Lee M Waid School - Hawk Yearbook (Rocky Mount, VA)

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INTERESTING TIDBITS Lee Waid School Alumni Parents of 1969 Graduates: Willie Mae Ross Holland, Class of 1948 Sam Holland, Class of 1969 Adlee Meadows Dunn, Class of 1948 Jim Dunn, Class of 1947 Virginia Dunn, Class of 1969 Hannah Tyree Hopkins, Class of 1946 Benny Hopkins, Class of 1969 Approximately 900 students have graduated since 1923, The largest class to graduate (64) was in 1965. There was only one student, Norma Richards, to graduate in 1925 and one student, Fannie Alice Bond, to grad- uate in 1952. Alumni of Lee M. Waid Faculty: Mamye Arrington Holland, Class of 1926 Lula Phelps Saunders, Class of 1933 Enolar Goode Callands, Class of 1945 Naomi Helms Berger, Class of 1945 Nadine Young Hawkins, Class of 1946 Gloria Tyree Woods, Class of 1956 1915--The first timber used to build the dormitory was hauled by Tom (Toad) Hughes! 1923--Graduates can be seen practicing their Commencement speeches under the shade trees on the campus ! March 15, 1935--Julius Rosenwald Day Program The first hot lunches were served during the early forties. Financial assistance was provided by the Federal government. Farmers! Day, an entertaining social event, was held annually beginning around 1926. Whole barbecue pigs and barrels of slaw were in order for this day. The Booker T. Washington Glee Club of the Franklin County Training School presented its Second Annual Recital in 1939. 1940--The school served as a center for Federal rationing. November 8, 1953-- The citizens of Franklin County honored Curtis Woods, class of 1944, for bravery in action above the line of duty, while serving with the Navy in Korea. December 1, 1957--School renamed Lee M. Waid School. March 22, 1958--Western Region Music Festival at L.M.W. April 26, 1959--School dedicated. Bobby Mitchell, Washington Redskins, conducted two football clinics on June 12, 1964. Tops in Basketball Student Total points Average number Highest number Opponent scored during points during points in one Basketball career career game Jerry Hancock 1067 16 By Rockets Curtis Clements 529 19 46 Central Academy Spencer Berger 454 22 So Christiansburg Orren Prunty 599 18 30 Carver Fieldale Gilbert Young 359 12 40 Gibson 1964--Mrs. Louise Prunty named Acting Principal of Lee M. Waid School. 1965--Mr. S. L. Lester appointed Principal of Lee M. Waid School. Summer, 1966--Title I Program for Educationally deprived students. 1966--Franklin County Schools integrated. Teacher aides began working in 1966. 1968--High School Basketball Intramurals won by the class of 1969. May 31, 1968--Junior-Senior Prom. 45

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A THUMBNAIL SKETCH Lee M. Waid School Make new friends, but keep old; Those are silver, these are gold. New-made friendships, like new wine, Age will mellow and refine. Friendships that have stood the test-time And change--are surely best; Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray, Friendships never know decay. For mid old friends, tried and true, Once more we our youth renew. But old friends, also! May die, New friends, must their place supply. Cherish friendship in your breast, New is good, but old is best; Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold. The 1969 Annual of Lee M. Waid School is routinely looking for a simple format from 1911 through 1969 which will reflect past events. Slightly more than a half century has passed since the present Lee M. Waid School had its beginning with a public school on High Street. Through the efforts of the Pigg River Baptist Association, The Franklin County School Board aided by Rosenwald Funds, and the WPA, our school progressed extensively. The first structure; namely, Rocky Mount School, was a two room frame building constructed by the school board. For fifty years this building served as classrooms for Franklin County students. Education was terminated at the end of the Seventh Grade until 1921, provided students passed the State Examination. After 1921 two additional years of training were added to the curriculum. The founders were: Lee M. Waid, Ben Beasley, Henry Smith, Zack Hopkins, Martha Brown and William T. Walker. The first teachers included W. F. Graspy, Sam Phelps, Della Dickerson and W. A. Bond. In 1915 a dormitory was built that accommodated teachers and students from Franklin and adjacent Counties. Because more courses were added to include summer study for teachers, and more space became available, the name was changed to Booker T. Washington Normal and Industrial Institute. Bus transportation was provided around 1929 when Mr. M. H. Hopkins and Mr. Willis Board purchased the first buses. Their salaries for operating the buses were paid by the school board. Around 1926, Rosenwald funds were made available for the construction of a four-room building which was renamed Franklin County Training School. The school board aided in erecting this building. Several years later, the Federal government, under the WPA, built the Agriculture Building which is currently in use. About 1948, the Franklin County School Board purchased the- remaining 23 acres of land from the Pigg River Baptist Association to build the first unit of the present school. Upon the completion of the second unit in 1959, the school was dedicated, The brick structure was completed in 1964 with the ad- dition of more classrooms: Atnw Realizing that 50 years is a short period of time for substantial progress in education, however, Lee M. Waid High School has had its beginning--all indications tell us it will have its ending. We've seen its growth from a two-room frame building to a thirty-three room brick structure; from elementary education to Senior high school education; from a faculty of two to a faculty of forty; from 100 students to 1,000 students; from private transportation to school buses; from outdoor lavatory to modern rest- rooms; and from pot-bellied stoves to central heat. To the Pigg River Baptist Association, to the Franklin County School Board, and to the interested citizens of Franklin County, we, the present generation, owe you our thanks. 'Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold. 44

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HONORING FORMER SUPERINTENDENTS Superintendent Prillaman, as he was af- fectionately called by all who knew him, was an outstanding personality. He was firm in dealing with his subjects and de- manded neatness, Those who worked with Mr. Prillaman has great appreciation for his lesson in punctuality, and exactness. He served as Superintendent of Franklin County School from 1917 until 1927 except for time devoted to service in World War I. It was during his term in office that Franklin County first provided a High School Education for Negroes. Rufus A. Prillaman Dr. Harold W. Ramsey concluded 41 years of service to Franklin County Schools from 1927 to 1968. He was principal of Sontag Elementary School before being ap- pointed Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Ramsey is credited with doing an ex- cellent job in the consolidation of one- room schools, the building program, and for providing in-service training for teach ers. He is the important link between the past and present generations. Harold W. Ramsey 46