Minutes of the Morocco High Alumni Banquet May 26, 2007
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The 59th annual Morocco
High School banquet was held in the Morocco School Gymnasium
Saturday May 26, 2007. 280 attend this year’s Banquet! New Social HourMHS Graduates and guests
were welcomed at 5:15 p.m. with a “Tea Time Gab Fest” hosted by Betty Hagen
Kessler 35’, daughter Vickie Kessler Diegle, and friends. This was enjoyed by many to renew old
acquaintances. Some of the
conversations started with “do you you remember when?”… DinnerPresident Alana Lock Deno 63’
welcomed all Alumni, former students, and guests to the 2007 Alumni. Mr. Jack Snell 51’ gave the invocation
before the banquet that was served by G&G Catering. Recognitions & MeetingAfter the meal the 2007
Alumni Meeting was called to order by President Deno. All stood for the Pledge of
Allegiance. President Deno then
introduced the oldest alumnus present, Miss Margaret Protsman, Class of 1925. Margaret was celebrating her 82nd
alumni year. The second oldest in
attendance was Arthur Howell, Class of 1929, celebrating his 78th
alumni year. Others recognized were
Class of 1931 - Juanita McClatchey Sellers; Class of 1933 - Carrie Evelyn
Murphy Linduska; Class of 1934 - Lawson Cox; and Class of 1935 - Grace Hagen
Rice, Don Clarkson, Florence Mashino Storey, Betty Hagen Kessler, Jeanette
Yates Lowman, Vane Harrison, Dolores Henderson Doelling, and Class of 1936 -
Roger Tebo. This group graduated
before the present Morocco school gymnasium was built (and some of these
graduates helped with the construction). President Deno introduced Honored Classes of 2007: 1937 The Class of 1937
graduated 25. Former members
attending were Stan Harrison and Marvin Miller. 1942 The Class of 1942 graduated 28. Victor Carlson spokesman: “The graduating class of 1942 spent their grade school years during the great depression of the 1930’s. We started school in 1930 following the stock market crash of 1929. Our economy almost failed and many banks did fail and the savings of anyone who had any were lost and the depression followed. In 1932 Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president and numerous programs were enacted to provide jobs and stimulate the economy. One of these was the WPA Works Progress Administration. I remember three WPA projects in Morocco. One was filling low areas of the Oakland Cemetery north of town. Fill dirt from the banks of Beaver Creek was hauled by teams and horse drawn wagons equipped with gravel boards with all loading and leveling done by hand. Another project was located where the post office is now. Privies or outhouses were built and sold at a very nominal price. They were named by many as “Roosevelt Memorials”. The third and largest WPS project was building this gymnasium. Henry Brandt, the Morocco Chevrolet dealer, was serving as the Beaver Township Trustee and caught quite a bit of flack from the local people because of the size of the building being built in the middle of this depression. One citizen remarked, “I think old Henry is losing his mind, it’s so large he will never fill it”. But time has proven them wrong as we have all seen it filled many times. It looks pretty full to me tonight! About the time our class entered high school the economy was slowly improving and things were looking up. But we had another fly in ointment. Adolph Hitler of Germany, Benito Mussolini of Italy and Japan in the Pacific were invading their neighboring nations and World War II was starting. The United States tried to remain neutral but that ended when we were seniors on December 7, 1941. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and we become a participant. Upon graduation virtually all the boys and several girls served in the military. We lost one classmate, Richard Augustine, who was an Air Corps fighter pilot in China. After the war his remains were returned to Morocco and interned in the Oakland Cemetery. Classmates and friends served as pallbearers all dressed in their military uniforms. We also lost an agriculture teacher, Jim Mills. Our high school principal, Harland W. White, served in the Navy until 1945. After the war he was associated with Purdue University until he retired. He passed away this past December at the age of 99. Incidentally, he presented our classmate, Donald Hossett, with his high school diploma in 1942 and also his Purdue University diploma upon graduation. To my knowledge no one in our class achieved greatness but I believe we were all pretty solid citizens. I never heard of anyone serving any jail time. Over the years our class numbers have dwindled considerably and tonight we only have three members in attendance and I would like to introduce them; Marcheta Hamilton Camblin of Morocco, Malcolm Tolin of Morgan Hills, Ca. and myself Victor Carlson of Morocco. Malcolm Tolin had a twin brother Marshall and also a sister Shirley in the class of 1942. Thank you.” 1947 The Class of 1947
graduated 31. Ten members are
deceased. Spokesman Jim White filled in for classmate Betty Deardurff Holmes,
who was unable to attend at the last moment.
