Pennington High School - Yearbook (Blountsville, AL)

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J.B. Pennington High School 1970 J. B. Pennington High School of 1970 has much to be proud of, especially its rich heritage. The great number of distinguished alumni speaks well for the past administration and faculties. Although the school today is different in many 1'espects, there still remains much of the spirit of dedication and loyalty among the students, faculty and the citizens of the community that has existed throughout the history of the school. The Ninth District Agricultural School was established to meet specific needs of the youth at that time, primarily, scientific farming. Today this is only a part of our curriculum. The school curriculum has been modiiied as changing times have created new needs. The school today, as in its early history, is attempting to meet the needs by offering a comprehensive program. The enrollment is now 590 students in grades 7 through 12 with 24 faculty members, five teach- er aides, one custodian and five lunchroom em- ployees. Sixteen buses travel a total distance of 656 miles daily transporting the students to and from school. Approximately 7579 of the students who enroll in the 7th grade graduate with ap- proximately 457b of the graduates enrolling in an institution of higher learning or a technical school. My ambition as principal of the J. B. Penning- ton High School of 1970 is to see that the school continues to offer the very best for youth of this communityg that the good name of the school be upheld and protected so that the many alumni may proudly refer to the J. B. Pennington High School as my school . 168

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Birl Bryson Mr. Birl Bryson, the present principal of J. B. Pennington High School, is a native of Blount County and is a graduate of the school. Mr. Bryson was born September 26, 1923, to Arthur and Bertha Beasley Bryson on a farm three miles north of Blountsville. In 1937, after attending Mt. Hebron Elemen- tary School, he entered J. B. Pennington High School. Because of his father's ill health, he left school in 1941 to help on the family farm. On September 1, 1943, Mr. Bryson became a member of the United States Army. He spent six months at Camp Fanning, Texas, and was then sent to the Pacific Theater where he joined the 43rd Infantry Division. He served in New Zea- land and in the New Guinea and Phillipine Cam- paigns. After the war ended, he joined the First Cavalry Division in Tokyo, Japan, performing guard duty for six months in the Bank of Japan and at the Imperial Palace. Following his honorable discharge from the army on March 6, 1945, Mr. Bryson worked in various positions for eighteen months, trying to find a satisfactory vocation. During this time he realized his need for more education. He deter- mined to further his education and reentered J. B. Pennington High School. He completed his high school education and graduated in May, 1948. The following fall, he entered Jacksonville State College where he complete requirements for a B. S. Degree in Secondary Education in Decem- ber, 1951. On June 10, 1949, Mr. Bryson was married to Miss Margie Bryan of Cleveland, Ala. They are the parents of three children, Sammy, born Jan- uary 7, 1953g Susan, born August 2, 19585 and Jan, born July 17, 1965. After his graduation from Jacksonville State, Mr. Bryson came back to J. B. Pennington as a science teacher. He continued his education and in August 1962, received his M. A. from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee. On July 1, 1959, Mr. Bryson became principal of our high school following the retirement of Mr. Penning- ton. During Mr. Bryson's administration the school facilities have been enlarged and improved. An addition was made to the Vocational Agriculture Shop. The grounds were improved by closing the private drive on the north side of the building and converting this land to tennis courts, parking space, an athletic field. Additional parking space for busses was arranged behind the dormitory. A modern, well-equipped, well-lighted lunchroom was completed in January, 1968. Probably the most far-reaching development was the purchase of 20 acres of property on the west side of highway 231 by the School Improve- ment Corporation, which was organized in 1967. . 4..- M ff uf The Bryson Family I 67

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Blountsville Elementary School W. ...Mn 1 This building was destroyed by fire November 11, 1964 Blountsville Elementary School 1970