Little Rock Central High School - Pix Yearbook (Little Rock, AR)

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Dedication School honors late Roosevelt L. Thompsor at special auditorium dedication ceremony' Central High named its auditorium in memory of the late Roosevelt L. Thompson during a ceremony at the school on Tues- day. November 13. The ceremony also marked the opening of a campaign to raise SI00.000 for a scholarship fund named in Thompson’s honor. Thompson, one of the school’s most outstanding graduates, was killed in an automobile accident in March of 1984 as he was return- ing to Yale University in New Haven. Connecticut, to finish his senior year. He was 22. Principal speakers at the dedication ceremony were Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the state's First Lady, and U.S. Senator Dale L. Bumpers. He (Thompson) was a person admired by governors and senators and was sought out by them while still an undergraduate student (at Yale),” Senator Bumpers said. Mrs. Clinton said that Thompson’s life had been one of ex- cellence. She said the naming of Central’s auditorium in his honor would be a constant reminder to students to strive for excellence. Thompson graduated from Central in 1980. His list of accomplishments at Central is lengthy and impressive. During his senior year, he was president of the student body, an editor of the student newspaper, an All-State football player, a member of numerous clubs, and the winner of many state and na- tional awards. At Yale, his accomplishments were just as impressive—so im- pressive that he was named as Yale’s “most outstanding graduate of 1984. an honor that his father received in his memor)’ at Yale’s graduation during the summer. Shortly before his death. Thompson had been named a Rhodes Scholar, one of 32 selected for the honor. A committee consisting of many prominent Arkansans worked during the school year to raise the S100.000 to finance the scholar- ship fund in Thompson’s memory. The first donation was S5.000 and came from the Harry S. Truman Foundation. It was presented at the auditorium's dedication. At the ceremony dedicating Central High School's auditorium in memory of his son—Rooscsxdt L. Thompson, the Rev. C. R. Thompson speaks to those in attend- ance as student body president Elgin Clemons, a senior, stands by his side. A principal speaker at the dedication ceremony for the Roosevelt L. Thompson Memorial Auditorium (abote) was U.S. Senator Dale L. Bumpers. (Right) A large number of local and state dignitaries was seated on the stage during the dedication, including this row of people who appeared on the program. 18—Auditorium Dedication

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Tigei Spirit Vespites the loss of two major pep organizations, student spirit at Central High shows no declines Central lost two major spirit organizations this school year. These two groups were the Pep Club, which had been used as a training ground for girls interested in joining other spirit groups, and the Tigerettes, one of the state’s first high school dance teams. Despite the loss of these two organizations, student spirit didn’t suffer. I think we were just as spirited this school year as last school year or the year before,’’ student body president Elgin Clemons, a senior, said. A good indication that the 1984-85 school year was a spirited one was the popularity of the various dress-up days. We had tremendous participation in dress-up days prior to major athletic events.” Clemons said. Though spirit is often judged by student attendance and yelling at athletic events, it extended into other areas. In fact, it was evident in all phases of school life this year, according to Clemons. With her face painted in black and gold, junior Melissa Hobby (above) works on a Homecoming float. (Left) Varsity cheerleader Larken Pahlow leads a yell. Almost any product this school year bearing a logo of a tiger and the name Central High was a guaranteed success, such as the mugs (above) sold in November by the senior class. (Right) Junior Victor CqUiert and senior Rick Brunson dress as nerds” on a dress-up day in the fall. %'®» v (KLAL1w KIV) Performing a skit at sophomore orientation in August arc senior Debbie Truax and junior Chris Harris. Orientation was designed to get sophomores involved in Central and to promote Tiger spirit. Spirit—17 J-(co 1C 'tX • f . w $U nt? WdtOftS, Utfr T ff. r3u7 ve jJcv or- , VitrAA.., -gALun a wrier

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Knowledge Bowl member Conevery Bolton bites her nails after Central's team gave an incorrect response to a question. Central's team, however, went on to win the Bowl, which was in November and involved the city's three public high schools. Mind Boggling Team from Central captures first places in School TDistrict's first TCnowledge Bowl' Arkansas' First Lady Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the dedication of the school's Roosevelt L. Thompson Memorial Auditorium. Mrs. Clinton said Thomp- son's life had been an inspiration to all who knew him or knew about him. What is the average life span of a turtle? What is the distance formula?” These were but two of the questions posed to teams from the city's three public high schools in the Little Rock School District's first Knowledge Bowl. The competition was at University Mall during American Education Week in November. It was watched by more than 200 people. Knowledge Bowl” was sort of a Trivial Pursuit” game in which the teams were asked questions from many fields of academic study. Mr. Craig O'Neal, a local disc jockey, was emcee for the competition. Central High’s team won the competition, scoring 140 points. Parkview had 130 points and Hall had 115 points. Members of Central’s team were junior Conevery Bolton and seniors Amy Brown. Kevin Hinton, and Andre Robinson. The team was coached by Mrs. Marie McNcal. instructor of social studies. Showing their elation at giving a correct answer to a question in the Little Rock School District's Knowledge Bowl arc Central's team members—senior Amy Brown, senior Kevin Hinton, senior Andre Robinson, and junior Conevery Bolton. Bowl—19