Western Military Academy - Recall Yearbook (Alton, IL)

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Webster, President SENIORS CLASS OF 1947 SENIOR CLASS HISTORY Adkins, Vice-President In September ol 1943, a host of new cadets arrived on Western ' s campus. The majority of them were to become the officers, athletes, and mental wizards which make up the Senior Class of 1947. Yes, we were Freshmen, straight out of grammar schools from all over these vast United States. It was our year to be the men in the squads, but we were eager to learn and knew that we would gain authority the next year. Most of us took part in all types of C athletics and a few showed enough skill to earn places on the B and varsity teams. We became ac- quainted with Western that year. We learned its traditions, rules, and how to live with our classmates and friends. Our first year ranks second only to our Senior year in thrills and memories. The following year we returned and were glad to wel- come a few new classmates to our campus. Still the boys who took most of the orders had this year to understudy and learn to command. The class also advanced in athletics being the main force in all B sports. Our leaders began to show up in all fields of cadet life. Our writers were becoming more and more essential to the school paper, the Shrapnel . Our more apt students were taking part in academic organizations such as the 400 Club. We were proud of our class and the honors it was winning, and we strove on even harder to keep up the fine reputation we were building. After coming back from our summer vacation we were at last upper classmen. We teok a great deal of the responsibility of the barracks into our hands. A great number of us were given high positions of authority in the military department of the school. Academic honors for some of us kept increasing. We were an all-important cog in the life of the school. Our athletes shone on the A” and B gridirons as well as in basketball, baseball, soccer, and track. We looked forward to our last year knowing we had what it takes to make a successful Senior Class. At last it was here, the year we had all patiently awaited. We had the brunt of the work of the school piled upon us, but our backs were broad and strong. Some were given positions of floor chiefs and barracks chiefs, but we all helped out. In athletics we shall never forget this year. For the first time in seventeen years our foot- ball team beat Alton High, our traditional Turkey Day rivals, winning 20 to 0. We will always remember that day and the football dance that night. In basketball, our team was co-champion of the conference. The soccer, wrestling, and swimming teams all had highly successful seasons. We all worked hard to give our baseball, track and tennis squads their commendable records. Not only were we successful in athletics, but as the commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the battalion Feder, Secretary we led the school through a tough government inspection. We put out this book, the 1947 Re- call and we are proud of the fine way in which we published it. Our top journalists held the key positions on the editorial board of the Shrapnel. The academic department of the school was represented in the National Honor Society and 400 Club by many of our classmates. Now it is time to leave the school of which we have become a living part. All through our lives we will look back at the friendships and enjoyment we have had at Western. We will remember four hard years of climbing up the ladder to graduation with one of the truly great classes in the history of Western Military Acad- emy. THE SENIOR CLASS OF 1947. — 17 — Clarke, Treasurer

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400 CLUB OFFICERS Lett to right Cawvey (Sec.), Feder (Pres.), Capt. Schafl (Faculty Sponsor). Partain, E. (Vice Pres.) The methods of instruction and the philosophy of life employed by Captain Buck have become a legend. Being in a German or Latin class conducted by this fine gentleman was an experience seldom equalled, but never excelled. The Trig., Solid and Algebra classes under out- spoken Doc” Aller also bring fond mem- ories. Remember how often the Problems of Government class discussed problems of Western, and how the antics and in- struction of Captain Schrantz brought hearty laughs. The themes and the West Point cramming caused Captain Wood ' s College Board English Class to keep the lights on after taps, as did Captain Hin- ton ' s rugged English Literature assign- ments. Captains Schaff and McClain kept the history books in popular demand. Numerous others of Western ' s excellent faculty made lasting impressions on our maturing minds. On a serious aspect, however, the officer strove toward advancement and learning with standardized semester examinations as the immediate goal, and with college entrance imminent in the very near future. With such an excellent spirit and record on the part of the Corps and staff, it is no small wonder that the year of 1946-47 went down in Western ' s academic annals as very outstanding. THE 400 CLUB 1st row (seated)— Kennedy. Cawvey, Feder, Partain. E.. Baker. J. 2nd row Michel. Heyman. J.. Bierman. T.. Gillmann, Fishman. Weiner. Laue. Chong. 3rd row Black. T., Walker, C.. Lowe. LeClair, Foster, Norman. Heiman. R. LeRuez.

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Adkins, National Honor Society President Cawvey, Salutatorian Webster, Senior Class President — 18 —