West honors its oldest living grad

AURORA -- Sitting with her 98-year-old kid sister Emily, 100-year-old Helen Flock was honored this week by the high school they both attended.

In a flurry of cheerleaders and students from the marching band and a cappella choir, Helen Flock was honored this week by West Aurora High School, where she graduated in 1927, and today is the school's oldest living graduate.

West was a family tradition, said Flock's daughter Lynne Kutylo of Elburn.

"Their mother graduated from West High also," Kutylo said about her mother and aunt.

The celebration included West Aurora-related gifts.

"Maybe I'll have to take up golf again," Flock said as she tried on the new West Aurora jacket presented by members of the cheerleading squad and football team.

Flock -- or Helen Streeter, as she was known when she went to West -- turned 100 last month. A life-long Auroran, Flock was a National Honor Society student who chaired the costume committee for the 1927 class play. Sister Emily was in the glee club and on the basketball team.

The pair remained active long after graduation, most recently riding in a school parade.

"These two ladies have been outstanding in their dedication to West Aurora," School Board President Neal Ormond said.

At this week's School Board meeting, district spokesman Mike Chapin led a presentation on Flock's life and history at West Aurora, using old yearbook photos, historical research and census records.

The presentation culminated with a shot of the 1929 West High band. On this cue, the Blackhawks 2009 marching band burst into the school library where the meeting was being held. They played Flock a song before she was serenaded with "Happy Birthday To You" by the school's a cappella choir.

Flock knew about the presentation, but the performances by the marching band came as a surprise.

She wasn't as excited by the hat shaped like a birthday cake offered by Superintendent James Rydland.

"Do I have to wear that?" she asked, laughing.

Four generations of Flock's family were there for the event, down to her great-grandson -- 99 years her junior.

"He's just a year old," Flock said. "My birthday's the 11th and his is the 16th of October."