Sturgis High School - Sturgensian Yearbook (Sturgis, MI)

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SENIORS CLASS HISTORY When a vivacious group of boys and girls in¬ vaded the halls of Sturgis High School in 1932, the history of the distinguished class of ’3 7 had begun. Possessing that pep common to all youngsters, the seventh graders succeeded in making the rou¬ tine of classes a bit more lively. When promoted to the eighth grade, however, they were slightly subdued. Class parties afforded fun and enjoyment each year. At the beginning of the ninth grade, Virginia Myers was elected class president, and was assisted in her duties by James Hamilton, Arthur Evers, and Fred Robinson. Miss Reusch and Mr. Borgerding were chosen to supervise the class. A scavenger hunt was held at the annual party. In the tenth grade, Richard Runyan was elected to lead the class, with the help of Harry Laws, Eunice Brouse, and Susanna McBride. Miss Wiles and Mr. Starring were appointed as sponsors. A candy and hot dog sale was held to contribute to the funds in the treasury. This year the class was well represented in music, athletics, forensics, and various other school events. In the eleventh grade Mrs. Seitz and Mr. Starring were our sponsors and we elected the following of¬ ficers. Richard Freeman, president; Guy Turner, vice-president; Francis Stevenson, treasurer; Wanda June Crane, secretary; Harry Laws, Sturgensian representative. CLASS We, the Senior Class of 193 7, of the city of Stur- gis, St. Joseph County, and State of Michigan, be¬ ing of the age of wisdom and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and not acting under undue influence, or under coercion of any person, do here¬ by make, publish and declare this to be our last Will and Testament. 1, Francile Baer, do bequeath my ability to talk in endless volumes to Gertrude Ammerman. I, Gertrude Beall, do hereby will mv heart to Harold Niles. 1, Lucile Borgert, do will and bequeath my friend¬ ly smile and manner to Esther Schafer. By sponsoring dances after basketball games, and having a baked goods sale, we enlarged our treas¬ ury considerably. A tangled, but unfolding, com¬ edy, titled, “Your Money or Your Wife,” was successfully presented as our class play, under the direction of Mr. Volpel. A colorful J-Hop de¬ picted the gayeties of a modern ballroom. The eventful senior year arrived at last, and Paul Griffeth was elected as our class president. Kathleen Kahmann, Roger Lake, and Francis Stev¬ enson were his assistants, and Mrs. Seitz and Mr. Starring were again the sponsors. The realistic senior play, “Heart Trouble,” which was capably directed by Mr. Starring, proved a notable achieve¬ ment. The ciass of 1 93 7 is conspicuous in many ways. It has an abundance of excellent scholars, athletes, orators, and musicians. With keen but friendly competition, amiable cooperation, and efficient di¬ rection of officers and sponsors, a most successful high school career was ended. But on the con¬ trary, the history of the class is really beginning, and only time will tell the indellible mark on society that follows the effective training of high school. What a miracle it would be if we could predict the real history! For who knows but what someday we’ll again meet and be able to claim a tiny spoke in the wheel of greatness. WILL 1, Helen Britton, do will my title of “best- dressed girl” to Dorothy Janca, who is already rapidly attaining that distinction. To Lillian Purdy, I, Wanda June Crane, be¬ queath my vagabond spirit. I, Lucile Creamer, do will all the trials and tribulations of my Senior year to my beloved sister, Marceil. I, Phyllis Hill, do hereby will and bequeath my shining blonde hair to Thelma Monroe—no doubt the combination will cause Raphael to turn over in his grave. I, Delores Hrdina, do leave my commercial

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SENIORS SALUTATORY To our parents, faculty, Board of Education, citizens of Sturgis, and fellow-students we extend our cordial greetings. By means of the invariable guidance of our par¬ ents and the unfaltering instruction of our most competent faculty, the honest support of the Board of Education and the citizens of our city we have ascended to the first rung of the ladder of life. Henceforth, our lives will be built upon the founda¬ tions which they have constructed. We take this moment to inform them of our sincere gratitude for all that they have done or have tried to do for us, and feel that we understand what is expected of us in the higher realms of life better than we would have if it were not for their unceas¬ ing and intelligent supervision. If we can live our lives, holding ever before us the ideals and ambi¬ tions they have exemplified, we may not be great contributions to posterity, but we will be able to carry out so far as the opportunity affords, the message of Edward Bok’s grandmother “Make you the world a bit more beautiful and better because you have been in it.” Fred W. Robinson VALEDICTORY The quotations, “There lies the port, the vessel puffs her sail” and “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield,” from Tennyson’s poem, Ulysses, will never be forgotten by the lovers of English litera¬ ture. In this poem Tennyson tells us that Ulysses has grown old, and although he has reached a port in life where he could remain until his death, he is filled with the spirit of adventure and is eager to start out on another voyage. We too, have reached a port—a goal toward which we have been working for twelve years or more. We are about to be graduated from high school, and like Ulysses we should be ready and eager to start out on another even greater adven¬ ture—our conquest for success and prosperity. Up to this time we have had the help of our par¬ ents, teachers, and friends, without which I’m sure we couldn’t have reached this goal. Some of us will be fortunate enough to have further assistance in obtaining a more advanced education, however, to the majority of us graduation is the pause between dependence and independence. . As we start out on our voyage toward success and prosperity, we realize that there will be many hardships to overcome. However, we should have the mental strength to face adversity courageously. We are equipped with education, ambition, and high ideals which should stand any storm we may en¬ counter. This along with faith in our fellow men as well as ourselves, the ability to cooperate with others, and assiduous work should enable us to reach any port toward which we chose to sail. Of course, the work which one must do to gain success includes mores than the primal curse, “Man shall earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.” Success requires the kind of work wherein the lure of one’s ideal in life makes it possible for volition to take the place of compulsion. But after all, true satisfaction is not found in accomplishing easy tasks and doing the things that anyone can do, but in reaching a destination which is ours only through hard work and the determina¬ tion to win. As Bacon said in his Essay of Fortune “The mold of a man’s fortune is in his own hands.” It is for us to decide what use we shall make of it. Maxine Studeman 19

