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CHS alumni share century of memories, legends
By Amber Peabody
This document was published online on Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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| Members of the next year’s senior class, including Evie Pickering, Chynna Reed, Rachel Petersen and Michelle Felts, celebrate during the 2006 Homecoming parade. Many students and alumni say Homecoming is one of their favorite memories. (Photo by Amber Peabody) |
The faces have changed, but the fondness for Cody High School remains constant with many of its graduates from the past 100 years.
Class of 1949
Al Simpson fondly remembers his time at CHS. He even has a piece of the old school in his home - a circular staircase that used to lead down to the girl's gym.
“It was forbidden and we never went down there - except for when we did,” he joked.
Simpson spent much of his time as the quintessential class clown until a teacher made him think about his actions.
“A teacher said, ‘When people are laughing, you need to figure out if it's with you or at you,'” he said. “That hit me, because I was always messing around.
“Cody has caring teachers and community. If you fail and fall people will pick you up and tell you, ‘You can do better than that.'”
During his school days CHS was an older brick building. After World War II several buildings from the Heart Mountain Relocation Center were moved to Cody to help accommodate the booming population.
The school gym was located on the second floor and was so small that games had to be played at Cody Auditorium. The girl's gym was downstairs at the school. There weren't many girls' activities but they did have a basketball team at the time, he recalled.
Simpson played football and basketball and was captain of the basketball team that won the district championship.
“Thank heavens for athletics,” he said. “If we hadn't had that we'd all have been in trouble,” he said.
He also participated in various plays. In “Minuet” he played a “ghastly part” and also was in the “Pirates of Penzance.” He remembers Wynona Thompson influencing him in theater.
“Wynona Thompson taught Shakespeare in an old building left over from the war,” he said. “She'd pull the shades down and we'd listen to Othello.”
Simpson, along with the rest of the infamous Class of 1949, were remembered by teachers for many years.
“We were a rambunctious crew and couldn't get anyone to be our class sponsor,” he said. “Finally, Elizabeth Gilbert took over and made us shape up.”
Class of 1969
Sheryl Feeley's first memories of CHS are while she was in junior high.
“I went to the high school for a long time,” she joked.
Because the new junior high was in the process of being built, students had to attend classes in the high school. Feeley remembers meeting in the CHS auditorium and basement.
“I was in the basement when they came down and told us President Kennedy had been shot,” she said. “It was a bad day and an experience I'll never forget.”
She remembers teacher Dorothy Banks having an real impact of her life.
She said she enjoyed the snake dance during Homecoming when students held hands and weaved in and out of downtown stores.
She also never missed a sports activity and was part of the drill team.
“Most girls didn't participate in sports then,” she said. “It just wasn't the norm like it is now. I think it's great now.”
Every day for lunch she and friends went to Bud's Drive-In, where she ordered chilly Fritos and a coke.
As a freshman her locker was right next to the art room. One day the teacher called her into his classroom and in front of the whole class said, “Ted Feeley thinks your skirt is too short.”
“I was mortified,” she said. “Needless to say I didn't care much for Mr. Feeley after he embarrassed me.”
But she eventually forgave him - and married him a few years out of high school.
“Life is funny sometimes,” she said. “Looking back you can't imagine what high school will mean to you.”
Class of 1987
Rod Schutzman remembers Homecoming activities as some of his favorites in high school.
He enjoyed the senior mud fight, bonfire, freshmen initiation and snake dance.
“At the reservoir there used to be a little island and that's where we had senior day and the mud fight,” he said.
The bonfire occurred below Old Trail Town and then the students would wind their way through downtown.
“We went through all the bars,” he said.
Initiation saw freshmen doused with all kinds of interesting things before they were washed off at a car wash.
“It was all kinds of gross stuff including grease and oil,” he said. “I heard some people had to eat goldfish.”
Schutzman escaped much of the torment when he was a freshman because his older sister was a senior and “protected” him.
He said coaches Butch Reder and Steve Novakovich had an impact on him, as did teachers Phil Robertson, Lawrence Meister and Bill Herr.
During his senior year the boys basketball team coached by Novakovich and Norm Sedig upset Rock Springs on a last-minute shot during the regional tournament semifinals.
“It was one of our biggest upsets ever, and the only time we led in the entire game was on the last shot,” he said.
Cody went on to lose the championship to Green River.
That same year the American Legion baseball team won the state championship.
“We never lost a game against a Wyoming team that season,” he said.
Class of 2008
Naomi Duprey transferred to Cody for her sophomore year and has been pleased with her choice ever since.
“I moved to Cody from Sheridan and it was one of the greatest decisions of my life,” she said. “There's just great community support for the high school and activities.”
She quickly immersed herself in school activities including student council, choir and soccer.
As Senior Class President, Duprey has played a big role in making CHS' Centennial year special.
“It's really a huge honor and we've done a good job maturing into the position and taking on that honor,” she said. “It was fun to spruce up Homecoming and graduation.
“There's been high expectations and high responsibility as the community looks on to see what is going to happen.”
Duprey said beating Powell for Homecoming this year and painting the street in front of the football field at 10:30 p.m. for Homecoming week are a few of her favorite memories. She also enjoyed Wish Week.
“Last year's wish week raised $16,000 and then this year's $25,000 exceeded everyone's expectations,” she said.
During the past two years the students have had to deal with construction from a new addition to CHS and the closure of Wynona Thompson Auditorium for renovation.
“It's been hard,” she said. “From a personal aspect not having Wynona has been hard to work around but it's something we needed to do.”
The Class of 2008 has also seen a reclassification of sports this year, as CHS dropped down to 3A
“Many people had high expectations but sports in 3A are just as competitive as sports in 4A,” she said. “It's been fun to play different teams but the travel aspects have been hard to adjust to.”
She feels CHS is unlike many others in that there's such great community support.
“Cody's really special to have so much support,” she said. “Being a Bronc or Filly is being a part of something bigger. You're not just by yourself. You have people to support you all the way through.”
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jim wrote on May 22, 2008 9:29 AM: