HISTORY OF ZEPHYRHILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Highlights of 1970

Parents, Friends View Graduation Of 83-Member ZHS Class of 1970, Zephyrhills News, June 11, 1970

In spite of hot, humid weather, the Zephyrhills High School gymnasium was packed to near-capacity as the commencements exercises for the 83-member 1970 graduation class were held Friday night. The white capped and gowned graduates filed into the gym to the strains of “March of the Priests,” played by Tulia B. Miller. The Reverend Leslie C. Poe of the Church of the Nazarene gave the invocation.

Class Salutatorian, Julia Phipps used as her topic, “The Right to the Future,” Senior Class President, David Krystofiak presented “The Quest,” and Patty Hayden, Valedictorian spoke “Of Footprints and Time.” Mr. Horace Allen, Coordinator of Federal Projects for Pasco County Schools, presented awards to outstanding students and Mr. P.H. Murphy, District 2 Member of the Pasco County School Board of Public Instruction, presented diplomas to the graduates. They were assisted by Principal Raymond B. Stewart, who also made scholarship presentations. Patricia Ann Hayden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morris C. Hayden, was recipient of both the valedictorian medal and the citizenship medals.

Julie Phipps, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wendell W. Phipps, was awarded the salutatorian medal, a Florida teacher’s scholarship and a grant from Florida Southern College.

Patricia Lynn Murphy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P.H. Murphy, won both the best all-around girl and activities awards.

Keathel Chauncey, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Chauncey, was recipient of the athletics award and a Polk County Junior College Baseball Scholarship.

School spirit awards were presented to James Simons, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Bennett and Sabra Ann Cooper, daughter of Mrs. Dora Cooper. Bobby Dodd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Dodd, was announced a winner of a 4-year University of South Florida track scholarship.

The $50 Beta Club scholarship was awarded to Cheryl Trogdon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Trogdon. Donna Darby, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Darby and Irene Graf, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Graf, each received a $200 March of Dimes nursing scholarship.

David Krystofiak, class president, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Krystofiak received a 2-year Florida Central Junior College Basketball Scholarship. The Zephyrhills Senior High Student Council awarded three $50 scholarships to Edward Colandria, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Colandria; Herbert Ferrell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe T. Powell; and Phyllis Stafford, daughter of Mr. Kate Riley.

The benediction was given by The Reverend John R. Mathis and Tulia Miller played “Pomp and Circumstance” as the recessional as the graduates filed out of the gymnasium.

Ushers were members of the Junior class including Lynda Stewart, Valerie Wickstrom, Barbie Bales, Mabel English, Patty Barlow, Revo Toler, Steve Chauncey, Randy Jordan, Bill Porter, Jeff Brown, Larry McDonald and Dick Moore.

Salutatorian Speaks

Using “The Right to the Future” as the topic of her address, Julia Phipps, salutatorian, said in part, “Learning is a part of every actively-alive human being. We have learned how to learn so that we may use what we have learned- to enjoy, please, work with and if nothing better is possible, to tolerate our fellow students. We have so much to offer each other, but without tolerance—without mutual respect for each others ideas and values, everyone would continue to sit by himself, guarding his own precious, carefully molded world. We have been forced to acknowledge something besides our own private existence. Because we had to come out of ourselves, it was easier to look around at other people. Once we were forced to abandon part of our protective shells, it became easier to accept new ideas.

Miss Phipps went on, “The individuals of this graduating class have torn down barriers, between people, have learned to accept new ideas, to accept people for what they have to offer, not as masses of unimportant humans, but as fellow individuals, each different, each vitally important in his own way.

“To paraphrase one saying, “The future belongs to the mentally fit.” I believe the members of this graduating class are mentally fit, she said.

“A mentally fit person is one who has a right sense of value one who can tell what standards in life are truly important. For instance, if tomorrow were your last day on earth, would it really matter how long that boy’s hair was—how short that girl’s dress –what color your neighbor’s skin was? On the other hand, showing brotherly kindness and helpfulness would still matter a great deal.

The second set of values stands up under pressure…the first set of values which would judge a person’s worth and intelligence by arbitrary standards of personal appearance, becomes meaningless and totally irrelevant,” she said.

“We have discovered how to live and work with others, Miss Phipps said. Each person has learned not what to think, but how to think, he can control his own future and his own life. We have accomplished this, too.

“A mentally fit person is one who combines action with thought. As the American hero, Davy Crockett once said, “be sure you’re right…then go ahead!” Here, too, the members of this graduating class have come ahead for we learned long ago the need for activism and action,” Miss Phipps said.

“In short, the right to the future belongs to people like those in the graduating class of 1970. The future is ours; we have earned it,” she concluded.

Class President Speaks

“The Quest,” was presented by Senior Class President, David Krystofiak. He said in part, “All of life is a quest. For these first 17 or 18 years of our lives, the quest has been for knowledge, both of the world through books, but also of human relations in our associations with one another and with our adult teachers.”

