Minutes of the Morocco High Alumni Banquet May 27, 2006
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The 58th annual
Morocco High School banquet was held in the Morocco School gymnasium
Saturday May 27, 2006. The oldest MHS Graduate in attendance was Margaret
Protsman, Class of 1925. Margaret began her education at the Norway School
(a one room school) in Beaver Township and graduated 81 years ago. President David DeKoker presented a plaque to Miss
Patsy Burns for her 28 years of serving as secretary/treasurer of the MHS
Alumni Association. The MHS Alumni and guests showed their appreciation to
Patsy with a round of applause. President DeKoker introduced Mr. Jim Lods, Coach of
the 1956 MHS Basketball Sectional Champions. Although it has been 50 years
since the 65 to 58 win over Rensselaer,
Mr. Lods related stories of each team members efforts. During the
second quarter he substituted a 59 freshman for a 63 senior. The freshman
scored 2 points and at halftime Morocco was ahead 31 to 30. This young man
was Tom Shuey; his father Milton Shuey had been a member of the only other
MHS Sectional Champion Team 22 years earlier. Coach Lods introduced the team
members present Dave Boyd, Lester Klein, Eugene Hendryx, John Kessler, all
1956 class members; Don Hunter-class of 58; and Tom Shuey-class of 59. Two
team members Dale Purkey-class of 56 and David Rybarski-class of 57 are
deceased. The other two members of the team were unable to attend. He also spoke about the support that they had from
the cheerleaders, the student body, and the community. The fans turned out in
large numbers and were cheering continuously. When the team returned to
Morocco that evening, a bonfire had been built in the middle of town, for the
celebration. It was a great time for all and is still a momentous event for
many who were there . The MHS Alumni
Association Honored Classes for 2006 were: 1931 Juanita McClatchey Sellers was the only member
present was presented a Yellow rose and a Golden Certificate. The class of
1931 had 20 graduates. 1936 Roger Tebo spokesman for the class recalled his
first day of school at Morocco Grade School. Margaret Protsman made sure that
he did not get lost the entire day.
The Class of 1936 had 32 graduates and nine members are still living.
Attending were: Ivan Babbitt, Dorothy Redden Weir, and Carolyn Hammel Frasley
and Roger Tebo. 1941 Paul Bailey and Alice Bingham Nemecek were the only
graduates present of the 31 class members. Paul spoke about how the speaker misspoke at Commence-ment,
saying discouragement instead of encouragement He always felt the speaker had it right the first time because
the guns were blaring on the horizon, as we were soon to be in war. He and many of his classmates would soon
be signing up to join the Armed Forces. 1946 Art Augustin was spokesperson for their class of 36
members. Fourteen members have passed away.
Those present were Art Augustin, Morris Brunton, Robert Chapman, Rex
Hagen, Michael Manes, Wilma Blann Swim, Alberta Develde Guiliani, Paul McClatchey and Frances Taylor
Hayworth. 1951 Joan Porter Carlson spoke about starting high school
with 51 students in their freshman class. And at graduation they had 34. Nine
of their classmates have passed away and since graduation have never been able to contact three of
their classmates. Attending their 55th anniversary were RoseMary DeGroot
Armstrong, Carolyn Sirois Brownfield, Marilyn Ross Veselak, Marlene Styck
Johnson, Jack Snell, and Joan Porter Carlson. 1956 Jack Storey was spokesman of the Class of 1956 with
57 graduates, the first class to graduate that many members. Eight members
of the class are deceased. Classmates
attending the 50th year anniversary were: Jean Bigger Denton, Larry Bingham,
David Boyd, Charlene Bridgeman, Charles Bridgeman, Judith Brunton Keppner,
Martha Clark White, Norma Deardurff Henneike, Barbara Doty Bridgeman, Stanley
Elgas, Richard Goddard, Eugene Hendryx, John Kessler, Sandra Kessler
Johnston, Lester Klein, Judy Madison Baird, Ann Mahan Krejsa, Diana McCord
Scheurich, Joe Manes, Richard Neibert, Carolyn Pike Swartz, Linda Potts
Smous, Delmar Pufahl. Joe Ramsey, Eleanor Sorenson Warne, Dennis Speer,
Barbara Stone Krueger, Jack Storey, Percy Styck, Jeremy Treado, Susan
Triplett Clark, Mary Ann Villanova Miller, Joyce Warne Wagner, Gary White,
Dale Wiseman, and Arema Henderson Hinkle. 1961 Herb Barnett introduced his classmates attending
the 45th Alumni celebration, Dennis Boyd, Roslyn Merchant Boyd, and Dan
Vanderwall. The class of 1961 started
their freshman year with a total of 75 students and 55 students graduated on
Wednesday May 17, 1961 they were privileged to have Mr. Jesse Owens as the
speaker. His address to the class of 1961 was The Brighter Side of the
Coin. 1966 Spokesman for the Class was Jerry Wagner.
Classmates attending the Banquet were Henry Dick,
Ray Cooper, Gretchen Hunter Swallo, Tim Geller, Joe Clarkson, Betty
Northcutt Chernowski, Lester Laffoon, Linda McClatchey Flack, Oscar Reyes,
Sheryl Samuelson Wirt, Laurie Pike Vaught, and Karne Ross. The evening ended with the School Song led by many of the former MHS School Cheerleaders: Betty Hagen Kessler 35, Wilma Blann Swim 46,
Betty Heath Carlson 47, Helen Stone Hagen 47, Carolyn Sirois Brownfield
51, Diane Hanger Hendryx 53, Wilma Porter Smith 54, Barbara Stone Krueger
56, Carolyn Pike Swartz 56, Janice Garmong
Shirer 60. |