Ilion High School - Class of 1961

Herkimer Evening Telegram - June 27, 1961

500 Attend Ilion High School's Graduation

Pitfalls Cited on Complacency, Conformity

Article 3

Dr. Joseph C. Leese
Speaker Native Son

ILION - More than 500 parents, teachers and friends bid farewell to 121 Ilion Central High School seniors last night at graduation ceremonies in the Capitol Theatre.

They heard three main speakers urge the graduates to think for themselves, without fear or favor, to strengthen America and world freedom.

"No man's an island," declared the valedictorian, Elizabeth A. Coons. She walked off with seven awards. "We are no longer living only for ourselves," she said. "Let us learn to learn to share with others . . . always consider the other person. Let us prove that we are able to be alone."

Barbara Hollandt, salutatorian, stressed that, "We are lucky to live in a country where we have a choice between following and leading. Communism stifles the ability to think. It is up to us to use our liberty and think for ourselves."

Dr. Joseph C. Leese, state educator who graduated from Ilion in 1934, chided current trends toward conformity, apathy and the "soft Godless life (of) overstuffed chairs, soft Ice cream and Wilma Flintsone."

Propaganda Efforts Derived

He urged the graduates to strive for "a free flow of information and a respect for the truth." He lashed at propaganda, claiming, "Twice in the last 15 months we were lied to: The U2 case and Cuba. Can we now be sure our own government has not withheld all the facts, altered them or deluded us."

"Daily, you and I are getting a monumental pile of falsehoods and misrepresentations. Are our concessions portents of more things to come? Have we lost our capacity to judge? Have we lost our power to get sore? You must insist on respect for the force of law."

Dr. Leese suggested the graduates find "courage to dissent" so that a "Mr. Clean or an Ed Sullivan won't take care of it. Ultimate security is the insecurity of doubt. Acceptance leads only to the destruction of freedom."

He cited three "beacons for guidance" Vigilance, the need for personal integrity and the power to make decisions. "Little is to be gained by common compromises. Our goal is to replace them with relentless scrutiny and firm resolution," he said.

"We want you to give us the right thing, the real thing. Support with all your heart the conditions basic for freedom."

Principal Leo J. Sammon Jr. announced the following awards:

English 4 years, Loretta O.Douglas Memorial Fund, $10, Eliabeth Coons; $5, Christine Thierfelder.

English literature term paper, Ilion Historical Club, $5, Ralph Adams.

Mathematics 4 years, $10, Elizabeth Coons, $10, Barbara Hollandt.

History 3 years, Cornelia Nagel prize, by Mrs. Abram Zoller, $5, Elizabeth Coons.

American History, 11th year, Mohawk Valley Chapter DAR, American Legion Auxiliary post 920, $10, Roger Elmer.

World History 10th year, by Miss Barbara Schwartz in memory of her mother Mrs. Anna Schwartz, $5, Christine Thierfelder.

Latin 3 years, $10, Elizabeth Coons, $5, Pamela Christy; Spanish 3 years, $10, Vicki Baker; French 3 years, $10, Maxine Nichols.

John Guy Prindle Science Memorials, $10 and Bausch & Lomb medal, William Tooney; $5, Roger Elmer.

Highest average in physics, $10 and RPI medal Maxine Nicholes. This was a memorial to Ralph Horton, former Ilion pharmacist, by his sister, Ruby Horton.

Secretarial Awards

Shorthand proficiency 2 years, $10, Suzanne Bouck; office practice 2 years and typing, by Business & Professional Women's Club, $10, Florence Volo.

Art 3 years, Travelers Club of Ilion, $5, Helen Stagg.

Homemaking 3 years. $5, Sharon Ward.

Mathematics and science, 6 1/2 units, $10, Elizabeth Coons; $5, Roger Elmer.

Speech arts, by VFW post 502, $5, Christine Thierfelder.

Earl Parry Watkin memorial for valedictorian, $20, Elizabeth Coons; VFW post 502 prize for salutatorian $20, Barbara Hollandt.

Priscilla Burnham Memorial for piano, $10, John Shaw; outstanding attitude in instrumental music, by Ilion Local 383 A. F. of M., $5, Gary Hiller.

Robert Kent memorial for music profiency, $10, Maxine Nichols; special award for outstanding vocal work, $10, Nancy Ayers.

VFW Auxiliary post 502 for progress, $10, Edwin Button, $10, Nancy Widger.

Diane Monteau prize for cooperation and attitude, $10, Erminia Fortuna; Women of the Moose prize for nurses training, $10, Carol Putnam.

National Honor Society prizes, $75, Roger Elmer, $75, Pamela Christy.

Police Benevolent Association for most progress despite physical handicaps, $10, Patricia Rivers; $10, H. Edward Guernsey.

Priscilla Burnham athletic trophy, Barbara Stubbs; Lever Cup for outstanding athletic achievement, Allan Conley.

Earl Parry Watkin scholarship for future teacher, $400 ($100 per year), Nancy Ayers.

I. Clark Seaman scholarship to Syracuse or Utica College branch, Roger Elmer.

Income from Floyd Clayton Memorial scholarship for career in mathematics or science, $151.13, Elizabeth Coons.

Two Share Trust Fund

Hoard Memorial Trust Fund established by Nellie Hoard Weaver in memory of her parents, James H. and Emma Collis Hoard, to Nancy Ayers and Helen Stagg.

Herkimer Branch, American Association of University Women, $250, Elizabeth Coons.

Regents scholarship winners: Elizabeth Coons, William Tooney, Roger Elmer, Maxine Nichols, Carol Rohmer, Diane Selwood, Ralph L. Adams, Ellen H. Benson, Eileen Catlin, Lance R. Coyle, Barbara Hollandt, Linda McCloud, Christine Thierfelder, Francis L. Bennett, Douglas W. Fay, Brian Hamilton, Carol Putnam, Allan V. Rathbun.

Additional scholarships: Elizabeth Coons, William Tooney, Nancy Ayers, Roger Elmer, Carol Putnam, Helen Stagg, Diane Selwood.

The orchestra, directed by Richard Ingraham, played strenuously. The Orpheus Choir, directed by Arthur Dauten, sang superbly. George H. Puple, district superintendent, and Wagner Klippel, school board president, handed out the diplomas.