Morenci High School - Copper Cat Yearbook (Morenci, AZ)

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LONGFELLOW school, center, and Morenci townsite as Mr. D. saw it in 1940's. TIMES change as is evident in the contrast of buildings. ABOVE is the old eight level high school built in 1919; below is the Fairbanks middle school built in 1971. On a hot summer day in 1948, the Davidson family, witli two small children, moved into Stargo from San Angelo, Texas, to perch in a small house, high on an upper Elm Street. Since then, life has been a scries of homes, and of schools for Phil Davidson, who is retiring this July as Superintendent of the Morenci Schools. That first fall, Phil Davidson began teaching junior high classes in the old high school building built in 1919. He served as principal of the first Longfellow School, erected in 1902 and recently torn down. Davidson was named principal, in 1954, of the, then almost new high school building, which also housed the junior high classes. Upon the retirement of Superintendent Jos. H. Fairbanks, in 1960, Phil Davidson was appointed to succeed him. During the following years, an addition was made to the Modoc School in East Plantsitc, and in 1970, the new Fairbanks Middle School was completed for a September opening. .. With Affection 2

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Editor-in-Chie f Patty Marsh Advisor Marjorie Johnson 1974 Copper Cat Volume 29 Morenci High School Morenci, Arizona 85540 i

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Affectionately known as Mr. D., by his teachers and students, he was directly involved in securing the charter for the local Quill and Scroll Chapter in 1955, and actively backed all school act- ivities, including the publi- cations program. It has always been Phil Davidson’s belief that anything that is good for the school, is good for the community and that the reverse is true. He is an elder of the Presbyterian Church, a member of the Rotary Club, the Masonic Lodge, and active in the Ameri- can Red Cross. Few things have given him deeper satisfac- tion than the activity of faculty members in civic organizations. A professional educator, he has been a member of many educational groups, and was listed in Who’s Who in American Education. For most of his Morenci tenure, no school activity was complete without Phil Davidson’s presence, usually accompanied by his wife Edgar, a well loved teacher, who retired in 1971. Ball games, dances, honor initiations, ACCEPTING the Uof A's75th Anniversary Medallion of Merit for Morenci High from Dr. Robert Nugent. drama or music programs... Mr. D. was always there giv- ing active support. For more than 25 years he has given his life to further the education of Morenci’s youth. We Dedicate This Book to Mr. D. . RELAXING with School Board mem- ber is Mr. D. at student get together. 3