Volume 18 , Issue 21

1920 Powwow Senior Class Legacy

It was on a September day in 1916, when we, the Class of '20, first made our debut in Alva High. We were then situated in the City Hall and the next year at the beginning of the second semester we moved into the new building.

During the Freshman year we realized the accumulation of events, good and bad, of which we had never thought or dreamed. We resented the fact that we were the easiest mark for ridicule and every action was greeted with a sneer from the upper classmen.

Though our hopes often fell, we felt that the year had been a successful one. Our class president was Donald Gordon.
The next year we had the pleasure of teasing the freshest in school as we had been. We were often reprimanded for fooling and were wisely advised to get an idea once in a while. In spite of these things, however, we still remained the jolly Sophomores. We elected Donald Keller as president, Miss Hahn as class mother, who has wisely piloted us through our Junior and Senior years. Mr. Mogg was our class father, but we had the misfortune of losing him when he was called to the colors and we chose Mr. Calmes who ably filled the vacancy.

We greatly desired to become Juniors. That was the year in which we displayed our pep more than ever before and were quite unlike the complaining Freshman. Each member of the class was enthusiastic in all the work and activities. Donovan Poorman was the splendid class President and as we needed a class father to assist Miss Hahn in taking care of us, we unanimously elected the youthful Mr. Bartlett whom we have kept in the Senior year also.

We became eager aspirants to have annexed to our names, '20. At the beginning of the Senior year there was no decline in our enthusiasm, and when the class was organized, we wanted a very brilliant president, so Homer Anderson was chosen.

All through High School we have taken part in many games, parties, picnics, and wiener roasts in which we had good times that are never to be forgotten. There is much talent in our class and we have always been largely represented in the different organizations.

The classmates who spent their entire four years in Alva High are: Inez Allman, Inez Anderson, Lois Beattie, Joe Bell, Gladys Burnham, Lila Cox, Earl Heaton, Ralph Hellman, Ruth Kerr, Vera Kendall, Florence Kranz, Lionel Long, Charles Maxwell, Meade McClure, Ernest Miller, Mildred Smith, Francis Strickland, Brette Tanner, Maude Wyckoff, Wildia Wyckoff and Brynie Kern.

This has been the best year of all and it has meant so much to each of us. Lasting friendships have been formed and memories of those happy school days will often be recalled in the years to come.

We shall ever think kindly of the teachers who helped us so faithfully to reach our goal. We shall always remember our class sponsors, Mr. Bartlett and Miss Hahn, who took so much interest in our behalf. And with the trure spirit of the class of '20 embodied herein, we sincerely hope that the ripened harvest of our four years' work will serve as the golden afterglow of a dying sun wherein memory tipped clouds of youth will flit to and fro before at last our spirits send forth their last ray of life.

written by -- F. K.

Summary of Seniors

Homer Anderson, President Doris Anderson, Reporter Floyd Ames, Vice-President Earl Heaton, yell leader Lois Beattie, Secretary mabel Albright Gladys Burnham Inez Allman Inez Anderson Joe Bell Byrnie Kern Clifford Bryan Gace Douglas Nellie Counts Sylvia Cellan Lila Cox Roscoe Elliot Juanita Jacobs Viola Gwinup Fufus Gordon Ralph Hellman

Ruth Kerr Vera Kendall Florence Kranz Donald Keller Lionel Long Meade McClure Lilah McKinnon Ernest Miller Rosa Mantz Charles Maxwell Mildred Smith Grace Prichard Arthur Robinson Belle Jane Rackley Francis Strickland Ida Williams Everett Veatch Brette Tanner Grace Wheelock Wildia Wyckoff Maude Wyckoff

Senior Class Prophecy
The following are some extracts taken from a diary of an alumnae of Alva High:

February 20, 1930
As I was sitting by my fireside thinking of the olden days when I was in high school at Alta, I was startled from my reveries by a loud peal of the door bell. The maid ushered into my presence three persons, in whom I recognized Grace Douglas, Lila McKinnon and Ida Williams. We had a delightful chat about the 1920 class. From them I gleaned the fact that they were members of a vaudeville troupe, The Glendale Girls. They told me that Joe Bell of the 1920 class in old AHS was admitted to the bar, January 1st, and was fast becoming famous throughout the country as a criminal lawyer. When the Glendale Girls were in Kansas City, they saw and heard much of the members of the 1920 class. One evening while they were walking down Grand Avenue they saw the huge electric sign, "Lionel Long, the Avenue Tailor." After entering the magnificent building they found that it was erected by Francis Strickland, one of Kansas City's prominent business men.

They told me that Rosa Mantz is classed as one of the world's best stenographers, due to the many hours she spent listening to Prof. Barlett discourse along the road of higher learning in shorthand.

Inez Anderson and Vera Kendall are running a chic little beauty parlor in Wichita. It is patronized by all the people of the higher class.
We finally ended our afternoon over a cup of tea and when the girls departed I found myself the proud possessor of two tickets to the theater in which the Glendale Girls were playing.

February 25, 1930...
I just received a long letter from our old friend, Doris Anderson. She is private secretary to the senior partner of the well known Chicago law firm of Veatch, Miller and Kern. In the name of this firm we recognize Everett Veatch, Ernest Miller and Byrnie Kern.

Doris refers to her "little brother," Homer, as being a rising surgeon in New York City. As yet he is still single.
Floyd Ames owns a large ranch in New Mexico. It is there he has been spending his time since he graduated from high school. Inez Allman is at the head of the foreigh language department in Alva High.

