LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

Cotter High School 1924-1957 11-17-2012- Revised, links and photos of graduates added by Norma Jennings When the Cotter High School closed due to consolidation with Columbus Junction, students who lived in the Cotter area  began attending high school at Columbus Junction. The Cotter building was used as an elementary school for the Columbus Community District until 2000 when all elementary students in the Columbus Community School District began attending the Wilma Syme Roundy Elementary in Columbus Junction. The building is now privately owned. School Song (to the tune of the Notre Dame Song) Cheer, cheer for old Cotter High, Hoist up the colors, old gold and blue, Send the spirit upon high, Shake down the thunder from the sky. Although the odds begreat or small, Old Cotter High will win over all, while the royal teams are rambling on to victory. Rah! Rah! Rah! History The first school in the Cotter vicinity was established in 1869-70. It was a subscription school. The parents of the children of school age subscribed so much money to pay the teacher so that their children might have an education. In 1884 a country school house was built. It was a one room furnished with a stove at the center front, the old fashioned double seats and a blackboard made of boards painted black. There was only one teacher to teach eight grades and only a few pupils in each grade.

In 1919 the residents voted to consolidate five districts consisting of Cotter, Dutch Ridge, Edwards, Lincoln and Yankeetown. The issue was carried for a consolidated school. In 1920 the building was completed and the children went into it after two or three months of school in the Oddfellows Hall and the old school house. This new school had a high school besides the grade school with only Freshman class in the first year. In 1924 the first class graduated with an enrollment of five. Cotter Graduates *Click on photo link to see graduates pictures Note: Married names, occupations and hometowns of alumnus are listed in yearbooks through the years. There is some discrepancy on spellings in assorted records. 1924 - Daisey Kemp, Mary Roberts (m Leroy Owens), Glen McCoy, Alice Moody (m V. Meyer), Doris Todd (m D. Stapp). 1925-Irene Edwards (m P. Smith) and Freda Snyders (m __Hogue) 1926- Margaret Owens (m Luther Davis), Mary Thompson (d bef 1944), Gwendolyn Morse (m C. Mullen), Annie Arthur, Theodore Thompson, Irene Quinn (m __ Roby) 1927-Irene Thomas (m A. Morrow) and Elwyn Owen 1928- Irene Diercks (m E. Friske), Harriet Jenkins (m E. W. Newman), Mary VanHorn (m Milton Linter), Ina Owens ( m R. Joy), Evelyn McGuire (m W.Hendrickson), Martha Hendrickson (m __ Smith), Lysle Edwards (d bef 1944), Hayden Thomas, Edmond Forner 1929-Evelyn Arthur (m J. Quigley), Meda Shoop (m Howard King), Dorothy Davis((m H. Platt), Dorothy Colton (m H. Elllingson) 1930-Lloyd Burris, Dorothy Thomas, Paul Costello, Irene Stapp (m W. Kaufman/W. Jeidy), Roy Orr, Thelma Quigley (m W. Devore), Marie Jenkins (m __Wagenknecht), Glenn Quigley, Margery Jenkins (m R. Woolsey). Harry Rogers was superintendent 1931- Gwendolyn Arthur (m R. Arthur), Eleanor Griffith (m A. Davis), Frank Williams, Arlene Arthur (m D. Jones), Hannah "Gail" Edwards (m P. Rotter), Mary Thomas (m __ Lammer), Dorothy Nicola (m W. Warren), Margaret Williams (m G. Quigley), Lucille Burris (m I. Clark), Gomer Owen, Margaret Bell (m