VIT High School - Vitorian Yearbook (Table Grove, IL)

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CLASS PROPHECY I am Lynn Ralph Edwards Carrison and this is This is Your Life. Phyllis Howell has just finished one of her rare night club appearances and is on her way home. Her taxi will accidentally bring her to this studio instead of taking her to her hotel. Shh, they’re bringing her in back-stage now. Here she comes. Welcome Phyllis to This is Your Life. But I don’t understand, I told the cab driver to take me to my hotel.’ This is your life,” Phyllis Howell. You are now one of the biggest movie actresses in Hollywood and the only one to win two Oscars in a row. Titanic Pictures, Inc. must be very proud of you. Phyllis explains, I got my dramatic training at V.I.T. High where I appeared in several class plays. Here are two of your old classmates stepping from behind the curtain. Do you recognize them? They do look familiar, but I never met a model from Paris. Look again, Peggy Wherley and Katherine Porter are Juan Don’s most famous models. Juan Don is the fashion designer who made Dior throw in his gunny sack, back in 57, explains Peg. Katherine adds, Our specialty is modeling lingerie and bikinis. Next is the girl who took over your job as Chorus Librarian on Tuesdays and Thursdays so you could have time to talk to Larry. Rosalie Ellison! It’s not Rosalie Ellison anymore. As the World’s Champion Lady Wrestler she goes by the name of Mad Red. Surprised Phyllis asks, Rosalie, er, Red, are you still single? Well, I was engaged to Gorgeous George but we had so many fights we decided to call it off. He is so jealous of my hair-do, you know. Do you know he bought six different egg beaters but he just couldn’t get his hair to even resemble my crazy-mixed up style? I saw you on television when you won the Championship. Tell me what won the decisive fall for you? My good ol stand-by, the flying mare. Thank you for coming; and next we have a young lady who has been in New York only two weeks and already has a job with the biggest insurance company in the world as a private secretary to the president of the company. Betty Jockisch steps out from behind the curtain. Hi, Phyll, Gee, it’s good to see you. You might like to meet my boss, Marvin hite. Matter of fact, here comes Marvin and his wife, Mel (Burcky) now. Hello, Phyllis. I intended to see your premier in The Loves of Tallulah last week, but my business is expanding and I’ve been rather busy. Mel as you know is now head of the Atomic Energy Commission. While developing the Z bomb she revolutionized Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. I wonder if you would tell us about it? I’d be glad to. I was relaxing after a rather grueling day at the lab and was reading a condensed version of Einstein’s Theory and somehow it just didn’t seem right to me so instead of squaring X and Q, I squared Y, Z, M, and U. I inverted the second integral, took the Logarithm Cosecant of angle D, multiplied by the Cologarithm Cotangent, added the reciprocal.............. Yes, well thank you and now here are two career girls who are doing well. Phyllis is confronted by her former classmates, Joann Herriford and Jeanette Bulmer. Joann explains, We have started our own private orphanage for young men. It’s an interesting occupation. After this program is over the entire group is invited to eat at the fabulous Club Sophisticate. And here are the owners now. Carol Ann Bucy and Dor la Heller join Phyllis in center of the stage. Pierre, our head cook will be put entirely in your hands, whatever you order he will prepare, Carol explains. Dorla, the business manager for the concern adds, You might tell all your friends in Hollywood about it.” What is that terrible commotion back stage? Those two publishing tycoons are at it again. They are trying to merge and they can’t come to terms. I’ll bring them on and let’s hope they’ll be quiet. After considerable commotion Gordon Reedy and Jerry Schisler stride angrily on stage. Jerry storms, As publisher of Buzzard’s Books, Inc., the finest in obscene literature, I feel I should have 51% of the business. Gordon shouts, Buzzard’s Books are for the birds. Hans Enterprises Inc. publishes anything, anytime, anyplace. Gentlemen, gentlemen, please. Jerry stop winking