Reitz Memorial High School - Memorial Review Yearbook (Evansville, IN)

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Senior Edition, 1946 THE REITZ MIRROR Page 7 ir Raid Drills Held at Reitz Four Years A o The day that many students have long anticipated is almost here, May 29-the dcqy that we, the class of '46, will graduate. On that day at five o'clock the secondary education of the grad- uating class of '46, clad in gray robes and rnortarboards, will near an end. After that will come the higher lessons of 'life and educa- tion. Now as we face our last few days at Reitz, we know that these past few years spent in securing this higher education were price- less years of study and fun and as the years go by we will look back and fondly remember when we were in high school. PART I While we were still in grade school we visited Reitz. One pretty day in the spring of 1942., eighth grade students from grade schools in both the city and county toured Reitz to investigate its general layout and its functions. We were pleased with the school that we sanw and the people we met. This strange school was soon to be our school and the students would be our classmates. We found that Reitz was a dignified and thorough school and that it had a very beautiful campus. On our first day of high school in the fall of '42 we as freshmen tempted to make a nonchalant en- trance. The attempted glorious entrance was only half successful, though, because upperclassmen discussions of Look at all the green freshiesf' and Gee whiz, were we ever that dumb! punctured our ego. After a week or so of being teased about being green freshmen and receiving false explanations, we finally realized that we too, were finally becoming a part of this new, but wonderful school. The stories about h.aving to bl-ly ball and elevator tickets grew old. Learning to recognize the more outstanding features of Reitz, many students decided among themselves that other than the school building, the Bowl and the parking lot were also very inter- esting parts of the campus. The Reitz Bowl became indis- pensable to us for the pleasure it afforded athletes and sports fans. The Bowl's splendid structure on the side of Reitz Hill was some- thing to be proud of. The rail that borders the Bowl soon became an accepted part of our lives, for it served as a week-day meeting place to exchange chatter fand gossipj and to oogle at others. A part of our inheritance when we en-tered Reitz was the parking lot which was, of course, to park jalopies and other cars on. This part of the campus was land isj very beautiful in the sun light, but it has been said by many oth- ers, including our class, that the view of The Beautiful Ohio from the Hill was land isj extra special on a starry evening. To begin a whirl of extra-cur- ricular activities, clever signs and drawings on the blackboard were used to influence the sale of ac- tivity tickets. World War II, which had for the past ten months given almost: every organization a more serious air, rooted even further into the heart of every student a grim de- termination that the war must be won. This was the first time in the history of Reitz that a school- year had begun under the stress of war. One of the most im.pressive of the school war-time activities was the practice air-raid drill. Air- raid shelters were designated each homeroom. Following the rules of safety, six square feet of floor space was allowed for each stu- dent. The enormous lunch line was impressive, but that impres- was of an exasperating na- also sion ture. ' Jim Millen of the class of '42 acted as chairman when our class was officially inducted into Reitz. Within a month after enrolling, our class had shown its social cons- ciousness. Many had joined clubs, participated in and planned other activities. The girls of our class were guests at a big-little sister party. A theme of My Sister and I was carried out with big and little sister silhouettes of various colors pinned on each chair cover. Hundreds of people thronged the Reitz parking lot on the morning of October 31 to view one of the most remarkable sights ever wit- nessed in Evansville. They were gathered there to see the first ship built in the Evansville ship- yards slide down the ways into the waters of the broad Ohio. It was a spectacle hard to believe true. Twelve months previous, the thought of such an event would have seemed ridiculous. A year ago at this time Pearl Harbor had not been bombed. With each high school gridiron season, invariably, football royalty is elected. Bernice Stucki was elected Reitz' 1942 football queen. Nora Lee Anderson, of our class, was maid-of-honor. The boys admired the queen and her at- tendants and the girls were thrilled over the football players and the coronation convertibles. Plans were made for the Victory Corps. This was a war-time vol- unteer youth organization that of- fered practical training for worth- while participation in either the armed forces or on the home front. The former formal custom of the annual Mistletoe Frolic was changed for the first time because of gas rationing and material shortage. Girls wore street length dresses and many couples rode city buses to the dance. Late fall, the ever-wpopular song, White Christmas was first in- troduced to the American public by Bing Crosby. At that time Frankie, Van and Noble Hart were still without a bobble-sox follow- mg. The Mirror staff sponsored a campaign to stop the abuse of the commandment, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Fifty-three Reitz girls were ex- cused from classes for part-time or full-time work in groceries and downtown stores during the 'Christ- mas rush season. These girls vol- unteered for the work to help elim- inate the labor shortage. By the beginning of the second semester we were full fledged high school students. We had experi- enced the thrill of watching foot- ball games on chilly days and ar- guing with students from Central, Bosse and Memorial, dancing and especially formals, clubs, the honor roll, the planning of careers and-many other things. In the first tin-can drive of the war, 25 Reitz boys, together with boys from Memorial, Central and Bosse collected two railroad car- loads of tin cans. Beginning the first of February, meatless days were observed at Reitz every Tuesday for the re- maining school year. Americans were requested to draw their belts tighter. The nation was rationed canned, dried, and frozen foods. A scholastic assembly was given in honor of Reitz students who had attained high scholastic av- erages for their freshman year. The following members of our class were honored: Ruth Aud, Rachel Buchanan, Mary Ann Cot- ton, George Cummings, Dorothy Reitz Bowlfthe stadium which serves as a landmark for out-of-town visitors and as a source of pleasure to citizens of Evansville. It was here our class and alumnae participated in many athletic activities and it was here that fans have thronged for many years and will continue to come in the future.

