Phillips High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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T h e Mirror SENIOR CLASS ORATION THE CHALLENGE Here in the heart of a city is a monument to man’s hif»h endeavor, a place of learning which challenges youth to explore the wonders of the sciences and the arts, and to find a common basis of human understanding. This monument is our own Alma Mater, John Herbert Phillips High School. Throughout the years Phillipians have accepted their school’s call to follow the paths of knowledge, truth, and understanding and they will continue acceptance as long as the school stands. As hundreds of students, representing all sections of the United States and many countries of the world, enter Phillips, they bring offerings and receive in return gifts. They bring their cultures, their traditions, their ideals; they receive a blending of cultures, a refining of ideals, and a deepening of understanding. The pupil from another country can break the barriers of nationalism when he plays fairly his part in the competitive game or accepts the responsibility of a cooperative enterprise. At the same intellectual table sit the students from homes of limited income and those from more fortunate families; for intellect, talent, and character form a brotherhood at Phillips. This cosmopolitan attitude in our High School is fostered by our teachers, our courses of study, and even the environs of our city. Our teachers, like those of the other city high schools, have been trained in all parts of the United State , and bring breadth as well as depth to their subjects. Unlike the other city schools, however, our courses range through home-economics, auto-mechanics, appreciation of music, art, and poetry. Among the public high schools of the city, Phillips is the one whose spacious roof houses studio and shop, laboratory and stage. Here artisan and artist, ordinary student and scholar prepare for the future, whether it be entrance into college or into the world. Already many graduates have entered business, taking with them the liberal spirit of Phillips as the Athenian merchants carried Greek civilization to the surrounding countries of the Mediterranean. Already, her graduates, as students in colleges all over the land, are disproving by the thoroughness and diversity of their interests, sectional misrepresentations. Nor is this cosmopolitan attitude at Phillips attenuated. It is a very real liberalism. A votaress of Athena, Phillips is like that tutelary, a patron of the crafts and the arts, though she has always been identified especially with the intellectual interests of the city. If Birmingham becomes known as a center of tolerance and justice, bright and beautiful, it will be in no small degree due to the influence of graduates from Central High School and John Herbert Phillips High School who have given to her a wider and deeper appreciation of the crafts and the arts. As the graduating class of January 1938, let us hold fast the ideals of our Alma Mater. We live in a time when our own country and state is torn between “the falsehood of extremes,’’ when many of the wonders of science have been turned to the horrors of war, when the nations of the world arc in need of a closer relationship, a uniting influence. Only men of good will, with clear minds and courageous hearts can meet this need. The challenge is ours! [31] Jimmy Obenchain

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The Mirror SENIOR CLASS POEM OUR CREED When lessons of school arc stoutly won, And the braver tasks of life begun. Wc are confident we shall succeed If wc follow our noble creed: To live and love. In the distance, the peaks stand high To pierce the open-vaulted sky And challenge us. If we but valiant be. We’ll live discerningly. Nothing can dim our sight; Alertly, from left to right We’ll look—and try To free our minds from haze Of dark, uncertain days. To free our hearts from petty hates of life That nurture and engender strife. Then the heart is high; And when opportunity, broad and free Does come to you and me, We can sec the gleam and pleasure Of all the world’s gay treasure, And bv persistent skill Work out high good will Toward our fellowmen. We want to live and love: To love the busy marts of trade, The lowland and the grassy glade; For nothing is small and nothing can pall When the heart is high. When the heart is high We give the conquering shout: Love will triumph. Then wc lose our selfish need In service of the larger deed. Then we give. Then we live! [30] —Vida Mae Hancock

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r it e Mirror Homer Howard Haisten, Jr “Cicero Ambition: To advance further than the best on this road which is life. Activities: Senior Class President, '38; Natl. Honor Society ’36. ’37, Vice-Pres. ‘37: (Jen. Organization Vice-Pres. ‘37; Scholarship Com., ’37; Dramatic Club ’34, ’35, ’36, ’37, Pres. ’37; Yancey Cor.-Sec. ’37; Cshers ’36, '37. James Wade Battles “Jimmy Ambition: To build my air rustles of steel. Activities: Vice-President Senior Class '38; Gen. Orn. Chairman Scholarship Com. '37; National Honor Soc.; Mirror Agent ’35; Marshal '36; Biology Class Pres. '36. Eleanor Elizabeth Loxgcriex Ambition: To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true. Activities: Secretary Senior Class; National Honor - Society; Personality Club Pres. '37; Writers Club '3S; j G. L. C. ’35. '36; Thalia '35; S. K. Pres. '3S. Vice-Pres. ’37; Council Member '34. Carlese Dot Bozeman j Ambition: To love many, trust fete, and always paddle my own canoe. ( Activities: Senior Class Treasurer, '38; National Honor Society; Aglaia '34. '3$. ’36. 37. ’38; S. K. Pres. ’35, Vice-Pres. '36, Sec. '34. '38; Vice-Pres. History Class '34. '38. Irving R. Obench aik, Jr. “Jimmy” Ambition: To be successful in all my work. Activities; Senior Orator '38; National Honor Society ’37. '38; President '38; Yancey '34. '35. '36, '37. Third X Member Standing Com. '37; Band '34. '35, '36. '37 Mary Ellen Jackson Ambition: To arouse in others by my playing the ruptu-rous excitement which cast overcome one when listening to beautiful music. Activities: Senior Class Pianist; Senior Class Composer; Asst. Accompanist tor Glee Club '37; Glee Club '37; Orchestra; Band; “Do-Rc-Mi” Madrigal Club; Damrosh Club. Pres. '35, Sec. 36: Peace Club '37. Sarah Johnson Reedy “So Ambition: To accomplish as much as I possibly can with the talents I have Activities: Senior Class Vocalist; Glee Club '37; Operetta '37; Damrosch Club '36, '37, Parliamentarian; Phillips Night Program; Dramatic Club '34. Vida Mae Hancock Tom Ambition: To climb the stairs to success (if the elevator isn't working). Activit'es: Senior Class Poet; S. R. Banker '34; History Class Sec. '37; Freshman Mirror Board; Soph. Mirror Board; Mirror Agt.'37; Personality Club '37. Janie Roberta Strickland Ambition: To know life, love, and a new joke. Activities: Artist Senior Class; Aglala '34. '35. ’36, ’37. Pres. '36, '37, Vice-Pres. '35, Custodian '36; Art Club '34; Dramatic Club '35, ‘56; Trea» '36; Pen and Brush Club. Mary Joann Levey Jo Ambition: To see a cigar box. Activities: Violinist Senior Class; Orch. '35. '36, '37, Sec. '36. P es. '37;Damrosch Club '35 '36. ’37. Sec. ’36, Prc.. '37; Marshal '35; Mirror Board '37