Bedford High School - Peaks Yearbook (Bedford, VA)

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Mary Lydia Lyle, who is vice president of this year’s graduating class, is one of its outstanding students and proved to be an outstanding citizen when she was awarded the D. A. R. Citizenship Medal. This is the same Mary Lydia who amused us when she and Rachel Abbott were kids in the grade school. One day Rachel wore a new dress to school, and she became quite angry when “Lit” refused to compliment it. So Rachel thought she would even the score by pulling Mary Lydia’s hair. It seems that the reporters for this broadcast couldn’t decide which comes into one’s mind first when Lois Gibbs’ name is mentioned. One reporter says that her name brings to mind her dimples, and the other says it recalls her lengthy oration on the Postal System. Observers have noted that Mary Gertrude Arthur has a habit of day dreaming, but so far they have not discovered the object of these dreams. Elizabeth Teass’ originality somewhat amazed her English teacher when she announced her de- cided dislike for Charles Dickens’ “The Tale of Two Cities.” On the night of the Latin banquet the identity of Edna Long and Jean Latimer might have been hard to guess when Edna appeared dressed as the go ddess, Iris, and Jean was Mercury, the messenger of the gods. At the time Dorothy Wilkes and Mary Jane Burnett were very dignified, dressed in togas of the ancient Romans. During its high school career the present graduating class has seen two new departments added to the curriculum, the Commercial and the Industrial Arts Department. The Commercial Department is represented in the graduating class, among others, by Willie Ruth Bays, Marion Scott, Katherine Bandy, Helen Padgett, Evelyn Zimmerman, Louise Holland, Annie Witt and Edna Kirby. These members of the shorthand and typing classes each acted as a secretary to a member of the faculty for the last week of school, thereby gaining practical experience for the days to come. While the girls were getting this training the boys weren’t idle, for in the Industrial Arts Depart- ment Fred Conner, Jack Hicks, Harold Kennedy, Howard Logwood, Billy Padgett and James Teass made use of the knowledge they had gained in the course by doing repairs for the school. This fact brings to mind the day Jack Hicks put in a new window that had been broken by some one—that some one being Jack Hicks. Here’s a report giving a summary of the social activities of the class: At the end of a successful football season, the Girls’ and the Boys’ Hi-Y Clubs joined in giving a home-coming dance in honor of the football squad. Yet, it was at this dance that one of the football heroes was found warming the bench because of an ankle injury. ““Midsummer Madness,” the Senior play, showed to the world the acting ability of the class. During rehearsals Phyllis Faribault, the heroine, took her acting so seriously that one day in a scene in which William Jennings had to be tied she almost injured her victim, which would have been quite tragic according to several of the admiring underclassmen. The Seniors attended Dr. Lyle’s annual party for the graduating classes of all the county high schools and every one was highly entertained by Mr. Willius’ humorous stories about the Southern Negro. Bedford High School added to the program and showed the musical talent of its double quartet when Marianna Schubert, Sherrill Coleman, Marilyn Miller, Paul Drumheller, Hannah Rusher, Hayden Smith and Phyllis Faribault sang. The Junior-Senior picnic, which was held at Phillip’s Cottage at Timber Lake was marred only by the numerous cases of sunburn which were the result of spending the morning at the Track Meet. At the picnic Jeanne DeWitt’s experience in taking care of a hungry crowd in the school cafeteria served her in good stead when she dispensed lemonade to the picnickers. The Boys’ Hi-Y picnic turned out to be a success in spite of the rain. Rachel Hardy’s diamond ring didn’t prevent her from having a good time with more than one boy on the picnic. The latest news flash—just received—announces a party to be given in the school gym tonight by Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Borden in honor of the members of the graduating class. The usual gaiety attendant upon all social affairs of this group is anticipated. For further news of this promising class, continue to read your papers. Mary Wituie Watson, Class Historian

