Marietta High School - Olympian Yearbook (Marietta, GA)

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BEN WILKINS (1934-1984) COACH BENJAMIN TYRONE WILKINS- 1934-1984 COACH BEN AND BIG BEN Marietta City School has known a man of great magnitude; Marietta has lost a great, yet humble man — Coach Wilkins. Coach Ben always considered himself a man behind the scenes, and he was this, but he was an unsung hero in many cases. He is remembered by his former students from old Lemon Street High, Marietta High, and Marietta Junior H igh as a big man with a gentle voice and an unbiased view of mankind. He had a special knack for relating to all kids and their needs. He could size up a situation in a hurry and could, magically, come up with the right thing to say always. Coach Ben was born and reared b Florida, educated at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, and spent all of his teaching years in the Marietta City System. While at Lemon Street, he coached a State Championship football team, and he once coached the Georgia High School All-Star Team. When Marietta High and Lemon Street High integrated, Coach Ben helped to smooth this change. He chose to come to MHS and be a friend to the kids and to help them adjust to the change of schools. He was always there, ready to help. Coach Wilkins himself had a taste of the Big Life when he was chosen, after college, to play baseball for the Dodgers. He was a good player, but he chose to teach rather than play profes- sional ball. In the late 1970 ' s, he rather reluctantly agreed to go to the junior high as assistant principal. He continued to come to football practice each afternoon until a very few weeks before his death. Very soon a lasting monument to Coach Wil- kins will be erected at Northcutt Stadium, Some- where on that stone Coach Ben ' s often-quoted belief should be etched: Be Somebody! He always admonished the youth of MHS to work to be somebody. The 1976 OLYMPIAN, Marietta High School ' s yearbook, said of Coach Wilkins when it dedicated the yearbook to him; Americans admire people with ideals. We, as American citizens of Marietta High School, appreciate the quab ' ties of Americanism that are exemplified by all the faculty of our school. We especially admire one particular man. Men of ideals are not uncommon; men who stand up for and practice their ideals are. As a teacher, we admire his zeal; as a coach, we strive to learn his principles of sportsmanship and fairplay. As a friend, we recognize his sincerity, and as a man we admire, appreciate, and recognize his qualities as a good citizen, and we realize keenly that here truly is an individual in whom we can see the values of an Ameri- can at work and at play! For these, and countless other reasons, we choose to remember a great teacher, coach, and friend. c o a c h B e n

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DEDICATION L 1 m 1 1 Teachers should never be stereotyped. Their diverse personalities mai e their in- dividuality stand out; their individuality makes us remember them in special ways. Once one gets to know this gentle- man, who sometimes appears to be cryp- tic, cynical, abrupt, and humorous, but who is, in reality, always caring, one has met one of MHS ' true characters. This teacher became a part of MHS history and tradition in 1S)60. Since then he has been the varsity football cheer- leader sponsor, the sponsor of DEC, and now defunct social club, and he began the very first Key Club on the Marietta High campus. He once hauled the now stationary Victory Bell (atop Northcutt Stadium) on a special trailer cart behind his car to all away-football games, and he helped pull it up and down the sidelines of both home and away games — He has always been a loyal Blue Devil fan, sup- porting every aspect of MHS life. He is remembered kindly by students whom he has taught in his twenty-five years here; it is rare that a day passes in which some student fails to say, my mom dad said hello, and do you remem- ber when you taught them? This man ' s kindness is always in evi- dence, yet he prefers anonymity and would die before he admitted he liked you — but never fear, he does; he is a very caring person. We appreciate people such as he, and we long remember their example. We, the Olympian staff of 1985, feel very spe- cial about honoring Mr. Robert Ross Amacker!

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PRIDE Marietta as a mother, As a guide and as a friend We ' ll be loyal to your colors. And your honor we ' ll defend. As for you you ' re always no ble And your guidance ever true. To your cause we ' ll all be loyal. Marietta White and Blue. The time has finally come for the seniors to graduate. Our class, the Class of ' 85, is one of the best classes to move through Marietta High School. I hope this yearbook will be a lasting reminder to all the seniors, and underclassmen, of the good times, bad times, happy times, and sad times during their 1984-85 school year. The staff has worked diligently all year long preparing this book for its presentation. We, the staff, are proud of the long hours we worked toward its completion, and we hope that everyone is as proud of this book as we are. This book would not have been possible if it were not for the guidance of Mr. Bonds, our advisor, and the assistance of the administration. The support given the yearbook by Mr. Garrett is especially appreciat- ed. While every staff member contributes his part, some staff members went above and beyond the normal caU of duty; these need to be recognized: Ben Brooks, Lynne Smith and Kari Lawandales. Good luck to all the seniors. I hope that each of you will often turn the pages of this OLYMPIAN to refresh the memories of your senior year. Sincerely, Craig Brookes Editor, 1985 Olympian Marietta school of glory. School of pride and honor rare. We will do our best to make you Prouder of the name you bear. We ' ll do all that ' s in our power. To obtain what ' s right for you, Doing things that show we ' re worthy of our Royal White and Blue. Robert Wood ' 34