Central High School - Cosmos Yearbook (Houston, TX)

Page 41 text:

To Miss Verner Benton, through whose energy and efforts the Black Battalion has won a nationwide reputation as a drill unit, the staff dedicates this section of the Cosmos. To her, the students of Sam Houston High School express not only their deep appreciation of her splendid leadership, but also their sincere hope for her continued success.

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L2 2 Adams, Mike Andrews, Wayne Bass, Sylvia Bock, Anadine Boynton, Elmore Brady, Helen Cabiness, Mae Carsters, Mary E. Dessel, Yelta Ditta, John Duke, Maurine Duke, Maxine Dye, Norman Flanagan, Martha Ford, Iona Grassmuck, M. Grenader, Joseph Guzzelta, Mary Lee Howland, Vivian Jelly, Louis Lake, James Lake, Maudell Laycock, Billy Lutze, Irene Mustario, Mike Newsom, Norford Norris, Jimmie Beichardt, Myron Sanders, Janice Schweikert, Victor Shtumer, Myer Smith, Marian Stansbury, Kathryn Trammell, G. Turner, Anna L. Young, James L2 3 Adams, Marjorie Andrews, Eloise Araiza, Angelina Araiza, Juliette Arriaga, Tony Avila, Ruben Burk, Bart Castro, Angelina Cortez, John Dalio, Carl Danziger, Benjamin Eguia, Ernest Felsher, Gail Fluker, Helen Imbeiman, Maurice Irby, Thelma Luera, Conception McLaughlin, Elaine Nunn, R. A. Ramirez, Mary Ramirez, Philip Rivera, Joe Roberts, Gilbert Rodriquez, Alex Schisser, Joe Serena, Jesse Swisher, Helen Velos, Mary Louise Walsh, J. H. Wiener, Billy Wilkerson, Ethel Zimmerman, E. L2 4 Bartley, Christine Belcher, Clarence Byrd, C. G. Carnes, J. Doiron Carnes, Marion Dibelo, Sam Duggan, Lawrence Duke, Joyce Hightower, lone Kirk, Virginia Lowrie, Byron Manaban, Aline Morgan, Thelma Morton, Charlotte Navarro, Franklyn Phillips, Malcolm Beeves, Vivian Bobertson, Floyd Bourk, Billy Russell, Margaret Schoonover, Vivian Seitanidis, Gus Smith, Melvin Spraggins, Madeline Tomasino, Tony Trotter, James Turano, Philip Vick, Joe Wallis, John Whitaker, Thomas White, Valerie Wilkes, Nelson Wood, Mary Young, Trinity R. L2 5 Baker, Dorothy Bayless, Frank Billeri, Joe Broussard, Andy Byron, Charles Cansler, Earl C. Chiacos, Katherine Dasser, Vergie Dedman, Palmer DeGeorge, Bernard Dorrah, Ed Farr, Gladys Hamilton, Jerome Hebert, Austin Hebert, Leroy Johnson, Irvin Klaras, Tommy Kusakis, Georgia Lang, Arthur Lewis, Bobert Lingle, Bobert McElvy, Dalzell Menutes, Sophie Miller, Hugh Mitchell, Bobert Mixon, Wayne Polk, Lawrence L2 6 Addison, Helen R. Allbritton, Blanche Anthony, Walter Beasley, Juanita Black, Billy Campbell, Joy L. Copeland, Melba P. Craig, Mary Jane Duke, Cleoma Feuerschut, Luis T. Geise, Bernice L. Gilbert, Crystell Graeter, Oscar A. Gray, Ethel Gray, Harold E. Hautzer, Walter E. Hulcy, Martha Jo Jones, Ola Beth Lankford, Charles Lee, Leone Mashburn, Willie Miron, Buth Mobley, Clarence Morris, Henry Northrup, Buddie Pry, Grace Amelia Bass, Lathan RatlilT, Leslie Sabayrac, Bessie R. Scardino, Robert Smith, Beverly F. Spighto, Bradley Wilcox, Auba E. Williams, Mavis Ward, D’Evanette L2 7 Barnes, Geraldine Bates, Willard Bauer, Payton Benz, James Birch, Thomas Brown, John Carrigan, Henry Craymer, Newton DelHomme, Pauline Dupree, William Farris, Jessie Ferguson, M. T. Frankie, Herman Grant, Francis Gray, LaVerne Grondes, Ella Haygood, Dorothy Henry, James Herman, Frankie Janitz, Alvin Janitz, Stella Lassen, Ellen Love, Miron Millsap, Stuart Morwood, Boger Nelson, William Page, Wallace Parker, Lois Pry, Jack Betherford, Edith Richmond, Frank Rougagnac, John Rushing, Eva Schreiber, Henry Shapiro, Sam Snodgrass, Billie Stewart, Wesley Sullivan, Virginia Taylor, Burrow Verdino, Marriella Walker, Lamar Webb, Charles Wells, Buth Whitfield, James Wilson, Eloise Zapp, Vernetta L2 8 Backer, Harry Bailey, Freddie Brewer, John Burnett, Doris Lee Callaway, Mary A. Callihan, Sam Chapman, EfTord Durbin, Virginia Ferguson, Buna Finkelstein, Nathan Forbes, Douglas Harkuider, Joe Henshaw, Fred Johnson, Charles Kitchen, Lestelle Lang, Edward Lindsey, George Loomis, Valecia Markley, Clarke Moncrief, Jack Morrow, Jackie Muckleroy, John Neville, William Northrup, Jeanet O’Brien, Bertha Ogerro, Batiste Puccio, Otelio Rao, Charlie Scardino, John Shannon, G. Smith, Franklin Sonnen, Monte Stratos, Nick Walling, Robert Wear, John Wilson. Vernon

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REQUIEM Taps for the Black Battalion. It will exist hereafter save as a thing of beauty may perpetuate itself in lasting inspiration. Inscribe, then, among its achievements that it triumphed gloriously over a host of adversities. Out of the sweltering heat of a pipe-filled boiler room, and out of a sun-baked, rain-drenched, ungraded drill court—too small for a rehearsal of the entire organization—came a Battalion of international prominence, reflecting honor upon its school and city. Imitations have appeared in Houston, in numerous other American cities and in foreign climes, but the Black Battalion has remained the only movement of its kind. Through its eight years the Black Battalion has been invested with a soul and with a hardy spirit to excel. It has sought to glorify young womanhood. It has held aloft the beauty of clean living, of healthy bodies and of pure minds. It has em¬ bodied a sense of personal pride, a charm and graciousness of manner, an efficiency in all undertaking, a love for the artistic and beautiful. A fractional mention of its honors should include: A picture in the hall of fame of the Sousa Post, V. of F. W., at Detroit with other outstanding drum corps; per¬ formances under Sousa’s baton, international radio broadcasts, theatre circuit engagements, a review before former Governor Ross Sterling and 10,000 spectators, a featured article in the world’s largest musical magazine. Paramount and Fox news reel features, and numerous performances on programs of national interest. The Battalion has served loyally for charity and civic causes. It has been self sus¬ taining and has made money each year to support other activities of its school. My gratitude goes to those who have encouraged me in founding and developing the Battalion. My love remains with those splendid girls who have marched under its colors. As for my sacrifices, labors and heartaches, I pass over them. Recom¬ pense enough for me will come in the hope that, although the Battalion dies, its soul will live on in the hearts of its veterans and friends. Yerner Benton Founder, Organizer, and Director