1954 Hopkins High School Senior Spotlight: Leo (Shark) Traster

The Hopkins student newspaper in 1954 was named the Hopkins Hypo. They published school news, menus, gossip, ballgames, and senior spotlights. The following piece is about Leo (Shark) Traster, a senior at Hopkins High School that year.

Our history this week is about one of our very popular senior boys, Leo (Shark) Traster. Shark was born September 18th, 1935 at Hopkins, the second son of Mr. & Mrs. Merle Traster. Shark attended all eight years of grade school and four years of high school at HHS. He has one older brother, Kermit, a graduate of HHS and now a lieutenant in the air force, and a younger sister, Orilla, grade student at Hopkins.

Shark is the president of the senior class and is the assistant manager of the Hopkins school yearbook.

His favorite hobby is sleeping. His favorite song, “Heart of My Heart;” favorite color, yellow; favorite food, chicken; favorite subject, math; favorite sport, basketball. He dislikes people who think they know it all.

Shark’s plans are undecided now. During the summers recently, he has been working at Mutti Hardware. We are sure that whatever Shark decides to do, he will be a success. The students of HHS wish him the best of luck in everything he does.

1951-52 Hopkins Bulldogs Hung 98 Points in a Game

Bob Peve and the 1951-52 Hopkins Bulldogs hung 98 points against Sheridan in what the Hopkins Journal said was a school record for points scored. He scored 36 in that game, won 98-36, while Bill Melvin 24, and Melvin Robinson 18. Hopkins was called the Bulldogs before it merged with Pickering.

Among other games, they beat New Hampton 70-26 behind 29 from Peve. They beat Bedford 61-48 behind 26 from Peve; they led 25-19 at the half, fell behind 39-37 after three, but hung 24 on Bedford in the fourth quarter. They also beat Oregon 44-35 behind Peve’s 16 points and a 20-5 free throw advantage.