Cohn High School - Accolade Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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CLASS HISTORY On the morning of September 8, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty, as the old clock in the hall ticked away, and the hands said the time was exactly 10:30 A.M., approximately ninety-five new pupils entered Cohn. This group was the combined big boys and big girls, too, of three schools: Sylvan Park, Park Avenue, and Cockrill. They were the graduating sixth grade classes, who only the previous semester had felt that they were really the ruling factors at their respective grammar alma maters. It might be noted in passing that this group of youngsters is the Senior Class of 1946. This feeling of bigness left us at approximately 10:31 A.M. that morning, for we quickly bcgan to realize the immenseness of Cohn compared with our smallness. H In its place came feel- ings of sadness as we remembered the schools in which we had finished the first part of our education, and of fear, as several tif one is severalj teachers told us to shut up, just because we had dared to smile at someone we knew going down the hall. With fcar and trembling, we passed our early days at Cohn. In fact, about the fourth week, we had forgotten our earlier school days and had begun to regard the teachers not as car- nivorous animals but tame ones-oops! I mean human beings. Most of the fright had gone, and we were beginning to act almost natural again. As proof of this, one of the happenings by which we remember the seventh grade was an incident of bravery-especially for a seventh grader. One of the larger lads, whose name I refrain from mentioning, but who several years later became a prominent football player, fastened one of the smaller boys in a locker. A teacher in a near-by room let him out after he handed her the only key to the locker through a hole in the door. At the conclusion of this first year, we witnfssed the first commencement exercise Cohn ever had, as the first senior class graduated from' Cohn bade our school Farewell, This ex- ercise set us to thinking and hoping for the day when we likewise could wave good-bye with one hand and hold our di- plomas with the other. The Hrst chapter in our history toward education at Cohn found a new football stadium being erected next to Cockrill. its completion placed Cohn on a par with the other leading schools of the city in athletic facilities. Sadness for the first time in quite a while re-entered our mind in 1941, as one of West Nashville's greatest friends passed away-Professor J. H. Sykes. A portrait of our beloved former principal was presented to Cohn and was hung on the east side in front of the auditorium. VVe also, in Mr. Sykes' honor, named our football stadium Sykes Field. Near the end of 1941, December the seventh to be exact, our nation was shocked by the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. The next day the students of Cohn assembled to hear the Prtsident ask Congress to declare war on japan, and a few days later, on her allies. Many of our friends and relatives began slowly to leave us and enter the armed forces. Every citizen of the United States of America in the truc red-bloodetl American spirit began to become more conscious of and awake to the real meaning of Americanism and the qualities that go to make it up. Although we were only eighth graders, many of the boys felt even a deeper desire to finish their education so they might join the military forces and take up the light for Old Glory. The ninth grade passed by with only the usual happenings, study and more study Gb, but things really began to buzz in the tenth grade. Many of the students, in selecting their sub jects, became venturesome and took up the second year of al- gebra. These same adventurers began to make arrangements to study geometry and trigonometry after they had passed the second course of algebra. A very small group of students went even furthtr on the sea of the unknown and bravely took up Latin, This group, although small to begin with, slowly dwindled away until approximately a dozen were left to com- plete the two-year course. Time began to pass more rapidly now. The night to re- ceive those pieces of paper that certify we have successfully completed high school seemed only around the corntr. Swish!! Juniors. It was in our junior year that wc really did begin to regard ourselves as big dealers. However, the lessons became harder, and to cap it all, much more extra work piled up. Among other things, a prom had to be pro- vided for the seniors. To prepare for this more efficiently, we first elected a sponsor and class officers. As our sponsor, we elected Mrs. Driver, who had been a true friend and help- er to us in the past years. We also elected Malcolm Sadler, president, Tom Proctor, vice-president, Helen Ackerman, sec- retaryg Bclva Buckner, treasurer, and Thomas Green sergeant at arms. However, before the year passed, Malcolm left for the armed forces. Tom Proctor was elevated to president and jimmy Swink was elected vice-president. We worked diligently to raise the money for the Junior-Senior Prom held on the night of May 25 at the Maxwell House Hotel. When pictures for the annual were being made, wc had a wonderful time. We not only missed classes but had the en- joyment which results only from argument, as no one was sat- isfied with the group in which he had been placed. After a summer in which most of us worked CPD, we returned to school to journey the last mile of our high school study. We were seniors now, and we began to feel the responsibilities that were tacked to seniors. Our hrst meeting ended with the election of officers, who were jimmy Swink, president, Tom Proctor, vice-president: Helen Ackerman, secrctaryg Edward Crump, treasurer, Carlton Stinson, sergeant at arms, and Ray Ifrizzell, chaplain. As time passed by we began to feel very proud because the football team was enjoying the best football season in the history of the school. Upon conclusion of the season, which brought us the championship, two membcrs of the senior class, J. B. Proctor and Thomas Green, were named on the All-City Teams, All-Mid-State Teamsg the All-State Team: and Thomas, as though he didn't have enough honors, was named on the All-Southern Team. Time began to go even faster, and before we were aware of it, Senior Day, May 22, rolled around. On the night of May 17 the juniors had entertained us with an enjoyable dinner- dance at the Maxwell House Hotel. Then the night that we had waited for so long rolled around, June 7. However, there were saddened spirits as we walked down the aisles to receive our diplomas, for many hated to leave Cohn, the school that meant so much to them. Instead of waving good-bye with one hand and holding diplomas with the other, many were using their handkerchiefs with one hand to wipe away tears and carrying their I-'inis certifications with the other. However, when this exercise was completed we were then ready to embark upon the world of tomorrow with all its many opportunities.

