Bowlegs High School - Yahnseh Yearbook (Bowlegs, OK)

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A-'Q Auditorium Under Construction H. S. Emerson was unanimously elected presi- dent of that association for the ensuing year. Under his guidance the East Central Alumni were unusually active and progressive. An early assembly feature of last year was the Pollard Players, who presented a delight- fully wholesome comedy entitled Broken Dish- es. A few days later Congressman Lyle H. Boren Was a special speaker on the subject, Peeps into the Scrapbook of History. Dr. H. M. Armstrong from the University of Oklahoma was also a guest lecturer in general assembly. The Home Economics Club which had been affiliated with the American Home Economics Association since 1929 was given the name Future Homemakers of Oklahoma in 1937. After a spirited contest, the seniors were victorious in the annual queen race, with Mar- ion Barnhart crowned at the Homecoming game of the season. Miss Barnhart also competed in the all-country queen contest held in Wewoka before the Christmas holidays. Several social events were provided for the football squad before the close of the season. Administrative officials were hosts at a steak fry. Later the senior players attended the an- nual football banquet at East Central Teachers College. Some sixty persons, including the en- tire gridiron squad and their guests were pres- ent at Bowlegs Seventh Annual Football Ban- quet held in the reading room on December 3. Two new activities were inaugurated by the East Central Conference last year, debating and a one-act play contest. Bowlegs immediately or- ganized a forensic squad, with Viola Ramsey, as coach, to discuss the merits of an unicameral vs Bicameral legislature. In addition to debating all the member teams of the conference, the Bison debaters attended two tournaments and presented a general assembly program. In the one-act play contest held in the We- tumka auditorium on February 3, Bowlegs was awarded third place. The competing play was New Commercial Room and Auditorium Page Thiiteen 1

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Since its organization it has been a policy of U. G. No. 5 to carry out each summer some construction or remodeling project. Although temporarily restricted during the depression, this program of improvement was soon renewed. In 1936 a new wing was added to the high school building. In this addition are the reception room, administrative offices and the sewing-living room. This much-needed home economics sewing room made this department one of the best housed and equipped in Seminole County. A Girls' club, the preparation and serving of ban- quets, and a variety of home projects became part of the activities of the home making de- partment. Mrs. Emerson, instructor, has be- come a recognized leader in this field and for several years has appeared regularly on county, district, and state programs. ' Teachers socials took on a new significance after the addition of the living room, since it provided a home-like atmosphere for social fes- tivities. A valentine banquet, a turkey dinner, several Christmas and Easter parties, oyster suppers and a Mexican chili supper have been given for the entertainment of the faculty. An accepted institution since the early days of U. G. No. 5, these teacher socal gatherings are evidence of the philosophy that All work and no play maketh one dull. About six parties are given each year, beginning with the initial meeting before enrollment, when the teaching staff are guests of the superintendent and his wife. At least two of these annual affairs are outdoor steak or fish fries. Guests have been the members of the Board of Education and their wives, the County Superintendent, and Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Morrison, East Central Teachers College, Ada. The Bison News, school newspaper, reflects the growth of Bowlegs High School. From a single sheet appearing spasmodically, the publi- cation has developed into an eight-page mimeo- graphed periodical, published semi-monthly by a student staff, with two members of the faculty as advisers. Since the Bison News first appear- ed in 1929 the following students have served as editors: Floyd Lansfored, Olen Self, Gladys Stanfill, June Carse, Morell Tharel, Doris Swan, and various other persons as editor of special editions. During this period in the history of U. G. No. 5, the plan of assemblies was changed. In- stead of a general program at a different hour each week, general assembly became a fixed in- stitution at 9:00 o'clock on alternate Thurs- days, taking turns with home room pro- grams, On both general and class assemblies, student participation became the keynote, with a minimum of outside speakers. During 1937 a unique plan of a follow-up assembly after home room programs was de- vised. Each class chose two numbers from its home room entertainment to be presented to a special assembly. A direct outgrowth of this custom was that of special Community programs presented from time to time with each wing school inthe dis- trict and the various departments in high school contributing one or more numbers. From its in- ception, this plan of evening programs aroused the interest of both students and patrons. C H A P T E R V - THE PRESENT REGIME - When the faculty convened for the first teachers meeting on September 3, 1937, the high school department met under the auspices of a new principal. C. N. Merrell was thorough- ly familiar with Bowlegs and its problems, since he attended his first two months of school at Allen, the mother of U. G. No. 5. He had al- ready served ten years as grade principal at Treadaway and at Taylor wing schools. Other changes in the faculty roster were the addition of Paul Greene as football coach, Mary Alice Nall, English, and the promotion of Olen Self to the position of band director. When registration was complete and school actually got under way on Tuesday, September 7, it was obvious that Bowlegs had an increased enrollment. An additional bus was soon added to the transportation facilities of the school. The eighteen new high school students, together with the new teachers, were formally welcomed at Page Twelve afternoon tea given the following Friday by the home making classes. Football practice, initiated even before school opened, received a new impetus when the players found that Coach Greene was all-state quarter-back in both high school and college. Complete new uniforms for eighteen men were provided early in the season. The gridiron schedule for the year included tilts with Oke- mah, Vveleetka, Maud, Konawa, Stratford, We- tumka, St. Louis, Meeker, Roff, and New Lima. Bowlegs and Wetumka settled the East Central conference championship when they played off a tied standing at a night game in the Seminole stadium October 29. By losing that game the Bison finished second in the conference. While this decision gridiron fight was in progress another honor came to the Bowlegs school. At a banquet held that evening by the alumni of East Central Teachers' College, Ada,

