THE GRIZZLY

Northside High School’s beloved newspaper, The Grizzly, was published by journalism students under the guidance of Miss Hazel Presson.  Barbara Peevy was editor, and Jerry Dukes was assistant editor during the 1962--1963 school year.

 

Students under the direction of Mr. Jerry Klinginsmith, director of the Grizzzly press, printed 2,500 copies for distribution.  A new printing press in early 1963 reduced the printing time from ten hours to a maximum of two hours but required a reduction in the newspaper’s size overall.  (More manageable size followed soon after by better quality paper.)  This was the first change in the format since 1940.  The age of the old printing press monster?  Well, the patent date was 1882.

 

Every two weeks, the much-anticipated four-page school paper informed us, forewarned us, and amused us.  Now, The Grizzly serves as our memory booster for so many great high school happenings that have been long forgotten.  What a school year it was!

 

“In every issue” -- well, almost every issue --

      Page 1 -- The hot news of the school

      Page 2 -- Editorial in nature, mostly

      The cartoon “Little Man on Campus”

      “Versifying” (short verse by Jerry Dukes or submitted by another Northside student)

      “Mark my words” by Mark Plunkett -- definitely a blog and very entertaining, humorous

      Page 3 -- A variety of whatever was left over plus advertising

      Page 4 -- Reserved for all Grizzly sports and included Dwain Cromwell’s “Sportlights” with tidbits of information -- another interesting blog.

Just before our Christmas break and again for the last edition of the school year, the newspaper published six pages instead of the usual four.

 

A recent revisit to the 1962-1963 issues of The Grizzly both jostled my memory and taught me things my mind had never absorbed at all.  For example: 

 

Remember the “Litsmith” literary magazine published by the school?  Carolyn Hoffman was editor.  This was a compilation of various works written by Northside students and submitted by the English teachers.  What did “Litsmith” mean?  This title won in a 1957 contest and means “Literature of Fort Smith.”

 

What was “Sock and Buskin”?  Drama students.  Sock and Buskin club was involved in performances of “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Teahouse of the August Moon” and “South Pacific”.

 

What was TWIRP week?  Girls asked boys for dates that one week out of 52 weeks and paid the tabs.

 

Something for everyone?  A few of the many clubs and organizations at Northside as noted in The Grizzly required a degree of brief memory searching:  Columbian Literary Society, Le Cercle Francais, Chess Club, Y-Teens, Hi-Y, Alpha Rho Tau, 100-Mile Club, Athenians, Don Quixote Chapter, “F” Club, Judo Club (new for 1962), Mu Alpha Theta, Pan American Club, Partners in Christ, Quill and Scroll, Thespian Society, High School Red Cross.  Clubs were added throughout the school year, and by the end of May there were almost thirty clubs and organizations for students.

 

 

The Grizzly loved to quote, especially teachers in an effort to embarrass them:

“Now, class, I am going to show a couple of strip films.” -- Mrs. Grigsby

To a student who was trying to borrow paper and a pencil, “We’re not running a welfare state here….No, no, let’s not have anymore of this stuff.” - Miss Irene Barnwell

When asked how many Grizzly newspapers he needed for his class during a delivery, “There are 36 in here, 35 students, 2 absent, that’s 33, two for the absent girls, that’s 35, and one for me makes 36.” -- Mr. George McAlister  (And I learned economics from him!)

As students divided their rows to play a learning game, “All right, start moving, this is the jet age.”

-- Miss Irene Barnwell

“Now, you all try to look intelligent while you’re being photographed, please.”-- Miss Madge Evans

Describing the school’s ancient printing press, “The temperament of the machine is like that of a woman. If it isn’t treated properly, it will do all sorts of strange things.”-Mr.Klinginsmith

“Mixed chorus isn’t all a bed of roses--it’s a lot of hard work.” -- Miss Edna Earle Massey

“Whether the boy who wore 13 BERNER cards during the campaign hoped it would prove unlucky for me or my opponents is a guess, but I hope he hasn’t been reading up on voodoo!” -- Ronnie Berner, unsuccessful candidate for vice-president of the next semester student council

Probably more of a joke than a quote on the sports page--A bold, young basketball player asked why he had been placed on the third team and received this reply “Because there isn’t a fourth.”

 

 

Sports Highlights:

 

Ronald Bateman joined the NHS staff as assistant basketball and football coach after serving at Ramsey.

 

Sixty-one boys competed for front line positions on the football team.

 

Grizzly athletic expense was expected to exceed $25,000 for the school year.

One football uniform from head to toe cost about $120 and was supplied by the school.

 

Grizzly varsity football team ended the season with 7-3 record.

Tom Corbin and Robert Marley were honored by selection on the all-state Big 9 team.

Robert Marley was named among the all-south selections.

 

Judo Club organized with 12 members.

 

NHS basketball home games had to be played at Ramsey, a situation that would change with passage of the December school board bond proposal.

 

Grizzlies basketball ended the regular season 19-7 overall and 4-4 in the Big 9.

