By Ray Tincher | For The Times-Post
On Feb. 2, 1962, the United States placed an embargo against communist Cuba. Two weeks later, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy took television viewers on a tour of The White House. The Kennedys’ popularity was increasing, especially with the Kennedy children.
In March of that year, K-Mart opened its first store. Taco Bell did the same the next week. Wal-Mart didn’t open its first store until July, in Arkansas. Target opened its store about the same time in Minnesota. The economy looked promising.
Something happened in the NBA, which was a first: Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a basketball game. Parnelli Jones won the pole at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by breaking the 150-mph speed record, but Rodger Ward won the race. “West Side Story” won 10 Oscars, including Best Picture. The Rolling Stones formed in London. Johnny Carson took over “The Tonight Show.” And Marilyn Monroe was found dead, in her home. All happened in 1962.
Back in Lapel, on Saturday nights, the “Who’s Your Squares” were dancing at the Lapel High School cafeteria to the call of Phil Love. Round dancing was also given by Ned Bourke. The Lapel Lions Club and the American Legion were also scheduling dances. On May 18, about 250 attended a street dance. The following won dance contests: Linda Howell, Brenda Pitcock, Blain Jarrett, Cathy Campbell, Carolyn Norris, Jim Smith, Sheri Ott and Cindi Wise.
Louise Caplinger was the Lapel editor of the Lapel Review, which included some interesting writings. One paragraph from her column, called “Here and There,” said: “Many things have been said about the value of an education. Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the things you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned. And how ever early a man’s training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly.”
Lapel Boy Scouts appeared very active in ’62. At one meeting, Miles Cramer and Marshall Lawrence led the opening ceremonies. Troop committee members present were: Jim Graham, William Frick, Hervey Lawrence, Donald Pettigrew, Cecil Shuck, the Rev. King, Richard Gudgel and John Clark. Brian Pelkington led the closing ceremonies.
During 1962, there was quite an effort to open a swimming pool in Lapel. During the year, several articles appeared in the Lapel Review with Neal Dickerson, general chairman of the Lapel swimming pool project. Money was contributed toward the project, but the swimming pool never came to be.
The 16th Annual Lapel Homecoming, in 1962, was a time when everyone in town came together with a fish fry, sponsored by the Lapel Lions Club. It was a time when present and former residents came together. At the time, it had been held in Lapel’s Memorial Park for 10 years. It was also Lapel’s 86th Birthday. Friday night would feature an amateur show. On Saturday the parade was scheduled.
Meyers Variety Store had its annual sale. You could purchase a 24-inch charcoal grill for $4.87; 50-foot garden hose for $1.57; an 8-inch cast iron skillet for 87 cents; and a gallon of vinyl flat wall paint for $1.87. Prices have changed since that time.
At Lapel High School (LHS), the senior class of 1962 was hard at work preparing for graduation. Their sponsors were Miles Cramer and Evelyn Mousa. Max Banning was class president; Jack Roach was vice president; Merilyn Vance was secretary; and Jane Frick was treasurer.
Their 1962 Yearbook opened with an interesting forward: “Time will tell the story. How do we spend our days at Lapel? We study for 40,800 minutes, we exercise for 10,300 minutes, and we relax for 18,200 minutes.”
“Our studies prepare us for the future. Our exercise helps us keep physically fit. Our relaxation aids our physical and mental well-being. We should not waste these precious minutes for hours of youth quickly pass and are never regained. 69,300 minutes well-spent.”
How true!
Column continues below photos.
LHS Principal Gerald Roudebush was very pleased with the Class of ’62, as he expressed in their yearbook. Assistant Principal John Walton joined those remarks. John Troutman served as trustee, with James Hall, Lawrence Heiney and Carl Kilburn on the advisory board. Peggy Paulsel was the office secretary.
The 1962 LHS Faculty was an outstanding group and well respected by the senior class. Sara Akers was the librarian; Miles Cramer taught industrial arts; Bennie Decker had social studies; Paul Ducker taught English and science; Pat Graham taught French and social studies; Elizabeth Huntzinger had home economics; John Hurley had business education and physical education; Victor Kerln taught science, math and social studies; Marian Noggle taught Latin and English; Gurney Mattingly taught art; Evelyn Mousa taught English and music; Gerald Quinn taught music; Ralph Renbarger taught science and physical education; Lucille Rockey taught social studies; Elizabeth Shaul taught business education; Wanda Smith taught physical education and science; Donald Somers had math; Fred St. John taught driver’s education, vocational agriculture and science; John Walton taught math; Donald Trisler taught English and social studies; and Margaret Trisler taught business education and English.