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Elmer, a one-act comedy directed by H. S. Emerson. Several extra performances were made by the vocal music department during the year. On Tuesday, December 7, the entertainment was furnished for a community program at Crom- well. Thursday of the same week, Station WNAD, Norman, broadcasted a thirty-minute program featuring Seminole County schools. The time allotted Bowlegs was filled by the boys quartet. Later this foursome entertained the Lions Club and other civic organizations in Seminole. From the day of enrollment in the band school in August until the return trip from Abilene in May, the band was unusually ac- tive. Directed by Olen M. Self, this musical group played at football games, assemblies, com- munity programs, fairs and Christmas celebra- tions during the first semester. On February 25, the entire band went to Oklahoma City for a three-day combined contest and festival with eleven other schools. The festival ended with a public concert given by 1,000 high school musicians in a massed band. Moving pictures were taken of the Bow- legs band and shown at local theatres. These films depicted the musicians in marching or- der, playing, and other routine actions. In the East Central Music contest the var- ious individual entries from the band brought home 64 points. Over a hundred graduates of the high school were entertained with an Easter banquet held in thereading room on April 9. Here the Bow- legs Alumni Association was officially organized with Morgan Junior Powell as president, John Newkirk, vice-president, and Sibyl Caudle, sec- retary. It was unanimously agreed to make the alumni banquet an annual affair. A major event in Bowlegs all-time history was a building program made possible by co- operation between the W. P. A. and U. G. No. 5 to furnish the district's quota of funds, a special five mill building levy was voted at the annual school election. Under close supervision of the superintendent and Board of Education, the con- struction project was carried on during the en- tire summer. When the students returned in the fall of '38, they found the new shop and band quarters completed, a fire proof annex had been added to the Central Grade building. Here the indus- trial arts department was provided with 1600 feet of shop room in which are 20 benches, a circular saw, jointer, grinder, shaper, Wood lathe, acetyline welding equipment, and machine lathe and drill press. There are separate rooms for tools and lumber, for storage, and for fin- ishing. An office and check room facilitates the work of supervision. In addition to the main bandroom, the music department now has two sound proof practice rooms and an office for the director. The eighth grade was assigned to the two rooms constructed from the original band and shop quarters. Although the seventh and eighth grades were later exchanged, the entire junior high school is now housed entirely separate from the senior high division. This arrangement re- lieved the crowded condition that had existed for several years and made possible the addition of another teacher in junior high. On November 14, actual construction was L 'f 'x . , . -. - C ,. .o . ' 'awww M . ' Industrial Arts and Music Departments . Page Fourteen