“Now we prepare to embark on a new aspect of the quest: the search for ways in which to apply the knowledge we have gathered in order to continue the development of our lives and personalities toward a rich fulfillment as productive citizens.”

“Education not only supplies answers, it also teaches a man to ask questions. And so our quest will be one for answers, to make a contribution to the solving of the many problems mankind faces today, both for our own benefit and that or our posterity, but also in response to the challenge of life as laid down for us by the many inspirational teachers at whose feet we have studies these past 12 years. In short, another aspect of our quest will be for world peace. For this reason I suggest that our quest be for world understanding, between nations and between races. If we achieve world understanding, world peace will follow as naturally as daylight follows the sunrise.”

“For centuries mankind has quested for inner peace. Today’s youth is vitally concerned about religion and religious freedom.

Our seniors intend to continue the quest for spiritual awareness and calm that comes through active participation in religious life, continuing a quest of knowledge of God and of his intentions for mankind,” he said.

“Inspired by our teacher and elders, armed with determination to forge a firm future and to better the America which provides us with mankind’s greatest opportunity, the quest is welcomed as a challenge to find some way in which to make a significant contribution to our fellow men. We thank our parents, teachers, and friends for having given us the equipment with which to begin this quest: the tools of mathematics, the skills of science, the abilities in languages, the harmonies of music, the strong bodies of physical culture, and the awareness of others and the appreciation of our past in social studies and history—all of these and more serve to make our quest successful and rewarding,” he concluded.

Valedictorian’s Address

Patty Hayden spoke “Of Footprints and Time, in her valedictory address. She said, in part, “From the beginning of time, mankind has taken great leaps toward communicating and working better with his fellow man. But with these attempts have come a more hectic scientific and industrialized life for many people. How did our now familiar modern life begin to be formed?”

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…”

Many people today are able to remember the year 1952 A.D. Not only were our graduating class members born at this time, but also a Navy jet was reported to have flown two times the speed of sound. With this accomplishment, space programs flourished until the first successful space satellite was launched, and men such as John Glenn orbited the world in 1961 and 1962.”

Miss Hayden continued her journey through a review of the 18 years of the students’ lives, based on quotations from the first words of the Book of Genesis. She said, “Within our period of life…the first 18 years…we, today’s youth, have seen many historic events take place. Medical science has expanded, wars were begun and ended, dictators died….

Racial Unrest Hits High School Following Tuesday Noon Dispute, Zephyrhills News, April 2, 1970

An argument between a white student and black student at Zephyrhills High School about 1 p.m. has led to a series of racial incidents at the school.

Black students were reported to be “stirred up” and the situation was described as “tense” Wednesday.

Rumors of an impending conflict Wednesday did not product any unusual absenteeism with parents keeping their children at home, according to Assistant Principal James E. Davis.

Several fist fights broke out on the campus Wednesday. Zephyrhills High School has been integrated for several years and has never had any serious racial trouble. There was disagreement last fall over the playing of the song “Dixie” at football pep rallies, brought to a head when black students walked out in a body from one rally. But the matter was settled when student Pep Club leaders and cheerleaders agreed to publish an agenda for all pep rallies, and play “Dixie” not more than at every-other rally; those objecting students who saw on the published agenda that the song was to be played thus could stay away from that particular rally.  

Other than that, race relations have been thought to be excellent at the school. A group of black students who visited the News Tuesday afternoon said the noon hour fight involved use by the white student of the term “nigger,” but admitted that only a few white students have employed that term and that a vast majority of white students have been kind and courteous.

Intentional tardiness and testing of the dress code have been used by some black students to protest what they consider “unequal” treatment by school faculty and administration. However, all school rules have been firmly enforced regardless of race or sex, school officials have told the News. Zephyrhills police responded to an appeal for help in the incident Tuesday but closed their investigation without action.

Principal Raymond B. Stewart has called a special meeting of all parents of junior and senior high school students. The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. today (Thursday) in the high school lunchroom.

“Because we have a degree of racial unrest, I believe it is necessary that the parents be called together in order that everyone’s position in this matter may be made clear,” Principal Stewart told the News.

“I strongly urge every parent, both black and white, to attend this meeting,” he said.

Junior Play Saturday, Zephyrhills News, March 19, 1970

“Lock, Stock and Lipstick” is the theme of the Junior Class play to be presented in the Zephyrhills High School auditorium Saturday at 8 p.m. The production is under the direction of Miss Marion Ditter. Members of the cast are: William Rickard, Vickie Edwards, Steve Menhennett, Vicki Cleveland, Carl D. Lippincott, Jr., Mabel English, Jackie Archie, Diane Arnold, Willidean Rathel, Cathy Ramsey, Evelyn Jones, Cindy Hefflefinger, Rowena Orender, John Coverson, Joal Baptist, Linda Mullis, Julia Phipps, Joyce Anderson, Judy Thain, Louise Costine, Debbie Boan, and Suzanne Hodges. The play tells the story of Gordon Warren, a guidance counselor at a high school, his problems with his students, fellow faculty members and a new woman guidance counselor hired by the school board. Students of the high school preview the play at a special performance on Monday.

