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The 67th annual Morocco High School banquet was held in
the Morocco
School gymnasium Saturday May 23rd, 2015.
The Morocco Alumni Association held their annual Banquet
at the Morocco Gymnasium. There were approximately
160 alumni and guests attending the banquet served by Devon’s Catering of
Rensselaer. Since the Morocco gym is
now air-conditioned, we were all very comfortable to visit with former
classmates and friends at the “Old Gold & Black” social hour preceding
the banquet.
President Woody Hammel ’65 welcomed everyone back to the
gym where we graduated so many years ago.
Woody assured us that the program would be very short this year. He thanked Matt Kalita, our magician, for
being here and entertaining us during our banquet.
President Woody Hammel ’65 read several quotes: “ It would
not be the land of the free if it wasn’t the home of the brave. We remember those who paid the ultimate
sacrifice and honor those who have served to protect and defend our country
and freedom.” He then had all the
men and women who had served in the U.S. Armed Forces stand up and they were
honored with a round of applause.
Woody then led all of us in the “Pledge of Allegiance” and Bonnie
Barnett Storey ’57 gave the invocation preceding the banquet. This year we had Bev Sherman Bingham’s ’64
daughter, Mindy Mathis, and grandchildren,
Hanna, Sarah, Katie, and John Mathis come to give assistance to anyone that
might need some extra help during our banquet time and they also helped clear
the tables which was a big help. We
want to thank all of them for coming, it was very much appreciated.
President Woody Hammel ’65 introduced Barb Rice Greenburg,
Betty Hagen Kessler’s ’35 niece, to introduce the special award that Betty
received from Butler University. She
received an Honorary Doctorate Degree for the many wonderful accomplishments she has done in her life
through her teaching and community.
Barb Greenburg told the stories of Betty when she first started
teaching in 1937 until retiring years.
After retiring, she opened the “Lunchbox” restaurant uptown Morocco
until she was 86 yrs. old and had to sell because of health reasons. One year later, she opened a “Tea Room
& Art Center” uptown Morocco to show off the talent from the community
and to socialize.
Worked with the Project Unlimited group in Morocco on many
projects for the community and they made a small park in Morocco in honor of
Betty. If anyone would like to see
this award that was given to Betty Hagen Kessler’35, there is a video on the
Morocco High School Alumni Homepage that is listed under “Latest News”. You will see all of it on that listing
with several pictures with Betty and her niece, Barb and them sharing their
memories.
The Secretary/Treasurer Connie Ackors Sell ’63 received a
letter from Marjorie Jackson Henry ’33 who talked about what has been
happening in her life. She is 93 yrs.
old now and her husband and her now live in an apt. at a Nursing Home. She will turn 100 yrs. in August. Connie also told us about Gartha Hanger
Clark ‘ 33 who will also turn 100 yrs. in June of this year. Connie gave her treasurer’s report and was
approved by the alumni as read.
President Woody Hammel ’65 reported that the 2015minutes,
written by Recording Secretary, JoAlice Warne Belt ’65 were posted on the
alumni web-site. Please feel free to
read them and if there are any additions or corrections, please make that
known by e-mail. We encourage
everyone to access the web-site and also to notify Connie Ackors Sell ’63 or
the web-master David Dekoker, if someone has passed away. Connie does not know if the address is
incorrect or if the person is deceased when she gets an invitation back in the
mail.
President Woody Hammel ’65 talked to us about the Ruth
Corbin Scholarship now known and maintained by the Newton Community
Foundation. To keep our scholarship
fund going, he had baskets passed around for the free will donation. With the money Connie Ackors Sell ’63,
treasurer, had already received and what we collected at the alumni, the
total was $1,054.00 which will be turned over the Foundation. We want to thank everyone for their
donations.
The slate of officers for the 2016 MHS Alumni Association
was presented by President Woody Hammel ’65:
President, Tim Geller ’66; Vice-President, Roger LaCosse ’67;
Secretary/Treasurer, Connie Ackors Sell ’63; Recording Secretary, JoAlice
Warne Belt ’65; Historian, Judy Cupp Schultz ’58. The alumni members voted and excepted the nomin-ations for
officers for 2016.
President Woody Hammel ’65 received a message from the
North Newton School Corporation. They
had a Strategic Planning Committee composed of staff, community members and
business men. This committee worked
and met for 5 months to plan the direction of the corporation. One of their suggestions is that all 4
schools be called Spartans to motivate the children early about their school
since the alma motter will be Spartans.
There will be no more Beavers, Tigers, or Eagles. This will probably take place starting next year.
President Woody Hammel ’65 introduced two alumni who were
one of the honored classes and also the oldest members in attendance. They were: Betty Hagen Kessler ’35, and Florence Mashino Storey ’35. Betty said “Hooray” for the class of
1935. They both received flowers and a great applauce!
Some of the other honored classes were: 1940, 1945, & 1950.
Vice-President, Tim Geller ’66 introduced Florence
Augustine Bunning who spoke for the class of 1955. There was 38 students who graduated in their class and 8 of
them has now passed away. Mrs. Ann
McPhail was their class sponsor and they went to Washington DC on their
senior trip. We have 9 of our
classmates here tonight and you can see more about our class on the web-site.
Stewart Hammel spoke for the class of 1960. There were only 4 classmates who came to
the alumni this year so Stew didn’t have too much to say, only that we might
be weak in numbers, but we’re strong!
JoAlice Warne Belt spoke for the class of 1965. We had so many that came to our reunion
that it was wonderful! There were 35
classmates who came and we were so proud of each and everyone of them for
making our 50th the greatest we have ever had. We had a lot of classmates who came from a
great distance and some close by. We
had a great party at the Lucus House here in Morocco where we just visited
and told stories and just got to know each other again. We also invited some of our teachers back
with us to visit and it was great to see all of them. We had 75 students in our class and 14 of
them have passed away. We just want to thank everyone for making this year a
great one!
Ruth Ellen Blaney Hayworth spoke for the class of
1970. She was sorry she was the only
one here this year, but she will try to get more to come next year.
President Woody Hammel ’65 asked all former cheerleaders
to step forward and lead us in the school song. Cheerleaders were:
JoAlice Warne Belt ’65; Betty Hagen Kessler ‘ 35; Carolyn Holley
Geller ’67; Jill Anderson Hammel ’68; and Linda Mashino Gibson ’57.
Motion was made to adjourn and seconded. Passed.
The day before the Alumni is when the preparations begin
for our Saturday banquet. Soon after
school on Friday, some of the students from the sophomore class from North
Newton and their sponsor, Mr. Jim Speck, transported tables from NN. They set-up the tables & chairs and
patiently moved them around for us. A
big thank you to these young people, their sponsor and the NN School
Corporation. At this time, the table
coverings are placed and decorations are added. Many hands make this an easy task. This year those who arrived and worked to get this all done
were: Bill & Donna Smart, Woody
& Jill Hammel, Barney & JoAlice Belt, Tim & Carolyn Geller,
Connie & Dave Sell, Mike & Karen McClatchey, Kathleen Yoder Rotert,
Susan Plaster Pantos, and Stewart Hammel.
After the banquet and the guests have left, is when the
gym has to be cleared and ready for school on Monday. A big thank you to the young people who
came in, folded up all the tables and chairs, and carried grade school tables
and chairs to the storage area. The
tables from the high school are picked up early Monday morning and returned
to the high school by the students.
Again, a “thank you” to all who helped with the 2015 MHS
Alumni.
-- JoAlice Belt, MHS Recording/Secretary
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