Most Preferred Man

During ninth grade year at Logan Junior High, I attended my first night dance, just for ninth graders, in the school cafeteria. All other dances (for 7-9 graders) at the junior high were after school in the gym. At that night dance I asked Deb Dixon to dance. She was a good 6-10 inches taller than me so at one point, for a dreaded slow dance, I pulled up a milk carton crate to stand on. We laughed. 

That dance with Deb, who was part of the "cool group" of girls, meant that I got a last-minute invite to an after-dance party at the home of Deb Bertoch. Other couples at the party were already more involved than just a few dances for one night. It was therefore a bit shocking to naive me when at some point during the party the lights were turned off! I figured the intent, but it was not my intent, nor probably Deb Dixon's. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I do think that I reached up and turned the lights back on. Such a goody two shoes. 

Studentbody officers of Logan Junior High, 1970-71. I (in dark blue) was the studentbody president. (Jan Baugh center and Marylyn Worley with the choker are still dear friends).

Due to the October 31st cut off for school years, as a September baby I was one of the youngest students in my school class. That meant that for all, but the first two weeks, of my sophomore years at Logan High School I was 15 years old. There was not yet a For The Strength of Youth rule book declaring age 16 as the magical starting line for dating, but there was a general belief amongst most Mormons in Logan that dating should wait until 16--even for poor sophomores with late birthdays. I therefore did not ask anybody to the homecoming or Christmas dances. 

Then came the Sweetheart's Ball in February. It was the one girls' choice dance of the year, followed by two more boy choice dances--Junior Prom and then the Senior Prom. The boy's always had to call the girl on the phone and ask them to the dance (no fancy posters and treats on the porch in our generation). Sweethearts was different. The Girls' League organized a well-orchestrated selection process where all  of the girls wanting to go would gather in the auditorium and then when announced they could hurry forward (or more realistically a stampede with leaps up onto the stage) where staffed tables arranged alphabetically with boxes filled with named note cards for every boy in the school awaited for the lines of girls to hopefully find that the card with the boy of their dreams name on it was still available to claim for a dance date. If not, then they had to find a card for someone else. 

I got a mailed invitation from Kristine Webb. It was to be my first date. I don't remember for sure, but I think we doubled dated to dinner at the Bluebird. The dance was held in the gymnasium decorated with a lowered ceiling of plastic sheeting, bought in big rolls and used in different colors for most every dance in the cavernous, balconied basketball gymnasium.  

While other dances had royalty to proclaim. Sweethearts had Most Preferred Men to honor. In January, girls divided by grade, were encouraged to nominate their most preferred men. The three boys from each class with the most nominations were then voted on by all the girls in their class. Short, bespectacled, freckle-faced, non-athletic me was voted the most preferred man of the sophomore class. My only duty as most preferred was to join the other two honorees for a mid-dance dance (photo below) for all to watch. 

A month later I was hit by a car while riding my bike to school and ended up with a broken leg and wrist. That spring I was also elected as Junior Class president. 

Me as a senior--photo taken for the Playbill of the school musical that year: No, No Nannette. 

I was one of twelve boys in the chorus. That year we all learned how to tap dance and two-step. I'm right behind up-front lead Jan Baugh in the white flapper dress. (photos by John W. Emmett)

I was the shortest boy in the chorus line and my lovely partner was Deb Bertoch, host of the ninth grade after dance party. 

Two of the leads were Robert Allen and Jan Baugh. 

It was quite a production!

I had quit band after my sophomore year so I could take a student government class. Then in my senior year orchestra teacher Ray Haslam and his brother Larry a social studies teacher, organized an orchestra trip to Europe. Many of my friends were going, both as members of the orchestra or as happy travelers recruited to fill up the three busses. They encouraged me to go, so I went and asked Ray Haslam if he needed an additional trumpet (actually mine was a cornet) player, albeit a rusty one (player, not trumpet). He did. I started going to Saturday practices as third trumpet. We played classics like Grieg's Piano Concerto, Beethoven's Egmont Orchestra and Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony. One week after graduation the orchestra and friends spent three weeks travelling across Europe (from Vienna to London) playing concerts and sight-seeing. It was a blast. 