1970 ZHS Grad Finds Easter Meaning in Godspell Show, by Valerie Dawn Davis, Zephyrhills News, April 12, 1979

“Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”

These are the words of the closing chorus of the Broadway musical, “Godspell,” and they’re the words that Patty Hayden Fejes would have the world take to heart this Easter.

The Broadway musical, which is based on the Gospel of Matthew, made its way to the St. Petersburg Church through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Fejes, who had each seen productions of “Godspell” several times and who both wanted to appear in it. A 1970 graduate of Zephyrhills High School, where she was class valedictorian, Mrs. Fejes has a strong background in music and church work. She was graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland in 1974 with honors, having been a member of the women’s honorary Cap and Gown and president of the concert choir. She met her husband who has both a bachelor and master’s degrees from Florida State University in Tallahassee, at church camp in Quincy where Bob directed music at the church which owns the camp.

Zephyrhills Graduate First Woman Commander of the ROTC at University of Florida, Zephyrhills News, February 2, 1974

A Zephyrhills High School graduate now attending University of Florida at Gainesville has been appointed as the first woman commander in the UF Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

The attractive brunette from Zephyrhills may be the first woman cadet commander in the nation, according to Captain Jerry T. Clearman, Air Force ROTC information officer, who told the Gainesville Sun newspaper that Miss Graf was chosen by ROTC instructors to be the commander for the winter quarter.

The 1970 Graduates is the highest ranking cadet in the 190 member Air Force Squadron. The squadron is composed of 166 males and 14 females.

Miss Irene Graf, a senior chemistry major, has been in the ROTC program for a year and a half. “In all that time I’ve never felt discriminated against because of my sex,” Miss Graf said. Having just been accepted into the UF School of Dentistry, she hopes to delay her active duty and not be commissioned until she received her dentistry degree. (In her student days at ZHS, Miss Graf was employed under the DCT program as a dental assistant in the office of Dr. Arthur M. Riley).

“When I first entered the program, I was extremely nervous but once the newness wore off, everything was fine,” Miss Graf said. “I really enjoy it now and I’m extremely glad I signed up,” she continued.

When commissioned, Miss Graf will have the same duties and responsibilities as any male officer. “The only two things I couldn’t do are flying and missile work,” she said. As to outside interests, Miss Graf lists her hobbies as travel and flying.

Even though she can’t be an Air Force pilot, Miss Graf hopes to get her commercial pilot’s license anyway. She considers herself a mediocre but practical student, Miss Graf said. She entered ROTC for the practical benefits and good life it offers.

About the US, Miss Graf said, “there are some things the government and the American people do I don’t agree with but I love my country.”

She considers herself an, “extremely active person, who can’t sit around doing nothing.” “I lead a hectic life so to relax I bang on the piano, or I sew,” Miss Graf said. Clearman considers her to be an “exceptional person.” “I find the women to be every bit as competent if not more so than the men, Clearman said. He added that Miss Graf was not chosen because of tokenism. In general Miss Graf considers herself to be as much a part of the Air Force as anyone.

Parent Drug Abuse Awareness Goal of PAR Forming Monday, Zephyrhills News, March 19, 1970

The public is invited Monday evening to the Pasco High School cafeteria in Dade City for an organizational meeting of PAR, a group formed to make parents aware of the fast-growing drug abuse problem in Pasco County.

“If we tend to sound like an alarmist group that is because we are, a PAR spokesman told the News. He said all parents, teachers, city officials, doctors, nurses, businessmen—in fact everyone in East Pasco County—had better become alarmed about drug abuse and soon.”

PAR stands for Parental Awareness and Responsibility, and chapters of the group created by Pasco-Pinellas State Attorney James Russell, already have been formed in Pinellas and West Pasco, where the drug abuse problem has been recognized for some time.

Lowell Harris, Dade City pharmacist is the East Pasco Coordinator for PAR. He is working in close cooperation with State’s Attorney Russell and with his chief investigator, Denny Quilligan. Others working with PAR program for his side of the county are Luther Rozar, Gerald MeLeod, Phil Atkinson, Herman Schraeder, Dade City Police Chief Gerald Thompson,

Chief Sheriff’s Deputy David Schneider and Assistant Attorney, Joe McClain.

Prom Royalty and Friends, Zephyrhills News, May 21, 1970

Reigning as king and queen of the Junior-Senior Prom Saturday night was this handsome couple, crowned by Mayor and Mrs. Emerson Arnot.  King was Jeff Alston and his date, Miss Lois Wells. Queen was Debbie Hambright and her date, Richard Back.

Circus Theme Beautiful One as ZHS Juniors Honor 86 Seniors with Prom

One of the gala events of the Zephyrhills social year, the annual Junior-Senior Prom honoring members of the graduating class at Zephyrhills High School, was presented Saturday evening in Municipal Auditorium.

