Minutes of the
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The 62nd annual Morocco High School banquet was held in the Morocco School gymnasium Saturday May 29, 2010.
The Morocco Alumni
Association held their 62nd annual banquet May 28, 2010 at the Preceding the banquet, the
2010 Alumni Officers greeted guests at the “Old Gold and Black” social hour
with the help of Carol Loveall ‘69 being in charge of the refreshments. It is always a stroll through the pages of
time when returning back to the There have been many
changes during the last year with a new grade school being built. Morocco Grade School
Principal, Karen Spencer had graciously volunteered to conduct tours of the
new grade school building, and the renovation (still in progress) of the old
school building. Many enjoyed the
tours and all were appreciative of Principal Spencer taking the time to
answer questions.
President Ted Hayes ‘61 welcomed all for coming
tonight and began by introducing the MHS Alumni officers for the 2010 year,
Vice President Herb Barnett ’61 and his wife Fran, Sec/Tres.Connie Ackors
Sell ’63 and husband Dave, Sec/ Historian, Judy Cupp Schultz, ’58 and husband
Bud. Ted introduced his wife Marsha, and others that had helped prepare for
the evening. Dennis and Roslynnn
Merchant Boyd, ’61, Dean ’64 and Carol Schultz,’69 Loveall, and the North
Newton Sophomore Class and their sponsor for transporting tables from the NN
high school and setting those and the chairs up. Ted and Herb presented
Connie and Judy with a lovely potted plant for all their efforts to make the
Alumni program successful. He explained that when the President and
Vice-President live 80 miles away and one in another state, it is these two
that coordinate what needs to be done. President Hayes introduced
the “ All veterans in attendance
were asked to stand. The group honored them with a round of applause. All
stood for the “Pledge of Allegiance.” Mr. Jack Snell, ’51 was
called upon to give the invocation before the meal. President Hayes and
Vice-President Barnett directed each class to the banquet line starting with
the Golden Year honor class of 1960. The “ The 2010 Morocco High
School Alumni business meeting was called to order by President Hayes,
Sec/Tres. Connie Ackors Sell ’63 read the minutes of the 2009 Morocco High
School Alumni Association meeting.
Connie also gave the treasurers report, $5,084.70 a balance as of December 31, 2009. Using this date
because of receiving dues all year long. Old Business: President
Hayes called Sarah Snell to give the report about the Ruth Corbin
Scholarship. Sarah reported that Megan
Gibson was the 2009 recipient of the Ruth Corbin Scholarship. All four of Megan’s
grandparents were graduates of MHS, Robert, ‘55 and Linda “Mashino” ’57 Gibson and Mike and Jo “Miller” Myers,
‘65. Sarah said that after the
2010 award at this year’s presentation, there would be a balance of
$1,168.19. New Business: Daniel
Blaney ’63, spoke about the Morocco Alumni Scholarship being broke. If we are going to have an
Alumni scholarship, it has to be funded. At this time baskets were passed for
a free will offering. He spoke about Sarah being
the treasurer for the scholarship for many years and at this time having the
opportunity of having the funds pass though the Newton Foundation, a 501C 3
org. They would handle this at a cost of 1% of the monies managed. This
organization had awarded about $190,000 in grants over the past few
years. The scholarship would now be
called the Morocco High School Alumni Association Scholarship. President Hayes asked for
a vote or yea or no. Motion passed.
The Morocco High School Alumni Association Scholarship would pass through the
Newton Foundation. President Hayes spoke about
the Morocco Alumni web site and encouraged all to visit this wonderful site.
He then called upon web-master Dave DeKoker to give an update. Dave reported that the web
site had 149,020 hits within the last year, which is up 8,000 from the year
before. He explained that a hit means
a search engine has located our site.
This is active and continually grows and is well worth the cost of $48
that the association pays each year.
