Thomson High School - Sandburr Yearbook (Thomson, IL)

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 Let Me Out of Here, ” in November and had a party afterward in the American Legion Hall. Our candidates for the Christmas Ball were Lawrence Williams and Mary Ann Daehler. Lawrence was chosen King. Our outstanding activity of the year has been the preparation of the 1960 SAND BURR, our school yearbook. Of the original group of 28 who began their Y.C.H.S. career in 1956, 20 are members of our class of 21 who are completing high school training at Y.C. H. S. with Baccalaureate services and Commencement exercises in May of this year. We are grateful for the good times we have had and the knowledge we have gained. We look to the future with enthusiasm and high hopes. @1 46 'Profi It is the year 1975. I, Rose McCormick, and Pat Letcher are happily looking around at the contented diners in our newly opened Star-Lite Restaurant in Miami, Florida, when we notice a man who reminds us so much of a former classmate at our old York Community High that we go over and talk with him. It is John Creighton! As in the past, John doesn't give out with a lot of useless talk, but he tosses his card on the table, and our hearts skip some beats as we read: Have eye; will spy. We ask him to help us locate other classmates of the year 1960, and he consents. A case on which he is working will prevent his going with us, but he gives us a pass card for unlimited service from his New York office. Pat and I are delighted, so we turn the restaurant management over to our husbands and start out on our search. We begin with a visit at the Creighton, Creighton, and Creighton Agency in New York City. There we are welcomed by a stunningly sophisticated and efficient receptionist who is none other than our former classmate Mary Ann Daehler. She tells us about her husband, who is a handsome Navy Commander. They now live in New York City with their triplet sons. She works in John’s office because she has always enjoyed office work. We are provided with a graduate radar-eye people-finder named O. Wherezhe, who will pilot a private jet machine for us and convey messages. Our search begins widi a flight to Thomson, Illinois. Our landing field happens to be operated by Joe Waltrip and his wife. Their hospitality is boundless, and we are treated to fried chicken. We learn that the chickens have come from the Smith Poultry Farm which is owned by Jean Brown Smith (another of our former classmates) and her husband. We make a quick tour of the large farm with its unusual landscaping.

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August 30, 1956, twenty-eight boys and girls entered the halls of Y.C. H. S. as Freshmen. Our Class Advisor was Mr. Underwood, of whom we have many fond memories. During the first year, Clarice Hoover left the class, but John Bogart came in. The Sophomores initiated us by requiring us to wear funny costumes during the day and obeying all commands of upperclassmen. In the evening of initiation day, we were guests of the Seniors at a dance. We entered into the school's extracurricular clubs and activities. For our first Christmas Ball, we chose Carol Houzenga and Terry Elliott as our King and Queen candidates. Jeaninne Senneff was a crown bearer. The year closed with an all-school picnic at Eagle Point Park in Clinton. Mr. McLaughlin served as Advisor for our Sophomore year. Our beginning enrollment of 28 was reduced by the loss of Joyce Spencer and Gary LaShelle. We initiated the Freshmen by having them perform stunts in an afternoon assembly. Outstanding events for this year included the Ivy-League dance we sponsored, operating a dart game and fishing booth at the P.T. A. carnival, and participating in the Christmas Ball, for which our King and Queen candidates were Sherrie Lewis and Mick Brearton. Marnes Hill and Terry Elliott were crown bearers. Our third, and Junior, year was the most outstanding for us. Mr. Gummersheimer was our Advisor for the first part of the year and Mr. Saueressig for the latter part. Bette Houzenga, Ruth Diephuis, John Bogart, and Shirley Shaw left our class during the year; Jim Carroll joined us. Lloyd Hamilton enrolled for a time but left during the year. We printed the school paper, THE YORKSTER, under the editorship of Donna Fed-dersen and Lester Baker. To earn money for the Prom, we sold pop, popcorn, and candy at home basketball games. Our coveted class rings were received in November. Jerry Hubble and Marnes Hill were our candidates for the Christmas ball. Jerry was chosen King. Rose Mary McCormick was one of the crown bearers. Our class play, Hobgoblin House, was successfully presented before a capacity audience in April, and our Prom was held in May with the theme of Hawaiian Holiday. Carolyn Whitney and Dick Hook were chosen King and Queen. Music was provided by Marvin Green. We began our last year at Y.C.H.S. with 21 Seniors. Barbara Dykstra and Jim Carroll did not return; Pat Letcher entered our class. We welcomed the incoming Freshmen with a reception in the gym to close their day of initiation. Our candidate for Queen of the P.T. A. carnival was Sherrie Lewis. We presented our class play.

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Class Prophecy, cont. Thomson's population is now 45, 000, and we can scarecely find any buildings dating back to 1960. As we explore the city, we find a magnificent suspension bridge spans the Mississippi from Thomson to the Iowa side. It was designed by Lester Baker, who is now a construction engineer living in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he and his wife enjoy deep sea fishing and boating. Our guide, Wherezhe, announces that our next stop will be in Peru, South America. Which of our former classmates will we find there? we wonder. Only a few hours elapse before we know. Betty Feldt and her husband are living in Peru in an old gray castle on a mountainside. She loves the mountain life and her eight children keep her busy. While we are sitting in the garden overlooking the green valleys, a gyro-jet comes in for a landing, and we are amazed to find the pilot to be Terry Elliott. Terry is U.S. Inspector of U.S. Property Abroad. He tells us he visited with his friend Robert Schneider, and that Robert has changed his name to Roberto Shinedear and is the famous actor known from continent to continent. As Robert is on location in Nevada for an episode in a Wagon Train production, we jet up to see him. We are treated to a campfire program with Robert reciting old Western ballads of the lone prairie and lost loves. He tells us that Lawrence Williams will sing in a TV spectacular from Los Angeles tomorrow. Lawrence's softly-crooned love songs have been rocketing his fans to the moon, and he is gaining notice for the custom-made sports car he drives. We jet over to Lawrence's studio. He welcomes us and tells us that Cecil Young designs all of his sports cars and also operates a successful motel in the San Fernando Valley. He also tells us that Jerry Hubble is his business manager and is responsible for his success. As Jerry is in Honolulu for a vacation with his wife and daughter, we make a quick trip over to Cecil's motel, and then jet over to Honolulu. Jerry is glad to see us and honors us with a pineapple feast. Among distinguished guests attending, are former classmates, Lilly Dannels and Jeaninne Senneff. Lilly married a doctor back in Illinois, who now conducts U.S. Government experiments in Honolulu. Jeaninne married a West Point graduate, who is now a General stationed in Hawaii. Jeaninne tells us that we will soon hear a great deal more about Sherrie Lewis, for she married a law student while attending the University of Colorado, and he is entering the 1976 U.S. Presidential race. We jet over to Colorado Springs to see Sherrie. She is delighted to see us. We learn that Mary Ann Tousley's love for secretarial work took her to Sweden, where she married a Swedish surgeon and is living happily in Stockholm. Sherrie also tells us