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DONALD THOMAS MA]OCHA
ALICE JUNE KLEIN
IDA WYNETTA GRAY
EDWARD KOOSER
CONNIE LEE POTYKA
EDWIN KOOSER
MAY ELIZABETH RICE
JOHN GEORGE LAVRA
DALE FRANCIS KIRKPATRICK
JAMES LLOYD MILLER
JOHN MICHAEL SARAKA
LAWRENCE MAITHEW MIUBR
BEATRICE MAE ALUSON
HOWARD SHAFFER •
IRVIN ERNEST CLEVENGER
FRANK SOBINA
GEORGE HAGEMAN
MARYBITA TIPTON EVELYN VEYl'OREL
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VOLUME 59
JUNE 14, 1951
NUMBER 17· :· ~
.THE .WESTERN PENNSYLVANIAN Publi-shed every two weeks dudng the school y~ar .at The Western Pe.Q.nsylvania School for the Deaf, Edgewood, Pittsburgh 18, Pa. ~ubscription,-fi.fty cents a year. · Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Editor
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Assistant Editors
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. Sam B. Craig Fred C. Numbers, Jr. Christopher G. Smith Joseph Q. Lietman •
The Western Pennsylvanian VOLUME 59
JUN E 14 , 195 1
NUMBER 17
Dr. S a m B. Cra ig, Superintendent
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Mr. Fred C. Numbers, Jr. Principal of the Academic Department
Mr. C hristo pher G. Smith Principal of the Industrial Department
SECTION TWO TEACHERS
Miss Gildea, Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. Numbers, Mrs. Barnes, Miss Triplett
COMMENCEMENT DAY PROGRAM Processional
Jesus King of Glory Reverend Walter I. Martin
Invocation
Led by Mr. C. G. Smith
The Star-Spangled Banner Songs
Miss Louise Lee at the Piano
Old Folks at Home Our Flag Mocking Bird Hill Home-going Song Boy Scout Awards
Mr. Charles E. Acheson
Scout Exec).ltive, East Boroughs Council Presentation of Eagle Scout Award to Ralph Cornell Mr. F. W. Hall, C hairman of Court of Honor, B. S. A. Girl Scout Awards
Mrs. F. C. Numbers,
Chairman of the Girl Scout Committee Awarding of Books to Monitors
Mr. Sam B. C rai g
Awarding of the George M. T eegarden Prize for Special Interest in Literature and Reading Reader's Digest Award
路 Mr. F. C. Numbers, Jr. Mr. F. C. Numbers, Jr.
Recognition of Pupils for Unusual Effort and Achievement Mr. F. C. Numb ers, Jr. and Mr. C. G. Smith Alumni Prizes for Excellence 'in Vocational Work Mrs. Birdie King Zahn Mr. Sam B. Craig
Presentation of the C lass of I 9 5 I Presentation of Diplomas and Certificates
Mr. Allen S. Davison, Member of the Board of Trustees Presentation of the Teacher-Training C lass of 195 1 Mr. Sam B. Craig Presentation of Certificates A nnouncemen ts
Mr. A llen S. Davison Mr. Sam B. Craig
Benediction
Reverend H. W . Rohe
Recessional
Onward Christian Soldiers
CLASS OFFICERS
CONNIE POTYKA Secretary
DONALD MAJOCH A President
JOHN SARAKA ·Vice President
B. TEITELBAUM Advi.ror
Class Motto "Enter to Learn ; Go Forth to Serve."
Class Colors Blue and Gold
Class Flower Pink Rose
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CLASS OF 1951
"Don"
DONALD MAJOCHA
Acad e mic Diploma R esides in New Kensing t on, P a . Loves a ll kinds of o utdoor sports. Doesn' t t rust any girl. Vows to be a bachelor. Was chosen "King of the C lass o f '51." A m o nitor, Vice Preside n t o f the R eading C lub. President of the C lass of ' 5 1. Ambition: Hopes to be a m illio na ire artist.
JOHN SARAKA
"John"
Vocational Diploma H ails from McKeesport, Pa. A very good printer. Likes all sports. Hates fowl a nd doesn't like to see others eat them. A monitor, Presid en t o f the Reading C lub. Vice President and Testator of the C lass o f ' 5 1. A member o f the soccer team. Ambition: To b ecome a journeyman printer.
