Kernersville High School - Retrospect Yearbook (Kernersville, NC)

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“Gossip editor for the Beehive,” I reflected. Madam Zenda continued. “Miss ,West is a young nurse engaged to a doctor she met while nursing in the army. Miss Porter works at the same hospital and is engaged: too, but she chose an exciting young professor she met at Wake Forest.” The group broke up and most of them went to lunch while Jerry, Larry, and Bobby continued their search. They passed a large hotel, in front of which I saw a milling mass of people. It looked like a Convention. An enormous car was waiting in front with a chauffeur inside. Nelson Angell passed, as did Betty Barrow and her husband and twin boys. Then Bill Brown came out of the hotel and was just ready to get into the car when he saw Larry, Jerry, and Bobby. They talked a long time together while Madam Zenda explained to me what was going on. “This is a Farmet’s National Convention and Mr. Nelson Angell is the national president. He is really a Southern farmer—traising tobacco in North Carolina, cotton in South Carolina and sugar cane in Georgia. His largest plantation is on the outskirts of Kernersville, North Carolina. “Miss Barrow’s husband raises cattle in Virginia while she has become famous for the fine silk-worms she raises. I understand there is a regular grove of mulberry trees on their farm. “Then the millionaire is, of course, Mr. Bill Brown.” “How did Bill make all that money?” I asked. “He was voted most studious in the class, but how can you make money by studying?” “Oh, he doesn’t study. He had a bright idea soon after graduating from high school and it proved so profitable that he hasn’t bothered to think since then—he just sits back and reaps his profits. He raises fishing worms, then ships them to the eastern coast to sell.” “How interesting,” I thought. Jerry, Larry and Bobby waved good-bye to the “conventioners” to continue their search for a job. They looked as if they were becoming tired and worried, and must have been con- sidering going to seek their fortunes in a large metropolis, as they turned in the Continental Airway’s Office. Inside they were greeted by the receptionist, and while Bobby was inquiring about the schedules, the others waited. People were constantly passing through the halls into the private offices. The boss spoke to a trim voung hostess going in one of the offices, and also to two young men passing through the hall. Then I saw them speak to a very fashionable young woman who marched into the president's office. Their eyes followed her as she went through the door, then they turned their attention to Bobby, who was telling them something and shaking his head, and all three left the office. “What does all this mean?” I asked Madam Zenda. She consulted her ctystal for a while, then gave me the facts on these people. “Bobby was considering going to New York to see about getting a iob as a baseball player. The people Larry and Jerry spoke to were some you might know. The airline hostess was Shirleen Stafford, who was just return ing from a trip on the New York Times special plane which brought the reporters here. The gentlemen were Mr. Ralph Warren and Mr. Deleno Fulp, who are pilots employed by that company. Mr. Warren tests jet planes and has won recognition from our government for his fine work. Mr. Fulp is a regular pilot and makes two round trips across the continent each week.” “Who on earth was the young lady the boys thought so- interesting?” “Oh that was the former Miss Maxine Joyner. She was a secretary in this airlines office and worked her way up in a hurry. She is now the boss’ wife.” “Maxine had the eligible bachelors falling at her feet the minute she moved from Harmony,” I recalled. The action in the crystal hadn’t ceased. The boy’s next stop was a restaurant. As they were waiting on the food, many people came in and it seemed to me that every other person who entered knew them. The first couple in was Harold West and Frances Beeson. They spent quite a while talking with the boys, who kept looking happily surprised. After several other people entered, I recognized a threesome—Shirley Faye Corder, her husband, and Jim Bob Winfree, who immediately began talking to Larry, Jerry, and Bobby, too. As soon as they left another couple came in. I knew the late couple at once, too, because they hadn’t changed a bit since I was in high school. It was Mrs. King Grogan—our Freshman English teacher, Junior history teacher, and Senior Sponsor, with her husband. She seemed very happy to see “her boys” and to talk to them. It was time for me to interrupt—too much was happening. “Madam Zenda, before any- thing else goes on, tell me what is happening now.” And this is what I learned: “The first couple, Mr. and Mrs. Harold West, work at the radio station.” 7)

