North Carolina School for the Deaf - Clock Tower Yearbook (Morganton, NC)

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I hardly realized that Mildred was gone before another newspaper office in the town of Greens- boro emerged into view. I was not the least bit surprised when I saw James Vaughn sitting behind a big desk with a sign on his door which read ‘‘Advertising Manager.” I knew that James had followed up the good beginning he had made while securing and setting up the ads in our Class Book of so long ago. The next scene carried me hundreds of miles southward across the land of cotton and peaches, and into the land of orange blossoms and palm trees. There in a beautiful Florida town, I saw Percy Watson, wearing a snappy suit, walking along the beach. I recalled Percy’s former state of health and knew that his continual winter colds and coughs had carried him to Florida. He was the picture of health and success. As he disappeared into a modern looking office building occupied by an outstanding state paper. I knew that his future, too, was secure. This wonderful insight into the future lives and fame of my fellow students brought me back with a suddeness that caused me to gain instant control of my plane. I realized that I, too, could live in fame and that it was not inevitable that I go down in flame. My future was thus revealed and I deemed my dream a fortunate one, indeed, as it gave me the desire to soar ever higher and higher, to make the most of the educational gains I had made thus far and to achieve in the future. lasting and worthwhile things.

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(Class Prophecy By Marion Sessoms “We live in fame or go down in flame. Shout! Nothing Air Corps!” can stop the Army The words danced crazily before my eyes. | was so sleepy I could study no longer. I stumbled from the boys’ club room, undressed, said my prayers and fell into bed. Suddenly I was in dreamland. I was piloting a brand new warbird—a Thunderbolt fighter —equipped with the finest and the most ela- borate guns in the world. What a raptured feel- ing I had to think that I was able to pilot such an airplane! Desiring a good adventure I left my English base, flew over the Channel and was running down from my nose. I tried by strenuous effort to keep awake, but to no avail. Unconsciousness crept over me. I realized that I had lost control of my airplane and was diving toward the earth. In a semi-conscious state and in some miracu- lous way, my mind was projected into a wonder- ful future—the glass age in the year of 1955. The future of all my classmates was almost instantaneously revealed to me. One by one their destinies passed before me and I marveled at the wonderful success that each of them had made of their lives. First Carey Cale appeared before me. The scene was Asheville, N. C. in the Land of the Sky in the good old U.S. A., the land of the free. I saw Carey Cale as a successful linotype operator receiving praise for the good job he had com- pleted. He had spent all day linotyping columns of stock lists which is considered perhaps the most difficult task in printing. He was a most proficient printer. Then suddenly Irma Lee Connor was revealed to me as a capable typist for a prominent business man of Hickory. I saw her as she was finishing her typing for the day. She leaned back in her comfortable chair and said, ‘““Whew!’ Her success hadn’t changed her a bit. Scenes kept flashing before me. A pretty su- burban home in Charlotte, N. C. caught my attention and how thrilled I felt when I recognized Melvin Corbett sitting on the doorstep. A cute little boy was with him and I knew in a moment that it was his son. They were both laughing and I knew the little boy had inherited his father’s wit. It was easy to see that Melvin was a success, a good job as a linotype operator on the Charlotte News, a lovely wife and son and a beautiful home. into enemy territory. I zoomed my plane down — to meet a convoy of German trucks heading for the Western front and spattered flame at them. I thought it would be wonderful to prove to the Germans that American pilots were more daring than they. I decided to climb high into the sky and then dive down again in a spiral manner. Up my plane roared into the sky until I was well over 30,000 feet. Again I dived, but this time I noticed an enemy fighter in the air. too. Undaunted, I kept up my attack on the German convoy. The third time I must have climbed too high because, dazed, I rubbed my face with my right arm only to find that blood I quickly concentrated on another scene— a large printing shop in Salisbury, N. C. There stocd Gilmer Lentz directing other men. He was burdened with great responsibility. A newcomer, baffled by the puzzle of the trade, came to him for instruction and Gilmer, in his familiar coun- seling way, sent him back to his work with his puzzle solved. The North Carolina School for the Deaf at Morganton fia shed into view and I suddenly realized as never before how beautiful the cam- pus was. It was dotted with many elegant trees, the grass was so fresh and green that it looked almost blue. I was suddenly shown into a room on the lower floor of the school building. Mildred Pace was teaching language to a class of happy looking boys and girls. She taught as if she had had long experience as a teacher. I realized then that the substituting she did while we were in the Senior Class, had started her on her road to success. The ring on her finger and the smile on her face told me that she was the wife of some lucky fellow.

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(lass “@ll By IrnmA LEE CONNOR E, the Senior Class of the North Caro- lina School for the Deaf in the year of one thousand nine hundred and forty- four, after twelve long years of work and play, find that our last school year has come to an end. Therefore we do hereby declare this to be our last will and testament. To our Alma Mater, our beloved home for many years we leave our heartfelt gratitude for our education and so many happy hours. To our superintendent and members of the Board of Directors, our sincere thanks for the many interests that their efforts have given us. To the principal, assisstant principals, faculty and staff, we give our sincere thanks for guid- ance, kindness and sympathy. To Rosalee Corbett, Melvin leaves his good disposition and his wit. To Inez Williford, Marion Sessoms bequeaths his ambition and knowledge of words. To Haro!d Whisenant, Carey Cale leaves his skill in long end runs in football, hoping that his team next year will win some games in the West- ern Conference. To Lorenzo Taylor, Melvin Corbett leaves his unusual tumblin ability. To Doris Alexander, Irma Lee Connor leaves Witnesses: Miss Mary C. Mauzy Miss Nan Jeter May 20, 1944 her frisky ways, hoping that Doris may lose a little of her dignity. To Charlene Saunders, Mildred Pace leaves her charm and popularity. To Ernest Brown, Percy Watson bequeaths his clever acting ability. To Musie Andleton, James Vaughn bequeaths his thoughtfullness and generousity. To Gladys Hodges, Irma Lee Connor leaves her fondness for movies magazines. To Frances Jones, Mildred Pace leaves her title of “Sweater Girl.”’ To, John Weaver, Marion Sessoms leaves his “Abraham Lincoln” ways. To Virginia Whitesides, Percy Watson leaves his ‘“‘blushes.” Gilmer Lentz lets fall on the worthy shoulders of Claude Barlow his senior dignity, which may earn for him the title of “student supervisor.” To the Junior Class, the Seniors graciously yield their class room, their books and the sacred class hatchet. Ever unselfish in our desire to leave behind that which we cannot take with us, we do here- by, with full legal sanction, sign our last will and testement. Signed: CAREY CALE Percy WATSON MILDRED PACE MELVIN CORBETT MarIon SESSOMS James VAUGHN GILMER LENTZ