In Vienna (Photo by Ade Lundgren--in pink)

12 years of great friendships: neighborhood and 10th ward kids, classmates at Adam's elementary, friends from band, orchestra, plays and musicals, fellow student body and science club officers, bus mates travelling to watch away games, and party, dragging main, and Fredrico's pizza eating buddies.

Whenever it was doable I returned to Logan for our class reunions. Over the years, the every five year reunion added a morning golf game and a ladies' lunch. In later years as photos of the ladies luncheon were shared on the class website and Facebook page, I often thought how fun that gathering looked. Truth be told, I had many more girl friends in high school than boy friends. It seemed much more pleasant to go to a reunion activity where many of my friends would be gathered without the distraction of spouses. Also, some of those friends only went to the luncheon and not the dinner. 

I never ever thought of going to the luncheon. But then the 45th reunion five years ago changed that. Just a few months before that reunion No, No Nannette lead Robert Allen joined the web site as a transitioned Bobbie Jo Allen. She happily announced that she would be coming to the reunion. Warm and welcoming replies from many classmates followed. That warmth (mostly from the women of our class) inspired Bobbie Jo to sign up for both the Ladies lunch and the dinner. I didn't attend that reunion but I saw the photos. Bobbie Jo went to the luncheon! I was jealous. 

When I signed up for out 50th reunion and submitted my money I noted to committee member Jan Walker that I was envious that Bobbie Jo attended the ladies lunch last reunion. She apologized and I told her not to worry about it. I explained that Bobbie Jo was a lady and I was not. Jan shared my secret dream with the committee and soon after I got a text from Jan Baugh (musical co-lead with Robert). Our parents were good friends. We grew up together and overlapped in many school activities--including Jr. High studentbody officers. Jan told me that the committee, six women and one man, had unanimously decided that I should come to the luncheon. I politely said no thanks. I didn't want to rock the boat or make a scene. I said it was a lunch for ladies. She said that there were not by-laws or rules controlling anything about the reunion and if the committee decided that I was welcome, then I was welcome. Besides the women would all want to see me. I then thought, sure! I was their Most Preferred Man in 1972. I soon venmoed Jan Walker my $20. 

Saturday June 29th was the big day. Both the luncheon and dinner were held at the Logan Gold and Country Club. I was about 10 minutes late arriving. As I walked up to sign a name tag, I was soon greeted with smiles and big hugs from so many good friends. Some that I hadn't seen in decades. We visited and laughed for two hours. Nobody batted an eye at my showing up. 

Friends from the neighborhood, ward, skiing, travels, dances, musicals and just life. 

Four of the five women in this group were on the orchestra trip to Europe with me. Linda Willis on the right end was my date to the Senior Prom. Ade Lundgren is again in pink. When I inquired about the logistics of the Sweethearts Ball, Liz Hayward in orange said she was "too shy to even imagine asking a boy!" and than admonished me to tell all the shy kids reading my blog that they need to go to the dances. 

Photos were taken in elementary school groups. Adams school had the largest representation. I am standing between the two Jans who encouraged me to come. I have known MaryLyn Worley in red and White since I was about 5. Our parents were friends, so she came to my 5th birthday party when I lived in Providence. Last winter she called me from Seattle and said she was coming to Utah to ski and would I want to join her. We had a great day skiing together at Beaver Mt. We (along with Bonnie Glen, lower left) are already thinking about organizing a class ski day on the first Friday of March next year to correspond with the class of 73's ski day (organized by my brother Bob). 

Thanks Bobbie Jo for inspiring me to even think about attending the Ladies Lunch. Glad to count you as one of my LHS friends--back then and now. 

All who attended the evening gathering. Sadly, even with both the lunch and dinner, I still missed talking with everyone. 

All of my siblings married someone from the Ellis School (west side of Logan) and as such, I have an in-law and three siblings of in-laws in my class. Pam Smith's (center) sister Annie is married to my brother Bob. Lorie Smith (right) is married to my brother Bill. These two are not related but they grew up across the street from each other and more likely than not were at that cool girl party in ninth grade. 

Mike Freeman's younger sister Lesa married my brother Jake. Not in attendance was Rod Lundberg whose younger brother Jim married my sister Mary. 

So fun to see Deb, my No. No Nannette partner. I'm pretty sure she always thought I was going to drop her. 

Thanks class of 74 for all the good times and for being my friend.