Griffith High School - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Winston Salem, NC)

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CLASS PROPHECY As an ardent admirer of flowers, I annually browse through the exhibit hall at the fair to observe the floral displays. On this warm sunny day in October 1961, the array of roses was outstanding. These were of all colors—red, yellow, pink, and white. I stood there absorbing the beauty of these magnificent roses, then my eyes rested on a rather prominent white one. At once my thoughts strayed back to my high school days; I remembered that our Senior Class flower ten years ago had been a white rose. I strolled from the exhibit hall to the agricul¬ ture building still thinking of the class of ’51. Imagine then my pleasure in learning that George Venable had just walked off with all the first prizes in the poultry department. Leaving the display building I wandered down the midway where I saw my former classmate, Inez Williams, on bill as THE WORLD’S SKINNIEST WOMAN.’’ Down at the cowbarn, I found my good friend, Floyd Clinard, making a killing showing Holstein cows. I left the fair and went downtown where I saw Ray Cress busy at work as manager of J. C. Penny Company. Joan Glascoe was making history as chief model at Mother and Daughter Stores. I went on up the street to the corner drugstore and was standing there when I heard a familiar voice from the direction of the Post Office. I looked around and saw Sylvia Bloat Pope and Anne Long; they had just joined the Wacs. I stepped inside the drug store and there was my old buddy. Jack Cranford, jerking sodas. He was next in line for the Manager’s job. After congratulating the biggest pest’’ of ’51, I went down Fourth Street for my car which was parked in front of Bocock Stroud’s. Coming from Security Life and Trust Building was Wilma Manning. In a few minutes I learned from her that she was private secretary to the president of this company and that her cousin, Mary Ellen Manning, was private secretary to the newly elected Mayor, Brantley Hilliard Hartman, Jr. I got in my car and drove to Reynold’s Auditorium where they were having an all night singing. I learned that Cletus Snyder and Tommy Miller had finally put their beautiful voices to grand use—and had just won second place in the amateur contest. Over on the far side of the auditorium I spied Johnsie Landreth. Apparently her commercial education was paying off for, on closer observation, I found that she was putting in over time by figuring up board feet for Tuttle Lumber Company to the rhythm. A few rows back I saw Bill Whitt and Mayme Jones, a Mr. and Mrs., who had settled down to a quiet and happy married life. From there I went to Peace Haven Race Track to the stock car races. I learned that Ted Sink was burning up the track with his cars. It was rumored that his chief mechanic was Kenneth McKeown. As Ted rounded the last turn and headed into the home stretch, there was an accident. A Vogler’s ambulance appeared on the scene. It was driven by my old buddy, Edward Swaim, who was making a killing in the undertaking business. I followed Edward to the City Memorial Hospital; as I pulled up to the emergency entrance, I saw another familiar face. It was Betty Lou Hill in a nurse’s uniform. I found out that her boss, the house doctor, was Calvin Vestal, M. D. Betty Joe Everhart and Peggy Wiles were two more of my Griffith classmates who had become successful nurses at City Memorial. 22

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After leaving the hospital I decided to return home. I stopped at a business establishment across the road from Griffith School, Leo’s Pool Room with Curb Service.” Leo was inside racking up nine balls. I was enjoying a good game of pool when John Cash walked in to make his daily check to see if everything was in good order. He had recently been elected high sheriff of Forsyth County. I picked up the newspaper from the counter and saw in the headlines that Max Miller was leading Truman by 400 votes in the presidential election. It seems that age restriction for presidential nominees had been removed due to feminine demands. I thumbed over the sports page. I read that Wally Lambeth was third string center for the University of North Carolina football team. I noticed also that Barbara Beale was now playing for Hanes Hosiery Basketball Team. Jo” Thomas and her Whiz Kids hadn’t lost a game in three weeks. J. T. Kye had been elected President of the Forsyth County Wildlife Association; he and his partner, Kermit Karriker, were selling foxhounds to other clubs. Edwina Martin had returned to Alaska and as public health nurse was having fun stabbing people with hypos. I looked out the window and Elaine Messick could be seen running to the Griffith mail box. She had become Mr. Nelson’s private secretary. By chatting with Elaine a few minuets I learned that Nancy Carson had graduated from Appalachian and was teaching English at Griffith School. Donna Hanes, an outstanding graduate from Drominy’s School of Dance, had introduced a course of ballet dancing into the Griffith curriculum. Elaine rushed on to inform me that Katie Granger had replaced the former Minnie Pearle” of the Grand Ole Opra and was laying her audiences in the aisle with her own version of Goodnight Irene.” Jackie Scott and Nancy Smith had become partners in the Scott-Smith law firm. ' Their motto was We take any case for a price.” Mary Hudson had shown herself an efficient helper to the firm serving as a joint secretary. Bobby Beck had gone to Hollywood and was waiting for Gabby Hayes to die so he could take his place. Bill Coulter, after five years in the Navy, was still an Apprentice-Seaman. Barbara Holcombe had graduated from W. C. U. N. C. with high honors and was high school supervisor of Forsyth County. As,I passed South Fork Creek I remembered Jean who had exchanged an interest in Hayes goats for Mahaffey kids. As I drove past June and Doug’s home I saw them out gazing into the sky. They were pointing out to their children Uncle Ken’s new Piper Cub. Melva and Jimmy Adams had exchanged their apartment for a duplex house. Their neighbors were Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Johnson— Nancy to us, you remember. There loomed into my sight a large western styled house near Five Points. I could see in the yard a couple of small children, and then as the view became clearer, I could see that it was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Nixon. Mrs. Nixon was the former Jackie Coggins who had made her promises in August after graduation. Donaldson Florist”—the sign above my shop greeted me. As I glanced into its windows, once more I faced an array of roses—the class flower of ’51. The motto came back into my mind: Success—like roses—has thorns.” As I reminisced over the contacts of the day. It seemed to me that fate had been kind indeed to the members of our class and that the roses dropped into our lives the past ten years had far out-numbered the thorns. JOE DONALDSON Prophet. 23