Battle Ground Academy - Cannon Ball Yearbook (Franklin, TN)

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“A strong body takes the mind strong.” | THOMAS JEFFERSON JiMMy GENTRY Athletic Director B1iLL CHERRY BILL SMITH ROBERT GENTRY Football, Track Basketball, Baseball Football

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This was where our year began. Late August and the days were dry. There was dust on the morning roads, but the trees by the practice field across from the gym were still green. The after- noons were cool and good to yawn in. But on the last day of August, on a good morning, all of us went to the school. Registration. There were a lot of people there you had never seen before. Old students recog- nized old teachers and sized up the new ones. Mr. Smithson made a few of his predictable attacks on some of his favorite targets. Long-suffering Mr. Reynolds told you when you would take P.E. Familiar things were still with us. Woodrow Wil- son’s picture was still on top of the display case in the war museum, along with the gas masks and a “fragment from a bronze Nazi eagle.” The build- ing itself had not softened any; the walls were still painted in severe white and battleship gray. The — commissary and environs were still green. Room One belonged to Mr. Bragg; and Pete Gracey, All-American, continued to glare at all the people who walked by him. Ah, yes. Tradition. Good stuff. The only things missing were the ivy on the outside walls and the pile of cannonballs that used to be in front of each cannon out on the front lawn. School began the next week. No matter who you were, you got a desk in study hall. The writ- ing surface was garnished with choice carvings and epithets. It was impossible to write on using only a pen and piece of paper, since you would hit a carved out space every few seconds. The Seniors were placed in the back of the study hall. As the days became colder, the noise of the heating fan in the back effectively drowned out Mr. Redick and the assorted chapel speakers. Despite all our efforts the season progressed.

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Over the years Battle Ground has established a repu- tation for building men physically as well as mentally. Outstanding coaching staffs have always been indicative of the athletic programs at B.G.A. This year’s staff was more qualified and more diversified than any in the school’s history. Letters were offered in eight varsity sports, including football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, tennis, swimming, golf, and track. Each of these sports was supervised by one or more members of the coaching staff. Although many of the teams did not rate as well as some of the past, each sport had its individual stand- outs. Buzz Hamilton was named to the All-Midstate football squad and awarded a scholarship to Vanderbilt University. Allen Anderson was invited to participate in the TSSAA All-Star football game. Many of the ath- letes were commended by the press weekly for their out- standing performances. “These things must be the result of the attention of trained coaches. HAROLD KENNEDY BILL BRADSHAW Football Tennis mel BP Getter ies omeer Fae Sensen tetinny see oe ——— Dr. HARRY GUFFEE I Trainer J. B. AKIN RALPH REYNOLDS , Golf Swimming