Punchard High School - Prism Yearbook (Andover, MA)

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Class History . . . by Robert Moore As I sat down to write the history of the Class of 1946, it suddenly struck me that I had no idea where to begin. I, therefore, shall take the logical course and begin at the beginning. In September, the year of our Lord one-thousand nine-hundred and forty-three, our class entered Punchard High School as bewildered and bemused sophomores. Strange, at first, to the ways of high school students, we soon fell into the routine of our new environment and began making ourselves known. In sports especially, did we excel. Football called many of our boys to the front. Those boys to try out for the team were Anthony Cavallaro, Stewart Fraser, Philip Markey, Fred McCollum, Robert Moore, Norman Parsons, Robert Phinney, William Ware, Charles Waterman, and John Wirtz. Ably coached by Mr. Fred Riel, we came through a not too successful season. Soon afterward candidates for the basketball team were called. Only two boys, however, took a fling at this sport. They were Fred McCollum and Robert Phinney. The girls, in the meantime, had been making their own mark in their sports. In soccer, basketball, and volleyball they more than held their own. Outstanding in these sports were Claudia Nicoll, Crystal Cormey, Virginia Hardy, Barbara Monroe, Ruth Glennie, Cynthia Black, and Isabel Auchterlonie. During the fall we had also assumed the responsibility of self govern- ment by electing class officers. They were Walter Demers, president ; John Wirtz, vice-president; Claudia Nicoll, treasurer; and Barbara Monroe, secretary. During the course of the year, our social committee, under the able chairmanship of Philip Markey, held a highly successful dance with many persons from neighboring towns attending. At about this time we welcomed to the school Mr. Kellmurray, who from the first has been a true friend and guiding hand to us of the class of ' 46. In the fall, representatives of our class were chosen by the faculty to participate in the Goldsmith Prize Speaking contest. They were Mary Lynch and Robert Moore. By this time we were quite ready for our summer vacation and we welcomed it with high glee. Upon returning to school in the fall as Juniors, we quickly fell into the routine again. We once more elected class officers. They were Walter Demers, presi- dent; John Wirtz, vice-president; Tony Cavallaro, treasurer; and Barbara Monroe, secretary. Again we boys turned out for football, this time with Mr. Robinson as coach. Those on the team were Tony Cavallaro, Fred McCollum, Robert Phinney, John Wirtz, Robert Moore, Norman Parsons, Luke Mills, Walter Demers, Philip Markey, Charles Waterman, John Petty, and Homer Judge. After each home football game throughout the fall, our social committee held informal tea dances in the gym. This gave the boys and girls excellent opportunities to meet and become acquainted with the students of other schools, an opportunity of which many took advantage. After completing a very successful season, climaxed by the defeat of Johnson, we turned once more to basketball. This year our class was more prominent in this

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GRADUATION SPEAKERS V. Hardy, R. Glennie, M. Lynch, L. Noss.

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sport. Those taking part were William Westcott, Philip Markey, Fred Mc- Collum, and Robert Phinney. Again our social committee, still under the chairmanship of Philip Markey, held a dance. It was highly successful, as was our previous one. This year our candidates for the Goldsmith Prize Speaking contest were Cynthia Black and Jackson Pillsbury. Still in the line of public speak- ing, our class, continuing its fine record in school activities, held five of the eight speaking positions in the Barnard essay contest. Those repre- sent atives of our class to read their essays were Cynthia Pash, Cynthia Black, Walter Demers, Virginia Hardy, and Lillian Dimlich. Lillian calmly walked away bearing second prize. Soon baseball was in progress again with several of our class as candi- dates for the team: Alan Titcomb, Robert Phinney, and Fred McCollum. In the spring the three classes held an inter-class track meet with many boys and girls of all classes competing for the honors. In this competition the class of ' 46 took top honors, winning by a margin of many points. On April twelfth tragic news was flashed throughout the country. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our great wartime president, was dead. All of us mourned the great loss and resolved to do all that lay within our power to prevent his devotion to his country from having been in vain. During the course of the year we had lost several of our classmates to the armed forces of our country. To the Coast Guard went John Wirtz, and to the Navy, Fred Anderson, Stewart Fraser, John Petty, and John Fairbum. In late spring, May 8th, to be exact, we were called to the auditorium to hear President Truman announce the unconditional surrender of Axis forces in Europe. Realizing that while half the job was done the war was not yet over, we turned back to our books. In early spring our class elected several of its members to run the Junior-Senior Prom. This prom was highly successful from the viewpoint of all concerned. In the receiving line, our class was well represented by Patricia Robertson and Philip Markey as Junior Hostess and Host, re- spectively. Once again we left school to enjoy our summer vacation, the high point of which was the capitulation of the Japanese forces in the Pacific. Upon returning from this last long vacation, we entered the halls of Punch- ard as austere seniors. We boys turned again to football. Under the co-captains, Philip Markey and Fred McCollum, the squad, mostly seniors, came through a not too successful season due to numerous injuries to the players. The season was successful, however, in that we defeated our Methuen rival, thus breaking their chance to win the Wee Three title. Again we elected our class officers. Walter Demers, president for his third term in school, a tribute to his leadership; Philip Markey, vice- president; Claudia Nicoll, secretary; and Tony Cavallaro, again treasurer. We then turned to basketball, with Robert Phinney, Fred McCollum, William Westcott, Philip Markey, John McVey, and Robert Moss. In basket- ball also was instituted inter-class games in which honors were taken by the class of ' 46 as undefeated champions of the tournament. Soon baseball was in full swing, the last sports season for our class. We were still well represented by Alan Titcomb, Fred McCollum, and Robert Phinney. As Seniors we had many extra-curricuar activities to occupy our