Grace Wheelock is a leader of the most secluded circles of New York society, having captured a young millionaire. Her staunch friend, Lois Beattie, has developed a taste of the stage and is moving large audiences by the wonderful qualities of her voice. Very lately the Victor people have induced her to make records for them.

Mabel Albright has long since settled down to a quiet life, on a farm near Capron.

March 10, 1930...
I just returned from a visit in Alva. While there I learned much of our friends of 1920.

Brette Tanner has, for the past five years, been the successor to Benny Owen as athletic coach in the University of Oklahoma. He seems to be enjoying his work very much.

Wildia Wyckoff is following Lyceum work and is very successful.
Earl Heaton and Ralph Hellman are both prosperous farmers. Roscoe Elliot is responding to the call of the Gospel and is a minister who has won many converts in the past two years.

Mildred Smith is an instructor in the Oklahoma City High School, and she is also coaching girls' basketball in that place.

While in Alva I attended a show at the Liberty Theatre. I was somewhat surprised to see the name of Florence Kranz flashed on the screen as heroine of the picture. Later I found that she had been in the movies for several years.

Gladys Burnham is teaching Domestic Science in Guthrie High School. Grace Prichard has secured the position of primary teacher in the Alva Schools.
Meade McClure is an oil king in the Oklahoma oil wells.

March 20, 1930
When visiting friends in Tulsa I found that Juanita Jacobs was a housewife in that city. She told me that Arthur Robinson was mining gold in California. Clifford Bryan has a fruit ranch in Oregon.

Donald Keller is a section hand on the railroad just out of Tulsa.

Viola Gwinup, Sylvia Cellan and Nellie Counts have been touring Europe to gather material for a book which is to be called "After the War." I am told that the book is nearing completion.

Charles Maxwell is the editor of the Kansas City Star and Times. Belle Jane Rackley is society reporter for the Daily Oklahoman. Lila Cox is an instructor in the Gem City Business College. Maude Wyckoff is a contented hoursewife in the southern part of Oklahoma.

Ruth Kerr is a missionary in foreign fields. At present she is in China. Miss Hahn is still teaching history in Alva High School. Mr. Barlett has a chicken ranch near Brink and from all reports it is a paying business.

Senior Class Will
We, the members of the Senior Class of 1920, being of sound body and sane judgment, and realizing that this is probably our last will and testament do herein bequeath unto the underclassmen all those qualities for which we now have no further use. And we do dispense with these possessions in the manner herein stated: We do give, devise and bequeath Homer Anderson's place as President of the class to Ralph Surface and His popularity with the girls to Mike Bouziden.

Brette Tanner's love for athletics and out-door life to Stanley William May.

Inez Allman's love for Floyd Ames to Greta Wilkinson.

Grace Wheelock's giggle to Alma Oringderff.

Doris Anderson's chattering propensities to Mary Huff.

Mable Albright's popularity among the boys to Mary Mondy.

Athur Robinson's never-failing "A" credits to Evertte Weinrich.

Byrnie Kern's sober and steadfast disposition to that frivolous individual Fred Green.

Lionel Lon's owlish tendencies and intellectual abilities to Mildred McKritick.

Roscoe Elliot's sentimentality and emotional qualities to Eddie Hamilton Brooks.

Rosa Mantz's corkscrew curls to Lillie Fisher.

Maude Wyckoff's steady and reliable nature to Hazel Rackley.

Donald Keller's Monday morning excuse to Stella Bloominger.

Inez Andrson's quiet disposition and air of refinement to Gladys Channel.

Vera Kendall's and Wildia Wyckoff's delicate appetites to Horace Beegle.

Foyd Ames' argumentative power and stick-to-it-iveeness to George Miller.

Viola Gwinup's love for Latin and "Homer" to Gladys Rice.

Belle Jane Rackley's disgust for the "gum-chewing" pastime to Leonard Morris.

Florence Kranz' sweet smile and string of beads to Miss Vorhies.

Ernest Miller's earnestness to Phil Noah.

Lois Beattie's blush to Irene Shelly.

Ruth Kerr's gentle voice to Baron Jones.

Juanita Jacobs' surplus conscientiousness to Weneva Fanning.

Clifford Bryan's heart to Miss McDaniels.

Mildred Smith's right to select a new sweetheart with the change of the moon to Reba Emberson.

Charles Maxwell's oration on "Girls" to Amos Schaefer.

Joe Bell's dancing slippers to Mr. Fanning.

Francis Strickland's book on "Heart Breaking" to Hal McClain.

Ida Williams' place on th basketball team to Floris Patterson.

Grace Douglas' recipe for "modesty' to Pauline Thompson.

Meade McClure's smile to Percy Robinson.

Lila McKinnon and Everett Veatch's spooning bench to Monford Mills and Verna Lee.

Earl Heaton's notes on love to Bruce Kirk.

Gladys Burnham's freckles to Ruth Vetter.

Ralph Hellman's dancing ability to Edyth Stowe.

Grace Prichard's lisp to Fred Green.

Nellie Count's bashfulness to Georgia Howard.Sylvia Cellan's gracful walk to Andrew pennington.

Lila Cox's typewriting speed to Leonard Morris.

Nathan Thomas Bartlett's dainty walk and baby ways to William Harry Webb.

Finn Hahn's diamond ring and chance of marriage to Stella P. Earnest.

We do set our will and testament hereto and do nominate our beloved class mother and father, Miss Finn Hahn and Mr. Nathan Bartlett, to be guardians of our worthy emulators, the Freshies of '21. In witness hereof we have set our hand and seal this first (1st) day of April, A. D., One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty.
Senior Class

(Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared)
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