V1936-01G8
Eighth Grade, fall 1936 to fall
1937
Eighth
Grade: Mr.
Ira (Prof.) Liadig was our teacher, 52 students started 53 finished, this
merged the prior split classes into one. Prof. was the lead teacher of several.
I had him for Science and Nature and Spelling. Grade distributions were
0-11-32-9-0 at the start and
2-11-32-8-0 at the end. It's a curious thing, my grades all started low
but worked their way up as the year progressed. I truly loved the class Science
& Nature taught by Prof. and my grades went from III to I. I was startled
to find that I received "I" in spelling. I still recall how Prof. had
waited till near the end to tell me that I would have to stay in grade school
if I didn't pass spelling, he opened his book and showed that I was flunking
and had to get a perfect grade on the last three tests just to pass. I did but
sweat out getting 100% right for three tests. The report card on the class
called Spelling/Elocution shows a "I" final grade, only 7 of us in
the class were required to take spelling; it's a bit of a puzzle to me. A few
years later visiting with Prof. I asked if he remembered how he claimed he'd
keep me in grade school if I didn't do better. He laughed and said, Oh yes, I
knew you could do better it was a matter of getting you to try.
Poorest Grade?: Everyone in the school was given the
Emporia State Teachers College Testsl.
About a month before the end of school Prof. called me into his office
and told me they had the scores back on those tests adding, you had some of the poorest grades of anyone
in school. I was silent and continued
looking him in the eye, then said, Prof. I may be a long way from being the
smartest kid in my class but I know I'm not the dumbest; I don't understand. He replied, Oh your smart enough, your just
distorted. You ranked in third grade for English and Spelling, that's rather
sad for a person in the eighth grade. Seeing my dejected look he said but you
rated in College for science and history; you need to work on all things and
not just your interests of the moment. Prof. was a wonderful and lasting friend
to each of us.
Band Contest at Colby for Prize
Money
Abruptly
8th Grade Drum Major for High School Band In
the summer of 1937 before starting high school Bert passed the word that we
were to practice for a Band Contest at Colby. They were holding a big tractor
show there and some fellow from there who was now a big wheel at Chrysler was
offering a cash prize to the winning band. If we could win we would have enough
to buy new band uniforms.
As
usual everyone responded and showed up for practice. Bud Raymond the head drum
major had graduated and there was no longer any need for Vergil & I as
little boy drum majors to march on each side of him, besides we were no longer
little boys and didn't fit the roll. It had been decided to have a Girl drum
major and drum majorettes. May girls had been practicing and trying out for the
job. Vergil & I had become cornet players in the back of the band.
Zola
Magard had won out as the head drum major, Zola had an excellent figure and had
been diligently practicing twirling. All seemed to be going well, till Bert and
those at the front of the band discovered that Zola was out of step and often
as in step with the band she was leading. Bert agonized over this for about two
week and had been working with Zola. The day before the contest he just didn't
feel he could take the risk. We were practicing in the street between the high
school and grade school, Bert halted the band. I heard my name called out,
"Landau front and center!" Virgil and I had been cutting up in the
back but I didn't think Bert had noticed, I couldn't figure what he wanted me
for? Bert left the band standing At Ease, and took me over to the side by the
curb. With a stick he drew and talked. He said, "I want you to be drum
major for the contest, I just can't take a chance that Zola will keep in step.
I've planned this all out. The contest is going to be conducted in down town
Colby." Bert drew a plus in the dirt showing the intersection of streets,
then continued. "We will start here, go to the intersection and turn left,
do a reverse and go back up the street toward where we started. Then we reverse
again and cross the intersection and come up in front of the Judges. We will
keep the band in motion with maneuvers, and keep within sight of the judges. we
will use these maneuvers to rearrange the band to form up in front of the
Judges in our Semphor Fidelies formation. We will go through what we have
worked out for that so each group of instruments are in the front row in front
of the Judges when they have the lead. We have to march up to the Judges in the
proper formation to do the main number. Do you have the idea in mind as to how
it's to go?" I said, I understand
how we have to end up in front of the judges, I'm not sure I remember all the
maneuvers you wanted before we get to that point." Bert said, "great, you can learn that
as we practice, we have today for you to learn it because there will be no
chance to practice after we get there."
