Pittsboro High School - Progress Yearbook (Pittsboro, IN)

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A question that kept recurring was What is wrong with our school in its present status?', Why can't we continue as we are? We have good teachers and a good school. Our students go away to college and many of them distinguish themselves. On the other side of the argument were the inducements offered by a bigger school, more modern facilities, better equipment, varied curricul a, better opportunities, more teachers with advanced degrees. Mr. Floyd Burroughs was the last principal employed by a township trustee, Mr. Merle Hendricks, and it was his sad lot to serve during this difficult time. He will be remembered for his patience, his dedication to his task as principal and teacher and his loyalty to the school. The division in the community was a tragic conclusion to thc 10 years he spent as principal. On November 6, 1962, a vote to consolidate with Center, Marion, Eel River and Union Townships was rejected with Middle Township voting 147 for and 683 against consolidation. A vote to consolidate with Union and Eel River Town- ships was passed May 5, 1964. In Middle Township, the vote was 259 for consolidation and 169 against. The first School Board was composed of the trustees of the three townships, Lamar Hartman, later replaced by Gerald Studley after his resignation, Eel River, Marvin Adams, Middle and Keith Herring, Union. They served two years until the first election of a school board. This board hired Mr. Bruno Lupato as Superintendent of Schools. He remained two years. The first elected school board was elected in May, 1966. It was composed of one member from each district and two at large. They were: District I-Merle Hendricks who was elected for a two year term, District 2-Donald Hitch, District 3-Harold Power. At-large-Robert Porter and Herschel Gentry, Ir. elected for a two year term. After the first election, the members were elected for a four year term. This board hired Mr. john Crick as administrator of the consolidated school district. Mr. Crick is an experienced educator and has served with ability and wisdom. The task of welding three townships into a functioning consolidation has not been easy, but the efforts of the school board and the superintendent are sincerely appreciated. Reports of subsequent elections are as follows: Elected in May, 1968, District 1-Herschel Gentry, Ir., At-large-Devon Jackson. Elected in May 1970-District 2-Donald Hitch, District 3-Jerry Bishop, At-large-jack Lee. This board autho- rized the purchase of ground for the new high school building. The Jewel Leachman farm extending south on State Road 39 and east on U.S. 136 at Lizton was bought in 1970, 72 plus acres for the amount of 889,000 james and Associates ere hired as Architects. They had built the new elementary building at Pittsboro at a cost of S355,000. In May, 1972 Robert Bray was elected from District 1, Devon Iackson at large. Due to the resignation of Ierry Bishop, Steven Ross was ap- pointed as District 3 member. This board started construction of the new high school which will be known as Tri-West Hendricks. Elected in May 1974, were District 3, Steven Ross, District 2, james Hall, At-large, jack Lec. Side Liner Am! By Liner After we become a part of Tri-West Hendricks, it will be a pleasure to look back on the days when we were a high school and know that we were always marching abreast of the times. The first regular band uniforms were purchased in 1953-54 at a cost of S30 to S35 per' uniform. The new uniforms for next year will cost S136 each. The first majorettes were Carolyn Sue Lindley and Thelma Yelton Hunter. In the years following many girls served as majorettes, among them Shirley Swain Boles, lean Scamahorn Abbott, Sharon Wagoner Reynolds, Carolyn Hinshaw Adams, Patty Smith Cales, Mary jo Reynolds Mendenhall, Sharon Miller, Cindy Raney, Peggy Thompson, Susie Trent O'Maley, Donna McClung Herring, Darlene Dillon, Sandra Hiland Marsh, Ieanne Niggel, janet Edwards Marsh, and Sharon Stevenson Hague. One of the most active extra curricular organizations is the Sunshine Society which Mrs. Zelma Heinig organized and sponsored for many years. Their creed is indicative of the high ideals which the girls strive to have: With love in my heart, forgetting self, and with charity for all, I will make the object of my life helpfulness and kindness to others. I shall try to get myself to give intelligent service in making my community a safer and more beautiful place in which to live. Thus will my own life become rich and complete. Their motto is Others',. Each year the girls select an Ideal Lady and between them there is a happy exchange of greetings and gifts until the Sunshine girls reveal themselves at the spring meeting. A Lift Of Firm T0 Remember: The Pittsboro High School was organized in 1894. The first teacher was Mrs. Mamie Reynolds Spees. IX

