Kirkman Vocational School - Spirit Yearbook (Chattanooga, TN)

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The next afternoon we boarded a jet airliner bound for Budapest, Hungry, where we stayed a week. Dewayne Akins ran the hotel resort at which we stayed. The next week, following a conference with the ruler of Turkey, we went down to the waterfront to see an old comrade. Emest Clemons, and his wife, the former ,luanita Robinson. Ernest has a deep sea fishing business. He told us that Bobby Scoggins and his wife, Verna also live nearby and run a frozen foods establishment. The next stop was Bombay, India. At a tea room around the corner from the hotel, we were surprised to find Monnie Frazier acting as hostess. As we talked, Shirley commented on the strenuous journey, and Monnie suggested a good massage in the reducing salon run by Ann Dawson and Opal Wells. I left Shirley with Ann and Opal and went to the American Consulate and into the office of my old friend Jim Thomas. jim is head of the foreign relations board in India. We entertained ourselves by recalling some of Tommy Bowman's tall tales about mountain adventures. I was surprised to find that ,lim's wife is the former Bobbie Birdwell. jim told me that Claude Wooten has been in India for I0 years working as a missionary. Shirley is a great traveler and likes to change methods, so the following day we boarded a tramp steam- er bound for Sidney, Australia. just as we went on board, I noticed a group of sailors gathered around some- one, so I went hack to investigate. I found the someone to be the beautiful movie star, Anita Johnson, who is co-starring in a production with her old flame, O. H. Durham. Don Grimes was on hand to operate the movie camera. I never have been so sick as I was on that steamer, and when we finally did reach Sidney I had to go by a clinic to get some medicine. A pretty nurse passed me. and a second glance told me it was Patricia Leonard. The head doctor there was Frances Traffanstedt. We went to the governor's office to announce our arrival and he suggested that we stay at his home while we were in Sidney. For 2 days the overnor and I talked politics. The third day we formed a hunting party of four and went inland to find kangeroo. About lunch time on the second day we heard a noise that sounded like a train. As the noise come nearer. we could see running figures, and closer observation disclosed Roy Bean chasing his pet ltangeroo and about 20 paces behind was Frances Lusk still chasing Roy. When we returned from the hunting trip, our host suggested an evening's entertainment. We had supper at a swanky restaurant run hy W. K. Mobley and Betty Holcomb. Wilma Davis is their chief cook. Then we attended a World League baseball game between the United States and Austrlia. Playing left field for the U. S. was Gene Hawkins: covering second was F:-ianlslin Rice. Charles Chambers was managing the team. The umpire was none other than Steve Massen- pz e. Next day we chartered a private plane owned by Rush Emmett and headed for the good old U. S. A. We stopped for a short visit in Hawaii to talk with Governor Raymond Poindexter. Close by his side was his wife and secretary, the former Betty Hunkapiller. At Los Angeles we stopped to take a short trip over to Hollywood to see some old friends who are in the movies. They are Bobbie Iones, Nancy Smith, and Helen Wilson. We have always wanted to travel across the U. S. bv automobile, so we bought a car from the Charles Cameron Cadillac Sales Co. and hired Kenneth Holt to chauffeur us to Washington. At Las Vegas. Nevada, we stopped to see Martha Turner and Imogene Wade at the Nevada State Old Age Home. At Albunuv-roue, New Mexico. we went to see the two Penley sisters, Barbara and Jessie, who have a iewelry store and pawn shop combined. At Fort Worth. Texas, we stopped to see public stenographer Shirley Lancaster and Mrs. Wanda Wilkey, a dressmaker. In Shreveport. Louisiana. Shirley wanted to stop at the b-auty shop to have her hair shampooed. We stopped at the Miller Beauty Salon, where we found Elouise Miller, owner, giving a pedicure to our old friend Billy llieetsl Wattenbarger. Gerald Bryant is Elouise's business manager. ' Finally back in our home town. Chattanooga, we noticed a long line of people approaching the court house. I asked the reason and was told that it was the W. P. A. line being led by Mr. Keller, who was followed by Ethel Housley. Mildred C-wllake. Faye Cavitt, Peggie Callahan. and Martha Burkhart. At the Emplovment Office I found Edna Kibble in charge, and she was assisting Faye Lynn, Katherine Mathis, and Doris Prewett to sign up for unemployment compensation. There was one more stop I wanted to make -before I checked in with my boss in Washington. I hitched a ride on a flying saucer and stopped at West Point to see the C. O.. General Richard Bratcher. His staff was composed of Gene Miles. Herbert Middlebrooks, and Howard Baldwin. The field officer's secretaries were Inez Womack and Shirley Norwood. When I got back to Washington. I began to realize how fortunate I had been in seeing all of my old classmates after 20 years. I remembered that vou and and the faculty always told us how interested you were in our future, so I decided it would be only right to let you know where we are and what we're doing. Sincerely, Otis Gaither 22

