Class History:

(Taken from Tigers Roar Senior Edition Vol. II No. 29, May 13, 1971)

The 1971 Shidler High School senior class began their rampage to fame, fortune and immortality in 1959-60. Mrs. Henthorn and Mrs. Struckle were proud to be bestowed with the honor and privilege of starting this group on their way to the top. 23 of this mighty class has stayed together to pave the way. Donned with crew cuts, bobby sox, and be-ribboned dog-ears, A.J. Jacques, Jeri Rash, Steve Chrisco, Marilyn Bivin, David Howell, Cindy Hustead, Frank Ball, Jerry Hathcoat, Jenny Eden, Debra Himbury, Larry York, Jim Miller, Fran Kelsey, Rick Cottle, Jay Snow, Diane Walker, John Payne, Joe Center, Shelly Roe, Pat Nelson, Debbie Clapper, Danny McEuin, Eddie Robertson, and Donna Krotzer all started out their school career with the sole ambition of becoming the best class to ever pass through the hallowed halls. Some unfortunate people were not able to finish with this successful and talented group. The following people had to somehow survive without benefiting from the honor of graduating with the 1971 Seniors. Those who weren’t able to stick it out our 12 years were—Butch Anderson, Bill Truax, Myrtle Cato, Linda Hanning, Eddie Couch, Jackie East, Debbie Gay, Scott Hamilton, Terry Hight, Tony Lee, Darrell Lytle, Becky Martin, Connie Ratcliff, Jimmy Rogers, Ray Swope, Marian Smith, Karla Sallee, Vernon Gardner, JoNell Singleton, Richard Smithson, Rhonda Thompson, Jonathon Turner, Dewayne Back, Beverly Case, Deborah Underwood, Darrel Vaughn, Teresa Valk, Janice Wallace, Jim Whitt, Marilyn Martin, Lee Smith, Kent Crawford, Mike Vernon, Peggy Back, David Berman, Kenneth Carter, Marsha Marshall, Judy Back, Lee Orcutt, Timmy Davis, Jody Price, and Tommy Brumfield.

We journeyed on to the second grade picking up Gary Robinson, Lee Smith, Sandy Ware, and Janice Striplin to help uphold our mighty traditions. Connie Wilson joined our ranks in our third grade power plant.

Booming right ahead, we moved on to the fourth grade. We were really big kids when we graduated to the east end of the hall. This was the year when Billy Saunders, Bo Fulsom, Becky Sharp, Jeri Meredith, Glenetta Harmon, Patsy Kerr, and Tommy Appleton joined us.

The fifth grade brought Sharon Rowe and Teddy Shaffer to the joyful midst of romance at recess, shorts under your skirt so you could play jacks, and being members of the mighty 75 pound team.

The Grade School was ruled and regulated by our sixth grade room. We were mighty patrol people—complete with uniforms—with protection for all in our heart by stopping crime on the playground. We coached all underclassmen in sports and were responsible for the other youngsters’ physical fitness program. Coy Fields joined us along with a fantastic impression of a retard in a trash can. Our picnic to Ponca closed the year with a bang. Bowling, golf, skating, and the Ponca Lake ended our grade school career.

Following our year of power, we were thrust into the clutches of Miss Stebler and Mr. Treadway, the pillars of Junior High. Both were determined to squelch our fantastic vigor, but even they couldn’t hold this mighty group down—especially since the class was joined by Donnie Treadway, Janice Ustler, and Sally Crabtree.

--And no one can forget our eighth grade year. Gary Olson crashed down from Grainola, singing, “I’m looking over a 4-leaf clover” and riding his prize 4-H steer. Marsha Cannon followed close behind with Eddie Pruitt and Peggy Brown. Alton Cranford, who turned out to be the class Cassanova of the eighth grade, finished that year’s roll call.

Booming in to our ninth grade year, the “Grainola Greats” arrived in full force—Hugh Jones, Jon Olsen, Jim Heath, and Denise Logue. The only problem with this group was they had only a one word vocabulary – party – party – party.

Moving right along, our sophomore year was soon in full swing with bus rides to Berryhill, driver’s education, and the great members gained from the consolidation. The Burbank Pirates who sailed into SHS were Shirley Simmons, Linda Harding, Mike Haworth, Luann Barnard Christian, Sandy Suggs, Joanne Lothes, Cindy Cranford, and Steve Scott.

The Kaw City Red Hawks also were allowed to test their first thrill of SHS that year. These members were DeWayne Ham, Chuck Taylor, John Ake, and Vicki Tewell. The Pirates and Red Hawks were all converted to Shidler Tigers in just a short while.

Our Junior Year blessed us with Rick Hill and Steve Maxson. How we did without them the first 10 years, we’ll never know. –Senior rings, our first prom, and Mrs. Head’s English class.

Highly elated, we became Seniors. Doug Millikan, Leona Bagg, Tommy Wilhelm, and Victor Bahm were just in time to celebrate this great happening. Max Williams just flashed in and out of this year.

--Well, Seniors, we made it to our Senior Year and in record time—12 years. 125 of us would have walked down the aisle, across the stage, and heard “Dear Old Shidler High” for the last time together if all students, ever a member of this great class, were present graduation night.

But there are 51 of us Superior Senior Specimens to walk through these halls the last time as students. We may not be as large a class as possible, but we reached one goal, having survived the trials and tribulations of SHS. We leave our high school career behind us only to reach for a higher step.

