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

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Rocky Remembers Nuclear Debate 1983-84 was a sliver of time caught forever between the unbear¬ able sweltering weeks of late Au¬ gust and the frozen snowbound streets of January sealed with the fresh fragrance of spring and graduation. The events highlighted on these pages were only current events to this year’s grads but will be history to their children. School began with August’s swel¬ tering heat and humidity which lasted for three weeks. Then before you knew it the ground was covered with snow by mid November. Rocky students got used to it though as they had to either drive or walk through it for over two and a half months. The summer saw a month of 90° weather which at one time topped 103°. December brought icy north¬ ern winds with temperatures fall¬ ing to -20°. This school year saw temperatures with a 120° variance. Weather - Year Of Extremes Nuclear power was viewed by many as the promise of the future in the ’70’s. But in the early ’80’s that power source came under increas¬ ing attack as its safety was ques¬ tioned. Jackson Thrills Michael Jackson’s music could very well follow Rocky graduates throughout their entire lifetime. An established star for over a decade, 1983-84 was an extremely success¬ ful period for Jackson. Paratrooper John Nash of nearby Cambridge gave world news a local flavor as he’s shown on Newsweek’s cover after being airlifted into Grenada to remind the world that the Caribbean was still an American sphere of influence. What was the role of the United States as the keeper of world peace to be. The answer was not found in Korea or in Vietnam. The nation’s role in Lebanon brought no answers either, only new questions. 26 World And Local News

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Todd Hickman wonders just how many more students Mr. Nyman wants. Bob Fout doesn ' t know whether to collect at¬ tendance or file notes. Mrs. Narske will tell him. Working For Fun ... And Profit Rocky students LOVED to stay busy. For some the jobs were after school affairs completely seperate from their six hours of class work. Dave Reed was at Geifmans, Jim Moore at Bishops, Jeff Bowden at the Cinemas and Beth Bell at The Foot Locker were only a few among many. Sometimes it was difficult to keep their two lives seperate, but they managed. Other Rocky pupils donated or volunteered their time to help in the swimming pool, counselor’s office, dean’s complex and the truant of¬ fice. Some who were not pictured include Brian Roberts, Tiffany Col¬ lins and Debbie Rumley. The school deeply appreciated their help and assistance. Beth Bohr decides against having the first Angie Peschang waits for Ms. Thul to write out a pass, piece of Mr. Reid’s morning pastry. Office Helpers 25

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Raiders-Orioles Space 1984 Unemployment Olympics 1984 Black Leaders The strength of the ballot boxes brought new leaders to political power. A black mayor was elected in Philadelphia. Harold Washington became Chicago’s first black mayor. Jesse Jackson ran as a serious candi¬ date in the democratic presidential primaries. “Where’s the beef’ was a “fun” Wendy’s commercial. There was nothing funny about “Where’re the jobs” as employment declined and periodic plant shut-downs took place at both Deere and Farmall. There was a brief glimmer of hope as both companies began to recall laid-off workers. Doll Mania Brooke Amanda, class of ’97, holds her Odetta Jenny tightly, un¬ aware of the craziness which had created the doll’s popularity and scarcity. Elections 1984 1984 was an election year. Presi¬ dent Reagan announced he would run again and visited his hometown of Dixon, Illinois. There, he could momentarily put the pressing daily problems of unemployment, budget deficits, arms’ control, inflation and the Middle East behind him. World And Local News 27