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Cfua pl'0l0AeCy ,IE X Washington, D. C. june 3, 1973 H. e i ea su . N N Dear Mr. Taylor and Faculty: 'It is doubtful that after 20 long and adventurous years you will remember the biggest pest who ever frequented your office at Kirman Vocational High School. I, Otis Gaither, am now a Good Will Ambassa- dor from the U. S. to all foreign countries. just recently I returned from a world tour, and at the end of that tour I sat down to think of the number of Kirkman graduates of 1953 I had seen. It surprised me to find that I had seen them all. Thinking that you would like to know what has become of that adventurous Class, I decided to write this letter to you. Crossing the Atlantic on board the U.S.S. America, on my way to France, I met the captain, Bob Murray, who has been with the ship since her christening ten years ago. On board I met General Daniel Groover, U. S. Army. Daniel now proudly wears 5 stars. With Daniel renewing old times and talkin D. E. was another dignitary, Chief Petty Officer David Pettyjohn. One day a great excitement revailetf on board. A stowaway was discovered-none other than Jackie Wheeler. Jackie always had an ambition to,aee the world in a motorboat, but finally settled for an uncxciting voyage as stowaway on a shi . After 3 few days I went to the radio shack to send a wire to the offices in France To my surprise I ferund the opera- tor to be Ronnie Bice, much changed, but I knew him for he had his name scribbled all over everything in the shack. He told me that he and Peggy Roberts have been married 12 years. The relief radio man was Donald Chambers. Donald is working very hard for his retirementg he never did like to work. Once while strolling on the sun-deck, I suddenly came upon a group of vacationing politicians who were still debating which one of them would have made the best presidential candidate. You already know that neither of our politicians, Kennith Epperson, Richard Boyd, and Bobby Garner, was given' the nomination. It's just as well, I guess, it'll keep peace among our graduates. It was bright and early the morning we sailed in to the Strait of Gibraltar to refuel and take on sup- plies. Since we were to have a few hours lay over, my secretary and wife, the former Shirley Wilson, and I decided to tour the town. To our great surprise, we were officially greeted by the Honorable Larry jones, mayor, and his wife, the former Betty Hullander. Occasionally Larry freightens his townspeople when he takes Betty for a pleasure ride in his hot-rod. As we were being shown the interesting scenic places around Gibraltar, Larry told us of other mem- bers of the Class of '53 who had come there to live. Mr. and Mrs. William Shourd, the former Gail Shankles, live in a mansion overlooking the beauties of the Mediterranean. William has retired from his former position as Superintendent of the Wheland Co. In a radio shop where we stopped to get our portable radio repaired, we found Johnny Harden busily at work still trying to figure out a problem he had failed to solve rn Mr. Keller's math class. After we left Larry and Betty, we took a guide for the remainder of the tour. You'd hardly believe it, but our guide was jimmy Russell, long since grown thin from the worry of answering tour- ists' stupid questions. . From Gilbraltar we sailed northeast to the coast of France and landed at the port of Marseille. Shirley persuaded me to go to the style show that was being held that week by a group of models from Paris. We recognized several models: Helen Allen Hollingsworth, julia Durham, Betty Crisp lshe never has found that young man who would make a foolof himselfl, Virginia Davis, Beverly Hasty, and Peggy Ford. After a brief visit with these models. we got on a train and began our journey to several important French cities Finally we reached Paris. The desk clerk at our hotel there was none other than Harold Stevens. That eve- ning Shirley and I enioyed a visit to the famous Parisian Night Club owned by the American Monsieur Raymond W. Haggard. He assured us that he had a program of entertainment arranged that was strictly high class using only American singers. dancers. and comedians. We were both amused and amazed to, find the first number on the program was No Help Wanted sung by the singer of blues and hillbilly specials, Bob Adams. ..Next appeared a dancing team dancing special numbers arranged by Carl Allen. The dancers were Charlotte Wardlaw, Dorothy Welden. Peggy Moore, and Jean Beard. The last entertainmnet was pre- sented by the dancing comedian, Tommy Bowman. When the head waiter approached our table, we recog- Ezedkihim