Clereen and I really enjoyed the information about the naming of the popular Zephilsco Annual. Betty Jo Turner Hyder, the originator of the name shared some further details about the collaborative naming of the school Annual with us in follow up to the article.
“During the school year, 1946, students were allowed to go home for lunch, so Jayne Kerr and I went to her house. After lunch, Mrs. Geraldine Kerr, Jayne’s mother took us back to school in her family car so we would not be late. During the drive while talking about the Annual-naming contest, Mrs. Kerr suggested the combination of city and county name. At the time, Zephyrhills School encompassed grades 1 through 12, so Zephyrhills High School had not come into existence. Jayne did not want to submit the name so I volunteered. I remember we were sitting in the old auditorium when someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked how to pronounce the word, Zephilsco. I had no idea, never having said the name. That person pronounced it Zephilsco and I nodded.”
Betty Jo also shared some other information that might be of interest to school and community historians. Bob Booth was the Editor of the 1946 School Annual. Students in the ZHS class of 1946 were: Rubye Lott, Lois Ann Martinson, Joseph Elmer Nickerson, Blanche Madeline Lowe, Hazel Boatwright, Robert Andrew Booth, Christine Maxine Bryant, Amos A. Chancey, Doris Gertrude Cherry, Charles Sidney Coon, Helen Claire England, Ruth Kersey, Nita Lindsey, Mary Lois McDowell, Carolyn Laray Maple, Ralph B. Mott, Albert Wilson Royal, Sherman Albert Royal, and Franklin Thomas. Betty also related that the 1946 yearbook was the first one published since the 1935 Annual called the Spotlight, which Emil Reutimann served as the editor.
The Class of 1947 did not publish an Annual. Students in the class of 1947 at ZHS were: Bonnie Lou Arnold, Emerson David Arnot, Jr., John McElwain Arnot, June Clarice Arnot, Elizabeth Patricia Bolden, James Holmes Boatwright, Joan Carter, Lois Martina Clardy, Ralph Lamar Chancey, John Thurman Clardy, Laura L. Gallagher, Estella A. Grams, Frank Roy Heath, Cora Etta Jones, Theodore Franklin Mayor, Paul Eugene Miller, Catherine Marie Nevins, Patricia Pauline Parttridg, Mary Eloise Pollock, Cornelia Jane Thomson, William James Peterson, George Clarence Kemp.
The practice was reinstated with the class of 1948 and continues through today. The current Zephilsco editor is Josh Barter with the teacher sponsor in 2009 being: Tracey Snyder. Coincidentally, Fred Gore was the editor of the 1948 Annual and it was free to all students. Betty Jo adds that this may have been the last free annual for students. Seniors raised money for the publishing of the yearbook.
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