1972-1973

=Faculty and Staff=

**Administration**

 * Superintendent**: K. Lane Miller
 * Assistant** **Superintendent**: Robert Dosier
 * Business Manager**: Eugene Sawalich
 * Principal**: Jerry Turner
 * Assistant Principals**: Harris Tollefson, Dan Wolford, Harold Limper, Belle Levin

=Demographics=

== =Freshmen (Class of '76)= Stu Alperin, Tom Pondoff Beth Green, Mardi Samples Cheri Loyet, Marilyn Sims David Parks, Maureen Smoker John Reichert, Kim Yoch Judy Rybicki
 * President:** Warren Webster
 * Vice** **President:** Pam Graham
 * Secretary:** Jodi Connely
 * Treasurer:** Sue Sotiropoulos
 * Representatives:**

Girls: 360 Boys: 325 =Sophomore Class (Class of '75)= Bart Becherer, Scott Miller Kim Calvanese, Allison Parks Sherry Davinroy, Bill Popkess Cindy Latina Debbie, Thomas Roxane Lehr, Jay Vandewater Lynn McDonald
 * Class Size:** 685
 * President:** Shelly Katz
 * Vice President:** Gene Kimbrell
 * Secretary:** Kathy Dyer
 * Treasurer:** Janet Sams
 * Representatives:**

Girls: 324 Boys: 326 =Junior Class (Class of '74)= Sue Ash, Kim King Bruce Aud, Dawn McCollam Greg Doussard, Paulette McPhail Mark Eckert, Jeff Miller Valerie Hoffman, Tom Sims Jim Strausgbaugh
 * Class Size:** 650[[image:senior_flot_compress.jpg align="right" caption="Senior class Hobo Day float 1973"]]
 * President:** Mark Cox
 * Vice President:** Terri Armstrong
 * Secretary:** Laura Jacobi
 * Treasurer:** Robin Levin
 * Representatives:**

Girls: 333 Boys: 239 =Senior Class (Class of '73)= Todd Chamblin, Lisa Kombrink Mary Diesel, Louis Linder Ida Edwards, Barb Maloney Bill Gavin, Tom Meyer Ann Heileman, Debbie Mills Patti Simpson
 * Class Size:** 572
 * President:** Robby Schott
 * Vice President:** Janice Hennigs
 * Secretary:** Lori Kniepmann
 * Treasurer:** Jane Lowery
 * Representatives:**

Girls: 280 Boys: 198
 * Class Size:** 478

Race during the 1970s was still coming around to most Americans. There were very few African American students attending Belleville West in 1973. Overall, there were a total number of eleven minority students at West. Three were present in the freshmen class, five in the sophomore class, three in the junior class, and none in the senior class. = = =Teachers and Faculty=