at that blonde in the front row. Now, Phyllis, did you know that two of your classmates are millionaires? That’s right, Marilee Atwater and Janice Brock are co-owners of the world’s largest Cigarette Company. Their product, Drag-a-Fag is the only Emperor size cigarette with 50,000 microcoal filters with the recessed tip. Phyllis is greeted by two ladies elegantly dressed in the latest fashion. Marilee waves her hand and a stage hand wheels in a large impressive box. A year’s supply of our product. We interrupt this program for a public service from the Los Angeles Highway Traffic Safety Office which has just staged an experimental Safe Driving Day. Ronald Mercer, manager, speaks: Friends, I wish to express my gratitude for the cooperation given this office by the people of Los Angeles during Safe Driving Day yesterday. Only 3 traffic officers and 35 motorists were killed during this special period. This proves the drivers of this area can be safety conscious and I believe we can expect to see the total number of automobile accidents kept to less than 1,000 per day. Mr. Mercer was unable to complete his remarks because he was called away by a minor accident at Hollywood and Vine involving 16 automobiles. His wife, the former Janet Adcock, assists him whenever she isn’t kept busy with the Little Mooses. We continue with This is Your Life. We have the honor of having 3 high ranking servicemen with us. First is Roger Easley a retired 5 Star General who is planning to run for President. He will introduce the other two. You remember Lowell W'orsdell? Of course you do, every one in our class remembers Lowell. After 20 years in the Navy he has retired to take command of his own fleet on the Mississippi, in peace or in war. He has just promoted Janet from first mate to Rear Admiral. Norman Welker, 20 year member and now head of the National Guard in Illinois, received a citation from the President for service above and beyond the call of duty. He no longer goes to Summum, but

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CLASS WILL We, the Senior Class of 1956, being of sound minds and healthy bodies, do declare this to be our last will and testament. First, we leave to Mr. Beck the memories of our quiet and angelic Senior Class. Second, to Landy we bequeath the scarred remains of dear (?) ol’ V.I.T., in hopes that it is soon replaced by a spanking, brand-new multimillion dollar high school building. I, PHYLLIS HOWELL, will my job as office secretary to my cousin Rachel and 1 hope she will enjoy it as much as I have. I, MARY RUTH MALOTT, will my interest in many boys to Luann Burgard who seems to be interested in only one. I, MARVIN (MUGGS) CHOCKLEY, will my ID card to Larry Jacobus because he needs it in Havana. I, BARB DANNER, will all my dates on Wednesday night to Shirley Malott and hope she makes as good use of them as I did. I, MARGARET NEGLEY, will my cowboy boots to Janet Bohm and I hope she can walk in them as well as I could. I, SHIRLEY HUNTER, will and bequeath my majorette uniform to Janet Baughman who seems to be a pretty good strutter already. I, JOANN HERRIFORD, will my ways of getting along with Mr. Evans to Ernestine Bulmer who seems to need it. I, JEANETTE BULMER, will my running around to John and Emily, who always gripe every time I leave. I, MARELEE ATWATER, will my liking of Smith-field boys to Betty Royer, who seems to have caught some boy from there that she likes pretty well. I, DONALD JOE BUTCHER, will my well worn (ahem) American History book to Bob Wright, in hopes that he will get as much good out of it as I did. We, MELBA MALOTT and JANET ADCOCK, will Mr. Stevens our so-called weak voices, in hopes that he can do more with them than we were able to. I, ROSALIE ELLISON, will my ability to goof off” to my friendly enemy, Doug Bailey, who is doing all right on his own. I, RICHARD LANNERY, will my ability to stay home to Charles Dailey. I, RONALD E. MERCER, will my success as a Romeo” to Marion Cornelius, who seems to do all right on his own. I, DORLA HELLER, will my quiet ways to Dixie Frye, in hopes that she makes good use of them. I, LYLE ROYER, will my ability to run the fastest to lunch to Gerald Palm, in case he gets as hungry as I do. I, GORDON PAUL REEDY, will my ability to get into trouble to Marling