Senior Class History, 1962

The doors of Nathan Hale were opened on Sept. 6, 1959.  The history of the graduating class of 1962 begins on that date.  The spirit of this class can easily be seen in the class motto they have chosen: "He conquers who thinks he can."  This motto befits the class of '62 as they embark to find a "place in the sun" for themselves and Nathan Hale.  This history then, is presented to highlight the activities of this graduating class as a group, and to highlight some of the individuals who were important in its history.  With a great deal of pride we walked into Nathan Hale with the knowledge that we would be the first class of receive our entire high school education here.

Pete Skinner was elected President of the Sophomore Class, backed up by Bill Tarpley, Vice-president, Michelle Chambers, Secretary, and J.E. Riley, Treasurer.  Other officers of important to our school's government were Tim Castello, Connie Clothier, and Mike Gillett, Sergeant-at-arms, recording secretary, and parliamentarian of Student Council, respectively.

Sandy Miller, Janet Honn, Connie Clothier, Paula Mullen, Terre Tanner, Molly Lay, Shelley Arnold and Wallyne Cox served as B-squad cheerleaders that year.  We watched on as Hale lost all their football games except the Homecoming game in which we crushed McLain.  Sophomore attendants to Miss Nathan Hale I, Cathy Holden, were Shirley Coley, Connie Clothier, and Janice Benegar.

The big money raising project that year was "$650 for '60" to bring a foreign exchange student to Nathan Hale.  We enjoyed the first teacher's talent show, which was given as a reward for earning the required $650.  We sophomores also enjoyed our class play, "Mother Is A Freshman," which starred Ann Willoughby and Pete Skinner.

In the Spring of 1960, besides the Spring sports and other activities common to all high schools, Hale had "Operation Sod," --an all-school attempt to grow grass at NH-- and the all-school musical, "Annie Get Your Gun," in which sophomore Bob Bethell played the male lead.

Spring elections found Tim Castello and Pete Skinner as Vice-president and treasurer of the Student Council, respectively.  Morris Mauney was elected President of the Junior Class; Phil Brooks was elected Vice-president, Rita Row, secretary, and Beverly Bailey, treasurer.  Rangers returned that summer to receive their annual, "The Patriot."

The class of '62 began its Junior class with a cookout at McClure Park.  A-squad cheerleaders of the junior class were Sandy Miller, Connie Clothier, Janet Honn, Molly Lay, Paula Mullen and Terre Tanner.  Hale won three football games that year, including the Homecoming game.  Fran Crain was crowned Miss Nathan Hale II with Shirley Coley and Janet Miller as Junior attendants.  Bill Evertt was our first foreign exchange student.  The class play was "The Curious Savage," with Pete Skinner, Ann Willoughby, Carol Marsh, Morris Mauney, and Linda Leppe.  Pete Skinner was elected President of Student Council and Tim Castello and Vicki Punnett were Inter-City S.C. reps.  Roger Van Horn, Phil Place, Terre Tanner, and Bill Tarpley were elected president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer of the Senior Class, respectively.  Pete Skinner was our AFS student.  Connie Clothier was to house our next foreign exchange student.  The big event was our rings.  Remember the mass confusion at Moody's Jewelry?

Activity during the summer included the receiving of "The Patriot" for 1961, and on August 3, 1961, Hale's Rangers welcomed its second foreign exchange student Maria Stini, who turned out to be a "Greece" head.  Our cheerleaders captured third place in the State Cheerleader clinic at Norman.

The first two months of our Senior year were filled with activity.  The Senior cook-out was highlighted by the appearance of the "Groadiest of the Groads," Roger Van Horn and Karen Denton.  Hale's football team surprised everyone, with the exception of Hale students, by coming in third in the city conference.  The big game was our victory over Edison, 13-12, after which the Hale victory flag was raised at Crossroads.  Hale won its third straight Homecoming game by defeating McLain, 33-6.  Connie Clothier was crowned Miss Nathan Hale III with Janet Honn and Janet Miller serving  as Senior attendants.

Hale received the honor of being the Host school for the Oklahoma Association of Student Councils Convention.  Hardest workers at the convention were Tim Castello, General Chairman, Suzanne Sanders, Corresponding Secretary, Wally Love, Treasurer, and last, but certainly not least, Student Council advisor, Mrs. Burton.  Climaxing the convention was the dance held at the Mayo Crystal Ballroom.

The Senior Class play was "Rebecca," starring Pete Skinner, Michelle Chambers, Tim Castello, Ann Willoughby, Morris Mauney, and Linda Leppe.  Our basketball season was highlighted by the efforts of Bruce Allen, who was second in the city scoring.  Wrestlers Johnny Cochran and Richard Hamby placed in the Regional Tournament at Hale, and Richard placed fifth in the State Tournament.  On February 3rd, Hale's football banquet was held.  Phil Brooks was given the award as the best back.  Dan King was voted the best lineman, and Gary Busey was awarded the Coach's award. 

