1961 Last Will & Testaments

We, the members of the 1961 graduating class of Cohn High School, realizing that we have lived fuller lives at Cohn because of the leadership and example of those who have gone before us, wish to express our best wishes to those in the classes to follow, hoping that our accomplishments and experiences may serve to enlighten them.

First: We leave to Mr. Rochelle, Mr. Hagan, and the members of the faculty who have so faithfully guided our footsteps, our sincerest appreciation and gratitude.

Second: We leave to Miss Allen, who has been our friend, guide, and inspiration, our heartfelt thanks.

Third: To Miss Benedict we leave the junior class, knowing she will endear herself to them as much as she has to us.

Fourth: To the juniors we leave Miss Benedict, one of the inner things that go with being a senior.

Fifth: To the entire student body we leave the name “Black Knights" in hopes that they will bring only honor and glory to it.

I, Curtis Akers, leave everything in my hurry to get out of here.

I, Lynda Armstrong, will to Cynthia Sewar, my ability to break line in the lunchroom every day, and to Lynda Wyatt, my worn out gym shoes in hopes that she gets Miss Cowan and has as much fun as I have had.

I, David Bailey, do hereby will my “doodlebug" to the driver's training class, hoping that Mr. Morton won't sit in it.

I, Buddy Baker, being of unsound mind and body, do hereby will my ability to deodorize the “Backs' Room” at the field house to Clyde Handley and my old sweat socks to Tommy Murray.

I, Marjorie Ballanfant, being of little mind and a sound body, will to Pat Morris my place on the annual staff as faculty editor and hope she has better luck with them than I had.

I, Patricia Ballentine, with very little mind and no body, hereby will to the juniors the senior privileges, if they can find them. Have privileges, will travel.

I, Gerald Banks, being of sound mind and body, do hereby will my seat in Miss Hetherington’s English class to Sonny Toddy.

I, Kenneth Barnes, will my place as senior to Bobby McGowan to take all the trouble and pains for the next year, and I hope he doesn’t get Mrs. Arnold for history.

I, Linda Bates, will to someone special, Roy Trotter, everything I leave that he wants. And to any girl who is as lucky as I, my senior high cheerleading position.

I, Ruth Marie Bates, being of rusty mind, too much body, hidden sense of humor and closed mouth, will all my “fine” qualities and long but profitable days at Cohn to my cousin, Ronald, who at home is known as “Honey.”

I, Lola Beasley, being of weak mind and sound body, hereby leave my place in Miss Allen’s class, to my aunt, Dianne Gann, in hopes that she may have as much fun as I did.

I, David Benson, being of unsound body and corrupt mind, do hereby leave all the dust in my locker to Tommy Murray.

I, Marjorie Bolton, being of little mind and even smaller body, will my ability to be an officer for three years in the F.T.A. and still not know what is going on to Diana Young.

I, Patricia Brittain, will my ability to go anywhere, anytime, all year in the halls without getting caught, to Cynthia Sewar.

I, Bettye Brown, will my chair and typewriter in second-year typing class to Patsy Blunkall in hopes that she will make an “A” with them.

I, Linda Bryan, being of no mind or body, hereby bequeath my ability to walk fast through the halls to lunch without being caught to Pam Miller.

I, Faye Buttrey, being of sound mind and little body, will my seat in Mrs. Dunkerley's history class to anyone who wishes to have it.

I, Wendy Clatterbuck, being of unsound mind and body, do hereby bequeath my ability to eat my lunch and talk all period in the library without getting caught to anyone having the nerve to use it, in hopes that Miss Doris doesn’t catch them either. . .

I, Martha Clinard, being of sound mind and sick body, will my seat in Miss Hetherington's English class to Wayne Ezell in hopes that he will have as much fun??? as I did.

I, Norman (Hop) Craft, being of little mind and movable ears, do willingly will my ignorance seat to anyone with little enough mind to take it.

I, Raymond Crowell, being of wrecked mind and no body, will to my brothers all the subjects that I don't take.

I, Jimmy Currey, being of a strong body and corrupt mind, leave my ability to type so many words to Velma Pearce, and my old dirty socks to Robert Yeargin.

I, June Carolyn Davis, being of weak mind and slight body, will to Mary Jo Tucker everything I don’t have, because I need everything I've got.

I, Jimmy Demonbreun, being of strong back and no mind, will my scat in Mrs. Arnold’s class to Al, my cousin, if lie promises to be a good boy like me.

I, Carolyn Wall, leave my parking place to anyone who has the privilege of driving a beat-up jalopy like mine.

