Pontiac Senior High School - Quiver Yearbook (Pontiac, MI)

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The 19 41 Quiver The orchestra includes: Row 1—Dodge Melkonian, Florence Lazarski, Betty Forsythe, Joy Hershberger; Row 2—Keith Dayo, Goldie Dakesian, Raymond Seeterlin, Mary Kevorkian, Jean Mayses, June Rohr, Shirley Crisman, Richard Melvin, Beatrice Crothers, Martha Gay, Phyllis Troyer, Barbara Wood. Row 3—James Heltsley, Walter Measell, Burton Smith, Joseph Thompson, Fred Jackson, Warren Heller, Donald Lloyd, Robert Fisher, Audrey Sauter, Bessie Antos, Richard Graves, Allen Greenlee, Donald Hogue, William McLean, Eleanor Summers, Ralph Wallace, Donna Ralston, Fred Plosky; Row 4—Elizabeth Adams, Elaine Yokum, Donald Hoffman, George Trombley, Joe Waterson, Raymond Price, Frank Jones, Jack Wiser, Mr. Harris, Donovan Shaw, David Carr, Wallace Williams. with its hand and orchestra; only one high school in Michigan has ever won five first divisions in one year. A record, then, of seven first divisions is not only a note¬ worthy achievement, but unprecedented in the history of instrumental music in Michigan. To top this very success¬ ful year and make it a noteworthy one in the history of Michigan bands, the band was awarded the highest honor possible of attainment by a high school band First Division in the Nationals. Now we come to the 1941 Pontiac High School Band. Clad in their snappy orange and black uniforms they are indeed a spectacle for one to gaze upon and admire while performing at our football games and many parades or other social functions. Not only do they liven our spirits with a march, now and then, but they also perform outstanding concerts which music lovers from our city and others attend. In 1940 they had as their soloist for the annual spring concert, Leonard Smith, well known solo cornetist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Edwin Franco Gold¬ man’s band in New York City. Mr. Smith played beauti¬ fully “The Northern Cross,” by Hubert Clark, and de¬ lighted the audience by playing as his encore, the ever- favorite, “A Kiss in the Dark,” by Victor Herbert. An equally fine concert was planned for 1941 by the band and orchestra. The musical library of this organization is one of the best in this section of the country, and the filing system and disciplinary set-up is the best known in the state. Next comes the orchestra. Many excellent performances are turned out often by this group. The students love the music it plays, for many are old favorites such as: “The Gypsy Baron,” Victor Herbert’s “Red Mill,” and many Strauss waltzes. In the orchestra there are many excellent musicians. For example, Florence Lazarski and Dodge Melkonian. Not only does Florence play first chair violin in the orchestra but also plays fine obo in the band. Dodge also plays violin in the orchestra, but differs from Florence in that he performs on tympani in band. The orchestra, like the band, set an outstanding record last year. At the S. E. M., State, and Saginaw Valley Festiv¬ als, it was placed in none other than First Division. The Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs have been formed for the purpose of giving those students who wish to have it, the opportunity to further their interests in music The members are: Upper picture, Boys’ Glee Club (left to right) Row 1: Mathew Ingham, Robert Longstaff, Robert Hicks, Joe Mansfield, Margery Dawe, Donald Cole, Jack McVay, Clarence Payne, George Phillips. Row 2: Robert Scott, William Garcia, Don LaBarge, Victor McNair, Edmund VenDeusen, Kenneth Boyn¬ ton, Kenneth Warren, Norman Wagner, Richard Mathews, and Mr. Bourzeil. Row 3: William Heitsch, Royce Everett, William Rivers, Thaddeus Jones, Robert Mehlberg, Bob McDougall, James Heltsey, Glenn Rose, Calvin Long, Donald Price, and Paul Jones. Center picture, Girls’ Glee Club, Row 1: Marjorie Cooper, Delores Bane, Eleanor Lenhart, Jean Gould, Lillian Pruitt, Amy Major, Ila Froede, Beverly Op- dyke, Fern Martin. Row 2: Stella Backalukas, Ruth Mary Plake, Frances Day, Pattie Ann Moses, Doris Lloyd, Virginia Law, Beulah Hirsch, Margaret Reed, Jean Shortt, Lois Gibson. Row 3: Betty Hodges, Norma Erickson, Ellen Dooley, Phyllis Leighton, Doris Reed, Helen Murphy, Arvilla Diehl, Dorothy Beulock, Mary Jane Keller, Marjorie Lazenby, Mr. Bourzeil. Lower picture, Row 1: Vivian Mullen, Betty Fyie, Helen Nazarian, Margaret Harths, Shirley West, Betty Fields, Barbara Bennett, Edith Rayner, Mary Cook. Row 2: Kathleen Barnes, Neoma Dennis, Margaret Kevorkian, Mary Louise Buck, Doris Dearing, Berna¬ dette Chircop, Marjorie Baines, Georgia Dimon, Wenona Dewey, Lorraine Fleischacker. Row 3: Willodean Banks, Mary Mandos, Hazel Glenn, Myrna Way, Marjorie Watson, Betty Jane Carlsen, Ruth Humphries, Carolyn Leddick, Edwina Bennett, Mr. Bourzeil. Row 4: Helen Sanders, Doris Moon, Ilene Bredow, Janiece Deason, Joy Jorgenson, Twilah Godfrey, Glenna Mae Williams, Lucille Semands, Mary Johnson, Mabel Ellen Leonard. Ill HI HI Page twenty

