Tracy High School - El Portal Yearbook (Tracy, CA)

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Gordon and loolcing with longing eyes at the haclcs of Tom Leclgett and Carol Synak where they sat hehind a large fem. Even as she tallied, Carol was noticeahly conscious of the side glances Gil Gillett gave her as he sat morosely watching the couples dance hy. Trying to see what he was loolcing at on the crowded floor, l pushed aside a balloon to see lim Abbott and Sliirlee Randall. l was rather surprised to see them together. Last time l heard, they had hrolcen up again. Rather warm from the over-crowded room, l wandered out on the ter- race to meet the jubilant Eunice Dewhirst and Les Tusup. Could they at last he getting heyond the good-friends stage? l wonder if thereys an engage- ment on the olting. Spealcing of engagements, there were Dolores Bartlett, Katherine Borthwiclz, and Gladys Gordon in a huddle, prohahly discussing their ahsent Fiances. Feeling out of place, l entered the hallroom again where my eyes settled on the small form of Mabel Silva, rapidly talcing down in short- hand the lyrics of the music played. An interested spectator of lVlahel's was Mel Soares, who never could get ahove MCH in that trying suhject. He quiclcly got over his interest when the gong rang out announcing dinner was served. However, Dot Shaw and not Mabel was the luclcy girl who sat hy and held the hand of ml-'yronen Soares. With whetted appetites the whole crowd made a dash to the fragrant tahles formed to malce the numeral H41U. l hastily clamhered to a seat he- fore one of the rowdy seniors would lcnoclc me aside. Alasl too late, hig Steve Arnaudo upset me in his attempt to heat lames Sutton to the nearest seat hy Red Del Prete. Norma, in the meantime, was flashing her person- ality smile at Fred Borras. He was doing his hest to attract Wanda Kinder, who was wearing that Ch where are you, Franlc?H loolc on her face. My glance toward the end of the tahle sought the faces of Skinny McArthur and laclz Tillotson, who were hecoming decidedly tipsy on the innocent-enough punch that was heing served. Pauline Patriclz. head chef, was directing Ruth Ensley, Betty Brazil, Helen Gomez, and Hazel Bettencourt to help Bill Egan. who was too, too hashful to reach across the tahle for hutter and consequently ate his hread dry. Coy glances from Lucille Colli and Nlary Alley went un- noticed hy Bill, who was however, hlushing profusely. lean and lim Yam- asalzi sat at one end of the table tallcing disgustedly about the Jim had re- ceived on his report card, poor laid. An interested evesdropper was Tony Cordoza, who wished hy Jupiter he had received even one B on his card. Laughing to myself, l tumed my head away just in time to notice Ed Harry standing sheepishly hy Ellen Knapp. She is comparatively new to Tracy High, so was standing hy, rather hewildered. Naturally gallant, Sir U91

