Hagood Hardy

 We can almost hear you screaming "Who or what is Hagood Hardy, and what is this doing on this blog"?  Hagood Hardy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagood_Hardy) was a composer, and one of his most popular albums was entitled "The Homecoming"  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Homecoming_(album)], featuring the title track (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNbxOqIJ2dM).  This sounds eerily similar to something I have heard before, almost like a hymn.  Any musicologists out there care to offer your expertise?  This looks to be a l-o-o-o-o-o-n-g post, so be forewarned. 

The reason for mentioning all of this is that last week was homecoming at Brookings High School.  (Our English teachers always taught us to use the word "that" instead of because when we wrote or said "The reason is..."  Also, we were not to use "when" or "where" in defining a word).  Most of us probably remember homecoming activities lasting for two or three days:  coronation would be on Thursday night, followed by a trip to Bobcat Field in Pioneer Park for the bonfire.  Friday might be the free movie at the State Theater (anyone remember what some of them were?).  The football game, generally at night, was the main event, followed by the homecoming dance.  Have these events always been the practice for homecoming?  When was the first homecoming?  

A little research has provided some answers to these and other questions.  The library has copies of many of the BHS "Bobcat" yearbooks.  The oldest one is from 1928, and indicates that the second homecoming took place that fall.  There was a parade, and a king and queen were named.  Thus, the first homecoming would have been in 1927.  Was there anything special about that year?

Up until 1926, the high school yearbooks had various names.  In 1918, for example, it was called "The Bomb"  (https://sites.rootsweb.com/~sdbrook2/Index.htm;  https://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-09-04T15:50:00-05:00&max-results=7;  https://classof69bhs.blogspot.com/2014/09/more-on-1918-bomb.html).  In 1926, the yearbook was named after our state bird, "The Pheasant."    In the 1920's, a recent graduate and standout athlete from State College was hired to coach at BHS.  His name was Bob Coffey.  At that time, the high school did not have a mascot for the team name; the teams were just called the Brookings team.  The sportswriters might use comparisons to animals when writing their stories, such as "The Brookings team clawed their way to victory" or some such metaphor.  Evidently, one writer used the term "Bob's cats" in a story, and the name began to stick.  It appears that in the winter of 1926, the name "Bobcats" became official. 

In many of those years, homecoming was in November, frequently on Armistice Day, Nov. 11 (the name was changed to Veteran's Day on June 1, 1954).  In 1940, there was a big blizzard during those days (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1940_Armistice_Day_Blizzard), and the football game had to be cancelled.  

The 1931 Bobcat stated that homecoming festivities began on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1930, with a pep meeting, followed by a short play and bonfire.  There was no mention of a king and queen, although a later article from the Broboca in 1963 states that there was a lord and lady for that year.  The crowning of the lord and lady would become a tradition in 1932.  The football game was played the next day, with the Bobcats defeating the Huron squad 20-0.  It would appear that the game was played in the afternoon, as there was a banquet after the game at the Methodist Church.  On the program were:  the BHS school song; the Huron school song; other selections by a High School trio; an address by Coach Bob Coffey; an oration by Frank Coffey (Bob's brother?); "An Afflicted Choir" by Quartette; an Exhortation by Melford Jesme; a Declamation by Burdette Shelden; a Discourse by Milo Youle; the introduction of the Huron team; and the Finale by Superintendent Martin (he was the superintendent of the school system for perhaps 27 years, retiring in the mid 50's and succeeded by Mr. Horrigan).  Why was the game played on Wednesday?  Were Thursday and Friday vacation days?  Will have to check that out sometime soon; just assumed that those homecoming days were Thursday and Friday.  

Also noteworthy from that year was the Girls' Athletic Association (GAA).  There was the first soccer tournament, with three freshman teams, and one each from the sophomores and juniors.  The sophomores and a freshman team tied in the championship (evidently they did not have a shoot out).  The juniors were basketball champions, while the freshmen claimed the volleyball crown.  The yearbook pictures indicate that the volleyball games were played outside, as the "Red Castle"

    

seems to be in the background.  This building was replaced by Central Elementary just a few years later (does the cornerstone indicate a 1936 date?)  

