West Branch Times, Thursday, May 29, 1930 pg 1
Transcribed by Lynn McCleary, September 25, 2016
Commencement Exercises Held Friday Night
Fifty – Third Annual Event For West Branch Graduates.
Picture: W.B. H.S. 1930 Graduates
The West Branch schools closed the year’s work last week, and on Friday evening the fifty-third annual commencement exercises were held in the high school auditorium, graduating a class of twenty-six.
Cut flowers, ferns and the American flag, arranged by representatives of the junior class, who also served as ushers, made the stage attractive for the graduates who were seated there, the girls in the charming white which is traditional, and all carrying the class flower, the American Beauty rose. The class colors were American Beauty and silver, and their motto, “Build for Character, and Not For Fame.”
Mrs. R. W. Millen at the piano played the prelude, “Swan Song,” by Tannhauser Wagner. This was followed by the invocation by the Rev. G. W. Harvey, after which the Men’s Quartette sang “Bendemeer’s Stream,” by Thomas Moore.
H. L. Moorhead of the Class of 1911 introduced Fred B. Tyler, who was superintendent here at the time of Mr. Moorhead’s graduation, and in a few gracious words of response, Mr. Tyler referred happily to the time he spent as an instructor at West Branch. He briefly on the events of the interlude since his work here, and gave as the topic for his evening’s address, “The Set of the Sail.”
Mr. Tyler’s work with young people makes him especially fitted to discuss with them the future, and its problems with the conclusion of their high school careers. He is not one of those who believe that the present generation is committed entirely to the pursuit of happiness as represented by speed and excitement. He pointed out, however, the education is of primary importance. It must be supplemented, he insisted, with those other qualities of courage and work, and of character. All these combine to make the careers toward which the face of each graduate it turned in hopeful anticipation as he leaves the school room for the practical business of living. He illustrated his remarks with anecdotes from his won and other’s experiences, and his talk was optimistic and encouraging.
The quartet again sang, this number being Lindsey’s “Far Way.”
Supt. F. J. Snider then presented diplomas to the following graduates:
| Franklin Wren | Mildred Green | Pauline Brown |
| Florence Jensen | Cecil Butler | Ferne Wineke |
| Agnes Glyn Littig | Margaret Hemingway | John Carran |
| Albert Albin | Blanche Morgan | Elsie Morgan |
| Floyd Fawcett | Laura Pearson | Emery Gleason |
| Elsie Hayslett | Melvin Thomas | Edith Harvey |
| Lois Endsley | Pearly Oyler | Florence Sayles |
| Corrine Laymon | Freda Pedersen | |
| Wilfred Jensen | Laurence Jensen | |
Continuing their annual custom the Class of 1923 presented an award, this year a silver cup, to the graduate having the highest scholastic average during the four years of high school. Dorothy Endsley, representative the Class of 1923, presented the cup to Corrine Laymon, whose average was 95.25. Nine members of the class had four year averages of 90 or more. They are Corrinne Laymon, Albert Christensen, Doris Albin, Margaret Hemingway, Mildred Green, Edith Harvey, Florence Sayles, Ferne Wineke and Pauline Brown.
Concluding the ceremonies, the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. H. D. Green.
