Drexel High School - Cavalcade Yearbook (Drexel, NC)

Page 22 text:

PROPHECY Many years had passed since I had left Drexel to make my home in sunny California. So——I decided to make a trip to the East and visit my Alma Mater. Before I left Hollywood, I went by to see if Faye Harris wanted to go along. She is doubling for Rita Hayworth in The Loves of Carmen . Bonnie Williams, the famous Gossip Column writer, was lunching with her. She had the cutest little dog —bought it at Doris Mitchell’s famous dog kennels. I drove up to a swanky gas station to have my car checked before starting, and who do you suppose was there at my service! Bill Bryant, the proud new owner! Finally I was on my way—but, it was rather lonesome driving alone so I switched on the radio to listen to my favorite Master of Ceremonies Ray Aikens. He’s on Ladies Be Seated’ . My program was interrupted by a freight train chugging noisily down the track alongside the highway. Much to my surprise, I saw a girl teetering back and forth in a coal’car and a man dressed quite elaborately in an embroidered cowboy suit on a beautiful palomino. When I looked closely, I recognized the girl as Joan Glenn and the man as Lester Woodie—hero and heroine in horse operas”! It was a movie on location, and I found the cameramen to be none other than Howard Baker and Ray Martin. The director was Ernest Epley and his assistant was Margaret Franklin (still a team). And guess who was the script reader—that’s right, Clarence Lingerfelt! I learned that the beautiful palomino belonged to Carthel Childres, who is the new owner of the Bing Crosby stables. After talking with my old schoolmates, I' was again on the road leading East. But not for long—there was a big herd of cattle blocking the road. I got out to speak to the owner. What do you know! There were Gloria Miill and Reba Reece! (They are the owners of a big rancH.) Finding it a bit difficult to reminisce amidst a bunch of bellerihg” bovines, I was persuaded to accept an evening’s lodging with them at their ranch. Early the next morning, after tipping my hat to Gloria, Reba, and the cattle——I sped'on! Since Boulder Dam wasn’t too far out of my way, I certainly wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to talk with an old friend of mine, Gwynn Ramsey. He is engineering the construction of new Boulder Dam, since the old dkm burst back in 1958. As I drove into Phoenix, Arizona, I noticed a beautiful window display of the new 1960 Plymouth. I found the owner of the place who was none other than Ray Fletcher, following in his father’s footsteps. He seemed to like my car and before I knew it I was buying a train ticket out of Arizona. I seated myself by an Army nurse, and was surprised when she turned around and revealed herself as Evelyn Gark. She was on her way to Louisiana to visit the governor, Edna Deal

Page 21 text:

SUPERLATIVES Friendliest JOAN GLENN BEN McNEELY ELIZABETH BERRY Most Athletic RAY FLETCHER Wittiest PAULINE CHILDRES RAY BURNS

Page 23 text:

PROPHECY ccwt) As the train came to a stop in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Evelyn was telling me about the charm school being operated there by Betty Jean Shuping and Freida Sigmon; I couldn’t resist going; so, I got off the train, bade Evelyn farewell, and took a taxi to the school. It wasn’t just a Charm School, they had a large dining room, complete with an all woman orchestra. The leader was Rheba Denton. Mary Florence Anthony, Gillie Mae Buff, and Josephine Rhoney formed a trio who sang with it. You should have seen the place—all plush carpets and huge chandeliers hanging from high ceilings! I wished I had time to stay and try to obtain a little charm, but-nevertheless, back to the train. Luck was with me again! I happened to notice in the train station the advertise- ment of the Texas-North Carolina football game which was to be played in Fort Worth. I lost no time purchasing a ticket since another schoolmate, Max Harris, is North Carolina’s present coach, and Merlin Shull holds the same honored position with Texas. And could you ever guess who added to our little reunion—Ray Burns, the Southwest’s most thrilling sports commentator! After the game, Ray told me that another Drevel grad was in Fort Worth. Ruth Secrest, who had joined the ranks of women doctors, was then at Baptist Theological Seminary preparing for the medical mission field. I looked Ruth up and she added to my Alma Mater news the fact that Pauline Childres is the owner of a fashionable furriers in Florida. (When she was selected wittiest” from the class of ’49, I didn’t realize it would be carried this far!) Andrew Hastings is the successful pastor of Riverside Drive’s largest Baptist Church in New York. As the train moved into Tennessee, I bought a morning paper and settled down for the home stretch. Behold—whose face should stare up at me but Elizabeth Berry’s who had just been appointed Head of the Graduate Physical Education Department at Peabody College. Yes—I got off in Nashville for a bit of gossip with Lib”. She informed me that Frances Golightly was residing in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. She helps her husband hold down a chemist’s position. After a long but enjoyable trip, I was in Drexel. I felt lost as I was walking down Main Street looking into all the store windows. The fast-growing town was such a mystery to me that I went by the Chamber of Commerce to get my bearings. I found Helen Watts to be the efficient secretary. She told me what I had missed by being a day late. Just twenty-four hours before, she had seen Ben McNeely, the Dare Devil, break all records at the Shelby Fair. This crazy thing all started when I was selected to write a prophecy for the Drexel High School Cavalcade. And I am thankful to be able to lay down my pencil and say, I have finished”—but—I was just wondering—what will become of us when we are tied no more to school, its exciting studies, its thrilling exams, and are left with only our last edition of the Cavalcade and the past year’s fond memories. JOYCE GATES