CONSTANCE LEE POTYKA
"Connie"
Academic Diploma Comes from Butler, Pa. H as a very friendly manner. Spends a lot o f time t a lking about boys. A lways wears a two-piece outfit. H as fallen in lov e with Fre nc h fries. A member of the R eading C lub , C lass S ecreta ry. Ambition: Has big thoughts of b eco ming a model.
IDA WYNETTA GRAY
"Gray"
Academic Diploma Lives in Johnstown, Pa. Has a big smile for everyone ! A bookworm and a brain box. Can't live without potato chips. Adores bask etball. A member of the Reading Club. Compiler of C lass Roste r. Ambi tion: Plans to be a teacher of th e deaf.
MAY ELIZABETH RICE
"May Rice"
Academic Diploma Lives with Mr. and Mrs. N u mbers. H as a very friendly disposition. Was chosen "Queen of the C lass of '5 1. " Is irrepressibl e. Fond o f toll h ouse cookies. Likes swimming. A monitor, President of the Reading C lub. A Girl Scout, Troop 2 I . C lass Proph et.
DALE KIRKPATRICK
"Cornstalk"
Vocational Diploma Lives in Strattonv ille, Pa. A n oth er lover of hunting and fishing . A lover o f guns. Very good at repairing watches. H as a part time job as a laundry carrier. A member of t h e Reading Club. Ambition: His for tune is und ecid e d.
BEATRICE MAE ALLISON
"Bee"
Certificate Hails from Sharon, Pa. As strong as Wonder Woman. Boys like her swaying gait. A big eater of potato chips. Excellent at every sport. Hates lessons. A monitor, a memb er of the Reading Club. Ambition: To be a wonderful housewife .
IRVIN CLEVENGER
"Irvin" Certificate Hails from Connellsville. A wonderful printer. Loves to go swimming. Usually has his eyes on Audrey. A member of the soccer and basketball teams. A Boy Scout, Troop 32. A member of the Reading Club. Ambition: Uncertain about his future.
GEORGE HAGEMAN
"Georgie"
Certificate Glenfield is his home. A very talented carpenter; likes to watch the wrestling matches on the television. Is afraid of the girls. Ambition: Undecided about his future.
ALICE JUNE KLEIN
"Alice"
Certificate Comes from nearby Wilkinsburg. Fond of cheering up unhappy girls. Can imitate an ape. Loves sweets. An expert card player. Complains about girls' boisterous manners. A monitor, a member of the Reading Club. Ambition: Wants to be a housewife.
EDWARD KOOSER
"Eddie"
Certificate Resides in Uniontown, Pa. Another printer. Loves to go fishing and hunting. At his best when bowling. A member of the Reading Club. Ambition: Undecided about his future.
EDWIN KOOSER
"Smiley"
Certificate Hails from Uniontown, Pa. Another carpenter. Loves to go bowling. Likes to read comics. Like his brother, Edward, h e likes hunting and fishing. A member of the Reading Club. Ambition: Undecided about his future.
JOHN LAVRA
"Johnny"
Certificate Lives in Pittsburgh. An excellent painter. Loves Rowers. Likes to cut lawns a n d watc h the teleVISion. A member of the Reading C lub. Ambition: H e's undecided about his future.
JAMES MILLER
"Jimmy"
Certificate A resident of Stoyestown, Pa. Would love to own a motorcycle. Crazy about hunting and fishin g. A member of the soccer and basketball teams. A member of the Reading C lub. Ambition: Would like to be a lumberj ack.
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LAWRENCE MILLER
"Buddy"
Certifica te His home is in Beaverdale, Pa. A wond erful painter a nd carpenter. Like m ost boys he likes hunting and fishing. Likes to r ead magazines con cerning a utomobiles. Is a bashful boy. A member of the Rea ding C lub. Ambition: Always dreams of becoming an auto mechanic.
HOWARD SHAFFER Certificate Comes fro.m Latrobe, Pa. Always talking about bears. Thrives on hunting and fishing . Trapping is his j oy in life. A member o f the soccer and baske tba ll teams. A member and ser geant at arms of the Reading C lub. Ambition: To be a carpenter.
