Southwestern High School - Prospector Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

Page 13 text:

Class History.. By Delores Cocciolone and William Holland SCENE: Corner Drug Store TIME: A week before graduation SPEAKERS: Delores Cocciolone and Bill Holland Bill is sitting at a table talking with a friend as Delores walks in and goes over to the magazine counter. Bill's friend says good-bye and leaves. Bill saunters over to Delores. Bill: Hi, Delores! Delores: Oh, hello, Bill! Bill: Are you going to get a magazine? Delores: Yes, but I don't know which one to get. Bill: Aw, forget about the magazine. Let's sit down and get something. Delores: Mmm.O.K.! They sit down at the table. Waiter comes over. This waiter looks vaguely familiar- Why, it's Joe Huszarik! Waiter: Hiya, kids! W hate ha gonna have? Bill: Two zombie sodas. Waiter: What flavor? Bill: Peach. Delores: Blueberry. Waiter exits. Bill: Well, here we are ready to graduate! It seems like yes- terday that we came to Southwestern. Yes, I can still remem- ber our freshman year. We had three record groups then - Mr. Strohmer, Mr. Morel, and Sgt. Theil were the homeroom teachers. Did you know we were the first to have home rooms consisting of both boys and girls? Delores: Yes, I can remember everything clearly, too. I re- member how we students got a big kick out of the Student-Fac- ulty Basketball Game, especially when Mr. Allen came out in his red underwear--full of mothholes and a sign across his chest Superman!” Bill: Speaking of sports, we sure were proud and thrilled when we played our first reserve football game. Waiter comes in. Waiter: Here ya are, two zombie sodas. Thata be 42?. Bill: (Takes out a dollar bill from his wallet. Hands It to the waiter. Waiter starts to give change...) Oh, never mind, keep the change! Waiter: (Exits looking pleasantly surprised.) Delores: What about the time before the Christmas holidays when Mr. Strohmer's homeroom and Mr. Morel's homeroom tried to out-do each other by seeing who could decorate their room the best and have the more attractive Christmas tree. Bill: Yeah, that was a lot of fun! Then in the tenth grade our homerooms were split. There were two girls’ records and one boys'. The record teachers were Miss Gurgul, Mrs. Sweeney, and Mr. Strohmer that year. Delores: Gosh, remember how petrified we were when we had to have those T.B. X-Rays? You'd think we were being sent to the gas chamber! Bill: Boy! That was the year when WE won the Little Brown Jug from Western 25-0! Delores: Then we went into the eleventh grade. How time flies — Sgt. Theil left Southwestern to go to Japan and Sgt. Dickinson replaced him. Bill: r 11 never forget the Lettermen's Dance that year. It was a lot of fun and a big success. Those of us who won our letters then felt like real big shots. Delores: Then came our first class day - - 11A Day. Boy, were we happy and proud! Bill: We wore yellow carnations with blue and gold ribbons. Delores: It was a treat to see the boys wearing suits and ties to school for a change! Bill: Ha! What about you girls trying to walk around in your high heels! How funny! The next Monday you were all limping and had bandages on your blisters. Delores: Yeah, we were really coming up in the world! Bill: Before we knew it, wewereout of the 11A and in the midst of the 12B. Class officers were elected and Elmer Kreszyn came out on top to lead the class. He certainly did a great job! Naturally he got a little help from his executive board: Dorothy Thibos, vice-president; Mary Sopko, secretary; and Don Waltnski, keeper of the treasury! Delores: That semester we made our first big money for our treasury because the 12B-12A basketball game was a hit! Bill: 42 to 35. What a score! And we (12B's then) had to be the losers. What luck! We were in need of some quick first- aid! Delores: Speaking of first-aid, we were the very first class to have a course in first-aid. Bill: And didn't we all love it! All the kids would come to school In slings just to prove they were learning. Delores: We were the first and last class to master the art and application of tourniquets! Bill: Not to change the subject.....but----wasn't it great fun putting on our variety show? Delores: We were really gone then!! We staged it in night club style. What an Ingenious bunch we were! Thanks to Mrs. Sweeney's guidance and efforts. Bill: Everything we did was successful! Delores: Our dance--the J-Hop, was terrific. Gene Sherwood the T. V. star was the vocalist with the Wayfarers, who supplied the lilting rhythms. Bill: Then 12B Class Day came along........Delores Koy head- ed the flower committee. So we had yellow tea roses with blue and gold ribbons. Delores: If I’m not mistaken, that was a nice sunny warm day! Bill: Yep, and Mr. Draper let us go outside during record period to take pictures. And that was the first time any class was allowed to do that. Delores; We proved that we were responsible citizens too. Remember Margaret Zazaian was a bang-up hit that day! Bill: Yeah, she fell down the steps! Delores: One thing led to another. Charles Buckshi and Mary Sopko were selected toaccept the pick and spade from the 12A's. Bill: Then summer vacation called us away from our studies! Delores: Yes, but we couldn't wait to return in the fall. Bill: Boy, we were coming in on the home stretch! We were 12A's now! Delores: We were so happy to learn we had two wonderful people to sponsor us, Miss Gurgul and Mr. Strohmer. They did an admirable job, didn't they? BUI: No question about it! Elmer also did a repeat job as president of the class. He did an even better job this time. Delores: Don’t neglect those poor souls serving in other offices: Gene DePriest as vice-president; Mary Sopko as secretary; and Ed Sash, treasurer. Bill: What a wonderful dance we had! ... Blue Autumn, we called it. Delores: Autumn? Well--------maybe----- Mother Nature pre- sented us with a blanket of snow that night! But it was another success! Bill: And our class play-------that comedy-fantasy, Rest Assured. Delores: As usual Mr. Morel directed the play as only Mr. Morel can direct in his own inimitable way! Next to South Pacific we were best. Bill: I wonder if James Chandler wiU ever shed that Italian accent he perfected for the show? Delores: It seems to me we've neglected an important segment of our organization, the Lettermen! Bill: Oh, no. We couldn't possibly forget THEM. (He-men that we are!) Delores: A big gang of you pulled through with those senior letters. Bill: Charles Buckshi, Joe Rice, Dave Alvis, Herman Marshall, Joe Huszarik, Brad Boggames, Don Brierly, Walter Wright. Julius Mikus, John Zago, Kenneth Terry. Ed Sash. JackWright A1 Forini, Andrew Ferrans, Andy Gilford, Elmer Kreszyn, Gene DePriest, Dan Walinski, and, of course, yours truly. Delores: Four years------from children to young adults. Who would have thought it? ! Bill: We all get a bit sentimental around this time. Now Class Day is here. Delores: We had fun in school. The things we did, the friends we met-----how can we forget? Bill: Before we burst into tears.... let's head for home.... After all.. .we have one more week of high school before we have to face the world.

