Fairmount High School
1943 Black and Gold
Fairmount, Indiana
Faculty
Juniors
Sophomores
Freshman
Eighth Grade
Seventh Grade
Seniors
Top row, left to right: Wayne Blair - Maurice Briles - William Butler - Merrill Cooper - Charline Craw
2nd row: Donna Carey - Ernest Carey - June Ann Craw - James Eastburn - Vera Eastburn
Bottom row: Joan Elliott - Marvin Gaither - Virginia Gibson - Eric Harvey - Mary Harvey
Top row, left to right: Mescal Havens - Robert Hill - Mavis Hollenback - Harry Holloway - Joe Holloway
2nd row: George Ice - Robert Jones - Louise Kempher - Lorene Lawson - Robert Leach
Bottom row: Martha Leer - Kathleen Lynch - James McCormick - Orville Mason - Norma Mattson
Top row, left to right: Marie Mitchener - Clyde Mittank - Leroy Moon - Charles Nesbitt - Francis Ott
2nd row: Eugene Owens - Ada Quearry - Marabelle Painter - Charlene Perry - Willie Mae Peterson
Bottom row: Fred Powell - O. H. Rigsbee - Thelma Jo Roberts - Vera Ruth Ratliff - Robert Ribble
Top row, left to right: Fred Shane - Jack Spitzmesser - Milton Scott - Maxine Spence - Robert Trindle
Bottom row: Maxine Shockey - Betty Todd - Robert Trader - Robert Webster - Charles Wesco
Senior Class History
The class of '43, got under way by electing class officers. Marvin Gaither was chosen President, James Eastburn, Vice-President; Vera Ruth Ratliff, Secretary and Treasurer; Willa Mae Peterson, Social Chairman. Miss Helen Potterf and Mr. Rupert Blair were the new class sponsors.
Tuesday, September 22, 1942, the Freshman were initiated by the mighty seniors and promptly put in their places. In the fall of the year, Vera Ruth Ratliff was chosen by the Senior class as best citizen. The contest was sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Senior Class bade farewell to James Eastburn, Robert Hill and Robert Leach who left the senior ranks to join the Navy. A party was held in their honor, February 8, 1842.
There were three class parties during the year. The first one was a hay ride and weiner roast. Then they had a chili supper in the Home Economics rooms and a pot-luck supper, also in the Home Economics rooms with entertainment in the gym with a mixer, each member of either class could invite one guest. Games and dancing provided the entertainment for the evening.
After much discussion over what to wear at Commencement and Baccalaureate, they finally decided to wear caps or gowns. The girls wore white caps or gowns, and the boys wore navy one. The Seniors chose their invitations, name cards and tried out for scholarships.
In the spring, the Senior Class play was chosen. The play, entitled "She's a Soldier's Sweetheart" was given May 6th, 1943. The cast included: Norma Mattson, Donna Carey, Willie Peterson, O.H. Rigsbee, Junior Scott, Charline Craw, Joan Elliott, Charles Nesbitt, Mary Harvey, Robert Ribble, Jack Spitzmesser, and Bill Butler. Another outstanding accomplishment by this great class was when the Senior girls went to the semi-finals of the inter-class baseball tournament. The gals first defeated the Junior girls; then they met the mighty Freshmen and were defeated by a small margin. The Senior girls, not to be downed went on to win a title of Champs of the inter-class basketball tournament by defeating the Junior girls. In the finals, the Seniors defeated the Sophomores.
The Senior boys to keep up the Senior tradition, with the help of the Sophomores won the annual track meet on Freshman Flag Day.
During the week of October 5 - 9, a scrap metal drive was conducted. Maurice Briles, Senior came out on top with 18,990 pounds of scrap. Maurice was made a first lieutenant in the Junior Army.
April 21, 1843, a class meeting was called by President Marvin Gaither. It was decided to have kids day May 7. On that day, the Seniors came dressed in their best little kid clothes and romped throughout the day.
The class endured curriculum alterations, including new required math and physics classes and a physical fitness class. This was coupled with scrap drives, tin drives, and gasoline rationing, and what-have-you.
The Seniors, with tear-stained faces and aching hearts finally said farewell to F.H.S. Baccalaureate was held May 16 and commencement the following Thursday. The class of 1943 is now only a memory in the hears of 55 ex-grads.