JOHNSTON HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF '62
HISTORY
The following is the history of our class taken directly from our senior yearbook - THE BEACONITE. Remember when...
"Teddy Bears On Parade" started us marching on our way to the top. Mrs. Bybee was the first leader of the "parade" and she was followed by Raymond Betz, Donna Michael, Diane Fitzsimmons, Carol Glider, Ken Jarvis, Jerry Jensen, Marilyn Fick, Jon Schuler, Jackie Weatherspoon, Carol Kinsey, Shirley Lamp, Nancy Lathrum, Carol McCurdy, Judy McKinley, Nancy Pontious, Sandy Reier, Sue Strauss, Paula Surber, Ed Sweeney, Dick Tasler, John Theisen, Donna Thompson, and Jeff Voorhees.
We continued marching and marched right into first grade, where Marilyn Olcott joined the parade. Mrs. Bybee passed the baton to Mrs. Guess and Mrs. Kesterson. We took a trip on a train from Des Moines to Grimes and in between relays and parades, we learned reading and writing.
After Mrs. Guess and Mrs. Kesterson had polished our marching, they promoted us to second grade privates, under Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Wilson. Judy Sullivan stepped into our line. Mrs. Taylor's class marched into Mrs. Wilson's room to see a display on trains.
Third grade found us under the leadership of Mrs. Trickey and Mrs. Barnes. We diligently studied George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. We also took a regimental tour of Pioneer. Mary Theisen and Bill Winters enlisted in our regiment this year.
In fourth grade, Mrs. Kelsey and Mrs. Schell took the baton and pounded the multiplication tables into our heads. Mrs. Kelsey instigated a small riot by having her name changed by a Mr. Garrity. Our ranks were strengthened by Eugene Palmer and Norma Louise Rice.
Fifth grade found us under the command of Mrs. Young and Mrs. Norris. Mrs. Young's regiment satisfied their scientific curiosity by studying various "bugs", much to the delight of Jean Jacobson, our newest recruit.
After re-enlisting for the sixth time we were given our orders by Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. Smith. Keith Westbrook decided to serve out his enlistment with us at Johnston. Slyly joining our ranks on the last day, clutching his prized baseball mitt, was Terry Culver. We turned to acting during this "hitch" and presented "The Tinder Box", a play in three acts.
At last we were promoted from elementary division. Yes, we could hardly believe it, but we had risen to the "Junior High Brigade". We had four teachers in the seventh grade, Mrs. Jansen, Mrs. Den Hartog, Mrs. Haworth, and Mr. Oliver. It was quite exciting to march from room to room between classes. The addition of Sue Tanner, Suzi Canon, and Jim Reichenbach made our duty a little more bearable.
Mr. Oliver, Mrs. Haworth, and Mrs. Jansen taught us again in eighth grade with Mrs. Hendrickson joining the commanding force. Lyman Fogel joined our class.
The first day of our freshman year found seven new recruits raring to make our first year of high school more exciting. They were Judy Bacon, Sharyn Bowman, Tom Chadwick, Karen Doden, Connie Hanson, Jim Jones, and Judi Patrick. We were given the traditional orders to sell magazines, to put some strength into our treasury. We pulled rank and entertained the rest of the high school with a sock hop.
We spent our sophomore year struggling through studies we wished we had never taken. Fighting along with the rest of us, was Larry Jurgensen.
The ordering of class rings and presenting of the prom to seniors highlighted our junior year. We proudly showed our acting talents to the community by presenting CHARLIE'S AUNT. Mike Herman, Fred Watne, and Ralph Keltner strengthened our class in preparation for our last enlistment.
As we watched the class of 1961 graduate, the sun rose on our senior year. This year, tradition was broken. An all-school play, "Lily the Felon's Daughter" was presented. Irene Beeson, and Don Bailey came to make our class complete. A busy year of memorable events was soon over and we received our diplomas in a final dress parade before our parents and faculty.