Class Prophecy:

John Ake - New disk jockey at New Kaw City rock radio station – KKAW Victor Bahm – Working in California at Marineland. He trains ducks to talk. Joe Center – is entering his 16^th year at Northern Oklahoma College. Frank Ball – Opening his 6^th service station under the name of Ugh Oil Co. Rick Cottle – Short stop for St. Louis Cardinals. In his rookie year already has a major league record to his name, recently has broken his 1000^th bat. Bo Fulsom – has just finished his 7^th novel. This novel has 3568 pages but Bo wrote the complete novel on 3 ½ sheets of notebook paper. Larry Graham – Larry has just won his 3^rd Daytona 500 race with his supped up International Travel Van. Larry has replaced Andy Granetelli on the STP commercial only now the name has been changed to N.E.W.T. Dewayne Ham – has now changed his name. Ain’t that a porker! Jerry Hathcoat – holds perhaps one of the most unique positions of any of the class of ‘71 grads. He designs uniforms for the various phases of the armed forces. His latest creation is a lavender and green field coat with 56 red buttons and a special yellow knit belt with attachments for cigarette cases and beer cans. Mike Haworth – with his PH.D. in psychology, Mike has returned to the farm to analyze his father’s pigs. Jim Heath – is holding out for a salary raise as first base coach for the Baltimore Orioles. Richard Hill – Rick has just flunked out of his first semester at John Hopkins University. He has returned to the Jim Olsen ranch to work and is serving as assistant foreman under Jon Tanny. A.J. Jacques – A.J. has gone whole-hog into the hay-hauling business. He now owns a fleet of 126 trucks as well as 3 manufacturing firms which specialize in the manufacturing of chaps, gloves, and welder’s caps. Hugh Jones – In the event of Charlie Doty’s retirement, the city of Shidler has hired Hugh as the town constable. One big point in the city council’s decision to hire Hugh is that he knows all the tricks that high school boys use to evade the law; and we mean ALL the tricks. Stephen Maxson – After getting his bachelors degree in sled-dog breeding at the University of Alaska, Steve is doing research on his graduate degree and has taken his dog sled to the north pole in search of Santa Claus. Danny McEuin – We were unable to find the exact location of Danny but rumors have it that Danny (now quite the international playboy) is entertaining Hugh Hefner and his crowd of bunnies on his yacht off the coast of Italy. Jim Miller – Jim and his troop of Boy Scouts was last seen scaling the Eiffel Tower. All returned except our dear Jim who was carried off by a flock of pigeons. David Howell – Mr. Howell now has his own distillery and puts out the world’s finest bourbon, “Old David”. Doug Millikan – Doug has a new surf board - - it’s not made of fiberglass, it’s made of janiceglass. Pat Nelson – Pat has just finished repainting the Shidler water tower – without a ladder. Jon Olsen – Jon is now riding the world’s most well-equipped water buffalo. His daddy won’t let him have anymore pick-ups. Gary Olson – Gary has now moved to Binger; but Binger has also moved. John Payne – John is now special cover agent for the FBI in the Los Angeles Chapter of Hell’s Angels. Or is it a special undercover agent for Hell’s Angels in the Los Angeles Police Dept? Neil Pennington – Neil is now Auto Mechanics instructor at Shidler High School. Eddie Robertson – Eddie has just won the World Boxing Championship by knocking out Joe Frazier in 3 rounds and is currently preparing to write a letter of apology to Joe. Jay Snow – We find Jay working in the Shidler Canary Shop – way to go Bird! Steve Scott – Steve is handing out cigars for the 6^th time while working at his vegetable stand. Chuck Taylor – We haven’t been able to locate Chuck; but then we didn’t try very hard. Larry York – Larry was recently found suffocated under 3 tons of SKOL. No cause for alarm though, when they finally dug down to him, he was smiling; he died happily. Steve Chrisco – Steve was electrocuted to death while playing his electric guitar in the shower. Tom Wilhelm – Tom is now leader for the Shidler Cyclists Club. Marilyn Bivin – In this day of women’s lib Marilyn has become the first woman football player and recently won “Rookie of the Year” honors playing fullback for the Chicago bears. Leona Bagg - Mistress of ceremonies at the Academy Awards, has won many honors for public speaking. Marsha Cannon – Marsha, world famed barrel racer, is still performing at the age of 83. Lu Ann Christian – Lu Ann is now editor of the Shidler Review. Debbie Clapper – Debbie is now applause manager at the Tulsa Civic Center. Sally Crabtree – Sally is now lead singer for her own group Sally and the Tree Crabs. Cindy Cranford – There are now 5 faces on Mt. Rushmore. Using her talents, Cindy has just finished sculpting Roger Walker’s face next to Abraham Lincoln. Jenny Eden- Jenny has given up a modeling career for a job as head mannequin at Coffee’s Department Store in downtown Shidler. Joy Frank – Joy is running the mile now, right alongside Mike. Fran Kelsey – Fran has been elected Miss Fish Sandwich 1980. Donna Krotzer – Recently Donna has been taken from dear old Shidler to find fame and fortune in the movies. Already known as the Blonde Bombshell, critics claim she will be another Mae West. Linda Harding – Linda, voted most likely to succeed, has found success in 4-H show calf raising business. Besides cattle, she has a sizable herd of little Cottles. Glenetta Harmon – Glenetta and her fly-boy were last reported dive-bombing SHS. Debra Himbury – has just completed her 5^th piano concert at Carnegie Hall. Cindy Hustead – is currently teaching drivers ed at Camp 40 High after receiving the National Safe Driving Merit Award. Jeri Rash – is now teaching Country and Western dance steps at York’s recreation hall in downtown Shidler, Okla. Shelly Roe – has just been selected Miss Ford Country. Shirley Simmons – is now head mechanic at Simmons’s Friendly Gas and Grocery. Diane Walker – Srgt. Walker is now stationed in Viet Nam where she is teaching the natives to build straws huts.

2006 – 35 year reunion