Last Thursday Night at the Volleyball game the Drayton Athletic Director Mr. Babinski asked what the Drayton School Song was. This has proved to be a very interesting “puzzle”. What is needed at this point is a copy of the music. Drayton High School Principle Mr. Michael Babinski would like to find a copy of it by the end of this school year.
The last time that the Drayton School song was used would most likely have been under the direction of then music teacher Jane Uggerud. After reaching out to her some information as to the name and possible location of the music was given. Current music teacher Ms. Khaya Palada is searching files in the Drayton Music room for it.
Later research proved even more interesting as it appears that depending on when it appears that depending on when students attended Drayton High School that there were very possibly at least two different school songs.
Glenda (Amann) Erickson class of 1966 when asked what she remembered about the school song said, “which one the “new” one or the “old” one”. She went on to say that when Mr. Kovash was hired as the music teacher in 1965 – 1966 school year he changed the school song because the one that was being used at the time was also being used by almost every other school in the area. Elwood Schumacher class of 1965 and Dorothy (Gallagher) Schumacher class of 1969 both confirmed this information. The editor of Valley News & Views then reached out to her Uncle Darryl Torrey class of 1962 who gave the information that they school song when he attended was Minnesota Rouser.
Minnesota Rouser with the the following lyrics were what Kathlyn (Schumacher) Rath class of 1958 remembered from 1954 – 1958, these were also the lyrics that Elwood Schumacher remembered:
Drayton High School
Hats off to thee
To your honor true we will ever be
Firm and strong
United are we
Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah
Rah, Rah to Drayton High
This would have been the song prior to 1965-1966 when it was changed to State Fair March by Mr. George Kovash. The lyrics were then changed to as recited by Glenda Erickson, Dorothy Schumacher, and Karen (Anderson) Schumacher class of 1980:
The Bombers of Drayton, are a team you ought to see.
The High School of Drayton, is the open door of opportunity.
This great team of Drayton, is a team beyond compare.
We’ll have a victory, if we fight.
So stand and cheer for the Red and White! Fight, Fight!
What are your memories of the Drayton School song? Please either mail them to Valley News & Views PO Box 309 Drayton, ND 58225 or email them to valleynv@polarcomm.com. This is proving to be a very interesting story with local interest.
If you still happen to have a copy of the music for State Fair March in your possession it would be greatly appreciated by the Drayton Public School if you could mail it to them at Drayton Public School 108 S 5th St. Drayton, ND 58225.