Ilion High School - Class of 1949

Herkimer Telegram - June 29, 1949

Ilion HS Graduates Told U. S. Is Land of Horizons

Article 5

Ilion HS Graduates Told U. S. Is Land of Horizons

Ilion - America is a land of horizons and not fences - the land of pioneers and of people who have the faith and courage to live a pioneer's life, Assemblyman Orlo Brees, Endicott, told the members of the graduating class of Ilion High School at exercises last night in the Capitol Theater.

Using the topic, "Fence and Horizons," Brees pointed out that horizons are God's creation, while fences are the construction of man. "Fences shut in and shut out, while horizons are all inclusive. Horizons are mobile - all my life I have been walking toward one, but never yet have reached one. Fences are static - I can pass a fence."

"Fences dominate childhood while horizons dominate adulthood." There are places in adult life for fences but we must use them in the proper relationship. Don't build your fences so high that you can't see the horizon of human brotherhood." When the fence builders run out of the proper materials, they begin building prejudices, bigotry and hatred. These materials always build fences too high and cause 90 per cent of the world's troubles. He warned that those who limit America to a static society are building a fence to end creative effort and creative genius.

"You and I are building a world with two limits," Brees stated. The limits are those which are placed by God and those which we place ourselves. Quite often we restrict ourselves to a much smaller realization of our potential than would be true if we worked within the limits God places upon us, the speaker said.

He told the class that they should have the same pioneering spirit that their forefathers had. They should continue to harvest the same crop. They have the training for devotion for freedom and there will still be two national anthems, The Star Spangled Banner, and Don't Fence Me In. He said that claims on the future of America and of the world are being staked out in laboratories today in the same fashion of our forefathers.

Orchestra Opens Program

The program opened with a selection, "Scarlet Mask," by Zamincnik played by the High School Orchestra under the direction of Charles Green. This was followed by the processional march, "Nobility," by A. Sullivan. The Rev. Paul Wagner gave the invocation. The salutatory address, "The Fourth R," was presented by Shirley Swarthout and the valedictory, "FortyNiners," by Carl W. Peterson, Jr..

Miss Barbara Merchant sang "The Girls of Cadiz," by Delibe, accompanied by Miss Sally Blatt. The 1949 members of the choir, directed by Charles Green, presented two selections. "Without a Song," by Youmans, and "Far Away Places," by Barton, following the principal address. Principal J. G. Prindle awarded the prizes, and presentation of the diplomas was made by Joseph Bowers, president of the Board of Education, and Dr. Earl P. Watkin, superintendent. The exercises closed with the benediction by the Rev. Wagner.

Many Awards Made

Awards were presented to the following:

English, $7.50, Carl Peterson's: $5, Shirley Swarthout; Mathematics, $7.50, John Minon, $5, Ann Wilfert; Social Studies for three years, (Cornelia Nagel prize) $5 Carl Peterson; American History, 11th year, $2.50, Carl Peterson: American History, 12th year, $2.50, Carl Peterson.

Latin, $7.50, Carl Peterson, $5, Shirley Swarthout; Modern Language, $5, Barbara Merchant, $2.50, James Morath; Science and Bausch & Lomb Medal, $7.50, Ann Wilfert $5, Wilmonte Nash.

Commercial and Becker College Pin, $5, Marilyn Hiller; Shorthand 2 and Transcription, $2.50 Marilyn Hiller; Office Practice I, II and Typing, $2.50, Elaine Brunette.

Industrial Arts, William Lawrence; Mechanical Drawing, three courses, $2.50, Ann Wilfert; Everett Mack Memorial prize, $10 Math and Science, five units, RPI Medal five units, Ann Wilfert; Lt. William Momberger Memorial prize $3, Eugene Parker.

Music, $5, Barbara Merchant, Art, $5, Shirley Swarthout; Speech Arts, $2.50, John Fake; Robert Kent Memorial prize, Barbara Merchant; Lever Cup, Robert Morris, Joseph Durkin; Peters Memorial prize, $10, Shirley Swarthout, $10, James Garnsey.

Donors were: Ilion National Bank and Trust Co., Manufacturers' Bank, Ilion Savings and Loan Association, Remington Arms, E. V. Mack, Dr. Arthur Leistyna, $10 each.

Ilion Lodge of Odd Fellows, Ilion Masonic Lodge, Ilion Lodge of Elks, Knights of Columbus, Mrs. Abram Zoller, Beta Chl-Delta Chapter, Philia Club, $5 each.

Traveler's Club, Historical Club, Business and Professional Women of Herkimer County, American Legion Auxiliary, DAR $2.50 each.

Diplomas Presented

Diplomas were presented to:

College Entrance

Terrance J. Boyle,
Nancy Ann Burnham,
Margaret G. Culver,
John W. Fake,
Phyllis Ellen Griswold,
Alda May Hess,
Patricia D. Ingraham,
Joan Mae Krebs,
Anthony A. Lewicki,
James R. Morath, Jr.,
Robert Thomas Morris,
Wilmonte Aldana Nasutavicus,
George W. Nile,
Carl William Peterson, Jr.,
David C. Pierce,
Erma Jane Prescott,
Philip Delos Randall,
Paul Downing Soules,
Dolores Jean Staley,
Shirley Elliott Swarthout,
Ann C. Wilfert.

Academic

Patricia Ann Bergin,
Mary Joan Bracken,
Ann S. Brooks,
Elaine C. Brunette,
Edna May Conboy,
Joanna Steele Fay,
James F. Garnsey,
Constance Ellen Foster,
Donald E. Gauding,
Nora Jean Greig,
Donald S. Hathaway,
Marilyn Ann Hiller,
Dolores Ellen Hubbell

Jean Hunter,
Barbara J. Kane,
Leona B. Kibbe,
William G. Lawrence,
Alan Cameron Lowe,
John Thomas McKenna,
Vaughn R. McPherson,
Shirley A. Malotke,
Janet M. March,
Barbara Ann Merchant,
John Francis Minon,
Joan Marie Murphy,
Marilyn Ruth Noyes,
Eva Louise O'Dell,
Richard B. Palmer.

Eugene J. Parker,
Donald D. Pearson,
Barbara Anne Phillips,
Joann Lee Phillips,
Dominick James Putch,
Roscoe Palmer Reed,
Shirley Anne Roche,
Ann Therese Rorke,
Lydia Rudd,
Beverly Margaret Shaut,
Floyd Shoemaker,
Alfred V. Sutton, Jr.,
Beverly Charlotte Van Alstyne,
Constance Keller Watson,
Harry Alan Wood,
Robert Lyle Zeh.

General

Carson Filburn,
Willis Hitchcock.