Sycamore High School

Piano Recitals held on May 18, 1949

On May 18, 1949, Miss Albrecht held a recital for some of her "most gifted students". Not surprisingly, among them were:
Kathy Gooch playing the Sack Waltz
Phil Maveus playing Here Comes the Goody Man
Al Quitno playing the Spinning Song
Carolyn Carlson playing Rustic Dance
Jeanette Joiner playing Rushing River

Al Quitno ????

7th Grade Square Dance takes place in the H.S. cafeteria in March, 1951

Seated: Lou Ann Parsons, Betty Cady, Kathy Gooch, Carolyn Carlson, Judy Craig, Pat Craigen.

Standing: Fran Petrie, Helen Brust, Sharon Larson, Sandy Watson, Nancy Stearns, Lenore Bergeson.

Recitals Repeated on May 18, 1951

Due to popular demand, the recitals were repeated on May 18, 1951. This time some additional classmates got into the act:
Richard Keller playing Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
Kathleen Brennan playing Woodland Waltz
Bill Johnson playing Ecossaises
Carolyn Carlson playing Etude Fantastique

A check of the Listing of Musical Talent in Sycamore, Illinois confirms that none of these classmates made it big in the music industry, though it's reported that Al Quitno was heard whistling the Spinning Song while working on small engines in his shop.

Safety Patrol Feted on May 20, 1951

The Central School Safety Patrol will enjoy a day at the DeKalb Teachers College as thanks for their service. They'll be provided with food, prizes, candy and entertainment. It was noted that "not a single child was injured in a traffic related accident while going to or from school while they were on duty".

Front row: Juanita Freeman, Gary Goodley, Roy Reingard, Carol Mason, Marilyn Franking, Margery Read and Barbara Tucker.
Back row: Lt. William Johnson, Capt. Carolyn Carlson, Helen Brust, Marlene Cederburg, Geraldine Johnson, Deanna Cone, Patricia Johnson and Robert Aldrich, Patrol Superviser.

Subcommittee Meets to plan Website in August, 1956

Actually, we were just playing a board game, but we could have been planning a website if the internet had been invented.

Top picture (clockwise): Carolyn (Carlson) Burns, Ric Lahti, Lynn (Harazin) Johnson, Pat (Johnson) Davy, Dick Keller, Bill Johnson (leaning against chair) and John Buck (leaning in).
Bottom Picture: Dave Ross, Kathleen (Brennan) Ronan and Carol (Mowry) McLain.

Anaconda Wire and Cable Visit takes place on September 5, 1956

During our senior year, many industries and businesses invited students to visit for a day to gain exposure to the real world. Anaconda Wire and Cable was one of these and the host was Roy Gooch, father of Kathy Gooch. There was always a picture and shown here (from left to right) are David Ross, Wanda Collins, Rick Anderson, Judy Craig, Joel Lalley, Dick Keller, Don Olson, Delbert Johnson, Mike Bauer, Barbara Tucker, Darlene Strand, Roy Gooch (host) and Jim Duffy. Alas, none of them went to work for Anaconda, but all had a great time.

Jesse Owens attends Spartan Club banquet on May 15, 1957

Jesse Owens, the world's greatest track athlete and winner of four gold medals from the Olympic Games is looking over the program from Wednesday nights Spartan Banquet in Sycamore with Club officers.

In front, at left, is Spartan Club President, Rod Robinson, Owens, and at right, Club Vice President, Al Quitno. Standing from left to right are Joe Trapp, who introduced the special guest and Secretary-Treasurer, Mike Bauer.

Joe Trapp noted that the ads printed on the reverse side of the picture offered a new Olds Holiday, fully loaded, for $3595 and a 1951 Hudson Sedan for $145.

The day we were waiting for - June 3, 1957

R.O.O.C.H. Founded in Sycamore in August, 1957

R.O.O.C.H., the Royal Order of Canadian Honkers, a "not so exclusive" organization was founded by six members of the Class of 1957. Not surprisingly, the International Call Word was "Honk".

