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

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Kenneth Leonard, End Meivin Ellis, Back Bascom Robinson, Tackle FooTBALL SQUAD FIRST ROW—Lecnard, Co-Captuin; Smith; Ellis, Captain; Hilton; Bledsoe; Hames; SECOND ROW—Harlow; Crawford; Pressley; Evans; Robinson; Jessup; Carroll; Capes; THIRD ROW—Thomas Fishler, coach; Daniels, manager; McKenzie; Hall; Arrington; Absher; Mocney, assistant manager; Wm. Brightwell, assistant coach.

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the Bears showed excellent form and coopera- tion as they romped to an easy 37-29 victory. Topping off the heavy January schedule was a trip to Washington, D. C. Enroute to Wash- ington the Bears paused in Virginia long en- ough to hand the Virginia School for the Deaf a 30-17 drubbing. Proceeding to Washington, the team spent a busy day sight-seeing and then went down in defeat before a fast playing Kend- all School team 27-23. The remainder of the season was completed without any remarkable incident. In the Valdese Tournament the Bears proved to be a favorite with the crowd but in the end the over-worked Bears came out in fourth place. In this tourna- ment, Richard Bowman, young ace center of the team, won top scoring honors, a berth on the All-Tourney team, plus an individual trophy for his playing. The Bears also entered the Winston-Salem Tournament and got off to a good start by defeating Elon College 41-25. However, they were eliminated in the second round by Claremont High, 30-29. Throughout the year’s athletic program the Seniors did their share. On the grid-iron the Seniors had diminuative Melvin Ellis, masive Kenneth Leonard, and Bascom Robinson, as well as Elrice Daniels who was manager. At the end of the football season, these same three Seniors transferred their attentions to the bas- ketball court and all three were regulars on the team. Here, again, Elrice turned up in the capacity of assistant manager. During the sea- son the N. C. quintet racked up a total of 900 points of which 442 were made of the three Seniors players. GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Under the tutelage of Miss Rotha, the Bear- ettes got off to an early start with their basket- ball practice while the boys were still tumbling around on the football field. The team had lost three regulars by graduation, but this did not hinder them greatly. The girls proceeded to drop their first two exhibition games, but got back in form just in time to cop their first con- ference game with Morganton, 13-10. The se- cond conference game, this time with Shelby, also ended in victory for the Bearettes. Then the girls went into a slump, losing four straight conference games. On the trip to Washington, the girls defeated the Virginia girls 38-21 and then went down in defeat with the Kendall girls 40-38. Although strong in defense, the Bearettes proved a bit weak in scoring - which may have been due to their lack in height. Regardless of the odds against them, the Bearettes never once failed to show the fighting spirit and sportsman- ship for which N. C. School for the Deaf teams are noted. Not to be outdone by the boys, the Seniors girls placed two of their class, Frances Withrow and Dottie Moore, on the team, and Pattie Kerley as manager. Q

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Salutatory OLLIE CALHOUN Ladies and Gentlemen: On this special day we, the Class of 1948, take great pleasure in bidding you all welcome. Parents, friends, and alumni, you have no idea how much your presence here this morning thrills us. Perhaps most of you share our pride and happiness because you have helped us to attain our goal. Teachers, we will be everlastingly indebted to you for helping us to reach our goal. We shall never forket your patience and efforts in our behalf. It is largely due to you that our years here have been so happy and productive. It is hard for us to realize that today marks the end of our pleasant years with you. Among those present today I see a great number of students who have been like brothers and sisters to us. We can asure you that each of you and the good times we have shared in the past shall always be with us in memory. Dr. Poole, we consider it a great honor to have you with us today to give our commence- ment address. We hope that you will enjoy our program. Dr. Rondthaler and Rev. Clower, we appreci- ate your presence at our graduating exercises and also the sincere interest you have shown us in the past. Again, friends, we salute you and bid you a fond welcome. Valedictory PATTIE KERLEY Ladies and Gentlemen: Our goal, Graduation Day, has arrived at last. We have now come to the end of one of the happiest periods in our life and are ready to begin the climb to useful manhood and wom- anhood. It is hard to realize that we are about to leave our beloved Alma Mater, our home for so many years, and our friends to whom we have grown deeply attached. We leave with a mingled feeling of joy and sorrow; joy because we are now at the goal of our school life and sorrow because of the many friends we must leave behind. To the Superintendent, Principals and Teachers: We give you our undying gratitude for your efforts and patience in preparing us to go forth unafraid into the world. Each of us feel certain that with the training you have so painstakingly given us, we shall have no trouble in finding a useful place in the world of today. We promise that we shall always try to live and work in such a way as to prove our gratitude. To the Board of Directors: The Class of 1948 wishes to express its ap- preciation for the many opportunities afforded us here at school. We realize that these oppor- tunities would not have been possible without the wise and unselfish leadership you have given. Knowing that we have such a fine group of men behind us when we leave school gives us confi- dence. We promise you that you will never have occassion to be ashamed of us. And to our school mates and a beloved Alma Mater, We bid an affectionate farewell!