Lexington High School - Crystal Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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CUSS HISTORY Eighth graders! Sounds small and insignificant now, but five years ago they were thrilling words to us. It meant that we had finally acquired enough knowledge to get out of Miss Nettie’s room and were actually inside the imposing walls of L. H. S. As usual, we were scared to death — eighth graders always are — when we faced the many complex problems of being a high scho ol student. Soon we learned our way around, though, and as the thrill began to wear off and our hearts had settled down to a steady pounding, we tackled the job of electing our officers. Our president was Ernest Sperka, our vice-president was Frank Wiggins, and our secretary-treasurer, Pen Graves. We were big enough to be put into two home rooms under Miss Davis and Mrs. Tardy, but we managed to get together for parties and such. This year was mainly concerned with learning the ropes of “How to Be a High School Student”, and we had lots of fun in the process. How proud we were to be able to say we went to high school! Quite a step from mere grammar school! The year’s activities were climaxed by a big class picnic at Cave Mountain Lake. This proved such a huge success, we decided to make it an annual affair. Yep, we finally made it! This year we were really in — not just eighth graders, but full- fledged freshmen. It was an important step, and we were proud of it. We let the new eighth graders know, too, that we were really on the inside track now. We welcomed into our midst Georgia Jackson, who came down from Baltimore to start her freshman year with us. This year was spent in Mrs. Law’s home room. We got our first item of business over with as we elected Ernie Sperka, president; Louise Neely, vice-president; and Jimmy Pullen, secretary-treasurer. Chuck Ritchey represented us on the Honor Court. We began to make our presence known in other channels as Major Wray, one of our classmates, distinguished him- self in a spelling bee. We were feaifully introduced to Mr. Thompson and the mysteries of algebra, and our “flat heads” swam when we realized how much we didn’t know. Some of us faced the ordeals of French, while braver souls tried Latin. Fall passed in a series of exciting football games as we cheered the team on to victory after victory, finally tying with Handley High for the district championship. The highlight of the year was the Christmas dance at the Pine Room. As you remember, girls, it was Leap Year, and you invited your escorts. Never- theless, it was perhaps the most successful dance L. H. S. has ever had, complete with a snappy floor show. “Cookie’s girls burned up the basketball court in their new uniforms this year, winning ten out of thirteen games. The production of “Patience” dominated the spring activi- ties. This was a good year as we really began to get into the swing of things. To top off the year we again had a class picnic — this time at Goshen. A wonderful party to end a won- derful year. The fall of ’49 came in with a brand n ew crop of “know-it-all” sophomores. We were back in Mrs. Law’s room again, and still going strong. After a long and heated election Louise Neely became our president, the first girl to hold that office. F. D. Tardy was our vice-president, Jimmy Pullen acted as secretary-treasurer, and Brocky Varner represented us on the Honor Court. Some of our members were making names for themselves in the way of dramatics, both at high school and at the W L Troubador Theater. That was also the year of “Laurel Leaf, Look Down”, and those who saw it will never forget it. Two of our classmates left us this year. Carter and Herndon Werth. Miss Grant came to L. H. S. to take up her duties as girls’ physical education teacher, and Miss Blain took charge as secre- tary in the office. This year was fun, too, with all the many activities, especially the never- ending square dancing. Again we had our picnic at Douthat, and the sunburns were worth all the fun we had. Golly! Oops, upperclassmen shouldn’t say that. They should act more dignified. Yes indeed, we were actually occupying Miss Morrison’s home room as real, honest-to-goodness juniors. We started out this year with a new principal, Mr. Samples, whose duty was a new one, but whose face was familiar to all of us. We lost Benny Huger, but Johnson Vernon arrived from South Dakota way to make up for it. Our officers for this important year were Frank Wiggins, president; Lucy Coates, vice-president; and Louise Neely, secretary-treasurer. We sent Louise Neely and Sarah Irvine to represent us on the Honor Court. This was really a big year for us. Our biggest project was making money for the Junior-Senior banquet, and we went all out to give the seniors something they could remember. The bake sale was fun, and if the quality could have been improved, the spirit couldn’t have been better. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Even though we have been looking forward to this for years, we hardly ever believed it would actually come to pass. Yet it did. Even now we sometimes look around us as though in a daze, blink our eyes, and in the most dignified voice we can muster, we manage to exclaim, “We’re seniors now! Yes, and what a thrilling experience! It’s been a long, sometimes painful grind, but now we realize every minute was worth it. At this point we re inclined to reminisce over the past years at L. H. S. They were wonderful years, in spite of all our griping and complaining, and we wonder what it was that made them so wonderful. There are certain things that stand out in our memories — glonous football games, dances, cramming for exams, plays — all the big things. But it’s the little things that happen in class, talking to Harry, dashing to classes, accidentally picking up some knowledge here and there. They were five years we’ll always cherish. Now we’re looking forward to graduation — the culmination of all the hopes and dreams and hard work of twelve years. After that, the future, and we hope it will be as bright as our years here at L. H. S. have been.