The founding fathers of the organization were:
Joe Trapp - University of Portland
Mike Bauer - Iowa State University
Dick Keller - Drake University
Ric Lahti - Iowa State University
Larry Linden - Michigan State University
Joe Tomlinson - University of Illinois

As we became involved with our studies, the organization fell into oblivion and nothing was heard from it for 50 years. It will probably be another 50 years before anyone hears about it again.

5th Class Reunion held in August, 1962

(click on picture to enlarge it)

Front row: Judy Martin, Sandi Thomas, Janet Peterson, Wanda Collins, Fran Petrie, Marge Read, Lynn Harazin, Pat Craigen.
Second row: Bob Whitney, Merle Carter, Richard Keller, Judy Craig, Joe Tomlinson, Sharon Erlewine, Joel Lalley, Bill Johnson, Al Quitno, Jim Mandery.
Third row: Eugene Drake, Duane Shellito, Karl Rempher, Betty Cady, Dick Johnson, Dick Snyder, Dave Ross, Don Olson.

A Gathering of Pregnant Ladies takes place on March 7, 1964

By the mid 1960's, many of our classmates were beginning to raise families. Since pregnant ladies have a lot in common, they often got together. One of these occasions included (left to right) Bill Johnson's wife, Fran (Petrie) Rinaldo, Marge (Reed) Ross, Betty (Cady) Carter and Darlene (Strand) Davis.

10th Class Reunion held in August, 1967

(click on picture to enlarge it)

Front row: Sandi Thomas, Sharon Sibley, Sharon Erlewine, Lou Ann Yeast, Judy Martin, Fran Petrie, Carol Mowry, Janet Peterson.
Second row: Joe Tomlinson, John Howe, Lenore Bergeson, Kathleen Brennan, Judy Craig, Sue Safford, Wanda Collins, Lou Ann Parsons, Barbara Tucker, Kathy Gooch, Marge Read, Pat Craigen, Betty Cady.
Third row: Duane Shellito, Dave Gould, Richard Keller, Curt Perry, Dave Ross, Bill Johnson, Ric Lahti, Joe Trapp, Karl Rempher, Don Olson, Joel Lalley, Merle Carter, Al Quitno, Dick Johnson, Bob Whitney, Dick Snyder.

20th Class Reunion held in August, 1977

(click on picture to enlarge it)

Top row: Mike and Janice Bauer, Roger and Lenore (Bergeson) Brinker, Ron and Diana Binder, Merle and Betty (Cady) Carter, Dale and Judy (Craig), Dale and Pat (Craigen) Pollett.
Second row: Eugene and Edeltraut Drake, Fred and Sharon (Erlewine) Hample, Ken and Pat (Johnson) Davy, Bill and Pat Johnson, Dick and Karla Keller, Joel and Marsha Lalley.
Third row: Larry and Mickey Linden, Gary and Judy (Martin) Holland, Jim and Velma Mulligan, Don and Mary Olson, Fran (Petrie) Lange, Dave and Marge (Read) Ross.
Fourth row: Rod Robinson, Betty (Reinken) Masters, Duane and Rita Shellito, Joe Trapp, John Worden, Milton and Elouise (Eberly) Westlake.

25th Class Reunion held in August, 1982

(click on picture to enlarge it - the rows are not in neat order, but I'm sure with a careful look, you'll be able to figure out who everyone is)

Front row: Sharon Sibley, Lynn Harazin, Judy Craig, Chuck Hendron, Kathleen Brennan, Al Quitno.
Second row: Merle Carter, Pat Coultrip, Lou Ann Parsons, Pat Craigen, Carol Mowry, Richard Keller, Betty Cady, Fran Petrie.
Third row: Jim Mandery, Elmer Gaul, Sharon Erlewine, Dick Snyder, Marge Read, Jim Mulligan, Don Olson, Larry Linden, Bruce Smith, Joe Trapp.
Fourth row: Darlene Strand, Bob Whitney, Duane Shellito, John Worden, Karl Rempher.
Fifth row: Barbara Tucker, Eugene Drake, Dave Ross, Curt Perry.

