Tom C Clark High School - Witness Yearbook (San Antonio, TX)

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.VW Mfr 1-1-1 nfl '2 .2 Tan ible evidence excites graduates ,aaa-umwbwhvd underrun! V ..-Q fn- , 'f fm, V, I U I ren . 4 'f Q W we . F' Il Q, if iii T A T W vs. ,,f l' 1- 'c ' ' :si is f' rl: -a W .-3' 3 5 is r-' .. L l MQ- 'FV fiif ff M Q I .J ,i' ,?f' f,' ,- fmtpy, . 4 x f :MZ il J ' Wi if A -, 31.14 62 3 5 1 C' .M . r 9 4 iffgg r V The anxious anticipation of the first four year graduates started to grow when caps and gowns were delivered May 21. The last day of school proved to be emotional as for the first time, seniors had something tangi- ble that made graduation seem like a soon to be reality. With the happiness, there was also the sadness of leaving friends behind and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. The seniors were, however, ready to reap the reward of twelve years of hard work and dedication. The morning of May 25 came too soon with rehearsal at 9:15 a.m. Students gathered around the front windows of Paul Taylor Field House to find their seating positions inside. Gradually, the students made their ways down to their seats and the tedious tasks began-filling out the card for the photographer, closing ranks excluding anyone who was not there, and walking across the stage. First heads and keys were determined and then as each student approached the podium, Mr. Richard Hoag got the proper pronunciation of the name, a task which proved difficult at times. Counselors and teachers sug- gested I pronounce it one way, their friends and classmates yet another, and the students themselves wanted something en- tirely different, said Mr. Hoag. As the practice session continued, seniors got up and moved about visiting with friends. lt was almost as if we devoured silly, nervous conversation in an attempt to deny the imminent solemnity of the coming evening, said Kelli Johnson. Finally everyone was directed back to his seat to practice the exit followed by the en- trance and the evening's program. After several hours of practice, Seniors rushed behind Northside Stadium to get in line for some Grady's barbeque andralso to pick up the literary magazines. Students gathered in groups and listened to car stereos while they ate. lt was a good way to relax after rehearsal. Everyone just kick- ed back and did his own thing, said Russell Sloan. Finally the music died down, and clean up began as students went their separate way to prepare for the night's activity. Michael Register looks for his name on the chairs in his row. Vickie Mencio looks around after filling out the card for the photographer that evening. James Weaver gives Mr. Hoag the correct pronun- ciation of his name. Graduation 25

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Worries mount as processional begins The occasion that the seniors had all been waiting for finally arrived as seniors started to gather behind Paul Taylor at 7 p.m. to make last minute preparations. Those black robes were awfully hot as the seniors scurried about to find hostesses with bobby pins to secure their caps and straighten a collar or NHS stole. Things to come ran through seniors' minds. Of course they thought the worse was in- evitable-maybe their caps would fall off, or maybe they would trip in their high heel- ed shoes or even in their flat shoes, or maybe they would shake hands with the wrong hand, or maybe They wanted everything to be perfect. Seniors lined up as roll was taken. Then the commence- ment exercises began at 7:30 p.m. as the seniors were walking through the boiler room and hallways and on to the open gymnasium floor, one armlength apart, with the sounds of Pomp and Cir- cumstance enveloping the soon to be graduates. The top eleven graduates were not only the first to graduate but also the first to get a glimpse at the actual diploma, which was not a blank piece of paper. Bruce McBroom and Paul Billingsly size up the situ- ation as they converse prior to graduation. Graduation 27