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,Page 6 THE REITZ MIRROR ' I Senior Edition, 1946 Mrs. Edward Eissler to Serve John Stinehfield As P. T. A. President for 1946-47 tudent Council Mrs. Edward Eissler Mrs. Edward Eissler is the president of the P. T. A. during the school year of 1946--47. Mrs. Herbert Redmon is vice-president, Miss Mary Louise Mueller, treas- urer, and Mrs. Fred Henry, secre- tary. Officers of 1945-46 are as fol- lows: president, Mrs. Gaylord Cato, first vice president, Mrs. A. B. Stephang second vice president, Mrs. Warren Coxg treasurer, Miss Mary Louise Mueller, and secretary, Mrs. Fred Henry. The Reitz Parent-Teacher As- sociation was first formed in April 1919, one year after the high school opened. The organization was first called Patrons Club of Francis Joseph Reitz high school. The first president was M1's. John Bissmaier. The first project to raise funds was a quilt donated by a teacher and raffled off by selling tickets. Mrs. W. A. Smith was the second president. The club purchased a moving picture machine for the school during Mrs. Smith's admin- istration. In 19213, the club adopted its present name. During the years of 1935-316 and 19316-37, a new constitution and by-laws were made. School dances for the stu- dents were held once a month in the gym during 1943-4-4. During 1944-45, the P. T. A. sponsored dances at the U. S. O. Center on Friday nights. The dances were chaperoned by P.T.A. members from Reitz and Central. Average attendance of the dances were between 700 and 800. On November 5, 1945, a Recog- nition Day Program was given in the bowl for the parents of former Reitz students who have been in the armed forces. In 1945-46, the membership was raised to 145 members. The P.T.A. became sponsor of a newly organ- ized Senior Girl Scout troop. An old-fashioned barn dance was given in the gym for Reitz par ents. The successful project of 1945-46 was the continuing of the dances at the U.S.iO. Center. R CONGRATULATIONS ' and BEST WISHES for YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS We appreciate your patronage during this past year and hope to be permitted to serve you and your friends through- out many more years in the future. WOSDWAR DS John Stinchfield, home room 314, was elected Student Council presi- dent, Thursday, May 2, for the next school year. Jeanne Nicholson was elected vice-president, and Rebecca Pinkston, secretary-treas- urer. The nominating committee was composed of the executive council. During the past school-year, the Student Council sponsored the first all-student forum assembly, and due to the success of the pro- gram it will be made an annual affair. Several campaigns and pro- grams toward the betterment and full enjoyment of school life at Reitz were sponsored. Among these were the walk-don't run campaign, clean - up campaign, Kiwanis Will Head Next Year guides, a letter to Mayor Reichert encouraging continuation of school dances in the old C.8zE.I. building and the program for the eighth graders when they visited Reitz. Paul Mehl served as president of the Student Council during the past yearg Warren Cox, vice-presi- dentg and Betty Elmendorf, secre- tary-treasurer. The president of the Student Council must be able to conduct the meeting in the proper way, speak before assemblies, have the initiative to carry on in anything the council might undertake, work in harmony with the home room representatives and take the ut- most interest in school activities. Several Students Here Can Say, My Parents Attended Reitz Too My dad went here, or Mam- ma went to Reitz, are familiar sentences to several Reitz students. Here are some two generation combinations found in this 28- year-old school: Sue Lyons' mother, then Miss Quincie Anne Wilbanks, attended Reitz, graduating in 1931. She was a member of the Girls' Drum corps and a majorette. Sue's father, Ed- ward Lyons, played football, track, baseball, basketball, and was a yell leader at Reitz. Diane Hadley's mother, then Miss Marian Hart, attended Reitz graduating in 1927. She was a member of Strut and Fret. Diane's father, Delmar Hadley, played football, basketball, track, and was a member of Strut and Fret. Ruth Gossman's mother, then Miss Edna Folz, attended Reitz, graduating in 1923. She was a member of Strut and Fret. Jean Dausman's mother, then Miss Dorothy McCurdy, attended ' SCHUTTLER'S MUSICSHOP Complete Line of BAND INSTRUMENTS 18 N. W. Sixth Street DRESS 4 LESS SHOP Formals, Dresses, Men's Suits Resale Exclusive Merchandise Emmarena Pickard 2316 W. Delaware Street