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The 1941 Quiver The 1941 band comprises: Row 1—Donald Lloyd, Robert Fisher, Audrey Sauter, Bessie Antos, June Rohr, Jean McPherson, Jean Moyses, Shirley Crisman, Richard Melvin, Beatrice Crothers; Row 2—Sidney Miller, Roy Church, James Vincent, Robert Snyder, Fred Jackson, Barbara Wood, Lloyd Fay, Robert Brill, Charles Blashfield, Richard Scott, Raymond Wells, Frank Clift, Ruth Priestly, Marillyn Angelmier, Florence Lazarski, Warren Heller. Row 3—Russell White, Robert DeGroff, Frances Durkee, Edwin Thompson, Eleanor Summers, Ralph Wallace, Donna Ralston, Fred Palosky, William McLean, Donald Hogue, Allen Greenlee, Richard Graves, Deane Lundbeck, Joseph Dennis, Ernest Watkins, Maurice Smith, Roy Caster, Winnie Bottom, David Stitz, Ted Richards, James Hubbell, Raymond Price, Frank Jones, Jack Wiser. Row 4—Elizabeth Adams, Betty Forsythe, Joy Hershberger, Robert Ford, Robert Brown, Robert Johnson, Donald Tryon, Joseph Waterman. George Trombley, Donovan Shaw, David Carr, Dodge Melkonian, Wallace Williams. Musical Champions by Richard Melvin For many years the Pontiac High School Band has ranked consistently as the best in the state of Michigan. In the year 1931 our hand won first place in the state contest which made them state champions. That year ended the type of contest which had prevailed in that year and previous ones. The bands which participated were placed in first, second, third, and fourth places, according to their ability. In the year 1932 the type of contest which we now have came into place. Bands are placed in one of five divisions. First division means a band is superior to the average high school band. Bands are placed in these divisions according to the degree of excellence maintained in the judges’ minds. Since 1932 our bands and orchestras have been placed in the First Division at every contest and festival. In 1940 the high school hand was one of the five bands recommended from the state of Michigan to participate in the Regional Festival which is the National Contest or the highest festival which a band can attend. Here, in Battle Creek, the Pontiac Band, under the direction of Mr. Harris, was placed in the First Division which made it rank among the best and topmost bands in the country, and to he the first and only Michigan band to be placed in first division at the Regionals. The significance of this record is that no other high school band in Michigan has ever won five first divisions (Additional Band pictures on page 47) Among the several positions that Mr. Dudley has held, is that of band and orchestra director from 1911-1925. Mr. Dudley organized the first band in Pontiac Senior High School. Under the direction of Mr. Dale C. Harris, the band and orchestra have won many honors and become well known in the state. Joe Waterson, Drum Major of the band, is shown here strutting his stuff. Page nineteen

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