The group who showed up at the Fayetteville Hilton for the 20th anniversary reunion.
Tag: Don Carter
Excuses
Singing the Blues
If there had been an Academy Award for the best excuse for missing class, it would have been a tough decision. Having practice for 10 years or more, students have come up with some pretty good ones.
There are a few all time favorites — “I had a flat.” “I ran out of gas.” And of course, “I had to go to a funeral.” But when asked who passed away, the answer was always “my grandmother” — for the third time.
But then there were the real excuses — “I was sick.” The actual kinds of sickness varied with the imagination of the students. There were the ones with a cold, then there were the ones with an upper respiratory infection and the most imaginative had “rhinitis.”
So, who’s to say who was sick and who was faking. It all depended on how imaginative you were in deciding your illness, how convincing you were when having your parents write your note (or how brave you were in forging it), and how serious you looked when you got your blue slip.
A few excuses from the mother of Bruce Q. Shark for her absentee son:
Dear Attendance Person, Bruce Q. was not in school per 1-3 yesterday. He got his foot stuck in the porcelain utility. Mrs. E. Shark
To whom it may concern: Bruce was not in school periods 1-3 yesterday. He thought it was Washington’s birthday & overslept. Mrs. Ethel Shark
Mr. Duncan, Bruce Q. Shark was not in school yesterday 1-3 periods. Did you really miss him? Mrs. Shark
— 1976 Amethyst
Studying?
Wise Up
“Studying is going over material for a test or doing homework,” defined Vickie Hileman. “When I study I get off and get the material I need and study until I’m really tired,” she continued.
Don Carter and Laura McKinnon had a different view of studying, one that was perhaps more typical.
“Learning new material the night before the test is my approach,” said Don.
Laura preferred to “go back and put together the material that I’ve learned.”
While Vickie chose to study in a secluded place where she could be alone, some students preferred background music from a radio or stereo. Others chose the library and a friend to quiz them.
How much did most students study? Don Carter summed it up when he said, “Never enough!”
— 1976 Amethyst
National Honor Society
One of the highest academic honors a student could receive was becoming a member of the National Honor Society.
The membership was composed of seniors with a maintained grade average of 3.25 or more. There were two elections in which the faculty voted on the eligibility of the candidates with each student judged on a one to five scale. Those receiving the highest rating were formally initiated.
The first group of seniors (pictured) were initiated in the spring of their junior year. Those initiated this fall were Sharon Ammons, Debbie Atto, Keith Banks, Robert Cate, Jody Tyson, Randall Hughes, Gail Davis, Anna Leichner, Brian McGreevy, Deanna Eden, Bob Storey, Melissa Upchurch, Jana Janzen, Cheryl Clinehens, Billie Bacha, Jerry Cox, Duane Dunn and David Evans.
NHS’s money making project for 1975-76 was the sale of candy canes at Christmas time. This project was headed by President Nicky Gyles. The other officers were Sue Stockton, vice-president; Helen Messner, treasurer; Nina Rolloff, secretary; and Hee-Young Kim, reporter-historian.
Student Council Officers
Officers for the coming year were named by the Student Council at Fayetteville High School shortly before school dismissed for the summer. New officers are front row (l. to r.) Don Carter, president and Lynn Walker, secretary. Back row (l. to r.) Sam Pitts, vice president, J.D. Hobbs, treasurer and Jeff Thomas, reporter. (TIMESphoto by Ken Good)
— Courtesy of Jeff Hobbs
Senior Privilege
Time Out
Senior Privilege made it through one more year at FHS. At the beginning of the year there was the usual doubt as to whether the seniors would be privileged again. “You better be extra good this year, or we’ll make you stay all day.”
Of course the seniors were all for getting it started as soon as possible. “I think it’s a good thing because people shouldn’t have to go to school when they have study halls,” said Cathy McRee.
Getting it started and keeping it running smoothly was the job of Vice-Principal Bill Brunner, but he still thought that “it’s good to give the students a chance to make other uses of their time, such as jobs or University classes.”
Even though everyone seemed eager for Senior Privilege to begin, there was a last minute rush to get teachers to sign permissions slips so the seniors wouldn’t have to go to their study halls the first day it started.
Some students felt that Tuesday and Thursday privileges weren’t enough.
“I think they ought to extend the privilege to every day of the week,” said Student Council president Don Carter.
Then there were those like J.D. Hobbs who “could care less” because “I already have all the privileges I need anyway.”
— 1976 Amethyst
Awards and Scholarships, 1976
Along with the Fayetteville High School honors and scholarships listed, we included the Livestock Report, illustrating the difference between Fayetteville and Springdale in terms of what the Northwest Arkansas Times deemed worth reporting.
Magic Show
In spring 1976 and spring 1977, Phil Goff, Hugh Painter and Charlie Alison presented magic shows at the Fayetteville High School Student Center with assistance from Susan Painter and Allison Rodman. Don Carter provided audio, lighting and technical expertise.
Grade 6, Root Elementary
Mrs. MacKenzie’s class during the 1969-70 school year.
Front row, from left: Mrs. MacKenzie, Stephen Harris, Loree Treat, ??, Suzie Jenkins, Robert Gonzalez, and ??.
Second row: Beverly Johnson, Dan Wickliff, Bill Baker, Steve Cox, and Jon Greene?.
Third row: Wanda Hayes, Ron Stone?, Karen Moore, Chris Kunkel?, Jackie Audrain, and Susan Stephenson.
Fourth row: Susan Chism?, Hugh Painter, Clay Woody, Bill Watkins, Read Hudson, Don Carter, and Misty Veazey.
Bixby to Chandler
Fayetteville Class of 76 