Here's to the class of "64
We know a lot, but not much more
Than we did as kids at OHS
We think we're smart, but must confess,
The Bio, Geometry and History
Are now somewhat of a mystery!
We spoke French and Latin, too
But now we do not have a clue
What a hypotenuse or trapezoid is
We now only know what the Internet sez!
We remember our teachers and coaches and those
Who inspired us to study and heard all our woes
Who can forget Mr. Belden on the PA
Announcing the assassination of JFK?
We also remember at Oneonta High
Going up to speech class in the sky
Then down to the basement in rompers-royal blue
Miss LeClaire's lair, till her whistle blew
Up the stairs for a peek over the well,
Chatting and gossip till the ring of the bell.
Bolton and Whalley fine arts introduced
We painted and sang and tried to produce.
Mrs. Redfield bullied us through Geometry
While Miss Johnson battled us through Trigonometry.
In Miss Wolfe's class, a mean dissection
Then Mrs. Super demands spelling perfection
Mrs. Chambers actually made us like to read
Mr. Weigel made us articulate words without speed.
When we weren't at the well or the Armory for class
We were at Bresee's or Diana's or St. Mary's for Mass.
We went to the tennis courts for some of the dances
And those at the Y were good for romances
The football and basketball games were all great
At Wilbur and Neahwa Parks we stayed much too late.
The Pep Club, cheerleaders and the band
Stirred up the excitement for all of us fans
The Echo, the yearbook and the plays
Challenged our writing and acting for days
The Latin Club, Ski Club, Tri Hi-Y and choir
Four H, Sororities, Honor Society were admired,
And who can forget our pizza at Mosca's and Al's?
And graduation at the theater with all of our pals?
Complete with a picnic at Gilbert Lake
Senior dinner and dance and more plans to make...
We became worldly and maybe traveled
Some went to college and there they marveled
At all the things there were to learn
We worked hard and maybe returned
Some got drafted and some signed on
For Vietnam or assignments unknown.
We worked for the government or private places
Some taught school to old or new faces.
We became engineers or bankers or actors
Hairdressers, designers, nurses, drove tractors.
We worked for charity or construction or sales
We were repairmen, artists, worked in the jails
As parole officers, lawyers, judges or cops
We were administrators, coaches, drivers nonstop
We worked on computers, did library science,
We sold insurance, houses, or an handy appliance.
We waited on tables, did language translations
We did investments and taxes for the state and the nation.
We had some kids, or decided not
We stayed single, divorced or tied the knot.
But looking back, we fondly wonder
How we got older, but still feel younger
We were carefree in New York State
When we were young with unknown fates
But the things we really do recall
Are the friendships, the parties, and having a ball
We miss the friends who are not here
And hope to see them another year!
By Janet Houts, with help and editing from Dale Meagley, Patty Blanchard,
Terry Kurtz, and Orlo Burch