Marshall High School - Marshallite Yearbook (Marshall, VA)

Page 39 text:

Class History fcontinuedi September 1943 found a very attractive blond, Ileaua Kines, among the 28 Seniors. However, there were not 225 for long: Uncle Sam was in need of another soldier and sailor. Then the Seniors. distressed at losing two such fine boys, entertained for each in turn and sent them away well and happy. To provide their classmates with the jeeps they might be needing, the Seniors purchased and christened Susie during the jeep campaign in which the school bought eight of the tough little buggies. After more than a year of patient and impatient waiting, the Senior class rings arrived, and my characters found themselves pledged to keep a date with a diploma on May 31. The setting of my story was greatly improved physically during 1944. The library was redecorated. the P. T. A. presented cabinets to the girls for their physical education equipment and gym clothes. a commu- nity canning project was approved for Marshall and the S.C.A. purchased a speaker's stand for the auditorium stage. Then too, the school paper was printed for the first time and free copies were sent to the boys in the service. Now for the conclusion of my story, the Seniors presented a three act play Saved by the Belle on April 14. The hero was a shy fellow, Francis Triplett, alias Jackie Clark and his heroine was Frances Beach, alias Rita Powers. As Slugger O'Day, RO. was a captivating trainer. and Mrs. Fish. Rosa Rector, practically stole the showf, And so ends the story of the Senior class of 1944. May they live happily ever after. Iii JSA RECTOH .IEANNE SINCLAIR

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Class History icontinuedl To facilitate the use of films for educational purposes the School Board gave the curtains for darkening the auditorium windows. The Sophs. thought some good movies would take the place of a few classes, but they were doomed to disappointment. There were no pictures more exciting than those on Incendiary Bombs and Synthetic Rubber. All stories must have a climax. and the high point of interest in my story was reached in 1941 when the Marshall High School saw its first football team go out upon the field proudly wearing the blue a11d gold. In September 1942 the Juniors found themselves in a land of oppor- tunities for getting by with a lot, and by now they were oh. so wise in the ways of the school. There were about 90 Freshmen to one teacher. and she Was a new oneg there were 52 Sophs. to one teacher and 42 Juniors, but their teachers were by no means new and inexperienced. llater Miss Brewer, Miss Robertson. Mr. Oorder and Miss Howdershell came to take over and skipping became more difficult. The clouds of war began to hover over the class more darkly and the first casulty was reported. In the spring, a service flag-at that time. standing as a memorial to 150 boys in the service- was dedicated. Responding to their country's call for stronger men and women, the Juniors fell into the old routine of forward, march, one, two, three, four. down, up. touch the floor that had not been popular since the last war. The gas shortage practically made the Junior-Senior Prom a.n impos- sibility. but whether it was pleasure driving to go for their best girls and bring them to the party was a question only the Junior and Senior boys could answer. and so far it's still a deep dark secret. School closed June 10 and soon thereafter five of the characters in my story were drafted. They were James Bell. Kenneth Embrey. Philip Kirk, Norman Kirk and Franklin Woodward Three of these are now in New Guinea. During that summer more sadness came into the lives of these class mates. for one of the Juniors was called into the Great Beyond. and a tragic theme entered my story: Katherine Allen was loved and mourned by her friends.

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Class Will Whitt We, the class of 1944, in 27 individual and distinct parts. being about to pass out of this sphere of education. in full possession of a crammed mind, well trained memory and almost superhuman understanding. do make and publish this. our last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills or promises by us at any time heretofore made or perhaps carelessly spoken. as the thoughtless wish of an idle hour. And first We so direct that our funeral services shall be conducted by our friends and well-wishers, our Principal and his faculty. who have been our guardians for so long. only asking that the funeral be carried on with all the dignity and pomp that our positions as Seniors of grave and rev- erend dignity must certainly have deserved. It has pleased the Fates to call us into broader fields of service. and we do dispose of our possessions as follows: ITEM 1. We give and bequeath to our beloved faculty all the amazing knowledge and startling information that we have furnished them from time to time in our various examination papers. W'e trust they Will feel at perfectliberty to make use of all such bits of wisdom and enlighten- ment for the education of the classes to come after us. ITEM 2. We give and bequeath to the Inkwell and to the talented edi- tor thereof. all the events of our lives. past. present and future, trusting that all our hair-breadth escapes. glorious attainments and other deserved or undeserved notoriety and fame may furnish plenty of material for news items and editorials for ages to come. ITEM 3. We do declare the Junior class of 1944 the successors to all our Senior privileges and our Senior dignity. To them we leave our places in the Senior room with all the scraps of paper. discarded books and broken pencils that we may leave behind in the excitement of our hasty depart- ure. To them too we must leave our places in the thoughts of our Principal and teachers. They will love them as they have loved us: they will show them the same kindness and attention they have bestowed upon us, and they will feel the same interest in their attempts and successesg the same sorrow in their failure.