HISTORY OF ZEPHYRHILLS HIGH SCHOOL

Highlights of 1963

Susan Nichols Reigns as ZHS Homecoming Queen, Zephyrhills News, November 21, 1963

The Homecoming weekend was a busy one for Zephyrhills High School students, with a beg pep rally Thursday night, the annual parade through downtown  Friday afternoon, the game with Brewster Tech Friday night and the annual Homecoming dance at municipal auditorium Saturday night.

Miss Susan Nichols, daughter of Mrs. R.R. Nichols and a senior reigned as Homecoming Queen. The pretty Miss Nichols was crowned during halftime ceremonies at the game. Mrs. Buzzie Reutimann, who was Miss Linda Cavin was queen last year, did the honors. A king was not named this year. Attending Miss Nichols as her princess was Anna J. Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Tucker and a junior, Miss Bonnie Rannald, last year’s princess, placed the tiara on Miss Davis’ head.

Both the queen and her princess were presented large arm bouquets of flowers in school colors. Maids to the queen were Miss Betty Smircich, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smircich, representing the sophomore class, and Miss Peggy Bracknell, representing the freshman class. Each girl was accompanied by an escort of her choice, and entered the field adorning a pretty new car.

Sharing honors at the game was the ZHS band, which added pre-game glamour with a double-Z formation through which cheerleaders and the team entered the field. Intricate formations saluting the queen were other halftime highlights by the band.

Parade Draws Crowd-Police Chief William R. Eiland in the patrol car led the parade, which many spectators viewed from side-walk positions in the downtown business area.

Out front of the high-stepping Zephyrhills High School Band, under the direction of John T.V. Clark Jr., were high-stepping majorettes captained by Miss Bobbie June Chambless.

Miss Lillian Deccarett, Zephyrhills first foreign exchange student, rode in a special car, as did Miss Cletia Weaver, Miss March of Dimes, and Valentine Princess, Miss Pat Jackson.

An FFA tractor pulled the first prize winning senior class float on which helmeted David Pattie was “buried,” interpreting the theme, “Bulldogs Will Rise Again.”

Also in line were automobiles on which the candidates for Homecoming queen, princess and sophomore and freshman maid rode. Other float entries, in addition to the second place freshman class “Bulldogs King of the Gridiron,” and the third place sophomore class, “Give Tech Heck,” floats included those of the DCT, junior class, 7^th grade, Varsity and Jayvee cheerleaders.

The Junior High Band also was applauded for its part in providing music for the march. 

X.L. Garrison Jr., President of the Zephyrhills High School Council, was general chairman.

Awards, Diplomas, Given 42 Seniors At School’s Commencement Service, Zephyrhills News, May 30, 1963

Commencement exercises for 42 members of the 1963 graduating class at Zephyrhills High School were held Tuesday evening in Municipal Auditorium.

Capped and gowned seniors entered the auditorium and took their places to the strains of “March of the Priests” played by Miss Doris Gorrecht, organist, as the processional. The traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” was later used for recessional selection.

The Reverend Millard D. Mount, pastor of First Christian Church, gave the invocation, and the Reverend Donald F. Snyder, vicar of St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, the benediction.

Mrs. Chere C. Brooks gave the salutatory address, “Launching Pads of Our Lives,” in which she said the class “is fueled with the fruits of the American educational system.” And “prepared to lift-off for service to country and fellowmen in confidence.”

Class President Johnny Clements entitled his talk, “To Think for the Future” and asserted that “those who will produce the ideas that will shape or shatter the world of the future are graduating somewhere in the nation tonight.”

Valedictorian Jerry H. Griffin, speaking on “Fare Thee Well,” said the class, in examining its lives to date, “finds infinite opportunities to thank those who have set our course for life.”

“Because of the intellectual and religious training we have received in this community we will not shrink from the future, but will face eagerly what awaits us,” he said.

C.P. McCabe, chairman of the Pasco County School Board, presented five of the top awards. He gave the valedictorian pin to Griffin and the salutatorian pin to Mrs. Brooks. He named Clements for the athletic award, Bobbie Chambless, as “school spirit,” and Griffin as the outstanding citizen of the class. Mrs. H.P. Richardson, a member of the board of school trustees, presented four other awards. She gave the school scholarship award to Griffin, the activities award to Robert Johnson, Jr., the best all-around girl award to Susan Nichols and the best all-around boy award to Clements. Griffin was also presented a $25 savings bond, one the Rotary Club’s scholarship awards presented by Bernard Wickstrom, scholarship committee chairman for the club and the other the Florida Power Corporation’s leadership and essay contest award presented by Principal C.A. Henderson.

DKG Teaching Award

Judith Eleanor Trebour was presented the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority’s $75 teaching scholarship award by Principal Henderson.