Some familiar names were seniors that year:  Margaret Bartling, Harriet Bortnem, Lovaine Braley, Jewell Chase, Horace Clarin, Allan Dempster, Irwin Gunsalus, Ruby Lefevre, Maxine Linn, Maynard Lovre, Barth Maher, George Messner, Nellie Nussbaum, Lyle Otterness, Burdette Shelden, Vida Telkamp, Hazel Trygstad, and Leroy Ullman.  

Some of the juniors were John Beatty, Marcella Beneke, Arlen Braley, John Clarin, Ruth Flittie, Dave Flittie, Dorothy Hoy, Harley Kabrud, Maxine Kennard, Herb Lakeman, Charlie Linn, Medora Lombard, Alice MaComb, Alice Maher, Lemuel Melcher, Harlan Otterness, Marvin and Palmer Oines, Cora Rude, Altie and Marvin Sterud, Wilma Telkamp, Vernon Ullman, Iola Ust, Frances and Leon Wilber.  

The 1932 annual was dedicated to Mr. Horrigan.  For that school year, Bobcat Day was on Oct. 24, 1931, which would have been a Saturday.  The pep meeting was held in the auditorium (the gym at Central?) on the previous day, with Lily Dahl chosen as queen.  The football team was introduced, after which each class performed a football-related skit.  The teachers even formed a band to exhibit their talents and school spirit (anyone remember the "Bell Special", pronouncing the letters of Bobcats?  B--rah-rah; O--rah-rah; B--rah-rah; C--rah-rah; A--rah-rah; T--rah-rah; S--rah-rah).  The bonfire concluded the night (was there a snake dance to Bobcat Field?  

Yankton won the football game 12-6.  After the game, both teams were treated to a banquet at the Methodist Church, following a similar format to last year's program.  

Homecoming of 1940 was interrupted by the famous "Armistice Day Blizzard" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1940_Armistice_Day_Blizzard). According to the annual, a pep meeting was held on Thursday, with the last year's Lord and Lady crowning the new Lord and Lady, a tradition that eventually died out (more on that later).  As mentioned previously, the game was cancelled because of the blizzard.  The following articles from the Brookings Register and Broboca provide a nice recap of homecoming better than I can.  

The article below is from the Broboca, indicating that the game has been cancelled due to the storm, but the banquet will still be held.  

A couple of other articles of interest concerning the school were in the paper about the same time.  

Although this may be hard to read, it indicates that "State College be allowed to use the football field for three evening (my emphasis) games, September 27, October 4, and November 4, for which the college is to pay all expenses of the games and a percentage of the gate receipts which is to be determined later with R. E. Coffey, State College athletic director."   This "R. E. Coffey" had been the coach at BHS mentioned in the previous homecomings.  

What seems ironic is that now and for the past 20 or so years, the Bobcats play all of their home football games at the SDSU stadium.  Why did the college want to use Bobcat Field?  Bobcat Field had lights, while State Field did not.  Note also the additional salary of $50 given to four teachers for earning advanced degrees, and the board's "disapproval of hazing which has been by some of the high school students."   Nowadays, that behavior might be met with more than disapproval.  

Another article that appeared in September of 1940 concerned the state golf and tennis tournaments. 

 

The main reason this article caught my eye is that Robert Norton is the grandfather of two of my nieces and two of my nephews.  Ivan Steen is, I believe, an uncle of Gary Steen, husband of Mary Moulton of our class, while Joseph Moriarty would be an uncle of Greg Moriarty of the class of 1968 (Greg had a number of younger brothers and sisters whom we might know).  

Most of us are familiar with the homecoming festivities that occurred while we were in school.  Coronation on Thursday night, and snake dance to Bobcat Field for the bonfire. Friday was the football game and dance.  Was Red and Black Day on Thursday or Friday?  It seems to be on Thursday.  Below are some summaries of homecoming weeks from some of the yearbooks.  They speak for themselves, and may provide us with some fond memories. 

1963 

(our 7th grade year)

What is interesting to me is that Lord Mark Sanderson and Lady Janice Kortan had siblings that were also homecoming royalty.  Mark's brother Reed was Lord in 1961, while Janice's brother Jim was Lord our senior year.  There are only a few families that can claim that honor.  

Marlyn Erickson, one of the attendants, grew up on a farm about one half mile straight east of where the new school would be built.  That land now contains houses, a church, a school, and numerous business.  

The picture below suggests an afternoon football game.  Because of a wet Bobcat Field, the game with Madison, which the Bobcats won 38-0, was played at State Field.  Again, there was cooperation between the college and the high school.  Because of the afternoon game, was there no free movie that year?   