K. Robertson), Gladys Richards (m Hadyn Thomas), Pearl Colton (m __ Bradshaw), Merle Colton. H. E. Rogers was superintendent. Miss V. Harshbarger, principal 1932- Duane Richards, Hayden Davis, Pauline Edwards (m __ Holmes), Arnold Edwards, Elmer Thomas, Robert Hammond, Helen Jenkins (m G. Smith), H. E. Rogerswas superintendent. Miss Irene Thomas. principal 1933- Mary Leafa Edwards (m J. Holmes), Martha Davis (m L. Todd), Frieda VanHorn (m H. Lowry), Myrtle Burris (m A. Pittard), Lenore Morse (m G. VanAuken), H. E. Rogers was superintendent. Miss Irene Thomas. principal 1934-Mildred Williams (m J. Caldwell), Howard Williams, Pauline Peters (m G. Brenneman), Richard Jenkins, Mona Edwards (m M. Flake), Ralph Orr, Twyla Morse (m S. Holland). H. E. Rogers was superintendent. Miss Irene Thomas. principal 1935-Blair Duncan, Kenneth Thomas, Harvey Thomas, Charles Jenkins, Hugh Williams, Anita Bell (m M. Hill), David W. Davis, Thomas Williams. C. S. Darrow was superintendent 1936 -Leona Mae Arthur (m C. Gardner), John Davis, Maxine McGuire (m >DeMay), Nettie Irene Morse (m A. Nelson), Dorothy Hilliard (m C. Heckenburg), R. A. Shalla was superintendent 1937 - Leota Swailes (m F. Gabriel), Donald Hammond, Bessie Podaril (m PHartsock), Bessie Podaril, William Duncan, Ruth Guffey (m G. Liebbe), Virginia Guffey (m V. Shumaker), Robert Williams (killed in action), Marie Jones (m B. Duncan), Leonard Arthur, Kenneth Arthur, Burdette Davis, Lucille Wince (m K. Swailes), A. N. Hopperstad was superintendent. 1938-Dorothy Clark (m H McConahay), Harriet Wince (m Leland Ross/Rodgers), Arthur Thomas, Richard Duncan. M. C. Martin was superintendent. 1939-Harry McBride, Dorothy Work (m B. Peters/S Walker), Rex Morse, Max Duncan, Max McGuire, Mary Davis (m __ Huch), Robert Fuller. M. C.Martin was superintendent. 1940-Jack Williams, Meda Hauenstein (m D. Otterman), Robert James, Eugene White, Myrl Dunsmore (m F. Williams), Kenneth Peters. M. C. Martin was superintendent. 1941- Ellen Hays (m B. Perdock), Clyde McBride, Phyllis Fulton (m__Slaughter/Schlotter), Homer Thomas, Richard Edwards, Charlotte Hays (m  __ Meyers/Mayer), James L. Edwards Jr., Gloria Morris (m PBahan/ Marsum/Stratton), Harry Quick, Clara McGuire (m S. Lemely, M.C. Martin was superintendent 1942- Mildred Orr (m L. Shogrew), Roberta Hauenstein (m D. Johnson), Mildred Bell (m H. Harbison), Agnes Duncan (m M. Weibel), Edith Hays (m S. Cannott), M. C. Martin was superintendent. 1943- William Fulton, Esther Skubal (m W. Keller), Margaret Orr, Rex Orris, Elaine Whetstine (m D. Zahs), Ila Rees (m M. Davis/Hartsock), Catherine Morris (m R. Shull), Lillian Peters (m B. Duncan), Donald Stapp, Doris White (m J. Alles), Jesse McCrory was superintendent. 1944- Calvin Lloyd Peters, Beatrix/Barbara Jean Jones (m C. Hamilton), Gladys Irene Boyd (salutatorian) (m C. Orris), Josephine Marie Fuller (m R. Crumly), Roy Dean Hauenstein, Mary Louise Dunsmore (m D. Spears), Barbara Louise Jones (valedictorian), Max  Milo Orris, John Tedford "Jack" Duncan (killed in action), Cleo Clinton Orris, Mamie Jean Stapp (m D. Spears). F. N. Reppe was superintendent. The Honor Roll - area men serving in the armed forces  - were listed in the 1944 yearbook: Leonard Arthur, James Boyd,  Lloyd Burris, Paul Castello, George Davis, Bill Duncan, Dick Duncan, Max Duncan, Allen Dunsmore, Junior Edwards, Bill Fulton, Bob Fuller, Richard Edwards, Donald Hammond, Robert James, Charles Jenkins, Richard Jenkins, Harry McBride, Bill McGuire, Max McGuire, Howard Moberly,   Ralph Orr, Roy Orr, Rex Orris, Gomer Owen, Bill Peters, Kenneth Peters, Harry Quick, Glen Quigley, Duane Richards,  Donald Stapp, Homer Thomas, Kenneth Thomas,  Harvey Thomas, Eugene White,  Thomas Williams, Hugh Williams,  Howard Williams, John Williams,  Gerald Williams,  Bob Williams. 