Athens Area High School - Athenian Yearbook (Athens, PA)

Page 12 text:

Irving W. Hazard Principal Senior High School William S. Courtney Principal Junior High School To The Class of 1944: While considering what I might say to you in this column, the following letter from a hoy at the front came to my attention. “Dear Folks, “It’s either a feast or a famine. After over a month with no mail, I receive 62 letters all at once. Grandpa’s death came rather as a shock since I didn’t happen to read the letters in chronological order. You are right about my having seen death in far sadder forms. I am not speaking of those who die for their country but those who die through the carelessness and ignorance of others. Death is not sad if, in dying, a man accomplishes something worth dying for. Neither is death that is merely the climax of a worthwhile life. I hope my death is one of these two kinds.” I believe that I can do no better for my parting message to you than to quote these words, weighted as they are by the front line experience of the writer. Mr. Courtney left Athens High School this year to become a Red Cross field director after having served both as principal and teacher in our Junior High School. He will be remembered always by the faculty and students as the one who would lend a hand whenever needed. Mr. Courtney was a good sport and he instilled the same in his football teams which he coached for a number of years. He brought into junior high school many-new projects such as student government and various other organizations which you will find still existing in the school. We all know there is a big job to be done and Mr. Courtney will do all he can for our boys. Best of luck to a good scout, our Mr. Courtney.

Page 11 text:

Eugf.nk E. Grkdiford Supervising Principal 4 'T is difficult to write a message to a graduating class during wartime, a message which should be a greeting of cheer, hope and good wishes, and at the same time be a carrier of something worth-while during the years to come. Probably never in the history of Athens High School have so many of the senior boys left their classes to take up assignments with the armed forces. Never before in the history of warfare has our nation needed to come into the classroom and call for educated boys to join in the struggle. But this is a war of specially trained men, of men whose natural aptitudes and high school training have made them alert and capable of quickly learning the specific training necessary for their various battle stations. We are proud to know that the members of the Class of 1944 have met the challenge of the day and that they will do their full share in assuming the responsibilities of this wartime and those of the years during peace and reconstruction. We congratulate all of you upon your graduation and promotion into the duties of life which immediately face you.

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Marie Bean History Edith IIine School Nurse Celia Arnold Secretary Vera K. Baxter Mathematics Reed C. Benson H. S. Science Elisabeth Bouton Commertial Lina C. Burns English Faculty Esther Cooper History and English Howard S. Evans Social Science Maryrose Kowaleski Alice Leutner Home Economics Languages Ruth Lucy Physical Education