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FRANK SOBINA
"Husky"
Certificate Hails from Oil City, Pa. Doesn't like to eat fis h in sc hoo l. Likes to tease the g irls. Stares at the girls lots of times. Reminds us of Vic tor Mature. A n excellent painter. A memb er of the soccer a nd b ask e tball teams. A m e mber of the Reading C lub. A wrestl er. Ambition: To bec ome a painter.
EVELYN JOAN VETIOREL
"Vettorllo"
Certificat e Her 路h ome is in M cDonald, Pa. Has a friendly, but stern manne r. F requ e ntly pounds on her desk. Crazy over ice cream a n d swimming. A great picture collector. A monitor. A member o f the Reading C lub, a G irl Scout, Troop 2 I . Ambition: Dreams o f becoming a housewife.
MARYETIA TIPTON
"Shorty". Certificate A resident of Somerset, Pa. Her baby face is adored by everyone. Blushes easily, laug h s easily, a nd cries easily, too. A lover of bananas. A basketball fan! A member of t h e Reading C lub. A Girl Scout, Troop 2 1. Ambition: Wishes 路 to become a housewife.
CLASS PROPHECY Twenty years after my graduation from W. P. S. D. I w as rushing to the Penguin Book Company, Inc. t hrough the crowd on Fifth Avenue, in New York City, when I ran into an old man, at first not recognizing him. I was astonis h ed to find that it was Mr. Teitelbaum, and, being in a hurry, I coaxed him to go a long with me to see my publisher about a book that I had written. Since he h a d three h o urs between trains, he was only too g lad to go. W h ile waiting for my publisher to receive me, we got to talking about my book. He was amazed when I told him that the title was 'Twenty Years Since My Graduation." He said th at it seemed like yesterd .a y. I told him that h e mi ght have the first copy and read about the experiences of each member of the C lass of 路 5 1, a ll of whom I had met within three months, in the summer of 1 9 70. He eagerly took it and, as we parted at the station, he promised to write to me at once a nd tell me what h e thoug ht of my book. One week la t er I received a l e tter from him, telling me how much h e enjoyed my book.
The beginning of the book was about a beautiful ranch of my own in Cali fornia where I resided with my beloved husband. In fact, we had acquired a gen erous s hare of worldly goo d s and were happy. However, I h ad begun to wonder about th e Class of '5 1 and had decided I'd hunt them up. So early in June, 19 70 we arranged a trip and headed East in our n ew 19 70 Lincoln Cosmopolitan. just west of Colorado, we stopped at a motel. Before us stood a tall blonde man, who looked very fa miliar to me. I scrutinized him car e fully and recognized him as Edwin, one of the Kooser Twins, a former member of the C lass of '5 1. I inquired after his brother, Edward, also a member of the class. He replied that he must be somewhere around. They both had a flourshing business, managing a fifteen cabin tourist camp. They had been married to twin sisters a nd they both had twins. Lucky people, weren't they ! After saying fa rewell to them, w e started off for St. L o uis, where we lea rn ed that John Sarak a, the Vice President a nd C l ass Testator of C lass of 路 5 1, own ed a large hotel. We found
him without any difficulty. We chatted about old times for a long time. After an enjoyable visit there, we drove on to Kentucky. We were forced to stop in Lexington, due t o motor trouble, and since we were told that it would take a couple of days, we decided to entertain ou rselves in that city. That nig ht we went to a wrestling match. Over my shoulder, I saw a s tout man with a familiar profile. He was John Lavra, a former pupil of the Class of '5 1. He moved over beside me and we talked of old times. Thus I learned that h e owned a shoe repair shop. John later told me that the Miller Boys (] ohn and Lawrence) owned a factory producing various toys. They worked together like real broth ers. We went to see them at the factory and had a pleasant visit with them. Our car was all fixed up and we headed for Georgia to visit Wynetta Gray, the compiler of our C lass Roster. It was rather unbelievable whe n we met her, because she seemed different. She had been a teacher in a school for the deaf for fifteen years after she graduated from Gallaudet College. When we concluded our vi sit with Wynetta, we headed for Washington, D. C., where I heard that several members of the C lass of '5 1 were working. We met Evelyn Vettorel and her fiance, Dale Kirkpatrick. They were emp l oyees in the United States Post Office. They took m e to see Maryetta Tipton. She and Irvin C levenger had been married for fifteen years and had five cute c hildren. Irvin worked as a bellboy in the famous "Adam's Hotel" on the outskirts of the , city. Then Evelyn and Dale took me to see Alice Klein. She seemed s trange because s h e had become so thin. She was married and lived in a beautiful hom e with her h usband who was a Co ngressma n. After a pleasant meeting with them all, we headed for Ohio. Suddenly our car ran out of gas, and we were far from a filling station. However, we finally go t help from a fat man. For generously h e lping us out, we offered to pay him, but he refused to take a n y thing. My annoyance at his refusal to take it suddenly disappeared when I recognized him as Howard S h affer. We talked for a while, dicussing old times. I was amazed to l earn tha t he marri ed Beatrice Allison. She was then at home, taking care of th eir three children.
