Dan River High School - Archway Yearbook (Ringgold, VA)

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he ARCHWAY “88% Senior Class History At the peal of the nine o’clock bell on the morning of September 7, 1943, Dan River High School was the victim of a great tragedy as Fresh- men scrambled in from everywhere, coming from Glenwood, Keeling, Laurel Grove, Blairs, Sutherlin, Ringgold, and everywhere, even Moun- tain Hill! One-Hundred and three of us! Boy! Were we a loud bunch! We just knew that we were the very ones that Dan River had always needed to make it a great place. We had no time to waste on those drips, the Seniors! All good things must end, they say, and did our pleasant illusion end when we were initiated? Did those “drips” give us a workover! The girls were forced to wear their hair in pigtails, and no makeup! The boys took over the “paint” job that day, wearing the lipstick, etc.; we were being whittled down to size. Moreover, we had to salute upperclass- men with a toothbrush suspended from our necks, and the crowning in- sult was that we had to fall prostrate on the ground at the cry of “Air Raid!” We pretended thal we were humiliated, and that our pride was hurt, but secretly we enjoyed it more than the Seniors did! Being so numerous, we were assigned to three home rooms, in charge of Miss Jane Carter, Mr. George Euting, and Mr. Stough. Each room selected their own officers, and then our sponsors began the process of civilizing us. About January we began to realize that exams were upon us, and that after all we were supposed to get an education. Many of us tried to get Frances, Jerrine or Audrey to get us ready; anyway more passed than didn’t. Mr. White began coaching the boys’ basketball squad while Miss Alma Ricketts started on the girls. Sara and Lois made the squad; the former’s speed placed her on the team, and “Speed” became her nickname, the latter’s excellent guarding started her to become one of the best that our school has ever had. In the fall of ’44 we came back after a short summer vacation, a little older, a little louder, and with a brand-new name, Sophomores! We tried it out for size, and decided that we liked it. We jammed into two homerooms, under the sponsorship of Mrs. Rawley Bennett, and Mr. Stough, and as we understood each other better we had a better start. Ah! yes, we remember those Sophomore days—never a dull moment, even with the essays we had to write. Elna said that she thought Mr. Stough ought to be the best educated teacher we had for, “look at all those essays of ours he’s read.” For officers we selected Ryland Dodd and Patsy Gravely, presidents; Jerrine Brown and Eleanor Gosney, vice-presidents; Rebecca East and Ruth Slaughter, secretaries; Thomas Marshall and Louise Wiles, treasur- ers. We also found out that Glenwood wasn’t such a bad place; that Keeling was more than a spot on the map, and even Blairs had some good points. Jerrine and Frances were making THE school grades, Mary, Eunice and others captivated the boys, Joe and Billy Conner sup- plied the comedy, Dorothy and Rebecca added the dignity, while Layne, Dodd, and Clark joined the State Guard. Batterman, Motley, Guill and Clark represented us in athletics, while Sara, Lois, Joy, Ruby, Shirley, Eleanor and Carolyn were making the girls’ basketball team. That year our girls’ team divided championship honors with Renan. In the spring Mr. Stough gave a party for us, with loads of fun and fellowship, and our second year closed with stronger ties of friendship. In our Junior year we elected Melvin Vernon, president; Carolyn Evans, vice-president; Eleanor Gosney, secretary; and Rebecca East,

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De ARCHWAY treasurer. Our homerooms were ably sponsored by Miss Louise Bennett and Mr. Stough, who led us in our school traditions and duties, as we assumed the responsibilities of Juniors. Highlights of the year were the Junior Play and Junior-Senior Banquet. Because of the size of our class (the largest in Dan River’s History), we had three one-act plays, “Sauce for the Gosling,” “Let It Go At That,” and “The Highest Bidder Gets The Date.” The variety of these plays showed our versatility; the first one a comedy-drama, the second a mystery-thriller and the third a farce. For these plays we built the first scenery for the school stage, complete with wings, background and drops as well as side flood-lights and other effects. The banquet that we tendered to the Seniors was the largest ever, which filled the Hotel Danville dining room to overflowing. Program booklets with songs, yells and activities printed therein, as well as un- usual talent combined to make it most entertaining, and the semi-formal event was a great success. Rebecca East was selected as Queen of the Senior Class, graciously receiving the honors from the former queen, Patsy Motley. Being the Junior Class, we assisted the Seniors at the Commencement services, forming a living archway all around the Audi- torium under which the Seniors marched to their graduation exercises. Seventy-three of us became Seniors as we began our fourth year at the Red Castle and my! how we were bursting with dignity! Imagine us, who only a short while ago considered all seniors “drips”; now we are the “drips”; sorry, we mean Seniors. We started our class work by electing Melvin Vernon, president; Aubrey Slayton, vice-president (who had returned to school from the U.S. Navy), Carolyn Evans, secretary; and Rebecca East, treasurer. By the way, we'll not forget our president’s beautiful rendition of “Short- ‘nin Bread”, at an Assembly Program. Our two homerooms had as sponsors Mrs. Joel Chandler and Mr. Stough; yes! Mr. Stough is still “toughing it out”, and even Mr. White has been able to put up with us. This year is proving most eventful as we close up our remaining days, which we now realize to be the best years of our lives. The presentation of THE ARCHWAY, the Senior Play and finally Commencement, and then, “Goodby” to our high school days. The capable annual staff has worked long and hard, with the capable help of our sponsors, and we shall cherish forever the results of their efforts. The Senior Play was “The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come,” ably presented by our talented cast to a large crowd. Unusual features were the stage effects and the improvement of the scenery. Seniors comprise the majority of both basketball teams. Batterman, Gleaton, Clark, Guill, Motley, and Layne are the veterans who play most of the games, while on the girls’ team the Seniors provide the talent which made them champions last year, and this year, too, with Mylum, Walters, Turner, Hall, Davis, Gosney, Morris and Evans providing the Championship “know-how:” The Seniors are leaving an electric score- board to the school as a parting gift, and one greatly needed to go with the new bleachers. There’s only a little while to go; we clowned around a lot, but we’ve gained countless valuable lessons from our days here. Mr. Stough and Mr. White have stood by us during all these four years helping us, advis- ing us, scolding us, more important than these, just being our friends. Nor will we forget the other sponsors who came in at different times guiding and helping us. As we say “Goodby” to Dan River, we leave behind a trail of happy memories and well-spent days. : Page Twenty-five i Carolyn Evans