= 1. Bruce Addison 34. George Esterly 67. Donald L. Jones 100. Norman Patton 133. Vincent Torigian, = 2. Cheryl Adkins 35. William Erans 68. Robert Kaiser 101. Robert Lee Petri 134. Betty Twesten 3. F.B. Allen 36. Dale Fertig 69. Lynn Koehler 102. Walter M. H. Rauth 135. Gary Twesten 4. Norman Armstrong 37. Beatrice Flori 70. Frederick Kunze 103. John Reed 136. Dale Van Blair 5. Bruce Arnold 38. Felicia Fuchs 71. Janie Z. Kyramarios 104. Orpha Reeder 137. Nathan L. Veach 6. Arnold Allyn 39. Ester Garcia 72. Keith Lawrence 105. Elizabeth Richert 138. Robert Vitek 7. Margaret Beaird 40. George Gasparich 73. David Llewellyn 106. Charles Rodman 139. Juanita Wallen 8. Howard Belcher 41. Grace Gerren 74. Jo Lynda Marion 107. Jerome M. Rybicki 140. Pete Walter 9. Jane Benoist 42. Annette Gundmeier 75. Albert Manwarning 108. Bill Saul 141. Shirley Walz 10. Kenneth Besse 43. Kenneth Guest 76. Elmo Masters Mona 109. Scheibel George 142. L. Warren 11. Mary Frances Besse 44. William Gushleff 77. Pat Matysik 110. Ralph S. Schlesinger 143. John M. Wehmeier 12. David Bobzin 45. Merle Guthrie 78. Gene Maurer 111. Trudy Ann Schmidt 144. William Willett 13. Mary Lou Bonnell 46. E.M. Gyerman 79. Ann McCann 112. Allen H. Schuessler 145. Vera Wood 14. Alfred J. Budde 47. Harold L. Hall 80. Charles McConnell 113. David Schwalb 146. Harold Yung 15. Woodford Burnett 48.Mina Gail Halliday 81. Alda McIntyre 114. Robert Sforza 16. Meliabelle Burnham 49.Jane Hansleben 82. Nancy Mermelstein 115. Dave Shannahan 17. Douglas Bush 50. Robert Hanson 83. Dean Merritt 116. Cole Shannone 18. Dennis Butts 51. David Harris 84. Albert S. Meyer 117. Sue Sharp 19. Susan Campbell 52. William Hart 85. Arch Montgomery 118. George B. Shea 20. Gary Carr 53. Charles Hasenstab 86. Billy G. Moore 119. Gary Shepek 21. Emery Carter 54. Susan Hayes 87. Jean Moore 120. Jenette Simkins 22. James Certain 55. Wilbern Hank 88. Hayes Manita 121. Ann Moore John Sims 23. Marita Clark 56. Linda Heape 89. Eda Morgan 122. Elaine M. Smith 24. Robert Clark 57. Floyd Pete Hensel 90. Dennis Mueller 123. Phyllis Smith 25. Carolyn Gross 58. Cecilia Hepp 91. Jane Mueth 124. Ronald Smith 26. Douglass Dahm 59. Marta Hicks 92. Erna Murphy 125. Patricia Snelson 27. Jeanette Davis 60. Betty Hoefer 93. Alan J. Niess 126. David Snowdon 28. Dian Dill 61. Joan Hoffman 94. Mary Luise Niess 127. Karen Sparks 29. Michael Drumsta 62. Richard Hunsaker 95. Tom Ninnis 128. Gary Sprague 30. Judy Duncan 63. Don Jackson 96. Larry Obenchain 129. Nancy Steel 31. Rand Duncas 64. Wilma Jackson 97. Dorothy Oelrich 130. Farren Stover 32. Florine Dungey 65. Elizabeth Jecklin 98. Faye Pabst 131. Sandra Tinney 33. Douglas Eskra 66. Herschel Johnson 99. Sandra Parris 132. Gusie M. Tonne

== =Publications= Hy News in 1950, the school newspaper, Hy News, was published bi-monthly by the students in Miss Lillian Jossem's Journalism class. The class was offered junior and senior year and helps students study the art of journalism, such as analyzing news stories, working on writing skills, and editing skills. Students who maintain a good average and work hard on the Hy News can qualify for membership in the Quill and Scroll national journalistic society. In 1950, there were 17 members in the local Quill and Scroll society. The school yearbook, Bellevinois, is published each year at the end of the year and chronicles the school activities for that year. The staff takes pictures, draws cartoons, and creates the layout for the yearbook. The staff contains seniors who are selected for their efforts throughout high school. Miss Jane Hansleben directed the yearbook staff in 1950. == =School Activities = ==
 * Hy News**
 * Bellevinois**

