Axton High School - Axtonian Yearbook (Axton, VA)

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HISTORY OF CLASS ’44 On September 4, 1940, we thirty-three bedazzled rats marched down the aisle and took our places along with those much-to-be envied seniors in the auditorium. In the grades we had heard so much about those special high school meetings. Now, after much hard work we were as- tounded to find ourselves a part of them. We’ll admit we were a rather dumb group those first few days. It seemed impossible to get our classes and teachers straightened out and the bell rang continually. As all other freshmen, we had to take the jeers of our upper classmen. But we stood the shock and held our own. In December the high school boys enjoyed the F. F. A. banquet, es- pecially as some of the girls of the Home Economics Club served. This was a festive affair but no more enjoyable than the Mother-Daughter Party given by the Heme Economics Cluo on a rainy day in May. We entered into the spirit of physical activities— softball, volleyball, and other games ; but we didn’t enter inter-scholastic games that first year, as we knew we didn’t have a chance with our superior upper classmen. Along the literary line, however, we did much Several of our members entered the Virginia Literary League contests: Clarence Elliott and Lis- abetty Jones, reading; Clara Gravely and Helen Wright, oration. Helen Wright won the District Oration Contest and went to Univeristy, Virginia. During the year, for various reasons, we lost Willis Duncan, Harold Elliott, Justice Slaydon, Vercil Wray, Robert East, Zonie Dillon, and Iris Moxley. Zonie Dillon left us to make her home at Spencer. Our loss was someone else’s gain. Iris Moxley dropped out because of illness. In Mrs. Gall’s civics class, we made a citizenship notebook and left it to the library so that those following us might use it as a guide in be- coming better citizens. In our sophomore year we assembled in our home room in Septernber with Miss Lou Blanton, now Mrs. L B. Newton, as sponsor. There were only 23 members. John Minter and Clarence Adams had been tranf erred to Martinsville and Lucy Moxley had stopped to work. This year, we who had been considered dumb amazed the other students with our brilli- ance. Elizabeth Rumley entered a poetry contest. Clara Gravely and Helen Wright were among the winners in the District Debating Contest and did the school honor at University, Virginia.. On May 2, the whole school went to Bassett for the Field Day con- tests. Many red and blue ribbons were won. Of this class, Marie Slaydon flaunted a blue ribbon for winning the relay. In the spring many of our class participated in a radio program, “The Birth of Our Most Patriotic Songs.” Throughout the year we took part in S. C. A. work, and two of our members represented the school at the District Convention at Danville. In our junior year, the fall of 1942, we lost two of our classmates, Clara Gravely and Thelma Ansell, who left the community. To make up for this loss, we welcomed into our ranks Elizabeth Wagner, who has since been a loyal member. To guide us through the year, we elected Clifford Stone as class presi- dent. Of the boys in this class, George Barker and Clarence Elliott went

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COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES AXTON HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM BACCALAUREATE SERMON 8:00 P. M Sunday, May 21, 1944. Processional Doxology Invocation Hymn-— “All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name’’, No. 184 Scripture — Psalm 103 Prayer Hymn — “The Son of God Goes Forth to War”, No. 176 Special Rendition Sermon — “The Pathway to Happiness” Rev. W. A. Hawley Hymn-— ‘May Jesus Christ Be Praised,” No. 151 Benediction Recessional a GRADUATION EXERCISES 8:00 P. M. Wednesday, May 24, 1944. PART I. Invocation Rev. W. A. Hawley History of Class ’44 Helen Wright Alumni in The Armed Forces Doris McGuire Original Poems ( ‘To The Absent Members, Class 1944”) Mildred Holland (“Far Away” to the Alumni of A. H. S.) Salute to the Flag, led by Lisabetty Jones and Elizabeth Rumley “Say a Prayer for the Boys Over There’ Class History of The Axton School John Harris ‘ Axton High Loyalty Song” Senior Class The Axton Victory Corps Virginia Jones Class Song, “Awake O Youth” (Composed by Elizabeth Wagner) Class The Future Farmers of America Osborne Grant Statistics Marie Slaydon A Little Fun in A. H. S. Louis Cole, Melvin Winn, and Nellie Minter Advice to Juniors J. P. Wade, Jr. Action Song “Bicycle Built for Two” Helen Wright, Marie Slaydon John Harris and Melvin Winn Will Clifford Stone Prophecy i Frances Hawley Gifts Wash Earles and Elizabeth Wagner Seng- — “Goodbye Classmates” Composed by Elizabeth Wagner) Class At the Piano Frances Hawley and Elizabeth Wagner PART II. Salutatory — “Democracy, A Living Flame” Elizabeth Rumley Song— “God of Our Fathers” Class Annoimcements and Delivery of Diplomas Mr. H. L. Saville Song — “Star Spangled Banner” Class and Audience Valedictory — “Planning for World Peace” Lisabetty Jones

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out for basketball. Of the girls, Mildred Holland and Marie Slaydon were our representatives on the girls’ team. The main event of the year was the wiener roast given by this class to the seniors of ’43 at Bullington’s Mill. In spite of the showers, our spirits were not dampened and everyone had a good time. Sallie Payne left our ranks at the beginning of the spring term to go to work; and Marian Brown, who had carried five subjects each year, became a senior. In February we were thrilled when Mr. Saville called us into his. office to receive our class rings. When we returned in the fall 1943, we regretted we had reached our last year in high school. Our hearts were also sad because we must give up three of our members to serve in the armed forces of our country : Frank Barrow, to the Infantry; Clarence Elliott to the Navy; and Elmo Gravely, to the Marines. George Barker who had started high school with us, now a Junior, also joined the Marines. We organized our class with Helen Wright, president; Elizabeth Wagner, vice-president; and Marie Slaydon, secretary. Immediately after our class organization, we became interested in our annual. We were late in starting but we progressed rapidly after we had once begun. The class elected Lisabetty Jones as editor-in-chief and Miss Norvell as sponsor. As a result of our work, we have “THE Axtonian”, which ladies and gentlemen, we hope you consider a master- piece. The class derived much fun from having pictures made and seek- ing advertisements from our generous friawds in Martinsville and Axton. We had several class meetings in which we wrangled over our annual, invitations, caps and gowns, class night, and other things. We only hope other classes will not follow in cur footsteps, or more of the teachers will seek new fields of work. On December 3, the seniors presented two plays, “The Home Front,’’ a patriotic play, and “Moon Signs,” a comedy, both of which were receiv- ed with gusto by the audience. The proceeds went for our annual. The inter-scholastic activities slowed down in 1943-44 because of the gas rationing, but the intra-mural work continued The boys of this class were active with Clifford Stone leading activities in S. C. A., F. F. A., and baseball. Softball and basketball were the main athletic sports o f the girls. Debates and other literary activities were participated in by all. In Aoril the Juniors gave us a wiener roast at Turner’s Lake, at which we had much fun. Even though wieners were rationed, we had enough for all. On May 21, we heard an impressive baccalaureate sermon by Rev. W. A. Hawley, the father of Frances Hawley of our class. Each of us felt our senior dignity as we marched in, robed in the cans and gowns. Tonight, May 24, we have our class night and graduation exercises. Though many of us are to be scattered far away, we rejoice that we have had these four years together and have shared the opportunities offered Us by Axton High School. —HELEN WRIGHT.