Owosso High School - Spic Yearbook (Owosso, MI)

Page 10 text:

Dedication The Class of 1938 dedicates its Spic to a former Owosso citizen whom they recognize as a true Modern Trojan- THOMAS EDMUND DEWEY. As former Special Prose- cutor of New York City, he has proven that hard work, indomitable courage, determination, and perseverance- characteristics of a real Trojan--are worthwhile qualities. They have helped to make his career promising and success- ful. Thomas E. Dewey is nationally recognized as one of the great men of the nation. -6--

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History of the Spic The first Spic was published by the senior class of 1902. Robert I. Gale who was a member of the senior class at that time suggested the name Spick and the rest of the board agreed on it. The k was dropped from the name in 1910, but the reason for doing so is not known. The idea of having an annual originated with J. C. Osburn, who was principal of the school in 1902. He helped the boys get started. The boys were Henry A. Sherman, editor, and Burt A. Crowe, business manager. The other members on the Spick board were Hazel Roberts, Roy Vandewater, and Bernard Wilson. Ethel Greenwood who later became Mrs. James Oliver Curwood was also on the board. Dr. R. C. Mahaney was largely responsible for the publication of the first'Spick. His help and advice were indispensable to the board. The great object of the first Spick was a memorial of days spent in the high school. The old high school was then located at the Central. In the first edition of the Spick the names of all the alumni from 1870 were printed. ' There were 38 in the senior class of 1902. It was the largest class that had graduated up to that time. The officers of the class were Burt A. Crowe, president, Ethel Greenwood, vice-presidentg Frances Clapp fMrs. G. N. Finch of this cityl, secretary, and Ralph Graham, treasurer. The class colors were crimson and white, the iiower was the American beauty, the motto was While we live, let us live . The first Spick was printed by the Evening Argus. It was seven by nine inches. It contained forty-six pages. The cover was made of crimson paper and had silver lettering on it. The different departments were very much like those in our own Spic. It was a splendid success. Since the first Spick the book has been published by the graduating class almost every year. Before 1926 only three years had been skipped. In 1934 the issues of the Owosso High Observer were bound and that took the place of the Spic. Every other year the Spic has been published. There have been different sizes, shapes, themes, and colors each year. Every graduating class has tried to make their Spic bigger and better and different from that of the class graduating the year before them. The result has been a bigger and better Spic each year. -Marcia Guilford. ...0....

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Thomas Ecimunci Dewey Thomas Edmund Dewey is, without a doubt, Owosso's greatest contri- bution to America. He is nationally known for his war against rackets. He was born in Owosso in 1902 and spent his boyhood here, graduat- ing from Owosso High School in 1919. In high school, he participated in many activities, he was in both the Junior and Senior plays, on the Debating team, editor-in-chief of the Spic, and lieutenant of the Cadet Corps. Upon graduation he entered the University of Michigan. There he was known for his achievements in music. He starred in the Michigan Opera, Top of the Mornin', and was leader of the Glee Club for two years. When Thomas Dewey left the University in 1923, he went to New York to study law and voice, he attended Columbia University and sang as baritone soloist in the St. Matthews and St. Timothy Churches. Leav- ing Columbia two years later with a Bachelor of Law Degree, Mr. Dewey chose law as his career rather than music. Due to his own will power and determination he was appointed Assistant United States Attorney at the age of twenty-nine. This was the first national recognition of his ability. In 1935 Governor Lehman of New York offered him the job of Special Prosecutor of Rackets of New York City. He accepted this job, although he knew it meant many hours of hard and dangerous work. Deweyfs offices were in the Woolworth Building on the 14th floor. Here he fought his battle against the racketeer gangs of New York City, assisted by a staff of twenty well-chosen assistants. This staff works together on their cases as relentlessly as a well-oiled machine. Only one racketeer of the seventy-three brought to trial by Prosecutor Dewey was acquitted, so thorough is each case prepared. As a tribute to his exceptional ability, last fall the people of the city of New York showed their confidence in him by electing him Diswtrict Attorney. This is unique in history, for it is the first time in twenty years that Tammany Hall has been defeated for this office. Thomas Edmund Dewey is a great credit to Owosso, to New York, and to the United States. -Theodore Putnam. -.7..