Jim introduced those present; Martha Garrard Dickey, Nancy Miller
Myers, former classmate Allen Myers, Betty Heath Carlson, Shirley Boyd
Storey, Barbara Rainford Brisker, Delbert Purdy and Helen Stone Hagen. Click
here to read Jim’s speech and comments. 1952 The Class of 1952
graduated 38. Twelve members are
deceased. Kathy Arbuckle was the
spokesperson. Other members present
were, Carmen Bratt Rouse, Bette Manes Bouch, Sarah Dawson Snell, Gene Dunfee,
Dianne Hanger Hendryx, Mary Wiltfang Tollison, and Gene Warne. The year that this class started school, the first grade teacher at Morocco
Grade School was Betty Kessler. 1957 The 50 Year Honor Class
held their class reunion at the Scott-Lucas House in the afternoon. The Class of 1957 graduated 38, five
members are deceased. Bonnie Barnett Storey introduced the class members
present: Ronald Andis, Nancy Cox Crandall, Marcia Chapman Carlson, Linda
Mashino Gibson, Lynn Russell Abraham, Calvin Schultz, David Barnett, Terry
Madison, Jean Bridgeman Leavitt, Paul Baird, Nancy Shuey Coon, Kay Potts
Lopp, Pauline Thomas Pickett, David Lindlow, Deloris Webb Neuschwander,
Loretta Baird Wagoner, and Eileen Davis VanHouten. 1962 The Class of 1962 graduated
47 and four members are deceased.
Mike McClatchey, “again” filling in for the Class President,
introduced classmates Lois Morgan Hensel, Bedford Hyde, Joe Warrick, Vicki
Treado Manes, Marianne Thompson Luchene, Betty Ferkins Clear, Mallie Dunfee,
Max Hunter, Marjorie Pike Allen, Carolyn Merchant Wiltfang, and Sam Yoder. 1967 The Class of 1967
graduated 61. Four members are
deceased. Class President Thomas
Kocoshis introduced fellow classmates, Carol Allis Cote, Carolyn Holley
Geller, Pat Williamson Reyes, Sherrie Calloway Roberts, and Jill Anderson
Hammel. James Bales, Gloria Hansen Berkshire, Sue Yoder Dresel, Pat Smart
James, Jerome Koutny, Roger LaCosse, Rhonda Madden, Kathy Bartholomew Strong,
Dennis Rainford, Carol Rose, and Patricia Henderson. In honor of those who have
served our Country, President Deno asked all Veterans to stand and be
recognized. A round of applause
showed how greatful we are to those who have served in the Armed Forces. OfficersOfficers for 2008 will be:
Larry Schanlaub, ’63,
President Dennis Boyd, ’61, Vice
President Co-Sec/Treasurers: Connie
Sell, ’63 and Judy Schultz, ‘58 (Historian) The 2007 Alumni meeting
ended with the former school cheerleaders leading the group in the Morocco
school song. New Musical ProgramMHS graduate, Don DeKoker,
‘58 and former Morocco lad, Dave Ross hosted an “Ole Time Concert” with the
help of DJ Dale Murphy. It was kind
of a sock hop for oldies, without taking you shoes off. Each decade of music was featured with a
brief commentary about the times and place the music was popular. The first part of the concert honored the
40’s and the WWII era. Original
versions of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by the Andrew Sisters, “I’ll be seeing
you” by Jane Fromna and many others were played. The second part of the concert featured “Heart of Rock &
Roll”, 1955 through 1962 (pre Beatles).
Songs like “A Fool Such As I’ by Elvis, “My Prayer” by the Platters,
“Little Darling” by the Diamonds, “You send Me’ by Sam Cooke along with
others, were enjoyed by all who attended.
Don’s program renewed a few memories from the past as well as a great
time to dance in the old Historic Morocco Gym, (even for those who graduated before it was built). Click here to see all the photos of this
year’s Celebration!! |