“The Cinnamon” was the band and reigning as Prom King and Queen were Miss Debbie Hambright and Jeff Alston. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Richardson, Michigan Avenue, and he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lane, Alston, Alston Avenue. Other candidates for the royalty seats were Cheryl Trogdon, Irene Graf, Debbie Williams, Steve Beddingfield, Jim Simons and David Straughn.  Mayor Emerson Arnot was a guest of honor and crowned the couple.

The auditorium was transformed into a huge circus tent for the prom theme of which was “Scarborough Fair, taken from the title of a popular song about a circus.

Two Girls Top ZHS Graduates, Zephyrhills News, May 7, 1970

Miss Patty Hayden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Hayden, West 54, has been named valedictorian of the 86-member Class of 1970 at Zephyrhills High School. The personable senior president of the Beta Club scholastic honorary society, head majorette of the marching band and editor of the Zephilsco, has a straight A (4.0) grade point average for her four years of high school.

Runner-up for the academic laurels is Miss Julie Phipps, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wendell W. Phipps, Pretty Pond. Her grade average is almost straight-A at 3.81. She is business manager of the yearbook and treasurer of the Science Club.

Grade averages are not the only factor in the selection of the top honor students. Ranking in the Senior Achievement (SAT College Placement) Test also is an important consideration, according to Principal, Raymond B. Stewart.

Keathel Chauncey is Hot Item in Baseball Draft, Zephyrhills News, June 6, 1974

A watchful eye is being kept this week by a Zephyrhills-area family on the professional baseball team player draft, which was scheduled to begin Wednesday.

The family is that of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Chauncey of Lumberton, whose son Keathel is a top prospect for a major league baseball career.

Already drafted after his high school and junior college careers by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles, Chauncey lately has been talking with representatives from the Texas Rangers of Houston.

He was not included in the draft procedures last year because he was enrolled for his last two years of college at Georgia Southern in Statesville, Georgia, and the majors knew he intended to complete his schooling.

He has one quarter of college to complete, earning a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy.

Keathel has been nominated for All-American honors for his play with Georgia Southern, was named to the NCAA Dist. 3 All-Star team, as well as to the District 3 All-Tournament team, despite the fact that Georgia Southern lost both games in the double-elimination meet for the right to go to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, both by 1-run margins.

Chauncey is a star centerfielder who set several records in his career at Georgia Southern, including the school’s all time records for the most bases on balls, runs scored and stolen bases, and is third in the all-time record for runs battled in.

Two Outstanding ZHS Science Students Chosen to Attend Florida Symposium, Zephyrhills News, April 16, 1970

Florida’s future scientists will meet and work with many of the state’s top scientists of today April 23-25 at the University of Florida’s seventh annual Junior Science Engineering and Humanities Symposium.

About 165 specially-selected juniors and seniors form Florida High schools will participate in the campus symposium, co-sponsored by the University, the University of Florida Foundation, Inc. the Army Research Office, Durham, N.C., and the Army Missile Command, Huntsville, Alabama.

Chosen to represent Zephyrhills High School at the symposium are two boys, Larry Kretschmar, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.I. Kretschmar, 403 4th Avenue and Andrij Neczwid, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonid Neczwid, 312 Studio Drive.

Also participating will be 30 science teachers and many of the university’s outstanding scientists, professors and administrators. Miss Vivian Johns will represent Zephyrhills High School’s science department.

Featured speaker will be Donald L. Bailey, NASA representative from Kennedy Space Center’s Skylab Program. He will discuss, “The Manned Orbiting Laboratory,” at the concluding luncheon April 25.

On April 24, the students will visit and work in laboratories with university scientists and professors in fields form astronomy to zoology. The following morning students will attend career panels at which vocations in science, humanities, and engineering will be discussed.

Ex-ZHS Baseball Star Just Step Away From Big League club, Zephyrhills News, April 21, 1977

Keitel Chauncey of Zephyrhills, a centerfielder who turned in one of the all-time great records as a ZHS bulldog athlete and then played baseball at Polk Junior College and Georgia Southern University, has started his fourth season in the minor leagues of major league baseball. This season Chauncey, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Chauncey of Lumberton, is with the Tucson Toros in Triple-A, just one step away from a big league chance with the parent club, the Texas Rangers. Assistant Farm program director Joe Kleine said Chaucey “has been a pleasant surprise. We drafted him low, out of college, but he has played very well in the three years that he has been with us.”

Statistically Chauncey’s strength is his speed on the bases and his defense in centerfield. Last year he led the Texas League (while playing with San Antonio) in stolen base—31 and has been consistently successful in base thefts throughout his career.

Chauncey started out with the Sarasota Rangers in 1974 and batted .265. In mid-season he was moved to Dubuque in the three-I league and batted .253. in 1975 with Anderson he hit .259. That season he played as a regular, going to the plate 471 times and collecting 122 hits, driving in 48 runs.