The yearbook editors seemed to overlook a couple of crucial facts.  They state that Bill Gamble and Paula Arndt were Lord and Lady of Bobcat Day 1963, while Mark and Janice are Lord and Lady of Bobcat Day 1964.  However, those dates are their graduation dates.  Since homecoming came in the fall of the school year, those dates are incorrect.  

Remember Shirley Pharmacy?  That business truly embraced the homecoming spirit, as the ad below indicates.

The Broboca on that same date of that year had a brief history of homecoming, as shown below.

Wonder why the dress requirements of 1951 were dropped?  

1964

(8th grade)

This was the year of Beatlemania.  It would appear that Red and Black Day was Thursday, to get us in the spirit for the pep-fest and coronation to be held later in the evening at the Central Elementary gym.  There was a free movie courtesy of Dan Peterson on Friday.  Anyone remember what it was?  Was it "Your Cheatin' Heart" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Cheatin%27_Heart_(film)]?  I do remember seeing that, but if it was,  Mr. Peterson must have gotten permission to show it before the release date of Nov. 4, 1964.  

1965

(9th grade)

Again, a pretty typical homecoming:  coronation, skits, and introduction of the cheerleaders.  Was there no bonfire that year?  Anyone remember the free movie?  Was it "Billie" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_(1965_film)], starring Patty Duke?  Dale Gregory and the Shouters were a well-known band at the time, and are in the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame (https://www.southdakotarockandrollmusicassociation.com/inductee?id=161)

1966

(Sophomore; last year at the old high school)

As the annual indicates, the wind was rather strong during homecoming week, with the traditions of coronation, Red and Black Day, free movie, football game, and the after-game Bobcat dance  continuing.   Last year's royalty returned to crown the new Lord and Lady, and Mr. Bell led us in his famous "Bell Special".  (He was one of the coaches when he first came to Brookings.  Was that sometime in the 30's?) The bonfire was back, and burning with much fury.  A new tradition that began,  thanks to the class of '67, was  powder-puff football.  Was it Thursday afternoon we trekked down to Bobcat Field to watch the seniors overpower the younger girls 12-0?  What was the free movie that year?  "Spin Out," with Elvis Presley [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinout_(film)], as the annual states.    

1967

(Juniors and a new school)

Nothing really new was added this year, other than we had a new school in which to celebrate.  However, we lost the free movie.   The bonfire was held on Wednesday after a JV football game Wednesday night (wasn't Wednesday church night, so no school activities were to be be scheduled.  Was an exception made because it was homecoming week?).  Thursday was the traditional coronation of Lord and Lady, along with a humorous skit by last year's seniors Keith Sutton and Craig Osvog.  They poked fun at the lack of missing furnishings at the new school.  Remember having no chairs or tables in the library, or furniture for the student lounge?  Mr. Bell led us again in the "Bell Special."  What was the car parade?   

1968

(We are great, we are fine, we're the class of '69)

Three more days of a joyous and satisfying homecoming.  Was coronation held on Wednesday then?  Red and Back Day was Thursday, with the powder-puff game held on Thursday evening, with the Junior-Senior girls defeating the Freshmen-Sophomore girls 27-20.  The bonfire was held right after the game.  Did the car parade occur shortly before the football game, in which the Bobcats defeated Pierre 28-13?  The victory made the ensuing homecoming dance that much more enjoyable.  As mentioned previously, Jim is one of the few homecoming Lords or Ladies to have a sibling who also was a homecoming Lord or Lady.  

So what about homecoming now?  Homecoming activities now last all week (since Wednesday is church night, no activities are scheduled after school on that day).  Below is the schedule for homecoming for this year, 2023:  

Monday, Sept 18

• BOBCAT WELCOME - Dakota Prairie Elem / 7:45 AM
• CORONATION - 7:30PM / NOTE: NOT a 7:00 Start / @ BHS Stadium / Burning of the "B" to follow / South BHS Parking Lot
• GOLF - MS / ESD Meet / @ Huron's Broadland Crk / 10:00 / bus - 7:30