They won two games to break a four-way tie in the Big 9 but lost the first tournament game.

Ronnie Jackson, senior basketball letterman, was named to this year’s all-state team.

Coach Gayle Kaundart took a basketball team to the state tournament eight years straight.

 

Girls Club basketball in conjunction with Northside gym classes selected 23 girls to form new team.

 

Tennis players organized a team, first at school since 1954, and hoped to play in the state tournament.

 

Track Coach Charles Presley described the upcoming schedule as “the toughest available.”

Ken Sharp set a new state record for pole vaulting.

 

Charlie Herring won first place in weight lifting, heavyweight division, at a state of Arkansas meet.

 

Bob Williams was the first boy in the ’62-’63 school year to meet requirements of membership in the Northside 100 mile Club.

 

American Legion baseball league added new teams to give more boys chances to play in Fort Smith.

Boys Club, Girls Club, church leagues, and intramural sports under the direction of Coach Thompson made many sports available to students beyond those offered by the school district.

 

 

In the news:

 

Sep ’62:

   Upcoming bond election including spending $350,000 for a physical education- athletic auditorium facility.  (The proposal passed in December.)

   Congratulations to thirteen seniors named as National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists.

   Juniors order class rings -- already!

   Mrs. Lemley replaced Opal Horn as dean of girls.

 

Oct ’62:

   Homecoming !!!

   Northside “House of Representatives” was formed

   Sock and Buskin performed “Arsenic and Old Lace”

 

Nov ’62:

   Senior play “Teahouse of the August Moon” a joint effort of seniors and Sock and Buskin.

   Lady Astor, the goat in the senior play, got loose and was the subject of a several hour hunt by students, the police, TV and radio stations, even made the newspaper.

   Orders for the Bruin topped 1,750

   Eighty students replaced teachers for one day to observe American Education Week.

 

Dec ’62:

   “Decorate the Door” contest for classrooms during the Christmas season.  The winner was room 207 for “The Three Wise Men coming to see the Christ Child at Bethlehem.”  Contest entry fee 50 cents, and first prize $9.

   Christmas assemblies included band, choirs with scripture reading and prayer.

 

Jan ’63:

   Time to order graduation announcements

   Time to select 18 seniors for Who’s Who

   Time to be measured for graduation caps and gowns

   Northside designated as one of 30 local fallout shelters and can accommodate 1,025 (Interpretation at a school of over 2,000:  If it is needed, run -- don’t walk!)

 

Feb ’63:

   After eight years as our assistant principal, Mr. Victor Stewart named Southside Principal

   After many rehearsals, “South Pacific” opens, sponsored by senior class, Grizzly band, Sock and Buskin and the vocal musical department.

   All thirteen seniors named in Sept as National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists have been named finalists!

   Remember the class that won the Christmas “Decorate the Door” contest and won $9?  How did they spend the prize?  All 58 students and two teachers ate breakfast at Jan’s on fifteen cents each!  Some ordered seconds and had to pay the extra nickel or dime.

   The new polio Sabin vaccine recommended even for those who received the Salk vaccine

 

Mar ’63:

   Miss Hazel Presson and five of her journalism students attended the annual meeting of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association in New York City.

   Area-wide Science Fair at Northside expected over 200 projects for judging

21 NHS students won Science Fair awards.

   Area-wide “Evils of Smoking” presented at Northside by the American Cancer Society

   The old contrary monster printing press was disassembled by the metalworking shop.  Some parts went to their class, some were sold for scrap, and some were taken by Mr. Klinginsmith. Rumor was he took the parts so that no one could ever put it back together.

   Three new junior civic clubs formed for boys: Junior Lions, Junior Exchange and a junior branch of the Rotary Club.

   Third-annual art auction featuring work by students and by local artists

 

Apr ’63:

   First place medals were awarded to 63 Northside band members at the region band festival.

   Student Council sponsored a folk music and jazz festival, the first such event on the campus.

   Ronnie Bateman, assistant coach at NHS, was named head basketball coach at SHS.

   The Grizzly won a superior rating along with many superior ratings for staff at the state level.

 

May ’63:

   Reprimand for improper clothing at Play Day (school-sponsored recreation activity) for girls wearing culottes.

   New publication will be a portfolio of original art work by NHS students

   May 17 senior class banquet-dance at UCT Hall.  Music by Memphis band “The Counts”

   “According to statistics, at least 27 weekend activities will be planned for the last four weekends of school.” -- article by Anne Dobbs

   527 seniors eligible for graduation on May 31; 311 headed for college, including 163 to FSJC

 

And, in case we wanted to sit home and take it easy during the summer, KFSA-TV bought advertising in The Grizzly to announce their daytime weekday lineup including Captain Kangaroo, Concentration, Love of Life,  As the World Turns, Art Linkletter’s House party, Secret Storm, Edge of Night.  Hmmmmmm…...Maybe it’s time for a summer job.

 

 

A great big thanks to Flo Chism who read through a year's worth of Grizzly's in one 24 hour period and gave us this great condensed version!