West Philadelphia High School - Record Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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Dedication 'A 4 ' Fx lv rv gf Va N Q- 1' Lif t ,pq 3' xg K, fl i l -' f 'ft a t 'g -NA s 4 34 .L i is r as ,ff , , f j ,Y i 5 f' La va., Joseph L. Pollock President of the Alumni Association Mere words are never an adequate tribute to a man and his accomplishments. The only signihcant and lasting trophy of what he has done is the success which he has attained. The high school is a long-established institution of learning. However, it should be more than just an educational institution. It should be a crossroad in the lives of its students and teachers, an important step in cultural development, and a memory worth retaining. The success or failure of the high school in being above and beyond just an educational institution lies in great measure in the hands of the Alumni Association, for that is the organization which knits together the loose ends of high school life and keeps the school fresh in the minds of its graduates. West Philadelphia High is proud of its line Alumni Association and the way in which it endears the school to the hearts of its graduates. Moreover, it is proud of a favorite son. Some years ago, a high school student reached the presidency of his schoolis Citizens' Association., Upon graduation he became a member of the Alumni Association of that school. Quickly he rose to the presidency of the organization. Re-election followed re-election, and improvement followed improvement. Eventually came the incorporation of the Association, making it a firmly established, smoothly running body. Recently he was a key figure in the obtaining of a ine athletic field for the school. Today the Alumni Association is a strong, highly regarded branch of the institution. Next fall, when Joseph L. Pollock resigns after ten successful years of service, he will need no more tribute than his achievements with the Alumni Association of the West Philadelphia High School. It is an honor for us, the graduating class of june 1956, to dedicate our yearbook to him.

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Foreword On the following pages, a story will be told. It isn't a record-breaking or earth- shattering history of events. Nevertheless, it is a tale backed by years of tradition and significance. In reality it is the continuation of the folklore of a progressing culture. The folklore of a people is handed down from age to age and from generation to generation. It is the product of years of experience and imagination. Folklore is an art which makes a people distinct and apart from all others. It gives them pride. It is something they can call their own. Not created by any one person, it is a credit to many people who have interpreted the world about them and made it into a literature. A high school in much the same way develops its years of experience into a type of folklore. Students cannot spend three years in a school without making their impression on it. One must not believe that fantastic characters are confined to ages gone by. One has but to look through the halls and classrooms of Western to see a variety of unique personalities. There are the giants of the Basketball Team, the fairy princesses of the Ballet, the orators of the Debate Club, and the Paul Bunyans of the Gym Team. There are the magicians of the Astronautical Club, the dashing actors and actresses ofthe Dramatic Club, and at the head there is a queen surrounded by the knights of the Board of Directors. And of course there are the rest of the Rip Van Winkles, Casey Joncses, Davy Crocketts and Jesse Jameses, each with his or her typical brand of achievement. So step right up and see history in the making. Let us all be Johnny Appleseeds sowing the seeds of progress through West Philadelphia High. C Ng gi llfff! H T A A X- ik -'fl' --if Eg T as sir ' ,I 'C 'X I 1 ' l , iff .. if kv ik .Q- E ..

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TABLE UF ww xzyf, mt FACULTY :J lv ohnny Appleseed-Sowing seeds of lm THE SCH Ul X Q X VX X W 3 P Utyffgcos Bill--Taming the wild West fi r A , ,, 45 f fs AGE xx Ur 'N ff' o' L,Paul Bunyan-Making labor his sport 3 f ' 'J 'f 'fir X 'F X XX if J joe Magerac-Shaping ct future world .t ' THE GR DUATES N tt 54 AQQ' r 3 ff john Henry-Hammering his way to fam' NKJV jf