He also presented a senior class ring to Miss Lillian Daccarett, the city’s first foreign exchange student. Miss Daccarett also was recipient of &50 in cash and a slide viewer presented on behalf of the American Field Service by Mrs. Paul Braden, chapter president. The student will use the money to purchase film and slides while on a tour of the U.S. with other exchange students next month.

I.A. Krusen, chairman of the school trustees and who had been scheduled to distribute the diplomas, is convalescing following a heart attack suffered in December, and was unable to be present.

In announcing that Mrs. V. E. Witt, school board member from Zephyrhills and vice chairman of the group, would present the diplomas, Principal Henderson paid tribute to Mr. Krusen, pointing out that he had given diplomas to 23 of the last 24 graduating classes.

The senior class rose to a standing salute to the absent trustee. Members of the junior class used the seniors’ chosen colors, aqua and white, in decorating the commencement exercises. Ushers also were from the junior class.

School Daze by Bobbie Chambless, Zephyrhills News, June 6, 1963

Members of the 1963 graduating class held their annual Class Night observance in the high school auditorium.

“Remember When?” was theme of the nostalgic program, which took the group back down memory lane as portrayed in songs, sayings, fads and fashions.

Miss Glenda Temples read the class’s last will and testament and there was the traditional singing of “Farewell to Thee” by the junior class and “Halls of Ivy” by the seniors.

Decorations were by members of the freshman class who also served as ushers. Your correspondent, who was yearbook editor, formally dedicated the 1963 “Zephilsco” to Mrs. Marjorie Parantha and Mrs. Constance Kaylor, two deserving and dedicated teachers.

W.R. Jeffries, Vo-Ag teacher and serving with John F. Clements as co-sponsor of the class, crowned Robert Johnson as king and Bonnie Rannald as queen of Zephilsco.

Other candidates were Linda Jarrett, Chere C. Brooks, Susan Nichols, and Bobbie Chambless for queen and Johnny Clements, David Pattie, Andrew McHenry, and X.L. Garrison Jr. for king. Miss Chambless and Johnny Clements were runners-up.

A “Signing Party” at which homeroom mothers, including Mrs. Horace Chambless, Mrs. R. R. Nichols, Mrs. John F. Clements, Mrs. Donna Lippincott and Mrs. Ray Fernandez served refreshments in the school cafeteria after the program.

Jerry Griffin Given 3 Honors At ZHS Awards Day Assembly, Zephyrhills News, June 6, 1963

A Bible reading, the Lord’s Prayer, the pledge to the Flag, led by X.L. Garrison Jr. and a talk by Terry Bodiford on “The Significance of Memorial Day” kicked off the annual awards assembly at Zephyrhills High School Thursday morning in the school auditorium.

L. Curry Raley, president of the Zephyrhills Junior Chamber of Commerce, presented certificates of commendation to 40 high school honor roll students. Two days earlier at a special assembly Principal Charles A. Henderson had presented 20 honor roll certificates to pupils in the junior high, brining the total honored to 60.

Legionnaire Irene J. Popp, chairman of the Zephyr Post 118, presented the American Legion Oratorical Medal and Citation to Jerry H. Griffin, who also was recipient of the National Merit Scholarship Program commendation certificate from Principal Henderson and mathematics contest award form John Geiger.

Bobbie Chambless was presented the DAR Good Citizenship Award by William B. Nicklin and Judy Trebour was recipient of the Southern Scholarship and Research Foundation Award ( a housing scholarship at Florida State University) presented by Principal Henderson. Carolyn Flynn received the Betty Crocker Homemaker Award and Mike McGinnis was the recipient of AAU physical fitness, track basketball and golf letters.

Bulldogs Close Grid season with 41-6 Triumph Over Brewster, Zephyrhills News, December 5, 1963

The Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs ended their 1963 gridiron campaign in a blaze of glory Thanksgiving Eve, blasting Brewster Tech of Tampa by 41 to 6.

The Orange and Black, losers 41-0, 42-14, and 41-13, in other games during the season, gave little quarter in pouring it on the Rams, handing them their seventh straight defeat.

The game was not as lop-sided as the score might indicate however for the host team moved for 149 yards and marked up nine first downs.

Zephyrhills, however, marched for 203 yards, added another 74 on three completed passes and tallied 277 yards net offense for 13 first downs.

The winners pounced on two Ram fumbles, and lost none of their own, although officials whistled the Bulldogs for 65 yards in penalties while calling Brewster for 35.

The game was played before a slim crowd in the giant Hillsborough High School stadium.

With the game only a minute and a half old, and with a first and 25 to go following a penalty the Bulldogs showed their power with a 62-yard pass play. Mike McGinnis to Ron Carroll. Three plays later, Glen Praay scored and Frankie Jones added the extra point.

Another drive, which started late in the first quarter, was saved on a third-and-17 situation when McGinnis ran for 25 yards on an end sweep. The ‘Dogs had obtained the ball after holding Brewster on the ZHS 15. Carroll and Jim Daniels sparked the defense.

