Crescent School holds 54 year class reunion

The Crescent High School Class of 1953 experienced another wonderful time of exchanging memories of past school days on Saturday, Sept. 8 in the Thomas Edison Room of the Wharton County Electric Coop.

The attendance of 33 was remarkable, considering there were 26 graduating seniors in 1953. This event marks the eighth gathering of the CHS Class of 1953.

The honored attending teachers of these students were: Marion Bozarth of Wharton, Mary Matzke Hacke and husband David of Crescent, D. D. Hill of El Campo, Coach Walter Jones and wife Alene of Houston, and Bernice Taska, whose husband Delvin (deceased) was the coach during the freshman year of this class.

Teacher honorees unable to attend were Ida Barta Brandt and husband Arthur of Houston, Raymond Naiser and wife Margaret of El Campo and Barbara Jones Talbott of Bowie, Md.

Students attending were Leon Bannert and wife Vivian of Wharton, Leroy Bennetsen and wife Carolyn of La Grange, Ernest Giesie and wife Rosezell of Wharton, Sammy Kindred and wife Wilma of Hondo, Delores Valenta Krauskopf and husband Alton of Louise, Betty Ann Maerz Krenek of Wharton, and Rita Nohavitza Kresta of Brazoria.

Also, Carl Douglas Mathews and Rosa Mitchell Mathews of El Campo (husband and wife, both were graduates), Philip Riley of Glen Flora, Birdie Mae Frels Stolle and husband A. J. of Wharton, Dorothy Barta Vacek and husband Jerome of Corsicana, Mary Lou Koehler Will of El Campo, Mildred "Millie" Cerny Williams and husband O. A. of Sugar Land, Edwin Wittig and wife Nancy of Spring and Delvin Wuthrich and wife Eileen of Wharton.

A noon meal of grilled chicken with all the trimmings was enjoyed. That set the tone for a full afternoon of visiting and reminiscing of events and years gone by.

Interestingly, 6-man football was created in Nebraska in 1934 and was first played in Texas and at Crescent in 1938. This was verified by Oscar Rasmussen, a CHS graduate of '39.

The Crescent Bluejays began playing 6-man football in 1938 and played through 1948, which was verified by Arnold Wuthrich, Jr., a CHS graduate of 1950.) Beginning in 1949, the freshman year of this class, 11-man football was played for the balance of the school's life.

The 6-man football field was 80 yards long, instead of 100, and 50 yards wide, instead of 53 1/3. A touchdown is still worth six points, but the point-after kick (must be a drop-kick - no holder) earns two points and a conversion made by running or passing earns one point.

A field goal is worth 4 points, not 3. The quarterback cannot run with the ball, must always lateral and everyone is eligible for a pass. Texas schools invoked a "mercy rule," ending the game after one team gains a lead of 45 points or more. (Football data courtesy of Houston Chronicle, September 30, 2006.)

The last school year of the Crescent Independent School District's High School ended in 1961, because of a consolidation mandated by the State of Texas.

Portions of the school district were consolidated with the El Campo and Wharton Independent School Districts.

Elementary classes continued through the spring of 1969.

The former Crescent School Campus was expanded and lives on as the home of the Wharton County Youth Fairgrounds in Crescent located at the intersection of FM 960 and FM 961.