as Hershal Bankston, and the bus boy who came with our order was none other than Clyde aw ins. The next day official busines called me to the American Consul Building. Upon entering I was greeted by page boy Amos Adams, who showed me to the meeting room. At the meeting Odessa Brown, secretary to the American consul, took notes on the discussion. Following this meeting, Shirley and I imme- diately took a plane to Bern. Switzerland. While enrzute, the pilot announced over the intercommunica- tions system that anyone wishing to see the cockpit might do so. Naturally I was curious, and especially so, since I thought the voice was so familiar. Inside the cockpit. I found the voice to belong to my old friend, Bob McKeel. The co-pilot was Jimmy Scoggins. The navigator was Tommy Trotter. At Bern the first stop for us was at the mayor's office, where we found Jerry Sorter acting as chief adviser to the mayor. After the consultation, once more we were in the air, this time headed for Rome and Vatican City, where I was to meet with Pope Pious III. We stayed 2 days in Rome in order to see all the sights and .to take a trip over to Mt. Vesuvius to see our first volcano. Our guide on this trip was that famous traveler and explorer, Bill Doty. 21

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.sznior git?-5.4 .jfkdfory In early September of 1949 students from the various junior high schools assembled at Kirkman Vocational High School to begin their-four years of fun and work. During the next nine months each made new friends and acquaint- ances that were to last throughout the high school experience. Sponsors for the Freshman Class that year were Mrs. Houghton and Mr. Craig. No class officers were elected. As the end of the school year drew near, the Freshman Class had a wonderful picnic which was held at Lake Winnepesauka. In May, 1950, each one bade his friend good-bye until the class assembled the next September. September of 1950 saw old acquaintances renewed and also brought new faces to the campus for our Sophomore year. After the school year had begun the Sophomore Class organized with Mrs. Brownsey and Mr. Carr as sponsors for the year. Class officers elected were: Ernest Clemons, presidentg Don Davis, vice-president, Homer Davis, treasurer, and Beverly Hasty, secretary. Toward the end of this school year the Sophomores held their annual party at Warner Park. During the school year we accomplished plenty in our school work and also in our ability to associate with others. On May 23, 1951, we assembled for our last meeting as Sophomores and bade each other farewell and wished each an enjoyable vacation. On September 3, 1951, the group that left in May met again, but this time as Juniors. ..Sponsors elected for our junior year were Miss Katharine Bennett, Mrs. Edith Apperson, and Mr. joe Frazier. Class officers for the year were Raymond Haggard, presidentg O. H. Durham, vice-presidentg Bobbie Birdwell, secretary, and Juanita Robinson, treasurer. During the year the junior Class sponsored such events as The Blue-Jean Calico Party, The All-Kirkman Mixer, junior Box Supper, and various other activities. The highlights of the Junior year were the 13th Annual junior-Senior Banquet, which was held at the Indus- trial Y. M. C. A., and the Prom which-followed in the school cafeteria. At the junior Picnic, held at Lake Winnepesauka, gifts were presented to each of the sponsors. As final exams rolled around and final grades were given, each went on his way to his job or vacation for the next three months. September 5, 1952, saw 108 Seniors meeting to begin their last year of school life. At the first class meeting the sponsors were elected. They were Miss Willie Blanche Wheeler, Miss Charlotte Roesslein and Mr. Joe Frazier. Senior Class officers elected were: Raymond Haggard, presidentg Roy Bean, vice-presidntg Helen Wilson, secretaryg Juanita Robinson, treasurerg O. H. Durham, parlia- mentariang Richard Bratcher, reporter. One of the first events sponsored by the class was the Senior Camival, which was a great success. Following the Carnival we began work on our Christmas Project. The class decided for this project secretly to help needy children. On April 24th the Seniors celebrated Senior Day, which was followed that night by a Tacky Party. Next came Class Day on May 29th, when Mr. and Mrs. Kirkman were crowned and Senior Class favorites were presented. Also on Class Day, the Senior Class gift was presented to the school. At this time Seniors bade their Alma Mater a last formal farewell. Sunday, May 31st, we began to wind up our stay at Kirkman when the Baccalaureate Sermon was conducted for the graduates and their families and friends. Graduation on June 3 provided one of the most important occasions of our four years at Kirkman. The next day, June 4, we took our class trip, the last official act of the Senior Class of 1953, and at the close of the day, when we bade each other good-bye, the History of the Class of 1953 came to an end. 23