on the train, I noticed an important-looking man and a lovely young lady sitting across the aisle from me. Glancing down at his briefcase, I saw the initials E. E. Then the thought approached me that it was Ernest Ennis and his secre¬ tary, Miss Amy Hutchinson. While sitting there, Ernest offered me the latest Time maga¬ zine to look at. And there big as life and twice as handsome pictured on the cover, our own Jesse Moore, America’s No. 1 genius. When I arrived in Philadelphia, I decided to visit Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ralston. (Mrs. Ralston is the former Miss Faye Shrieves.) I found Mrs. Ralston suffering from a nervous breakdown, and no wonder, with Fred and Fred, Jr. both excellent drummers. Mr. and Mrs. Ralston took me to the Tabor theatre to see two of my former classmates. They were Miss Evelene Drewer and Miss Linda Brittingham, who had become Philadelphia’s top dancing team. After being ushered to our seats, two of Philadelphia’s top socialites in mink coats entered. They were Mrs. Woodlyn Pryor and Mrs. Barton Simpson, formerly Miss Shirly Parks and Miss Frances Colonna. After that wild flight into fancy (day-dreaming), I came down to earth with a terrific jolt and here I was back in Onancock again. I have just returned from the post office and received a letter from my old friend Barry Dorsch. He informs me that he is now a mining engineer in Denver, Colorado, and is doing very well. Next week I take off for my Mission Station on the Japanese-held island of Formosa. I’ve done very well, financially, as well as spiritually, for I am co-owner of the Oriental Air Lines. Edith Simmons is the business partner and general manager. Edith Simmons Bobby Budd