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STEVENS TILLMAN YVOMAC K HELEN RUTH STEVENS Dramatic Club, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, T. :md I. Club, '45, '46, D. O. Club, '45, '46, Most Dignified Girl. ELMO TILLMAN Senior Hi-Y, '41, '42, '43, Dra- matic Club, '42, Band, '39, '40. BE'r'l'Y JO WOMACK Honor Society, '45. ERNESTINE STEYVART Glee Club, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, Clarion Staff, '45, '46, N. F. L., '46, Philosophers Club, '46, Prettiest Girl, Half Best Dancing Couple. STEWART STINSON SXVINK THOXIPSON WVHITSON WVILLS ZANONI ZENGER H. BASH MARTHA JANE THOMPSON Clarion Staff, '46, PANTHER Staff, '46, Dramatic Club, '43, Girl Re serves, '43. AIARTHA ZANONI Band, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, Or chestra, '44, '45, '46, Band Spon sor, '45, PANTHER Staff, '46. CARLTON STINSON Football, '44, '45, Basketball, '45 '46, C Club, '44, '45, '46, Cut- est Laugh. FRANCES YVHITSON junior Girl Reserves, '42, D. O. Club, '45, '46, T. and I. Club, '45, '46, Red Cross, '42. GEORGE H. ZENGER N. F. L.. '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, Dramatic Club, '42, '43, '44, '45, Vice-President, '46, Honor Socie- ty, '45, '46, Vice-President, '46, l'lIilosopher's Club, '46, Most Ambitious Boy. JAMES H. SYVINK, JR. President of Senior Class, junior HiAY, '42, N. F. L., '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, Dramatic Club, '42, Senior Hi-Y, '43, President, '44, Secretary, '45, Football, '45, Bas- ketball, '46, C Club, '45, '46, Most Popular Boy, Best All Around Boy, Most Striking Per- sonality, Half Most Popular Duo, Class Orator. TAYLOR YVILSON ELIZABETH ANN YVILLS Junior Glee Club, '43, Senior ' Glee Club, '43, '44, '45, Presi- deIIt, '44, Junior Red Cross, '43, '44, '45, '46, Vice-President, '45, President, '46, Orchestra, '45, '46, Office Stuff, '46, Annual Stall, '46, Most Bashful Girl, '46, Most Courteous, '46, Philosophers Club. HARVEY BASH ELIZABETH ANN TVILSON D. O. Club, '45, '46, T. illlCl I. Club, '45, '46. JEAN TAYLOR Home Economics Club, '43, '44, Delegate to West Tennessee Home Economics Club Meeting, '43, Class Reporter, '45, Clarion Staff, '46, Annual Staff, '46, Most Philosophical Girl, Dramatic Cilub, '46, Philosopher's Club, ' 6. Graduates without pictures' ROBERT JOHN ALEXANDER, WVILLIAM HOYT COLLINS, JOHN R. EDXVARDS, JOHN W. GOAD, CHARLES G. GUNN, JR., JAMES GUNN, GLENN JAKES, LEON A. LOvELL,'MARvIN MIMS, JESSE H. POOLE, LARRY D. POSTON, JERRY A. PROCTOR, ROBERT READ, THOMAS E. SINGLETON, JAMES T. SMITH, KENNETH SUTTON, CLYDE T. TUCKER, NOR- MAN LUTHER, TVILLIAM SEAGRAVES, DOROTHY SCOTT.

