4th peiod lunch began at what - 10:30 in the morning? Some of my fondest High School memories centered around the cafeteria, with its easy access to the yard outside and that back student parking lot, where guys would gather to compare wheels - and sometimes make an early exit out the back driveway . The cafeteria served as a dance hall when the Fastbacks would play - and as a jungle when sprigs of broccoli and french fries would soar as occasional food fights would erupt, to the delight of some and disgust of others.
I remember Steve Arbogast (1966) would step outside, face the windows, and admire his form in the reflection as he practiced imaginary golf swings - with our own grinning Fran Spatafora on the inside, unbeknownst to Steve, mimicking his every move.
In the spring of '67, hundreds of students cut class and jammed the South Cafeteria to witness the Conrad Panza exhibition, do you remember the collective squeal at the moment of truth? And a snickering Mr. Boyle announcing 'Well, I hope he enjoyed that - it may have cost him his High School education..'
And those big peanut butter cookies - heck, I LIVED on them.
Vaughn-
I have to say that you have the most amazing memory I have ever come across!!! Wow-you really did enjoy your times at WWHS and those memories are still so vivid 40 to 44 years later; I am impressed..
I do remember the food fights and the cookies now that you mention them.
Kathy
I lived on those peanutbutter cookies too and have been looking for them ever since summer of 1968.... 40 years later and I have not found them yet, not even close.
I wish I was there to see what Conrad Panza did, I was at Tech. and missed it. I saw Conrad 5 years ago, had I known about what he did I would have asked to hear his side of that expierence...must have been pretty funny.
Patti, he hung a moon - bared his buns, whatever - but only momentarily, then charged up the hill and into the woods as hundreds cheered. No doubt he had to face some music later, but he did attain Junior status without skipping a beat. In our Senior year, there was an 8th period 'Teen Center' Assembly in the North Gym. When the moderator invited students to come forth and ask questions on the microphone, Conrad - ever the showman, didn't hesitate. He
walked right up to the stage, grabbed the mike and asked, 'Will the new Teen Center have a dress code?'
Conrad Panza was a great guy, and certainly not a shy fellow. Glad to hear he's still around.
Vaughn,
Thank you for giving me back the memory of myself mimicking Steve Arbogast's golf swing in the South Cafeteria. I'll bet my golf swing was better then than it is now. You have an incredible memory.
It's great to hear from you. Those little precious moments of humor stuck with me all these years - but I assure you I've forgotten more than I remember. Steve was outside being SO serious - and you brought the moment back down to Earth in such an entertaining way. Thanks so much for that.
I want to first say that all of you classmates that did not attend the vocational school- Wilson Tech., surely had an advantage over us that did attend. I went for Cosmetology, and did proceed on and got my license in Oct. '68. This was after passing the State Boards, along with my partners in crime, Marguerite Bonifacio, Patti Ventura, and Linda Wujick. We missed so much of the fun at school. We left the WW at 7:25 and didn't return until 6th period. That left Phys. Ed., English and History. Not much time to get to know many people. But I do remember sneaking in and getting those peanut butter cookies or an ice cream sandwich. We had just a minute to eat that before Rabidu or Hornwrath got our butts into that lovely gym get-up to torture us. Ah, the memories! I also remember food fights and looking in the garbage for dental retainers that friends forgot to put back in their mouths before they left the cafeteria. Oh, it was so funny now to look back but not so for their poor parents! $$$$ I am truly sorry I missed so much of the other activities of school. It didn't help that I was so very shy. What a terrible thing to be blessed with! I was afraid of my shadow back then. Thank goodness working in the Hairdressing field cures you of shyness very quickly.
