Rock Island High School - Watchtower Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

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Cha ffisfvry of fha 611155 nf '47 The class of '47 has finally come to the end of its quest' for facts and fun. In September, 1944, we came to Rocky High as 601 green sophomores. Now, in June, 1947, we take leave of the old alma mater as 378 wise and experi- enced seniors. It has meant a lot to us, these years of work- ing and playing, and now, with our cherished diplomas in our hands, we leave Rocky High to enter the new world of jobs and colleges. Remember back in '44? Charles Delcourt was elected president of our sophomore classg Wally Culp, vice-president, and Jackie Tyler, secretary. Jerome Dasso, Bob Eberts, and Walt Stewart made the varsity football team. And Keith Fryxell and Bud Forbes played varsity basketball. That was the year the sophomore problems classes were started. It was also the year Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected for a fourth term. fRemember those history class arguments?j And don't forget that happy day in May when the war in Europe came to an end. Or that sad day in the same month when the Funden closed. Then in the fall of '45 we started our junior year. Our class officers were Walt Stewart, president, Jerome Dasso, vice-president, and Jackie Tyler, secretary. The CYC opened that fall too. Jack Burgess was the only junior in the cast of the Dramatic club play, The House Beau- tiful. But in the speech class plays the junior class was well represented. Marie Reno was the only junior on the debate team that year. Jerome Dasso captured the state champion- ship for wrestling that year, and Chuck Stau- duhar was the track champ. We had three jun- iors on the first string of the varsity basket- ball team: Keith Fryxell, Eddie Anderson, and George Anderson. Bud Forbes did a lot of swell playing too. The outstanding juniors on the varsity football team were Walt Stewart, Jack Collins, and Jerome Dasso. Remember the day we slaved through those junior tests to determine how dumb we were? Junior Miss was our class play, with Jo Bolin, Deloris Marsh,lJane Osborne, Marilyn Wald, and Jack Burgess in the leads. Vivian Riederman showed outstanding talent when she won first place in the declamation contest. The Glee club had its share in stage life, presenting Pirates of Penzance, in which many juniors participated. The spring-semester Crimson Crier was put out by juniors. The top executives were Mary- belle Jones and Keith Garrity. They were backed by an able staff. One of the biggest honors any junior could receive was to be chosen junior marshall for the graduation ceremonies. Jackie Tyler, Mari- lyn Wald, Jim Aversing, and Art Whalen were the lucky ones. Those were swell years, weren't they? Then, in the fall of '46, remember how good we felt to be the great seniors, how we looked down at the sophomores and asked ourselves,

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Scuivr Ofieers ROSEMARY RUDD, ARTHUR WHALEN, JAMES AVERSING

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Sruivr ffisfrfry Were we ever that little? So now let us look over our last year-and it has been quite a year. Art Whalen was our president, while Jim Aversing and Rosemary Rudd held the other two offices. Homecoming, one of the big events of the year, was reigned over by Jackie Tyler and Walt Stewart. Their court consisted of Eleanor Anderson, Marilyn Wald, Jim Aversing, and George Anderson. The school band blossomed out that year with a set of new uniforms. The fall semester of The Crimson Crier was taken over by seniors. It was headed by Dave Walzem and Marilynn Nordstrom. Our first-string football team was made up entirely of seniors. Remember how Mel Hodge kicked that extra point in the Davenport-Rock Island game? That got him the nickname The Toe. Jerry Kettering, Bonnie Thompson, and Pat Mahary did a swell job of cheerleading at all the games. This was the year that brought us our first state championship. It was the wrestling team that won it. Our basketball team was pretty hot. We cap- tured the Northwest conference championship. Of course no one will forget how thrilled we were when June Haver visited Rock Island and came to Rocky High for one of our assemblies. I Remember Mama was the Dramatic club play. Its cast was largely made up of seniors. During the Christmas vacation, the football boys sponsored a formal dance, the f'Snow Ball.', It was held at Watch Tower Inn and was a great success. Remember how proud we were of Helen Pe- terson when she won the D. A. R. award? Everyone felt she really deserved it. Shortly after that, the Senior Honor Roll was announced. Marie Reno was valedictorian and Jack Burgess was salutatorian. Marie's average, by the way, was the highest any graduate of Rocky High has had in the last ten years. The Glee Club gave 1'On the Air? with Mary Bennett and Kenny Koch in the leads. 4'Our Hearts Were Young and Gay was presented as the senior class play. The leading parts were played by Janis Schrage and Marilyn Wald. Our last prom in the spring was a wonderful affair, but for us seniors it held a note of sad- ness as we realized it was our farewell high school dance. Remember how we practiced marching for the big night? We felt so dignified in our caps and gowns. And remember Class night with its will and prophecy? And last but not least, re- member Commencement? We know there were tears in many eyes that night. And so we came to the close of our twelfth year. The last three were pretty wonderful while they lasted-which didn't seem long. Good-by, Rocky High. We hate to leave you.