Tuesday, Sept 19

• BOBCAT WELCOME - Medary Elem / 7:45 AM
• GOLF - HS / Watertown Invite / @ Watertown Muni. GC / 10: 00 AM / bus - 7:45
• SOC - HS / Home (@ Fishback Soccer Cmplx) vs Harrisburg 
• 4:00 - Girls Varsity & Boys JV
• 6:00 - Boys Varsity & Girls JV
• TEN - HS / Dual vs SF Christian / 4:00 / @ Tomar Park / bus - 2:00
• VB - MS / @ Watertown MS / 4:00 / bus - 2:15
• FB - 8^th / @ Yankton (Crane Youngworth Field) / 4:15 / bus - 1:15
• FB - 7^th / Home (Mick MS) vs Yankton / 4:15
• VB - HS / @ Mitchell / bus - 1:30
• 4:30 - JV & 9A
• 5:30 - 10^th & 9B
• 7:00 - Varsity
• CHR & DNC - HS / Huron Invite @ Huron Arena / 5:00 start / bus - 1:45

Wednesday, Sept 20

• BOBCAT WELCOME - Hillcrest Elem / 7:45 AM
• HOMECOMING PARADE ENTRIES DUE ! !  -  See the BSD Website if you still want in. 

Thursday, Sept  21

• BOBCAT WELCOME - Bobcat Day School / 9:00 AM
• VB - MS / Home vs Yankton / 4:00 start / Mickelson MS
• FB - 9^th / Home vs Aberdeen Central / 4:15 / BHS Stadium

• TEN - MS / ESD Tourney / @ Mitchell's Hitchcock Park / 10:00 / bus - 7:15
• GOLF - MS-JV / Home (Edgebrook) vs Sioux Valley / Noon
• XC - HS / Home Russ Strande Invitational / @ Edgebrook GC / bus - 2:45
• 4:00 - MS Girls
• 4:20 - MS Boys
• 4:45 - JV Girls
• 5:15 - JV Boys
• 5:35 - Varsity Girls
• 6:00 - Varsity Boys
• SOC - HS / Home (Fishback Soccer Cmplx) vs SF O'Gorman
• 4:00 - Boys Varsity & JV Girls
• 6:00 - Girls Varsity & JV Boys
• VB - HS / Home vs Huron 
• 4:30 - JV (BHS Aux Gym) & 9A (Dakota Prairie Elem Gym)
• 5:30 - 10^th (BHS Aux Gym) & 9B (DP Elem Gym)
• 7:00 - Varsity (BHS Aux Gym)
• PEP RALLY - HS / 8:50 / Homecoming Olympics

Friday, Sept 22

• PEP RALLY - @ Camelot / 1:00
• SCHOOL DISMISSES FOR PARADE - 1:30
• 2023 BOBCAT PARADE - 3:00 / Bring your candy bags!
• Starts at intersection of 6^th St & 5^th Ave...Goes south down 5^th Ave...then west on Front St...then goes north on Main...Ends at 6^th St  -  pre-parade line-up on 7^th street at 2:15
• FB - HS / Home (Dana J Dykhouse Stadium) vs Douglas HS / 7:00 kick off
• AD Haaland & Coach Velez, please let me know arrival time, starters to be announced and if you need anything 
• Game Details will be sent Wed
• BAND - HS / Pre-Game & Halftime Performance 

Saturday, Sept 23

• BAND - HS Marching Band / @ Marshall MN Competition / bus - 1:15

 There are three elementary schools (grades k-3) now:  Dakota Prairie, Medary, and Hillcrest.  Camelot is the intermediate school (4-5).  Some churches even have their own schools.  Mickelson is the Middle School (6-8).  Coronation is on Monday, and is held at the BHS Stadium (the running track west of the high school.  There was no track there when we were in school.  It was not put in until the mid '70s; evidently there was not enough money for it).  There were five boys and five girls up for Lord and Lady this year.  Last year's Lord and Lady no longer return to crown the new royalty; the crowning is done by a couple of Bobcat Day committee members.  Fortunately, the weather cooperated this year. After coronation, the students head to the parking for the burning of the "B" rather than a bonfire that we had.  A large, iron "B" is covered in flammable rags and ignited.   While football is the main sporting event during homecoming week, there are numerous other athletic contests taking place.  The addition of girls' athletics has obviously added games, as has a few club sports, such as soccer for both boys and girls.  Marching band also contributes to the homecoming atmosphere.  The parade returned about two years ago.  There was a parade way back when homecoming first started in the late '20's.  There were some thought that it might rival the Hobo Day Parade.  However, it did not.  It may have died out, and then returned in the late '40's and continued for a few years until about 1953 or so.  The parade now has  great participation with many businesses and student clubs and teams having "floats" (these are not like the old Hobo Day floats that had colored tinsel.  These are mainly flat-beds pulled by big SUV's).  There may have been well over 50 entries this year.  Notice there is no dance.  The football team won handily (https://brookingsregister.com/article/high-school-football-brookings-bobcats-unlock-confidence-in-dominant-homecoming-victory-over-douglas), so homecoming was especially successful and satisfying, as this was their first win of the season, having been routed badly in their previous four games.  

