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

Page 29 text:

MEMORY LANE In September, 1953, twenty-three wide-eyed little Freshmen entered the halls of Qiarga High. Having been tempted, tried, and true, they somehow reached the close of their Senior year. Let’s wander back through Memory Lane and review their activities. During their Freshman year, they were entertained by the Sophomores at the Freshman-Sophomore Reception. They were officially welcomed by the Seniors at an informal initiation and managed to survive. Dan Norvell was the president. He was assisted by Quen Cultra, vice-president; Ruth Virkus, secretary; and, Barbara Fisher, treasurer. Barbara Swearingen presented their troubles at the Student Council meetings. They decorated the gym for the Homecoming Dance, where Barbara Swearingen and Quen Cultra were their candidates for Queen and King. For their one big party, they had a scavenger hunt. To make money, they sponsored bake sales and collected dues. They enjoyed putting on their Little Artie skit for the Korn Bawl. The Freshman class was represented in all sports in addition to music events, plays, and honor roll. Class Sponsors were Miss Wright and Mr. Hoisington. Then having passed the tortures of their first year, the group moved on to their Sophomore year. They welcomed Patsy Koehn to the class and said, Good-bye to Andy Empey. So this still made twenty-three members in the class. The officers for that year were Quen Cultra, president; Bob Patterson, vice-president; Barbara Swearingen, secretary; and, Barbara Fisher, treasurer. They sent Nancy Natterstad to the Student Council meetings. They started out the year by entertaining the Freshmen at the Fresh man-Sophomore Reception. The Sophs had a Penny Supper, sold decals, had bake sales, picked up corn, and collected dues to make money. For their part in the Homecoming celebration, they made the dummy for the bonfire and decorated the football field. Barbara Swearingen and Bob Patterson were candidates for Queen and King. The girls won a contest by selling more decals than the boys, so the boys treated them to milk shakes. At the end of the year, Earl Betourne was picked to play for the 1956 Prom. Larry Salmon and Ruth Virkus assisted the Juniors at the 1955 Prom by pouring punch. The Sophomore girls served at the banquet. Dan Norvell and Larry Salmon attended Boys State that year. Class Sponsors were Mrs. Hite and Mr. Com-pagnoni. Leaving their underclass days behind, they trudged upward to their Junior year, but they still had a long way to go. Ellen Schmidt joined their class that year, but Pat Koehn and Janice Hendricks left, leaving a class of twenty-two. Their officers were Barbara Swearingen, president; Ernie Wright, vice-president; Barbara Fisher, secretary; Nancy Natterstad, treasurer; and. Marjorie Weakley attended the Student Council meetings as their representative. This was their busiest year, and they handled all their activities very nicely. That fall they ordered their class rings and received them about the first of March. Some of them took part in the Thespian Play.

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Ernie tells me there was quite a merger a couple of years ago when Larry finally popped the question to Ardis, now they own the only place in town where you can get a prescription filled and have your pants pressed at the same time. While we were uptown, we met Mrs. Larry Leonard, who was shopping. She told me that Little Larry Jr. was six years old now. Barbara also told us that Ruth Virkus was now quite famous for solving the Grimes case for the FBI, and that she was being considered to replace J. Edgar Hoover next year. We stopped in at Schmidt’s Hast House for coffee, and we saw our old classmate, Ellen. Ellen was voted Miss Soup Slinger of 1965, a worthy honor for one of our distinguished classmates. Marge Weakley and Mary Crist joined the Navy; the recruiters tried to tell them it was for men only, but the girls were very insistent. The Navy says that they’re never had it so good!!! Well, Quen, I have to get back to the ole grind. My next picture is “Marooned On A Desert Island,” co-starring Jayne Mansfield. I really just have to take another vacation. This work is getting me down. Your old classmate. Dan “Always Leave Them Laughing” Norvell

Page 30 text:

Then came Homecoming. That year they had charge of the decoration of the thrones and the crowns. Barbara Swearingen and Bob Patterson were the Queen and King candidates. In February, they sponsored a “Queen of Hearts” contest to add to the attraction of the FHA Sweetheart Ball. Barbara Fisher and Nancy Natterstad were their candidates. Nancy won the contest. For the Korn Bawl, they presented one of Dan NorvelTs original skits. The boys also gave a pantomime. CXi April 13, they put on their Junior play, “Room No. 13. Then it was time to start decorating for their Prom, “PINK CHAMPAGNE.” They will always remember the long hours spent in decorating. It was fun, but a lot of work. Some of them helped at the Senior commencement by acting as marshalls and ushers. To make money that year, they had the concession stand, dues and queen contest. They were well represented the sports events that year with Nancy Natterstad and Barbara Fisher cheering them on. Several of them won firsts in music and speech. Ardis Harshbarger was Girls' State representative with Barbara Fisher as alternate. Bob Patterson attended Boys State. Class Sponsors for that year were Mrs. Callaway and Mr. Reed. At last, twenty-two students reached the top of the hill by entering into their Senior year. Many of them became the leaders of all the school organizations, but the FHA. The following held the presidency in clubs: Larry Salmon, Chorus; Larry Balding, Pep Club; Don Crist, FFA; Ernie Wright, Student Council; Barbara Swearingen, Onarquois; Nancy Natterstad, Narghi News; Ellen Schmidt, Library Club; Ardis Harshbarger, GAA; Bob Patterson, OVK; Ruth Virkus, Student Librarians of East Central Illinois; and, Dan Norvell, Thespians. Their last class officers were: QuenCultra, president; Ernie Wright, vice-president; Barbara Swearingen, secretary; Barbara Fisher, treasurer; and, again Marjorie Weakley took the duty of Student Council Representative. Bob Patterson was elected by the school as Student Council member at large. To start the year, they gave the Freshmen and informal initiation (may the Frosh never forget III!). Then came the Homecoming, and they had charge of the publicity. Barbara Swearingon, and CXien Cultra were their candidates and were elected Queen and King. The boys helped to make the occasion a memorable one by beating Piper City in the Homecoming game 42-0. With the help of the Senior boys, the football team won its third straight Vermilion Valley conference championship. Nancy Natterstad was cheerleader that year. Barb Fisher was chosen Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year. Nancy Natterstad and Bob Patterson were elected DAR and SARwinners respectively. Barbara Swearingen was Girl Good Citizen. Marjorie Weakley and Ellen Schmidt were elected representatives from their class for Ground Observer CXieen. Dan Norvell was named Thespian of the Year. Tom Weakley won the FFA District Farm Mechanic Contest. Some of the members participated in the Thespian Play, music contests, and sports. To make money, they had the concession stand and cake raffles. The Senior class gave Mr. Frobish a booming business by having their pictures taken. A funny thing--they didn’t even break the camera I!!! For the Korn Bawl, the boys presented a pantomime. Then on May 18, the Junior classhonored them with the annual Junior-Senior Prom. A good time was had by all, and they will hold this as one of their fondest memories as the last fling before school ended.