Seneca Vocational School - Chieftain Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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On December first, Mr. Benjamin C. Willis, recently appointed Superinten- dent of Schools, visited us and indicated his interest in vocational education and his approval of Seneca. We still mourn the loss of our applause meter, the only one in a Buffalo school. It blew up one day when assembly technicians George Gushue and Richard Hathaway were not looking. The first Seneca-sponsored open dance to be held in many years was held on December 30, 1950. We shall long cherish the memory of it, and of Mr. Glass' gay attire. Other newly created activities were the Disc Club under the guidance of Mr. Langworthy, the Monday evening swimming classes at Bennett High School with Mr. Arabas directing them, and the entrance of our chess club into a high school league started by the Queen City Chess Club. Soon these past four years will be but a memory, but as each passing year takes us increasingly distant from the happy life at Seneca, we shall find that we treasure more highly the memories of our friends, our teachers, and our school. 14

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emlofz 66444 645 S we look back, it seems impossible that four years at Seneca have passed. In our hearts will remain treasured memories of the many events crowded into that brief period. Our earliest recollections of high school life are of the annexes where we spent our freshman year. Secluded as we were, we were happy and busy, although rather crowded. We could not take an active part in the main building activities, but we had extracurricular activities of our own, including an extensive intra- mural sports program. One of our boys, Arthur Varnado, made the varsity basketball team, and brought fame to the usually forgotten freshman class. In our sophomore year we came with Mr. Engel to the main building. In October the class was organized, and we elected Arthur Varnado president, Eugene Hejmanowski, first vice-president, Archie Lickers, second vice-pres- identg Wayne Keller, secretary, and Richard Nola, treasurer. The winning of the Yale Cup by the Seneca basketball team was celebrated by a two and a half hour victory assembly with the Yale Alumni Committee as our guests. We were especially proud of Robert Adams, who was among those honored. Our skating parties, held at the Arena Roller Rink, highlighted the sophomore year social calendar. As juniors we re-elected Arthur Varnado, president, Archie Lickers and Eugene Hejmanowski, first and second vice-presidents, and Henry Iones, treas- urer. Robert Adams, Thomas Stuff, Harold Brady, John Denk, and Raymond Emerson were sergeants-at-arms, newly created positions. James Gatza and Robert Smith represented the juniors on the High School Forum of the Air. They discussed how motion pictures affect teen-agers. March 17, 1950, was a day worthy of note, for after weeks of noisy preparation, the Seneca Band made its radio debut over station WBEN. A dancing class was inaugurated at Bennett High School on Friday evenings. About seventy-five boys were in regular at- tendance. The most celebrated event of the year was an unexpected but happily received vacation made necessary by the coal strike. The school year 1950-1951 began wider the guidance of our new principal, Mr. LaVerne H. Engel. The long-awaited renovation of the building brought painters, plasterers, and carpenters into our classrooms. When the confusion and dust subsided, we were aware of newly-painted colorful walls, soundproof- ing of the auditorium, new curtains on the stage, and a new guidance office. Senior class officers were Robert Smith, president, Henry Ringle, vice- president, Robert Brown, secretaryg and George Arthur, treasurer. Iames Gatza was appointed editor of the CHIEFTAIN and the WARRIOR. Our football team brought fame to the school by snapping Kensington's winning streak of twenty-two games. We celebrated this feat with a three hour victory assembly. Among the team members honored were seniors Thomas Stuff, Casey Nowak, Donald Papke, Henry Ringle, and the Schroeder twins. Five of the first six boys on the basketball team were seniors, Robert Adams, William Roberts, Donald Satterly, Arthur Varnado, and Irwin Abt. 13

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R. THOMAS F. GLASS, with his spark- ling Irish wit, is largely responsible for the success of the senior class. He has been a senior class sponsor for three years and his splendid work is deserving of our ut most appreciation. FAMA SEMPER VIVAT! R. LAWRENCE A. HANRATTY, co- 9 sponsor of the senior class, continual- ly tries to bewilder us with his large vocab- ulary. He is well-known in Western New York for his work with various local dra- matic groups, and has used his theatrical ex- perience to great advantage in improving our assembly programs. President of the Class of '51 is witty Robert Smith. Commonly known as Buckethead , Bob is one of Seneca's leading honor roll stu- dents. For three years he has been a member of the WARRIOR staff. This year he is the assistant managing editor of the CHIEFTAIN. A class representative in his sophomore and junior years, Bob has also been a member of the Science Club. It is very difficult to find an activity in which he has not participated. The Senior Class is proud to have Bob Smith as its top executive. The Vice-president of the class of '51, Henry Ringle, is best known around Seneca for his athletic abil- ities. Little Hank , as he is known by his machinist friends, was on the varsity track and football teams during his junior and senior years. He was also active in the intramural baseball and basketball program. Little Hank was active in the bowling club, and was a member of the literary staff of the CHIEFTAIN. Sports minded Henry's ever-pres- ent smile and genial manner have made him one of the most popular seniors. Robert Brown, Class Secretary, is active in many fields, BB played interclass basketball, foot- ball, and baseball in his undergrad- uate years and, in his Senior year, captained the cross country team and managed the varsity basketball team. BB has alsobeen active in the glee club, the WARRIOR staff, and other extracurricular activities. He is Managing Editor of the 1951 CHIEFTAIN. It is seldom we find a boy as versatile as Bob Brown. George K. Arthur,Treasurer of the Senior Class, is well knownto his many friends as King Arthur , He has been responsible tor many of the photographs in the CHI EFTAIN. In his junior year, George managedthe var- sity basketball team and was active in class organization as arepresen- tative. He has been active in inter- class sports throughout his high school career. George is a popular, good-natured fellow, and is very co- o erative with ever one exce tfresh- P Y P men. The King is one of the most talented photographers in the school. 15 1