Class of 1972 History
History of the Class of 1972
The History of the Class of 1972, what was happening when we graduated on the 2nd of June 1972:
The NewsThe MusicThe Class
Class of 1972 Factoids
Classmates Who Married Classmates
Judy Blake and Arthur Doyle O'ConnorFreddye Daniels and Randolph PortleyAnn Forster and Mark JenningsNancy Glover and Louis WilhelmNancy LeBus and David HiettToni Lindsey and Bruce CammackVickie Lloyd and Billy WrittVickie Neeley and Jim DraperBrenda Thomas and Joey LanePamela L. Willis and Edd Henry (Moss) Anthony, Jr.
The News
The year 1972 was the longest year on record, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event that has not been repeated since. As we finished our time at Longview High School, we all left with mixed feelings. Vietnam was still going on, terrorism was becoming a common occurrence, and we would have dealt with our own challenges as we ventured forward.
Longview News – Integration:
In the Fall of 1970, the student body of Womack High School was merged with that of Longview High School. At the same time, Longview Independent School District is to begin busing children outside of their neighborhoods to promote racial balance. Below is an article from the Longview News-Journal from 13 September 2009, looking back at this historic event for Longview High School and Longview.
World News – September 1971 – June 1972
Torn from the headlines, these key events occurred in the world during our Senior Year at Longview High School.
Longview High School Historical Documents
Different documents from Longview High School
The Music
Casey Kasem's American Top 40 was the show to listen to, as he counted down the hits of the week. It was based on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, which would start off with, "This is Casey Kasem in Hollywood, and in the next three hours, we'll count down the 40 most popular hits in the United States this week, hot off the record charts of Billboard magazine for the week ending June 3, 1972." Then he would always sign off with, "Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars."
40: “AUTOMATICALLY SUNSHINE” – THE SUPREMES39: “LONG-HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL” – LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND38: “VINCENT” – DON McLEAN37: “LIVING IN A HOUSE DIVIDED” – CHER36: “DOCTOR MY EYES” – JACKSON BROWNE35: “DAY DREAMING” – ARETHA FRANKLIN34: LOVE THEME FROM “THE GODFATHER” (SPEAK SOFTLY LOVE) – ANDY WILLIAMS33: “I’VE BEEN LONELY FOR SO LONG” – FREDERICK KNIGHT32: “ROCKET MAN” – ELTON JOHN31: “OLD MAN” – NEIL YOUNG30: “ISN’T LIFE STRANGE” – THE MOODY BLUES29: “ASK ME WHAT YOU WANT” – MILLIE JACKSON28: “SOMEDAY NEVER COMES” – CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL27: “I NEED YOU” – AMERICA26: “LEAN ON ME” – BILL WITHERS25: “SLIPPIN’ INTO DARKNESS” – WAR24: “TAXI” – HARRY CHAPIN23: “AMAZING GRACE” – PIPES AND DRUMS AND THE MILITARY BAND OF THE ROYAL SCOTSDRAGON GUARDS22: “ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD”21: “BETCHA BY GOLLY, WOW” – STYLISTICS20: “I GOTCHA” – JOE TEX19: “TROGLODYTE (CAVE MAN)” – JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH18: “I SAW THE LIGHT” – TODD RUNDGREN17: “OUTA-SPACE” – BILLY PRESTON16: “DIARY” – BREAD15: “IT’S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME” – THE CARPENTERS14: “WALKING IN THE RAIN WITH THE ONE I LOVE” – LOVE UNLIMITED13: “LITTLE BITTY PRETTY ONE” – JACKSON 512: “SONG SUNG BLUE” – NEIL DIAMOND11: “(LAST NIGHT) I DIDN’T GET TO SLEEP AT ALL” – 5TH DIMENSION10: “LOOK WHAT YOU DONE FOR ME” – AL GREEN9: “HOT ROD LINCOLN” – COMMANDER CODY & HIS LOST PLANET AIRMEN8: “NICE TO BE WITH YOU” – GALLERY7: “TUMBLING DICE” – THE ROLLING STONES6: “MORNING HAS BROKEN” – CAT STEVENS5: “SYLVIA’S MOTHER” – DR. HOOK AND THE MEDICINE SHOW4: “CANDY MAN” – SAMMY DAVIS JR.3: “THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE” – ROBERTA FLACK2: “OH GIRL” – THE CHI-LITES1: “I’LL TAKE YOU THERE” – THE STAPLE SINGERS
Pop Culture in 1972
Popular Films
- The Godfather- Fiddler on the Roof- Diamonds Are Forever- What's Up, Doc?- Dirty Harry- The Last Picture Show- A Clockwork Orange- Cabaret
Popular Musicians and Songs
- ABBA- Roxy Music- The Eagles- John Lennon- Paul Simon- Simon and Garfunkel- Rod Stewart- Don McLean with "American Pie"- Michael Jackson with "Ben"- Don McLean- Elton John- The Moody Blues- David Bowie- Led Zeppelin
Popular TV Programs
- Monty Python's Flying Circus- Sesame Street- The Benny Hill Show- The Brady Bunch- Dad's Army- Hawaii Five-O- Here's Lucy
Technology
- HBO launched in the US as the first subscription cable service- Richard Nixon ordered the start of the Space Shuttle Program- Apollo 16 lands on the moon, where the Lunar Rover is tested by astronauts John W. Young and Charles M. Duke- Apollo 17 lands on the moon, and the last man to walk on the moon is Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Ceman- Digital Watches are introduced- First scientific hand-held calculator (HP-35) introduced at $395- The Volkswagen Beetle becomes the most popular car ever sold, with in excess of 15 million sold- Atari kicks off the first generation of video games with the release of PONG, the first game to achieve commercial success- Artificial Heart – William J. Koiff- Optical Fiber