| Cruisin' the Past |
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| Cruisin’ the Past by Ed Dooley |
Graduation Day Arrives
Fifty years ago this month, 475 seniors of the Catalina High School Class of
1960 crossed the platform in the school’s gymnasium to receive diplomas. Our
class was the first class to graduate from CHS that had entered as freshmen. The
school’s “first generation,” so to speak, was departing.
A few days before the ceremony, The Trumpeteer informed its readers that
“Speakers for the class will be the following: Judy Allen, speaking on future social
life; Steve Young, speaking on future political life; Edith Catlin, speaking on
future educational life; and Rick Parrish, speaking on the future life of the high
school graduate in general…. Connie McMillan will give the invocation and
Margaret Hagen will give the benediction.”
The ceremony resembled the graduation ceremonies of the classes that
preceded us except in one detail. Instead of all members of the class wearing a
blue gown, the girls wore white gowns with blue tassels, while the boys wore blue
gowns with white tassels. The Trumpeteer added that “Students who have paid
for the tassels will be able to keep them after the ceremony.” In those days, it
was common for a high school graduates to hang their graduation tassels on the
rear view mirror of their cars to announce, one supposes, that they had
successfully passed this important milestone in life.
As we look back on those heady days in this, the last in this pre-50th reunion
series of essays, we’ll let our classmates have the last word. The following items
appeared in the 3 June 1960 edition of The Trumpeteer, the last issue of our last
year.
The first appeared as an editorial and was not signed. It was titled “Want To
Read A Success Story? Here’s A Real One – About CHS.”
“’Those were the good old days!’
“Someday a graduating CHS senior may be expressing this sentiment in
remembering his alma mater, although at this stage he is relieved to be leaving
as he will be nostalgic.
“About to face the world, the graduate looks forward to new opportunities but,
at the same time, is perhaps a little unsure of himself and almost wishes that he
did not have to go.
“The Class of ’60 has a lot to look back upon.
“It is the first full graduating class in Catalina’s brief history, having attended
Catalina a complete four years.
“’Better late than never’ might make a fitting class motto, for seniors have
shown a remarkable comeback in class spirit this spring. Their all-out
participation in Senior Week and the Trump Review made both these events
successful and have established new traditions at Catalina.
“Numerous scholarships awarded to seniors reflect the potential existing
among the ranks of the class. These students are bound to go far if they continue
to develop their abilities.
“Because of its recent achievements, the Class of ’60 may go down as one of
the finest in Catalina history….”
The second essay was written by our classmate, Wallis Jacobus, and was titled
“For Seniors Only.”
“Each one of you,” Wallis wrote, “the Class of ’60, has spent the four years
growing up. They have been four, sometimes long and sometimes short years,
which are only memories now. Years full of happiness, sadness, pain, and
achievement which some day you will look back upon with laughter.
“Each one of you can probably remember that first day of school. You flocked
to Tucson High (our rival-to-be) to attend classes that first day. The ‘plant’ hadn’t
been completed yet so THS was just our temporary quarters. That was the first
day, with the halls a maze trying to trap us. But you finally got through it all in one
piece but perhaps very red faced.
“Class elections soon rolled around and Neal (‘I won’t be a rubber stamp’)
Genda was elected president and was assisted by Diane Jeffries and Judy Allen.
“The first semester went by and soon it was time for us to move into our own
building. We were now bona fide members of Catalina High School. Our school
was fresh and new and so was our spirit. Every Friday afternoon ‘See you at the
game tonight’ rang through the halls. Catalina, our Catalina, had real meaning. It
was our Catalina. Baseball took the field and soon summer rolled around.
“Early next September we returned to school, another rung higher on the
ladder of high school. Another class took our place as freshmen and we could
finally say rather disdainfully, ‘You can always tell a freshman,’ in that knowing
tone that only sophomores, juniors, and seniors seem to acquire. Many of us
started thinking about that long awaited day, our 16th birthday and our driver’s
license.
“For boys it meant cruising Johnie’s and for girls visiting girl friends. Our
basketball team went on to win the city championship backed by many eager
Trojans. Parties were held almost every week-end or maybe we traveled to
Sabino Canyon. Another summer finally arrived and we had three more months of
freedom.
“We returned to school the following year with the know-it-all attitude typical of
upperclassmen. Several of our boys were on their way to becoming top athletes.
We weren’t quite as close as we used to be but we still had fun when we all
worked together as we did on the Junior Prom. Its program takes a prominent
spot on many senior girls’ bulletin boards.
“By the beginning of this year, the all important one, we started noticing many
new faces and missing a few favorite ones.
“We had our Senior Prom and many parties, but all in all, it was still a success.
One of our most successful events was Senior Week. The fashion show and
lunch together were enjoyed by everyone. And there were many laughs over ‘how
to marry a millionaire.’
“’Oh, Yes,’ said the lower classmen, ‘we’ll remember the Class of ’60.’
Next Friday night as we put on our caps and gowns, let’s think back over the
past four years with a smile for they will never be ours again.”
And now, fifty years later, we not only think back over those four years, but on
all the intervening years – up and down the paths that life has led us – and we can
look forward to reuniting with friends once more.
Editor’s concluding note: I hope you have enjoyed reading these little monthly
essays. No doubt a faulty memory and a dose of nostalgia on the part of the writer
have distorted the picture a bit, but I hope I have done justice to that
extraordinary experience of our high school years at Catalina High School. See
you in October!
