Francis Garrou High School - Impersonator Yearbook (Valdese, NC)

Page 33 text:

BABY DERBY. 29

Page 32 text:

CLASS HISTORY Nineteen Hundred Fifty. The year we, the graduating class of Nineteen Hundred Fifty-four entered that revered realm of life known as high school, for we were the Freshman Class in Val- dese High School. This class entered school with all the deter¬ mination and will to succeed that one hundred eighteen green “Froshes” could have. What was lacking in will of one student was made up for in determination of another. The greatest ma¬ jority of us entered into the new routines and subjects with zeal and mastered them. Mr. John L. Johnson headed the faculty which included: Mr. Burton Barger, Mrs. Sayde Barger, Mr. Leo Brevard, Mrs. Myra Braswell, Mr. Charles Brinkley, Mr. Ralph Clark, Miss Betty Ann Clement, Miss Jessie Fowke, Miss Eloise Marlow, Mr. H. D. Moretz, Miss Ada Lee Randall, Mr. I. C. Wilson, and Mr. George Wilson. As Sophomores we were even more determin¬ ed to show the faculty, our parents, and especi¬ ally the seniors that one day we would win out in our pursuit of knowledge. It did not deter us when we realized that twenty five of our num¬ ber had dropped out in their first year of high school. To guide us that year were Mr. and Mrs. Barger, Mrs. Braswell, Mrs. Leo Brevard, who re¬ placed her husband when he re-entered service, Mr. Brinkley, Mr. John Charles, Mr. Clark, Miss Ghigo, Mr. Moretz, Mr. George Wilson, Mr. I. C. Wilson, and Miss Clement. It was in No¬ vember of that year that Miss Randall became Mrs. Ralph Clark. Our Junior year was marked by a fervent in¬ terest in activities other than straight “book- larnin.” Our ball teams made the most impres¬ sive record in Valdese’s History. Our football team was the Highland Conference champ and Joe Temple was the state’s leading scorer. Four delegates were chosen to attend Asheville’s Optimist Bowl. Basketball, too, had a good year in Valdese, and baseball as well. Elaine Burns was our Valentine Queen, and a beau¬ tiful one she was. Mr. Barger, Brs. Braswell, Mr. and Mrs. Brevard, Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Miss Ghigo, Mr. George Wilson, Mr. I. C. Wilson, Mr. Carroll Calhoun, who was our new history teacher, Mr. Ted Starnes, our new social science teacher, Mr. Betty Hudson, who replaced Mrs. Barger in the commercial depart¬ ment, Mrs. I. C. Wilson, who taught commercial subjects and English, and Mrs. Betty Hammond, who was formerly Miss Clement, were our teachers. Junior Marshals were chosen on the basis of scholastic standing and were Raymond Barrett, Chief, Benny Garrou, Joan Goode, Geraldine Buffington, and Johnny Burns. And then there we were—Seniors; But, even though we laughed and had fun together, and acted much as Seniors are expected, there was a somber feeling all around us. We were a com¬ pact, close-knit group, but something was miss¬ ing. We looked around us and saw once occupied seats were now vacant. We walked the halls and missed familiar faces. We marked names from rolls, turned in books used only a short while, realized that we were growing thinner in num¬ ber all the time. Some lost their will to win and the determination to finish what was then undone, and so they left us. We wonder if those pupils wouldn’t give a great deal to be with us today, would it not be fine to have among us Joanne Abee, Stanley Willis, Martha Arney, Lewis Warlick, Peggy Zimmerman, Fleeta Bennet, Lydia Yancey, Garry Berry, Richard Woodie, Rachel Bivens, Nancy Wiseman, Evelyn Bradshaw, Bill Street, Eleanor Buff, Thelma Stamey, Sue Bumgarner, Herbert Stamey, Charlotte Smith, Jean Chaney, Vernell Setzer, Lee Canipe, Kathleen Seagle, John Childers, Kenneth Sain, Martha Childers, Betty Roper, Maxine Childers, Peggy Ann Rogers, Ruby Childers, Virginia Robinson, Joe Eller, Charleen Robinson, Wanda Harris, Burline Robinette, James Houck, Joe Poteat, Billy Joe Hughes, James Lee Oxentine, Ruby King, James O’Sail, Joanne Lingafelt, L. B. Miller, Virginia Lowman, Harvey Metcalf, Bobby Mabry, and Annie Dare May? Can you not imagine the impression we would make if we could say, “All who started, finished the coarse”? Some dropped out because of necessity, some transferred to other schools, some married, but the vast majority simply quit. Yes, it is a shame for they are to be pitied. We, the graduating seniors have run the race and won, and they who quit will never feel the wonderful sense of vic¬ tory that we have in our hearts now. We look forward with all the hope and expec¬ tation a graduating class could have, and we firmly believe in our Motto, “Not simply to exist, but to amount to something. James Fletcher Bridges Class Historian 28

Page 34 text:

era rag mmm 30