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

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History In September of 1947, thirty-five untamed Onargans entered first grade. Our bewildered teacher was Mrs. Black. We formed a Rhythm Band to start our music ability. When we were in second grade, we lost one of our classmates, Glen Molck, who moved to Gilman. We entered the third grade with Mrs. Reed as our teacher. During this year we went to the Brookfield Zoo. In the fourth grade, Glen Molck came back and Larry Kuhlman was received, while Bobby Nelson moved to Iroquois. In the fifth and sixth grade, one of our patrol girls, Judy Frye, received a special award for saving a car from burning up which had a trailer hooked on behind which had caught fire somehow. This year Barbara Ludwick moved to Streator, Jack Lawerance moved to Decatur, and Lewis Bellinger moved to Michigan. We left the old grade school and entered seventh grade in the high school building with Miss Maude Whiteman as our teacher. We had a few unfortunate experiences during that year as some of our boys can tell you. We lost Eddie Nisonger, but we gained three new students. They were Bill H aire, Marcell Gaines, and Richard Ramsden who had been promoted an extra grade this year. Three girls were chosen to be cheerleaders from our room. They were Sandra Link, Sally Balding, and Myra Enz. The boys got to play more often in the games now. Mr. Ben Compagnoni was the grade school basketball coach. In our eighth grade and final year of grade school, we were preparing for high school with Miss Clarke as our teacher. We represented the eighth grade basketball squad because all our boys made up the first team. The first five were Roger Tilstra, Glen Molck, Tom Tomlinson, Dennis Wills, and Leon Perkinson. The cheerleaders were Merry Enz, Marcella Gaines, Sandra Link. Jane Reed, and Wilma Walters. We went to Chicago for our class trip. We visited China Town, Museum of Science and Industry, and the Aquarium. On May 26, 1955, we were promoted. The Legion Awards went to Leon Perkinson and Nancy Booth. The History Award went to Richard Ramsden. We entered High School as ‘Green Freshmen , and survived the initiations given by the seniors and the other school organizations. This year we gained two new students. They were Norvan Henrichs and Jerry Willson. Our officers for the year were President, Glen Molck; Vice-President, Leon Perkinson; Secretary, Wilma Walters; Treasurer, Jane Reed; and Student Council Representative, Sandi Link. We decorated the gym for the homecoming dance, as is a custom for Freshmen. Our candidates for homecoming were Sandra Link and Dennis Wills. At the end of this year, we lost Marcella Gaines and Larry Kuhlman. Rex Hockaday, who came to us in the middle of eighth grade left also. We lost quite a number of classmates this year and they are as follows: Jackie Tilstra, Donna Jimison, Gloria Baker, Margie Wulff, Nancy Booth, Eva Vest, Frances Peters, and Phyllis Rabideau. But in losing these we gained one new girl, Phyllis Homback from Chicago. Our class sponsors were Miss Wright and Mr. Callaway.

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1959 Graduates □MR future IS RN DPEN RDRD FIRST ROW: Judy Frye, Sandra Link, Jerry Willson, Jane Reed, Janet Koon, Eileen Bailey, Patricia Scott, Ramona Zirkle. SECOND ROW: Darrell Niswander, Ross Adkins, Wilma Walters, Chester Stumpe, Carl Smith, John Brown, Sally Balding, Myra Enz, Merry Enz. THIRDROW: Dennis Wills, Glen Molck, William Haire, Roger Tilstra, Robert Bailey, Leon Perkinson, Ron aid Steiner, Norvan Henrichs, and Thomas Tomlinson.

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During our Sophomore year, we had our Penny Supper. Our class officers for this year were: President, Glen Molck; Vice-President, Wilma Walters; Secretary, Eileen Bailey; Treasurer, Norvan Henrichs. Our homecoming candidates for our Sophomore year were Sally Balding and Glen Molck. Dennis Wills went to Boys’ State this year. Our sponsors were Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Douglass. Our Junior year we really got into the swing of things. We had the concession stand, our Class Play, “The Happier We ll Be”, our class rings, and last but not least, our prom. The theme of our prom was “Oriental Paradise”. Everybody really enjoyed working and it really showed up on the night of the prom. This year we gained Ross Adkins. Our sponsors were Mrs. Stienecker and Mr. Adams. Our class officers were : President, John Brown; Vice-President, Bob Bailey; Secretary, Ramona Zirkle; and Treasurer, Norvan Henrichs. The homecoming candidates were Wilma Walters and Dennis Wills. This year Janet Koon was chosen to go to All-State Band and Chorus at Peoria, Judy Frye went to Girls’ State, Jane Reed went to Music Camp, and Wilma Walters and Myra Enz went to GAA Camp. Our Senior year we were very happy to see as officers, President, Bill Haire; Vice-President, John Brown; Secretary, Eileen Bailey; Treasurer, Jerry Willson; Student Council Representative, Sandra Link; and Student Council Representative Member at Large, Chester Stumpe. The basketball team consisting of Jerry Willson, Roger Tilstra, Glen Molck, and Dennis Wills, helped to pull us to a victory over R-T to win the District for two years in a row. Two girls got cheerleading out of our room this year, and they are Merry and Myra Enz. The boys that went out for football and who helped the Onarga team get the Vermillion Valley trophy for three years straight are: Dennis Wills, Glen Molck, Jerry Willson, Bob Bailey, John Brown, Tom Tomlinson, and Leon Perkinson. These boys have played for four years. There were two others who played on the team for three years, they are Carl Smith and Ronald Steiner. There were two others who should get recognition also, and they are Bill Haire and LeRoy Fishback, our managers. We are really proud of our team and fellow classmates. The Baseball team consisted of two of our Seniors: Jerry Willson and Tom Tomlinson. They have played for four years also. Our Homecoming candidates were Wilma Walters, Myra Enz, Glen Molck, and Dennis Wills. The homecoming king and queen were Wilma Walters and Dennis Wills. Our class Sponsors were Mrs. Haire and Mr. Hocking. The DAR Award was won by Jane Reed, and theSAR Award was won by John Brown. Our Class Colors: Champagne and Maroon. Our Flower: Champagne Carnations. Our Motto: ‘‘Our Future Is An Open Road”. Baccalaureate was May 24 and Commencement May 26. The Class of “59” leaves the old walls of O. H. S. to seek out more interesting and achieving work.