45th Class Reunion held in August, 2002

(click on picture to enlarge it)

Front row: Sharon Erlewine, Lou Ann Parsons, Pat Johnson.
Second row: Carol Mowry, Pat Craigen, Betty Cady, Kathy Morris, Judy Martin, Mary Jo McMillan.
Third row: Sandy Larson, Lenore Bergeson, Carolyn Carlson, Sharon Sibley, Judy Craig, Kathleen Brennan, Fran Petrie, Lynn Harazin, Janet Peterson.

Front row: Karl Rempher, Jim Mandery, Jim Duffy
Second row: Eugene Drake, Terry Glenn, Dick Snyder, John Garman, Dick Johnson.
Third row: Richard Keller, Al Quitno, Curt Perry, Mike Bauer, Chuck Hendron, Larry Bowman, Bob Whitney, Jim Mulligan, Dave Ross, Merle Carter.

50th Class Reunion held on August 11, 2007

(click on picture to enlarge it)

front row: Carol(Mowry) McLain,Kathy(Morris) Case,Judy(Craig) Richardson,Lou Ann(Parsons) Hendron,Kathleen(Brennan) Ronan,Mary(McMillan) Dees,John Worden,Al Quitno,Merle Carter Middle Row: Sandi(Thomas) Earl,Dorothy(Anderson) Kramer,Fran(Petrie) Rinaldo,Sharon(Sibley) Carlson,Larry Bowman,Chuck Hendron,Carolyn(Carlson) Burns,Lynn(Harazin) Johnson,Betty(Cady) Carter,Elmer Gaul,John Garman,Don Olson Back Row: Janet Peterson,Jim Mulligan,Joe Trapp,Phil Maveus,David Ross,Richard Anderson,Richard Keller,Mike Bauer,Terry Glenn,Dick Johnson,Eugene Drake,Karl Remfer,Bob Whitney,Jim Duffy,Jim Mandery

Duffy and Linden get together in NC on March 14, 2009

Jim and I had not seen one another since 1957. I was in NC for my grand daughter's birthday and we had the opportunity to get together for lunch, a lunch that lasted four hours as we talked more than we ate. A big plus was the 76 degree weather that I had to leave behind to return to Chicago.

Class Luncheon takes place on May 12, 2009

Thirteen people attended the May luncheon and, as usual, the conversation was serious, covering Transportation Issues (three class members operate model railroads), World Events (Tony and Alice will be attending a Model A Ford show in July), Culture (Al Quitno acknowledged that he was a pretty good pianist at the age of 10), Economics (Elmer and Janet Gaul may have a buyer for their farm) and Healthcare (Fran Rinaldo's husband is doing well following complications from a recent surgery).

Following the luncheon, I had the opportunity to visit with Sarah (Anding) Bailey and her bio now appears on our website.

Front row: Lynn (Harazin) Johnson, Janet Gaul, Kathy (Morris) Case, Carol Quitno.
Second row: Fran (Petrie) Rinaldo, Sharon (Erlewine) Hample, Alice Whitney, Betty (Cady) Carter, Al Quitno.
Back row: Merle Carter, Elmer Gaul, Larry Linden, Tony Whitney.

500th Website Hit as of June 2, 2009

At about 2:00 pm on June 2, 2009, our class website received its 500th visitor. Rumor has it that Bob Whitney is sneaking a peek at the site late each evening and has accounted for about half these hits.

Mini Class Reunion Held September 19, 2009

A "Mini" Class Reunion for the classes of 1956, 57 and 58 was hosted by Alta and Bob Hough at their cabin near Cherry Valley, IL. Most of us knew many of the class immediately ahead and behind us and it was an opportunity to see several folks that we hadn't seen since high school.

Seven members of the Class of 57 were present and included Carolyn (Carlson) Burns, John Garman, Dick Johnson, Lynn (Harazin) Johnson, Larry Linden, Al and Carol Quitno and Tony and Alice Whitney.

Our thanks to Alta and Bob for hosting this event.

Front row: Lynn (Harazin) Johnson, John Garman, Carolyn (Carlson) Burns
Back row: Tony Whitney, Al Quitno, Dick Johnson, Larry Linden

Coming up Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Members of the Class of 57 will be getting together for lunch at the Parkside Restaurant (across from the Sycamore park) at 11:30. No reservations are required.