Beck who doesn’t really need it. I, NORMAN WELKER, will my three weekly trips to Astoria to anyone who can beat me. I, FRANK HANEY, will my Monday night trips to Macomb to Jimmy Samuels for he seems to like to travel in that direction. I, ROGER EASLEY, will my seat in study hall to Phyllis Bohm who might want it. I, MARVIN WHITE, will my red hair to Cathy Marshall who might welcome the change. I, LYNN CARRISON, will my curly hair to Jerry Curl-less who has a flat-top. I, NELDA MALOTT, will my liking for short-hand to Marabel Parks who seems to do quite well on her own. I, BETTY WRIGHT, will my liking for a certain Air Force boy to Carol Bohm in case she decides to give up a Navy man. I, CAROL ANN BUCY, will my long curls to Jerry Smith, who might welcome the change. I, BETTY JOCKISCH, will my ability to cheer my darndest for good ol’ V.I.T. to Janette Easley, who certainly has the voice for it. I, PEGGY WHERLEY, will the chip on my shoulder to Bev Burton. 1 hope she doesn’t get it knocked off in P.E. like I almost did. I, NORMAN PLATE, will my red convertible to Larry Brock, in case he gets tired of driving Phyllis around in his new Dodge. I, EDWARD BUTCHER, leave my shiny new' bass horn in the music department in hopes that the V.I.T. band will boast some long winded sousa-phone players in the back row next year. I, JERRY SCHISLER, will my ability to get along with the girls to Larry Stambaugh who seems to be quite a Ladies Man” on his own. I, LOREN KENNEDY, will my motorcycle to Larry Smith who already has the leather jacket and motorcycle boots so that he won’t have to walk to school. I, LOWELL WORSDELL, will my ability to play rough football to Jim Herriford who will learn how to use it. I, ME;LVINA BURCKY, will my love of freedom to my girlfriend Carol B°hm, who seems to like going steady. I, JANICE BROCK, will my winning ways in P.E. class to Janet Baughman. I, KATHERINE PORTER, will my ability to always be good (?) to Cathy Marshall so she can have as much fun in high school as I did. I, DONALD (TANK) VAUGHN, will my weight and height (6-1) in basketball to Jerry Curless who needs it. 1, RALPH LAFARY, will my ability to skip school to anyone who might use it better than I did. Witnessed this first day of April in the year of 1956, in the city of Table Grove, State of Illinois. Rosalie Ellison Witness

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lives there. Virginia and he, that is. This certainly is a pleasure to see you boys again, and I’m sure our class is proud of you, replies Phyllis. It’s good to see you again. We three have been discussing the good ol’ days at V.I.T. W'ould you like to join us? Janet cooks the most delicious sea foods, Lowell suggests. That sounds like a wonderful idea. My! What is that black thing coming through the door? Is that a fur coat? I never saw one quite like that before. What is it? asked Phyllis. Skunk, Phyllis. It’s the latest! I raise the best pelts this side of Spoon River. I am known as Butcher, Furrier. Why, it's Ed Butcher! I do remember reading somewhere that skunk was the coming thing. I think I’ll buy one and a stole too. When can I have them delivered? We’re a little rushed at the moment, but by Mid-July we should be able to deliver it. Say, my brother Don is here tonight, would you like to see him? Oh, here he is now. In strolls Don in full Cardinal uniform. Good to see you, Phyllis, I just happen to have a season’s ticket to the world Champion St. Louis Cardinal games. Still undefeated after 21 games of play. Oh, yes, you’re their manager now. I was so glad when you won the World Series in four straight games last year. Trying for another pennant? Most indubitably! One of the stage hands rushes on stage with an anguished look on his face. You must do something, Mr. Plate and Mr. Kennedy are having a terrible argument. I guess I’d better explain that they are now competitors in the business world. You see, Norman is now head of the Pontiac division of General Motors and has designed three stunning new lines, The Turbofire, Jet, and the Rocket. In his spare time he is trying to teach his wife, the former Mary Ruth Malott, how to drive. Loren Kennedy is now the President of the American Motors Corp. all over the world. He has a Rambler for his carefree mood, a Metropolitan for