I, Joan Fergerson, being of weak body and feeble mind, do hereby will to Norma McCafferty my secret of leaving school without getting caught.

I, Donna Finley, being of unsound mind and weak body; will to my sister, Cheryl, my ability to skip classes and talk my way out of troubles to Mr. Hagan.

I, Mary Lane Futrell, being of no mind and sound body do hereby leave to my little sister Susie a pair of old dirty gym shoes and my ability to have my English homework before class.

I, Patricia Gammons, being of little mind and much body, do hereby bequeath my ability to roam through the halls on a week-old pass to Phyllis Gammons, hoping that she too may get by with it.

I, Hershell Glenn, being of little mind and sound body, do hereby leave a pair of old tennis shoes to Carl Burnette.

I, June Goodman, being of weak mind and sound body will to Mitzi Hall my American History chair in Mrs. Arnold's room and hope she has as much fun in there as I did.

I, David Gothard, being of weak diaphragm and strong embouchure, leave my first chair in the trumpet section to Willie Wall, Steve Bradford, Jimmy Wallace, and Raymond Shaver. Fight it out, you dogs.

I, Eugene “Goodear" Greer, being of sound body and weak mind, will to Dan Thompson, “most handsome" of senior class of 1962.

I, Bernadette Groux, being of sound mind and body, leave to my sister Camille my chair in Mr. Sams’ office.

I, Mary Hamilton, being of sound and body, do hereby bequeath my seat in Miss Allen’s history class to my sister Ruth, who I hope will learn a wee bit more about all the wars than I did!

I, Pat Harper, being of sick mind and weak body do hereby bequeath to Sandra Pearce the lower bunk in Cabin 5, in hopes that she will live in constant fear of being drowned as I did. And enjoy every minute of it.

I, Jerry Harris, being of fairly sound mind and quite a lot of body, will to Jo Brown my ability to leave school without getting caught.

I, James Sydney Hartman, being of magnificent physique and very learned mind, do hereby will my ability to avoid Mrs. Huffman to Jo Brown.

I, Jerry Hartman, being of cool mind and cold body, will Dan Thompson my prized picture of Jamie Brown and to Roy Trotter my elbow polish.

I, Terry Hayes, being of unsound mind and little body, leave to Dan Thompson my trusty old gym shorts, which I have used through a season of football and basketball.

I, Janet Holladay, being of sound body and no mind at all, leave to Pat Irwin my place in the F.T.A.

I, Judy Holladay, being of small body and even smaller mind, leave to Julia Foriest my place in Miss Hetherington’s English class.

I, Roger “Rawjaw" Holland, being of little mind and piece of body, will to Norma "Dawn" McCafferty my Kodak in hopes she will make as good use of it as I did. I also will her my last roll of films.

I, Joyce Humphrey, being of little mind and hardly anybody, do hereby will to Edwin my ability to not enter the doors of the library in my junior and senior years and to Charyl McDow my dirty gym locker.

I, Meredith Hyde, being of strong body and weak mind, will to Judy Martin all the trash left in my locker.

I, Richard Johnson, being of sound mind and little body, do hereby will to my little brother, Wayne, the ability to graduate. To my little sister, Shirley, the ability to pass Mr. Cathcart’s senior English class.

I, Zadie Johnson, being of big body and weak character, leave to Bobby, my place in the honor society.

I, Jerry Jordon, being of no mind and little body, will my seat in Mrs. Arnold‘s homeroom to Ronnie Sexton and my ability to roam the halls first period to anyone that can do it next year.

I, Pat Just, being of “scroungie" mind and delicate body do hereby will to my relatives, the Hardcastles, Himes, Alberts, Strongs, and Jeanettes, my love for Cohn, and to “Dilly” my position on the senior high cheerleading squad.

I, Jerry Landers, being of brilliant mind and little body, will to Richard “Langhand” Hooper and Terry “Sweets” Walker all my knowledge of English, history, biology, and how to get out of Bellevue before they get out of school.

I, Nancy Laws, will to Linda Anderson, Julia Foriest, Norma McCafferty, Linda Inman, and Joan Bianconi my “Shellies Cocktail” (ice cream and cracker.)

I, Janiece Layne, being of sound body and of no mind, will everything I've got to my brother, Buddy --nothing.

I, Evelyn Maitland, being of unsound mind, leave my ability to sit in the senior choir to anyone stupid enough to take it.

I, Mara Majors, being of no mind and unsound body, hereby will my position as editor of the Tiger Times, secretary and librarian of the band, and color guard to any junior unfortunate enough to inherit them.

