Parry McCluer High School - Parrimac Yearbook (Buena Vista, VA)

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LED DRESTDEN SOLICITING VOTES continues on election day outside the polls. Mr. Bobby Knight greets voters as they arrive at the school, one of the two local voting centers. THE ELECTION IS HISTORY, but a bumper sticker serves as a reminder of the political event. THE CASUAL MANNER of a peanut farmer Jimmy Carter was in evidence throughout the presidential campaign. Election 15

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FROM Political activity began long before November. Locally, spring activities in 1976 focused on Washington and Lee Univer- sity’s Mock Convention which prophetically chose Jimmy Carter as the Democratic presi- dential candidate. As students enjoyed sum- mer vacation, attention turned to the major party conventions. Carter took the Democratic nomination on the first ballot. However, the Republican nomi- nation was not so easily cap- tured by President Ford as Ronald Reagan made a strong bid for the delegate vote. The presidential campaign centered on such issues as Ford’s blunder on Eastern European diplomacy; Carter’s controver- sial PLAYBOY interview and the denial of black member- ship. ine Cartérs) church;® the issues of abortion, economy, inflation and gun control. As interests grew, students fell into the spirit of the elec- tion by donning political stickers and buttons on coats, hats, lockers, and car bumpers. Mr. Ward, government teach- er, who had always been active in the political scene, helped to boost the voter turnout by a- warding students an “A” for registering to vote. Students got a chance to voice their opinion in a mock election held the day prior to the elec- tion. The Carter-Mondale ticket dominated, although by a narrow margin of 53.8% to 45.4% over the Ford-Dole team. In the Senatorial race, In- dependent Harry F. Byrd, Jr. easily, handled the chal- lenge of Democrat Elmo Zum- walt, former Chief of Naval 14. Election Operations. M. Caldwell Butler won re- election over challenger War- ren Saunders with 60.2% of the vote for his seat in the House of Representatives. On November 2 the national election took place. The elec- tion results were televised all day and into the night. Early the next morning, Jimmy Carter was designated as the President- elect? During one of the smoothest transition periods ever, prepara- tion began for a different type of Inaugural Ceremony. Carter, the first President from the deep South in over a century, had completed a remarkable politi- cal journey—from peanuts to President. At precisely 12:03 pm, Janu- ary 20, Carter placed his hand on the family Bible and spoke the 35-word oath that made him the 39th President of the United States. In his Inaugural Address, Carter urged a “fresh faith in an old dream,” stating that Americans must adapt to chang- ing times. Following the Inauguration, Carter walked with his wife, Rosalyn, down Pennsylvania Avenue as he led the Inaugural Parade, a mile-and-a-half walk in sub-freezing weather. Truly, this was a “people’s Inauguration,” as was indicated by the estimated 250,000 peo- ple standing along Pennsylvania Avenue, awed in disbelief at the new President’s informality. THE MOCK CONVENTION parade in Lexington includes floats repre- senting each state. The festivities, sponsored by W L University, ignited the community’s interest in the election. DEANUIS

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HALLOWEEN STARTLING THE AUDIENCE, Mark Adams disrobes during the “Brother Goose” performance. CONCLUDING BAND DAY, Buena Vista Mayor Jack Brockenborough presents the Class B trophy to the Bassett High drum major. AWAITING THE RESULTS, drum A BICENTENNIAL SALUTE is majors representing both Class A and presented to the student body by B bands line up, as the judges com- members of “Freedom Jam”. The plete scoring. performance was a preview of the following evening’s concert. 16 Fall Activities