Onarga Township High School - Onarquois Yearbook (Onarga, IL)

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Seniors Fryer PAUL ROACH FRYER Class Pres. 3. 4: Vice Pres. 1: Basketball 1. 2. 3. 4. Capt. 4: Football 2. 3. 4. Manager 1; Track 3, 4: Newspaper 1, 2, 3: Thespian 3, 4: Junior and Senior plays: Chorus 1. 3. 4: Annual 2. 3. Henry BETTY JOAN HENRY F.H.A. 1. 2. 3. 4: G.A.A. 1. 2. 3. 4: Library Club 2. 3. Homer MARGUERITE BENNETT HOMER Class Pres. 3; Vice Pres. 4: Newspaper 1. 2. 3; Thespian 1. 2. 3. 4: Sec. 1, 2. Vice Pres. 3. Sec. 4: Thespian. Junion, Senior, contest. and one act plays: F.H.A. Sec. 1, 2. Vice Pres. 3, Pres. 4: G.A.A. 1, 2. 3, 4; Band 1. 2. 3, 4: Chorus 1. 2, 3, 4; Sextette 2. 3. 4: Octette 3. 4; Library 2. 3. 4. Point Sec. 4: Annual 1. 2. 4. Senior Class History others joined us. From the country schools came Charleen Stephens, Neil Talbert, Edward Forrest and Warren Peters. Fern Alvey also started our High School years with us but dropped out at the end of the first year to rejoin us in our last. The horror of every Freshman’s life, during his first few months, is initiation day. For us, this came late in October and to save embarrassment we will not probe into the details of that day. Let us say it was--unique! Our Sophomore year did not add any to the “population” of the class but we were beginning to take our place in the activities and sports. Our Junior year increased our number with the addition of Norma Short from Che-banse and Frances Zeedyk from Thawville. Our class, like all other Junior classes, worked like dogs to make money for the Annual and the Junior - Senior banquet and prom, which was held in the spring. The “industrious dozen” we were known as in those days! And might I say, we did very well. Our Junior Play, entitled “All American Family,” was a great success. Many of our group appeared in other plays such as the one-act contest play and the Thespian production. Our Senior year started out with a bang, for during the first two weeks we ordered our rings and graduation announcements (sure of ourselves weren’t we). We took pity on those poor “greenies” and got Freshman initiation over early, for we know what suspense it was. Our class play this year had the very fitting title of “Out of This World,” with one of the main characters being Fred Risley. Fred is a new comer this year, who had returned from the Navy. At the semester, William Utters joined us, he also is a returned vet. Graduation is coming into sight and the years and months dwindle into weeks and days. Theres’ not one of us who is leaving, who does not have a lump in our throat as we say to our remaining school friends. “Gaod Luck and Good-bye.” 13

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Seniors Alvey Decker Forrest FERN ISABELLE ALVEY Transfer from Onarga 2 and back 4: Chorus 1. 4. RONALD GLENN DECKER Football 4: Manager Football 1: Basketball 1. EDWARD MERRILL FORREST Basketball 2; Newspaper 4; Thespian 3. 4, President 4: Junior and Senior plays. Senior Class History Twelve long years ago, (1935) a huge class of eleven pupils found their way into the first grade room of our Onarga Grade School. Some of the more bashful ones were guided there by their loving parents, gently prodding their approach with the well-known hickory stick. Others entered this famous hall of learning under their own power. Of this multitude, five still remain. They are Peggy Tilstra, Margie Homer, Betty Lou Price. Betty Henry, and Paul Fryer, the only boy who stood the strain. Miss Cain, who led us through our first year, turned us (thankfully) over to Miss Artz, now Mrs. Kathleen Black, for guidance in our second struggle. Probably the most notable endeavor that year was the construction of a Post Office, through which perhaps our first “love” letters were dispersed. Most of our third grade year was spent at the I. O. O. F. hall, while the Grade School was being redecorated. Frances Zeedvk and Ronald Decker joined us this year but Frances left the following summer. Our fourth grade work was highlighted by our construction of Mexican huts, for which Miss Julia Danforth was the chief contractor. Miss Charlotte Clark greeted us in the fifth grade. This year is especially re-embered for the musical powder-box which played “Happy Birthday.” When she brought the box to school on those gala dates, it was quite a source of gaiety and delight. Sixth grade is remembered for its landscape painting and water-coloring in general. And we’re still wondering if Miss Yaw’s favorite song is “Home On the Range.” The following year we entered the seventh grade and had our first taste of departmental classes. Mr. Ira Onken and Mr. M. L. Wright taught us our 3 r’s, while Miss Thomas directed our art work, and Miss Sailor took over our music department. Eighth grade started out with Mr. Wright and Mr. Onken, but early that year the Army called Mr. Onken. From then on we had a number of teachers taking his place. These included Mrs. D. L. Reed, Mrs. Clifton, and Mrs. De Fries. Wilma Wulff joined our little band that year and finished our Grade School career with us. The fall of “43” found us beating on the doors of O.T.H.S. (we still are, only now we are on the inside looking out). Besides those that graduated from O. G. S„ several 12

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Seniors Peters WARREN MORGAN EUGENE PETERS Football 1. 2, 3, 4. Capt. 4: Track 1, 2, 3. 4: Thespian 4; Junior and Senior plays: Chorus 1. 2. 3. Price BETTY UOU PRICE Class Sec. 1. 3: Junior and Senior plavs; F.H.A. 1. 2, 3, 4: G.A.A. 1, 2, 3, 4; Chorus 1, 2, 3. 4; Library Club 4: Thespian 4. Risley FRED CHARLES RISLEY Transfer 4: Senior class play. Senior Class Prophecy As the train sped along toward the East coast, I noticed a paper lying in an empty seat across the aisle. As I was growing tired from my long journey, I picked it up and began to read to break the monotony. Much to my surprise I discovered it was a paper from my home-town, “The Onarga Leader ar.d Review”. At my first glance I noticed the headlines, “Fryer’s Follies Opening Tonight”. Directly below it read, “Starring Lois Schall at the Piper City Vaudeville Playhouse”. I always thought Paul would reach great fame but I hadn’t realized this. Next I noticed that our former classmate, Betty Henry, is now returning from her week-end visit in Onarga, to her southern mansion with her husband and eight children. Her husband is a professor of law at Duke University. In the column at the left, I read that agriculturist Eddie Forrest, and his assistant Warren Peters, were making a tour. They were giving lectures (that they learned how to give so well in their former American History Class) to the 4-H Clubs of Iroquois County. These two men are also the founders of the International Bachelor’s Union. Next I turned to the sports section. The athletic-advisor at the new Leonard Tech for girls, Dean Betty Lou Price, had taken her girls to the State Basketball Contest at Springfield and won the championship. Betty got her expert experience from her participation in sports during her days at O. T. H. S. This reminded me of another school-mate, Ronnie Decker. As I looked hurriedly over the page I noticed, “EXTRA! EXTRA! Maestro Ronald Decker, famously known for his musical mouth organ, now appearing at the Metropolitan Opera House on Maxwell Street in Onarga.” Little did we realize Ronald’s hidden talen in our high school days. My eyes were growing tired and as I folded the paper I saw a large specimen ballot covering the entire back page. On it was a picture of our former classmate, Congress-woman Fern Alvey. I certainly hoped Fern would be successful and reach her goal. 14