James Monroe High School - Echo Yearbook (Fredericksburg, VA)

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Mrs. Fleda Beable. The following Senior officers were elected: Joe Scher, Presi¬ dent; Edward Cann, Vice-President; Natalie Lancaster, Secretary; Billy Layton, Treasurer. The class motto became I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday, and I love today! After much discussion, red and white were selected as the class colors and the American Beauty Rose as the class flower. A staff to edit the third publication of the Monroe Echo was chosen. Every¬ one gave this Senior class project his fullest cooperation. Lena Rivers, a three-act play by Mary Jane Holmes, was presented as the annual Senior Play, under the direction of Mrs. Mildred Chick and Mr. J. F. Dahlgren. On January 18, 1949, the Seniors found sweet revenge. Yes, it was Senior Day and the poor underclassmen were the unfortunate receivers of pranks mixed in with a day of good fun. A most eventful moment for the Seniors took place on January 20, 1949, when the class attended the Inauguration of President Harry S. Truman, in Washington, D. C. Charles Harding, an outstanding member of the Senior Class, performed a phenomenal feat by making a dollar go farther in 1 949 than George Washington did in the Eighteenth Century, which is miraculous indeed, taking into considera¬ tion the value of the present dollar compared to that of an Eighteenth Century dollar. For this feat Charles gained nation-wide recognition from many leading newspapers, and received many letters of congratulations. One of these letters came from far distant Honolulu. We are proud to have this outstanding athlete as a member of our Graduating Class. Seniors are always outstanding in extra-curricular activities. This year they took the lead in the functioning of high school clubs and organizations. A list of all school clubs and organizations and the number of Seniors enrolled in each are as follows; Commercial Club, thirteen; Science Club, sixteen; Library as¬ sistants, one; Varsity Club, ten; Glee Club, eighteen; French Club, twenty-two; Dramatics Club, thirty-two; Thespian Club, fifteen; Beta Club, six; G. A. A., eleven; Home Economics Club, six: Spotlight, twelve; S. C. A., twelve; Latin Club, four; Literary Magazine, ten; Key Club, seven; Band, four; D. O. Club, four; D. E. Club six; and Industrial Arts News, one. It is interesting to note that of these twenty school organizations twelve were led by members of the James Monroe Senior Class of 1949. We are, indeed, very proud of our accom¬ plishments in this field. Other interesting activities in which the Seniors took part during the year were the mock election, organization of the S. C. A., a radio program, class picnic, debating and public speaking contests, nights at the Youth Canteen, numerous dances and plays, and several sight-seeing tours. We who are graduating today are grateful for our many opportunities. To think of ourselves in comparison with those of other countries it sounds like we are just Climbing a Golden Ladder. We are living in a time of peace and prosperity, and one in which the emphasis is on the education, health, and well being of the individual. May each of us, with the help of God, be guided to do what is right for ourselves and for our loved ones. Bobbie Thurston Iiuenty-Five

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1949 CLASS HISTORY ‘ ' ' Climbing the Golden Ladder ” I am pleased and honored to be given the assignment of preparing the history of the Class of 1949. The history which I have prepared may not be particularly impressive. It is impressive though that young Americans gradu¬ ating from high school today are going to be responsible for what is written in the future pages of American history. Four years ago, early one September morning, an eager, joyous group of knowledge-seekers came pouring into James Monroe High School. Some came from the elementary grades, where they had for many months been busily en¬ gaged in storing their minds with the honey of wisdom; a few were fresh and green from a far country; some came from farms where they had been tillers of the soil: and many, from other halls of instruction. These Freshmen were received by several other bands of human beings who were called Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. At first, high school seemed very difficult to these Freshmen, but as time passed they fell in with the customs of high school life, and their strangeness wore away. The election of the Freshman officers was very difficult, as campaigns raged and enthusiasm climbed by the minute. Those finally chosen to lead the class were: Bert O’Toole, President; Alfred Ventura, first Vice-President; Natalie Lancaster, second Vice-President; and Dike Hooe, Secretary-Treasurer. The Freshman Class labored hard and continuously. They accomplished many noble deeds while taking a leading part in all high school activities. After three months of summer vacation, a new era began which can be entitled Sophomore year. During this session many Sophomores gained promi¬ nence among the high school boys and girls. Doris Ann Lindsey was chosen drum-majorette of the James Monroe High School Band. The Junior Varsity Football cheerleaders were composed entirely of Sophomores, which included Doris Pepper, Diana Rowe, Natalie Lancaster, Doris Ann Lindsey, Judy Scott, Margaret Pitts, and Marlene Kendall. However, the day in December, 1946, called Senior Day, put the high- minded Sophomore Class back into its place. Seniors ruled supreme, and forced the poor Sophomores and other lower classmen to step far below their dignity. The poor Sophomores, however, managed to survive and they were able to carry on for the remainder of the term. The Junior year was marked by a great change. The “Class of 49” began to realize what high school could do for them. They had a better understanding of their friends, their teachers, and their surroundings. The officers of the Junior Class were Billy Layton, President: Natalie Lancaster, Vice-President; Barbara Eanes, Secretary; and Joe Scher, Treasurer. During this year, athletics, always a major part of high school life, became one of the greatest interests of the Junior Class. Junior boys and girls who had been trying out for the football, baseball, and basketball, and track team, were now making the squads in large numbers. Other members of the class attended the games to give joyous and eager support to their loyal warriors. Toward the end of the year, the usual Junior-Senior and Senior-Junior Proms took place which provided an enjoyable time. The big day arrived in September, 1948, when the class became eighty full-fledged Seniors, under the capable sponsorship of Mrs. Mildred Chick and Twenty-Four