He also added that there are 269 veterans ( New Business: President Hayes reported that we do not
have a complete slate of officers for the 2011 year and are in need of a
VP. Vice-President Barnett will be
the President, Sec/tres. Connie Sell, and Sec/historian Judy Schultz. President Hayes called for nominations for
the office of Vice-President. Since
there where none, he reported that the officers had some discussions about
having the President always being from the 50 year class. As the 2011 President is Herb Barnett
class of ‘61 from the 50-year class we need a nomination from the class of
1962 for the office of vice-president. President Hayes acknowledged several
members from the Class of 1962, but none seemed to respond. It was with a “gracious acclamation” that
President Hayes thanked Dennis Deardurff for accepting the office of
Vice-President. President Hayes asked for
all who were in favor to answer by “yea”.
Motion passed. President Hayes introduced
the oldest alumnus present, Alice Purdy Warne. While in high school a class member, Ruth
“Robinson” Graham had written the first school song, “Faithful and True
Hearted.” This was the school song at
the time she graduated until it was replaced with “We The Students” sometime
in 1939. Alice and daughter JoAlice
Warne Belt ‘65 sang a beautiful rendition of “Faithful and True
Hearted”. The audience gave the
mother and daughter duo a standing ovation. (Historian note) Also Alice and President Hayes turned the
next order of business over to Vice-President Barnett. The senior ladies at the
first table were presented with a yellow rose. Alice Purdy Warne, ’30, Betty
Hagen Kessler, ’35, Florence Mashino Storey, ’35, Bonnie Hammel Deardurff,
’38, and Ruth Blann Warrick, ’38.
Vane Harrison, ’35 honor class was presented with a boutonniere, and
the other senior in the group was Lawson Cox, ’34. Vice-President Barnett
called upon Betty Hagen Kessler to speak for the Class of 1935. Class of 1935: Betty began by introducing classmates Vane Harrison and Florence
Mashino Storey; this is their 75th class reunion. There class graduated with 34 students and
29 are now deceased. The class had
memories of F.D.R. and also the struggle of the depression. A few of her memories as a teacher was of
a little boy in the class informing her that his father had said she was also
his teacher. She confirmed that was true, the young boy replied, “that no one
could be that old.” She also remembered the
three little boys who played in her front yard many years ago, Cap Kessler,
Herb Barnett and Ted Hayes. Betty
closed with something that Mrs. McPhail taught her long ago, If you are going
to speak, “Stand-up,” Speak-up” and “Shut-up.” (Ted also added that Cap Kessler, Herb Barnett, and himself
began their education at Class of 1940: None present. Class of 1945: Russell Garrard was the spokesman for the Class of 1945. The class motto was “Tonight we launch, where shall we anchor.” The only future for the boys in our class to
look forward to at that time was to be called to duty in the Armed
Forces. Their elementary school years
were marred by the depression; everything was hard to come by, especially
money. This was a time of rationing,
but somehow we did manage to participate in several school activities. There
were many fun times at Morocco High, class plays, football games, basketball
games, and our favorite teachers, Miss Corbin, Mrs. McPhail and Mr.
Stoner. We survived, and are proud to
be a part of what is now called “The Greatest Generation.” Tonight as we are remembering our school
days, we remember the sixteen members who are now deceased, and those who
could not be here. Russell introduced
his classmates celebrating their 65th class reunion, Warren
Graefnitz, Louise Flatt Wilson, Vera Scheel Johnson, Pauline Boyd Peterson,
Gordon White and Harry Cody. Class of 1950: Vern Denton spoke for the Class of 1950. Carol Bohler Dawson was the only other classmate present to
celebrate the 60th class reunion.
There were 32 gradates in the 1950, his wife Marjorie “Cobb” was one
of them; she had passed away last October. Vern noted that Marjorie always
did a better job as class speaker than what he could do so he would keep it
short. Vern wished all well and a
safe trip home. Class of 1955: Vice President Barnett introduced the speaker for the Class of 1955,
a person whom he knows well, who had traveled from The Class of 1955 gathered
at the Scott-Lucas house in the afternoon to renew old friendships. He thanked Ron Rush and Marion Johnson
Coapstick for their efforts organizing this event. Fourteen members were present to relate several “old stories”
and several “new shocking stories.” We went to school during
the reign of John Cronk, Ann McPhail, and Ruth Corbin. When we graduated we were just kids
knowing each other as classmates.