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I ability, especially, in shorthand to “Red” Kelso, who will, no doubt, appreciate and greatly benefit by this bequest. I, Coral Hubner, do, with great relief, leave my excessive height to Edith Large. I, Wanda June Crane do bequeath my vagabond spirit to Lillian Purdy, the while, singing “Home Sweet Home”. I, Jeanette Conrad do hereby will my classy long fingernails to any nail-biting, nervous Junior who might benefit by this request. I, Robert Large do bequeath my unhappy inability to get to school on time to a certain Howard Parker, trusting that he’ll enjoy many pleasant hours, as I did, in the Detention Room. We, Eva Keagle and Freda Dauber will our love of nite-life to Donald Coohon. Myself, the high and mighty Lloyd DeFord will to any unassuming Freshie the broken hearts Pve left behind. I, June Mary Gilbert leave to girls seeking popu¬ larity, my sunny personality and vibrant smile, but Pll try to keep my beloved Johnnie. I, Dorothy Dull, leave to Ruth Rhodes my high place in the rural student organization. 1, Burton Smith bequeath to Art Koehl my place in the boys’ quartette. I, Vara Judd, do bequeath my much loved seat in Candyland to Jean Gerchow. I, Kathleen Kahmann, do hereby bequeath my rich contralto voice to any Junior who desires it. I, Helen Lampe, bequeath my everlasting affec¬ tion for white-haired athletes to Lois Kirkwood. I, Elizabeth Mamroe, do bequeath my artistic ability to any struggling art student. I, Susanna McBride, do will my ability to be “true to one” to Kathryn Meisling, who has already shown great promise along this line. I, John Morton, do hereby will and bequeath to Robert Schuler my fightin gspirit in football. I, Robert Kanouse, do hereby bequeath my shy and bashful mien to Betty Hunter. I, John Kirkpatrick, do hereby leave, with deep regret, my beautiful wavy hair to How r ard Pierucki, who seems to need it at the present time. I, Roger Lake, do will and bequeath my ability to “hit the low notes” to Clifford Leestma and also my importance to the existence of school life to anyone who wants it. I, Virginia Edgerton, do hereby bequeath my deep affection for “yodelin’ cowboys” to Janet Rommel. I, Jean Freeland, do hereby will my conceit which I attempt to conceal under the guise of sophisti¬ cation to any Junior who aspires to be thus afflicted. I, Lorraine Fuller, do hereby bequeath my ex¬ quisite soprano voice to Betty Maxwell. I, Evangeline Goss, do will my speed in attain¬ ing the much sought-for diploma to Richard Hop¬ kins for obvious reasons. I, Edgar Ulrey, bequeath my love for diligent study to Harold Burke, who, by the way, might need it. To Warren Luttmann, I, Fred Robinson, be¬ queath the Harvard Scholarship I didn’t get. I, Edgar Paski, bequeath my now famous repu¬ tation in the field of Science to Richard Bass. I, Jack Marx will my artistic ability of figure drawing to Leon Kimball. We, Harold Pagels and Charles Shisley, bequeath our hunting experience to Mr. Peck, provided he bags a flying squirrel. We, Richard Runyan and Harry Laws bequeath our athletic ability to any Junior who will promise to keep the school on top. I, Lloyd Malone, do wall my love for loud plaid shirts to Arthur Knapp who already has some right classy ones. I, Ivan Myers, bequeath my baseball ability to Lewis Bowers. I, Robert Nugent, if Ferrel agrees, bequeath the seven passenger Packard I ride about in, to Vern Haack, provided he lives up to the sign on the radiator—“Men Only.” I, Guy Turner, bequeath my job as photograph editor of the Sturgensian to Tom Walton. I, Allen Light, do hereby will my big Studebaker to Mort Main provided it’s used for the same purpose for which I used it. I, George Sadewasser, bequeath my electrician- ship at school plays to Lou Moon so he will have no more speaking lines, much to everyone’s relief. I, Francis Stevenson, do will my curly hair and charming personality to Basil Grimm. I, Anna Mae Krieder, do bequeath my many interesting coiffures to Rosemary Wilson. (Continued on page 79)