Benson High School - Tatler Yearbook (Benson, NC)

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Class History It was in September of the year nineteen hundred and forty-eight that 49 freshmen entered Benson High School. As we trod these halls of learning, we felt of great importance because it was our first change in nine years of school. Such a complete change baffled us about when and where to go. We discovered the enormous volume of work to be done. Along with such intricate subjects as algebra, Latin and French. Behold fate took a hand. Our freshman class had dwindled to 47 Sophomores. That year we finished our second year of algebra. Whether we successfully mastered that subject or not I refuse to say. The social event of that year was a weiner roast at Williams ' Lake. We entered as Juniors 55 strong. Taking leading parts in all school activities such as basketball, baseball and participating especially in the various clubs of the school. Cooperation played a big part in our Junior year. Fondly shall we always cherish the memories of our Junior and Senior banquet held in honor of the Seniors at the Johnston County Country Club. Earl Williams furnished the music for the dance that was held afterwards. Our Junior play Girl Shy was one of the high- lights of the year. Stunt night sponsored by the Juniors and Seniors was a tremendous success. We also published the school paper, The Student. Not at the top but still climbing, we could hardly wait to become dignified Seniors, when we departed, each to his own home to enjoy a three month ' s vacation. The first thrill of our Senior year was the receiving of our class rings. The production of the Sen- ior play Not in a Thousand Years was enjoyed immensely by the cast and all of those who attended. In reviewing outstanding accomplishments of our high school days and especially our Senior year we claim many happy, worthwhile experiences. After graduation when each of us goes into the complex civilization of ours there is one thing of which we can be very certain. The world in which we shall live in the years to come will be quite different from the one we know now, and have known in the past. Ellen Neighbours, Historian. 18

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Gradeparents First row, left to right: Mrs. L. W. Bailey, Mrs. W. M. Benson, Mrs. C. N. Proctor. ' Second row: Mrs. James Thornton, Mr. James Thornton. Mascots Sandra Byrd Charles Johnson 17

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Class Prophecy At our last Senior part in May of 1951, we decided to have a reunion in 1961 at the Home-coming- Dance. We thought it would be fun to see what had happened to us Seniors during that period of ten years. As we entered we saw Mr. Barefoot who remembered our names then and now. You know it is remarkable how he keeps all our names on the tip of his tongue. We understand now why he has been selected superintendent of Johnston County schools. As we first walked in we ran into Edna Mae, Joyce, Marjorie Dorman, Katie, Shirley and Mildred. We soon found that they had accomplished right much in the last 10 years. Since Mr. Barefoot is now Superintendent of all Johnston County Schools, Edna Mae is still his private secretary and is checking the absentees of all these schools at the regular time (fifth period.) Joyce, the girl we in- herited from Angier has decided that Benson isn ' t for her so she married Jr. Williford just to live in Angier. Marjorie, our best all around girl and I might add the quietest, has now turned out to be the first woman President. Now I said she was the quietest, but I don ' t see how she could have gotten that position without a big mouth. Katie, the quietest girl from Pea Ridge has now taken Mozelle Phillips ' place on the Hillbilly Hit Parade over WMPM each Saturday afternoon. Shirley- is still the cutest girl this side of heaven. But of course she couldn ' t marry and leave Angier and her many boy friends. Did you hear about the time she had four dates in one night? She always gets out of those jams though. Shirley is one girl you can depend on to pull through. She still would like to have James though. Finally we got to Mildred, who is now manager of the Roses ' Dime Store. She gained this position while waiting for Benton to return from service. They plan to be married soon and she will resign as manager in order to be with him. The next group we saw was Edward Surles, Roy Gilbert, Preston, Walter, Max, and Dennis. Edward Surles, now a ford car dealer (sells only green fords) is living in South Carolina. The pur- pose of living there is to be near a good place to get married when that certain blonde melts Edward ' s heart. Roy Gilbert, the quiet boy who never talks or disturbs, is now married. Boy did he learn to talk after he was married. He married that loud-mouth girl, Katie Holland. Preston, the boy that always drove a little black Chevrolet, is now owner of the Cadillac Motor Co. in Chicago. By the way, Preston married the little blonde from Four Oaks, Faye Brown. Faye found out that Preston had been bleaching his hair and divorced him. Walter, the most handsome boy ever to graduate from Benson High School, after much confusion between M.G.M. and Paramount, finally consented to sign a contract with M.G.M. to take Clark Gables ' place in the reproduction of Gone With The Wind. Max, is now a member of the Hell Driver ' s League for the World ' s Fair. Max has won the title of being the most daring driver on the track. Give her the gas — Max! Dennis, after staying married to that girl from Four Oaks 2 years, and the one from Meadow 3 years, he decided married life wasn ' t for him, so he joined the Navy just to ride the waves. Now he ' s rated so high that when a petty officer meets Dennis he just bows and asks for Dennis ' autograph. Passing through the crowd we saw, Remonia, Kay, Lois, Ellen, and Betty Moore. Remonia, North Carolina ' s biggest flirt, graduated from Good Hope Hospital in Erwin. (Shank ' s hometown). Mona received permission from President Truman to treat Shank ' s combat fever which he re- ceived during the Civil War. Kay, our 1950 Mule Queen, is now mixing milk formulas and washing diapers for her high school flame. They ' re located one mile out of Benson. Kay s husband has taken over his dad ' s mule business and rides into town on mule back every morning. The finance 19