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CLASS PROPHECY The wind blew sharply against my ears and nose. My eyes were smarting with cold and the near- est shelter that I saw had a big poster displaycd cutside: “Madam Zenda—Your Future Revealed in Her Magic Crystal Ball.” My cold, stiff fingers finally manag- ed to grasp the last quarter in my pocekt, so I paid the admis- sion and went in. The noise of the midway out- side became fainter in Madam Zenda’s tent, but there was still the constant noise of passing tootsteps. Inside the light was dim, and as { waited, my fingers and nose thawed gradually. Finally I was ushered into an even datker chamber, where Madam Zenda sat behind a table which held a large bright crystal ball. I looked closely at her; she seemed vaguely familiar. As I sat in front of her I immediately asked, “Where can I find a job?” (I was at the present unemployed). Madam Zenda’s face took on an expression that clearly said, “Well, this is a cinch.” But as she gazed into her ball she became very puzzled. The ball grew cloudy and muddled. However, it gradually cleared and I saw three young men walking in the business district of Futureville. They were all serious and intent on something. They came closer and I immediately recognized Jerry Smith, Larry Hayes, and Bobby Perdue. The years hadn’t changed them much —they looked like college boys. Madam Zenda said to me, “The crystal tells me that these men are searching for a job- too, but I can’t find you in the picture.” “That's all right. Let me see what happened to these boys,” I replied, interested in what had become of my former classmates in Kernersville High School. As they continued down the street, they passed an exclusive looking night club; whose billing outside showed the main feature to be Kay Stafford. Special attraction that day was “The one, the only, Queen of Hollywood, Miss Vivian Macy.” “Tell me about these people, Madam Zenda,” I requested. “Miss Stafford is one of America’s greatest “Hula” dancers. She studied technique and form ‘in Hawaii. Of course, they had to pay her outlandish wages, but Futureville is very for- tunate to get her because she is such a celebrity. “Miss Macy won a screen test in Hollywood and became a movie star overnight. Her profession is just being glamorous.” I recalled immediately that even in school Kay’s hobby was dancing and Vivian was elected queen in the Halloween Contest and Piedmont Bowl Queen. The vocations seemed to be running along with their former interest. Th boys stopped in a big art studio, where they waited on Jerry Smith, who has an interview with the head executive, Mr. Charles Ridgell, I noticed a sign outside saying that the famous Wesley Atkins was booked to paint portraits as soon as he arrived from Paris. Other artists who were employed by the top-flight studio in the country had some of their works on exhibit. Virginia Stone seemed to be the modern art specialist. All her pictures dealt with surrealism, with a touch of geometrical figures worked in. Gaylene Brown’s pictures were chiefly publicity prints for stars—opera stars, theater stars, and movie stars. She specialized in costume designing. Jerty came out shaking his head. I knew exactly why he didn’t meet the requirements because he couldn’t even write legibly. The boys left the studio and continued their search. Soon they ran into someone who resembled Jerry Shields. There were others with Shields: many others. I reconized Betty Jo Stafford, Henry Flynt, Arnold Pender, and Lucille Kirkman. After greeting each other fondly, the group carried on an excited conversation. Two girls in white joined, them, one a stunning red-haired nurse, who, I discove red, was Barbara West. The other girl I identified as Joyce Porter, and I concluded that she was a bacteriologist and that she and Barbara worked at the same hospital. “Please explain to me what is going on now.” I was very interested in this scene. “Mr. Shields started working with the New York Times and has now become editor. The others are his staff: Miss Stafford is the business manager, Mr. Flynt, a photographer, and Mr. Pender draws the advertisements. Miss Kirkman is a special feature writer for the | paper—she is certainly able to bring out hidden secrets in her interviews.” 28