I, Wayne McDonald, being of unsound mind, will my ability to get bawled out by Mrs. Arnold every other day to anyone who can take it.

I, Linda Moore, being of no mind and more body, do hereby leave: to Barbara Bowers, my blue suede tennis shoes, and to Dickie Davis, “my dual exhaust, floor shift, twin smites, glass, four barrel carburetors with fluid drive “TYPEWRITER” in room 111.

I, Norma Morris, being of biggest body and littlest mind, do hereby will my seat in Miss Hetherington’s English class and my ability to make A's in shorthand to Velma Pearce.

I, Fay Myatt, being and to my little cousin Ronnie Frizzell the ability to get the hardest teachers and still graduate.

I, Jerry Myatt, being of sound mind and body, will my chair in Mr. Cathcart’s English class to Dianne Gann.

I, Billy Nash, being of sound mind and body do leave to the next student body president my wonderful relations with the advisors and teachers.

I, Victor Neuenschwander, with an unsatisfied mind, will my ability to hit the wrong note in choir to my two devoted brothers.

I, Linda Owens, being of no mind and little body, will to my brother, Farrell, my ability to walk in the hall without a pass and to Janice my ability to be one of the first ones in the lunch line.

I, Jean Parker, being of sound body and very little mind, will to my brother Jack, my place in the chemistry lab, and hope he doesn’t blow anything up as I almost did.

I, Carol Parrish, leave-the last of a long line of Parrishes, the last one for a little while anyway.

I, Lynda Pate, do hereby will to, at different times, Sandra Jones and Barbara Keith my chair in Mrs. Arnold's room and hope they enjoy it as much as I have.

I, Mary Ann Phillips, will to Donna Duffel, my very good friend, my seat in Miss Hetherington’s English class in the hope that she will enjoy it as much as I did.

I, Belvia Pilkinton, will my place on the office staff to anyone who is willing to put up with the nonsense from Miss French and Mrs. Rush.

I, Billy Pomeroy, being of hard of heart and tired of school, will my great out court shooting and worn-out nose guard to Farrell (Soph) Owens.

I, Patsy Pursley, being of little mind and much body, do hereby leave to Dickie Davis my ability to get more tickets than anyone in the junior class.

I, Doris Raines, being of no mind at all, leave my place in D.O. class to anyone stupid enough to take it.

I, Judy Redmond, being of sound mind and some body, do hereby will to my little sister, Sheron Dugan, the ability to walk in the halls without a note and to Merrill Ann Booth, my Kleenexes.

I, Robert E. Robeson, being of sound mind and lively body, do will to Wayne Felts my ability to pass the physics course.

I, Thomas Russell, after paying for senior rings, pictures, annuals, caps and gowns, invitations, and numerous other items, leave the remainder of her fortune, twenty-three cents, four sheets of notebook paper, and one chewed-up pencil, to Jerry Harris.

I, Gayle Scarlett, being of warped mind, hereby leave my ability to forge absentee and tardy excuses, to Patsy Gaddes, Norma Fielder, and Carolyn Greer.

I, Karen Schultz, being of sound mind and body, do hereby will to Linda, my sister and Warren, my brother, all the wonderful years I’ve had at Cohn and the ability to talk in the library without needing permission.

I, Susie Seals, being of little mind, leave my nickname “Susie-Wong" to anyone else named Susie.

I, Doyle Sensing, leave my history book to my sister, because she'll use it more than I ever did.

I, Frances Sewell, leave my seat in English to anyone who can fill it.

I, Joan Sharber, being of small mind and too much body, do hereby will my ability to go to school twelve years without learning anything I didn't already know to my sister Joy Sharber and Norma Fielder.

I, Sue Shepperson, being of no mind and too much body, do hereby will my ability to make a date and forget when I made it for to Linda Alder; my ability to get through Miss Hetherington's English class to Johnny Tomes; all my old notebooks to Jerry Harris; and my ability to make a letter in shorthand at 120 words a minute and not be able to read a1 word of it back, to Linda

Adams and Linda Bush.

I, Jimmy Singleton, being of sound body and weak mind do hereby leave my ability to get along with Miss Hetherington to Tommy DeFord. My ability to come out with a 0% error in physics. I will to all of the next year physics students. My knowledge of F-O-R-M gained from Miss Lankford’s mathematics classes I will to any person who thinks answers are more important Last but not least, I will my ability to pass out during a blood test to one of next year's VICTIMS, Linda Schultz.

I, Janice Smith, of sound body and little mind, hereby leave to Jo Ann Becker second chair in band.

I, Nancy Smith, being of no mind and little body, do hereby leave to brother Howard, my place as captain of the cheerleaders, in hopes that he will make a better looking one than I.

