Concord High School - Spider Web Yearbook (Concord, NC)

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11-rir ,!,m5F,. I, wi H. BIOGRAPHY DF is In Max Meadows, Virginia, on March 20, 1879, J. Eris Cassell was born. His father was the late Charles Henry Cassell, and his mother, the late Mrs. Anna Tate Cassell. Charles Henry Cassell, Jr., Field Montgomery Cassell, and john Tate Cassell are his brothers. His sisters are Mrs. Mary Baxter Otey and Mrs. Elizabeth Graham Tate. At the age of seven, Eris Cassell and his family moved to Christianburg, Virginia. After graduation at the top of his class from high school there, he was employed as a payroll clerk at the Phoenix Furniture Company for a year. Ambitious for more education, II. Eris, then twenty years old, strongly de- f sired to go to college although there was little money to pay his way. Finding failxx work to make money to pay his expenses, this brilliant young man, hopeful, ' courageous, and hardworking, entered Davidson College in 1917. In the spring of his Freshman year, 1918, he left Davidson to join the Navy. Since World War I ended in November of that year, he left the Navy in December after six months of service. Returning to Davidson in january 1919, he caught up with I . his class and in 1921 graduated as salutatorian of his class. During his college career, Mr. Cassell was managing editor of the Dariilsonion in his junior year, and editor-in-chief his senior year, a four-year letter man in baseball, and a senior member of the Student Council. He held membership in Kappa Alpha, Phi Beta Kappa, Omricon Delta, and Sigma Upsilon, social, scholastic, leadership, and literary fraternities. He became a member ofthe Phi Delta Dappa, national educational fraternity, when he was at the University of Virginia working for his Master of Arts degree. After serving as teacher and coach at McCallie Preparatory School at Chattanooga, Tennessee, he was elected principal and coach of Lenoir High School in 1922. In 1922 and 1923 he played semi-pro baseball. For six years Mr. Cassell lived in Gastonia to which he moved in 1923 when he was chosen principal of Gastonia High l School. On -Iuly 19, 1927, he married Miss Mildred Counts, a teacher in Gastonia, from Laurens, South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Cassell left Gastonia in 1929 to come to Concord. In Concord, the Cassells lived at Mrs. Richmond Recd's for eight years and then in 1937 moved to their home at 99 North Church street. Since moving to Concord, Mr. Cassell E had shown great leadership as principal of Concord High School, which made excellent prog- ress under him, however, resigning in 1933 from high school, he became a special agent for the jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company. 6..

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ln emorietm Deep loving, well knowing His world and its blindness A heart overflowing With measureless kindness, Undaunted in labor, And Death was a trifleg Steel-true as a saber, Direct as a rifle, A storm-battling cedar, A comrade, a brother, Oh, such was our leader, Beloved as no other. When weaker souls faltered His courage remade us Whose tongue never paltered, Who never betrayed us. His hand on your shoulder All honors exceeding, What breast but was bolder Because hc was leading! By ARTHUR GUITERMAN

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After being very successful in the insurance business at North W'ilkesboro, he was transferred to Greensboro as supervisor if v of the Company's home agency. Setting f . himself up in the insurance business in Con- cord in March, 1935, he remained at this t work here until WFS. Understanding that 1 i ' t N 4 W he might remain connected with his in- . suranee business, Mr. Cassell again became principal of the high school. He served faithfully until the spring of 1945 when illness made it itnpossible for him to be at school. After being ill for three months of a complication of diseases, he died on -luly lo, I9-if. Mr. Cassell took part in many different activities. He was a member of the North Carolina Ifducation Association, secretary of the South Piedmont Athletic Conference, a member of the National liducation Association, executive secretary for the Westertt North Carolina High School Activities, which he Amd RA C' Cklrvcr organized' and 3 member of the Cabarrus County Life Underwriters Association, the Concord Rotary Club, and the American Legion. Constantly interested in athletics. Mr. Cassell was secretary-treasurer and business manager of the Con- cord Baseball Association. He nearly always could be seen at the high school basketball, football. and baseball g.tmes. A member of the First Presbyterian Church, he was assistant superintendent of the Sunday school and a teacher of the young men's class. Al- though knowing little about farming Mr. Cassell liked very much to visit his sister's dairy farm in Pulaski, Virginia. History and current events were ltis favorite reading topics. He did not like movies, but he was greatly interested in music even tltouglt he had no musical talent. One of his brothers is an organist, Yes, lfris Cassell's interests were many. The development of proper citizenship among his pupils is chiefly included in Mr. Cassell's philosophy of high school education. He believed that this citivenship is developed from gaining habits, appreciation, and attitudes which can be carried from school into adult life. As principal of Con- cord high school. he constantly stressed the importance of character training of students here. Mr. Casell did much for Concord high school. He rendered devoted service and a great love for his students here. These students will never forget him oc' his helpful guidance. He was their leader. Q?