Zola's
feelings were hurt yet she understood, she came over and handed me her baton
and the whistle and said good luck. I said thanks, I'll need it. I put the
whistle in my mouth, put the baton under my are walked out in front, blew the
whistle and called out OK lets fall in, just follow my signals and we will work
it out.
The
band members already knew their music and were well rehearsed on the main
number. They knew what they were to do in response to baton signals, it was
simply up to me to call for the correct ones at the proper time and give the
whistle for execution at the proper place and moment. The baton was whirled in
a certain way for each kind of maneuver. The whistle was blown at a certain
point and the sound sustained as if saying ready,
then given a special sharp short sound as if to say now.
We
went through the routine a couple times then Bert let everyone go, we would be
riding over in private cars and not see each other again until at the contest.
I lingered to visit with Bert and he again went through our routine. It was a
busy sequence but I felt I had it committed to memory.
We
gathered at the appropriate place and waited out turn to march. It was a long
wait as we drew the last turn to march. We could hear the other bands but
couldn't see them. Family members who had provided the transportation kept us
informed on who was marching. They invariably said the other band were doing
great, that we'd sure have to be our best to win.
We
had terrific group spirit, Bert had a way of instilling us with confidence and
the desire to not only be good but almost perfect.
Fig GS8-1 OCS Football Team 1936 Edwin Hitchcock Coach, I’m #5 center
8
th Grade Football Season: We
had a good football season and were looking forward to our next year in High
School. We rode in the school bus to the other league towns for our games. We
normally played St Francis, Atwood, Norton, Goodland, Colby, Oakley, Hoxie. In
High School Smith Center & Hays was
sometimes included.
We
usually played on Friday nights, except that Thanksgiving was usually a Day
Game. We'd leave before school was out in order to get to the town we were to
play in and went directly to their school to suit up and get ready. Sometimes
we'd have as long as an hour to kill but usually it was only 1/2 from the time
we got suited up till we went on the field. Hitchy was not long on Pep Talks,
but we usually felt up for the game. We often but not always played the same
town as the High School team, we'd play first.
We
had reached the age of having a girl friend. My girl friend and I had agreed
that if we won, she was to kiss me, if they won I was to kiss her. It was a
win-win arrangement which seemed like a daring proposition at the time.
Fig GS8-3 Fig GS8-4 OCS
Letter Fig
GS8-5 OCS Bull Dog
Basket
Ball: For
the few who excelled basket ball was a great sport. It was an ideal winter
sport being played in the new grade school's large gymnasium, one of the best
in that part of the state at the time.
Professions
Basket Ball: Pro
teams such as the Harlem Globe Trotters
(Black) and House of David (Bearded)
teams would frequently stop over in Oberlin as a good place between KC and
Denver to spend the night. They'd play the local Town Team, the games were well attended.
Fig GS8-6a&b American Legion Award
American Legion Award: Near the end of our 8th grade
year, Prof. Liadig called a meeting in which the entire grade school was gathered
in the Gymnasium with the 8th Graders seated on the stage. This was
a common thing where chairs were set up on the gym floor and the stage used for
a play or some kind of presentation to the audience. We had not been informed
of what the meeting was for. The meeting began by Prof. Liadig making
announcements then at some point Mr. Ross Riley Sr., then commander of the
American Legion post, came forward and made a presentation. I was completely
shocked – and honored – to have been awarded the above bronze medal!
New
Car: The old
Green 28 Model-A four door family car was traded in on a new 36' Ford V-8. The
old Green car had been like a friend of the family. It had taken us on a trip
to the Mts. in Colo., long Sunday drives to see sights or to Atwood to see Ray
Bobbitts family. All of us kids had the experience of falling to sleep in the
car then having to get up when the car came to a halt in the garage. I grumpily
preferred to just sleep the night in the car but was always caused to go get in
bed.
Colorado Trip in 1936 Ford
Headed toward Evergreen CO in 1936 Ford. Did you say he could go climb a mountain?
Now Phyllis wants to go!
What’s so funny? Can you cross and not get your feet
wet?
Photo of Darrell by Francis Barclay -- great
technique -- no fish!