1945-Rhea Wehr (m L. E. Shearer), William Owens, Maxine Wehr (m J. Clemens), Donna Boyd (m M. Orris), Howard Jones. F. N. Reppe was superintendent. 1946- Laurita Griggs (m __ Ross), Patricia Peters (m J. Neece), Margaret Owens (m B. Jones), Martha Hininger (m G. Buser),  Everett Stapp Jr., Ronald Skubal,  W. Gerald McGarry was superintendent. The Service Roll of area men and women in the armed forces was listed in the 1946 yearbook, the "Blue and Gold": Leonard Arthur, Donna Boyd, Lloyd Burris,  James Boyd, Burdette Davis, David Davis, Richard Duncan, John T. Duncan (KIA), Max Duncan, William Duncan, James Edwards Jr., Lyle Edwards (KIA), Richard Edwards, Robert Fuller, Bill Fulton, Donald Hammond, Robert Hammond, Roy Haunstein, Robert James,  Charles Jenkins, Richard Jenkins, Howard Jones, Harry McBride, Max McGuire, Howard Moberly, Milo Orris, Cleo Orris,  Rex Orris KIA,William Owens, Calvin Peters,  Kenneth Peters, Harry Quick,Glen Quigley,  Paul Castelllo Rameriz, Duane Richards, Melvin Spears, Donald Stapp,  Homer Thomas, Kenneth Thomas, HarveyThomas, Doris White, Eugene White,  Howard Williams, HughWilliams,  Jack Williams,  Robert Williams (KIA), Tom Williams. 1947-Rowland Rees, Geraldine Quick (m __ Eichelburger), Raymond Hendrickson, Donald Orris, Keith Duncan, Marian Jones, Alvin Wehr, Dan Boyd. E. G. Kewley was superintendent 1948- Keith Allen Peters. Russell Gene  Dunsmore, Marvin Edward  Hobbs, Joseph William "Bill" Podaril, Robert Eugene Stapp, Josephine Ann Owens (m B. Simpkins). E. G. Kewley was superintendent. 1949- William Edwards, class president, William Jones, vice president, Louis Peters,sec-treas., James Skubal, Paul Bell. E. G. Kewley was superintendent 1950- Harriet Jones, president, Lee Zaruba, vice president, Tom Skubal, sec-treas., Joan Stapp (m B Matthews), Darlene Stapp (m D. Johnson), Robert Peters, Eleanora Miller (m B. Anderson), Frances Owens, Richard . Zieglowsky, Donald Hendrickson. Everett Van De Voort,superintendent. 1951-Marion Owens (m Eddie Czerniakowsky), Norma Bender (m Olin Jennings), James Podaril, Dorothy Jones (m Willard Sands), Everett Van De Voort, superintendent.  1952- DickHendrickson, president, James Paulding, vice-president, Donna Davis, sec-treas. (m Don Williams), Richard Jones, Betty Rees (m Duane Gipple), De Loise Hawkins.  James Paulding, superintendent. 1953- Corey Griggs, president, Mervin Miller, vice president, Betty Boyd,sec-treas., Delbert Rees, Mary Louisa Johnson (m 1) Lonny Griggs 2) Bill___ , LeRoy Van Auken.  James Paulding, superintendent. 1954- Gary D. Murphy, Sadie E. Peters, Earl A. Zieglowsky, Bebe J. Fullerton, Barbara J. Paulding. James Paulding, superintendent. 1955- Dewey Dale Hawkins and Roberta Ann Boyd. James Paulding, superintendent. 1956- Jack Eugene Hendrickson, president, Ronnie Melvin Van Auken, vice president, Patricia Lucile Meyer, sec., Robert Charles Johnson, treas. James Paulding, superintendent. 1957- Bette Ann Davis, Janet Rae Thomas, Richard Keith Harris, KeithS.  Murphy, Sharon Marie  Peters, Karen Lea Peters. James Paulding, superintendent.