From The Oil Field Press and The Webb City Herald
Number 22, the Driller Edition
(Reprinted Oct 7, 1982, Shidler Review)
History of the School
Six years ago the little white school was built. It was in the south part of town and still stands, the original Hay Creek school.
Five years ago the first year of high school was taught under Mr. Crosby in a two-room building south of town. In the summer of 1924, it was decided to build a regular school building and so the first part was erected in a more suitable pale than a way out of town. The site chosen was on a corner lot a block south of Main Street. Only the skeleton of what it is now was built.
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In the fall of 1924 school was started in the new building under Mr. Wild as principal. At first there were enough enrolled to have a full-fledged high school, so Mr. Wild doubled the faculty.
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In 1925, the rapidly growing number…(part of the story is torn away)…a new addition was added, which included the science rooms, home economics, and commercial departments.
In the fall of 1926, the school enrollment enlarged so as to require more room, so the last addition to the building was made on the back part. This included the study hall, the dressing rooms and showers. -Alice and Claribel
The History of The Driller
In the 1925 the students of Webb City high school conceived the idea that they wanted a school newspaper. Bu the influence and help of Mr. Harden, supervisor of athletics the school paper project was decided to be started as soon as possible.
The first question that was brought up concerning the paper was what to name it. Finally it was decided to have a name contest in which all the students could participate in submitting names. After all the names were turned in, it was decided to cut them down to four or five best ones and put them before the students for vote. The name voted on the “The Driller”, submitted by Miss Mabel Slover, now of Shidler. The name “The Driller” is a very characteristic one, too as it refers to the oil industry, which surrounds Webb City. The name not only applies to the paper but also the athletic team.
The next thing was the choosing of an editorial staff. This was soon done, and the paper progressed nicely for several months. The following school year of 1926 and ’27 went through without a paper as there seemed to be no interest in starting another paper. The second semester of the term’27 and ’28 brought brighter prospects for some kind of school paper. Mr. Subert Turbyfill, teacher of high school, revived the paper by making arrangements with Messrs. Dancy and Youngman, editors of “The Oil Field Press”, for a section of their paper to be labeled “The Driller” and be edited by the students of the school. All the classes of the senior and junior high school elected reporters for the editorial staff. The chiefs of the staff were selected from the Juniors of the English literature class. The editor-in-chief, Claribel Gorman, and business manager, Loye Harmon. These three of the staff did most of the “hustling”, although there were some others who did good work at times.
“The Driller” section of the “oil Field Press” drew quite a bit of attention from the students, and outsiders as well. The section was scarce on news but there was something in the paper every Thursday when it came off the press.
Seniors
May 1928
Mae Beaky
Katharine Cline
Jimmie Sue Dennis
Velvia Harris
Herbert Hunter
Winnie McIlroy
Eva Pettigrew
Doris Swin
Mildred Tucker
Forrest Wells
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From the 1933 Driller
Class of 1933 Class History
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In the Fall of ’29, that fateful fall when the bottom fell out of stocks and speculators committed suicide, a class of 58 ambitious youngsters enrolled for high school instruction at Webb High. After being duly initiated into the sacred rites of the school, these freshmen elected their following class officers: Oris Blankenship, president; Donald Vogele, vice president; Nina Brown, secretary-treasurer; and Mr. Folsom, sponsor
Though they were self-confident, they did not dream of achieving such success as has been theirs throughout their high school career. Twenty-seven sophomores entered W.H.S. in the year ’30. Make use of your knowledge of mathematics and you find that several “fell by the wayside.” However, they made up in quality what they lacked in quantity. For that ear the officers: Cebert Richter, president; Donald Vogele, vice president; Geraldine Hutchens, secretary-treasurer; and Mr. Ege, sponsor. Many activities used sophomores as star performers, especially in the glee club, quartet, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and football. But in due time these once doughty freshmen reached that terrible, dizzy height, “Juniors”
The class remained the same in size, but say, those juniors surely gained a monopoly on activities and outstanding achievements; in fact, the senior class was almost willing to admit that the juniors should be the graduating class.
Somehow the old air of delightful joviality was misplaced through vacation. As the new seniors appeared on the scene, they were somewhat graver (that is, in most cases).
The class officers for this fatal year are: Bill Maher, president; Cebert Richter, vice president; Vernal Dickerson, secretary-treasurer; and Miss Chaney, sponsor. Under these competent leaders the graduating class of ’33 had made an astonishing record. A few really good times were enjoyed by the class. These were in the form of parties, weiner roasts and one all day picnic.
In activities the senior class provided: two members of the boys’ quartette, Oris Blankenship and Cebert Richter; one member of the girls’ quartette, Wilman Gorman; one debater, Harry Bonham; three basketball men: Paul Woods, Jack Smith, Orvill Owen, Cebert Richter, Carroll Nickles, Earl Jennings, Donald Vogele, Harry Bonham, Bill Maher, and Vernal Dickerson.
For the year, officers were: Cebert Richter, president; Donald Vogele, vice president; vice-Coached by Miss Stebler, head of the Webb City dramatic department.
Valedictorian for the class of ’33 was Imogene Sewell; salutatorian, Harry Bonham.