Sturgis High School - Sturgensian Yearbook (Sturgis, MI)

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★ Valedictory ★ None of us can say what future lies ahead. We can only hope, imagine, per¬ haps predict and be thankful that we have had the kind of a past that can make a future look brighter. We are Americans. That is our her¬ itage and with that heritage comes the freedom of life itself to begin with and secondly, freedom of education—which helps us to determine more accurately, the ways of the world. It brings a broader understanding of life and its problems, its people and how to make the best of every little thing we have. Because of our education in the past and present we will be able to profit more from the experiences that are yet to con¬ front us. We have gained an education that will help to make the world a better place for all peoples, not for just one people. The fight for a better and more civilized world may be a long one, a tough one, but the educated American youth of today will be able to carry on toward a greater world of tomorrow. We can’t say how or when but each of us will have our share. It is up to everyone now to win the war and it will be left to the youth of the present to win and maintain the peace of the future, and we, the school boys and girls of America thank God for that heritage through which we gain the education, the strength, and determination to meet that dark future and come out holding high that shining light. —Carolyn Cromer ★ Salutatory ★ To parents, faculty, fellow students, and friends: For the last three or four years, the outlook for those graduating has not been the best possible—has not been even good. They have had only grey bomb-drenched days and cloudy bomber-filled skies to ex¬ pect. The future has been dark as far as they could see, and the brightest thought they have had was their hope for final peace. There will still be many dark days, but the skies are clearing, and the end of the storm can be seen. We, who are graduating in this deci¬ sive year, will see, and cause, many changes in the world. We will see the outcome of the war—the inevitable crumbling of the Axis, and the victory of the Allies. We will see the outcome of the peace—whether it will stand or fall. We will help determine the post war world, for out of this class— and the ones immediately preceding it and following it—will come the statesmen, the lawyers, the leaders and the advisers of the future. In determining the post war world, we will not be able to depend on our parents and teachers as we have in the past, for we will be the parents and teachers of the future with others depending on us. We hope that during our twelve years of school we have learned—in part, at least—what it is necessary for the leaders of a nation to know. Because we have not gained all the requisite knowledge, however, some of us will go on to college to learn more, some of us will learn through experienc e, but all of us will go on learning. In the end we feel sure that we will know what it is necessary to know. We have confidence in the brightness of the future, and we feel that out of this terrible war can come nothing, at last, but peace, security and better understanding throughout the world. For that confi¬ dence, and for the knowledge that we have gained thus far in our lives, we thank our parents and teachers, our advisers and friends. Without their help and guidance, we could not have come as far as we have. Without their future assistance, we could not hope to gain the bright promise of the future. —Sara Donelson 22

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Seniors? Hi-Y 1, 2, 3; Soph. Prom Comm.; J-Hop Comm.; Boys’ Intramurals; Tennis Team 1, 2. Left school November 2, 1943 to join U. S. Air Force. At present located at Smyrna Air Base, Smyrna, Tennessee. JERRY VOGT Men of humor are always in some degree men of genius. ★ ★ ★ Honor Roll Geniuses? Superbrains? Pliooey! Sure we got brains, but you got to make with the old gray matter if you expect the A- cards to come rolling along. We have as a background twelve years at hard labor, the last four of which rate us four points pei A per semester in each subject; three for a B, and so on down the line. Then they add ’em up, and out come the winnahs! Just because we’re up there is no sign we were book-worms: four of us have been in the band; three have kept on in art; we have been in the G.A.A., Girl Reserves, Hi- Y, Science Club, and other extra-curricular clubs. Two of us were so ambitious we jumped the gun. Gosling and Tennent both beat it up to Ann Arbor at the end of the first semester to become ft doctor and a lawyer, respectively (they hope.) That’s » why they’re missing from this picture. HONOR ROLL Carolyn Cromer.Valedictorian Sara Donelson.Salutatorian Mary Lee Purdy.Historian Sally Lou Mick j Lorraine Keeslar ••••Class Prophecy Robert Linder Patricia Lewis Joan Everard Dewey Tennent John Gosling .Class Will 21

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★ Prophecy ★ Since this Einstein came into the pic¬ ture, anything goes. Just yesterday I received a long letter with a return address belonging to a “Mrs. Richard Newman,” and a post-mark saying 1954! Although the address was plain enough to get the letter to me, the name was so smeared that I could hardly tell what it was. Any¬ how—here is the letter—is it a prophecy? Dear Sally: Well, congratulate me on finally hook¬ ing my man, thanks to the help of your book, “Patience!” It also helped Suzy Hamilton, ’cause she and Wallv are now 7 v settled down with a high-class night-club disguised under the name of “The Music Shop,” which has a novel system of music piped directly to the home from them by a glorified juke-box method, furnished by Bud Sailors’ “St. Vitus Dance Band,” with (Continued on ★ Class Our hair is turning gray with worry; we are bent over with over-work; our sor¬ rows weigh us down; so, before we make our departure from this vale of tears (S.H.S.) into the mysterious shades beyond (the great, wide world,) we wish to insure that we do not shove off intestate. We now set forth our last will and testament: I, Bessie Gage, do will and bequeath my laugh to anyone who’s not afraid to have it. I, Dick Houston, will my sports writ¬ ing ability to the sports editor of next year’s Trojan. To Mary Carolyn Wright, I, Arlene Hire, bequeath my lack of height. I, Beverly Grim Kline, will my ability to stay true to a man in the service to Barbara Hossie. I, Jeanne LeVinske, bequeath my fem¬ ininity to Jessica Reimann. I, Carolyn Cromer, will my position as valedictorian to Pat Wagner. (Continued ( Mona Wlutsel (who now rates above Good¬ man) playing clarinet, Neubert Petschulat, the virtuoso of the sweet potato, Barbara Bush tooting the cornet, Cathryn Kribs on the trombone, Tliyra Davis intoning the lyrics, and Marilyn Reynolds drumming the piano and giving a floor-show during intermission. Carolyn Cromer was out of work for a couple of years until Suzy took her in and gave her a job. Now she is the most popular cigarette-girl in the joint, against the competition of Sara Donelson and Mary Lee Purdy. Joan Everard was in the same boat as Cromer, but now she has found her place, luring customers on to buy more ‘ 4 refreshments. ’ ’ Bob Linder was recently promoted to chief bartender of the estab¬ lishment, and Dick Huston is now the head waiter—singing waiter, at that! page 32) Will We, Don Avery and Vern Happel, will our shyness to Don Ware and Don Atwater. I, Joe Bogart, bequeath my ability to “broadcast” any basketball prowess to Tom Tober. I, Betty Coombs, will my dignity to Barbara Calkins. I, Jim Post, will my ability to take all the hard knocks (in sports) to Clyde Bell. To Elnora Frohriep, I, Lois Lancast¬ er, will my quiet, shy manner. I, Jack Teeters, will my ability to be A.W.O.L. all the time to Eddie Shoemaker. I, Phineas Wheat, do bequeath my slim figure to Wayne Berger. I, Jackie Allen, will mv ability to get a good rousing cheer out of the student body to Jo Henderson. I, Barbara Gerchow, bequeath my beautiful red hair to any girl who desires it. To Bob Grim, I, Kenneth Dauber, will my ability to always get to class on time. page 33) 23