With July 4th festivities at hand, it seems only appropriate to reflect on citizenship in our Countdown reflections this week. During July, two ZHS students, Travis Bush and Dylan Moss will be heading to Tallahassee to take part in American Legion Boys State, a mock legislature. They will learn first hand about the multifaceted aspects of our American Governmental system. Dylan and Travis will be part of a group of ZHS students that date back to 1948. ZHS is fortunate to have such a wonderful ongoing partnership with the American Legion Post 118 of Zephyrhills. Commander Keith Holz and Auxiliary Chairperson Cecille Looney have worked with the school in the past few years to select students to represent the school. A central goal of the programs has been to foster leadership skills. In years past, the delegates have given talks in the community and written news reports about their experiences.
The archives of the News are filled with the reports at the Legion and other civic groups. While at the State Capitol, the delegates simulate an election, generate bills and pass legislation while running a working government. Students are selected competitively at the school by representatives of the Legion and Auxiliary, usually through interview. We thought you might be interested in a recap of the delegates throughout the centennial span:
2009: Travis Bush and Dylan Moss with alternate, Tyler Guy
2008: Brandon Minton, Randall Duffield, Brooke Jensen
2007: Ryan Alderman, Sara Smith
2006: Sederrik Cunningham, Matthew Thomas
2005: Brian Oneill, Brett Ross
2004: Michael Chin, Erik Dokendorf
2003: Alexander Boyle, Daniel, Burgess, Jr., Jacob Cimorelli
2002: Michael Hogard, Greg Mathis, Renee Yonkof
2001: Kristen Benedini [no boy was sent]
2000: Andrew Prilliman, Ashley McGavern, Mamie Wise
1999: Michael Pittman, Sarah Morphew
1998: Dean Collura, Melissa Strozewski
1997: Nick Peacock, Elissa St. Clair
1996: Ryan Dye, Cara Rodgers
1995: Brian Wood, Amanda Schwab
1993: Kamalii Louis “Ricky” Kaina, Mary Lee Going
1992: Daniel Husted, Lori Johnson
1991: Tommy McLeod, Emily Currington
1990: Mark Briggs, Adrian Johnson, Larry Weicht, Heidi Grimes
1989: Tommy Gregory, Doug Kraszka, Angela Riggs
1988: Tim McGavern, Jay Winter
1987: Edwin Amerman, Eric Smith, Christie Spurlock
1986: Steve Bright, Mark Brissette, Amy Williams
1985: Brian Crosby, Joseph Knight
1984: James Baker, John Roux, Pam Bartkowski
1983: David Harwell, David Seidel, Roy Wells, Chris Williams, Tracy Dunlap1982: David Bright, Russell Ellis, Dale Parker, Jimmy Williams, Carolyn Thompson
1981: Steve Kretschmar, Scott Natali, George Patton, Ronald Bryan Woodard, James Wyatt, III, Jodi Nutt
1980: Robert Briggs, Don Jernstrom, Chris Martin, Stan Stinson, Nancy Deboe
1979: Leonard Gehrke, Raymond LaCour, Loren Reed, Lance Alan Smith, Sharon Hastings
1978: Mark Barclay, Alan Corbin, Cliff Gehrke, Steve Spanger, Mona McIntosh
1977: Chris Bahr, Jeff DeWitt, Don Piatt, Fred Rhoda, Jeff Strout, Patricia Inman
1976: Scott Boyd, Ivan Corbin, Glen Howard, Kevin Pappan, Diane Bailey, Luan Gore
1975: Charles Back, Greg Mills, Eric Pirttima, Johanna Newton
1974: Hal Copper, Rodney Ferguson, Doug Lail, Kurt Malmquist, Cheri Wynne
1973: Gerald Eysaman, Jr., Armondo Maniscalco, Paul Regan, Brenda Kendrick
1972: Van McKenzie, Mike Walker, Mike Cox, Phyllis Jarrett (Mike Walker served as President of the Senate)
1971: Don Robinson, Jr., Bruce Vogel, Joni Palmer
1970: Jeff Brown, Larry McDonald, Andrij Neczwid Valerie Wickstrom
1969: Jeff Alston, David Krystofiak, Jim Simons, Julia Phipps
1968: Susanne Douglas
1967: Acie Ellerbe, Danny Pollock, Laura Eloise Hall
1966: Richard Kinney, Raymond Hodges, Jr., Alice Back
1965: Walter Achillich, Tom Porter, Janice McGuffey
1964: David Myers, Larry Turner, Diana Clements
1963: Ray Preston Bolt, John Wintersteen, Cletia Weaver
1962: X.L. Garrison Jr., Robert Johnson, Judy Goulding
1961: Sam Gross, Barbara Russ
1960: Richard Miles, Barbara Higginson
1959: Robert Campbell, Lynn Louise Nichols
1958: Bobby Hinsz, Margie Braden
1957: William McCallister, Glenn Miller, Ann Smith
1956: Barney A. Beach, Paul Canaday, Susanne Coolidge
1955: James Jarrett, Jr., Sarah Peck
1954: Cecil McGavern, Jr., Ruth Aldocosta
1953: Joan Lefler, Dale Vought
1952: Roger Whitworth, Merlene Nelson
1951: John Forbis, Barbara Smith
1950: Rex Gilbreath, Jack Lamb, Marilyn McClellan
1949: Billy “Jook” England, Nancy Skinner
1948: Jack Green, Joan Steve
Countdown to Centennial All rights reserved. Photos © Madonna Jervis Wise
By Madonna Jervis Wise and
Clereen Morrill Brunty
of the 100th Anniversary Committee, ZHS. Article originally appeared in the Zephyrhills News on July 2, 2009.