Drexel High School - Cavalcade Yearbook (Drexel, NC)

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SUPERLATIVES Best All-Around Betty Cooper Nichols Marion Powell Friendliest Kay Cooper Helen Berry Most Popular Billy Bwrns Faye Cooper Most Athletic Cecil Harris Yelva West

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CLASS PROPHECY As I walked over to the office of the American Airlines in New York City to get reser- vations to San Francisco, I saw an old classmate, Donald Anthony, standing beside his new 1965 model Ford. I was glad to see him for it had been almost 15 years since our graduation from Drexel High. I was surprised to learn that he was the sales manager for the Ford Company in New York. After I bought my ticket, I dropped in to see Marion Powell, the owner of the Airlines Company. While we were talking, his secretary, Geraline Bennette, informed me that my plane would leave in three hours. I decided to go back to the hotel so I called a taxi. As I opened the door I recognized Bennette Cannon in the driver’s seat. When I told him I was in a hurry, the trip to the hotel was made in record time. Entering the hotel, I saw Ben Leatherman behind the desk. It looked as though his secretary, Marilyn Reece was doing most of the work. Over the radio in my room I heard the Norman Berry Quiz Show. It was very interesting when he gave a new Cadillac con- vertible to Richard Hollifield after he answered the question “Who is buried in General Grant’s tomb.’’ Richard is the vice president of the local bank. Again I called the Cannon Taxi Service and rushed back to the airport. I climbed aboard the plane and was immediately taken to my seat by Marian Nichols, the Airlines Hostess. I was greatly surprised when our pilot turned out to be none other than Kay Cooper. It was a very smooth trip and I enjoyed talking to Marian about our school days at Drexel. As we passed over Albany, N. Y., I saw a very large building and asked her what it was. She said it was the Harris Dye Manufacturing Co. Cecil Harris was president and Leon Childers was the business manager. I had always Bad an interest in radio so when we landed in Chicago I went up into the control towgr of the airport. There Bill Burns was the chief radio operator. While I waited for the plane to leave for Detroit, I read the local newspaper. Here are a few of the articles I saw; Dorothy Russell, the city’s public health nurse, had just left on her vacation. She was going to her home town, Drexel. Mary Emma Childers, who is a teacher at the high school, has retired to accept the job of Superintendent of the Burke County Schools in North Carolina. The basketball team at the high school has a record of 20 wins and no defeats. You guessed it! William Baird is the coach. I also noticed that Ritchie’s Funeral Home had a very deed business. The plane finally took off and I noticed that we had a new passenger. Yes, it was Vernon Boughman the famous photographer. We had a very nice talk and I asked him if he had seen any of our classmates. He said he had been to Moleta Baker’s dress shop on Fifth Avenue (in Drexel). He also said that Geneva Clontz, a nurse at the Charlotte Memorial Hospital, was a week-end guest of Betty Jean Nichols, owner of the Drexel Hotel. He had received a letter from Charles Chapman and Earl Teems, two prominent mid-western ranchers. He had also heard from Colleen Page and Shirley Smith, two well- known singers on Broadway. We finally landed at Detroit and as I got off the plane I saw David Forester drive up in a flashy new Pontiac. He took me for a ride and told me that he and his partner, Larry Fletcher, had been very successful in the automobile business. He had been selling Pontiacs for about ten years. He said they had two very competent secretaries, Martha Jo Williams and Carol Newton. We passed a very large store with a sign reading; Bollinger’s Department Store, Kath- leen must have graduated from the “Dime Store.’’ A few minutes later I was on the plane again heading for San Francisco. I was very tired by then and I guess I fell asleep. I dreamed that Faye Cooper and Helen Berry were owners of California’s largest jewelry store. They probably had many experiences with diamond rings. I also dreamed that Franceleen Powell was posing for Colgate Toothpaste ads. Her picture was in all the leading magazines. Betty Rector was a very well known interior decorator in Los Angeles. Just then the plane landed and woke me from my pleasant dreams. I got off the plane and walked down the street. Coming toward me I saw Charlsie Buff, Velva West, and Rebecca Dean. They said they were on their vacations and met here in San Francisco. Charlsie is a personal secretary of movie actor Van Johnson. Velva West is living in Mississippi with her husband and five children. Rebecca Dean is now the engineer of “MULE TRAIN.” Well, my trip is finished which reminds me that my school days will soon be over. With- out looking into the future, I know that each and every one will find his place and do his share in making a brighter and better world. Prophet Rex Baird

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SUPERLATIVES Most Likely to Succeed Rex Baird Geneva Clontz Most Studious Mary Emma Childers Charles Chapman Wittiest Norman Berry Marian Nichols