Axton High School - Axtonian Yearbook (Axton, VA)

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THE AXTONIAN Clifton Wells, escorted by Arthur Toler, was among the first to come. Clifton wore his major’s uniform as he has served in Germany with the occupational troops for nine years. Major Wells is remaining in the army two years longer. Henry Eggleston was seen on the threshold enjoying his old chums. He is an agricul- turist and has a warehouse, a fine home and a prosperous family of five near Axton. Dorothy Dillon was there with a beaming face. She has just returned from Africa, where she has been a missionary the past five years. She finished Averett and the Uni- versity of Richmond before going across. Wilbert Haley and Gerald Wilson came in with their wives. They now operate jointly an up-to-date barber shop and beauty parlor in Axton. I understand they have made good. Both married Henry County girls. Wilbert’s wife is two feet taller than he, and our tall Gerald’s wife is a tiny woman. Opposites often attract. Virginia Holland, who finally won the title of Radio Star, sang for us as the guests were arriving. I imagine you have heard her sing quite often on the “Hit Parade’’. Though she goes under her maiden name over the radio, she is married to her boy friend of high school days. Do you remember his name? Dr. James Wagner was toast master. He is now the chief doctor on the staff of the General Hospital in Martinsville. He graduated from the University of Virginia Medical School in 1954. Mabel Earles came in with Dr. Wagner. She is his head nurse, and it is rumored she is the power behind the throne in the hospital as she practically runs it. Coleman Lawrence was very busy trying to show everyone a good time. He had a lady by his side whom he introduced as his fiancee. She is a very sweet and beautiful bru- nette. The five course dinner interspersed by music, toasts and gayety was all that could be anticipated. Every face glowed with the fun. After dinner the orchestra and dancing were enjoyed. I am not too anxious to tell you just how late (or should I say early) it was when we finally closed the curtain on a perfect night with our old friends. The only fault I could discover was — you’ll never guess — you, the backbone of our class, were absent. I sincerely hope that you will not disappoint us at the next glorious reunion of one of the most ideal classes in the history of Axton High School — the class of 1946. Thanks for the excellent services that you rendered each of us and may I wish for you a very prosperous future! Yours sincerely, Doris Elliott Page Nineteen

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THE A X T 0 N I A N The Prophecy of the Class of 1946 Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore, Maryland May 21, 1956 Dear Miss Norvell, You will probably be surprised to hear from me. It’s been a very long time (ten years to be exact) since I have seen or heard from you. I suppose you know by now that I am a technician in Johns Hopkins Hospital. I thoroughly enjoy my profession. I am sorty you were unable to attend the most wonderful celebration that I have ever attended — the reunion of the class of 1946 ! I am certain that you’ll be interested in hear- ing some of the high spots of it, so here goes ! When I received my invitation I hurriedly packed and left for Axton. I had no trouble getting reservations on the south-bound plane since Ramey Burgess owns the Southern Airlines. I was very happy to have Louise Davis as my airline hostess. She was most cordial to me. She also stopped off in Axton. As soon as our plane arrived in Axton, Louise and I made reservations at the New Avalon Hotel which is owned by Coleman Lawrence. It is really a lovely place. The interior decorations were done by our former Joanne Craig. She was there to welcome us. After finishing at Madison College she married, and now lives in a lovely country estate near Axton. We were delighted to find we had time to visit dear old Axton High during school hours. It has greatly improved since our school days. There is a wonderful new build- ing with a huge gymnasium, recreation rooms and an auditorium. It faces the old Mountain Valley road which is now a paved street. It was with great pleasure we found Marvin Kendall one of the mathematic teachers. While Louise and I discussed the rapid growth of the school with him, we were very happy to learn that the need of physical education had grown so that Sheila Burchell had been obtained as instructor. Her athletic ability has become useful. She was explain- ing the process of a game of softball by blackboard drawing as we passed through the gymnasium. We waited until classes were over so Marvin and Sheila could walk with us to the hotel. As we proceeded along Main Street, we met two of our classmates, Pauline Wyatt, who is an English teacher at Patrick Henry High School, and Elizabeth John- ston, who is a secretary to a business firm in Martinsville. They were window shop- ping with two good looking gentlemen in front of the big department store of Arthur Toler. Arthur came out and joined us. After having a lengthy conversation with those fine friends, we rushed on to the hotel to get ready for the great affair. The reunion was in one of the parlors and the dining room of the hotel, which were brilliant with gorgeous floral decorations and glistening chandeliers. In the I’eceiving line were the class officers of 1946 and the president of the alumni association, Pauline Wyatt. While watching the guests arrive, we practically strained our necks to see those classmates whom we had not seen for such a long time, but they soon arrived with faces shining with expectancy. Page Eighteen

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THE AXTONIAN Teamwork W E, the seniors, are happy because we are the first class for five years who have felt the glory of peace in our country. The noise of battle no longer dins our ears. Our nation should be happy because of this. A prayer of thankful- ness should go out from every soul. America should be ready in every way to present a united front to advance peace in our land as we have teamed to- gether for war. But even as I make these remarks, Kipling’s Recessio7ial arises in my thoughts. I hear resounding in my ears those memorable words ; “Let God of Host be with us yet. Lest we forget; lest we forget!’’ And I ask myself : are we not forgetting as the “tumult and shouting” over victory dies? Already we hear of prejudices, which were laid aside during war, being picked up again. Strikes have spread abroad ; inter-group hatred exists ; a fight for higher prices is being pushed. Such things slow up teamwork and kill the democratic spirit. They must go ! If 600 scientists working together could produce the atomic bomb, why cannot we have the same teamwork by as many scientists to destroy this greed, these rivalries and jealousies, which are undermining peace on our home front? While specialists work on the great struggles going on in our nation, cannot we peo- ple here tonight through our radios, movies, churches, schools and civic organizations be doing much to eliminate the factors that destroy our peace? We can get the peo- ple of the community to team together for our mutual good in constructive work. We must continue our economy of the war period! We must contribute to the development of enlightened citizenship which will be ready for the needs of today and tomorrow! Unselfish cooperation is on the tongues of statesmen, industrialists, educators and churchmen. Cooperative work could prevent another crash such as that in 1932. Team- work is the key that will unlock the doors that keep the people of the world apart. The nations of the world, if mutually joined together, can cope with any conflicts that may arise. Benjamin Franklin said, “United we stand, divided we fall.” This statement holds true for the world today. This brings to my mind McCarthy’s poem, which symbolizes our land: “This is the land where hate should die; No feuds of faith — no spleen of race, No darkly brooding fear should try Beneath our flag to find a place. Lo ! every people here has sent Its sons to answer freedom’s call ; Their lifeblood is the strong cement That builds and binds our nation’s wall.” What could be a better example of teamwork than that of the recent war? It was won by those who worked together for the good of the whole. World affairs may be compared to a football game. One person cannot win the game; through cooperation of all and the perfect coordination of limbs is the victory won. Had Germany known that the world would ally itself against her, she would never have allowed Hitler to go as far as he did in 1935 when he marched into the Rhineland. But, on the other hand, if the nations of the world had united to tell Hitler “No!” then, he would have been forced to retreat in 1935 — not in 1945. But they did not! The U. N. 0. now has a membership of 51 nations — 78. 6U of the more than two bil- lion people of the world now belong to the United Nations. The hoped-for operation of a world wide collective security alliance is about to be realized. Such an organiza- tion allied against a would-be aggressor will make that aggressor pause. This international relationship must not be severed but preserved. Through cooper- ation and God’s gudiance, we can remain on friendly terms and trade peaceably with Page Twenty