At graduation time in 1971, I had been “gone” from FHS for two years, which at times seemed like two weeks and at other times like two decades! People had often told me that once I “went off” to college, I would not want to come back to Forney for any length of time, because the people with whom I “ran” and the “things” we ran after would no longer be in my home town, but in my “new town.” For the most part, they were right, but I did come back periodically to live at home with my parents as I worked my “each year” summer jobs and as I sometimes attended local events or visited with students, who had been beneath me in seniority through the school years—plus, my sister, Ann, was in this Class of ’71 and somewhat kept me up-to-date with happenings and changes!
I found out that the Senior Class Officers and Sponsors were (in pictured order) Mr. Jerrol Parker & Mrs. Hester Pender (Sponsors)—Mack Frazier, President—Karen Gowen, Treasurer—Marty Rouvaldt, Vice-President—Teresa Duckworth, Secretary—Mr. Weldon Strain (Sponsor). They were pictured, gathered at a favorite landscape item of the High School, a brick “corner marker,” that was nearly every day a resting/seating, playing place for students and some adults.
At football and basketball games, I recognized the following Senior Head Cheerleader, Becky Anderson. Also Senior Majorettes, Jana Adams & Teresa Thomas, and Drum Major, Pam Wilson.
Dad and I attended a few football games and saw our JACKRABBITS finish the season as District Co-Champions. Quite a few Seniors helped with this winning cause—Mike McDonald, Chester Snyder, Rickey Hollon (All-District), Judd Lewis (All-District), Darrell Penny (All-District), Michael Bannister, Ray Perkerson (All-District), Tommy Tune (All-District), Ricky Roach, Freddie Moss, Mack Frazier.
At the season’s end, Senior, Becky Anderson, was chosen as Football Sweetheart and was pictured with Senior Captains (in order, top-to-bottom left-to-right)—Tommy Tune, Chester Snyder, Darrell Penny, Ray Perkerson.
Next came basketball season, and I made a game or two of the boys and a few more of the girls (since my sister played) and saw (Senior Girls) Pam Wilson, Mona West, Ann Themer, Claudia Alexander, Sadie Watkins and (Senior Boys) Darrell Penny (Honorable Mention All-District), Michael Sands, Tommy Tune, Ray Perkerson (All-District), Michael Bannister, Freddie Moss (All-District), Mike McDonald. The Jackrabbit Boys were crowned as the Bi-District Champions!
Though I was never able to attend a Baseball Game or Track Meet, the Jackrabbit Annual lists the Baseball Team as REGIONAL CHAMPS and the Track Team as 2nd Place in STATE! HOMECOMING in 1971 saw Senior, Teresa Duckworth, crowned as Homecoming Queen and Senior, Teresa Thomas, as Band Sweetheart.
As the year moved on, Senior, Darrell Penny, was voted the “BEAU” of the Future Homemakers of America Chapter.
Senior, Freddie Moss, was voted MR. F. H. S., and Senior, Karen Gowen, was voted MISS F. H. S.
And, we will conclude this week with the Band Award going to Senior, Pam Wilson, and the Betty Crocker Award to Senior, Dara Schindler.
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