Belmont High School - Clarion Yearbook (Belmont, NC)

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1 4 SENIOR SNAPS Page Twenty -one

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SENIORS Helen Thompson Ellerbe Hi ’39, ’40, ’41, ’42; Belmont Hi ’43. The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” Robert Traywick “A mincl at peace with all.” Rachel Florence Wells Florcncy” Girls’ Chorus ’40; Homeroom Vice-President ' 42. “Wise to resolve and patient to perform.” Harold Whitner Homeroom President ’39; Homeroom President ’42. “No word like pardon.” Lillie Lucille Wilkinson Science Club ' 40; Girls’ Chorus ’40; Home Ec. Club ’41, ’42; Glee Club ’42. “Friendship is a noble fancy, ’tis love refined.” Billie Willard “Bill” Science Club ' 40; Home Ec. Club ’42. “Just when I seemed about to learn! Off again.” Robert Franklin Wingate “Bob” Dramatic Club ’41. “’Tis only noble to be good.” Pauline Wright “Polly” Dramatic Club ’42, ’43. A woman of few words.” Dorothy Young “Dot” Cheerleader ’41 ; Science Club ’41 ; Monogram Club ’42. “Life is but a span; I’ll enjoy every inch of it.” Page T weniy

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HISTORY OF THE SENIOR CLASS “ All the world ' s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” This I beheld or dreamed it in a dream there spread before me, like a stage, a plain of North Carolina and on it I saw men and women playing out their lives. On one part of this plain I saw the town of Belmont, its citizens engaged in manufacturing textiles. I observed the mills, the homes, and the business section of Belmont; I watched the people work and I watched them play, both in a free, contented manner. As time passed, I w.atched the actors change; some passed on, but the babes became children and entered a period of education to prepare themselves to fill t he vacancies. T he year was 1931. I perceived a group of young children, myself among them, entering a school for the first time. I noticed the anxious looks of the mothers as the youngsters trod off to school. I saw their wondering looks as instructors herded them in and the curiosity with which they examined desks, pencil sharpeners and small books for the first time. I saw them drilled in obedience and courtesy. I watched their adaptation to routine, and the gradual unfolding of capabilities in each one. In their grammar grade years they mastered the calisthenics of reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic and began a march against their common foes — history, English and geography. I watched them learn to depend on themselves. And then I beheld a change — a second act began to unfold. The class of ’43, as they came to call themselves, now knew progress. They were more assured, less child-like, sharper-witted, broader-minded. This time they were schooled in a new building and became known as Junior High students. Here I noted a broadening of the stage, the entrance of new players. Again in 1 938 the setting was changed — they were entering another build- ing, under new teachers. I recognized this as the band which began in ’31. but how changed! I saw evidence of maturity as this group began to evade their former boundaries and explore the rough fields of mathematics, English, and science. Then I heard the rumbling of discontent on other plains of the world; I saw our peaceful country become a theater of war-preparation. In Belmont I watched a quiet atmosphere, a new determination, a wider interest settle over each member. I saw them begin to prepare to serve America — they learned to drill, to obey, to work; they began to absorb aeronautics, radio, electricity; they became self-conscious of their health and future welfare; they experienced small sacrifices. As I watched, the end of this play came into sight. I saw the class of ' 43 prepare to take leave of Belmont High. As I watched, they marched down the auditorium aisles for the last time and received their diplomas, thus ending their public school days. It has now become time for us to enter a new play, called “Life,” and the entire world shall be the stage. We have completed a phase of preparation; the next phase shall test our newly acquired strength. We have reached the crossroads; each shall now choose the path he will pursue. Page T wenty-tivo