Last year, with the San Antonio Brewers in Double-A ball, Chauncey had another fine year, batting .270 after getting 95 hits in 355 times at bat driving in another 48 runs. And for the base-stealing achievement the former ZHS star was awarded the “Mr. Hustle” trophy which features the end of his bat with a baseball, autographed by all his teammates. The 5’9” Chauncey whose weight is listed at 155 pounds, bats and throws left handed, which increases his value as a big league ball player. This season’s spring training camp was in Plant City at Mike Sansone Park and Chauncey was one of some 85 players who went on to various farm club assignments.

Bulldogs Win Regional, Face Jay in State Tourney Opener Today, Zephyrhills News, May 7, 1970

The umpire will call “play ball” at 3 p.m. today (Thursday) for the first game of the 1970 Class B State Baseball Tournament at Melbourne’s beautiful Minnesota Twins field and Zephyrhills will be in action.

Bulldogs Recall Living, Winning As A Team, St. Petersburg Times, by John Cotey, May 16, 2000

The 1970 Zephyrhills High team made it to the state championship too. They lost, but the memories all are good.

They played in a park unfit for today’s baseball teams, traveled to road games in sweltering cars and when they made it to the state semifinals, they were told by school officials to go up for the game in Melbourne and come right back.

Yet the players on the 1970 Zephyrhills baseball team wouldn’t trade it for the world.

“We were hoping to get a night in Melbourne and stay on the beach,” said Rick Moore, the team’s center fielder and now the public- works director for the city of Zephyrhills. “But it didn’t work out that way. But don’t get me wrong. We enjoyed it.”

“We had a blast,” said Keathel Chauncey, the star pitcher and now a Zephyrhills-area farmer. “But don’t all high school kids?”

Moore, Chauncey and their teammates were the last team of Bulldogs to advance to the state semifinals, doing so in 1969 and ’70 at the Class B level for small schools. In 1969, they reached the state championship game, and the next year returned to the semifinals. Both times, the Bulldogs, coached by John F. Clements, lost one-run games.

Ever since, they’ve been waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting for the next Zephyrhills team to go to state.

Their wait is over.

“We’ve been waiting for a long time,” Moore said. “But this is the group we thought would do it.”

“I said six years ago to watch this group when they were seniors,” said Chauncey, who coached many of the current Bulldogs in Little League. “You could just tell by the way they loved the game.”

Although the town famous for its water salutes the current crop of Bulldogs, who will play Jacksonville Bishop Kenny on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Class 4A semifinal at Legends Field in Tampa, the previous state tournament participants can’t help but think back to their time as Bulldog ballplayers.

“It was a lot of fun,” said the team’s catcher, Rubin Pickett, whose sons, Ryan, Booker and Rubin Jr., were football stars at Zephyrhills High. “I enjoyed playing in it. It was just as big back then for everyone, though now you’ve got more fancy traveling. But you think about it, especially now, and reminisce and kind of wish you could do those things. But everyone gets old, I guess.”

The Bulldogs’ trip in 1970 to Melbourne ended in a 1-0 loss to Jay High School. Ricky Giles, who played left field and now coaches Pasco’s baseball team, remembers that the lone run was scored on a ball that was booted and never even made it out of the infield.

“And we couldn’t do anything at the plate,” said Giles, who coached Pasco into the final four in 1997, making him the only county player and coach to appear in the semifinals.

The game was played during the day, so the Bulldogs had to leave Zephyrhills very early – in cars, because no team bus was available – for the drive to Melbourne. Having played night games all year, Moore thinks the early start took its toll.

“I think that might be why we lost,” Moore said, and he’s backed by the Bulldogs’ sluggish performance at the plate.

Chauncey wasn’t sluggish on the mound, though, throwing shutout ball until Jay scored the winner in the eighth inning. A three-sport star and one of the school’s best athletes; Chauncey was the ace of the staff. In fact, say those that played with him, Chauncey was the staff.

“He would pitch every night if coach would let him,” said Pickett, his catcher. “We were a pretty good tandem.”

Jokingly, Pickett added, “I think he would have made it to the pros if I could have caught for him all the way.”

In 1969, with Dade City’s Massey Field the site of the Class B championships, Chauncey beat Jasper Hamilton County 5-2 in the semifinals and came back the very next day and pitched all seven innings in the 8-7 loss to Florida High in the championship.

Moore remembers the Bulldogs loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh, and he remembers striking out for the second out and Chauncey striking out to end the game.

“I still remember striking out in the bottom of the seventh,” Moore said. “I can laugh about it now but for a few years it pained me to think about it. The years have softened it.”

So did the return trip to the state tournament in 1970. Moore rattles off the names of his teammates as if they still get together for a weekend game of strikeout at Krusen Field, then-home of the Bulldogs: shortstop and best friend Bill Porter; the Brown brothers, Jeff (the second baseman) and Cliff (first base); third baseman John Harrelson; big catcher Pickett and a young Giles in left.

“We were really solid defensively and had a good hitting team,” Moore said. “We only had one great pitcher and he was probably, though I can’t speak for today’s team, the one best pitcher (Chauncey) that ever came out of Zephyrhills.”