Pete Skinner was selected as the Oklahoma representative to the Student Burgesses at Williamsburg, Virginia.

The month of March brought Senior Keys.  The Spring months also brought the Civil War between the Grumbling Grangers and the Rancid Ropers.  March 23rd and 24th were the dates of the Reginae Aquae swim show, "Showboat to the Mardi Gras."  The "Speaker's Bureau Follies" was a rousing show featuring Eddie Spraker, Linda Leppe, and the Ballet De Les Monsieurs.  The Ranger Baseball team was Regional Champion and runner-up to the state crown.

Presently the members of the Class of '62 are looking forward to the closing activities, including the Prom, Vespers, Commencement Exercises, the breakfast, and the Banquet.

There are, of course, many students deserving mention in this history.  Unfortunately, however, lack of space prevents mentioning them all.

92 - number of times Mr. Howard walked into
        the boys restroom
92 - number of cigarette butts counted
       outside the window

12 - number of days Mrs. Elson threw a fit in
       Journalism Class
12 - number of days Journalism Class worked

1 - number of times sixth hour boys were
     honored in assembly
1 - number of times sixth hour boys attended
     assembly

36 - number of dates Shelly Arnold had on
       Sunday night
36 - number of Mondays Shelly missed school

3 - number of times Mr. Petty has been
     slashed about his chrome dome
3 - number of F's given

2,350 - questions asked Mr. Richmond
2,350 - number of no's received

653 - number of girls with short skirts
653 - number of traps set my Mrs. Mackay

1 - number of times Mr. Smith was wrong
1 - number of persons who agreed with him
1 - number Mexican scholarships awarded

7 - number of Hale sock hops
7 - number of Hale flop hops

5 - number of times Mrs. Greenlee was absent
5 - number of times the library was quiet

REPORTERS GLIMPSE LAST OF TYPICAL RANGER ANTICS
by Carolyn Garrigus and Pam Thornbrugh

We looked to the right, we looked to the left, and everywhere we saw the ecstasy of emancipation on the faces of our fellow classmates at Nathan Hale.  Everyone except Bill Stipe, who was still arguing relativity and spouting solid geometry.  In direct contrast was Tim Castello, who was skipping a rope down the hall with his Metrecal tucked in a pocket.  "Gotta get in shape for swim trunks," he gasped, continuing down the hall with a rotundous gait.

The prom was preying on Ronnie Wheeler's mind as we slunk down the hall, eavesdropping.  Five foot, Ronnie whined to his prom date 5'9" Rita Shiever, "Please don't wear 3 inch heels."  We suggested elevated shoes or a thick toupee, but Ronnie only gave us a withering look.

Scratching another notch in his belt, Chris Wheaton concluded a one-sided discussion by saying "proms are for dominated anthropoids, and if it weren't for Linda I wouldn't go."  We scurried on down the hall as he snarled at us.

We mustered our courage and entered our ill reputed dungeon known as the library.  Observing the occupants closely, we saw one onion-headed fella making precarious movements behind Collier's Encyclopedia.  Elmo Morrison was sipping a Busch Bavarian through a straw.  We watched in amazement as he casually wrapped the can in paper, walked past our beloved Miss Greenlee with a nod, and disposed of it in the waste basket.  Shakingly, we departed and were nearly trampled by Roger Van Horn pursuing Janet Miller, who was trying to explain that she merely laid his senior ring on the lavatory and someone must have knocked it into the drain.

"Time and time again I've told you kids to stay out of here," screeched Mr. Jerry Harrison as he escorted Linda Nichols and Jim Deaton out of the projection booth.  "Precisely what were you projecting?" asked Mr. Harrison as he quietly replaced his binoculars.

Limping toward us was one Wally Love.  He was clutching his thigh, shrieking in agony, and looking dazedly into the eyes of the passers by, us.  We interrogated him under our portable spot light, a piece of equipment from our "New Breed" detective set.  He finally cracked under our continuous muckraking.  "My girlfriend's cat pounces on me every visit.  It has an overdose of protectiveness." he said.  "Do you know of anyone who would like a cat skin, cheap?"

Is it a hallucination?  No, it's Rick Tessier, still caked with mud from his latest "spree".   It seems his car got stuck in the mud and he, being somewhat tetched at the time, refused to move until it dried up around him.  With some assistance, the car was removed.  Rick emerged smiling, however, Karen Ables seemed somewhat perturbed.

Another monstrous sight was Tommy Hammond as he floated down the hall with only a head in sight.  He must has taken Michelle's advice and rubbed himself out with the eraser she gave him inside a "drop dead" card.