Reitz. She was a member of the Girls' Basketball team. Jean's father, Sylvester, attended Reitz graduating in 192-5. He was :1 member of the football and track teams. Pat Moorehead's mother, then Miss Elsie O'Dell attended Reitz graduating in 1925. Shirley Cato's father, Gaylord Cato, attended Reitz graduating in 1924. He was a member of the Reitz band and orchestra. Beverly Henry's mother, attend- ed Reitz and graduated in 1924. She is the former Miss Edna Schmidt. Elaine Morgan's mother, then Miss Mildred Williams, attended Reitz graduating in 1923. She was a member of the Girls' Glee Club and Girls' Basketball team. Bessie Gooch's mother, then Miss Maggie Cates, attended Reitz. She was a member of Strut and Fret and Girls' Drum corps. Yvonne Lockridge's mother, then Marguerite Schaeffer, attended Reitz graduating in 1928. She was a yell leader at Reitz. She also earned a letter in basketball. Men's and Boys CLOTHING SHOES FURNISHINGS SIEGEL'S FOURTH AT LOCUST Manny Siegel, Mgr.

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Pflgea 8 THE REITZ MIRROR Senior Edition, 1946, USO Openin Brought Cheers from tudents Dailey, Jean Da Vault, Martha DeVillez, Joan Hammer, Hazel Harmon, Betty Kanowsky, Ruby Letterman, Doris Lewis, Donald Martin, Paul Mehl, Donald McWil- liams, Mariam Schmitt and Alice Unferferth. We held our first class social event on April 212, during school hours. Dancing to the music of the juke box provided the chief entertainment. One morning, glass and shat- tered window panes were every- where-and it wasn't the result of Halloween or a riot. When an un- expected hail storm hit Evansville on Tuesday, April 2-7, it caused several thousands of dollars of damage. Three hundred and twenty window panes were broken at Reitz. Workers from the school maintenance department were on the school property early the next morning, breaking out the old glass and getting ready to repair the damages. Warm weather of May brought the old desire for the outdoors and less books. Part of the wish was granted and many picnics were held by student groups, clubs and classes. On May 26, after that first im- portant year of academic and war- time social ach-ievement, school was dismissed for the summer. PART Ill. Vacation was over and we trudged back up the hill for our second year of high school. Five new teachers were here to help teach our classes. Mr. Garrett was back after having taught a semester at Stanley Hall grade school. Beth Seiler took over her duties as president of our sophomore class and was introduced to the freshmen of the class of '47 in their induction assembly. The oth- er class officers were Warren Cox, vice-presidentg Archilee Hobgood, secretary, and Bill Rommel, tr-eas- urer. Right after school started sev- eral sophomore boys helped with the harvesting of 150,000--bushel apple crop by attending school four days and picking apples two days a week. Physical fitness classes for all boys were started this year in ac- cordance with the nation-wide phy- sical fitness program for high school boys. All boys were very much delighted with this new class and especially with the new ob- stacle course. Well-some of them were, anyway.. Reitz went all out for the war effort and sold enough war bonds and stamps to purchase five jeeps. Rationing was then in full swing and several sophomore girls had the opportunity to work in the OfPA and OCD offices? Thirteen sophomores were in- ducted into the National Junior Honor Society in an assembly on October 14. The new members were Billy Aud, Ruth Aud, Mary Ann Cotton, Dorothy Dailey, Jean Da Vault, Joan Hammer, Hazel Harmon, Betty Kanowsky, Ruby Letterman, Doris Lewis, Betty Leonard, Jerry Schukraft and Alice Unferferth. Blue and grey sailor caps were given to boys in a pep assembly by the Royal Crown Cola Bottling company. Girls soon took the situ- ation in hand and more girls had little sailor caps than boys. Fol- low this was a snake dance from the auditorium to the gym where the pep assembly was concluded in grand style. Mary Riieber, Nora Lee Ander- son and Susie Folz were atten- dants for the 1944 football queen. The fall play this year was entitled Ever Since Eve. Sopho- mores in the play were Lois Mc- Atee, Archilee Hobgood, Billy Aud, Mary Ann Cotton, Warren Cox, Al Brandau and Laddie Montgom- ery. Halloween rolled around and ev- e1'yone donned his witch or clown costume and dashed off to trick or treat. More fun! Biology was required this year, if you didn't take physical science. Not only were we compelled to hold snakes in Biology but there was the