Then at our 25th year reunion we had became upstanding
citizens celebrating the successes of our lives. At our 50th year reunion we were winding down,
celebrating survival just as we are today.
We are saddened to have lost 2 more classmates since our 50th reunion, Robert Gibson and Clifford
Wiltfang. It has been a pleasure to
have know all of our class mates and we hope to do this again and again. The Class of 1955 graduated with 39
members and there are 6 members who are deceased. Members of the class
returning for the 55th reunion were, Neal Barnett, Marvin Flagg,
Bill Wiltfang, Ronald Baird, Dan Lazaraton, Charles VanCleef, Donn Kaupke,
Audrey Schanlaub Duley, Marion Johnson Coapstick, Shirley McGreger Thompson,
Rosalie Clark Haste, Florence Augustine Bunning, Ron Rush, and Robert
Surprenant Class of 1960: Linwood Brown, senior class vice-president spoke on behalf of the
Class of 1960. The 1960 class
gathered at the Lions Club Den in the afternoon to greet old friends from
near and far. Lin thanked all who had made this a memorial occasion. Twenty-five members and former members
returned to celebrate the Golden Year reunion, some traveling from as far as Lin said that it doesn’t
seem like 50 years could have passed, in this time we have gotten older and
wiser “ I finally got my head
together, and now my body is falling apart.”
He said that he started with nothing and now still has most of
it. He went to school to become a
“wit” and only got half way through.
As the years have passed it takes longer to rest than it did to get
tired. Lin closed by saying
Friendship, which he hopes all of you are, is kind of like incompetence,
everyone can see it, but only you can feel it. Class of 1960 members and
former classmates celebrating their 50th reunion: Lin Brown, James
Styck, Jack Fitzgerald, Charles Gonczy, Dick Borth, Dough Camblin, Stewart
Hammel, Joyce Martin Neibert, Nancy Hayworth Moore, Allen Cox, Rose Marie
Mashino Brunton, Shari Brunton Warne, Jo Miller Myers, Karen Smart Jackman,
Mary Sheldon Wiltfang, Linda Thurston Eighnor, Joan Lowe Burris, Judy Lowe
Cobleigh, Janice Garmong Shirer, Jane Bigger, Joan Baird Triplett, John
Hunter, Carolyn Webb Wardle, Carolyn Borem and Margorie Schultz Layhew. Class of 1965: JoAlice Warne Belt spoke for the Class of 1965. Class president Bill
Smart delegated the job to her with full confidence that she would do
well. JoAlice related the fact that
the group had gathered at the American Legion earlier in the afternoon. There were many having a time trying to
figure who was who and all enjoyed hearing a few stories of years past and
looking at the class memorabilia. The
class graduated with 75 members, Mr. Jack Snell and Mr. Joe Elliott were the
class sponsors. At this time we have lost 9 members of our class. The class motto was
“Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers.”
Due to the size of the class, they were not able to go to 1965 members attending
their 45th reunion were; JoAlice Warne Belt, Bill Ackors, Ron
Dowry, Florence Bertram Burnside, James Green, Bill Smart, Donna Mashino
Smart, Don Loveall, Allan Allis, Lyle Warne, Pat Schaulaub Wynn, Barney Belt,
Vickie Kessler Diegle, Nancy Ludlow Baum, Henry Hansen, Dave Collins, Dave
Doyle, Kathryn Yoder Roert, Charles Hall, Donna Holley Doty, Rodney Rich, Ron
Hileman, Joyce Hoskins and Wilbur Doty. Vice President Barnett
recognized Dale Grafnitz as a member of the MHS 1967 Freshman Class (NN-1970)
and thanked him for coming. The 2010 Morocco Alumni
Association meeting closed with the singing of the school song led by the
retired MHS Cheerleaders: Betty Hagen Kessler ’35, Betty Heath Carlson ’47,
Carolyn Siros Brownfield ’51, Carolyn Merchant Wiltfang ’62, Janet Warne
Allen ’64, JoAlice Warne Belt ’65, Vickie Kessler Diegle ’65, Shari Brunton
Warne ’60, Janice Garmong Shirer ’60 and Rose Marie Mashino Brunton ’60. -- J.S., MHS Alumni Historian |