We bade h im goodbye and, thanking him for his hospitality, we headed for Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Don Majocha, President of the C lass of '5 1, was a teacher of Art in the Art Institute. H e gree t ed us warmly and showed me a pict ure of a beautiful woman, familiar to me. Puffing his cigar, he asked me if I knew the woman, and I answered that I must have seen her somewhere. He burst into laug hter and called someone from another room. She came, smiling, and I quickly recognized her as Connie Potyka, Class Secretary. How glad I was to see her! She had been Don' s favorite model, but most of the time she was a model at fashion shows. We all c hatted about many things. we had lots of fun! After bidding them farewell, we started for the state of Washington. There we met George Hagem a n by accid ent. He h ad been a lumberjack th ere for a l ong t ime. To my amazement, he was not afrai d of girls anymore. He had married a beautiful woman. We decided that it was time for us to go home. We headed south and could not resist the temptation to visit Hollywood. We saw a stout man, like Samson, approaching us. W e thoug ht that it was Victor Mature, but I quickly realized that- it was Frank Sobina, whom I had lost track of. We had pleasure discussing o ld times. He h ad become a successful actor. He took us to see his m ovies and we enjoyed them very much. We then started for home. I carried with m e pleasant m emories of each member of the Class of '5 1, whom I had met during the summer. Then I proceeded to write the book, "Twenty Years Since My Graduation." After I was through writing, we went to New York City in the summer of 19 7 0, where I met Mr. Teitelbau m. - May Rice, Class Prophet
CLASS LEGACY We, the Class of 19 5 1 , being of sound mind and body, do hereby make this our last will and testament. To the school, we present a sum of money for the bleach er fund. To M r. Craig, o ur superintend ent, we present a set of new modern fu rniture, so that he may replace his o ld furniture or add it to furniture now in the school to make it more modern.
To Mr. Numbers, our academic principal, we present a box of Kleenex to wipe off "The Sweat of His Brow."
To Mr. Mackin, we present a brush, for there are many old brushes in the painting shop and he needs new ones.
To Mr. Smith, our vocational principal, we present an assistant, for he always needs someone to hold his flash bulb holder when he takes pictures. To Mr. Teitelbaum, we present a framed picture of a hippopotamus, a huge animal with its big mouth open, to remind future boys .and girls to cover their mouths when they yawn in class. To Mrs. Stanton, we present a key chain. She always uses a string tied to her belt, so she can carry her keys on it. To Mrs. Edge, we present a tree, which she loves. To Mr. Holliday, we present a small can of crayons to take home. He always puts crayons in his pockets and goes home with them.
To Mr. Harvey Barnes, we present a scrip to pencil, so he won't need to sharpen his pencil any more.