In seven plays Coach Will McRaney’s crew had moved to the Brewster four with fine runs by Nelson Spoto, Jack Vincent and Jones sparking the effort. Jones tallied the TD and the extra point as the quarter ended.

Zephyrhills built a 21-0 halftime lead by scoring as time ran out. With 1:15 left to play an end sweep by McGinnis gave ZHS a first down on the Brewster 32. In four plays the team moved to the Ram five, from where McGinnis scored on a sweep around left end. Forty seconds remained on the clock as Spoto marked the extra point.

McGinnis Picks Off Fumble

The third quarter was one-third gone when McGinnis picked off a Brewster fumble in mid-air at his own 20 and romped 80 yards to score. Praay tried the point-after but was stopped short. The fumble was a critical one for Brewster, which team had mounted a sustained drive at the time.

Still another fumble resulted in another ZHS touchdown with 3:45 to play in the third stanza. Brewster had a third-and-one position on its own 30 when a bad pass from center caused the Ram full back fumble. Praay, red-dogging into the Brewster backfield, recovered on the Ram 20. In four plays the Bulldogs moved to the three, where Vincent carried into end zone, and then added the extra point.

The score was 34-0 when Brewster notched its TD on the first play of the fourth quarter. Jim Terina, with four and nine, broke loose on a 64-yard run. A kick for the extra point was wide.

The last ZHS tally was set up by a slick 40-yard pass from McGinnis to Spoto, a 7-yard run by McGinnis and then a beautiful path-picking swivel-hipped jaunt by McGinnis for 23 yards and the score. Jones added the final extra point with 11 minutes to play.

An interception by Lonnie Daughtery late in the game halted a belated Ram drive.

School Daze by Jere Alston, Zephyrhills News, November 14, 1963

At the half-time Friday night, Judy Smith was crowned Homecoming Queen for 1963 by the 1962 Queen Susan Nichols. Diane Clements was crowned Princess by last year’s Princess, Anna Jo Davis. Linda Sante and Mary Stanley were named Sophomore and Freshman maids during the election the previous week. Also out for the coronation was “Big Mike” McGinnis who was crowned Homecoming King for 1963 and Ronnie Carroll, prince. We were all very proud of all of them and they made a beautiful Homecoming Court for 1963.

And to top it all off, the Student Council sponsored the Homecoming Dance Saturday night. David Myers was in charge of the decorations and entertainment for the night. The room was strung with orange and black streamers meeting in the center. Up on the stage was a huge orange “Z”, donated by the Seniors from their float. It was flanked by foil letters saying “ZHS Homecoming.” The FFA String Band performed for us and the rest of the program was emceed by Karol Kelly of Radio Station WZRH.

School Daze by Jere Alston, Zephyrhills News

The two days we went to school last week were packed with 6-weeks tests. So report cards will be issued Friday and are to be returned by December 13. Pictures for the 1964 PTA calendar have been taken. Featured are: Cover: Anna Jo Davis and Nelson Spoto; spring, Leslie Smith and Eddie Strube, fall; Delilah Chestnut and Jack Bentley, winter; Peggy Horning and Mike McGinnis, January; Paulette Davis and Dennis Hiott, February; Vickie Hopkins and Don Zundell, March; Lenora Pollock and Henry Hill, April; Sandra Owens and Joe Geiger, May; Judy Smith and Fletcher Padgett, June; Connie Praay and Howard Kersey, July; Gertrude Braxton and Jack Vincent, August; Jere Alston and Ray Bolt, September; Cletia Weaver and John Wintersteen, October; Nancy Gerlack and Bob Combs, November; Nancy Overhuls and Bonnie Hill, December; and Gloria Pope and Jim Daniels.

This calendar will be on sale soon. The finance and distribution committee is Cheryl Kummer, Lenora Pollock, Anna Jo Davis, Henry Hill, Marcia McGinnis and Mr. Lamar Calhoun.

The DCT Club attended a District 5 Convention at Robinson High in Tampa. Barbara Hughes, president, introduced the class.  Terry Bodiford represented District 5 and gave the response to the welcome. The club was chaperoned by Mrs. Janet Smith, a past-president, Pat Rowland Weicht, a former reporter, and Mr. Bill Worthington of the faculty.

The FFA will sponsor its annual Sweetheart Contest December 15 at 8 p.m. The contest includes talent and beauty and will be judged by the FFA boys.

Mr. Laird reports there have been absolutely no accidents in Driver’s Education so far this year. Congratulations, you kids; let’s see you keep it up all year long.

Legion and Auxiliary To Hear Reports on Boys State, Girls State Sessions, Zephyrhills News, September 12, 1963

Zephyr Post 118, American Legion and Auxiliary, with Mr. and Mrs. Walter Nuneman as commander and president, will resume monthly meetings Wednesday evening at Legion Hall following a summer recess.

