Central High School - Warrior Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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| ANS ogee Memphis down in Dixie,—in Memphis on the Missis- sippi, stands Central, one of nine public high schools. At times we are champions—always we are in there fighting. Our student body numbers about 1,100, of whom 79% go on to college each year. We are Memphis’ oldest high school, built in 1909. But our story goes back—much further back—back to the great year 1848, for that year FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS were established in Memphis. Page Three

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TABLE OF CUNTENTS SPORTS Pages 27 thru 40 INTRODUCTION Pages 3 thru 10 GREAS GES Pages 41 thru 42 ELUBS Pages Il thru 20 PEOPLE . Pages 49 thru 74 HOTEL Pages 21 thru 26 Page Two

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IT TAKES A HUNDRED YEARS To Colonel J. W. A. Petit, father of free public schools in Memphis, in appreciation of his untiring efforts to this end. : : On this centennial of public schools, we at Central plan to show our gratitude to those enlightened men who made possible the humble but proud beginning of free schools. In 1848 a charter provided for free schools for the white, setting aside for this purpose ¥g of annual revenues. In spite of vio- | lent opposition men of vision, led by Colonel Petit, worked long and hard without pay to prove the worth of such a radical idea. They looked to the day when all citi- ee er zens would be alive to the necessity of equipping their children with an education. The efforts of these enlightened men have been rewarded. Schools have come a long way! Starting with four rented rooms, we now have fifty-four well-equipped build- ings, attended by 46,000 pupils. One third of the city’s income goes for their upkeep. In this yearbook, we propose to show life in a modern high school of 1949 in appre- ciation of that first school in 1849. Page Four