**Future Farmers of America:** This group consisted of forty members and was sponsored by Mr. Harold Hall. It was consisted of all males except for that year there was one girl (Deborah Dressel).
 * Student Council** consisted of sixty-one members which met everyday in room 202 m during 4C. Mr. Frederick Kunze was the faculty advisor. The purpose of this organization included coordinating special events for the school. The main purpose was to simply serve the students.
 * Bellevinois** was the Belleville West yearbook committee. The members of the Bellevinois was what made the yearbook come together. Miss Jane Hansleben was the faculty advisor.
 * Hy News**- during 1973, Hy News was going through its fifty-second year of publication. Mrs. Judy Duncan was in her fourth year as faculty advisor and the Hy News received the annual Blue Banner Award from Southern Illinois School Press Association. SISPA honored Mrs. Duncan as an Adviser of the Year. The Hy News journalists met every day at 6th hour.
 * Future Teachers of America:** This organization met twice monthly, sponsored by Miss Ann McCann. This organization was for young students interested in education field or teaching.
 * Future Nurses of America:** This group of individuals was to anyone interested in pursuing a health career. The sponsors were Miss Eda Morgan and Mrs. Cecelia Hepp. The members made many visits to places such as: the Lincoln Shelter Care Home, a Mother-Daughter dinner, and many other.
 * Future Homemakers of America:** This group composed of fifteen members and was sponsored by Mrs. Helen Closson and Mrs. Jean Best. This club was specifically designed for students enrolled in home economics classes.

=Sports=
 * Distributive Education:** This consisted of students who would go to school for the first two hours and then go to their jobs to work for the rest of the day. The students were paid regular salaries and given graduation credit. This organization sought to teach individuals jobs skills, and gain experience in cooperation and employment. The sponsor for the program was Mr. Tom Ninnis. This program is still offered at West and is called Co-op.
 * Office Occupations:** The students in this club learned the value of their personal ambition through on the job training. This still exists today at Belleville West.
 * Social Studies and History Clubs:** Mr. Vincent Torigian was the sponsor of the very successful History Club. In its first year, the History Club won first place in state competition. Fifty-five students won ribbons for displays, art work, research papers, and handicrafts.
 * Rough Writers:** This group of students compiled unknown literary talent in the school. This organization was where the “Page One” publication came into print.
 * Chess Club:** The Chess Club members were the Southwestern Conference Chess Champions. Many of the members were very talented and won numerous awards that year.
 * Amateur Radio Club:** This club met every Monday at 3:30 in House A on the Belleville West campus. It included instruction for the morse code, radio theory, other technological operations.
 * Photography Club:** Many members participated in exhibits at local, state, or national levels. Winners were awarded scholarships and prizes.
 * American Field Service:** Miss Sue Sharp was the sponsor for this program. This was an exchange program for students interested in other cultures or traveling countries. Thirteen hundred dollars was needed to keep this program in operation.
 * Foreign Language Clubs:** The three foreign language clubs were Latin, Spanish and German. French was not an option as it is today at Belleville West. Each individual club helped out at the school with some sort of event. The Spanish club made a float for Hobo Day parade.
 * National Honor Society:** In 1973, NHS marked its twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of this organization at Belleville West. This club’s membership consisted of forty-two juniors and eighty seniors. This was a prestigious honor to be inducted into NHS. A 3.5 average was to be maintained by the seniors after seven semesters and a 3.8 average was for the juniors after five semesters.
 * National Forensic League, Individual Events, and Debate:** All of these clubs consisted of students competing in speech competitions at local and state levels. In N.F.L., each of its seventy-five members won twenty-five points in speech competition. Events took place at Bradley University, Thorton, and in Springfield. The I.E. won honors such as the Greater St. Louis Speech Administration trophy and winning the Illinois High School Association district. Five students were sent to state. The Debate team traveled around Illinois and advanced two teams to state competitions.
 * Little Theatre:** The Little Theatre’s season ran from October through April. Miss Mina Gail Halliday, Miss Jane Meuth and Mrs. Jane Benoist sponsored the 175 member company.
 * Thespians:** Miss Nina Bono and Mr. Michael Drumsta sponsored the organization. Two hundred hours of work, one hundred of which must be backstage are required to obtain the honor of a thespian.
 * Concert Choir, Choraleers, The Remon Singers:** Choir groups composed of upperclassmen, the Concert Choir was the most selective choral group at West. The Concert Choir was honored to be chosen as one of three St. Louis area choirs appear on a KPLR-TV video tape on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Choraleers and the Remon Singers were other choral programs. All three of these groups were offered to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
 * Marching Maroons:** Directed by Mr. Ralph Schlesinger and led by drum major Brad Bobcik, the marching maroons had a very successful year.
 * Concert Band/Orchestra:** Mr. Ralph Schlesinger was the director of the Concert band. Mrs. Gloria Mayer conducted the eighteen piece orchestra. It met second hour everyday and took part in many activities during the school year. There were other musical ensembles such as the Chamber Orchestra and the Symphonette.
 * Stage Band/Pep Band:** These two bands played at numerous events during the year such as: basketball games, concerts, teachers’ banquets, and meetings. These bands played jazz, pop, and jazz-rock.
 * Intramurals:** Basketball, Football, soccer, badminton, gymnastics, softball, and volleyball were all offered for students who were interested in participating in sports just for the fun of the game. In 1970 was when the intramurals started. Mr. Floyd Hensel was in charge of the boys programs and Mrs. Mary Besse was in charge of the girl programs.
 * Pep Club:** The pep club was traditionally all girls. They supported the school by cheering at games, rallying at Hobo Day, and decorating the campus with signs. The Powder Puff Football game was a huge part of Hobo Week. Christie Etling was the sponsor for the club.
 * Fellowship of Christian Athletes:** This group was for students who wanted to follow the ways of Christ through athletics. This group was made up of all male students.