The schedule above was compiled by the Activities Director Jeff Dvorak.  He is new this year, and came highly recommended.  When we get the chance, we will ask him if he is related to a Merle Dvorak.  Anyone remember him?  If you have easy access to your senior annual, look on page 28.  If you don't, here is page 28.  Can you spot him?

Any thoughts on the homecoming changes?    Feel free to make any comments or corrections to this lengthy and perhaps uninspiring post.  

Erin Go Bragh

 One of the most likable and enjoyable teachers most of us boys had during our elementary days was Mr. Francis "Franny" Dolan (did he teach girls in PE?).  Not only was he an elementary PE teacher (he even taught math and/or science in some years) and Jr. Hi. basketball and track field coach, our supervisor for flag football in 5th, 6th, and 7th grades, he was also very proud of his Irish heritage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ncmuhNEUxg).  His wife was also an educator, an art teacher whom many of us may have had when we were in high school.  

Many of us boys probably could recall many instances in which Mr. Dolan had a big influence in our lives.  I personally benefited from his tutelage and mentorship while a college student.  He asked me to help out with the elementary intramural programs in the early 70's.  That allowed me to become somewhat acquainted with a few of the teachers in the school system.  When a couple of openings occurred in the spring of 1973, he encouraged me to apply.  Did his lobbying help me get one of the positions?  I am sure he had more than just a little input.  He was also the assistant principal to "Lefty" Johnson at the middle school for my first few years, and helped me with some classroom management difficulties.  

Fran's two daughters were a little older than we were.  Kay Frances was in the class of 1966, while Kelly was a year ahead of us.  (She was in my chemistry class in 1967-68).  Some questions were directed to us a few weeks ago about Mr. Dolan's tenure in Brookings, so they were able to supply us with the following brief summation of his career:  

Francis “Franny” Dolan : General Beadle State Teachers College(now Dakota State University)

(BS), SDSU (MEd)

38 years in Brookings as a teacher, coach and administrator (1944-1983). Taught math,

science and health, as well as P.E.

26 years coaching basketball, track and football in South Dakota (1943-1968); Brookings

(1944-1968)

Received lifetime award from the SD Coaches Association (1968)

Assistant coach of BHS football, basketball & track (1944-? ; until the 1950’s teachers were not

paid for coaching, often had practices on Saturdays and drove the “Red Rocket” bus to away

games)

Assistant coach of 1944 Madison High School basketball team - won the Class B State

Championship

Assistant coach of 1946 BHS basketball team - won Brookings’ first Class A State

Championship

25 years Freshman/Jr. High Coach (basketball, track, football)

Basketball - 6 undefeated seasons, never a losing season, winning 83% of games

Champions of the state YMCA basketball tournament in 1963

Track - Frequently had 75-100 boys out for track. Co-Coach of the S.D. team which

competed in the National Junior Champ Track and Field Tournament in Minneapolis (1964),

sponsored by the Jaycees and broadcast on national television

After retiring from coaching, Franny scouted other teams for BHS coaches, kept stats, manned

the scoring table, recruited volunteers, whatever was needed to support BHS athletics.

Other

Founding member of the Brookings Education Association (BEA) which negotiated pay for

coaching and other duties beyond the teaching day

Developed the intra-mural program for grades 5-8 that involved 75-80% of all boys in those

grades

Organized the local Punt, Pass & Kick competition and coached numerous Brookings

participants in the Regional Punt, Pass & Kick competitions in Minneapolis

Host of “Coaches Corner” on KBRK radio (during the 60’s) where he interviewed BHS coaches

and players

City park was named Francis Dolan Park upon his retirement as Principal of Central Elementary

School in 1983. His memorial fund purchased new playground equipment for the park.

Francis Dolan loved sports, but he loved supporting students more. He was the first

professional coach for many of the BHS Hall of Fame athletes of his era. He excelled at

teaching the basics and encouraging each student athlete to be the best they could be. He

also helped standout athletes develop their talents and mentored them to continue in sports.