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Ward Crites was coach in 1943-44, 44-45, William Logan in 1945-46, Bob Shank in 1946-47, 47-48, Bill Schlifer in 1948 49, 49-50, and 50-51, lack Bradford in 1951-52, Walter O'Brien in 1953-54, 54-55, Max Cibbs in 1954-55, 55-56, 56-57, 57-58, Bonner Allee in 1958-59, 59-60, Don Abrams in 1960-61, 61-62, 62-63, 63-64, 64-65, Larry Sparks 1965-66, War- ren Fisher in 1966-67 and Bill Compton from 1967-68 through 74-75. Do you remember old P.H.S. yells?-Pep it up, pep it up, Fight, Fight, Fight, Shake it up, shake it up, Fight, Fight, Fight, Yea, Team, Fightl- A pint, a quart, A ten gallon can, Pittsboro High School, Yea-man.-Stand on a tin can, Stand on a band stand, Who can? We can. Nobody else can! Yea Rah Burros.-Teamwork on the bleachers, Teamwork on the floor, Teamwork makes the baskets, And the baskets makes the score.-Horn and hoof, Horn and hoof, Hold the floor and raise the roof, Razzle, dazzle, zizzle, zip, Yea, Pittsboro, let it rip.-Strawberry Shortcake, Cooseberry pie, V I C T O R Y, Are we in it? Well I guess, Fifteen rahs for P H S, Rah, rah, rah, etc.-Big chief, little chief, Papoose, squaw, Pittsboro High School, Rah, rah, rah. For many years an athletic award based on scholarship sportsmanship, and attitude was given each year to the out- standing athlete in the senior class. At first it was called the American Legion Award, then was changed to the Richard Tanselle award, in honor of Richard Tanselle, a graduate of the class of 1940 who died in World War II. It was a great honor to be chosenfor this award. Pittsboro can boast many trophies and pictures of winning teams through the years. It is to the great credit of team, coach, and student body, that winning or losing, we have a courteous, respectful attitude. Sectional victories in the last two years have made the Burros a much touted team. They have made headlines in county and metropolitan papers and by good team work and all-out effort, they have an excellent record. The coach, Bill Compton, is highly regarded. As an extra bit of information, the name Burros,' was given by Dortha Bowman, an Alumni of P H S and an enthusiastic member of the rooters . She and her 3 sisters, 2 nephews tone now a coachl and a niece, Sheri Schaekel are strong defenders of the school. She thought Pittsboro could be used to name the team Burros. It will soon be a thing of the past, but all students and Alumni can look back on the name with pride and nostalgia. Scholarship has always been stressed and due honor given to those who excelled in their studies. Each year at Com- mencement exercises, the valedictorian and Salutatorian of the class are announced. It is worthy of note that from the earliest years of the high school, those who were fortunate enough to attend college or other areas of higher education have made good records, some even distinguishing themselves by being chosen for special honors. From the ranks of graduates are men and women in various fields of work, farmers, business men, lawyers, doctors, bankers, teachers, musi- cians, government employees, grain dealers, truckers, mechanics, pharmacists, actors, veterinarians, plumbers, beau- ticians, sales people, ministers, grocers, merchants, secretaries, nurses, engineers, artists, photographers, coaches, and so on and so on. In studying the list of graduates, it is hard to find many who are not usefully and gainfully employed. That is a matter of great pride to our school and community. Among the many changes which have occurred in the 80 years of our existence as a high school is the differnce in teach- ers salaries. Mentioned previously was the sum of 810.00 paid to Iohn Lineberry for a few months teaching, then later teachers received S2 a day. In the early 20,s a good salary ranged between S1000 and S1200 annual for an 8 month term. Mr. Girard, principal received a salary of S2500 the first year he was here in 1926-27. In 1930, the Latin and English teacher received 351530, the music teacher less thn 31000. In the 30,s the coach received 361600. Contract books are enlightening to examine, showing the effect as they do of the economy on the salaries of teachers. During the 40's and 50's there was a decided increase and at the present time, teachers are beginning to be paid more nearly what they have deserved. Salary schedules for recent years indicate that teachers with experience and an an A B Degree can earn from S7000 to 89000, with a