Chauncey says he may have pitched the biggest games in school history, but the real key to the team’s success was unity. He said there were no tears after the 1970 loss and no finger pointing. The closeness established playing baseball and shooting marbles on the sandlots of Zephyrhills wouldn’t allow it.

“We were tight,” Chauncey said. “If one of us wanted to go down and get an ice cream, we all went down to get an ice cream. And if one of us didn’t have the money, and money was hard to come by then, someone else bought their ice cream.

That’s the way we were.”

And these days, thanks in part to the current Bulldogs, it is fun for that 1970 team to remember the way they were.

Boys Staters Chosen, Zephyrhills News, May 28, 1970

Larry McDonald, Andrij Neczwid and Jeff Brown are the three Zephyrhills High School juniors who will attend Florida Boys State in June.

Legion Post Selects Threesome to Go to Florida Boys State for Week in June

Zephyr Post 118, American Legion is sending three juniors from Zephyrhills High School to the 1970 session of the American Legion-sponsored Boys State at Florida State University, scheduled June 21-27, instead of two as here-to-fore.

Sponsoring an additional student was made possible by a contribution from Merriel Miller Dancers, according to post Commander Joseph McGuire.

The three boys chosen to attend are Andrij Roman Neczwid, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonid Neczwid; Jeffrey Charles Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Brown; and Larry Allen McDonald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin C. McDonald. They were selected by a committee composed of Legionnaires, Lucy Mae Knox, John F. Clements and Christopher Ryan from a group recommended by the faculty.

Randy Jordan, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Scott Jordan and Larry Kretschmar, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Kretschmar, were named as alternates.

After returning from Tallahassee the Boys Staters will report at a joint session of Zephyr Post 118 and Auxiliary, when Girls Stater Valerie Wickstrom, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Wickstrom, also is to report. The session will be open to the public. They also will be available to speak to other groups interested in hearing about the annual weeklong periods of intensified training in American citizenship.

School Daze by Lynn Murphy, Zephyrhills News, January 22, 1970

We have great teachers at ZHS. Recently the following article was printed and I wanted to share with you how great it is today for teachers compared to the past.

Teachers, You’ve come a long way! Instructions to Teachers

Dakota Territory, September 1872

1.   Teachers will fill lamps, clean chimneys, and trim wicks each day.

2.   Each teacher will bring a scuttle of coal and a bucket of water for the day’s use.

3.   Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs for the individual tastes of the children.

4.   Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.

5.   After 10 hours in school the teacher should spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.

6.   Women teachers who marry or engage in other unseemly conduct will be dismissed.

7.   Every teacher should lay aside from his pay a goodly sum for his declining years so that he will not become a burden to society.

8.   Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool halls or other public halls or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason for suspecting his worth, intentions, integrity and honesty.

9.   The teacher who performs his labors faithfully and without fault for five years will henceforth be given an increase of 25 cents a week in pay providing the Board of Education approves.

–Pasco County Farm Bureau Newsletter

We have come a long way haven’t we?

Okay on Length, Zephyrhills News, January 15, 1970

The following photo—

How Mini is Too Short…Group Lists Support

Question: When is a mini-skirt too mini?

Answer: when it becomes embarrassing to male faculty members. This was the conclusion reached by the male members of the Zephyrhills High School faculty shortly after school reopened last fall, and as a result of their complaint, new standards for skirt lengths have been put into effect at ZHS since the holidays.

Mrs. Robert (Alpha) Gill, dean of girls, told the News that it became necessary to set standards since some few students were unwittingly attiring themselves in immodest skirts.

The new standards for skirt lengths were established by a special study group named by Principal Raymond B. Stewart. The committee held several general meetings, and in addition visited area department stores to determine if clothing being sold would be in keeping with realistic maximum skirt lengths.

“Although some stores are definitely more conservative than others and while some of the skirts and dresses on wale were very, very short, almost all of them had good sized hems of as much as two inches and thus could be lowered easily,” she said.

Mrs. Gill told the News that since the new lengths for skirts are maximum for the spread from hem to the middle of the knee, parents should make it clear to their daughters that the girls need not follow this “maximum” but may wear skirts as much longer as they wish; in other words, girls need not wear their skirts just as short as the rules allow.

Mrs. Gill said she also hopes that heavier girls will take into consideration their frames and figures, and especially the dimensions of their lower limbs, in choosing a skirt length.

While the shorter styles are okay when the students are standing or walking, many girls are either untrained in how to sit, stoop, or bend over in the shorter styles or are downright careless, the male faculty members observed.

So the committee was appointed. Parents who served included Mrs. Don Robinson, wife of the President of the High School PTA; Mrs. P.H. Murphy, wife of the County School Board member from Zephyrhills, and Mrs. Raymond Geiger and Mrs. Robert Dobson, both representing the general citizenry.  