Mr. Dolan's last year of coaching was in 1967-68.  Notice that his last name is misspelled.

Appropriately, his last basketball team was undefeated.

In 1976, he and his wife were still employed in the school system.  The Brookings Register featured an excellent tribute to their decades-long career as educators.  This article encapsulates their lives better than anything yours truly can compose.  Reading it may bring back many memories.

I believe that when Medary Elementary opened, Mr. Dolan became principal at Central Elementary, and served there until his retirement in 1983.  The playground at Central was named "Francis Dolan Park" in his honor.  Central has now been converted into the Children's Museum of South Dakota (https://prairieplay.org/)

While visiting his daughter Kelly in Arizona a few years later, he unexpectedly passed away.  

Recently, another student and athlete of Mr. Dolan's was in town, so we went over the family burial plot in Elkton, South Dakota.

Much more could be said about Mr. Dolan.  If you have a compelling story concerning him, please feel free to comment below.  

"The Day The Music Died"?

 For those of us who may have played a musical instrument in school, our first lessons may have come from Mr. Erling Engstrom.  He was the instrumental music director in the Junior High and Middle School (elementary, too?) from 1957-1989.  

It seems that those taking lessons from Mr. Engstrom would be excused from class for about 20 minutes to practice in the band room.  So that the students would not be excused from the same class for their lessons, they would miss part of a different class each week.  Planning for these lessons also had to take into account school-sponsored activities, such as athletic contests or field trips.  Scheduling these lessons must have been a nightmare, yet Mr. Engstrom managed to pull it off masterfully.  If a student inconveniently "forgot" that a lesson was schedule, Mr. Engstrom might come into a classroom to frequently remind said student about the scheduled lesson.  

Our careers overlapped by about 15 years, so I became better acquainted with him in the 70's and 80's.    When grades were due, he evaluated each student rather carefully.  Those musical words were rather foreign to me, as I had very little music knowledge or talent.

The annuals from our Jr. Hi. days show three bands:  regular band, orchestra, and pep band.  According to the 1966 annual, "The band and orchestra, under the direction of Erling Engstrom, climaxed the year with the annual spring concert.  Another important spring event was the Madison Music contest.  The eight-two participants received fifty-seven superior and twenty-four excellent ratings."  57 + 24 =81.  Who did not receive either a superior or excellent?

Did the pep band play at some of the Jr. Hi. basketball games?  It seems that they were seated on the stage at the Central Elementary gym.  Wasn't the Jr. Hi. school song played to the tune of "Minnesota Rouser" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kyIYVNC0-4)?  Anyone recall the lyrics?  An old program we found under the bleachers had these words (or something similar; if anyone has a more definitive version, let us know):

You rah rah for our Junior High (Or was it ...for old Junior High?)

Red and white our colors are flying

So we'll show that team 

Some of our fight

We're behind you

All the way

So you rah for Junior High

When the Jr. Hi. became a middle school, the last line became "So you rah for Middle School."

When Title IX (giving girls the opportunity to play athletics) was implemented, pep band died out.  There were very few students to form a band anymore, as most of them were playing a sport.  

These last few years Mr. Engstrom seemed to be a daily visitor to the library, where he could read the daily papers and catch up on the latest news.  There were times he would arrive before the library even opened, and he could be seen walking around the block or waiting patiently in his car.  

Mr. Engstrom definitely touched numerous young lives and left his mark upon them (https://www.rudesfuneralhome.com/obituary/erling-engstrom).  If you scroll down to the guestbook entries (https://www.rudesfuneralhome.com/guestbook/erling-engstrom), you can readily see the influence he had on so many students and colleagues.  

Our condolences to his daughters Elaine and Nancy, on the loss of their father.  