operation day. Every student had the opportunity Qwho wanted it?J to take a pair of scis- sors and make an incision on some poor little frog who was reeking with formaldehyde. If you hadn't fainted by then you took little eye brow tweezers and proceeded to pull out the innards. We found a cross section of a frog's eyeball very interesting. In the Annual Winter Concert, Elaine Morgan, sophomore, played a marimba solo. Shirley Cato, sophomore, was maid of honor to basketball queen Edna Mae Tieman. Susie Folz and Mary Rieber were two of the at- tendants. Five more sophomores became members of the National Junior Honor Society in March. They were Archie Hobgood, Valada Koenig, Cuma Lamont, Betty Pemberton and Alice Maidlow. Five others of our class in the seventh AlleCity Band concert this year. These students were Shirley Cato, Paul Mehl, Billy Aud, Rose- mary Reller and Donald Deutch. Mrs. Gaylord Cato, Shirley's mother, was elected president of the P.T.A. for the coming year. The USO opened on May 19 tc the joy of Evansville high school students. Little did we know the fun and good times we were to have there-all the basketball and football victory celebrations. The few remaining days before vaca- tion went rapidly, but we still con- tinued to see all our old school chums at the USO every Friday night. ' PART III. Late summer we came back as 321 juniors and more important than ever because we were high and mighty upperclassmen - ri- valed only by seniors. After rushing about for a day or so, as is customary with the beginning of the school-year, we settled down to a long semester of learnin-g and living. We found that during the sum- mer months Reitz had blossomed out in the most becoming of colors -Reitz had been painted. All the window facings had been painted a pure startling white. The doors that opened the halls of our dear old Alma. Mater were sporting a HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS to our SENIORS OF 1946 r With a goal in view And perseverance backing you, A pathway of success will Surely accompany you. -l REITZ P.T.A. new gray paint. The air-intake guard and the mail box were a brilliant green and even the fire- escapes had been refreshed with black paint. Besides having somethinlg new in freshmen and paint, Reitz had five new faculty members: Miss Eloise Blanford, Mrs. Dorothy Kreipke, Miss Ethel Nantz, Cecil Couts and Stuart Guthrie. Two veterans enrolled .at Reitz to resume their studies with our class. Noble fthe swoon boy of Reitzj Hart had served overseas with the famous First Division of the Marines and Billy Frick had served with the 591s-t Airborne Di- vision. With the beginning of curricu- lar and extra-curricular activities, the names of boys who were to play on the Panther football squad were announced. The boys were Donald Dezember, Jim Wolf, Pat McCaffry, Bob Freeman, Archie Owen, Bill Rommel, Jim Witt, George Ruedlinger, Clarence Mor- tis, Carl Burdette, Jack Siebeking, Jerry Shukraft. Bob Stahlschmidt, Charles Hatcher, Leroy Covey, Jack Naas, Paul Peters, Jack Miller, Russel Butler, Warren Cox and Raymond Jameson. Our yell leaders prepared for the grid season along with the football team. The new yell lead- ers for the year were Dorothy Scherer, Betty Todd, Jeanne Nich- olson, Ralph Gill and Chuck New- comb. War was still continuing and the call to arms was given to girls. Many Evansville high school girls heeded the call and joined the Civil Air Patrol, which was a military ground cours.e in aviation. Instructions were given the girls every Thursday evening. The 9 o'clock incident will be remembered by those affected on the evening of the first and last 9 o'clock football game of the 1944 football season. Students without cars, inevitable jalopies or other means of transportation, were left stranded in town, as most of the buses had quit running by the close of the .game-many waited in a large group for their chance to ride home in a packed taxi or as a last resort walked. It was fun though, getting to stay out until the early hours of the morning and with a plausible excuse! Climaxing the gridiron season, the football royalty was elected. Kathryn Palmer was elected queeng Mary Reiber was maid of honor. Kathryn was crowned by acting captain George Ruedlinger. The eight lovely attendants were Mary Ann Steinhauser, Kathryne Jeffries, Nora Lee Anderson, Helen Akin, Dorothy Grubbs, Jeanne Nichols-on, Shirley Cato and Susie Folz. Preceding the actual presiden- tial election of 1944, Reitz seniors and juniors voted in a school pres- idential poll. Franklin D. Roose-