Belmont High School - Clarion Yearbook (Belmont, NC)

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CLASS POEM Belmont High — school of magic, Built ’neath a halcyon sky, Surrounded by a land of enchantment. Where heaven seems ever so high. Here the river, Catawba, rolls onward In its own solemn, turbid way, And the tiny birds soar song-ward As pines softly whisper and sway. Here, on your campus and playgrounds, We have formed memories fond and dear, While the kindness of loving teachers Has drawn us more infinitely near To the One who fain would bring us Away from all thoughts dark and drear. Here, dim-lit halls have sheltered us From the fierce tempests raging without, While cheery classrooms have helped us To proceed on life’s road without doubt Of our ability to overcome from within The hardships that are ever about. Today we stand at life ' s portal Looking yonder at the road just ahead Not afraid of the challenges greeting us Because through your halls we have trod. So, now as we bid you goodbye, Dear school that has guided our way. Be assured that gratitude n e ' er shall die. You’ll be proud of this whole class someday. — Tulita Pickens Miller. Page T wenty-three

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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

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LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT We, the members of the Senior Class of ' 43 of Belmont High, being sound in body, mind, and soul and realizing the nearness of our departure, do hereby make and declare this to be our last will and testament on this second day of June, nineteen hundred and forty-three. I terns : Article I 1. To our Alma Mater, Belmont High School, we leave our most sincere loyalty and deepest gratitude. 2. To our superintendent, principal, and faculty we do will and bequeath our appreciation for the effort they have put into our care and supervision. 3. To the Junior Class we leave our courses of study, our seats in assembly, our senior privileges, and the good times we have had during our senior year. Article II 1. We. Edith Abee and Rachel Brackett, leave our love of Belmont High to Johnnie Mae Horton and Betty Haney. 2. I, Joe Abernathy, will my violent temper to William Stephens. 3. We, Stanley and Willard Allman, bequeath our ability to keep silent at the right times to Bassy Bass. 4. I, Pauline Auten, will my big smile to Mary Sue Carroll. 5. I, Lola Bain, will my ability to learn to Troy Mills. 6. I, Perry Baucom, leave my habit of chewing gum in class to Ray Burns and hope that he doesn ' t get caught as much as I did. 7. I. Herman Beatty, will to Clinton Wilkinson, my ability to take orders quietly. 8. I, Betty Sue Blanton, leave to Betty Wright my position as chief cheerleader. 9. We, Faye Brandon, Kathryn Millen, and Margaret Noles, leave our positions on the Spy staff to any juniors who can fill them as well as we have done. 10. We. Carolyn Brown and Eldora Hovis, bestow upon Allene Hipps and Emma Hodge our irrepressible habit of talking and giggling in class. 11. I, Helen Brown, leave my very quiet ways to Grace Carrell. 12. I. Mildred Burch, leave my good nature to Ruby Shepherd. 13. I, Virginia Carpenter, leave my love of reading to Lottie Jean Barnette. 14. I. Cecil Cloninger. do will my conscientious regularity in attending classes to Richard Frazier. 15. I. Jack Cowden, leave my mania for blondes to Sir Lancelot Armstrong and hope he does as well as I have done in high school. 16. I. Clyde Cox, will my skill in getting out of tight spots to Ralph Hoover. 17. I, Betty Daugherty, will my yellow locks to Kay Carson. 1 8. I, Wilbur Dellinger, will m y position as president of the Student Council to Sam Lineberger. 19. I, Dennis Dixon, bequeath my love of getting the class off the subject to L. D. Henderson. 20. I, Martha Dixon, do will my musical ability to Jimmy Hughey. 21. I, Cletus Duncan, will my ability to act to Billy Jefferson. 22. I. Regis Duncan, will my South-Sea-Island hair to Mabel Warren. 23. I. Virginia Duncan, will my position as assistant librarian to Elsie George because she handles students well. 24. We, Betty and Mary Frances Ellington, leave our close companionship to Annie Mae Medlin and Louise Edwards. 25. I, Robert Ferguson, leave my supply of wise-cracks to Mason Lynch. 26. I, Alice Ford, will my ability to make friends to any junior who may leave Belmont next year. 27. I, Gertrude Fortner, do will my attractiveness to Gloria Dean Hovis with the hope that she may also catch a man. 28. I, Max Gaddis, do will unto Clarence Parrot my ability to knit so he may become a model husband. 29. I, Bobby Gardner, leave my prowess in football to Bobby Lloyd. 30. I. Irene Garrett, will and bequeath to Bonnie Wilson my courteous ways. 31. I, Mildred Goins, bequeath my hatred of men to Beulah Brooks. 3 2. I. Maybelle Haney, will my sweet temper and impulsive nature to Norma Heafner. 33. I, Pauline Hansil, leave my soft voice to Ralph Tate in the hope that he will soon learn to use it for an example. 34. I. Georgia Hartgrove, give unto Mearl Stowe my ability to pull clever stunts. Page T wenty-four