Ilion High School - Class of 1951

Herkimer Evening Telegram - June 27, 1951

Ilion High School Graduates Class of 71 at Commencement Exercises

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Ilion High School Graduates Class of 71 at Commencement Exercises

Ilion - Seventy-one graduating seniors of the Ilion High School received their diplomas last night at commencement ceremonies witnessed by over 1100 people. The graduation took place at the Capitol Theater.

Douglas Silverton, internationally known author, lecturer, and educator, delivered the commencement address on "What Have You to Declare?" "The Hitlers of this world are transient." Silverton told the graduates, "and the abiding powers of this world are moral."

Stressing the need for spiritual and moral values, Silverton derived the title of his address from an anthology by Maurice Barring, who in his book "arrives at the borders of the next world, and is asked by his guardian - "what have you to declare!" The qualities that the graduates must be ready to declare, said Silverton, "are not those of material things, but character and spiritual values—all that go to make up a fuller life."

"What one is counts more than what one knows or does," the speaker told graduates. "You must not let the physical crowd out the spiritual, or your life will be a wasted life."

Warning against "the perverted creed of communism," Silverton added that "your flag has no more character than what you, yourselves put into it. And your life must have the durable qualities the spiritual qualities in order to give it lasting value."

Was Fighter Pilot

Silverton, who introduced by Dr. Earl P. Watkin, was raised and educated in England, where he served as a fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain. Coming to Canada in 1929, he joined the faculty of the University of West Canada and Loyola, and after the war entered this country in 1947, when he continued his teaching at Harpur College, Endicott.

The commencement ceremonies began with renditions of "Festival March" and "Pomp and Circumstance" by the High School Orchestra under the direction of Charles F. Green. Rev. Leonard Peale then gave the invocation.

After the invocation the Salutatory address was given by Thomas Adams on the subject, "Conservation of Natural Resources." "We who graduate today will face many problems," stated Adams. "One of them will be the continuing problem of the conservation of our natural resources."

"We must make a choice," continued the Salutatorian, "between conservation and exploitation . . . and too many have chosen the path of exploitation . . . waste of natural resources, while characteristic of frontier days, is inexcusable now."

"There are many who claim that the task of conservation has been completed . . . they do not realize that hardwood forests have suffered a 44 percent reduction; 14 percent of America's farmlands is now useless and another 35 percent in the process of extreme erosion."

A Local Problem

Pointing out that the conservation problem is a local as well as national matter, Adams said "Within several miles of Ilion there are many evidence of lack of conservation. The Mohawk River, in the short distance between its source and Ilion, is unfit for any use. New York City now faces an acute water shortage, but can't use water supplied by the Hudson because of its extreme pollution. And Ilion Gorge, now one of the finest parks in New York State, may soon become seven desolate miles of water and rock."

"Americans, upholding our tradition of free enterprise," said Adams, "still desire free access to our resources. We have only begun to answer the problem!"

The Valedictory address was then given by Lester J. Short Jr., on "Peace - A Dream or a Reality?"

"This class and this generation must again live in a world of war," Short said. Pointing out that since time began war has been a source of bloodshed and waste, he added "still man refuses to learn. For thousands of years we have tempted fate. Let us heed before it is too late."

"I firmly believe that the decision to make permanent peace must be made soon. How can we ask America's mothers to give their sons and husbands for naught? . . . Man has completely failed to end all wars, and the road we are treading grows more and more narrow. Complete destruction is the final penalty - an atomic war will junk the accomplishments of centuries.

"It would hardly be wise for a member of our graduating class to say that either appeasement or war is the answer . . . I believe that we should be prepared to the utmost on land, sea and air, but above ail spiritually prepared to solve problems without using armed force. However the valedictorian added that "we won’t shirk our duty if war becomes necessary."

Peace Can Be Secured

"I believe that peace can be secured," he said, . . . "but let us approach the achievement of peace with the guidance of our Devine Being."

