Harding High School - Acorn Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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PROPI-IECY PVT. CHARLES HAGER, care A. P. O., San Francisco. Dear Blackie: ' I am sorry to hear that five years after the war is over you are still in the Army of Occupation and on a small unin- habited Pacific Island. Yes, it's really tough, for inhabitants. Your inquiry as to the whereabouts of our graduating class makes me exceedingly happy. I can proudly say that the majority have developed Cthere was plenty of room for developmentj into line citizens. As for me, I just loaf around since I got my discharge. I never really understood why I got it. The doctors just whispered and kept pointing at my head. Anyway, Miss Watson and Miss Fore understand. Do you remember how we used to joke about Sandy Grady, the 1 senior boy voted most likely to succeed, selling Watch Towers? He's now Sports Editor at the Mecklenburg Times. The source for sports writers is diminishing, I suppose. WHILE ON THE SUBJECT OF SPORTS, Buck Glasco and Allen Solomon are playing varsity ball at Duke. Jimmy Patterson and Claude Dellinger are playing first-string tailback and wingback respectively at the University of North Carolina. The boy that amazes people with his slow balls and fast talk, J. S. Tucker, will pitch for the New York Yankees this coming season. And from what I hear, his wife, Dorothea Woerner, is some pitcher too. Woo! Wool Bob Puckett will be on the receiving end of Tucker's pitches, while J. S. will be on the receiving end of Dorolhea's. Robert Criminger went into business with some Irishman named Jacob Goldstein. and opened the classiest clothes SIOIQ in Charlotte. His best salesman is the persuasive, fast-talking John Randall, ex-Harding debater. Honest, straight-forward Ben Durham keeps the books for this wonderful organization, Joe Stimpson handles all the art and decorating. Since it is a clothing store, Joe puts clothes on fifty per cent of all his drawings. Directly across the street from the Goldstein-Criminger store is the Mademoiselle, Char- lotte's most exclusive women's store. Betty Jean Craig pops the whip, since she is the manager. Craig employs four ex-Harding lasses, Sue Shiver, Laura Ann Freeman, Imogene Potts, and Niota Godfrey. Their talents are put to good use. Mary Motter arranges the window displays and the interior decorating. Betty Hargett, who is the buyer for the Mademoiselle, is now in Paris. From what I heard, she really likes the place. Just by accident about three times a week at 12:35 I happen to run into the pretty oliice girls at the square going to lunch. Adrienne Hartmann and Hazel Nivens are all dated up though. I often see Richard Wings Goodman fly over. Richard was the. lirst Charlotte citizen to change from automobile to the airplane. He now goes over the square doing 120 miles per hour. That's twenty miles per hour less than he did in his automobile. The greatest improvement in education in North Carolina since Central was torn down last year is the Harding High School. Many of our former students have joined the Gestapo and are now faculty members of this great institution. Jo Nell Fletcher is teaching art and has some class, Harry McConnell is expected to turn out the best band in the state this year, if he can be kept out of the dramatics class, which is taught by Red Edwards. Fred Jenkins is expected to produce the best basketball team in these parts. There has been little competition since Fred started coaching at the high school. Roy Christenbury is the custodian at the present time. Betty Hill manages a nice library. It differs from I-larding's a great deal in that respect. As you leave this dear school, you can plainly hear the enchanting voices of Julia Allison's French students singing Au Revoir, Allez Au Diable, which roughly translates into Goodbye, lCome Again. But when you smooth it out it translates into G.o. We dare you ever to come ack! Unfortunately not all of our former classmates are employed in our fair city. Martha Hibbard, the senior girl voted most likely to succeed, is a bare-back rider in Frank Carter's circus. Wayne Hooks is the strong man in the show, Patrons say he is the weakest strong man now in existence. Faye Hughey is the fat lady, She is so big that she can work two rings at one time. James