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“Mr. and Mrs.!” J thought. “Well, they made good time during their high school days.” Madam Zenda continued about Harold and Frances. “Mr. West is a famous radio sports announcer; in fact, he is on his way to broadcast a game at his Alma Mater, Kernersville High School. ‘When his work is heaviest, Mrs. West acts as his secretary and manager, but her main job is chief manager at home.” “Then you surely recognized Miss Shirley Faye Corder, her husband, and Mr. Jim Bob Winfree. He and Miss Corder are the famous Corder and Winfree musical team. After receiving their basic training in high school, Mr. Winfree went on to major in piano and Miss Corder, in voice. Somehow they got together and now have a very popular television program five days a week. ; ‘The last couple was Mr. and Mrs. King Grogan. Mrs. Grogan stopped teaching soon after the class graduated and finally got into politics, She is now the chief publicity manager for the United Nations.” 1 wasn't in the least surprised to hear about Mrs. Grogan at United Nations—it was always her pet. After lunch Jerry, Larry, and Bobby felt better once more, so they took a long walk to the school where Jerry was searching for a job. The building resembled Kernersville High School, and many of the teachers were familiar. The boys entered and looked for the principal and found him in a teachers’ meeting. So many of the teachers were acquainted with these boys that the meeting turned into a party. Jerry talked privately with the principal who reminded me of Fontaine Carter. During this conversation, Larry and Bobby were enjoying themselves immensely with some of the teachers. I recognized as old school mates: Sylvia Smith, LaRue McGee, Mary Sue Kerner, and Weldon Idol. Later Jerry joined the group, but Bobby and Larry left without him. “Madam Zenda, what do these people all teach?” I was eager to hear about these friends. “The principal is Mr. Fontaine Carter. He planned to be a draftsrnan but stayed at school so long that when the former principal left a few years ago, Mr. Carter was next in line for the job, so he just accepted it. “Miss Sylvia Smith is the head of the Mathematics Department. She received such firm training and encouragement from Mr. Brendell, that she decided to major in this field. In the fall she leaves school long enough to be the prima donna in the Metropolitan Opera’s opening night. “Miss LaRue McGee is the public school music teacher and has become well known for her new methods of teaching. “Miss Mary Sue Kerner teaches kindergarten just as she had planned to do. “Mr. Weldon Idol came back to High School as head basketball coach. He really built up a fine team; it won the state championship last year. “Mr. Smith got the job—as teacher of French. He moved very near the school, where his extracurricular activities centered around a little dancing teacher.” So Bobby and Larry left the school alone. As they started walking up town, a car slowed down and picked them up and I recognized the driver as Charles West. Charles was glad to see Larry and Bobby, and seemed to be telling them about the homes they passed. “T asked Madam Zenda what he was telling the boys and about Charles’ present occupation. “Mr. Charles West has a radio program. He is a very popular disc jockey, so popular tha‘ he is given a coast-to-coast hook-up for his programs. “He is showing Bobby and Larry where some of his more settled classmates live. Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Motsinger lives there. The next house is where Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Jones live, (I knew her as Bobby Sechrest). Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Parrish live in that house, (Mrs. Parrish is the tormer Miss Jeannette Dull.) Beside her live Mr. and Mrs: Joe Stewart (better known to her classmates as JoAnn Willard.) These girls had planned to be secretaries, but the openings as housewives were more attractive. That house belongs to Mr. Richard Larrimore, who is president of the Western Union Company now. He worked his way up, beginning as a messenger boy delivering messages full of “sweet nothings” to girls. “That is where the former Patsy Beeson lives—now Mrs. Bill Pegg. She was a secretary but recognized immediately whose manager she wanted to be, and soon achieved her goal. “Mr. Stanley Beeson lives in that brick house. He has the unique job of inventing stunts, quizzes, and games for television programs and is popular because he gives so many parties. They are all unusual and very entertaining.” . The car was coming into the business district of town and Charles pointed out a quaint little shop to the boys. Madam Zelda told me, “That is Miss JoAnn Swain and Alice Osborne’s linen shop.” 30