Fifty years ago this month, 475 seniors of the Catalina High School Class of
1960 crossed the platform in the school’s gymnasium to receive diplomas. Our
class was the first class to graduate from CHS that had entered as freshmen. The
school’s “first generation,” so to speak, was departing.
A few days before the ceremony, The Trumpeteer informed its readers that
“Speakers for the class will be the following: Judy Allen, speaking on future social
life; Steve Young, speaking on future political life; Edith Catlin, speaking on
future educational life; and Rick Parrish, speaking on the future life of the high
school graduate in general…. Connie McMillan will give the invocation and
Margaret Hagen will give the benediction.”
The ceremony resembled the graduation ceremonies of the classes that
preceded us except in one detail. Instead of all members of the class wearing a
blue gown, the girls wore white gowns with blue tassels, while the boys wore blue
gowns with white tassels. The Trumpeteer added that “Students who have paid
for the tassels will be able to keep them after the ceremony.” In those days, it
was common for a high school graduates to hang their graduation tassels on the
rear view mirror of their cars to announce, one supposes, that they had
successfully passed this important milestone in life.
As we look back on those heady days in this, the last in this pre-50th reunion
series of essays, we’ll let our classmates have the last word. The following items
appeared in the 3 June 1960 edition of The Trumpeteer, the last issue of our last
year.
The first appeared as an editorial and was not signed. It was titled “Want To
Read A Success Story? Here’s A Real One – About CHS.”
“’Those were the good old days!’
“Someday a graduating CHS senior may be expressing this sentiment in
remembering his alma mater, although at this stage he is relieved to be leaving
as he will be nostalgic.
“About to face the world, the graduate looks forward to new opportunities but,
at the same time, is perhaps a little unsure of himself and almost wishes that he
did not have to go.
“The Class of ’60 has a lot to look back upon.
“It is the first full graduating class in Catalina’s brief history, having attended
Catalina a complete four years.
“’Better late than never’ might make a fitting class motto, for seniors have
shown a remarkable comeback in class spirit this spring. Their all-out
participation in Senior Week and the Trump Review made both these events
successful and have established new traditions at Catalina.
“Numerous scholarships awarded to seniors reflect the potential existing
among the ranks of the class. These students are bound to go far if they continue
to develop their abilities.
“Because of its recent achievements, the Class of ’60 may go down as one of
the finest in Catalina history….”
The second essay was written by our classmate, Wallis Jacobus, and was titled
“For Seniors Only.”
“Each one of you,” Wallis wrote, “the Class of ’60, has spent the four years
growing up. They have been four, sometimes long and sometimes short years,
which are only memories now. Years full of happiness, sadness, pain, and
achievement which some day you will look back upon with laughter.
“Each one of you can probably remember that first day of school. You flocked
to Tucson High (our rival-to-be) to attend classes that first day. The ‘plant’ hadn’t
been completed yet so THS was just our temporary quarters. That was the first
day, with the halls a maze trying to trap us. But you finally got through it all in one
piece but perhaps very red faced.
“Class elections soon rolled around and Neal (‘I won’t be a rubber stamp’)
Genda was elected president and was assisted by Diane Jeffries and Judy Allen.
“The first semester went by and soon it was time for us to move into our own
building. We were now bona fide members of Catalina High School. Our school
was fresh and new and so was our spirit. Every Friday afternoon ‘See you at the
game tonight’ rang through the halls. Catalina, our Catalina, had real meaning. It
was our Catalina. Baseball took the field and soon summer rolled around.
“Early next September we returned to school, another rung higher on the
ladder of high school. Another class took our place as freshmen and we could
finally say rather disdainfully, ‘You can always tell a freshman,’ in that knowing
tone that only sophomores, juniors, and seniors seem to acquire. Many of us
started thinking about that long awaited day, our 16th birthday and our driver’s
license.
“For boys it meant cruising Johnie’s and for girls visiting girl friends. Our
basketball team went on to win the city championship backed by many eager
Trojans. Parties were held almost every week-end or maybe we traveled to
Sabino Canyon. Another summer finally arrived and we had three more months of
freedom.
“We returned to school the following year with the know-it-all attitude typical of
upperclassmen. Several of our boys were on their way to becoming top athletes.
We weren’t quite as close as we used to be but we still had fun when we all
worked together as we did on the Junior Prom. Its program takes a prominent
spot on many senior girls’ bulletin boards.
“By the beginning of this year, the all important one, we started noticing many
new faces and missing a few favorite ones.
“We had our Senior Prom and many parties, but all in all, it was still a success.
One of our most successful events was Senior Week. The fashion show and
lunch together were enjoyed by everyone. And there were many laughs over ‘how
to marry a millionaire.’
“’Oh, Yes,’ said the lower classmen, ‘we’ll remember the Class of ’60.’
Next Friday night as we put on our caps and gowns, let’s think back over the
past four years with a smile for they will never be ours again.”
And now, fifty years later, we not only think back over those four years, but on
all the intervening years – up and down the paths that life has led us – and we can
look forward to reuniting with friends once more.
Editor’s concluding note: I hope you have enjoyed reading these little monthly
essays. No doubt a faulty memory and a dose of nostalgia on the part of the writer
have distorted the picture a bit, but I hope I have done justice to that
extraordinary experience of our high school years at Catalina High School. See
you in October!