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

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Class History By EveEtYN MICHAEL Me Although we can hardly believe that the time has come for us to graduate, we realize that we have spent a full dozen years and more as stu- dents at the N. C. S. D. Therefore we want to review briefly our days here. As we look backward we find our class had its beginning in 1936. First, we see a little boy, Wayne Hilton of Thomasville, who is now a football hero, and little curly-headed Edn a Riddle of St. Pauls arriving for their first year of school. Wayne came in tearfully, but Edna was eager and pleased to be here. In the class room, Mrs. Horton opened her arms to Wayne and was his first teacher. Across the threshold of another room walked Edna with puzzled ex- pression, facing her new classmates and Miss Gordon, her first teacher, who welcomed her warmly. A year rolled by before four other small chil- dren came shyly to Goodwin Hall, and stared at these big, big buildings with awe. Handsome little Herbert Capes of Pomona, lovely Wilma Lance of Hendersonville, and cute little Dorothy Morrison of Durham, stood side by side and gazed with wonder at the other children. Then Miss Gordon smiled at them and helped them begin to feel at home. Since then they have been together every year. Four pupils? Then where was the other one? Oh, there was chubby little Evelyn Michael of Lexington, so quiet and serious-minded, standing in the hall looking at one room as if she liked it best. Miss Roberta Neal, her first teacher, came to the door and invited her in. Then, in the second year, she was placed in the class with these others. Another fall arrived and there was bashful big Buford Pressley who has become a football co-captain, entering for his first year of school with Miss Jeter and Mrs. Tuttle taking him under their wings in turn. Mrs. Chapman was his teacher the next year when he joined this class. Buford comes from Speedwell near Cullowhee. When this group reached their junior year handsome Malcolm Scoggins who used to go to Bragtown High School in Durham came to join our ranks and has been a most welcome addition, being active in football and social affairs. A number of important events occurred here at the school during our years, and we would like to include them in our history, as they made changes that affected us and all other students. In the summer of 1937 Mr. Goodwin died and Dr. Rankin became superintendent after serving as assistant superintendent for a time. In 1938, on Valentine’s Day, the old upper school building was entirely destroyed by fire. That spring school was closed early for a re- modeling program. Both the residential buildings were fireproofed at the same time. The new Upper School Building was started but not ready for use until in the fall of 1939. In the meantime classes were held all over Main Building Miss Joiner was the principal during 1936-37- 38. Mrs. Tate succeeded her in the fall of 1938 and was the principal until Mr. Hoffmeyer took over in 1947, Mrs. Coburn was the assistant principal during our first years. Former primary teachers still with us and whom we remember fondly are Miss Gordon, Mrs. Tuttle, Mrs. Thomason, Mrs. Chapman and Mrs. Horton. Now we end our short survey of the past with a word of hope. May our future bring us the joy, happiness and satisfaction that have filled our school days on the N. C. S. D. campus.

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“O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us To see oursel’s as ithers see us!’

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Class Pro phecy By Witma LANCE a Ten years after my graduation from the North Carolina School for the Deaf, I find myself living on a ranch and employed at the Wyoming School for the Deaf as a physical education teacher and basketball coach for girls. Time flies so swiftly that I can hardly believe that in these few short years since I graduated, I have secured my degree from Gallaudet College, married, and become the mother of two beautiful children. I love these great spaces in the west and my hus- band is greatly interested in his ranching busi- ness. One warm spring day I came home after a hard day in school, extremely tired. I had noth- ing to do and since my children and husband were not at home, I decided to take time for a ride on my favorite horse along my favortite trail where there are very beautiful sunsets across the desert. It is a peaceful spot where I often ride to rest my spirit. I usually sit under the large overhanging rock along the trail near a great creek called the ‘““Magic Creek.” While dreamily gazing at the creek a sudden thought came into my wandering mind. “What has become of my former classmates at N.C. S. D.?” Letting my thoughts go back to my school mates as I remembered them, a picture of each of them appeared in my mind’s eye and I could not help wishing I could see them as they are today. So I sat musing, and yet seeming to see reality as the creek brought into view a very realistic picture of the past and the present of this certain class. The water ran on and on, and it seemed as if the bubbling creek were telling me all I wanted to know in its rhythmic way. In the shadow of the running stream a clear image appeared to me as the water moved and splashed. At first I thought that it was the little fish busily swimming back and forth, but im- mediately the picture became very clear. It was a crowd of people yelling and looking at a very large and beautiful purple jet-rocket plane. They yelled “Hooray! Hooray!” when a tall, nice- looking man came toward some important-look- ing men on the platform, and he seemed very familiar to me. I tried and tried to think who he was. When he started to walk down the steps to make his speech, I at last recognized him and I was extremely happy to see that he appeared to be a very successful man. He was Herbert Capes who graduated with me at the North Carolina School for the Deaf in 1950. He was an inventor and science teacher. I was eager to see him set off his jet-rocket, but to my disappointment the picture was gone all of a sudden! Anyway, I was pleased to learn of his success in his chosen field of the science of jet-propelled planes. Soon again the water brought more shadow pictures and I saw a short man driving a brand- new 1960 Cadillac and smiling at the blonde young woman beside him. He was on the way into a big city to work and I suddenly recognized him—Wayne Hilton, the owner-manager of the world-famous team of deaf baseball players. I was greatly interested to learn that he was able to make his living in the sports world he loved so well. The picture in the creek was breaking into small pieces like a jig-saw puzzle coming apart. It was 8rowing chilly, and still half asleep I felt a little breeze rumple my hair. Immediately I thought how I'd like to have Evelyn Michael with me to work on my hair. Evelyn, none other than our Evelyn could design a hairdo for me .