by Ron Johnston
Slowly but surely, a steady stream of cars pulled into the main parking lot at Churchville-Chili Senior High School at 5786 Buffalo Road.
You could actually hear music blaring in some of the vehicles. Several of the younger people were tuned in to Home of the Busy Bees radio station WBBF 950AM in Rochester. Top Ten songs like “Wild Thing” (The Troggs), “Summer in the City” (The Lovin Spoonful), and “Paint It Black” (The Rolling Stones) were popular at that time. Also popular was station DJ “Honey Bee” Jessica (Savitch), who, in the not too distant future, would become the first woman anchor for a network newscast.
It was a clear, warm summer evening that Saturday, June 25, 1966. Scheduled at 8:15 p.m. in the school’s auditorium was the Class of ‘66 graduation.
Turns out, CCSHS had one of the more entertaining graduation exercises that year.
The highlight of the event occurred on the auditorium’s stage when five sitting male seniors in caps and gowns – Mike Voorheis, Jay Scott, Jimmy Widener, Scott Alexander, and Ron Wisotzke – all simultaneously crossed their legs during the ceremony.
It was perfectly on cue and very funny.
The spectators, made up of mostly of friends and family members, got a big chuckle out of the Rockettes-like move.
C-C principal Gordon Taylor just smiled and rolled his eyes.
Custodian Leo Zuch, who helped arrange the folding chairs on the stage, appeared stunned with a look of disbelief on his face.
A little girl in the audience was heard saying, “What’s everybody laughing for?” She apparently had missed the choreography on the stage.
But without missing a beat, the program continued.
Music teacher William White conducted the Saints choir. The senior singers were Linda Bowman, Betty McCarthy, Peter Bushman, Marilyn Tomb, Vivian Tomb, Kathy Resides, Kenny Fuller, Steve Smith, Sharon Schwalm, Larry Boddy, and Craig MacMillan.
Ruth Sigworth played the piano.
Senior Betty McCarthy gave the Valedictorian speech.
Salutatorians Larry Hirsch, Bob Hall, and Dick Utter also spoke. This was a first, as never before in the school’s history had there been a three-way deadlock for the position of salutatorian.
Ronnie Johnston was presented his high school diploma by his dad, a Board of Education member, and promptly mishandled it like a hot potato.
“E-6!” one of his Saint classmates on the stage yelled out.
Robert Kazmayer, a 57-year-old author, pastor and world traveler, was the main speaker at the ‘66 graduation exercise. He spoke on “The Wonderful Challenge of the Years Ahead.”
Afterwards, everybody pretty much went their separate ways to celebrate or what-have-you. Some of the students had plans to attend college and got a summer job. Others immediately joined the workforce, and became gainfully employed. Then, there were C-C seniors John Huskey and Jimmy Widener, who enlisted in the Marines on the buddy system that summer.
As for me personally, the first thing I did after leaving the school premises was change a flat tire somewhere on Buffalo Road en route back to Riga Center.
Fast-forward to 2025..
Just recently, a softball-themed ad for the prescription medication Jardiance aired on TV. And, during one of the scenes, four players on the bench are shown crossing their legs just like the five Churchville-Chili guys did during the ‘66 graduation.
I nearly fell out of the recliner. Couldn’t believe it. It seems that Voorheis, Scott, Widener, Alexander, and Wisotzke were way ahead of their time.
Note: Ron Johnston is the author of One-Game Wonder.
