St Thomas High School - Retrospect Thomasonian Yearbook (Braddock, PA)

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31 just to see him faint! But the sophomores had their sad moments, too. Let me pause awhile to recall the day when Oscar left to go to a better place. Oscar was the turtle that fell (flipped?) behind the radiator in biology class. I was then ready to begin my third year of guardianship. This proved to be a very busy year for me. It seemed that every time I flapped my wings, they were going somewhere or doing something! They began the year with a bakesale for the benefit of the prom. I will always remember the day that Anita Groark and “her gang” pushed A P shopping carts down streets in the process of delivering their goodies. The hard work and enthusiasm behind this, and the other activities for the prom, made the big event of the junior year a grand success! As the year progressed, several awards were won by various students of the class. Certificates for above average achievements in spelling, typing, and shorthand were awarded; Chuck Beuley became seventy-five dollars richer for his science project, and earned the nickname of “Diamond Jim” Beuley. (Moral: hard work PAYS off!!!) Included in the school work for the year was the writing of autobiographies. This as- signment revealed many interesting facts about several of the juniors. It also earned Richard Baker the immortal initials, “L. B.” An assembly to explain the Church Unity Octave was presented this year. It proved to be both entertaining and instructive. I particularly enjoyed the scene concerning the conversion of Saint Paul. I think “L. B.” remembers, too! Calmly viewing their eagerness, I could tell that they were ready for their final year. But this last year was quite different from what they had expected. When they found out they were to spend their last year in a different school building, they all pitched in to help move everything to Homestead. I can still see Cissie Farren, Kathy Heil and Nikki Kush-ner scrubbing and polishing to get our temporary home ready for us. Finally all was ready and Saint Thomas High School invaded Saint Mary’s. The new locale really turned the tables on A1 McDermott. He couldn’t be late any more. He either made the bus or stayed home. Such is life! The Class of ’62 spent their senior year the same way they had spent the previous three in hard work and play. The year was marked by the successful completion of two publications. The Thomas-Elte THERE COES ED NOW! “Honest Abe” McKinney, and Stanley help Carolyn and Barb campaign.

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30 My Class-In Retrospect My name is Sixtee Too; I am the guardian angel of the Class of 1962. It has' been my duty to watch over this class since it started out as a freshman class in September of 1958. Let me take you through the years as I reminisce. I first took charge of them when they were initiated on September 26, 1958. This was a day to remember for all, but so was everyday. The freshman girls and boys were the talk of the school that year. I can remember seeing Carol Valkanas on the stage trying to lose weight with the hula-hoop. Around this time, too, Donald Heiber started his experiments with plant hormones. Under my wings, he received many awards. Among these were a Superior Rating at North Catholic and a Second Place at Junior Academy of Science. As the freshmen became acquainted with the various functions of the school, they eagerly anticipated the time when they, too, could perform in the many Spanish skits they had witnessed. Another annual affair was the election of a Valentine Queen by votes of pennies. Their class was well represented by Janice Halloran and Arlene Wisniewski. The Class of 1962 and I were united by many other events that took place in this wonderful year. Mighty sophomores, yes, that’s what they were all right; and no sooner did they gain that title than they proved themselves worthy of it. Very few of them will forget October 30, 1959—the day Dale Devine swung the mighty gavel, and the jury gave their merciless verdicts. That was Initiation Day, 1959! Rich Cavalik especially remembers the pleasure he received when he broke an egg on the head of a defenseless, frightened freshie. The fifties brought with them the popular swing towards the bandstand program. My wards weren’t going to stand by and let everyone swing without them. I can remember that cold rainy day when they all piled into Mr. Dawson’s faithful bus and headed for WTAE and Dick Blanchard’s Bandstand! In this year an addition was added to the court of the Valentine Queen— a King! Everyone hoped John Conroy would be elected NO SHORT-CUTS, PETE Andera and Bridget look on as Joe restrains Pete from taking a short-cut to the cafeteria.

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0 0-0 0 I’M GETTING STACEFRICHT Tn i m § — 4— — Gene and Baker assembly scenery, while Ginny straightens Carol’s costume. under the co-editorship of Mary Ann O’Malley and Maureen Ridge went to press monthly. Kathleen O’Pat and Marian Modrak fostered the annual publication of the senior memory book, the Thomasonian. Research Paper I THOUGHT IT WAS A CHUBBY CHECKER ALBUM Sister Fidelis confers with Terry as Mike and Stan prepare the record player. is a phrase synonymous with seniors, and my seniors were no exception. They responded enthusiastically to the call and John Fallon and Glenn Cummings even reserved a table in Carnegie Library’s Technology Room. Nevertheless, they all had their papers in on time with no fatalities along the way. This was also the year of the famous “New York Invasion. Anita Groark and Carol Pricener visited the famous city, and the Empire State Building hasn't been the same since. My wards had a busy senior year of tests, projects, games, pep rallies, tests, dances, parties and more tests. But finally the big day arrived— graduation. This was a sad day for me as well as for them, for it was time for each to go his separate way, and my job was finished. I returned to heaven for a rest (heaven knows I needed it), but I still watch ovei each of them as he travels life’s road, and I hope t meet them all again when they travel the last road— the road to eternity. (I would like to add a “thank you note.’ Thanks all the priests and sisters who helped me guide the cl of ’62 through their four years at St. Thomas. S.