Barbara Jarvis, accompanied by Tharon Rose gave a vocal solo after Shorts address. Then followed Silverton's address, and two selections, by 1951 members of the choir directed by Charles Green.

After the choir numbers Principal Joseph Baker awarded the prizes, and diplomas were presented by William Hughes, president of the board of education, and Dr. Earl P. Watkin, superintendent of schools.

The awards and winners include: John Guy Prindle Memorial Prize in Science, and the Bausch and Lomb Medal - Lester Short ($7.50) and John Kennell ($5) Shorthand, 2 years, and Transcription - Barbara Allen $5). Industrial Arts, 3 years - Ralph Vandawalker ($5), Mechanical Drawing 1, 2, 3 Robert Voelker ($2.50) Mathematical Science, 5 units, and the RPI Medal - Thomas Adams $5).

Lt. William Momberger Memorial Award Harold Hunter (55), Robert Kent Memorial Award in Music - Jean Stress ($5), Art, 3 years - Barbara Francisco ($5), Speech Arts - Jane Parker (2.50), The William Hempstead and William Schletterer Cup, donated by Harold B. Leaver [Lever] - Robert Warren, Coaches' Trophy - William Morton, VFW Auxiliary Prizes for Improvement - Raymond Jones and Dorothy Kidder ($10), Ralph A. Peters Memorial Prize for Citizenship - Janice Ingersoll and James Parker ($10).

English- John Kennell ($10) and Lester Short ($5), Math - Thomas Adams ($7.50) and Lester Short ($5). Social Studies, 3 years - Lester Short ($5), American History, 11 years - Phillip Kennell ($5), American History, 12 years - Doris Wilcox ($2.50), Latin, 3 years - Matilda Faulkner ($7.50) and Margaret Russell ($5.00), Modern Language - Thomas Adams.

Donors for the prizes include The Ilion National Bank and Trust Co., Manufacturer's National Bank, Ilion Savings and Loan Association, Remington Arms, Masonic Lodge, Odd Fellows, Elks, K. of C., Mrs. Abraham Zoller, Travelers' Club, American Legion, the History Club, Herkimer County Business and Professional Women, the DAR, and Dr. Arthur Leistyna.

Graduating Class

Members of the graduating class are:

Thomas Adams,
Barbara Allen,
Alice Bean,
Marilyn Bowman,
Janet Brown,
Martin Burns,
Carol Clingen,
Richard DeFazio,
Shirley Deller,
June Dunham,
Keith Durgee,
Milton Elmer,
David Engells,
Stanley Ford,
Barbara Francisco,
John Hannahs,
Harold Hunter,
Janice Ingersoll,
Barbara Jarvis,
Raymond Jones,
Dorothy Kidder,
Margaret Koerner,
Joyce Loomis,
Richard Lyman,
William Morton,
and Helen Moyer.

Others who took the academic course are

Doris Myers,
James Noffer,
Elizabeth O'Bryan,
Joan Parks,
David Persons,
Barbara Pelrah,
Rueben Perkett,
Edward Ploutz,
Joseph Putnam,
Joyce Rank,
Nancy Russell,
Addie Scouten,
John Smith,
Nancy Smith,
Rosemarie Thibault,
Shirley Trevor,
Ralph Vandawalker,
Robert Voelker,
Robert Warren,
Doris Wilcox, and
Emilie Yavornitski.

College entrance graduates are

Edward Allston,
Margaret Babcock,
Matilda Faulkner,
Nancy Harter,
Robert Hingre,
John Kennell,
Phillip Kennell,
Diane Luke,
James Parker,
Lorraine Pavese,
Winifred Perry,
Charles Rahm,
John Rej,
Margaret Russell,
Lester Short Jr.,
Jean Stress, and
Walter J. Terpenning.

Five members of those taking the general diploma are in the armed service. These include

Walter Burns,
Merritt Durgee,
Rendle McDonald,
Hercules Platts and
Durward Shafer.
Ross Zimmerman and
Tharon Rose
were also in the general group.