Women in Mystery Photo identified as trophy presenters
We asked our readers to help us identify the young women in this week’s Mystery Photo and to determine for what they were being recognized. As it turns out, these six members of the Canon-McMillan Class of 1970 were not the winners of the trophies – just their presenters.
“I’m not sure why they selected us, but we were chosen to award the trophies to the boys on the track team,” said Lynn Lesneski Clark, front and center in the photo. “The team had done very well. … I guess everyone likes to get an award from a pretty girl.”
Canon-McMillan had a strong season in 1970. One member of the team was Doug Kotar, who made the Observer-Reporter’s Track Honor Roll that year for his performance in the 100-yard dash, javelin and long jump. Kotar would go on to play football at the University of Kentucky and was a standout running back for the NFL’s New York Giants from 1974 to 1981. He died of a brain tumor in 1983.
‘We’ve gone from a time when women don’t just present the awards, they win them,” Clark said. “The world was changing, and I’m happy for my daughter that it did.”
Clark attended the University of Pittsburgh and became an elementary teacher. She owned several preschool businesses and now operates Little Lamb Preschool in McDonald. “I help educate little people,” she said.
She married her high-school sweetheart, Warren Clark, 43 years ago. The couple, who have a daughter and two sons, live near Hickory.
We were unable to contact the other five in the photo.
We received many calls and emails from 1970 C-M graduates who consulted their yearbooks and helped us with identification. Many thanks go out to them.
Carol Bushmire Farkas said the photo will be enjoyed next year when the class gathers for its 45th reunion.
Look for another Mystery Photo in next Monday’s Observer-Reporter.