Murphy Proposes Source of Funds for New ZHS, Zephyrhills News, November 26, 1970

Methods of obtaining the money with which to finance construction of phase one of a new Zephyrhills Senior High School have been outlined for the Pasco County School Board by P.H. Murphy of Zephyrhills, District 2, and member of the board.

Murphy suggested the board dispense with plans for the construction of a new elementary school at Lacoochee, sell half of an 80-acre site at Zephyrhills and use the money to build the first phase of a new ZHS.

Pasco school officials predict that Zephyrhills High School and possibly other Pasco Schools may be headed for double sessions by the fall of 1971. Student enrollment at Zephyrhills High School has risen from 534 when opened in 1969 to 911 in October 1970.

Superintendent Chester W. Taylor Jr. told School Board members that he had discussed plans for a double session program with Zephyrhills High School Principal Raymond B. Stewart.

Murphy said he thought the board could get at least $30,000 for the east 40 acres of the Hercules tract, and would save $700,000 if it did not build the proposed Lacoochee Elementary School.

Murphy pointed out that the Dade City Schools gained some 200 pupil stations when Moore-Mickens plant was put into full utilization, and with the opening of the new high school for Pasco, has more room than it needs.

He said students planned for the Lacoochee school should just as soon be bussed into Dade City. Dr. Robert Hartzell suggested that the county look into the possibility of making East Pasco County all one school district to allow for better distribution of the student load, especially at the high school level.

“We should be planning for next year,” Hartzell said. “I think we should be doing something, the fact that we’re going to be in a crisis next year is fairly obvious.”  Hartzell also said be believed facilities in Dade City could be used to house some of the overflow at Zephyrhills.

But any proposal to close Zephyrhills High School and consolidate it with Pasco Comprehensive High School would prove impractical, the News was told, since Pasco already is almost at state recommended size limit for a high school.

“No sooner would Zephyrhills students arrive there than Pasco High would be overcrowded and the School Board would have to talk about opening a second high school on this side of the county. Where?  At Zephyrhills, of course,” an observed commented.

Bulldog Band Wins Superior Rating in District Marching Competition, Zephyrhills News, November 26, 1970

The dynamic Zephyrhills High School Bulldog marching band will perform at halftime of the Ft. Meade Thanksgiving Eve football game tonight (Wednesday) and fans will have extra good reason to great half-time musical aggregation with superior applause.

Saturday night in competition at Chamberlain High School stadium in Tampa the band won a Superior rating in the District 7 Marching Band Contest sponsored by the Florida Bandmasters Association.

School Daze by Valerie Wickstrom, Zephyrhills News, November 15, 1970

Homecoming Week Away–“On a recent raid to the land of ‘Sophomoria’ hundreds of beautiful and masculine slaves were captured?” A history class? Hardly. The quote was taken from one of the sophomore class announcements for “Slave Day.” The annual event is the money-making project for the sophomore Homecoming float. Slaves will be auctioned off in the bus loading area by Mr. Charles Rice to wealthy juniors and seniors Friday. Monday is the big day for the official launching of Homecoming 1970. During a morning assembly grades 7-12 will meet the Homecoming and Court candidates and hear about the rules for the week’s activities. Freshmen will be displaying their art work Monday, decorating the halls with pep-boosting posters. Competition for the title of “interior decorators” will continue Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with sophomores, juniors and seniors displaying on those respective days. The front lawn will be the action place during first and second lunches. Classes are going to chose teams of two members to represent them in ZHS’ first Homecoming “egg toss.” It’s really going to be fun and the winning class will receive awards.

“Movies” is the theme for 1970 Homecoming floats. Classes will work on floats from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Judging will take place during the parade down 5th Avenue Friday afternoon and the winning class will be announced Friday night at the game.

Bruce Vogel, junior class president, says that the bonfire, pep rally and car smash scheduled for next Thursday, November 12, is going to be the best ever. Thursday’s other activities include tricycle races during lunch hours and it is the last day to order Homecoming corsages.

The Alumni Reception will be from 6 to 7 p.m. in the home economics wing Friday evening. All ZHS alumni are invited to come and enjoy refreshments and have a chance to look through various school publications. Alumni who register at that time or during the first quarter of the game will be given an orange and black recognition ribbon and prizes will be awarded to the oldest alumni registered.

School will be closed Wednesday November 11 in recognition of Veteran’s Day. The school will also hold an assembly at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Barber Block furnished a lowboy and the Quarterback Club and the agriculture department furnished muscles to move the Little League Bleachers to expand the band stands at Krusen Field.

DCT students will be absent from school November 12 to attend their District Convention in Crystal River, according to Larry Kretschmar, president.

Report cards go out Thursday so Homecoming week will not be one of all thrills and joys. In Friday night’s game, the Bulldogs face Mulberry’s Panthers, “Guess who’s Coming to Dinner?”

