Los Angeles High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

Page 28 text:

The Life of Gur Principal 3 I KX .i If rg - ' 'i'gllil yEE N X my lll ,-4' , ine! If f snr' Z es-.Q1....... EMM liuql. if H2332 ll f W ll ml' .Ais- m nz ' A would-bc stage coach driver at the age of three. 'Q ir' E .,f A .-A '-FEA d i I l 'Til f-+A .. , E A 'I :l ll M f im ? Vi 7 - mls llllll H x N ' r r u-u li NN nl I1 M! fi c-si Q W 1 W3 l lf mbffwT3If-IiT -. f 3 w 2 - W il '4 T Ill H n mv-u 'w-im H n All N 1: lm T- Q -A X' JH W' I-HHH I ' ,A N H ll fw- M V' r 'v will Aliifk-Nl! -Jn , 1 gauze: 1 . V my XT- .N AE' in X A XAAA ff 4311 A .l!:..J-H1-if Three towers, each more beautiful than the last, have symbolized Los Angeles High School. The Oliver family, as student, teacher, or executive, has known them all. On entering the office of Mr. Oliver, principal of Los Angeles High School, one im- mediately notices the warmth, friendship, and sincerity of Mr. Oliver's greeting. His keen brown eyes are filled with laughterg and his aristocratic face quickly breaks into smiles. His genial spirit pervades the room. Immediately, one feels a geniune welcomeg instantly one senses that this principal is a leader, a guide, and a comrade to the stu- dents of his school. As one chats with Mr. Oliver, he finds that conversation comes easilyg he discovers that Mr. Oliver is keenly human and friendly. It is certainly not be- neath him to mingle baseball predictions with more learned topics ofhdiscourse. Mr. Oliver retains youthful interests and outlooks. He is truly sympathetic and understand- ing towards the younger generation. One feels that it was not such a long while ago that he was playing second base on the baseball team, or holding down the position of left half on the football squad. The passage of years has served to mellow his understanding and to deepen his insight into the problems of youth. Mr. Oliver's background has, of course, had a great influence in the molding of his character. He comes of true pioneer stock-thoroughly and vigorously American. Indeed, his own family history stretches back to the founding of our nation. At that time, Colo- nel Robert Oliver and Captain Alexander Oliver gave service to their struggling coun- try in the Revolutionary War. Again in the Civil War. Henry Oliver, at that time the youngest captain in the state of Illinois, raised a company of volunteers and joined the Northern forces. The Olivers took a full part in the development of their country, moving ever westward with the frontier. They 'knew the struggle and the challenge of early American life. Then, in 1849, on the wave of the Gold Rush, Mr. Oliver's grandfather, Warner Oliver, arrived in California, leading a weary horse on which rode his wife. All their possessions were contained in a blanket. Their wagon train had been attacked an de- stroyed by savage Indians in crossing the plains. It was only by some miracle that the young couple escaped alive. Here, in California, they found the security and happiness in search of which they had come so far. To them was born a son, who later became county clerk in the small Californian town of Lakeport. This son was Mr. 0liver's father. In May 1876, Ernest W. Oliver was born. He was the youngest of four and the only boy. As soon as he was old enough to contemplate a career, at about four years of age, he dreamed of becoming a stagecoach driver. How he admired the flourish and glory of the stagecoach's thundering entrance into the little town! He eagerly anticipated the day when he would ride with the fury of the wind into Lakeport and snap his Whip above four dashing horses. Another childhood ambition, somewhat in contrast to the first, was to play the pipe organ, for Mr. Oliver has always had a great love of music. As a boy, he sang solo parts in the choir.

Page 27 text:

