Plainfield High School - Plainsman Yearbook (Plainfield, IL)

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History of the Class of 1954 On a crisp day in early September, fifty- three happy freshmen entered PHS. With the excitement of basketball and gradu- ation we were sorry to leave junior high, but at the same time we were anxious to get into the swing of high school life. At the first class meeting, Marlene Sebby was elected president; Donald Kinley, vice-presi- dent; Arthur Mauer, secretary; and Marshall Conklin, treasurer. The first event on the calendar was the freshman initiation party. Limburger cheese and baby food were the menu for the event. When football season opened, ten brave freshman boys turned out to help win the Fox Valley Conference Championship. As basketball season rolled around, the fresh- man class was again represented with ten boys on the fresh-soph squad. This was the year the band received the Governor Steven- son Trophy at the Illinois State Fair. Both the band and the chorus received top rat- ings at the music contests in the spring. Under the guidance of advisers, Mrs. Helen Green and Mr. William Johnston, our fresh- man year was brought successfully to a close. September of 1951 brought forty-eight sophomores together, eager to begin another year at Plainfield High. With our freshman year behind us we became anxious to earn money for the prom. With this in mind we originated the checkroom in the gym. Class officers included Orland Miller, president; Donald Kinley, vice-president; Marlene Seb- by, secretary; and Arthur Beck, treasurer. We looked upon the green freshmen with the thankfulness that we were in our second year. We envied the juniors and seniors and longed for the day when we could walk through the halls as upperclassmen. After two years in PHS we had begun to think for ourselves, and our minds were filled with new ideas for our junior year. At last we had reached the mighty status of upperclassmen. How important we felt as we embarked upon our money-making ven- tures of the year. Jane Burgess and Virginia Anderson were appointed to take charge of the football concession stand and the class pitched in to increase our treasury. Officers for the year were president, Marlene Sebby; vice-president, Jo Ellyn Bidner; secretary, Mary Alyce Crawford; and treasurer, Lucy Ward. Although there was much controversy over our class rings, the style was finally chosen. At Christmas time, the juniors spon- sored the Snowflake Frolic. It was the first all school party to be given in the gym- nasium and we entered into the fun of plan- ning and decorating. April brought the junior play, Professor, How Could You. After many weeks of planning and work- ing, the night of our Junior-Senior Banquet and Prom arrived. Our theme, Rhapsody in Blue, was carried out in various shades of blue. A black staff and notes on the wall, along with silhouettes of city life, added much color and realism to the setting. Our senior year was no different from any other. We worked toward our goal, class trip to Washington, D. C. Some of our spe- cial projects were bake sales, box socials, dances, plays, and a carnival. Early in September we sponsored a fresh- man welcoming week. On five designated days, freshmen were required to uphold certain standards set by the senior class. Football season began and eleven senior boys piled up victory after victory leading to a perfect season and the Fox Valley Con- ference Championship of '53. Jo Ellyn Bid- ner and Betty Wright cheered the team to victory, with Lois Niehus as alternate. Homecoming was again a gala event. With a gigantic parade led by our home- coming queen Judy Snook and her court, the festivities began and the day ended a com- plete success. On November 11 we pre- sented We Shook The Family Tree, a comedy in three acts. Much time and effort went into the production, but when the final curtain fell all the tedious hours were for- gotten and only the thought of a successful presentation remained. With three seniors on the squad, Albert Covili, Charles Fish, and Fred Hensel, the Wildcats copped a second place in the Fox Valley Conference Basketball Tournament. Plainfield took its place among the leading contenders in the Fox Valley Conference. In the second semester a student council was organized with Marlene Sebby serving as president. Our class representatives were Lucy Ward and Albert Rigoni. As we made preparations for our long awaited graduation, we looked back on our high school days as years holding many precious memories. The red brick building on Division Street has become a living part of each one of us and we long to return to the classes and activities of our high school days. 26

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Honors AMERICAN LEGION AWARD Always willing to assume responsibility . . . . participating in music, dramatics, and all student activities .... president of the student council .... advertising manager of this year's PLAINSMAN .... Marlene Sebby deserves to receive the annual American Legion Award. AMERICAN LEGION AWARD and REPRESENTATIVE STUDENT Marlene Sebby Active in athletics, music, and dramatics . . . . vice-president of his class .... willing to cooperate with students and faculty . . . . Gordon Mauer was chosen by the students both as their most representative student and as the recipient of the American Legion Award. 25 Gordon Mauer

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Left to Right: Mrs. Jeanette Trumpy, adviser; Mr. Gerald Reynolds, adviser; Judith Pennington, president; Norma Harms, vice-president; Donna Sage, treasurer; Al- fred Patten, secretary; Mr, Edwin Groh, adviser. Last September the class of '55 entered the halls of PHS with confidence. They were old veterans at this sort of thing and hurriedly entered into the swing of the year's activities. During the Homecoming festivities, the Junior class was represented with a colorful float in the parade while Judy Pennington, class president, was elected to the Queen's Court. At the afternoon game, the class members worked hard in the concession stand while Clyde Avery, James Smith, John Krumwiede, Roger Pennington, Duane Hal- bleib and James MacDonald pounded the gridiron as members of the Fighting Wild- cats to bring another victory to PHS. Clyde Avery received honorable mention for the All State Team and was high scorer of the season with sixty-seven points. Duane Halbleib was voted by his teammates as the most valuable basketball player of the year. Edward Wysock, drum major for the out- standing band, won the second place medal in the Illinois State Normal University Marching Contest in October. Norma Harms and Edwin Hamilton represented Plainfield at the Teen-Age Traffic Safety Conference in Chicago, while Carolyn Montgomery was chosen as the Sectional Public Relations Chairman for F.H.A. in Morris. The highlight of the year was the Junior- Senior Banquet and Prom. The class play, A Case of Springtime, as well as con- cessions at games, dances, and music con- tests helped to finance these activities. At Christmas time, an all school party was sponsored in the gym. In the four years of high school, the junior year seems to be the busiest and yet in view of the preceding paragraphs, the class of 1955 has kept up with the pace. Now as the year comes to a close and thought is given to the senior year, hard work is for- gotten and only pleasant memories of a year filled with fun and excitement remain. 27