Port Byron High School - Echo Yearbook (Port Byron, IL)

Page 45 text:

1942 - THE ECHO - 1947 A Senior Publication In the fall of 1942, the first Paper Staff was organized un- der the sponsorship of Rue Cooper, Commercial instructor, and in May of that year, the first Port Byron Year Book left the press. Since an Hechou is a reflection of sound, the name 'Echou was chosen as appropriate for the Annual for the Staff felt sure that in years to come the book would reflect pleas- ant memories of life at Port Byron High. Editor-in-chief was Delbert Simpson and assisting him were Class Reporters: Norma May, Evelyn Mose, Virginia Smith, Dorothy Bachman, Annie Mae Searl, Mary Ester Kelly for the Senfirsg Earl May, Norma An- derson, Barbara Rick, Jane Simpson, Phyllis Wildermuth for the Juniors, Dick Keeley, Marie Hedeen, Isabelle Boardman, Evelyn Pannell of the Sophomores, Beverly Dye and Barbara Mathes for the Freshmen. The Book was dedicated to Principal 3. C. Monson in appreciation of the guidance he had given the eniors. The second issue of the Echo left the press in 1943 with Miss Cooper again acting as Adviser. This was the first year of World War II and the book took on an army theme with Freshmen Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors ranked, respectively, priv- ates, Corporals, Sergeants, and Lieutenants. It was dedicat- ed to Charles Lamb, a 1938 graduate, whose life was sacri- ficed in a plane crash on a fog-obscured base in California. In 1944, the second year of conflict, Margaret Welch, who suc- ceeded Miss Cooper as Commercial instructor, sponsored the publication of The Echo, and inspite of inconveniences due to war-time restrictions of labor and materials, her Staff put out a most commendable Year Book. With the nation still at war, this third volume was dedicated Wto Mothers everywhere, who untiringly and prayerfully work on-that the stars in win- dows may soon be removed.n In 1945, the fourth issue of The Echo was edited by the Senior Class under the guidance of Catharine Perring, successor to Miss Welch. This was a war-conscious class. They had lived in a world at war since they were eighth graders. During that ybatrand succeeding years at high school they had seen their country turn from its usual peace-time pursuits-to which they, as children, had become accustomed- and gear itself for total warfare, the most disasterous struggle in the history of man- kind. This was their heritage as high school students. They saw the neighboring tri-cities converted into a vast war area, They saw them turn from their usual schedule of peace-time pro duction to blue-print themselves for the out-put of weapons of