Master's Degree the salary scale runs much higher. In the 501s the most important, as well as the most controversial issue to confront our township was the question of consolidation. The theory of 'Kbigger and better schools was sweeping the country during the late 40's and 50's. In many ways it was not new as the same idea was a reality in the 1900,s, when many country schools were abandoned and pupils brought into the Pittsboro Schools. It was called centralization. Many citizens studied the plan of consolidation with open minds. As happened in many communities, there was a difference of opinion which resulted in personal grievances. There were several open meetings in the school building, statistics were presented, and arguments ensued. The first step taken was the appointment of a central committee from the county and the first suggestion made was the consolidation of Pittsboro and Brownsburg Schools. This met with definite opposition. VIII

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The first school room was the hall over the brick store where Larry Lovell had his barber shop. The first male teacher was A.L.H. Miller. The first graduates were Oscar Reynolds, Norman Worrell, james Flaherty, Charles Kress and Maude Hughes Newman. The first graduates from the four year high school were Carroll McDonald and Edwin Terrell. The first graduates from a four year commissioned high school was the class of 1917. The first music teacher was Mrs. Martha Harvey King here in 1914, next was Sarah McClain Money. The first gym was built in 1919-20. The first home game was played in 1920. The first girl graduate was Maude Hughes Newman in 1897. The first Alumni banquet was held in 1912. The first Alumni Scholarship medal was won by Elizabeth Yeager Dillon. The first county tourney played at Pittsboro in 1923. The first sectional ever Won by Pittsboro was in 1922. The first trustee who was an Alumnus of PHS was Edgar Parker. The first Alumnus to become a doctor was Aubrey Pebworth H8981 The first senior play was given by the class of 1917. The first school paper was published in 1903. The first Iunior High School was organized in 1921. The first child of an Alumni of PHS as Blanche Ashby 1915. The first grandchild of an Alumni to graduate was Ronald Montgomery 1944, grandson of Pearl Cowley 1901. The first principal to receive a salary of more than S2000 was j.P. Girard in 1931. The first class to have military training was in 1918 under teacher Leo Fitzgerald. The first superintendent of schools to be employed by the school board was Bruno Lupato. The first school board was elected in 1962. Q The first members from PHS on the school board were Herschel Gentry, jr. and Merle Hendricks. The first husband and wife team to teach in PHS was Glen and Helen Staton. In 1905 school was stopped on account of an epidemic of small pox. In 1918 school was stopped because of the flu epidemic. A play entitled Uncle Dick's Mistaken was a great success, given by the high school and netting 322.550, f1905j A play given by the Alumni Association in the late 1920's was a great success and netted more than 8200. Entitled His Uncleis Niecef' The first senior class play in 1917 was entitled The Varsity Coachf, In January 1904 a big oratorical contest was held at the Christian Church. Here are samples of some of the titles: Napo- lean the Great by Esther Wells McConnaha, mother of Margaret Gregory, grandmother of Gary Gregory and great grandmother of Mike and Teryl Gregory. Spartacus to the Gladiatorsi' given by Blaine Bmmfield, father of the actor, Ion Bmmfield for Bromfieldl. In 1904, Maude Worrell Staneart, recently deceased, wrote a modern version of Women's Lib on The Ambition of Womenn. Quoting directly from her article, If it were not for the ambition of women, society would lose fully one half the development which it has already attainedf, Even years ago ERA had its followers. Along with many other activities in which PHS has always excelled is the fact that it was the first high school in the county to have a school paper. To verify that, consult the january copy, 1904 of the Pittsboro High School Starf' Not only was it the first paper, but it was interesting and cleverly written, the work of the students, containing editorials on current subjects, original poems, lots of jokes, athletic notes, mainly football, many personals especially in reference to boy and girl cases. All the businesses in Pittsboro put in their ads: Livery stable, millinery, physician and dentists, general merchants, horse blankets, farmers and restaurants. Reading these brings information about our town in the good old days, and makes us increasingly proud to be a part of it now. X