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Class History This is station B. H. S. bringing you the important news of the graduation of forty-nine Seniors from Bedford High School. Through the courtesy of the network of radio a. this time we have been given complete control of the air. Because of the importance of this momentous occasion and the thrill of joy over the triumph of this group which has just reached the goal towards which it has marched for the better part of the life of each member, your announcer has here some facts which you have been waiting to hear. Eleven years ago in September, 1930, an important event occurred. For the first time in the lives of the pupils of Class ’41, they were separated from their omni-present mothers. Then for seven years these boys and girls, with their hardships and pleasures, traveled through elementary school, losing some of their classmates and gaining others, until June, 1937. On this date they reached the first goal for which they had been striving, that of graduating from elementary school into high scholl, where in September, 1937, the graduates of Bedford Elementary School and Liberty Academy entered Bedford High together. This was the first group of boys and girls from Liberty Academy ever to enter Bedford High. In high school, Sherrill Coleman’s leadership was first recognized when he was elected Freshman Class President. The next year this office was held by Mary Willie Watson. Again in 1939 Sherrill was elected president in his Junior year. In its Senior year the Class of ’41 elected Edward Holdren for its president, along with these other officers: Vice President, Mary Lydia Lyle; Secretary, Virginia Bell, and Treasurer, Gamiel Draper. These officers have faithfully and efficiently performed their duties in helping to steer the class smoothly through the years of high school. I have just received a report from the sports commentator, saying that in the graduating class this year there are quite a few athletes, among whom are Helen Padgett, Captain of the girls’ basket ball squad; Mary Willie Watson, Manager, and Homie Massie, Marianna Schubert, Charlotte Gray, and Mary Elliott; among the boys are David Draper and Sherrill Coleman, Co-Captains of the foot- ball team, also Gamiel Draper, Kyle Jones, Edward Holdren, Ted Cook, Hugh Simpkins, Paul Drum- heller and Clyde Morgan, Captain of the boys’ basket ball team. The cooperation and team work of these athletes of B. H. S. undoubtedly won for the Otters’ football team the Class ‘““C” Championship of Virginia and led the boys’ basket ball team to Char- lottesville where they were runners-up for the state championship. The Draper brothers, David and Gamiel, and Sherrill Coleman will always be remembered for their part in all the sports of the school. The spectacular Draper to Draper and Coleman passes, and the magnificent drive of David Draper, fullback on the Otters’ football team, have many a time thrilled the crowd of spectators at the B. H. S. games. The athletes brought the year to a successful close when ribbons were won at the Track Meet in the spring by Homie Massie, Clyde Morgan and David Draper. Not to be forgotten are other activities of the Class of 41. In this Class is the Editor-in-Chief of the Otter’s Lookout, Estelle Foy, who has been the force be- hind much of the work that has made for the success of this publication. Mary Elliott is the very diligent Editor-in-Chief of the 1941 Annual Staff. Mary, with her friendli- ness toward every one, has won many friends and the cooperation of the members of the staff, among whom may be mentioned Doris Burks, the efficient Business Manager. Jimmie Synan, President of the Beta Club of 1941, rose to the full height of his dignity this spring when, in the presence of the entire student body, he initiated into the Club its new members. Here are a few highlights on other distinguished individuals of the Class of ’41: Virginia Bell, who won medals all through the grade school, continued her nice work by receiving the U. D. C. and the D. A. R. medals in her Junior year, and by winning the place of valedictorian in her Senior year. In the Home Economics Department, Helen Saken and Marilyn Miller showed the girls many tricks in sewing and cooking. Helen came to the head of her class in her Junior year and received the Home Economics Medal.

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Juntor Class Front row, left to right: Sara Ballard, Dorothy Overstreet, Mary Ann Moorman, Jane Smith, Anne Johnson, Maurice O’ Donohoe, Isabel Key, Lucy Holland, Catherine Nash, Doris Carter, Frances Thomas. Second row, left to right: Jimmy Chryssikos, Emily O’ Donohoe, Dorothy McClintock, Patricia Fields, Mary Kessler, Irene Powell, Lillie Updike, Dorothy Pugh, Dorothy Watson, Delia Belle Coffey, Mae Ballard, Paul Coleman. Third row, left to right: James McLaughlin, John Scott, Thomas Carneal, Helen Place, Madeline Leftwich, Lois Robertson, Regina Cheek, Elsie Atkinson, Marie Winton, Mildred Stafford, Frances Wright, Anita Atkinson. Fourth row, left to right: Frank Karnes, Clifton Overstreet, Nelson Johnson, Anne Haygard, Lucy Keys Nelma Stiff, Ruth Stone, Jacqueline Overstreet, Helen Zimmerman, Thelma Overstreet. Fifth row, left to right: Irwin Bornstein, John Byrne, Cyril Cousart, Lewis Wilkes, Bobby Wright, Harry Ballard Maupin, Quincy Heck, Donald Wade, Thomas Chappelle, Marguerite Terry, Marilyn Hudson, Clarence Whorley, Cleo Simpkins. Sixth row, left to right: Page Powers, Warren Driskoll, Jack Hicks, Tommy Martin, Wallace Jennings, Jack Robertson, Bobby Scott, J. D. Smith, George Thaxton Parker. OFFICERS NIAURTCES©)L) ON OH O Emenee anere ten eA Orns SPW ue tN teu re. ucla arctic ake ete. cee President GRIPETNTELA RD Vee ieee oie. tener ene ME ad tet ee ew de ae ei, Vice President IN EES ONP | OHNSO NA Seer eRe te cieake eis omic Sens Harps ashe ase agement ea Secretary