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SE IUHS MAKE HISTUHY Dear Diary, ONIGHT l am going to write down some of the gay memories l have ol' our last Senior Farewell Party. l stood on the threshold of Ufuturen for a few seconds, rang the bell of Hdestinyn, and wallced uncertainty into the re- ception hall. My First impression through the maze of green and gold confetti and balloons was a riotous group of people, each intent on having the best time ever before malcing his farewell to dear old Tracy Hi. I was lirst greeted by gentle Marion Rucllein, spelling wisard, Mary Pombo, and petite and charming Ntarjorie Gelzllzen. Edging my way through the masses into the ballroom, l was confronted by the ideal maid, Elphia HEffieH Sweeney, who directed me to the checlcing room. Our delightful twins, Helen and Hazel Iorge welcomed me with their winning smiles and tlirtatious eyes. Leaving my wraps with the twins, with almost regret, l turned and shouldered my way toward the main staircase. Robert Given. dressed in tails. approached me as l reached the top. Not until I heard my name being an- nounced into the ballroom did it dawn on me that bashful Bob was the herald of the party. ' The first couple to greet my eyes was the wwe want to be alone twosome of Hilda Rose and lim Nledlin. Brother foe Rose was not far away flirting with gently objecting lWarie Goodrich, however still lceeping an eye out for his sister. Hilda. unaware of this, danced blissfully on, pausing only to greet llarlanrl Patten, who was heading for the nearest door to the checlcing room. ln his mad scramble he almost lcnoclced down little Mani1.el Dutra, who was doing his best to get to the corner where lean Rhodes and Fred Picclii were standing. They were discussing Vvilmina Palmiter, who was conspicous in a strapless red satin formal adorned with a gold belt and blaclc velvet poppies. Xvillie was jitter-bugging with Mike Borras, who loolced as stolid as an lndian, and moved his feet in a rhythmic war dance. Their fruitless ellort to stay on their feet caused Gladys Poet and Laura Sousa to double up in hysterical laughter. Nearby, Victoria lwarshall was the center of a group of admirers. ln the closest corner sat Philip Lulu McKinnis, very much bored with the events of the evening because of a certain brunette sophomores absence My attention was then attracted to Everett Tiger Rathjen. who was hurrying to the refreshment booth where Fern lxtitchell and Evelyn Kenner sat pouring out Hawaiian punch to August Mazzanti and latin Goulart. John's eyes were on the near little Figure of Dorothy Reece, whonwas sitting on the sidelines eating up the efforts of lim Greenwood, second semester student body president, to amuse her. Dotys chum, Georgia Peterson, was thinliing of l'7l

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Gatlahad Ed Harry jumped to the rescue of the maiden in distress. Allen Royer and Emil Torrison escorted smiiing Grace Schalchti and shy Norma lean Lindsay to their seats. Each of the hoys was fighting for the girls, attentions. and hoth were astounded when they deserted them for the more desirable Peyton Smith, who was telling one of his famous jokes to an audience of Allen Wong, Adrienne Stewart, and Wallace Grow. 'Stinky-Poou Harvey came into the picture hy demonstrating to a group of girts just how he carried the han over the line in his one and only touchdown. Lavina Lucas had rend- ered her purse to he used as the foothaii for the occasion. The haclctieid was composed of Dave Glover, Arthur Kaku, George Masitmiya, Raymond Lopez, and Iohn Lucas. Dainty Palma Cotugno was so dismayed at the riotous tum of events that she quicldy tied into the hallroom, where Helen Serpa was singing isle of Capriu. Russell Reece, extremely annoyed hecause of a certain Senior girls inattention, grahhed his wraps from the coat room, stam- med the door, and left. Charlotte Spangler was so startled she peeked around one of the pillars and said half aloud, What struck him? Ready to leave the hanquet room, the guests sauntered out, hut as I happened to glance over my shoulder, I was amused to see Peter Kooyman, and Iohn Lucas still relaxing in their chairs. Bruno Marc'hini, also noticing this, hurried hack to aslc the two hoys to join him. it was now twelve-thirty, and the guests were starting to leave. As my eyes scanned the rather empty haliroom, Betty Boltzen was seen putting on her coat with Clarence Randolph assisting her. This was a rather disturhing sight, hut I had teamed tonight that every unexpected thing could happen. The haliroom was empty now, all hut one person--Cliarlie Pereira. He was donning his coat and hat, hut as he was doing so he glanced hack once more. The spacious hail was a clutter of hrolcen hailoons and colorful con- fetti. The whole scene looked rather dejected as though it too, realized the significance of the occasion. With a telltale careless wave of his hand, Hchuctcu turned around, straightened his shoulders, and stepped out into the night. Thinking everyone had left, I too made my way out of the hall and started home. Lawrence Det Sotdato spolce to me at the foot of the steps and hailed me a taxicah. The First student-hody president of our class was very courteous in helping me into the cah and closing the door. He hid me farewell, stating that the past four years and tonight were memories never to he forgotten in his mind. As my taxicah rolled away from the han, and I was on my way home, I tried with much difficulty to avoid the very memorable days of the past, and to tool: into the future, which I hoped would he Fitted with happiness for each memher of the ctass of 341. I l -The Senior Class. I9