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CLASS PROPHECY, I946 At last the great day we, the Senior Class of 1946, had been dreaming of had come-Class Day, 'on which we would show our ability not only to have fun but also to be serious. This was the time we could wander through the corridors, talking and laughing and not be stopped and sent to the office, we could skiip classes and never be questioned. This was Senior Day, 19 G! The morning passed very quicklyg the program in the audi- torium was a success, and, finally, we had reached Cedar Forest, where we were to have our picnic. After strolling around for a while, I decided to take a walk near the woods, attracted by some brightly-hued wild roses and honeysuckle. As I bent to pick a flaming azalea, I noticed a very queer little creature not more than three feet tall peeping around a lcaning cedar at the edge of the forest. He was dressed in a long green coat and brown knee breeches with which he wore tiny pointed shoes and a hat with an orange feather in it. He was beckoning for me to come toward him, and, having a very inquisitive nature, I decided to ven- ture a little further. On tiptoe, finger to his lips, he led me silently among the trees until we w re completely hidden. Then he found his voice, Would you like, said hc, to know what your fellow classmates will be doing twenty years from this day? Would I? I said. What I wouldn't give to know the answer to that! He then pointed at a shield, which he insisted was magic, hanging against the only oak tree anywhere in sight. It had a smooth, gleaming surface, around the edge of which was a border of wild flowers, so perfectly embossed that they appeared real. So lovely was the workmanship that it indeed seemed to have been made by superhuman hands. lf I would look into its shining surface, the little man assured me, it would reliect the future. Skeptically, I glanced in its direction, and what I saw gave me a start. There was an office in which two men were seated. At First their features were blurred, but as I continued to watch, I realized that th:se two were my classmates, jimmy Swink and David Carney, somewhat older, the one skinnier and the other heavier. Jimmy had now reached his goal, to become a lawyer, and David was seeking his counsel in a law- suit, in which he had been involved by his careless driving. This, at least, was one thing time had not changed. Could there be some truth in the little creature's claims for his shield? I was at least slightly credulous after that revela- tion, and decided to look again. Then, before my amazed eyes, my classmates passed in rapid succession, like scenes from a newsreel. They were like themselves, just as I had ltft then a few minutes ago, except older by twenty years and bixsily working at many occupations and in widely scattered p aces. There were Virginia Estes, Geraldine Nokes, and Dorothy johnson having a wonderful time renewing their friendships and keeping house for their husbands in the same apartment building. They met on the hre escape every morning to exchange new gossip. Betty jo Womack showed her skating ability nightly as she performed at the Madison Square Garden in New York. j. B. Proctor had now reached his lifetime ambition as head coach at celebrated Notre Dame University. Whom would you expect to find as his capable assistant? His brother, Tom. Ivarren Laubheimer, now a retired colonel, was living a life of ease with his wife, Arline, and their eight offspring. Elmo Tillman's inheritance consisted of only one grocery store, but through his fflicient management he now owned the chain stores, formerly H. G. Hill Company, and Piggly-Wiggly. Frank Collier was president of the W. C. A., the Wolf Club of America, and spent his days hiring pretty secretaries. It didn't matter if they couldn't take dictation, as long as they had the personality of Betty Grahle. Incidentally, Ronald fllace Horsej Merville was doing his bit as vice-president of the c u J. Dolly Hudgens and Mary Ann Portertield owned an ex- clusive dress shop on Fifth Atenue in New York City, with Ruth Bash as their model. Thomas Green had married years ago and now was the father of six sets of twins-enough for a football team and a water boy. My head was spinning now, but still, how could I look away even for an instant? At that very moment I saw Ernestine Stewart. She had bc- come a famous artist. With her, as usual, was Virginia An- derson, whose beautiful voice had won recognition for her throughout the world. Sue Peery was known for her wit while at Cohn and her cleverness had carried into her everyday life. She was a famous joke writer for some of the great comedians, jack Btnny and Fred Allen, among others in New York City. Betty Oliphant was still dashing about madly going to her office every morning where she created new fashions for ex- clusive dress shops all over America. Dorris Spurlock followed up his schoolwork of keeping the boys physically fit and was now head trainer at Harvard Uni- versity. George De Moss was now s'rving as head instructor at the only boys' secretarial school in the United States. XVith untiring effort, Orville Payne had become manager of Sears-Roebuck and was honored to have Polly Sue Bracey as l1is private secretary. My magic shield reflected someone else, and let's see-oh, of course, Mary Anna Ball and her sailor fricnd. They were liv- ing at their country home in Connecticut. Also married to a one-time sailor, Lillian Bash and her husband owned an im- mense farm in Iowa where corn is plentiful every