Hughes High School - Hughes Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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NCTABLE ALUMNI The Annual Staff, alumni, and teachers combed the files of Hughes graduates seeking names of those who have brought honor to their high school. VVhen we had ac- quired two hundred names that couldn't possibly be omitted , we knew that it was impossible to give even brief mention of all the Hughes alumni who have achieved success worthy of recognition. Religion, education, medicine, law, politics, the fine arts, business, engineering, drama, MR. SIMEON M. JOHNSON Page sixteen opera, literature, the newspaper, radio, and other fields all claimed Hughes graduates who have made outstanding contributions. IVe have chosen four unique graduates, each of whom holds an incontestable claim, to fame. IVe hope that the hundreds who are not mentioned know that the class of 1951 is proud of them, and may we in the future measure up to the standards they have set. Mr. Simeon Johnson, class of l875, is the oldest man living in Cincinnati who graduated from Hughes. In his ninety-second year he is still active in his law officeg he has practiced in Cincinnati since 1880 when he received his L.L.l5. from the Cincinnati Law School. IVho's IVho, I950 lists his many activities in city, state, and national af- fairs of legal and political importance. I'Ve are happy to print Mr. Johnsonls account ol' old Hughes, for we feel it is far more interesting to hear from a man of his caliber than about him. Hughes High School of Cincinnati, Ohio was situated on the South side of Sth Street opposite Mound Street. It was built in l85l, and in that year, opened for the reception of pupils. Its use as a High School ceased with the completion and immediate occupation of this very beautiful build- ing in l9l0, and then known as the New Hughes. The change in the location of the school was one imperatively required by the growth of the city and the migration of many of its people to the Hill-tops for residential purposes. The old build- ing some years later, became unsafe for any use, and was condemned and torn down. Although almost 80 years have passed since I en' tered Old Hughes at the age of 12, I still hold it in reverent memory. At that time a Hhigh school education was highly prized, and taken seriously, not only in promoting culture through study, but also in good manners and social conduct. In the language of old Rip Van Winkle Here's to the continued health of Our Hughes ever young and never old. May it live long and prosper. Simeon M. Johnson Graduated in june, 1875

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Rabbi David Philipson Many Hughes graduates have occupied positions of im- portance in our city and nation, but perhaps none have exerted such tremendous influence on people living in all corners of the earth as Rabbi David Philipson. After graduation from Hughes in the class of 1879, Dr. Philipson entered the newly founded Hebrew Union College as a boy of thirteen. In 1883 he graduated from the University of Cincinnati and in the same year was one of the four who formed the first class ever graduated from the Hebrew Union College. For several years following his graduation Dr. Philipson continued to study while teaching Arabic, Assyrian, and Biblical exegecies. During this period his writings were numerous and he was rewarded with the post of Rabbi of Bene Israel Congregatio in Cincinnati. Philipson's standing as one of the leading Reform rabbis of the United States was unquestioned and he represented Reform -Iudaism at numerous sectarian functions, as well as an official government occasions. A staunch advocate of Americanism and of the compatabili- ty of Americanism and Judaism, he remained throughout his life an opponent of Jewish nationalism of any sort, particularly of Zionism, which he regarded as incompatible with Americanism. He was, however, intensely sympathetic toward Palestine as a place of refuge for the oppressed Jews. As a crusader for clean municipal government, Dr. Philip- son was instrumental in eliminating the corrupt boss-domin- ated government of Cincinnati and substituting a reform charter administration decently and economically run. YVhen Dr. Philipson died in 1948, people of all races mourn- ed the passing of this man who had stood as a shining light to his people and the world for eighty-six brilliant years. Clara B. .lorclan Memorial A beautiful and important part of Hughes High School is the Clara B. Jordan Memorial Library. Miss Clara B. jordan graduated from Hughes in 18675 and during the remainder of her life was closely asso- ciated with the school through her work in the Alumnal Association and her long teaching career. She was a member of key committees in planning the Semi-Cen- tennial Program in 1901, the Laying of the Corner Stone in 1908, and Dedication Day 1910. From 1872 to 1916 Miss jordan taught Latin at Hughes. In 1924 a committee was appointed by the Hon. John Dempsey, President of the Hughes Alumnal Association to create an appropriate memorial for Miss Jordan in recognition of her outstanding service to the school. The committee followed the suggestion of Mr. C. M. Merry, principal of Hughes, to name the library in the school the Clara B. jordan Memorial Library. Charles R. Lamb, a competent artist of the and R. Lamb Studios of New York, was chosen to suggest a plan which the Alumnal Association could develop as a cumu- lative scheme to keep alive the memory of Miss Jordan. ln 1926 he submitted plans and sketches which the Alumnal Association accepted. In 1929 the Central window was installed. In 1931 decorators from the and R. Lamb Company frescoed the walls. The Greybar Electrical Company de- signed and made the lighting fixtures. In following years, four other windows were installed to memorialize other Hughes teachers. Students spend many hours in the library during their four years at Hughes, browsing, seeking information for reports, making bibliographies for senior themes, chat- ting over tea cups at social functions held there. Page sevenfeen 41