Marion High School - Hylander Yearbook (Marion, NC)

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pictures and that she still often saw Ruby Wilkerson who was continuing her exciting career at an adjoining studio. Dean Padgett and Bill Burleson had settled for coaching after their exciting years of spectacular college football. Betty Banks is Physical Educational Director at Duke. L. D. Atkins, now a director of Marion High School Band, Bobby White, Director of Music at the University of North Carolina, John Kluttz, who finally moved back to South Carolina, is very active in politics, and John Beaman, who had to abandon his music for his lumbering business, seemed to take up where they left off ten years ago. The highlight of the evening was when Betty Wall made her appearance. We had not hoped she could get away from New York during rehearsals. Her plays have all been successful. She is now directing as well as acting. Ruby Byrd, Hazel Buchanan, and Melba Simpson arrived breathless after their hurried trip. Those three have man- aged to stay together and are equally successful as Powers Models in New York. The proportionate number that had acquired husbands and wives smiled at each other when those who had wandered afar in their chosen careers recounted their adventures and experiences. Among them were Charlotte Huffman, Estelle Bradley, Dixie Lee Mace, Margaret Burnette, Earn Black, Ray Poteat, Earl Helms, Joe Guthrie, and Earl Mickle. Betty Hope Gibson, Lena Swann, and Lois Ann Finley told us of the wonderful improvements at Marion High School. After the final goodbyes were said, I was indeed glad that I had deferred my trip to New York to see my pub- lisher about my latest song for the reunion of the class of '47. Yours sincerely, MARGARET ATKINS.

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CLASS PRCDPI-IECY Marion, North Carolina May 28, 1957 Dear Betty: The reunion our class vaguely planned the spring of 1947 for ten years later, has passed and we are now looking forward to another at a later date. A large number had arranged to get together and it was a happy occasion for all of us. We spent hours reminiscing and trying to learn the whereabouts of those not present. Lynn Crawley presided, as in the old days, and asked everyone present for an account of his life since we had last assembled and for any information as to those not able to attend. Lynn has held many political offices and is now serving his second term as governor of North Carolina. Naturally no one had changed his course very much since we were a very determined group even in 1947. Bill Neighbors, the Walter Winchell of today, flew down from New York with news of practically everyone. He in- formed us that our class was well represented in Washing- ton, both as officials and secretaries. Wayne Norman, needless to say, is still playing the piano, but has acquired a band and managed to keep some of our Marion High talent together. Bomme Nesbitt is singing with him now. Frances Pool home for vaca- tion from Columbia University, ',- told us that she has deserted her classroom to go see Fuzz Eng- land play pro football with the A Chicago ,'Bears and that Jack 5 Laughridge's band was still the 1 most popular one in New York. She also told us of having seen Joanne Field iust after her suc- ccssful concert tour of Europe. We were all thrilled over hav- ing real screen actresses in our group. Betty Tyler, home from California for the first time in years, told us of her career in , C.. 22'

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LAST WILL AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, McDOWELL COUNTY, TOWN OF MARION Knowing full well that we are approaching the end of our High School career, and realizing that our vast and val- uable possessions may lead to bitter contention among those who aspire to be our heirs, our Last Will and Testament is this day drawn up and stated as follows: The largest and most important of our belongings is advice, and not wishing to be partial to our heirs, we leave equal shares to the Juniors, the Sophomores, and the Freshmen. Our advice is to keep ever before them the shining example of the illustrious class of '-17. Of course, in the very nature of things, no succeeding class can ever come up to ours in achievement, but let them all aim at our enviable record. Let our successors as Emerson advises, Hitch their wagon to a star. We will be their star and they need only supply the wagon. To the School Board we bequeath our sincere thanks for their interest in our educations. To Mr. Beam we leave our undying gratitude and thanks for making our school days pleasant, as well as educational. To our Teochers we leave our sincere thanks for all they have done for us. Also our deepest sympathy for the loss they have suffered through our departure. We grieve for you O'Teachers, when we think of your having to teach these present Juniors, next year's Seniors, who may be foolish enough to imagine themselves capable of walking in our footsteps. To the School we leave the valuable suggestion that the desks we have used be put into one room, which shall 24- I a'-' 1 become a museum of precious relics, for posterity to gaze upon with awe and reverence. Strangers will, in future, no doubt, visit this museum, at a small admission price of 25 cents, which would bring in ample funds to pay for all the buildings that will be added to the Marion School System in coming years. In addition to these general bequests, there are only a few personal ones we will mention here: 'I, Betty Tyler, leave my wit to June Carrigan. I, lawrence Atkins, leave my musical ability to Billy Wayne Suttle. I, Paul Ross, leave my ability to say the right thing at the wrong time to Jimmy Robb. We, Jeannette Broome and Goldie Cooper, leave our lasting friendship to Margaret Curtis and Betty Jo Creasy.