I, Wade Smith, being of weak mind and weak body, do hereby will my ability to go to the Dairy Queen without getting kicked out to Jamie Brown.

I, Sandra Sorrell, being of hardly any mind and not much body, will my ability to get behind in typing class to anyone as bad in typing as I was.

I, Norma Springer, being of mixed-up mind and expanded body, leaving to anybody because I need it all for myself.

I, Guy Stanley, being of sound mind and too much body, will my bass drum my ability to play it to Leslie Pruitt, in hopes he will enjoy it as much as I did.

I, Joe Steranka, the Metrecal kid, being of muscle-bound brain and flabby body, do hereby will my ability to set the lab on fire and make Miss Sullivan ten years older in five minutes to Tommy Murray, and my Latin translation books to Phil Schmutz.

I, Paulette Story, of no mind and a sound body, do hereby will to Judy Byrd the ability to get out of classes without getting caught, and to get ‘out of school before she marries Ronnie.

I, Robert Lee Strickland, being of a very sound mind and weak body, leave to my brother Tommy my dirty tennis shoes, and to my cousin Carol “Bitsy Moore, my dirty gym suit, and the map to all of my hideouts and have better luck than I.

I, Joyce Suits, being of sound mind and body, dedicate my seat in Mrs. Arnold’s class to my brother Jerry Suits.

I, Edith Thomas, being of no mind and half body, do hereby leave my position of circulation manager and getting to school at 7:30 every morning three months, to Mary Milligan, in hopes that she will do much better than I did.

I, Ronnie Thomas, being of weak mind and no body, hereby will my seat in Miss Hetherington's English class to the next unsuspecting soul.

I, Virgie Tomes, being of little body and mind, leave to my big brother Johnny my ability to have both easy subjects and teachers during his senior year.

I, Barbara Trice, being of sound mind and body, leave all my old shorthand notebooks to anyone who can read them.

I, Ray Trotter, will my ability to wise off in Mr. Cathcart's English class to Ronnie Burton.

I, Barbara Vaden, being of small mind and little body, do hereby will my seat in Mr. Cathcart’s room to Linda McDonald and anything else I've got (which isn't much) to anyone who wants it.

I, Bonnie Vanatta, do hereby bequeath to my little brother, Joe, my good luck at never having received a ticket while being in Cohn High School.

I, Hudson Vance, being of sound body and weak mind, will to Buddy Baker my typing eraser, since he used it more than I did, and to brother Hugh my ability to get along with teachers in spite of my grades.

I, Lawanda Victory, being of weak mind and body, do hereby will my small brain and big mouth to Barbara Neely, in hopes she can get out of trouble as easily as I got into it.

I, Earline Wall, will my seat in Mr. Cathcart's English class to anyone who is lucky enough to get him.

I, Faye Ward, being of weak mind and body, do hereby will to Judy Martin my ability to eat lunch in Murfreesboro on a school day without getting caught.

I, Ruth Weatherby, being of little body and mind, will to my sister Alfreda, my ability to sleep in the library without getting caught.

I, Darlene Wheeler, with absolutely no mind, leave to my little brother Johnny my ability to pass history under Mrs. Dunkerly. He will need it.

I, Gayle White, being of poor mind and little body, do hereby will my valuable hours of baton practice to my two cousins, Patricia and Pam White, in hopes that they will make majorette and have as many hours of fun as I did.

I, Leon White, being of warped mind and of little body, will my ability to be a failure at every task I try, to anyone who is stupid enough to accept.

I, Martha Williams, being of no mind and little body, bequeath to Sandra Jones a pair of size 10 gym shoes in hopes they won't rip.

I, Larry Whitus, do hereby will my seat in Miss Hetherington’s English class to Linda Inman.

I, Mickey Wilson, being of one body and no mind, will my ability not to laugh at Mr. Morton's jokes and still get along with him to Dan Thompson. Also to Dan I will my seat in Mr. Cathcart’s room.

I, Lela May Williams, being of simple mind and little body, do hereby will to my little brother my ability to study and get along with all the teachers at Cohn High School.

I, James B. Wrather, being of sound mind and weak body, do leave my ability to pass American history to David Johnson.

I, Aloma Wright, being of no mind and little body, do hereby bequeath ability to choke down my lunch during the’ last fifteen minutes of choir to my sister. Mary, with the hope she doesn't get indigestion as bad as I did.

We hereunto affix our names and seal on this, the fourth of March, in year of our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-One.

Will makers: LINDA OWENS

DAVID GOTHARD