Zephyrhills Student is Merit Candidate, Zephyrhills News, October 22, 1970

Principal Raymond B. Stewart has announced that Andrij Neczwid, a senior at Zephyrhills High School has been named a semi-finalist in the 1970-71 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Andrij, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonid J. Neczwid, 602 Studio Drive is one of 14,750 semi finalists appointed today who are among the nation’s most intellectually talented high school seniors. The semi-finalists will continue for some 3,000 Merit Scholarships awarded in 1971. Those chosen as semi-finalists were the highest scores in their states on the Nation Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test which was given last February to some 710,000 students in 17,000 schools nationwide.

The semi finalists show high promise for leadership in their adult careers, according to Edward C. Smith, president of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. “They have already demonstrated both high intellectual capacity and a readiness to develop their abilities,” he said. Semi-finalists must advance to finalist standing to be considered in the Merit Scholarships to be awarded next spring. Semi-finalists become finalists by receiving the endorsement of their schools, substantiating their high performance on a second examination about their achievements and interests.

School Daze by Valerie Wickstrom, Zephyrhills News, September 17, 1970

“It was great! Everyone cheered with us…not just the students but the adults. The spirit at the Jamboree was really something else.” Patty Barlow, varsity cheerleader co-captain said. Talking about last Thursday’s scrimmage in which coach Bob Alwood’s team made “dog food” out of first Pasco High, and then South Sumter. Speaking of spirit, there will be a pep rally Friday during sixth period, marking the first game of the new season!

A new homeroom in the library will encompass the Senior High Student Council this year. Jeff Brown, president, says that the group will meet regularly Tuesday mornings and will be open on other days to help students make ZHS a better school. 

Newly elected members include:

Senior Class, Valerie Wickstrom for girls; Larry McDonald for boys; DCT, Lynda Stewart; Junior Class, Judy Alston, Karen Harrelson, Joan McLellan, and Rick Reagan. Sophomore Class: Vida Brown, Mike Cox, Van McKenzie, Debbie Overstreet, and Cole Skinner. Freshman Class: Armando Maniscalco, Jeff Artabasy, Bruce Christopher, Debbie Nelson and Susan Sunka.

Anyone who is interested in seeing the football game between the Zephyrhills and Bartow Interact Clubs is urged to contact Rick Moore who can tell you how to get in the game scheduled for 2 p.m. in Bartow on Sunday.

The Junior Varsity football squad under the coaching of Ernest Abner and Joe Ciliano will play its opening game today (Thursday) against the Pasco Baby Pirates. The Jayvee cheerleaders, under the direction of Phyllis Jarrett, captain, will hold a bake sale Tuesday.

Would you believe that placement tests were given to the Freshmen today? All kidding aside, Miss Eugenia Mashonas and Mr. Lamar Stevens were to blame for this catastrophe which will continue through tomorrow morning.

A new experience for most of the students in attendance, but old hat to the faculty chaperones, ZHS’ first sock hop enjoyed an attendance of more than 200 dancers. Winning Bulldogger subscriptions for their foot attire were: Rene Phillips, whose bright blue, red and white ski socks won her the title of “most colorful;” April Posey whose “most unusual” socks were covered with picturesque match covers; and Rowena Oreander with the “longer” lemon yellow knee socks. Also in attendance were tie dye socks, fuzzy ones, long and short ones, some hole-y ones and a good supply of Argyles.

The junior class is going to have its first meeting under the direction of sponsor Mr. John Geiger. Their plans include the election of officers and what’s this? It’s not magazine sales time again, is it? What a shame! Their news will be too late for the first issue of “The Bulldogger,” which comes out Monday.

Nancy Massey Perkins is June Grad From HCC, Zephyrhills News, June 17, 1976

Nancy Massey Perkins is a June graduate of Hillsborough Community College of Tampa, where she has received her associate of arts degree. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bud Massey, Massey Road, and is married to Donald Perkins, Jr. Nancy was an honor graduate form HCC and is now attending the University of South Florida where she will be majoring in early childhood elementary education. Mrs. Perkins (Massey) was graduated form Zephyrhills High School in 1970.

–Note that Ms. Perkins later became a teacher and taught for over 30 years as an elementary teacher at West Zephyrhills Elementary School and a media specialist at Stewart Middle School. She was named the county’s outstanding social studies teacher in 1999.

Honored Alumni, Zephyrhills News, June 1970

Graduates of Zephyrhills High School enjoyed an alumni reception in the lobby of the gymnasium Friday evening, and among those honored were those in the group (at left). Some classes with large representations chose a member for the picture. In front, left to right, holding Zephilsco Yearbooks are: Mrs. James (Isabelle Baggett) Chapin, class of 1945; Mrs. I.C. (Sylvia Hill) Street, class of 1955; Mrs. George (Eunice Smith) Neukom, Sr. Class of 1924, the oldest class represented at the reception; and Miss Lucy Mae Knox, class of 1938. In back, left to right, are Ronnie Cherry, class of 1965; Danny Pollock, ZHS Student Council President, and host for the reception; his father, H.D. Pollock, class of 1935; James Chapin, class of 1945; Roger Sibley, class of 1933; and George Neukom Sr. class of 1926.