Diman Vocational High School - Artisan Yearbook (Fall River, MA)

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NEW GYM UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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Just behind Bill and Eddie were William Desrosiers and Lloyd' Bennett, shareholders in the Brown and Sharpe Company and running Andrew Carnegie, American steel king, a close second fortune. As Al and I wandered to the buffet, we met Lionel Lafleur and Harold Piche, owners of the Oakridge, Tennessee, atomic bomb factory, formerly owned by the Government. Just then-we heard the voices of Pat Roberts and Josiah Haskett as they were quibbling in loud voices about which was the richer. Standing close by, listening to this argument, were Lawrence Quinn, 'Pro- fessor of Electronics, and Norman Methot, United States Conservation Officer. During the course of conversation we heard someone say that Gerald Ratcliffe, radio announcer for CBS, would not be able to attend, due to a radio broadcast he was scheduled to make. . , - Another member unable to attend was Admiral Joseph Barboza, who was in France on a world tour. The next person to appear before my vision was Edmond Silva, inventor and designer of electrical farm equipment. Just a little to my left in an overstuffed chair was Edward Rego, now taking Gregory Peck's place in Hollywood. Sitting on the arm of Eddie's chair, with a big cigar in his mouth, was Jim Carey, coach of basketball for Holy Cross. As I looked up, in the door appeared the huge form of the owner of the Stork Club and various dance halls, Donald Butler. A hush of silence came over us as John Harrington, our next president of the United States walked in with his private dentist, Mr. Matthew Burke. During the last twenty years, the only two members I lost track of were Everett Gaudreau and Norman Dube. Their disappearance was explained when I picked up a paper and read as follows: Two of Fall River's oil kings have struck oil again in Egypt. Last but not least came Neil O'Brien, a married man with five fine children and a swell wife. Neil is doing well, for he still lives in Tiverton and now owns its only bank. After the banquet was over, the reunion started to break up, and Al and I had our own little business to attend to. It was a happyreunion except for the fact that it is not nice to see your friends grow told.

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DEDICATION GF THE NEW EYUWU On a cold November morning, the Diman Vocational High gymnasium was officially opened for use of the undergraduates. Present at t.he opening exercises were School Committeeman Arthur H. Sunderland, Superintendent of Schools William S. Lynch, Director Joseph P. Gilligan and many other city officials who have toiled without rest to improve the facilities of our school. To Coach Charles 0'Keefe, this gym meant an opportunity to advance his physical education program which he has coordinated with that of Mr. Richard Hayden who has developed a city-wide program in physical health a.nd education. For every student of Diman, this gym was a means of attaining physical fitness so that Diman men would not only have keen minds but also healthy bodies. Probably the most appreciative of all people who would use 'fthe gym were the basketball players, because they, at least, had a place that they could call home. This gym, with its modern showers and lockers was all that the players wanted, and they thanked all who were instru- mental in obtaining it for them by winning not only the Narragansett League Championship, but also the Eastern Massachusetts State Championship. Shortly after the gym opened, Miss Lavender, the school dietitian, presented her menus of hot lunches, which consisted of good, wholesome food on a non-profit basis. The cafeteria was installed in the gym with the students eating from folding, wall-encased tables. After the Christmas recess, Mr. Johnson of the Drafting Department inaugurated his shop basketball league, which consisted of teams from various shops in the school. This league will bring untold aid to Coach 0'Keefe by developing many players who possess innate basketball qualities but lack experience. The new gymnasium ls finally used for school assemblies which are held every Thursday under the direction of Mr. Driscoll of the English Department. Mr. Driscoll feels that active student participation in assemblies is essential ln developing leadership and character, and for this reason, all assemblies have been conducted only by the undergraduates of Diman. As all can see, the Diman gymnasium has been another example of progress which the school has madeand is making. May it always serve as a means of developing students with sound judgment and unquestionable character.