Featured on the agenda for a joint opening session, after which separate business meetings will be held, will be reports by Ray Preston Bolt, John Wintersteen and Miss Cletia Weaver on their attendance at the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary-sponsored 1963 sessions of Boys State and Girls State in Tallahassee.

Bolt represented the Legion post at Boys State to which Wintersteen was sent by the Civitan Club in cooperation with the post. Miss Weaver represented the Legion Auxiliary at Girls State. Civitan, other friends and interested citizens are invited to attend the joint opening session and to hear the reports from the three students, each of whom is now a senior at Zephyrhills High School. Commander Nuneman and President Mrs. Nuneman said.

School Daze, Zephyrhills News, October 23, 1963

Hi there. Report cards for the first six weeks have been taken home to parents and assorted reactions are reported, ranging from pride to utter dismay. So the Honor Roll will fill most of my space this week.

The FFA is sponsoring a hayride this Saturday, starting at 7:30 p.m. and lasting until 11:30. The ride will start at the Agriculture Building and end with a wiener roast.

Straight A Honor Roll

Juniors—David Myers, Larry Turner, Kaye Henry and Noreen Krystofiak.

Freshman—Alice Back, Marcia Deming, and Joan Thompson

8th Grade—Danny Pollock

A-B Honor Roll

Seniors—Ray Bolt, Jimmy Daniels, Lonnie Daughtery, David Kaylor, Mike McGinnis, James McLeod, Jere Alston, Gertrude Braston, Diane Davidson, Peggy Horning, Sunnye Lanham, Gloria Pope and Judy Smith

DCT—Paulette Davis, Caroline Houston, Barbara Hughes, Myrtis Nelson and Sandra Owens.

Juniors—Mark Higginson, Marvin Reed, Charlene Breckenridge, Linda Hayden, Lillian Johnson, Barbara Thompson, Tom Taylor and Evelyn Howard.

Sophomores—Donna Forbis, Dyanna Church, Pamela Case, Janice McGuffy, Harriet Morton, Hope Wintersteen, Bonnie Durland, Tom Porter and Joe Higginson.

Freshmen—Terry Alston, Raymond Hodges, Robert Nichols, Charles Oswald, Sandy Simons, Dorthea Dunnigan, Nancy Davis and Richard Kinney

8th Grade—Michael Cleary, Douglas Gall, Richard McGinnis, Larry Miller, Janette Dunnigan, Rene Geddes, Eloise Hall, and Debbie McRaney.

7th Grade—Cheryl Classey, Connie Lamb, Jerry Mason, Richard McLellan, Sue Douglas, Linda Kinnard, Linda Martinson, Melanie Massey, Donna Merill, Kathy Muse, Barbara Rooks, Gloria Rose, Kathleen Shannon, Pat Thomas, Sue Thompson.

FFA Initiates 21 New Greenhands, Zephyrhills News, October 23, 1963

Twenty-one Greenhands were initiated at Zephyrhills High School as new members of the Future Farmers of America.

The group had endured an information initiation earlier this month, and Tuesday’s formal affair was conducted by the FFA officers, headed by President John Wintersteen and by W.R. Jeffries, faculty sponsor.

The FFA has 76 members and is principally of students in vocational agriculture.

New members are: Herman Mason, Robert Price, Jim Rhoades, Larry Turner, Terry Arnold, James Chauncey, Wayne Davis, Kim Delard, Tommy Dodd, Van Gray, Roy Hutto, Richard Kinney, Jimmy Lindsey, Floyd Nichols, Dennis Perez, Frank Sapp, Don Schaffer, Randy Sperry, Bill Sweet, Jerry Tilley and Johnny Tullis.

Teaching Assignments Are Announced By County; 9 Have Resigned Positions, Zephyrhills News, May 30, 1963

Teacher assignments at Zephyrhills schools for the school year beginning in the fall have been announced by Pasco County Superintendent Chester Taylor, Jr. (Information is “as of May 14”).

At Zephyrhills High School, where Charles A. Henderson is principal the faculty will includes: Lamar Calhoun, John F. Clements, John T.V. Clark, John D. Geiger, Mrs. Alpha S. Gill, Mrs. Betty Jane Hall, Mrs. Constance C. Kaylor, S.B. Kendricks, Ernest Kretschmar Jr., Mrs. Marjorie Parantha, Earl Reitz, Mrs. Katharine Swing, W.A. Worthington, Lewis K. Wynne, William R. Jeffries, D. Hobson, Laird Jr., Miss Marion J. Ditter, Mrs. Lillian B. Johnson, William R. Kustes, Charles W. McKinney, Will H. McRaney, Clyde R. Mills, Green Napier and Mrs. Georgia H. Skyles.

