Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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PROPHECY “Here I am, back in the good old United States again,” thought I, as 1 stepped off the steamer in San Francisco. Even though the war had been over a year, I had stayed in Australia, helping in the hospitals. Now I was home! Stepping off the boat, I had to go through the usual procedure of customs, and who should be the officer in charge of investigating the baggage but Donald Sachau. I hailed a taxi. Imagine my surprise when Everett Shreves drew up in the latest model. Arriving at the San Francisco airport, I hurried up to the ticket window. I realized there was something familiar about the salesman, or rather saleslady. Why of course, it was none other than Helen Hendricks. I turned to leave the building, but I noticed a door marked “P. Carlsten, President”. My curiosity got the better of me, so I entered. After waiting a few moments, I was admitted to a large office, and who should be sitting behind the desk but Peg! We talked over old times, and she told me that Ruth and Dorothy June Johnson were chief dietitians for the air-line company. Boarding my plane, I was pleased to see that my stewardess was Gweneth Ostrom. I learned from her that the pilot and co-pilot were Peggy Reid and Lorraine Holverson, and the two snappy officers sitting in front of me were Lois Hall, a WAAC, and Fay Fuqua, a SPAR. Later, they told me that they were bound for Chicago where they would soon return to civilian life. At Reno, two gentlemen boarded our plane. Lois told me that they were Robert Watts, who owned some “places of amusement” in Reno; and his chief assistant and constant companion, Jack treland. Robert, it seems, had done very well in the “business”. Upon recognizing me, the two old friends of mine came back for a chat. They informed me that George Fox was the new National Pool Champion. They also said that Franklin Thompson’s orchestra with the dancer, Doris Ryberg, were being featured in one of the large night clubs. At Denver, who should board the plane but the “Major and the Minor”! Dale Purtill was a major in the army, and Stanley Mineer was a miner at the mines in the Rocky Mountains. They joined our group, and we fell to talking of old times at Paxton High. In the course of our conversation, they told me that Arnold Magnuson owned a chain of drycleaning establishments. I wondered where he got his start. I asked them where Wendell Siddens, William Scott, and Watson Hayes were. One of the group mentioned that he had read in the latest movie magazine that Watson Hayes was destined for stardom as the idol of the college girls. Scott, it seems, had recently been made an MP to subdue brawls, a change from the old days. Siddens had just returned from Africa and was glad to see blondes again. Just then I happened to glance below to see a large group of ranch buildings. Jack seemed to think it was the cooperative ranch of Robert Pearson, Robert McCabe, Harold Turner, and Paul Ingold. I noticed in my paper that Robert

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THE WILL (continued) I, Ben Johnson, will my stage presence to Joan Archer. I, Dorothy June Johnson, will my interest in the hand to Barbara Burton. 1, Ruth Johnson, will my meekness to Maxine Varner. 1, Elsie Jones, will my ability to guard in basketball to Maurice Adams. I, Dorothy Lewis, will my quiet voice to Mary Elizabeth Eagan. I, Arnie Magnuson, will my sweet smile to Bud Turner. I, Wildon Metz, will my artistic ability to my sister, Kathryn Metz. I, Stanley Mineer, will my lack of interest in American History to John Lateer. 1, Robert McCabe, will my boisterous manner to Beverly Lundberg. I, Donald Nelson, will my practical jokes to George Hendershott. I, Cornelius Noland, will my work ai home to Bill Pearson. I, Gweneth Ostrom, will my interest in telegraphy to Lois Piper. I, Bob Pearson, will my ability to play pool to Bob Trager. I, Catherine Peterson, will my scholastic ability to Joyce Heacock. I, Betty Piper, will my red hair to Marjorie Peabody. I, Dale Purtill, will my job as manager of the popcorn stand to Cecil Plackett. I, Peggy Reid, will my interest in the Air Corps to Irene Streeter. I, Beverly Riggle, will my love of books to Maurice Shilts. I, Lee Rowe, will my Ludlow accent to Mr. Wilkinson. I, Doris Ryberg, will my ability to “jitterbug” to Catherine Warner. 1, Donald Sachau, will my ability to be on time to Neil Piper. I, William Scott, will my ability to argue to Miss Strong. I, Everett Shreves, will my mechanical ability to Ray Williams. I, Wendell Siddens, will my interest in paper hanging to Hitler. I, Ella Mae Stanford, will my brief romances to Barbara Thilmony. I, Lilian Tappan, will my steady heart to Betty Robertson. I, Franklin Thompson, will my musical talent to Everett Given. I, Harold Turner, will my “speed” to Coach Miller. I, Robert Watts, will my ability as soda “jerk” to Donald Froyd. I, Paul Ingold, will my interest in Fisher to Charlotte Fields.

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PROPHECY (continued) and Norman Gustafson, scientific farmers, and their efficiency expert, Donald Nelson, had discovered a new type of soybean. We landed in Chicago and I bade good-bye to my friends. I had to send a telegram to New York, so I went into the nearest Western Union office, and there at the manager’s desk was a picture of their new president, who was none other than Betty Piper. I still had an hour to wait for my plane, so I decided to get something to eat. I was met at the door by the hostess, Dorothy Lewis. On the way to my table, I was hailed by an old friend, Andy Henricks, who was an officer at Great Lakes. From him I learned that his commanding officer was Shirley Hileman’s husband. After eating, I paid the cashier, Mary Graham. Just outside the door I noticed a large billboard, advertising Cornelius Noland’s pompadour wave-set. My plane was ready, and I was glad to note that the pilot and co-pilot were again some friends, William Burklund and Leslie Carlson. What a small world it really is! A very smartly dressed young woman sat down beside me. It was Catherine Peterson. She told me that she, Beverly Riggle, Elsie Jones, and Agnes Anderson owned a large secretarial school. A man sat down in front of us. Who should that be but Brooks Davis! He was president of a chemical company, well known for its astonishing results. His assistant was Robert Behrens. At the last minute Lee Rowe, whose policy is, “better late than never,” dashed in and fell into the seat near us. I recalled having read that he was to be basketball coach at the University of Illinois. Brooks showed us the latest copy of Esquire, whose cover was drawn by that nationally known artist, Wildon Metz. We were passed by a Red Cross plane, which was traveling at 700 miles per hour, going to a fire in the North Woods. Our co-pilot passed through the plane at this time and said that two of the passengers were Betty Gunning and Betty Corbett, Red Cross nurses. As all people do, we started discussing politics. We all commented on the fine job that Ben Johnson had done as judge in the court that tried Hitler. Norris Burklund was also mentioned as being one of our representatives to the Peace Conference. Arriving in New York, I was met by Ella Mae Stanford, a noted economist who had just returned from Europe, where she had been studying post-war problems and their solution. We were bound for Dorothy Anderson’s wedding which was to be a leading social event of the season. After talking to Dorothy, we found out that Josephine Barringer had designed her wedding dress. She mentioned that Dale Bayles, a wealthy contractor, and his wife, the former Lilian Tappan, were also invited. My first day back in the states had been an eventful one. I had heard of or seen all of the class of 1943.