Does any one recognize the reading from the book of Ecclesiastes?  It's the basis for the 1965 song "Turn, Turn, Turn" by the Byrds (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVOJla2vYx8), although it was originally written by Pete Seeger in 1959  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!).  His version is on this site--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbPl91kTFro, but a version by The Limeliters was released earlier (according to Wikipedia:  "The song was first released by the folk group the Limeliters on their 1962 album Folk Matinee, under the title "To Everything There Is a Season".^[2][10] The Limeliters' version predated the release of Seeger's own version by several months. One of the Limeliters' backing musicians at this time was Jim McGuinn (aka Roger McGuinn), who would later record the song with his band the Byrds and, prior to that, arrange the song for folk singer Judy Collins on her 1963 album, Judy Collins 3.^[2] Collins' recording of the song was retitled as "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)", a title that would be retained by the Byrds, though it was shortened to "Turn! Turn! Turn!" on the front cover of the album of the same name and the song became generally known by the shorter version, appearing as such on most later Byrds compilations.^[11] " Another version has him accompanying Judy Collins--(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qURAnrk30ng).  Again Wikipedia states, "Since Ecclesiastes is traditionally ascribed to King Solomon in the 10th century BC, the Byrds' 1965 recording of the song holds the distinction in the U.S. of being the number 1 hit with the oldest lyrics."

"Along Comes Mary"

 The previous post concerned two of our esteemed teaches who taught us math and Spanish.  Miss Helland taught numerous math classes (geometry, trigonometry, senior math, etc.), while Miss Malmstrom taught math and Spanish.  Another teacher who taught math (Algebra) and a foreign language (Latin) was Mary Briscoe (in the 1956 annual, she is listed as teaching social science and world history, as well as Latin).  In her own way, she was very dedicated to her profession.  Those of us who were her students may recall that she would sharpen red pencils to distribute to us when we corrected our algebra homework in class.  When we were done with correcting our papers, we would return those pencils.  Unfortunately, some of those would have the tips broken off, forcing her to re-sharpen them for the next class.  Looking back, we can see how disrespectful we may have been to her.  

She could be very meticulous.  In algebra class, we were expected to keep all of our equal signs in a column when we solved our problems.  We also had to identify what the unknowns stood for, and then  set up an equation.  These steps may have been tedious and seen as unnecessary for us, but when I taught algebra, I finally began to see the wisdom of following these steps.  An example follows below (I don't know if the arrangement will change when this is published.  Will the = signs remain aligned?).  

Problem:  A father is four times as old as his son. If their ages equal 40, what is the age of each?

           Let X = the son's age

       Then 4X = the father's age

Then X + 4X = 40

                5X = 40

             5X/5 = 40/5

                   X= 8

The son is 8 years old, and the father is 8x4, or 32 years old.  

Miss Briscoe suffered a fall when we were in 7th grade (1963-64).  It seems like it may have been in February.  Anyway, to facilitate her recovery, our health class with Mrs. Pedersen (sp?)was moved to her room on the second floor (our class was previously on the first floor on the east side.  Miss LaChance's room was in the southeast corner, and the health class was next door on the north.  Mr. Kabrud's was next, followed by 7th grade English {we had Mrs. Alcott just after lunch}, and then the 8th grade history room with Mrs. Etta Olson. (Do you recall going up a short flight of stairs to those last three rooms?)

Miss Briscoe retired after our junior year, the first year at the "new" high school.  They were able to find a replacement for her (Mrs. Gail Hannon), but she may have stayed for only a year or two, as interest in Latin seemed to be declining rather rapidly.  Latin was difficult, requiring much memorization, but it was extremely helpful in improving one's knowledge of English grammar.  

In the historical section in the Brookings Public Library are located many annuals from both BHS and SDSU (although the 1969 BHS annual is one of those that are missing.  Anyone have an extra one to donate?).  One of those BHS annuals (1964 or 1965) was donated by Miss Briscoe.  The student who signed it was very appreciative of Miss Briscoe's tutelage in both algebra and Latin.  

Again, curiosity caused me to wonder what happened to Miss Briscoe after her retirement.  She lived in Brookings for a time (was her apartment above the old clinic on 7th Avenue and Main?), and eventually moved back to her home in Gettysburg, SD, where she passed away.  Fortunately, her obituary did appear in the Brookings Register, and can be found below.

There are many interesting aspects of her life.  She was 90 years old when she passed away, and lived during some significant times, such as the two world wars and the great depression.  Although many of us thought she may have been a little weird (students said that about me, too), she appears to have been highly educated and respected by her peers.    

"Good Golly Miss Molly"

 Our BHS class of 1969 dedicated our yearbook to "Those of Supreme Dedication," namely two long-time BHS teachers Miss Frances "Molly" Malmstrom and Miss Ruth Helland.

