Hometown proud

To the editor:
As a Sr. Matric grad of F.F.H.S. in 1948, it was great to be able to be part of the recent Millennium Reunion. What a tremendous effort by the local community–I’m proud of my hometown!
However, I recently received a copy of the July 12 edition of the Fort Frances Times which contained a large picture (on C1) of someone looking at pictures and clippings of the ’40s and ’50s.
Though my name appeared under it, it wasn’t me. Whoever it was both lacked a beard and had less hair on top, but was otherwise more handsome than I. Perhaps a correction is in order.
1946-’47 and 1947-’48, the first post-war years, were key ones for the rebuilding of the “all school” type of activities at FFHS. The new Literary Society began publishing the FLIT. 1947-’48 also saw the restoration of the student council, with myself as prefect, Betty Joan Neely as V.P., Earl Newman as P.R., and Cassie Patton as secretary.
Similarly, ’46 began the first all-school football team under coach Dronyk, playing exibition games with Kenora and some U.S. schools. The team had no name that fall so the newly-formed Athletic Society called for suggestiions for a team name for the next year’s activities.
I submited the name the fighting “Muskies” (I was the grade 12 rep on the committee), and A. Robinson and others also may have submitted it.
It was the name the committee recommended to the administration and subsequently approved.
We played for the first time as officially the “Muskies” in the ’47-’48 season in the newly-formed Border Football League (incidentally, we beat the Falls on their own turf that season!)
The granting of silver pins (letters) for achievement in each of five categories–academic, executive, athletic, literary, and music–also began at this time, with a gold one granted after three silver.
’47-’48 also began the Mando student exchange visits between Kenora High School and FFHS. Tom Oshhiro was Kenora’s student president that first year.
These were exciting years and elicit great memories. It was a thrill to meet so many who were friends at that time and be able to compare notes on the years that have followed.
Thanks again to all who made it possible.
Signed,
Dr. Kenneth Davis
(Class of ’48)