Thornton Township High School - Thorntonite Yearbook (Harvey, IL)

Page 9 text:

Jn iHemonam On Christmas morning 1943 William Howard Montelius died after more than twenty-five years of service at Thornton Township High School. His death closed a portion of the hearts of those friends behind. To his students Mr. Monty was friend as well as teacher. Those to whom he gave the priceless gift of music will write his ultimate tribute in the language he taught them to understand. ' His music in my heart I bore Long after it was heard no more. — Wordsworth

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wid 0 Sdcccattott Mr. A. H. McDougall Mr. G. H. Gibson Mr. Walter Haines Mr. Edwin Waterman Mr. Frank Cowing Were it not for the constant vigilance and wise leadership of the five men who make up the Board of Education of Thornton Township High School, that school might not have attained the position it holds today. These men who undertake the responsibility of directing Thornton Township High School and Junior College are elected for a period of three years each by the people of Thornton Township. The terms of office are staggered, two members being elected the first year, two the next, and one the third year. President of the group is Mr. A. H. Mc- Dougall, who is a consulting adviser in the Chicago office of Manning, Maxwell, and Moore, New York engineering firm. Mr. G. H. Gibson, vice president of the board, before retirement was President of the Chi- cago Steel Car Company. Mr. Walter Haines is Thornton Township Collector, Mr. Frank P. Cowing, a Homewood attorney-at-law, and Mr. Edwin R. Waterman, a farmer and 2?- banker of South Holland. The secretary and the attorney of the Board of Education are elected by the group; those offices are filled by Mr. Clarence W. Waaso and Mr. Burton Evans, respectively. The school treasurer, Mr. A. F. Waldschmidt, is elected by the three trustees of the township. Important duties of the Board are to em- ploy and maintain an outstanding superin- tendent and faculty and to direct the school ' s financial policies. Because of the far-sighted- ness and sagacity of these men, Thornton con- tinues to maintain the high financial rating which it gained for itself years past. The outstanding records of service on the Board of Education of Mr. Gibson and Mr. McDougall, thirty-two and thirty-one years respectively, are worthy of special commenda- tion. Because of long time service records such as these the Board is able to sustain a stable plan of exacting efficiency and a reso- lute policy of high values. fe r

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74 elcame Who am I? I am the ghost of Thornton Past. I have seen Thornton grow from an infant through adolescence to the proud beauty she is today. What am I doing here? I have come to tell you her history. It all started back in 1892 when Harvey High School, under the leadership of Mr. J. E. Cable and a faculty of four, was organized. The school was very small, and soon the district was demanding a larger unit. Answering this call, Thornton Township High School was born. No one then expected its enrollment of ninety-six to be increased thirty-fold. In order to accommodate an ever increasing student body, plans for a new building were drawn up, and in 1900 the original section of the present building was dedicated. The portals of this structure still bear the proud title of Main Entrance and continue to awe freshmen with their manifest pride. And so Thornton grew. In 1910 additions were made to accommodate eighteen teachers and one hundred and thirty four pupils. As Thornton grew in number, it grew in spirit. Her pupils held their heads high and swelled with pride at mention of her name. By the turn of the decade Thornton ' s number soared to more than five hundred and was still growing, growing, growing. In 1926 additional units were completed, and finally in 1937 when the enrollment was about 2500, the latest additions were made. This is the story of Thornton ' s first half-century of progress! Though her size and number may not continue to increase indefinitely, her spirit and endeavor will continue to soar and her alumni will always strive to live up to her motto, Knowledge is Power.