West Elementary School, with Arleis E. Ross as principal, will have these faculty members: Mrs. Celia Anderson, Mrs. Vianna Gall, Miss Peggy Padgett, Mrs. Beulah Flynn, Mrs. Hettie Jane Price, Mrs. Anne Tipton, Mrs. Dorothy Rhodes, Mrs. Dorothy D. Turner and Mrs. Constance A. Ronnick. Mrs. Marguerite Goetz will be a transfer from the Lacoochee Elementary School.

Members of the faculty of East Elementary School, which will again have as principal Ferd Renninger, include: Mrs. Laveta Garrison, William Baker, Mrs. Marguerite Hardesty, Mrs. Lois J. Wachob, Mrs. Dorothy Worthington, Mrs. Willie Mae Ellimaker, Mrs. Pauline Higginson, Miss Alice Zimmerman, Mrs. Margaret McKinney, and Miss Beatrice Kirkland.

Resignations To Date

Nine resignations from the Zephyrhills school faculties have been processed to date. Included are: East Elementary—Mr. and Mrs. Darwin D. Clark who will teach next year in West Palm Beach; Walter J. Quick, who will return to the University of Florida to work on his doctor’s degree; Mrs. Rita Berger who will teach elsewhere; and Mrs. Darlene Wickstrom, who will return to housekeeping.

West Elementary—Miss Edwin Jones who will marry; Mrs. Frances Peacock, who will teach in Trilby; and Mrs. Lois Johnson, who will teach elsewhere.

High School—Mrs. Barbara Sullenger, who will teach elsewhere. Joseph Baldwin from the high school faculty, who had previously resigned, has reconsidered and has applied for reinstatement. His application is now being processed.

Prom There Suits; Rain Delays ‘Fantasy of Sea,’ Creates Lake, Zephyrhills News, May 30, 1963

“Fantasy of the Sea” was the theme of the annual Junior-Senior Prom Saturday evening in Municipal Auditorium.

Miss Linda Copper reigned as queen and Hennon Styles as king of the annual dance. Chosen by a vote of the prom committee, the pair was crowned by Miss Jere Alston and Miss Leslie Smith.

For the occasion a junior class committee headed by Miss Alston, general chairman, transformed the spacious auditorium into a make-believe aquarium.

All wall and window surfaces were covered with blue crepe paper through which north wall outside lights and lights in the corridor shone to provide illumination. The stage was draped with fishnet and on the rear wall seaweed flanked the spelled-out theme. Fish cut-outs were used to further emphasize the aquarium motif and a bubble machine added to the décor at the entrance.

The “Fantasy of the Sea” theme and aquarium decorations proved to be more than appropriate. A real “gully washer” of a rain storm, which bucketed 4.70 inches of water on Zephyrhills between 7:15 and 8:45 p.m. Saturday, delayed the start of the dance and turned the Municipal Building parking lot into a giant lake.

Water drainage at the city building has long been a problem at times of heavy rains, and students who were completing last minute decorations at the time the rain began found their cars standing in water “almost up to their headlights.”

Committee In Charge-Committee members assisting with the decorations and other arrangements for the big school-ending party were the Misses Smith, Jane DeLard, Barbara Muse, Faye Gaskin, Sharron McKendree, Cletia Weaver, Nancy Overhuls, and Elaine Howard; Howard Kersey, Bill Gross and Harry Mortner.

Miss Brenda Peiffer as treasurer, with the class sponsors, Joseph Baldwin, John Geiger and Lamar Calhoun, greeted guests.

The Bob Lake Orchestra of Tampa provided music for dancing.

Refreshments were served by a committee composed of Ronnie Gross, Sheila Hussey, Ronnie Griffin, Noreen Krystofiak, Frank Overhuls, Charlene Breckenridge, Ronnie Carroll, Kathy Desmond, Allen Carmon, Lillian Johnson, Sandra Kirkland, Bill Atkinson, Allen Ward, Susan Bucey, Jed Wilkinson, Linda Sabo, Charlene Collier, Larry Turner, Faye Tilley and Larry Turner. Faculty members and their wives or husbands chaperoned the party.

Camping Trip– Is New ‘Skip’ Idea, Zephyrhills News, May 23, 1963

The senior class of Zephyrhills High School with Johnny Clements as president, left yesterday afternoon by bus for a 3-day end-of-the-school camping outing at O’Leno State Park near High Springs. Chaperoning the more than 40 students were Class Sponsors John F. Clements Sr., and W.R. Jeffries with Mrs. Clements and Mrs. Jeffries, and Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Fernandez, and Cleo Bird, school bus driver.

The seniors will swim and fish in the Santa Fe River which flows through the state park. They will be billeted in camp cottages and their meals will be served in the dining hall.

A New Idea-In past years senior classes have journeyed to distant cities on the “skip day” trips usually staying in hotels and visiting popular tourist areas. Last year the seniors joined the class graduating from Pasco High School at Dade City for a trip to Washington, D.C. on the ACL railroad.

