Nichols High School - Log Yearbook (Oxford, NC)

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zation and also improvement in the business organization. The buildings commenced under Mr. Lawrence were finished and occupied. Buildings for laundry, sewing, print- ing office, shoe shop, and wood working departments were completed. An office or ad- ministration building was erected. Deep wells were bored. It is very inspiring to read the reports through those days and learn how the Or- phanage rose to meet the situation. Col. Hicks offered his resignation to take effect September 1, 1909, but with the election of Mr. R. L. Brown, of Oxford, as Assistant Superintendent, Col. Hicks remained. Col. Hicks died on January 14, 1911 and Mr. R. L. Brown was selected to take his place. During Mr. Brown ' s administration the progress and development of the institu- tion continued. Cottages were remodeled; a beautiful fire-proof school building was erected and named in honor of Past Grand Master John Nichols, a new hospital, fire- proof and well-equipped, was erected and named in honor of Col. Hicks. The work of the orphanage school was reorganized and set apart as a distinctive enterprise, with a principal giving his full time to the directing of the school. It was also at this time that the York Rite Loan Fund, the A. B. Andrews Loan Fund, the York Rite Library Fund, and the John W. Neal Trust Fund came into existence. The Shrine Swimming Pool, a gift of the Sudan and Oasis Temples, was also built, and the orphanage became the beneficiary of legacies from Mr. B. N. Duke and family, Angier B. Duke, and other endowments. In the midst of his work. Superintendent R. L. Brown died March 12, 1928 as he walked across the beautiful campus of the institution into which he had put the best of his life. Grand Master R. C. Dunn announced in May that Rev. C. K. Proctor, of Rocky Mount had been elected Superintendent. He assumed his duties on August 1, 1928, and during ' his administration, the Oxford Orphanage became more widely known through- out the State than ever before. He was a great leader— mentally, morally, spiritually, and ethically. In a material way. Dr. Proctor was deeply interested in the renovation of the different buildings, and in improving all living conditions of the Home, and was most influential in the erection of the R. C. Dunn Building, the new baby cottage, and the industrial building, known as the Duke Building, but in the building of character, he has left a great heritage to the nation. Dr. C. K. Proctor ' s passing on June 25, 1946 was a distinct shock to thousand.? of people. He gave all he had — and it was a mighty gift. Pending the election of a Superintendent, Mr. M. E. Parham, Business Manager, became Acting Superintendent, with Mr. E. T. Regan, Principal and Coach of the school, as Assistant Acting Superintendent. They carried on the affairs of the Orphan- age in excellent manner. On November 25, 1946, Rev. A. D. Leon Gray was elected Superintendent. Grand Master William J. Bundy has stated, Oxford Orphanage and the Masons of North Carolina are fortunate in obtaining the services of this man for Superintendent, to carry on the unfinished work of Creasy Proctor and those who came before him. Bro- ther Gray is dedicating his talents, his energy, and everything that he has to this work which is so near the heart of every Mason . Only God can know how much the Oxford Orphanage has meant to the world, but others do know that from this campus throughout the world a stream of life, car- rying joy, happiness, culture, the will to work and to serve, has gone forth through the years. Page Thirteen

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In niemoriam Grief such as ours when one beloved has left us has no language save silence and tears, for when we think of Dr. C. K. Proctor, our beloved Superintendent, we feel words are too inadequate to ever express our ap- preciation of his great life. He was truly great in every way — in physical build, in mind, and in spirit. His interest in children and others with whom he was closely associat- ed, in their pleasures and their problems, his knowledge of their needs, his sympathetic attitude toward their shortcomings, his ready apprecia- tion of their accomplishments, his consuming desire to lead through errors and pitfalls of youth into glorious young manhood and young womanhood, and his constant determination ever to hold before them the image of his Lo rd and Master — all these qualifications, coupled with an unusual group of the business details of the several departmental activities of the Or- phanage combined to make him an ideal Superintendent. Across the dark cloud of the inscrutable mystery of death shines the rainbow of immortality and we can believe and hope that eternal form shall divide eternal soul from all beside and we shall know him when we meet. He wrought mightily for God and Others while here, and when the final record shall be unrolled, we know that his name will be written high by the Angel that writes with a pen of gold among the names of those who loved their fellow-man, for his was a life in civic action warm ; a soul on highest mission sent ; a potent voice for betterment ; a pillar steadfast in the storm. He made his friends by being one. And on His friendship men relied; In every deed that need be done He made the Golden Rule his guide. His friendly presence brought a cheer That nmde the day seem wondrous fair; His daily living so sincere Made others love him everywhere; He was a friend. No task too great for him to do And in the doing was a smile That aided as he carried through The deeds that were so tvell worthwhile. The brightness of his day is gone, We see the setting of the sun; If only we could carry on Aiid live a life like he has done! He was a friend. Just yonder on the star-kissed shore He carries on in nobler way; Though we can see his face no more. Thanks for his friendship for a day. If on his tomb I could indite The epitaph I have in mind; One phrase is all that I could write. The truest words that I could find: He was a friend.