Melvin Mullis Class of 1935

Since Naomi Shives and I are perhaps the oldest living members of OHS, here are some recollections that might be of interest. 1931-32 was during prohibition. There were many bootleggers during this era. Because of this, it became necessary in 1933 to legalize alcohol. Prohibition was just not working! I was a scrub on the 31-32 basketball team. After one away game, we were given 20 cents to eat at a local restaurant when we came home. My 20 cents bought two hamburgers and a piece of pie ala mode. Coach Roberts asked if I trained that way all the time. Basketball in 1931 required a jump ball after every basket; this rule was abolished in 1937. The 10-second rule -- get the ball across center court in 10 seconds -- was inaugurated. Vivian Wright Campbell was envious of me because I had a paper route, The Charleston Courier, which I carried for four years, $1.50 a week. A lot of money! One of our good teachers was Richard Boblenz. He came to OHS in 1933, a University of Illinois graduate. His home was Marion, Ohio. When asked why he came to U of Ill., he replied, did you ever hear of Red Grange? So, because of Red Grange, he came to Illinois, while his future wife to be went to Ohio U. He eventually went back to Columbus, Ohio, to teach. I have a 1932 Oakleaves yearbook. There were no more yearbooks published while I was in school because of the depressed hard times. Submitted for the "OHS: 90 Years of Memories" event held May 12, 2012, to commemorate Oakland High School in Oakland, Illinois.