year. Dorothy Gibson, Mary jo Harrell, and Ann Higgins decided to form a partnership, They went to Oklahoma and bought a dude ranch for vacationers. It had become so famous that it was visited every year by many famous movie stars. Frank Lawrence, now a professor at Columbia University, was devoting his time to world affairs, an interest developed earlier in life at Cohn High from Mr. Merrill S. Carter's his- tory classes. Horace Demonbreun, after hnally securing his degree as a pharmacist at Tulane University, was now owner of a chain of drugstores in Chicago where he was known as the swiftest pre- scriptionist in the city. George Zengcr had decided to become a doctor while he was at Cohn. He was now devoting his time to brain surgery at johns Hopkins. As his able assistants were Martha Zanoni and Frances Peay, nurses at that hospital. Since high school days were over, Bettye Allen had been dieting and had gotten results. She had completley slenderized her figure and was working as a Power Model. Thomas Earp, having secured his sixth divorce, decided to give up all hope of an ideal marriage and now had nothing whatsoever to do with women. Carlton Stinson, still a playboy, spent most of his time ming- ling with the more attractive side of life in Hollywood, Califor- ina. Howard Isaacs was touring Europe, getting his inspirations for his poetry which was world-famous and was now being studied even at Oxford University in England. Edward Crump, Wayne Hoyal, and Ray Frizzell, having ob- tained their degrees, Bachelors of Divinity, were devoting their lives to the ministry, Edward as pastor of a regular churchg Wayne as a missionary in Chinap Ray as an evangelist, carry- ing on his work throughout America. Billy Drumright had reached his highest ambition-to own a small stand on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Church Street, where he sold razor blades and candy. Bobby Mattox, having recently married a wealthy young widow, was now retired and spent his summers in Florida and his winters on his Long Island estate so that he might attend Grand Opera at the Metropolitan. Two former graduates of the 1946 class had become world famed as one of the greatest ballet teams in history. Quite recently Elizabeth Ann Wills and james Hailey had appeared before the King and Queen of England. Two old friends, Greta Ethridge and jean Taylor, were meeting at a state teachers' association and discovering that each taught students in high school. Greta was senior class sponsor and spent her time trying to keep her dignified seniors where they were supposed to be. It seems traditional for one of the Feigenbaums to be the owner of a dry goods store. Ethel took over when her father decided to retire and had now moved uptown where her huge establishment covered two full blocks. Tommy Dwyer, who proved his ability as an actor while in high school, had reachtd fame and fortune in Hollywood and had succeeded to Van Johnson's place in the bobby-soxers' hearts. Helen Ackerman and Martha Thompson proved themselves to be model wives who took care of their homes and children and still had time left over to be leaders in the Ladies' Sew- ing Club in their neighborhood. Lillian Bruce had now worked her way up to vice-president at the Davis, Bradford, and Carson Insurance Company and cmployed Helen Lepley as her private secretary. Taylor Coleman now headed one of the main telegraph services in San Francisco and proved himself to be one of the fastest telegraph operators in the world. Herbert Harris owned a boat at West Palm Beach, Florida, where he spent all his days fishing and telling about the huge whalelike lish that got away from him. Next a newspaper Hashed before me. My attention was caught by this advertisement: How to make girls swoon though middle-aged. Upon reading further, I found that the pro- prietor and his assistant were none other than Lee Frost and Kenneth Meguiar. Four girls, Frances Schweining, Helen Stevens, Frances XVhitson, and Elizabeth Wilson, spent a lot of time together while they were in school and desired to continue their asso- ciation after graduation. They were now employed in the same office, Frances Schweining spending her days as a re- ceptionistg Helen Stevens, taking dictationg Frances Whitson, typing, and Elizabeth Wilson, filing. Kirshner Brumheld worked at the Child's Toggery Shop while in high school. From there he had continued his in- terests until now he was an authority and stylist for boys' clothing in large cities of the United States. Lena Robertson and her husband owned stock in a gold mine in South America and Lena spent her time traveling in Latin-American countries. As this scene faded, the sound of voices interrupted me. Quickly the little man tore his shield from the oak and van- ished, as up came Thomas Green, Kirshner Brumfield, and Carlton Stinson picking daisies-a habit they had never quite overcome after they gathered so many for decorations at the junior-Senior Banquet of 1945. I looked up in surprise. Why, Thomas, said I, where are the twins? What twins? he askrd in blank astonishment. The football team and the water boy, I replied quite calmly. They looked at one an- other for a moment in amazement. Then Carlton broke the spell. If cedar trees affect people like this, we'd better get her out of here! Seizing me by the arms none too gently, they hurried toward the lodge where, on arrival, we found Dot Gibson and Helen Ackerman, as usual on such occasions, rustling the food from numerous baskets and boxes, preparing our class picnic supper.