To Mr. Esterline, we present a chalk holder. He frequently breaks the chalk into small pieces when he drops it on the floor. To Mrs. Smith, we present a sign, '~Mrs: H. Smith," to make everyone call her thfit so that we won't be confused with the other Mrs. Smith, a teacher in Section III. To Mrs. Conway, we present a box of bandages to help heal her sore foot. To Mrs. Lawler, we present a package of cookies. She is very often asked to make cookies for parties. To Miss Parker, we present a letter box for her to keep her letters in. We are told that she gets many letters. To Miss Key, we present a key because of her name. To Miss Lee, we present a song book, so that she can give the students many interesting new songs. To Mrs. Cook, we present a cook book. To Mr. Stanton, we present a bandage, for he sometimes gets his hands hurt in the woodworking department. To Mr. Heginbotham, we present a six foot zigzq.g ruler to help make measuring easier on long boards, instead of the three foot zigzag ruler which he now uses. To Mr. Lietman, we present a small lock, so he can use it to lock his lunch box, instead of a paper clip which he now uses.
To Mary Ferraro, Beatrice Allison wills her prowess as a basketball player. To Isabel Robinson, Wynetta Gray hands over her love for reading all sorts of books. To Ethel Kratz, Alice Klein bequeathes her interest in the news. To Patty Blaker, Connie Potyka devises her love for wearing pretty 路skirts. To Edna T refanoff, May Rice leaves her love for telling jokes to make the girls laugh. To Mary Rocha, Mary etta Tipton leaves her charming diminutiveness. To Barbara Fredich, Evelyn Vettorel leaves her husky s tature. To Anthcny Jaracz, Irvin Clevenger passes on his speed on foot. To John Jones, George Hageman leaves his sedateness. To Ronald Radomsky, Dale Kirkpatrick devises his hobby for rep a iring watches and clocks. To Raymond Salada, Edwin Kooser hands over his love for wor king in the kitchen and on the campus. To Harry Young, Edward Kooser hands over his love for working on the campus. To Jesse Irvin, John Lavra leaves his aloofness. To Ronald Overdorff, James Miller d e vises his propensity for showing off. To Joseph Derkiss, Lawrence Miller passes his hobby of making rings. To his brother, Arthur Majocha, Donald Majocha leaves his brain box to help him do better work in school. To Louis Ferraro, John Saraka hands over his love for reading the daily sports page of the newspapers. To Franklin Cole, Howard Shaffer wills his prowess as a basketball player. To Harry Reese, Frank Sobina passes his prowess as a soccer player. -John Saraka , Class Testator
1950-1951 Basketball Team
1950-1951 Soccer Team
AUTOGRAPHS ....
THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REES T. SCULLY JOHN R. McCUNE, JR. CHARLES L. McCUNE BEVERLY R. SHRIVER President
Vice President
WILLIAM A. GORDON DR. J. C. BURT E. BRUCE HILL ALLEN S. DAVISON MAITLAND A. WILSON JUDGE SAMUEL J. McKIM RICHARD D. EDWARDS
Treasurer
JOHN GILFILLAN MARTIN N. BALLARD 짜-W. N. DAMBACH HENRY CHALFANT, JR. "'H. D. JAMES L. H. WILCOX HON. HUGH C. BOYLE
Secretary
JOSEPH G. HORNE JAMES E. HINDMAN CHARLES LOCKHART C. SNOWDON RICHARDS 짜-WILLIAM F. HOFFMAN DR. KENNETH M. DAY JOHN G. FRAZER, JR.
"'Executive Committee
TERMS OF ADMISSION This School is an institution of learning incorporated under the laws of the State; was built and is sustained by contributions of benevolent persons and by legislative appropriations; and is designed to afford a good common school educat ion to all deaf children in Western Pennsylvania. It is open to all such of suitable age and capacity for receiving instruction in conformity to the rules adopted for its government. Incorrigible and feeble-minded applicants will not be admitted. The School is located at Edgewood in Allegheny County, a short distance east of the City of Pittsburgh and within a few minutes' walk of Edgewood Station on the main line of the Pennsylvania R a ilroad. The legislature makes provisions for the education and maintenance of State pupils, the State paying three-fourths and the school districts from which pupils come paying one-fourth of the cost. Parents and guardians supply their children with necessary clothing, paying the traveling expenses of the pupils to and from the Scho9l, also a nominal incidental fee. Children are regularly admitted when they have reached the age of six years upon application from their parents or guardians approved by their local school authorities. A limited number of children below the age of six are accepted. The annual session of the School usually begins on the second Tuesday of September and continues for forty weeks.-till about the middle of june.
SAM B. CRAIG. Superintendent