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CLASS WILL We, the Senior Class of 1949 of the James Monroe High School, of the State of Virginia, having completed our pursuit of knowledge in school and wishing to distribute our various assets equally and accordingly, do hereby execute this last will and testament. ITEM I To the faculty of James Monroe High School we bequeath our sincerest thanks and appreciation for being such wonderful friends and instructors to us during our memorable days in high school. ITEM II To the class of 1950 we bequeath the deeds to rooms 33 and 35 inclusive of the radio, the piano, and all carved initials on the desks. ITEM III To the Sophomore Class we bequeath for their Junior year, the courage to live through Senior Day. ITEM IV To the Freshman Class, who, when others smiled at our airs and dignity, still approached us with frightened faces and trembling limbs, we bequeath the precious little things for which we have no further use: our invisible gum chew¬ ing; our deft note passing: and our short-cuts in reading monthly book reports. By the early employment of such talents we hope that you may reach heights that even WE could never attain. CODICIL Joe Heffernan bequeaths his ability to give a history answer—right or WRONG—and stand by it to Billy Doumas. Jean Donahoe and Bobbie June Caverlee bequeath their ability to get along with the male population of this institution to Beryl Beck. Franklin Carroll and Bobby Reynolds bequeath their ability to get along with the female population to Jack Young. Natalie Lancaster and Judy Scott bequeath their stylish clothes to Betty Jane Thompson. William Stewart, Raymond Colley, and Aubrey Daffan bequeath their band instruments to Charles Whittaker, Bernard Curtis, and Gilbert James. Mary Frances Drew bequeaths her ability to rise at 8:45 a. m. and arrive at school at 8:50 a. m. to Eleanor Rae Jones. Nancy Hall and Carlton Onderdonk bequeath their golden voices to Phyllis Damron and Tom Schuler. Pat Heflin bequeaths her movie star collection to Harriet Maynard. We hope Harriet has room for them all! Betsy Brown and Mary Ellen Southworth bequeath their cute smiles to Anne Taylor. Tom Carey bequeaths his Delaware accent to Peter Hearn. Olga Bauer bequeaths her ability to out-shout the thunder of whispering Seniors to next year’s hard working home room secretary. Gloria Carter and Joyce Shepherd bequeath their beliefs that the way to a man ' s heart is through his stomach—not surgery, but cooking—to Nell Smith and Mary Anna Brickett. Frank Berry bequeaths his ability to get Lowell Self into trouble to John Wright so that John may use it on Mac Willis. Lowell Self bequeaths his ability to talk his way out to Mac Willis. Barbara Forbush bequeaths her good-looks and charm to Patsy Wilhour. Joe Scher bequeaths his wish to become another great disc-jockey, like our own Harold Green, to anyone who may have a similar ambition. Ellen Ross Gibson, Betty Belman, James Pappas, and Rodger Chartters bequeath their driving abilities to anyone who can keep their license and do what they did! Carrie Nunnally and Lois Harder bequeath their abilities to apply make-up —stage that is—to next year ' s Senior Play committee. Peg Snellings bequeaths her artistic ability to George Benson. Twenty-Six