his theater mood, a Statesman for his business mood, and an Ambassador for his Casanova mood. Loren and Norman enter from behind the curtain with no hint of the discussion that has come so quickly to an end. We have declared a truce for the time being,” Norman explains. Say, Phyllis, I’ve got just the thing for you, a red sports convertible. You can have a chance at the first one off the assembly line. I'm sorry, but I already have a red Continental Mark II and three convertibles, not to mention four station wagons, six hardtops, and two four doors. At that moment Lyle Royer bursts in. I’m sorry I’m late, but we had a little trouble. I’m the owner of the biggest housing project in California and we were building a 30 room house for Grace and the Prince and the four little Rainiers. When the smog lifted we found the back half floating in Liberace’s swimming pool. What a mess! I can imagine, just take a seat while I introduce our next guests. Everyone in your class remembers the cute twins who contributed so much to the activities and fun of V.I.T. Ladies, gentlemen, and Phyllis, Misses Melba and Nelda Malott! Out step two glamorous girls dressed exactly alike and bubbling over with things to tell their old classmates. Yes, we have our own business too. We have founded our own business college in the midwest, Melba explains. I notice you still use the name of Malott, are you married? No, we have been too busy to think about that, but there are plenty of bachelors in Texas where we are building an extension,” reports Nelda. Betty Wright has flown to New York to attend the Ken Ray Convention. She is the head secretary at the central office in Vermont. Jim and the twins occupy most of her spare time. She is unable to get away right now but will join you at the Club Sophisticate later. All the way from the beautiful hills of Kentucky Barb Danner and Margaret Negley have flown in their own private helicopter. Tell us girls, how do you like life in Kentucky? I understand you have started your own clan, Little Batches” and Dark Clouds. Butch smiles, Kentucky life sure agrees with us. You must come visit us sometime. We have the honor of having two distinguished members of the sports world with us. I'll let them tell you about it. First of all, Mrs. Shirley (Hunter) McCombs. For our twentieth anniversary Charles talked Caterpillar into sponsoring the Dieselettes,” our own girls’ basketball team. Next week we meet the Globetrotters in an exhibition game at the VIT Field House. We’re sold out except for the section reserved for the Class of 56.” We’ll be there. The New Y'ork Dirty Sox are playing in Chicago next week and I’ll fly down for the game. I play shortstop, ya know. Oh yes, I’d like you to meet my wife, the former Miss Connie King, who is a modern interpretive dancer for Minskys in Chicago. Richard Lannery, editor of the Daily Tornado,” the largest independent newspaper in the world, was unable to come as he is covering the 1976 Senior Class’ trip to the moon. Straight from the V.I.T. area have come the next three guests. We’ll let them tell about themselves. Ralph Lafary is the first to step into the spotlight. I’m now head of my own brewery in Bushnell, The Old Facefull. I also have my own private still in the hills of Camp Ellis where I produce the finest moonshine in the land, Old Guzzler and Good to the Last Drop. Frank Haney joins Ralph on the stage. I am now head of my own dairy-farm in Fulton County. It’s the largest in Illinois. My wife Sandra still works for Mr. Engle, but she has two assistants to help her. Donald Vaughn enters, towering over the other two. I have been very content to let the world slide by and stay down on Otter Creek with Bev.” Just then, amid backfires and a cloud of dust, Marvin Chockley roars onto the stage on one of his newest motorcycles. Thought you might want a demonstration. 1 own the company now. Say, have you seen my three latest models? They are called the Road Burners,” the Blue Streak” and the Smash-up.” Yes, 1 have seen them and I understand they're selling like hot cakes. I am sorry but our time is up. In a few minutes we will take a bus to the Cafe Sophisticate where we can all continue to talk over old times. June 1, 1976. This is Your Life,” Phyllis Howell and This is Your Life class of '56.