Allentown High School - Derrick Yearbook (Allentown, NY)

Page 3 text:

PRINCIPAL DONALD L. ABBEY MESSAGE TO STUDENTS May 6, 1936 Dear Students: “The Derrick’’ has been v chosen as the title of our yearbook because it symbol- izes the heart interest of this community. Oil ! You live in a town founded and surrounded by the wealth and potentialities of the oil industry. The mere discovery of oil hundreds of feet below the ground has no value for us. It must be brought to the surface—the task of drilling and pumping does this. But crude oil above the ground has little value. It must be refined—disintegration and the removal of impurities does this. Each component part has its particular use- fulness, and by-products are made of the less valuable portions. Then, the world is benefited by our oil ! You students have latent possibilities within yourselves. Below the surface they are of no benefit to others. They must be discovered and brought to the light —education does this. But talents merely discovered are of little value; they must be refined, and the impurities removed. Your character must cultivate and polish your powers to make them useful to the world. Is the world benefited by your life f Sincerelv, D.L. A.