Corn is the tight rope walker. David Hipp is known as the world's greatest lion trainer. Hipp's plenty good with the whip. Others working out of town are Betty Culbreth, Polly Jean Yandell, and Jane McGinnis. These young ladies are actresses in New York. Howard Hailey is now a comedian in New York, also. He just linished a comedy, 'AFrankenstein's Nephew, which is a smashing success. Unpleasant as it may seem, everyone can't be a success. For instance, some of our class- mates got married. A shining example is Ellis Zedaker and Jackie Johnson, who have con- sented to walk the plank together, hand in hand. Surprised? That's all I can think of at the moment, Blackie. This gives you some idea of the ability and accomplishments of our '45 class. fAfter the army was through, there weren't many more than forty-five in the class.J Until you return I will remain here holding the fort down, and Writing you more literature such as this. GENE HENDERSON, Prophet. Page Twenty-seven

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HISTORY We, the class of '45, could be called the 'Awar class. Our journey through the years of high school education at Harding High School has been marked by world-wide battle since its start. And yet, with the globe blasted by guns and shells, most of us have completed our high school years. Back in September, 1939, Germany and Britain touched off the fuse that blew Europe into war. Also in September of that year we entered the seventh grade at Harding. We were like any other newcomers to Harding-confused but happy with the new scene. Guiding us through that first year were Martha Hibbard, president: Jean Craig, vice-presi- dent: Wilma Holt, secretary: and Sandy Grady, treasurer. The next year saw England repelling death and blitz from the skies-and our second year of high school. Majorie Ann Edwards was president that year, aided by Betty Jean Brown, vice-president: Charles Prophet, secretary: and Fred Rogers, treasurer. In 1941 our own nation was attacked and engulfed in the war. School changed into a serious thing: our classes were preparing boys for battle. Even in this crisis, members of our class began distinguishing themselves at Harding. They were members of the Junior Student Council and Honor Society. Sandy Grady of our class put out the first issues of our school paper, the Hustler, as editor. Heading our activities were President Sandy Grady, Vice-President Margaret Allen, Secretary Elizabeth Foster, and Treasurer Wilma Holt. The next few years saw our country gird herself for war in the Pacific and on European shores. Our class entered the tenth grade and we felt near to graduation. Wayne Hooks was our president, assisted by Harry McConnell, Jean Craig, and Jim Deaton. In our Junior year we saw the preceding Senior class march out in their graduating robes. We ourselves were caught in the swirl of high school activities. We ordered our class rings in May. We attended the very successful Junior-Senior Banquet. We elected the following junior marshals: Polly Jean Yandell, chief: Martha Hibbard, assistant chief: Betty Sawyer. Jacqueline Johnson, Betty Culbreth, Niota Godfrey, Adrienne Hartman, Margaret Allen, David Hipp. Elizabeth Foster, Bob Puckett, Estelle Grice, and Fred Jenkins. At last, through the storms of the war years, we took the last leg of our journey. Senior officers for the first semester were Bill Kiser, president: Jimmy Patterson, vice-president: Jean Craig, secretary: and Wayne Hooks, treasurer. We received our class rings and had our senior pictures taken for the annual. We elected superlatives, and ordered invitations, caps, and gowns, Martha Hibbard and Bill Kiser served as presidents of the Student Council for a term each. Gene Henderson and Blackie Hager were elected captains of the football team. We held our Junior-Senior Banquet, passed through the graduation formalties. Thus, we of the 1945 class, have traveled the long road. Beginning in the first skirmishes of battle and ending with American armies marching on the centers of hate and dictatorship, We spent six important years in Harding High School. We, the 'iwar class, remember with pride. BOB PUCKETT, Historian. JIMMIE PATTERSON HSISH GROSE Cutest,' Look cute, Pat. Page Twenty-six

