 |
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
|
The Class of 1916 There were two years when O’Fallon High School did not hold a graduation—1905 when the school increased from a 2 year course of study to a 3 year one and 1915 when the transfer to the present 4 year plan occurred. The Class of 1916 was the first to graduate under the 4 year curriculum. There were 13 in that class: Earl Asbury, Gladys Mantle, Virginia Ahrens, Jean Bassett, Walter Trippel, Frances Alexander, Jessie Behrens, Joseph Bailey, James Bittles, H. Edward Fischer, Wilbur Widicus, George Bernreuter and Ralph Stites. Joseph Bailey wrote at the time that “to us was given the task of making a path for prospective 4 year classes. Among our boys all refrain from tobacco and alcohol in all forms. We feel justly proud that we are taken in the High School as the standard of perfection.” The Class of ‘16 was the first to publish a yearbook. With Jean Bassett as editor, The Memini (Latin for remember) was a slim 81 page volume with a blue cloth binding with gold lettering produced entirely by the students. The Memini was the predecessor of the current Panther yearbook series begun in 1951.
Just before graduation on May 31, 1916, John Arras, superintendent of the High School, and his wife entertained the Senior Class to a two course supper in their dining room decorated with the class colors, cardinal and green, and featuring a table centerpiece of American roses—the class flower. Baccalaureate services were held at the Methodist Church that year and graduation exercises were held at the Taylor Opera House with Joseph Taylor, newly elected Board of Education President, presenting the diplomas. For their motto, the class used the Latin version of the first graduating class’ motto—”non confectus, sed initus”. “Not finished but begun.”
|
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
