Dr. George Bogumill’s New Book
Following the 2009 Thorp Alumni Reunion, Dr. George Bogumill ’47 said
he had written a book that he wanted to donate to the Thorp Alumni
memorabilia collection; THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GEORGE PIERCE BOGUMILL,
Memories of His First 80 years.” This book will be on display at
the 2010 Thorp Alumni Reunion. It is a wonderful book that
includes his upbringing in Thorp, his elementary and high school days in
Thorp, memories of his family, and many other Thorp memories. Many
Thorpites will relate to Dr. George’s stories and recollections. Below
are excerpts from his book, the chapters that covered his years at Thorp
High School.
Freshman Year 1943-44
I
graduated from St. Bernard’s in May of 1943 and started at Thorp High
School that fall. Most courses were taught in the main brick
school building, but others, dealing mainly with business and
secretarial, were held in the old white wooden building that had been
the original high school. It was situated behind the newer brick
building, which meant we had to run outside in the cold to get to and
from classes. We all had to take physical education. I do recall
taking a course from Mr. Swanson who taught Ag subjects; the only thing
I remember from this is that we learned how to caponize roosters.
I went out for band and was starting to learn the tuba (much to
the dismay of my mother), but the band director was drafted into the
Navy so I never got very far learning music.
I joined the
Forensics Club and had to learn and present a declamation to the entire
student body at one point each year. The subject had to be
memorized and presented without notes and the more emoting one could do
was a plus, especially if the declamation was supposed to be humorous.
It was a competitive process and we were judged and compared to our
peers.
I went out for the football team, even though I weighed
only 93 pounds. Our conference was composed of small schools from
Stanley, Cadott, Owen, Withee, Cornell and Neillsville. Since many
of the older students left for the service in the middle of WWII, teams
were composed of 6 players, 3 linemen and 3 backs. Anyone was
eligible to catch passes or otherwise run the ball. I don’t know
if I got to play at all, but Coach was a believer in equal opportunity
to get injured, so I probably did get to play some. I tried out
for junior varsity basketball but I was never very good (too small, too
slow, poor shot, a deadly combination).
There was a time set
aside each week for religious instruction. We were turned loose to
return to St. Bernard’s for an hour or so of catechism class.
Sophomore Year 1944-45
This year was better because we
had the freshmen to take the hazing we took last year. Favorite classes
were algebra and typing. The latter was done in the old white
building on old Royal or Remington typewriters (no electric typewriters
in those days). We had physical education with new Coach Knudson, who
loved to devise games involving a great deal of running, tackling,
hitting the hard gym floor, all without the benefit of pads – many
skinned knees and elbows and bruises. The gym, attached to the
main high school building, was built during the mid 1930’s.
I
was elected secretary-treasurer of the sophomore class, but it didn’t
amount to much because we had no treasury and I don’t recall any meeting
at which I had to take notes. It did put me in close contact with
Dorothy ‘Totsie’ Amendt, on whom I had a moderate crush.
I again
went out for football (at 120). The conference had gone to 8 man
teams – 5 linemen and 3 backs. I played one of the 3 backs on
offense and defensive back on defense. Everybody played both ways in
those days. Our team won 5 and lost 4. Again, I tried out for
junior varsity basketball without much success for the same reasons as
freshman year. We played softball pickup games on the street,
choosing up sides and being inventive as to where we put the bases, etc.
Bill Wagner had a basketball hoop mounted on a pole and we also played
pickup games there. No significant organized sports with parents
involved.
I continue in Forensics Club again with declamations
and extemporaneous readings. We competed with other schools after
surviving competition in our own school. It was a good experience,
although it was hard to conquer stage fright when one is the only one on
the stage, especially when we went to Eau Claire to compete with other
schools from the region.
Junior Year 1945-46
Classes included shorthand (I never got very good at it), advanced
algebra, history and others I no longer recall. I went out for
football again at 125, played mainly defensive back (as slow as I was
without pads, you can imagine what it was like loaded down with football
padding). This was the first year our conference changed to 11 man
teams. We won 3, lost 3, one tie. I tried basketball again, with
same success as before. We also had a baseball team that spring
and I played various positions, started at 3rd base before finding my
niche at 2nd base. I didn’t have a strong enough arm to play
shortstop or outfield.
Once football season was over, I joined
the Mixed Chorus, along with several others of the team. We caroled in
the halls before Christmas and between plays put on by the grade school
kids. We also put on a program in memory of Washington and
Lincoln.
I continued in the Forensics Club in several
competitions, but didn’t win any prizes.
I was the editor of
the Cardinal, Thorp High’s monthly gazette for the January edition.
Editors were changed for each edition but remained on staff and
contributed in various ways such as reporting on activities.
The
junior class put on a play called “A Little Honey.” I had a
secondary role. We also put on the Junior Prom with the theme, “Rose
Room,” a popular song at that time. I know that I was quite
involved with decorating the gym, and I know I went to the dance but I
can’t remember who my date was. The dance was quite a success as I
remember.
Senior Year 1946 – January 1947
My favorite class was history where we had a young teacher, although I
also enjoyed trigonometry. More English from one of my favorite
teachers, Belle Laurent. As usual, I often misbehaved during study
hall.
Played football again at 137, was the starting quarterback
on a single wing team. We had a new coach, Stu North. I called all
the plays in the huddle without help from the sideline since we had no
way to communicate. My function as quarterback was mainly to block
for running plays and hand off the ball to our running back. I was
not involved in passing plays since we had another kid who could throw
the ball farther and more accurately. I played defensive back too.
I was knocked out cold on the first play of the season, tackling the
league’s best running back from Cornell. My cousin, Rich Polnaszek,
was by backup, and he said he almost panicked when he saw me laid out on
the field. Fortunately, the fuzziness quickly passed and I played
the rest of the game and season without further injury or incident.
I continued in forensics and mixed chorus. We put on another play
titled “A Case of Springtime,” in which I had a lead role as an 18 year
old senior about ready to go off to college.
What was I like in
those high school years? Like so many teenagers I was a mixed up
kid, brazen at times, confident of my scholastic abilities, but overall
quite unsure of myself. I could talk to girls and joke around with
them, but I was quite bashful. This may have had something to do with
dropping out of school between semesters to join the Army in January
1947, football season was over and I couldn’t make the basketball team.
Also I was looking forward to adventure and I learned that the two high
school credits needed to graduate were given at that time for basic
training. Along with good buddies “Doc” Schief, “Bud” Pitt, Tom
Zarada (who was later killed in Korea), and several underclassmen) Phil
Rundle, Don Boardman and Len Ebben) we signed up with the Army recruiter
from Eau Claire. I help Doc and Bud cram for English final exams
which we all passed and thus completed the first semester honorable;
thus ended my high school career.
George’s book will be
available to view at the memorabilia display at Thorp High School during
the All-Thorp Alumni Reunion weekend, July 2nd through July 4th.
2010 ALL-THORP ALUMNI REUNION RESERVATIONS
The invitation letter and reservation form for the Thorp Alumni
Reunion has been sent to all Thorp alumni. Reunion weekend is
Friday, July 2nd through Sunday, July 4th. Please get your
reservation form in as soon as possible. The form also provides an
opportunity to donate to the TAA Scholarship Fund and to order your 2010
Alumni Directory.
Contact information:
TAA, P. O. Box 75, Thorp, WI 54771
Email:
thorpalumni@gmail.com
715-669-3698
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