=== There were many sports teams at Belleville West that were highly successful in the off season. Many of them placed very well in state competitions and season games or matches. **Cheerleading:** The coach was Mrs. Merle Guthrie. The Belleville West Cheerleading team won a trophy at “Camps All American” held in Hartland, Michigan. ===


 * Cross Country:** The team defeated 134 teams and lost to only 38 during the season. The team finished second in the Southwestern Conference Meet and a finish of 13th out of 44 teams competing in the Peoria Invitational.
 * Football:** The head coach was Mr. Bruce Arnold. Many of the team members were selected as All-Star winners. Some students were titled All-American, All-State, All-Metro Post Dispatch, All-District Globe Democrat, and All-Metro East.
 * Swimming:** Mr. Boots Buddle was the supervisor for the swim team. Even though West did not have good swimming facilities, the team was developing. West's first swim team was formed in 1973.
 * Wrestling:** The coach of the wrestling team was Mr. John Wehmeier. The team had a total of eighteen victories, and only one defeat. The team had a very strong season and won numerous awards and trophies.


 * Basketball:** The team had a composed record of thirteen wins and fourteen losses. Along with the teams’ record, there were many individuals who won awards as well. The varsity basketball coach was Mr. Roger Mueller.
 * Track and Field:** Mr. Norm Armstrong, Mr. Woody Burnett, Mr. Dave Harris, and Mr. Gary Carr were all coaches for the Belleville West track team. This team was very competitive and pushed themselves to be the best.
 * Baseball:** Mr. Chuck Hasenstab headed the coaching staff for varsity. The baseball record was a total of seven wins and four loses. The season usually extended into May.
 * Tennis:** Mr. Walter Rauth was the head coach. The tennis teams’ score was a total of eleven wins and no loses.
 * Golf:** The team was very talented and practiced everyday to better improve their skills.

B.T.H.S. Coaches

 * Cheerleading** - Merle Gurthie
 * Cross Country** - Norman Armstrong
 * Football** - Pete Hensell, Dave Harris, Brice Arnold, Herschel Johnson, Keith Lawrence, Bob Kaiser, Jerry Rybicki, Dean Merritt
 * Baseball** - Charles Hasenstab
 * Tennis** - Wally Rauth
 * Wrestling** - Wally Rauth, John Wehmeier, Bob Vitek, Bill Hart
 * Basketball** - Dave Shannahan, Roger Mueller
 * Track** - Norm Armstrong, Woody Burnett, Dave Harris
 * Swimming** - Bob Vitek, John Wehmeier


 * Cheerleading** - The Cheerleaders displayed their skills and recieved first place at an All-American camp in Hartland, Michigan.
 * Cross Country** - The team finished second in the Courthwest Conference Meet.

This page was created by Erin Birkner and Lindsey Muskopf.
 * Football** - West had the number one offensive team in the Mertro-East area with 3290. West also had an All-American.