Grant High School - Memoirs Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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“In memory of William Thomas Fletcher. Born March 28, 1876. Died July 9, 1928. First principal of Ulysses S. Grant High School, 1924. Teachers and students were his friends. He trusted them, and they trusted him. By precept and example he taught that good citi- zens are the nation’s strength and that life itself is a sacred trust.” These murals were painted by Carl Hoeckner, who was born in Munich, December 19, 1883. He has studied in Hamburg, Cologne, and Munich. Mr. Hoeckner has painted murals which are now in many of the principal cities of Europe and America and has been the recipient of numerous awards made by the most notable art societies of the world. The composition of the murals aims by the means of line and color, as well as by the subject matter, at an interpretation of ideals in education. The chain of young people, rising step by step, and hand in hand, striving toward ideal conceptions of manhood and womanhood, is intended as a symbol of all edu- cation. The other parts of the murals are representative of Mr. Fletcher’s background as related to the early pioneer life of Oregon. These murals are dedicated to William T. Fletcher, first principal of U. S. Grant High School. By example he showed that our lives should maintain a balance of all things worth while. All truths of God and man were vital to him. As an individual he radiated charm bom of his intimate knowledge of all phases of life. In spirit his ideals will live forever.

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THE YOUNG E S T On December 2, the students of Grant High School and their friends enjoyed the January Class Play. Philip Barry’s three-act comedy, “The Youngest,” was presented at matinee and evening performances. The plot centered around Richard, the youngest son in the Winslow family, and the conflict between his literary aspirations and his family’s materialism. Although bullied by his family at first, Richard incited by Nancy Blake, a guest at the Winslow home, later obtained his deserved position in the family and married Nancy. The cast included: Richard Winslow — “Make your pins in the evening” . . . Fred Kempe Nancy Blake — “A man’s greatest victory is over his own family” Irene Galpert Mrs. Winslow — “Dear boy!”.....................................Helen Roberts Oliver Winslow — On this auspicious occasion” .... Joe Dillow Mark Winslow — “A man's greatest victory is over his own self- ishness” ....................................................... Cyrus Cook Augusta Martin — “The little tin god!”.........................Lucille Hoff Allen Martin — “Dear, dear!”...................................Byron Kitching Martha (Muff) Winslow — Now I can go straight” . . . Charlotte Olitt The Maids.........................................Frances Powell, Geraldine Blakeslee Principal A. F. Bittner expressed the feelings of the January ’33 Class when he proudly stated, “All in all I think that this is the best senior class play that has ever been presented at Grant. The cast was very well balanced, and every student in the play seemed natural, yet quite in the right feeling or mood for the characterization. Yes, from start to finish I was thrilled. The success of the play will certainly help to advertise Grant.” This success was due to the directive genius of Miss Marie Churchill, coach, the talented cast, and the willing cooperation of the play staff consisting of: Business Managers.......................................Jimmy Rogers, Bill Campbell Stage Manager...................................................Dick Haynes Assistant Manager...................................................Art Nelson Property Managers.................................Phyllis Strickland, Charles Carter Assistants.............................................Doris Russi, Marjorie Noble Costumers..............................................Carol Pape, Peggy Hayward Book Holder..................................................Mary Charlotte Sommer Stage Crew Chief........................... ........................Clark Miles Posters and art work Miss Marie Schulderman, Mr. C. W. Comstock, Phyllis Strickland —Jimmy Rogers

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“The memorial of virtue is immortal because it is known with God and with men. When it is present, men take example of it; and when it is gone, they desire it. It weareth a crown and triumpheth forever, having gotten the victory striving for undefiled rewards. Honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time nor that is measured by number of years.” Since the final arrangements for installing the murals and the first large contributions toward the fund to purchase them were made in our freshman year, and since it was during our reign as seniors that the murals were finally completed and dedicated, our class feels an ineffable sense of pride in them — almost a sense of ownership, which can be experienced by neither previous nor subsequent graduating classes. We feel a more fitting memorial to Mr. Fletcher could not have been erected. We believe that every class that enters our portals will derive the same enjoy- ment from them that we have this term and profit by the same principles which we have found so clearly and nobly set forth in these murals. These principles will never become anachronous; the beauty and truth embedded in them will endure forever: the upraised arms of the youth will never be lowered, and the torch borne by the maiden will never be extinguished, but they both will forever symbolize truth. “Beauty is truth, truth beauty,” and “a thing of beauty is a joy forever.”