This year’s camping trip is a new idea, according to Principal C.A. Henderson, and was proposed by the students themselves.

The class and chaperones will return to Zephyrhills Saturday, and will begin immediately to get spruced up for the annual Junior-Senior Prom that evening.

On Magazine Cover-Of interest in the connection is the front cover of the March-April Issue of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad “News” published at Jacksonville. Featured on the cover is a giant photo of the Zephyrhills and Dade City seniors of 1962 standing on the front steps of the capitol in Washington. The picture was used to illustrate “a sure sign of spring in Washington,” as a “typical” tour group.

Bulldog Cagers End Fine Year 12-11, Zephyrhills News, March 14, 1963

An almost perfectly-balanced season in which the Zephyrhills High School basketball team won 12 games and lost 11 came to a close when Mulberry eliminated the Bulldogs in the district tournament semi-finals.

While many fans thought ZHS should have been in the state tourney this week—the ‘Dogs had beaten Mulberry by 11 points earlier in the season,’ and lost in the tourney only after four of the starting five were benched on fouls in a closely-called (on Zephyrhills) battle –few cage fans were disappointed over the season record.

Zephyrhills High School has never lost more than half its season games in basketball or baseball—at least as far back as records and memories can stretch—but it seemed as though this might be the year that fine mark would fall.

For one thing, new Coach McKinney faced about as complete a rebuilding task as a coach could imagine in his worst nightmare. Of last year’s state championship team, all but four squad members (the starting five and first substitute) were graduated, and of the returning four only one had seen much action (Mike McGinnis played in 30 of a possible 124 quarters).

Yet the Bulldogs stayed right with the best teams on a schedule loaded with Class A and larger schools, and were outscored by only nine points on the overall season, 1193 to 1184. And the team finished in third place in the Tampa Bay Conference.

The outlook for next year is especially promising, for only two of this season’s 10 will graduate in June—X. L. Garrison Jr. and Johnny Clements.

Back for action will be McGinnis, the leading scorer of the Tampa Bay Conference with a 20.3 average per game, and Nelson Spoto, who jointed McGinnis in being named to the all-TBS honor squad. Also back will be the team’s two out-shooters and ball-hawks, guards Ray Bolt and Fletcher Padgett, as well as tall center Ron Cherry and two lanky forwards, Jed Wilkinson and Jack Bentley, both of whom profited immensely from the extensive action they saw this past season.

Sam Surratt Jr., rugged guard, also promised to be a mainstay on next year’s squad.

In commenting on the season, Coach McKinney pointed out that while no records were broken (the 1961-62 team had set 10 new school records and seven individual marks that probably will stay in the books for a long time), he was more than pleased with the season.

“One of the boys who received little recognition all year, but who deserves as much praise as anyone, is Johnny Dungan, our most capable student manager,” the coach said.

“Another who merits commendation for a job well done is Coach and Athletic Director J.F. Clements, who served again as official scorer for the team, McKinney added.

Individual Statistics-McGinnis led the team in scoring with 469 points for the 23-game season (an average of 20.3). He also produced the sharpest eye at the charity line, hitting 71 percent of his attempts.

Spoto scored 233 points for the season and hit 53 percent of his free throws; only Garrison came closer to McGinnis’ fine marksmanship than did Spoto—Garrison connected on 54 percent of his attempts and tallied 138 points. Padgett, the long-shot guard, tallied 123 points as the fourth-ranking scorer, and made 51 percent of his charity attempts.  Ron Cherry and Ray Bolt had a scoring battle for fifth-place honors, Cherry netting 75 points and Bolt 74. Bolt was sharper at the free throw line, however, but not by much. He tallied 43 percent to Cherry’s 41 percent.

Johnny Clements meshed an even 50 percent from the free-throw line, but scored only 29 points. Wilkinson, with 20 points in the season, hit 38 percent on free throws, as did Bentley, who scored 13 points. Surratt tallied 10 points for the year and made 36 percent of his free throws.

School Daze by Bobbie June Chambless, Zephyrhills News, February 14, 1963

The Zephyrhills High School debate team under the guidance of Mrs. Constance Kaylor started its season by journeying to Melbourne High School on January 26 to Jesuit High School February 2nd.

Senior Debator, Robert “Bob” Johnson received a “Best-Speaker” award at Melbourne meet.

Because of the proximity of the Jesuit school the whole debate club participated in the contest. The club includes eight debaters and a girl’s extemporaneous speaker. Our first affirmative team, Thomas McQuady and Jerry Griffin, managed to edge out a Chamberlain High School team for third place. There were over 380 participants in the matches.

The debate club is planning a public exhibition for the near future at the Municipal Auditorium. Student Council president X.L. Garrison Jr. sent out a plea to all the student body this week to raise funds for next year’s Foreign Exchange student. The homeroom raising and turning in the most money for the program will win the privilege of going to the head of the lunch line for a week, as the mighty seniors do all year.

