McClenaghan High School - Florentine Yearbook (Florence, SC)

Page 31 text:

 History of the Class of 1950 Despite the above enumerated trials and tribu- lations, our seventh year of scholastic endeavor passed without serious mishap, bringing with it a sense of comradeship and animated well- being which we had never known before. Upon entering the eighth grade in the fall of 1945, we fulfilled the solemn promise which we had made to ourselves the year before. The life of each and every member of the rising seventh grade became a never ending nightmare of pranks and bruises. This, however, was a comparatively unim- portant, though amusing, side issue. Other events of much greater impact were occurring. This was the year which marked the first important venture of the Class of 1950 into politics. In a hotly contested battle Herny Dickman defeated Karl Albert and Harry Parker in a memorable race for president of the student body, while Blanche Coleman defeated her opponent in a spirited race for the vice- p residency. Much time must pass before we can forget the hour long flood of oratory, interspersed by wild cheering of each candidate. Nor are we likely to let slip from our remembrance the flood of campaign posters which seemed sud- denly to emerge from nowhere and engulf the entire building with their various and sundry appeals for votes. With such activities as these continually in the limelight, it is not to be wondered at that this, the eighth year of our scholastic en- deavors, fled all too swiftly by. As the final days of our sixteenth semester in the city schools of Florence began to ap- proach, an air of fond hope and eager ex- pectancy seemed to pervade the atmosphere. A mighty epoch in our lives had at last been drawn irresistably to a final termination, to be replaced by a still more vivid and stunning chapter in the mystic book of life. The gates of McClenaghan High School, the epitome of all our hopes and dreams, were about to swing open to admit their thirtieth graduating class. Now ancient friendships and connections were to be ripped asunder and new ones erected upon the shattered foundations of the old. The last few fetters of tender childhood must pres- ently be cast aside, for four glorious years of happiness and contentment lay just over the golden horizon. Among our first transactions upon entering the consecrated walls of this beloved institution was the selection of class officers. Pinckney Sims was elected President, David Harwell, Vice- President, Blanche Coleman, Secretary, and Betty Jewel Turner, Treasurer. Under the able sponsorship of these class officers and the extremely capable sponsorship of Miss Louise Baxley, we were able to steer a safe course through the tempestuous sea of hardship and travail common to all Freshmen classes and Freshmen years. Forced to accustom ourselves to a new environment and feeling deeply our own lack of importance, it was only with the greatest of difficulty that we were en- abled to reconcile our previous concept of grave and dignified upperclassmen with the realities of the situation as we found it, which showed these personages at times to be neither grave nor dignified. One event of this year stands out like a shining beacon on a storm-tossed sea of dark- ness. This was the annual May Day observance. To add to the glamour of this gala occasion, the class of '50 chose from among its fairest three charming young ladies, Bobby Gene Allen, Blanche Coleman, and Barbara Corley to repre- sent it in the May Court. It was with mixed emotions that we saw the last semester of our first year in high school 16

Page 33 text:

History of the Class of 1950 become a mere memory, imprinted for all time upon the yellowed pages of the past. Within a few short months our Sophomore year had begun, bringing with it a new feeling of self-confidence, derived from an acute aware- ness of the mistakes of bygone days. Routine was the keynote of the two following semesters. We were neither lowly enough to be forced to undergo the trials and tribulations of a fresh- man, nor important enough to share in the grave discussions of weighty matters pertaining to the affairs of the upper classes. It was our Junior year which really saw us hit our stride. The beginning of the first se- mester saw Tommy Rogers installed as our very capable and efficient president. Assisting him in a vice-presidential capacity was Donald Shane, whose competent administration of his official position won the admiration of all who knew him. In the absence of these gentlemen, Steve Irick, always the life of any discussion, occasionally departed from his duties as class secretary to act as president. Treasurer Anita McGrath's capable handling of the large amounts of money which of necessity must ha e passed through her hands deserves our deepest thanks. We shall always remember with deepest gratitude the former Miss Marilyn Brabham, now Mrs. Joe Lyles, for her work both as class sponsor and in connection with the Junior Class Play, in the production of w'hich she played a vital part. The above mentioned performance entitled The Fires of Spring” featured Blanche Cole- man, Julia Camlin, Tommy Rogers, Harry Parker, Tom Watson, and George King in leading roles. Under the able and accomplished direction of Miss Brabham and Miss Edna Pettigrew, dramatics teacher, this, the class of 50 s first venture into the realm of acting, was accounted a huge success. The major part of the proceeds derived from the sale of tickets went to finance the Junior- Senior Prom, the great social event of the season. The same class meeting which saw us make- provision to finance the Junior-Senior also saw Miss Alice Brunson elected sponsor for the rising senior class. It is not out of place to take this opportunity of expressing on behalf of the members of the class of 1950 the deep thanks and eternal gratitude which we feel for the tremendous amount of labor and unselfish devo- tion which she has expended in our service during her sponsorship. Words cannot express nor the printed page convey a full realization of the place which she shall hold in the hearts and minds of all of us forever. Under her leadership and that of our ex- tremely able class officers, Pinckney Sims, presi- dent, Julia Camlin, vice-president, Betty Lou Beal, secretary, and Sidney Griffin, treasurer, the senior class has soared to new heights of spectacular achievement in every field of en- deavor. In the annual magazine campaign conducted traditionally by the graduating class to raise funds for its yearbook, the class of '50 can point with pride to its achievement of selling over four thousand dollars worth of magazines, a feat which for a time seemed impossible of attainment because of the almost insurmount- able obstacles placed in its way by uncertain times. Within a few days of the final termination of the campaign, the annual staff had been organized. After many weeks of blood, sweat, and tears, the 1950 edition of the Florentine. which you see before you, was sent to press. While the members of the Annual Staff were in the process of consuming some thirty mil- lion aspirin tablets, another matter of great importance, the selection of class rings, was being heatedly discussed. After much delibera- (Continued on Page 65) 17