The 1963 Covina High School Yearbook (representing the graduating class of the Covina High Colts in Covina, California) is a historic 228-page publication.
Physical Specifications & Format
• Length: 228 pages
• Dimensions: 8.12 x 0.54 x 10.01 inches
• Weight: Approximately 1.29 pounds
• Design Features: The original publication is noted for featuring a highly distinct, creative cover alongside detailed artistic illustrations scattered across the inside pages.
Pamela Beaird (later known as Pamela Beaird Hensley), a former television actress best known for her role as Mary Ellen Rogers on the classic TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver, graduated from Covina High School as a member of the Class of 1963.
Character & Show Details
• Wally's Girl: Mary Ellen appeared in several episodes between 1958 and 1963. While she only physically appeared in about seven episodes, her character was a permanent fixture in the show's lore and was frequently mentioned by Wally and his friends.
• Dual Roles: Interestingly, while Baird primarily played Mary Ellen, she also appeared in the season 3 episode "Wally's Orchid" as a completely different, more manipulative character named Myra Barker.
• The Beaver's Role: Mary Ellen was famous for occasionally utilizing Wally's younger brother, "Beaver" Cleaver, to get Wally’s attention or deliver messages to him.
• The Rest of the Story: Though they had their fair share of typical teenage misunderstandings on the original series, the characters eventually married. In the 1983 reunion movie Still the Beaver and the subsequent series The New Leave It to Beaver, Wally and Mary Ellen are depicted as a married couple (though the adult version of the character was played by actress Janice Kent). Baird did, however, make a brief uncredited cameo on the new series in 1987.
About the Actress: Pamela Baird
Baird was a talented young actress and singer who also appeared in other hit shows of the era like My Friend Flicka and Bachelor Father. She chose to walk away from Hollywood in 1964 to pursue her love of music, accepting a scholarship to the Westminster Choir College. She later traveled the world singing gospel music with her husband, Robert H. Hensley, helped establish multiple churches, raised five children, and eventually went on to earn her master's and doctorate degrees in music.
While she is the most notable figure from that exact graduating class, a few other highly prominent individuals attended Covina High School during that specific late 1950s to mid-1960s era:
• Donald W. Evans Jr. (Class of 1961): A U.S. Army medic who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War.
• Stephen Morgan (Class of 1964): An inductee into the Covina High School Hall of Fame.
• John Heffner (Class of 1967): Another standout from that decade who was later inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.
The yearbook chronicles how the student body fully leaned into the Hawaiian theme for its major social gatherings throughout the academic year:
• The Senior-Mother Dinner: One of the most detailed events featured in the book is a Polynesian-themed dinner where seniors and their mothers were met at the entrance by students dressed in traditional attire.
They were greeted with vibrant orchids flown directly in from Hawaii for the event.
• The Foyer and Gym Transformation: The school’s foyer and gymnasium were completely overhauled to resemble a "Polynesian Village," utilizing beaded screens, tropical trees, and palm springs.
• Tiki Hand-Carvings: The ambiance of the dance floor was anchored by significant, student-crafted decorations, including a massive Tiki God hand-carved directly onto the gym floor and a custom wood canoe greeting guests at the entrance.
• Island Hospitality: Attendees danced to a live orchestra, sat at tables beneath faux palm trees, sipped tropical mocktails, and visited mock shrines dedicated to Tiki gods.