Exchange Student Program Detailed at ZHS Assembly, Zephyrhills News, January 25, 1963

A resume of the program of the Zephyrhills Chapter of American Field Service, together with information pertaining to securing a foreign exchange student for the coming year, was presented at a special assembly of Zephyrhills High School students Friday afternoon.

The assembly was attended by members of the AFS committee headed by Mrs. Paul Braden, president. X. L. Garrison, Student Council President, served as master of ceremonies. The Rev. Milan G. Weerts gave the invocation.

Mrs. Braden outlined the eligibility prerequisites for entertaining a foreign exchange student in a home during the school year and pointed out that better world understanding may result from the exchange student program. “When Lillian Daccarett goes back to Santiago, Chile, she will not have to get her concept of life in the United States from a book. She will know from experience of having lived here,” Mrs. Braden said.

Miss Daccarett, Zephyrhills’ first exchange student, described her happiness at being here and expressed her appreciation for the many courtesies shown her.

Mrs. R.W. Thompson, in turn, told of her family’s delight at having Lillian Daccarett share their home and termed it a “rich experience.” Also on stage for the program were Earl Reitz of the high school faculty, H.C. Douglas, Jr. and B.E. Burns of the AFS committee, and Miss Pat Jackson and Sam Surratt Jr., student co-chairmen for AFS.

Organizations or informal groups wishing to hear Miss Daccarett at their meetings may consult Bernard Wickstrom, who is in charge of scheduling such engagements.

Bulldogs open TBS Title Defense At Brandon Gym, Zephyrhills News, January 4, 1963

The Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs resumed basketball practice again Monday, after a short Christmas vacation, in preparations for their first Tampa Bay Conference game with Turkey Creek tonight (Thursday) in the Brandon High School gym.

The ZHS basketball crew, last year’s TBS and State Class B champions, expect to have their hands full in the opening clash of their league crown defense.

Next game for Zephyrhills will be Tuesday, when they travel to Hernando High School at Brooksville to meet the Leopards, and on Saturday afternoon, January 12, they will play St. Leo Academy there.

Coach Chuck McKinney’s charges have been working on fundamentals as well as on their patterned offense. The Zephyrhills cagers have suffered several injuries in the past two weeks, including a rather bad cut on the right hand of Nelson Spoto, which may keep him from seeing too much action in the Turkey Creek ball game.

Fletcher Padgett has a sprained finger but hopes to be playing full speed against the Gobblers.

Johnny Clements, who received a knee injury in the first game against Plant City and who has not seen any action since, is hoping to be on the “comeback” road in the next couple of weeks. He has been taking extra precautions lately, and reports his knee feels much better.

The Bulldogs got in some good workouts just before the Christmas holidays by scrimmaging with several of last year’s players. Five of the 1961-62 State Champs were home for the holidays and worked out with the team. Included were Sam Gross, Bill McGavern, Norman Weaver, Clyde Bracknell and Frank Kersey.

The Orange and Black, playing many bigger schools, hope to produce a winning season during this rebuilding year. The team is looking forward to the games of the next few weeks in hopes that they will be fully prepared for the district tournament, which determines which team from our district goes to the State Tournament. The Bulldogs have high hopes of returning to the State Championship again this year, Coach McKinney said.

Former ‘Miss Zephyrhills’ Creating Third Career as Romantic Writer, Zephyrhills News, by Bernard Y. Wickstrom

When a particular young lady is chosen as “Miss Zephyrhills,” it’s not always because of her beauty along. Often the judges see in that girl a promise of things to come; a hint that here is a girl who someday may amount to “something special.”

When Judy Goulding earned “Miss Zephyrhills” crown back in 1962 and later achieved her goal of earning a master’s degree in English and a position as a schoolteacher, it could have been thought that she had achieve her heart’s desire.

But now Judy Goulding—who since 1966 has been Mrs. Norman Weaver—is carving out a third career (in addition to those of housewife and mother of and of schoolteacher); that of author.

With three novels already in print, she is hard at work at her home in Wesley Chapel on what she promises will be a “Best Seller”, her first serious book.

“Yes, I am going to be famous, and yes, it will be made into a movie. I learned long ago that to achieve in life you have to have confidence. I believe I have the skill to write a good book and a little creativity. Now I just need to apply the hard work,” she said.

Mrs. Weaver expects to complete her major novel by September of next year. It will be about 600 pages in typescript and will be historical fiction, a life of Mary Magdalene. I began the research last January and am only now beginning to rough out the early parts. Realizing the problems involved in bringing Biblical personalities to life in fiction, Mrs. Weaver is proceeding slowly and carefully. “Even Jesus must be a part of the book, and it will be a love story, as well. But I enjoy making people real, a part of everyday life.”