How about the LHS bus drivers who try and run a regular timed schedule, getting their students to school for their classes? Those credits go to Robert Watson, Wayne McClintock, Wayne Jarrett, Elmer Murfin, Earl Everitt, Raymond Jarrett, Garland Ricker, Schuyler Hudson and Jim Males.
The senior class of 1962 exceeded all prior classes in number. There were 84 graduates (with many named to National Honor Society, denoted with an asterisk: Max N. Banning, Robert E. Barger, Joseph F. Bays, Judy Lynn Bennett, Nedra Maureen Bourke, Mary Ann Bright, Charles T. Bond, Otis Ray Bond, Peggy Jean Brown, Fred M. Busby, Betty Jean Caplinger, Jim L. Castor, Harold Dean Cobb, John P. Colson, Leonard P. Cook, Jerry Warren Cottrell, Marcy E. Crump, Carole Diane Delph, Diane Sue Dwiggins, Marjorie E. Eiler, Frances Lee Elkins, Carl E. Ellis, Robert G. Erwin, Bonnie Jean Everitt, Sandra Kay Falkenberry, Carolyn Jane Frick, William Givins, Anita Gayle Goff, Raymond Dewey Gruel, Oscar Halle Jr., Billy L. Insko, Thomas M. Jackson, Sandra Kay Keesling, John William Ketcham, Stan T. Kilburn, Timothy G. Kincaid, David Rogers Kinnaman, Herbert G. Likens, Steven Joe McClintick, Willard McClintock, Karen Jean McDonald, Ralph L. Meredith, Sharon Kay Michael, Delbert J. Miller, Sharon L. Miller, Anita Fay Morris, Charles W. Mosley, Larry Wayne Nixon, James E. Norris, M. Darlene Nunley, Richard L. Oyler, Wilma Jo Pigg, Elanor Susanne Renner, Jimmy Lee Reynolds, Clara Jean Rich, Linda K. Ridgway, Jack B. Roach, Sherry Ann Rogers, James Gary Roudebush, David L. Rushton, Bonnie Ann Russell, Dennis S. Russell, Stanley R. Sandefur, Paul Terry Schlabach, Paula J. Sheller, Janet Kay Shepherd, William R. Sherrill, Stephen Allen Shetterly, Gilly N. Snyder, Karen L. Snyder, Terry H. Snyder, Carole Elaine Stinson, F. Alan Spegal, Stephen Duane Teeters, Mary J. Tracy, Frances Merrillyn Vance, Scharlett Ann Wheatly, James H. White, Virginia L. White, Barbara A. Williams, Marjorie Jane Willits, Virginia Eve Wood, Lynda Gayle Woodward and David B. Zile.
The ’62 Class had 39 students who were 12-year classmates, attending school together for a dozen years.
Their Senior Class Play was “Brother Goose,” directed by Gurney Mattingly and Don Trisler. Homecoming Queen Peggy Brown was escorted by Jim White. An “Evening in Utopia” featured Princess Frances Elkins, Queen Peggy Brown and Princess Carol Parker, with Danny Cummings’ music. The 1962 LHS band was led by President John Ketcham, Vice President Jim White, Secretary Karen McDonald, Treasurer Sherry Rogers and Director Gerald Quinn.
The Lapel varsity basketball team suffered a long season. Coach Renbarger was faced with a “building team season,” with the only highlight coming by upsetting a very good Markleville team. In baseball, Delbert Miller pitched a one-hitter against Summitville. The cross country team highlight was John Ketcham placing second in the White River Conference.
LHS valedictorian was Elanor Susanne Renner, and salutatorian was Jane Frick. The Class of ’62 recognized several seniors with awards. The U.N. Award recognized Susanne Renner and Paula Sheller; Boy of the Year was Max Banning; Girl of the Year was Peggy Brown; D.A.R. award went to Jane Frick; Betty Crocker Award went to Barbara Williams; Girls State were Peggy Brown, Mary Ann Bright and Jane Frick; Boys State were Max Banning and Jack Roach; Merit Scholarship Award was Susanne Renner.
If anyone was missed in the awards, please contact [email protected].
Ray Tincher attended Ball State University and retired from Indiana Department of Correction in 1997. He worked at IDOC for 30 years, serving in a variety of roles, from correctional officer to warden. At retirement, he received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Gov. Frank O’Bannon. He wrote several training manuals as part of his employment and is a published author: “Inmate #13225 John Herbert Dillinger (2007).” He and his wife, Marilyn, live in Lapel.