Many of us likely had one or both of these fine instructors for at least one class during our "illustrious" high school years.  We also may have thought, since we dedicated this annual to them, that they were retiring after almost 30 years of teaching math and Spanish to hundreds of students.  However, they remained on the staff for one more year, and retired after the 1970 school year.  

After graduation, we lost track of many of our classmates and our teachers.  Curiosity led me to search for their lives after 1970.  An obituary was found for Miss Malmstrom, but none could be found for Miss Helland.  If anyone has information for Miss Helland, please let us know.  

It appears that she remained in Brookings after retiring from teaching in the district for 27 years.  Her birth date of January 1, 1903 is interesting.  She was born before the Wright brothers made their first flight (https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/wright-brothers).

Think of all the other history that occurred during her lifetime.  She lived during the first and second world wars and the "Dirty 30's"; in fact, she came to Brookings shortly after the United States entered WWII.  During her lifetime, air travel went from the 852 foot flight of the Wright brothers to the round trip of Apollo 11 to the moon (https://www.history.com/topics/1960s/moon-landing-1969).

While we may not think of Miss Malmstrom or Miss Helland very often, their pedagogy likely has influenced in subtle ways.  

1968 and "Those Were The Days;" "My Guy," "Dedicated To The One I Love"

Many of us may remember that  1968 song "Those Were The Days" by Mary Hopkin (https://www.songfacts.com/facts/mary-hopkin/those-were-the-days).  Recent visits with classmates this past week recalled some of those memories.  

Prairie Reportory Theater of SDSU (https://www.sdstate.edu/prairie-repertory-theatre) recently performed the musical Oklahoma.  Since that was the musical that BHS performed 55 years when the "new" high school opened, 

it seemed fitting that some of us in the area should enjoy it again. 

One of the members of the cast in 1968 commented that they had omitted some of the scenes back then.  As performed by Prairie Rep, the production lasted about three hours, considerably longer than when BHS performed it back in that spring of 1968.  The cast, crew, and directors at Prairie Rep displayed much talent.  Word was that each performance was sold out.  If you went to the Prairie Rep link above, you may have noticed that one of the PRT staff and faculty is Melissa Hauschild-Mork.  Yes, that is the sister of Pat Hauschild of our class, and the daughter of one of our esteemed teachers and coaches, Wayne "Hoss" Hauschild.

We may recall "My Guy" (https://www.songfacts.com/facts/mary-wells/my-guy) as a number one song from May of 1964, just as the "British Invasion" began dominating the charts.  In fact, this link states "This was the song that broke up The Beatles famous monopoly on the Top 5 US chart positions in May of 1964."

BHS had its own "Guy."  Some of us knew him as Mr. Karnes, or simply as "Guy O. (what did the O. stand for?  Continue to the end and find out)."  The class of 1968, the first to graduate from the "new" high school, honored him by dedicating (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedicated_to_the_One_I_Love) the 1968 "Bobcat" yearbook to him.  (Do you get the impression that 1968 is a prominent theme here?)

Mr. Karnes continued to teach part-time as the physics teacher at BHS for a couple of years after 1968, perhaps because a capable replacement could not be found.  His replacement, Paul Wilkens, had been a student teacher for Mr. Karnes.  He was an excellent teacher, and also was a force to be reckoned with on our championship city league basketball team.  However, he found a more lucrative offer working for a scientific company in New York state, I believe.  

What most of us did not know was that Mr. Karnes was an outstanding high school track and field coach before coming to Brookings.  One student who was mentored by Mr. Karnes said that the reason he came to Brookings was that he did not have to coach; he wanted to devote his time to the classroom.  I  lived near the "old" high school, and would often see the lights on in his room in the late evenings when we played on the courthouse lawn. (The article below is from the mid-1950's)

Undoubtedly, many other students owe deep gratitude to Mr. Karnes' guidance.  Who can forget some of his memorable sayings:  "My sainted aunt;" "I'll be a cow kicked into Texas;" "I'll bet dollars to doughnuts...;" "If you don't get the right answer, I'll cut your gizzard out with a dull knife."  To repeat some of those comments today might result in the termination of one's teaching credentials.  

When he finally did retire, Mr. Karnes lived in Brookings for a few years, and provided me with much guidance when my own teaching career started in 1973.   About ten years after we graduated, he and his wife moved to Berlin, Wisconsin, where their daughter Karen lived. 

When time permits, we'll see if "Good Golly Miss Molly" can catch a ride when "Along Comes Mary."