The two authors providing most of her inspiration are Marjorie Holmes with her “Two from Gallilee” (a love story of Mary and Joseph) which is a beautiful example of bringing Biblical characters to life” and Taylor Caldwell, who wrote such historical Biblical fiction as “Great Lion of God” (a life of Paul). I don’t ever expect to be the story teller she is, but I hope to become a story teller people will want to read, Mrs. Weaver told the News.

Has Written Romance Novel-Mrs. Weaver admits that currently her major problem is adjusting her writing style. “So far I have written primarily romances, and so I need to refine my style. I cannot let my serious book read like a romance.” But it was those romances which started her on a writing career. “I started about five years ago “Just for fun” and turned out a contemporary Christian story, which is still unsold. My sister-in-law read it and suggested I try romantic novels, which she reads by the tons. She loaned me several of her favorites, and I read them and decided I could write that kind of fiction. I have since written five novels and have sold three; the other two are keeping mailmen’s feet busy going from one publishing house to another, she said.  Her first two sales were to McFadden Books, a division of Manner Book Publishers and are light romances “for teenagers and bored housewives.”

They were written under the pen name of Ashley Chapel, a combination of her daughter’s middle name of Ashley and the “Chapel” of Wesley Chapel. The first book was entitled “Sweet Savage” and the second, “A Kiss of Satin.” The first title was my own, but they didn’t like my second title and changed it to Kiss of Satin. The books are escape fiction and tell tales of romance “the way it used to be.” While they are full of love and even of petting, there are definite “no, no’s for the writer such as “no going to bed before marriage, no petting below the waist, etc. but if you read these kinds of romances you realize they are getting more torrid as the years go along,” she said. The romances are created with what is called “formula writing.” Mrs. Weaver noted, and when “New York” called her to do another book, they wanted to supply a loose plot, characters and title “but I have more ideas that I can carry out, and so I decided to strike out on my own.  She said she was paid for “Sweet Savage” but didn’t get a penny for “A Kiss of Satin” and now has an attorney working to collect on the second sales contract.

“Gentleman in Paradise”-Her first real money-maker is “Gentleman in Paradise” which is published by Dell Books in its “Candlelight Ecstasy Romance” Series under her new pen name of Harper McBride (which sounds more romantic, don’t you think” she asked.

But if you pick up a copy at an area book store (There were a few copies still available at Eckerd’s in Zephyrhills when the News bought a coy Monday), and if you look at the “Publisher’s Information” page you will discover tiny print which reads, “Copyright 1981 by Judith Weaver.”

“Gentleman in Paradise” was written under certain guidelines provided by the Candlelight Ecstasy Series—the hero and heroine must be a certain way, and there are story limitations—and while her first books she sold on her own by simply mailing them in, for “Gentleman in Paradise,” she obtained a New York Literary agent.

But when Dell Books urged him to send more of my writing, he began to try to persuade me to put more specific sex into my romances, and try for the big bucks—the $60,000 major historical story market.

“I had to tell him it was unfair for me to keep him as an agent when I was going to be unable to write in the way he wanted. I told him I have scruples, children who would someday read what I had written and I was a Sunday School Teacher in the Primitive Methodist Church, and even though I knew I could write like he wanted, I wouldn’t.

“We parted friends, but I again am on my own and without an agent,” Mrs. Weaver said.

Her previous books involved about 230 pages of typescript for the standard 190 page book and she does all of her own typing. My mother (Mrs. Dorothy Goulding) and my husband have both tried to type for me, but they are so worried about making a mistake that they take forever. It is easier to have them watch the children and help with the housework and for me to write in the evenings, she said.

In addition to the “substantial” advance she received on “Gentleman in Paradise,” Mrs. Weaver has prospects of royalty payments both for U.S. Sales and for sales from foreign contracts now under negotiation. In the future Mrs. Weaver is considering children’s books, more religious novels and perhaps a western romance “saga” series. “Writing is easy for me. I just create the setting and the characters and put them in situations and watch them react. It is like a movie in my mind and I am only a reporter, writing down what happens.

Is Pasco Teacher

Currently a teacher at Pasco Junior High in Dade City, where her husband also is a faculty member, Mrs. Weaver was graduated from Melbourne High School in 1963 and attended Pembroke College in North Carolina, graduating Cum Laude in three years. Norman, a Zephyrhills native and State Championship basketball star for ZHS was graduated from Pembroke College and they were married in 1966. After a year teaching in Moore Haven, she earned a master’s degree in English education at Western Carolina University and the coupe then taught at Ft. Myers for a year. The next five years were in Clearwater where Norman was at the high school and she taught at the junior high. Six years ago they moved back to Pasco County to build their home in Wesley Chapel. He joined Zephyr Egg and she taught a year at Zephyrhills Middle School before deciding to stay home five years with her children and began her writing career.

Author’s family—children, Josh, Maribridget and husband, Norman