Wapella High School - Retro Yearbook (Wapella, IL)

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LAST WILL and TESTAMENT CLASS OF 54 KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS. That we, the Class of 1954, of Wapella Unit District No. 5, Wapella, Illinois, being of sound mind, disposing memory, realizing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, desiring to make a fair, equitable disposition of all our earthly estate, both real, personal, and mixed, do hereby make and publish this, our last Will and Testament. hereby revoking any and all former testamentary dispositions made by us at any time heretofore. I, James Adams, will my abilities to get along with the teachers. Superintendents, and etc., to Jackie Morris; my first seat in the assembly to Jim Bell; my ability to refereegirls’basketball games to Ronnie Fryman; my ability to win an argument with Mr. Schettler to anyone who thinks they can get away with it. I, Ann Bell with all my boyfriends to Lynn, Carol, and Joan. Good Luck, girls! I, Helen Burns, will my happiness to go steady for so long to Jackie Karr. I, Harold Chrispen, will just leave. I, Audrey Greene, will my disposition and personality to Sherrilyn Ryan. I, Donald Johnson, will my technique to swim to J. D. White. I, Marjorie Karr, will my good grades to Melvin Bray. I. Marline Laiser, will my temper to whoever wants it as I will have no use for it any longer. I, Emma Nelson, will my ability to get along with the boys to Norma Wilson. I, Helen Short, will my weight to Sandra Kinder; she needs it worse than I do. I, William Summers, will my technique to get along with girls and not get caught to anyone who would like to go on a date with themselves. I, Dallas Sumpter, will my ability to steer clear of Chrysler products to David Wilson. I, Robert Swearingen, will my ability to sleep in study hall to Don De Marie. I. Bernice Thorp, will my ability to play a bass horn without giggling to Sherman Wilkerson. I, Joseph Toohill, will my ability to get “A’s” in English to anyone who wants them. I, Mary Ann Toohill, will my ability to play a horn to Lynn Spaulding.

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CLASS HISTORY We have had many wonderful times at W. C. H. S., but now we are sorry to say we have to leave. As freshmen of 51” we were, of course, very “green”; but we soon got into the swing of things. Our class was fairly large then. The twenty-six members enrolled in our class were Doris Anne Graham, Emma Nelson, Joe Toohill, Harold Quiad, Ted Crum, Charles Chrispen, Bob Swearingen, Bernice Thorp, Ann Bell, Nelda Nichols, Marline Laiser, Joe White, Bill Peters, Harold Chrispen, Jim Adams, Mary Ann Toohill, Audrey Greene, Dallas Sumpter, Marjorie Karr, Idella Welch, Bill Summers, Ed Nichols, Helen Burns, Delores Burns, Helen Short, and Shirley Wilkerson. Miss Swafford, the Home Economics teacher, was our sponsor. Our class officers were President--Audrey Greene, Vice-President--Helen Short. Secretary-Treas-urer--Ann Bell, Reporter--Marline Laiser. Audrey Greene and Helen Burns were chosen cheerleaders. Audrey was chosen Miss Wapella High at the Senior CarnivaL We had a skating party at the Clinton Roller Rink. Those who didn’t return our sophomore year were Charles Chrispen, Harold Quaid, Ted Crum, Nelda Nichols, Ed Nichols, and Idella Welch. We gained Walter Torbert and Berniece Reynolds. Audrey Greene was chosen cheerleader from our class. Our class officers were President--Ann Bell, Vice President-- Mary Ann Toohill, Secretary-Treasurer--Helen Burns. Reporter--Audrey Greene. Our junior year went pretty much the same with about the same people. Everyone seemed to enjoy our Junior-Senior Prom. Our class officers were President--Jim Adams, Vice-President--Bob Swearingen, Secretary-Treasurer--Audrey Greene, Reporter--Shirley Wilkerson. Audrey Greene represented our class as cheerleader. Our play “Ryme and Ryme Again” was very successfuL We started our senior year with seventeen members. Our class officers were President--Helen Short, Vice-President--Harold Chrispen, Secretary-Treasurer--Shirley Wilkerson, and Reporter--Marjorie Karr. In November we presented another successful play “Tish.” Shirley Wilkerson was chosen cheerleader. Bernice Thorp won the D. A. R. Award.

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I, Shirley Wilkerson. will my ability to keep away from other girls’ boyfriends to Sherry Mearida. Good Luck, Sherry! We, Helen B.. Audrey, Ann, and Marline will our techniques to get along with the teachers to next year’s Seniors. We, Helen S., Shirley, Bernice, and Mary Ann will our abilities to get along together to anyone who can stand each other as long as we did. CLASS PROPHECV Here it is 1954 and the class of ’54 of WCHS is going to have a homecoming at Wapella’s Country Club. Ann Bell, now the great movie star Geraldine Monroe, is coming back to Wapella in her private plane accompanied by the great singer, and now a partner with Eddie Fisher, William Summers. Ann tells the story as she meets her old friends once again. On the way to Wapella, I see a little trailer, with kids hanging out the windows, riding along the highway at a terrific rate of speed. I tell my pilot to lower the plane so I can see who it is. Who do you think it is? None other than our old classmate, Shirley Wilkerson. Well, we finally arrive at Thorp’s great airport, which is now one of the largest in the U. S., and had a taxi take us to the Country Club. Here I meet all of my old friends of WCHS. First, I see Marline Laiser and Helen Burns. They live by LeRoy on farms right by each other. They say they have so many kids that every so often they have to draw straws to get them straightened out who’s whose. Right across the street from the club is a big sign--” Adams--Swearingen Circus.” We couldn’t believe it could be the Jim Adams and Robert Swearingen we know but I thought we might as well see. So, off the four of us go to the circus. Inside the gate we see two men talking so we decided to see if they know where the managers are. What do you think? It is the managers—Bob and Jim. We talk about old times and they invite us in to see the big show which is about to start. There is a girl on the trapeze ready to do a great stunt. Let’s see—no it couldn’t be—but, yes it is—the great acrobat in center ring--Marjorie Karr. While we are watching with amazement one of the acrobats slips and falls. They yell for the doctor and here hecomesl Why, what do you know, it’s “Old Doc Toohill” (Joe that is.) I guess he’s doing a great job with all of those little gadgets. It’s about time for the party so we decide to leave the circus. Here comes a soldier boy down the street. Let’s see if we know him. Well, it’s Dallas Sumpter. He is going to make a career of the army and is now a General.