VICE-PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES At a time when the dream of the ages-Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men-seems most im- possible of realization, when nation is warring a- gainst nation, and treachery and hatred are rife, the responsibility of youth for the promotion and for the ultimate accomplishment of international peace is great. Fortunately, discouragement and pessimism cannot daunt the hope, the faith, and the courage of youth- Theirs is the vision to penetrate the darkness that engulfs today's world and to awaken in the hearts of men deeper and more Worthy yearnings for an understanding of the meaning of the brother- hood of man. Theirs is the task of finding ways of meeting this great world need. Today, young people must come to a full real- ization of their great responsibility. Now in their every day life, not in the remote future, must they learn to consider group as well as individual inter- ests and welfare. Today's challenge demands that they not only phrase, but that they live. those great principles upon which our American democracy is founded .......... tolerance, equity, and justice for all. The time has .come when youth must learn to iind satifaction and happiness in the service of hu- manity and in the continuous striving toward the accomplishment of the great goal of democracy, a more abundant life for all. This is youth's challenge, this is youth's re- sponsibility inthe present crisis. aa.: ima Chaos and confusion rule the world as this year's class prepares to graduate. Bewilderment is the out- standing emotion as our youth surveys the future. Whether it be peace or war for our nation, we know that a peace based on economic need or racial de- mands will never be permanent. The nation must return to simple rules of conduct. We cannot foresee the results of steps we are about to take. The test of what is right and what is wrong is the only test that can clear the way for an action that is worthy of defending. The youth of the only country that still gives thought to education and intellectual and cul- tural life should lead the way in stating and striving for the best of these democatic ideals. Sincerely yours, MABEL L. MATHEWS RALPH C. NOBLE

Page 29 text:

Ernest Warner Gliver Mr. Oliver's dreams of a rural future were cut short, however, upon the death of his father, Mr. Henry Oliver, in a railroad accident. After this tragic episode, Mrs. Oliver took her four children to the small town of Los Angeles, which even then Was noted for its excellent schools. Los Angeles High School had just moved into the red schoolhouse on Fort Moore Hill when Mr. Oliver entered the ninth grade, and his was the first class to spend all four high school years in this new buiding. Athletics, then as now, were his great love, and he took an active part in all the sports available. He was a boy who always wanted to win and was exhuberant when his team was victorious. However, he was philosophically cheerful when it lost. As Los Angeles High School was the only high school in the city at that time, the teams had to compete with the local col- leges. The football team of which he was a valuable member, still remembers the day when L. A. won from U. S. C. Not satisfied, however, to rest upon the laurels garnered from his athletic prowess, Mr. Oliver organized and commanded the Los Angeles High School Cadets, a small body of boys whose reward for long and patient drilling was participation in the annual La Fiesta Parade. Then, in his senior year, Mr. Oliver be- came president of Star and Crescent, which was equivalent to our Student Body organ- ization. In 1895, he graduated from the school which he was later to direct. After graduation, Mr. Oliver learned the tile setting trade, for his mother, always mindful of the best interests of her boy, wished him to learn to use his hands as well as his head. He continued at work for a year and a half until he entered the University of California at Berkeley in S'96. At this time, his great talent for leadership again mania fested itself, and he became Senior Captain of the University's Battalion. At the time of Mr. Oliver's graduation in 1900, one of his favorite mentors, Professor Moses, was appointed a commissioner to the Philippines and was charged with the task of establishing civil government on the Islands. Dr. Moses very graciously extended an invitation to Mr. Oliver to accompany him and to aid him in establishing schools. Mr. Oliver first taught in the Nautical Academyg then he became principal in an American day and night school. In his leisure time, he carried baseball kits about the island to teach the natives this great American game. The words strike and out soon became a part of the vocabularies of the non-English speaking natives. He took advantage of his vacations by traveling through China, Japan, and India. During his stay on the Islands, he made a trip home by way of the Pacific Ocean and stopped for a short while at Hono- lulu. His love of nature was never failing. Mr. Oliver etched in his memory the glorious sunsets, which he still recalls. After seven years of helpful assistance in establishing American principles of Democracy, Mr. Oliver made his final return home by way of Singapore, India, Egypt, Italy, Switzerland, France and England. Mr. Oliver was not to be permitted to sink into idleness. In 1908. three months after returning to the United States, he was asked to come to Los Angeles High School to teach. The familiar rivalry sprang up once again between this school and Polytechnic High School, as both schools wanted Mr. Oliver. But Mr. Housh, then principal of L.A. High, advanced the argument that Mr. Oliver had graduated from Los Angeles High School, and so the battle was won. For three years, Mr. Oliver taught mathematics and history and coached baseball, and was commandant of L.A.H.S.Cadets. In the S'08 Semi- The proud bearing of this future lrader The famous Los Angeles High School football team that beat U.S.C. Mr ts emdenced even at seven years. Oliver is second from the left in the middle row.