Page 12 text:

Valedictory... A Message from Nancy Kachadoorian Valedictorian Today marks the completion of another chapter in our lives. This chapter is a memorable one. It is filled with pages of fond memories never to be forgotten. It is strange and unfortunate that only when we must depart from something do we realize how much it means to us. Hence, we find it very difficult to leave, for this also means that we are leaving a way of life.” We must enter into patterns of different shapes and accept many new responsibilities. This is hard to do; but we must learn to orient ourselves easily and smoothly as possible, for the fond experiences we dislike leaving are only a preview of the joys to come, if we have the will to follow our ambitions. Let us set our goal at a reasonable height. Aim at it with unfailing determination and perseverance, so we can achieve success in whatever we undertake. Although we may fall back- ward over steps previously taken on the steep mountain to suc- cess, we will find that the top of the mountain will be covered with golden pastures that reap rich harvests. Some of us may excel in mechanical skill, reasoning power, excellent memories, musical and artistic talents; but if we are not at the head of a class now, do not let discouragement stand in our way, for with time, things constantly change. Therefore, if we have the will, we can excel in our field of endeavor. We can do it if we work atit--workat it with honesty, determination, and zeal. Many obstacles lie in our path. Can we overtake these set- backs and rise above them to our goals? To you, Graduates of Southwestern High School, I leave the answer. A message from Marie Petzke Salutatorian Knowing is the measure of the man. By how much we know, so much we are. That is a good thought to keep in mind as we close our high school years. This is not the end of our education as so many of us §eem to think. It is only the beginning. Some of us will go on to college, others will go into the business world, but our learning should not stop with a high school or college diploma. We are again on the brink of another war, for the people of the world have yet to capture the wisdom, understanding, and tolerance necessary for perpetual peace. If only we could strive for and achieve an unbiased, well-rounded education, we will have accomplished something our forefathers have been unable to do. Some people live and learn while others just live. If every day we could conscientiously try to learn something, no matter how small, and to learn with an open mind - then we will have become scholarly. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, A scholar is the favor- ite of heaven and earth, the excellency of his country; the hap- piest of men. His duties lead him directly into the holy ground where other men’s aspirations only point. His successes are occasions of the purest joy to all men. Eyes is he to the blind; feet is he to the lame.” a Marie Petzke Salutatorian Nancy Kachadoorian Valedictorian CLASS MOTTO Knowledge is the treasure, but practice is the key to it. CLASS FLOWER White carnations with blue and gold ribbons. CLASS SPONSORS Miss Gurgul and Mr. Strohmer Salutatory

Page 14 text:

Presentation of the Pick . . . By Charles Buckshi This pick represents the high standards and ideals we, the graduating class of January 1952, have striven to reach. May you, the future seniors, find successful results in your endeavors to.maintain these standards. This ribbon bedecked symbol of learning, culture, and good citizenship is now offered to you, the seniors of tomorrow, to use as your guide toward success. In accordance with Southwestern tradition I am greatly honored to present this pick to you the seniors of June 1952. Presentation of the Spade . . . By Mary Sopko Thirty years ago this spade broke the soil on which Southwestern High School now stands. Since that time it has been the tradition for the gradu- ating seniors to present this emblem of inspir- ation to the on-coming seniors. On this memorable day we add our colors to those of preceding classes and present this spade to the graduating class of June 1952. To you 12-B's--graduates of tomorrow --we heartily wish success. May you uphold the ideals and the spirit of friendliness and good sportman- ship of which Southwestern is proud. Acceptance of the Pick . . . By Anita Vieceli As representative of the June 1952 class I accept this historic pick from you - the class of January 1952 with honor and humility. We fully understand the significance of this treasured pick and the responsibility which soon will be placed upon our shoulders. The burden will be a weighty one and it is our desire to ful- full our duties as successfully as you have. To all of you we offer our heartfelt congrat- ulations and express our warmest wishes for your future happiness. Good luck, graduates! Acceptance of the Spade . . . V, By George Pipper It is with deepest gratitude that I accept this spade. We, the graduates of June 1952, only hope that we can prove to be worthy of the honor before us. We will do our utmost to retain the standards, ideals, and traditions of this school - our high school. We will try to do as good a job as our predecessors. We realize that we have learned more than just academic subjects. We have been taught how to think as free individuals —which is so import- ant in today's world. We have been taught how to get along with all peoples. We have been taught how to be better citizens — better human beings. We know that initiative, reliability, and de- termination are necessary qualities in whatever paths of endeavor we take in the future. This spade will guide us during our final period of high school and on through life. In behalf of the 12-B class, I congratulate all of you on the fine job you have done at South- western. May you have the best of luck and success in the future.