In the year 1935, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo from Hawaii to California, the FBI finally killed the ruthless Barker Gang, the first can of beer was sold in Virginia, and Parker Bros. developed and sold its first Monopoly board game.
While this was going on, the United States was experiencing a terrible climate problem called “The Dust Bowl.” New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado were hit the hardest.
The first nighttime baseball game in the major leagues was played at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies, and the famous home run hitter, Babe Ruth, appeared in his last baseball game. And one of the most popular radio programs was “Fibber McGee & Molly.”
During this time, there were 40 seniors graduating from Lapel High School.
The Lapel High School yearbook lists the faculty, which was led by Principal Floyd Walker. Berl Buis taught science and math; Mary Ellen Elmore had commercial studies; Pauline Barnhizer was the history teacher; Elizabeth Forsythe taught home economics and physical education; Bernice Graham was the English teacher; Herman Hinshaw covered physical education and math; Scott Lane was the coach, plus teaching physical and vocational education; Velma Rosecrans was the music and art teacher; Maurice Woodward taught vocational agriculture; and Elanor Waters taught Latin and English.
According to the yearbook, the Lapel High School Band was organized in 1930 under the supervision of Edward Holloway. In 1933, Mr. Gosney assumed directorship until 1935, when Mr. Lowe became director. Until 1935, the band students had to financially support their band, then the township began supporting the school band. The band entered several district contests and gave many concerts. The 1935 band had 35 members and many more in training.

The 1935 Bulldogs basketball team consisted of 10 players: James “Farmer” Baker; George “Washington” Bauner; Oliver “Twist” McClintick; Roger “Philibert” McDonald; Marion “Beany” Presser; George “Buck” Rambo; Rex “Wardie” Shetterly; Donald “Donnie” Shultz; Kenneth “Kenny” Wilson and Maurice “Pee Wee” Imler.
The Bulldogs were, for the sixth consecutive season, under the tutorship of Scott Lane. This team ended another successful winning season. It recorded 16 victories out of 23 games. Markleville, Pendleton, Winchester, Yorktown and Elwood, all of whom gained widespread fame on Indiana hardwoods, conceded fervent and hard-fought battles to our local talented boys.
Markleville won the Madison County Invitational tourney. Fortville was victorious in the Greenfield Sectional, and then represented Hancock County in the regional at Indianapolis. Greenfield defeated the Rushville basketeers, who were among the finalists in the state tournament classic at Butler Fieldhouse. These three highly touted challengers were chastised severely by our biting Lanemen, and due to these wins, the Bulldogs, Coach Lane and Lapel High School deserve greatness.
“The Bulldogs concluded basketball play when they were defeated by Anderson 41 to 17 in the semi-finals of the sectional,” the yearbook states. “The boys deserve no reprimanding here, however, because (coach) Chadd’s (Anderson) Indians are now christened 1935 State Champs.”

The 1935 senior class consisted of the following: James Baker, played basketball and baseball and attended Lapel High School for four years; George Bauner, assistant, sales manager Vikings, played basketball and baseball, member of Class Play; Ellen Jane Bell, attended Lapel High School for four years; Morton Benham, attended Lapel High School for four years; Maxine Boone, attended Lapel High School four years; Roberta Byer, Picture Editor Vikings, President, member of class play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Genevieve Carpenter, Art Editor Vikings, Operetta, Glee Club, attended Lapel High School four years; Eva Day, Operetta, Glee Club, attended Lapel High School for four years; Mary Ellercamp, attended Lapel High School for four years; Kathleen Fisher, sales manager Vikings, Secretary, Operetta, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Ralph Fry, attended Lapel High School for four years; Louise Graham, assistant editor Vikings, secetary, Operetta, Glee Club, attended Lapel High School for four years; Lenora Hershberger, Operetta, Glee Club, attended Lapel High School for four years; Vivian Hershberger, assistant editor Vikings, Librarian, Operetta, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Maurine Hoock, literary editor Vikings, assistant librarian, Operetta, Glee Club, attended Lapel High School for four years; Irene Hopkinson, attended Lapel High School 3-4; Everett Huntzinger, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Ruth Imler, assistant advertising manager, treasurer, Operetta, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School 2-3-4; Josephine Kaiser, Operetta, Glee Club, attended Lapel High School for four years; Robert Ketcham, Sports Editor Viking, Baseball, Band, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Oliver McClintick, editor-in-chief Viking, treasurer, basketball, baseball, Operetta, band, orchestra, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Byron McCord, Jr., Operetta, attended Lapel High School for four years; Mildred McDole, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Roger McDonald, picture editor Viking, Operetta, basketball, Glee Club, attended Lapel High School for four years; Harriett Mellinger, Operetta, Class Play, attended Lapel High School 3-4; Harry Moore, Band, Orchestra, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Gerald Musselman, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Deloris Musselman, Operetta, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Marion Myers, assistant sales manager, Operetta, attended Lapel High School for 2-3-4; Mabel Peters, attended Lapel High School for four years; Marion Presser, secretary, basketball, baseball, Operetta, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; John Reason, Operetta, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for 3-4; Donald Renner, president, treasurer, attended Lapel High School for four years; Dorothy Rinne, literary editor Viking, Operetta, band, orchestra, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Bayard Robinette, assistant advertising, Operetta, attended Lapel High School for four years; Rex Shetterly, joke editor, basketball, baseball, band, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Lois Shuck, joke editor, Operetta, Glee Club, band, attended Lapel High School for four years; Donald Shultz, advertising manager, vice president, band, basketball, Operetta, baseball, Glee Club, Class Play, attended Lapel High School for four years; Eileen Teeters, attended Lapel High School for four years; Martha Waymire, Operetta, Glee Club, attended Lapel High School for four years.

Any students in the Lapel High School Class of 1935 lucky enough to still be alive would be approaching the age where we would call them centenarians. This writer was unsuccessful in locating anyone listed in this class.
Their yearbook hints they were an organized and joyful group.
Their class play was titled, “The Wild Oats Boys.” It was about, “How would you like to earn a fortune by going to bed at eight o’clock every night for three months?” The main character Eddie had a father who stated in his will that his son was compelled to achieve this goal to receive the money. Doesn’t that sound like a funny plot for their class play?
And 1935 just happens to be the year this writer was born!
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.