Class of 1974

The Washington High Class of 1974 graduated 468.

Class officers were Pam Seesan as president, Liz Gessner, vice president; Jan Maxhimer, secretary and Cathy Zieglehofer, treasurer.

Miss Massillonian was Diane Wincek, Outstanding Senior Boy was Darrell Bickford and our Fall 1973 Homecoming Queen was Carol Sampsel.

Our ’73 Tigers claimed a share of the All-American Football Conference championship by beating rivals Warren 34-18, Steubenville 51-0, Alliance 54-0, Niles 23-7 with the loss being to McKinley 0-21. Our Season opening victory of 22-0 over Cleveland Cathedral Latin was the 500th victory and the first high school team in the nation to reach that number. The guest speaker at the football banquet was Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes. Our coach, Bob Commings, resigned after the season to become the head coach at the University of Iowa.

The basketball team coached by Bill Kennon enjoyed a winning season with 11 victories against 7 losses. 5 of those losses were by 7 or less points!

The Tiger Shark swimmers boasted two divers in Brent Fichter and Mike Graham that went onto enjoy collegiate success and Fichter almost made the US Olympics team.

The Massillon Tiger Swing Band was directed by Jim Billingsley and assisted by Steve Johnson and Shirlee Styer McCauley. The band played for the Cleveland Browns and five area band festivals and another five area parades. Musical highlights included “Bongo Rock”, “American Marching Song”, “Swanee”, “Those Were the Days” and “Skyliner” in addition to the famous opening routine of “Tiger Rag and Carry On”. They marched in the Holland, Michigan “Tulip Festival Parade” in the Spring of 1974.

The choir program directed by the legendary R. Byron Griest was his final edition here at WHS. The Choir was assisted by Karen Bushman. The Choir program presented the 36th Handel’s Messiah, performed the musical “Oklahoma” and were awarded State Superior ratings for the Advanced, Boys and Girls choruses. The Washingtonians was the first “show choir” here when the ensemble included choreographed dancing along with the music. Four members of the choir led the stadium for the National Anthem and Alma Mater prior to home football games. The choir joined the band at one halftime and presented “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. “A Jubilant Song” was the signature presentation of the spring concert and OMEA season.

The Struts and Frets Drama Club presented “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay” in the Fall, and “Our Miss Brooks” in the Spring. The club was directed by Cindy Scherger (Dewald).

Our superintendent for the Massillon City Schools was Lloyd McCrory, the WHS principal was Cliff Wilson and our three assistant principals were August Morningstar, Lowell Shrider and Mike Norman.

This class has met at 5 year increments since graduation and for their 50th and 60th accumulative birthdays. Next scheduled reunion will be in 2019. Reunion principles are Robin Edie Schumacher, Linda Geshwind Camaretta, Tom Janikis, John Villilo and Bob Wenzel.