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LAST WILL A TESTAME We, the class of 1945, pack up our books and bid farewell to the classrooms of Harding High School. To those who move into our vacant seats, we make the following last will and testa- ment: ARTICLE I To Mr. Hawkins To Mr. Hawkins, our principal, we hand our appreciation for his guidance lboth bitter and sweety during the past six years and join with him in anticipating a more beautiful Harding campus. ARTICLE II To the Seniors 1. We bestow the hope that they can reach our levels both at their school-desks and on the field of sports. 2. To the said seniors we leave more hope-the hope that they will enter a world more free and bright than the one which we now enter. ARTICLE III To the Teachers 1. To Miss Yelvington, Miss Elliott, and Miss Watson we give our thanks for their aid in directing our class activities. 2. To Mrs. Sawyer, more thanks for her steady watchfulness over our academic progress. 3. To Miss Batten, cheers for her indispensable help in the Student Council. 4. To Mrs. Mackey goes our appreciation for her influence on this 1945 ACORN and the hope that she may find more industrious annual staffs than her last one. 5. And to Miss Fore, Mr. Whisnant, Mrs. Shore, and the other black-board toilers, gratitude for steering us over our last lap of study. ARTICLE IV 1. Gene 1ScatJ Henderson wills his flying ability to one Tommy Coursey, both in football shoes and a Piper Cub. 2. I, Jo Nell Fletcher, leave my well-known sex appeal to the Lee sisters, who may split between them. ' 3 Bill Kiser leaves his indifference to the fairer sex to Richard Bennickg to the U. S. Merchant Marine he leaves his future plans. 4. Jackie Johnson hangs her Imperatus and Honor Society medals on Rachel Beatty, confident that she will make all A's in the scholastic wars. 5. Jimmie Eaton leaves the popular music field to Boyce Roberts and his oh-so-hot trumpet. 6. I, David Hipp, will my ability to parler le Francais to Monsieur Pug Peerman. 7. Imogene Potts wills her love for sailors to Alease Doggett and a hundred other girls. 8. I, Donald Ellington, yield my ushering job to Paul Howell with the hope that he never has any Harding Rams in the balcony. 9. We, Betty Jo Helms and Rosa Wilson, donate our musical instruments to any juniors who like to march. 10. Roy Christenbury wills his wit and laughter to Gene Burnett, knowing that the corn will grow green. 11. We, Betty Holtzclaw and Virginia Haderman, leave our high-pressure sales talks to next year's D. E. students. 12. Howard Hailey wills his pep and personality, both on and off the stage, to Jimmy Rheinhardt. 13. I, Jean Craig, will Jimmy Patterson to the U. S. Army Infantry Corps. 14. We, Boyd Taylor and Johnny Randall, hand over our bow ties to Jack Moss and Donald Helms. 15. Betty Hargett grants her grey hairs and money nightmares to any unsuspecting junior who might become the ACORN business manager. - 16. Richard Goodman will his wings, rocket-propelled car, and nine lives to anyone else who col- lects speeding tickets. 17. I, Buck Glasco, will my zany football antics to Bob Cole. 18. I, Harry McConnell, bequeath my flying baton to Toomy Boyd. 19. Sis Grose leaves her iron-plated lungs to Bettilou Collins and fellow cheerleaders. 20. Shirley Wilson leaves her admiration for Mr. Cook to 100 per cent of the girls in the choir. 21. Betty Keistler, Jean Sigmon, and Betty Culbreth will our super-charged giggles to any other wacky trio. 22. I, Wayne Hooks, present my Squirrel Hunting Certificate to Ward Threatt, allowing him to watch the squirrels in the trees during first period English. d23. Dorothea Woerner wills her ability to hold a man indefinitely to Jerry Charles, who doesn't nee it. 24. Polly Jean Yandell gives her energy in Student Government affairs to Beverly McLellan. 25. Blackie Hager yields his fame as a talker to Harry Bizzell, who may also have that tackle spot. 26. I, Ellis Zedaker, will my place at the boarding house table to Walter Wilson: I admit he can eat more than I. 27. Laura Ann Freeman leaves her position as Most Dignified Senior to Melba Wallace. 28. Frank Carter grants his technique for being late to Richard Bennick. . 27. Martha Hibbard bestows her Student Council reins and her D. A. R. notebook to any other girl who would become a female martyr at 18. 28. Fred Jenkins hangs his basketball talents upon Neal Westmoreland. Page Twenty-eight