Parsons High School - Panther Yearbook (Parsons, WV)

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History of Parsons High School Compiled by II. VV. Shaffer Parsons High School was first inaugurated in 1909 as a one-year high school under the super- vision of H. W. Auvil as principal. Lenora D. Hickman taught Latin and English that year. The next year Mr. Auvil was still principal. Al- gebra. American History. English, and Latin were taught. In 1911-12 P. E. King became prin- cipal of the new three-year high school on River Street. In 1912-13 the question of making Par- sons a four-year high school and of erecting a building for that purpose became an election matter. In a special election the people author- ized ths Board of Education to issue bonds to the amount of thirty-five thousand dollars to cover the cost of a new building. That building, the present grade school building, housed Par- sons High School through the twenty-fifth graduating class which was in 1939. The first graduating class was in .1913, and it had twelve members of the four-year high school P. E. King was principal through 1911, George W. Hogg became principal in 1914-15 and S. C. Gross in 1915-16. Mr. Gross was also District Superintendent. He remained at the head of N(' Parsons High through 1923. For 1923-24 W. K. Rice became Principal and District Superinten- dent. His term as principal lasted through 1926- 27. 1927-28 Frank Hall was principal and super- intendent. B. E. Kimble succeeded him and re- mained until 1932-33 when Jssse E. Riley suc- ceeded him. In 1933 Mr. Riley was made prin- cipal and relieved of his duties as superinten- dent. This was the year that the County Unit Syslem was initiated. He was with Parsons High School through the 1938-39 term. In 1936 P. H. S. became a six-year high school. Jason Wolford was placed at the helm in 1939-40 and remained through 1941-42 when Ralph Wimer became principal for one year. Mr. Wolford re- turned for 1943-44 and 44-45. Earl Corcoran was principal of P. H. S. for one year 1945-46. Maurice M.JjjYefijnan was appointed principal in 1946-47 and is principal at the present time. - 7 The building now known as Parsons High School was made possible through the people’s voting to issue bonds for a new building for the high school. The cost was $120,000. This build- ing was ready for use in 1939-40. The class of 1948 has 5jL graduates.

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MARY ALICE FRUM ... A. M —W. V. U. PEARL RANDOLPH English . . . Latin . . . Journalism . . . Senior Librarian . . Sponsor . . . Staff Adviser 7 Acknowledgments . . A. B.—Salem College Senior Sponsor Vs ' To Ken McClain, publisher of The Parsons Advocate for producing an annual of which Par- sons High School is proud and for the fine work he did on it. E. J. Vcn Haven deserves high praise for the part he played in making the pictures of the 1948 Sylvanian a story of Parsons High. To R. L. Rowland, Forest Ranger of Cheat Ranger District, West Virginia, a vote of thanks for his interest shown to the Sylvanian Staff to the extent that he presented pictures and ma- terial to clarify the name of the P. H. S. annual and show the purpose of the U. S. Forest Ser- vice. “Of our swift passage through the scenery Of life and death, more durable than we, What landmark so congenial as a tree, Repeating its green legend every spring, And with a yearly ring Recording the fair seasons as they flee, Type of our brief but still renewed Mortality?” To our sponsors and adviser for lead- ership in carrying out the hope of the class that the members of the Class of ’48 always be guided by the theme they chose— “I shall be like that tree— I shall die at the top.” Sylvanian Staff

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1948 Sylvanian Staff Editor—Billy Baer Assistant Edicors—Joanna Felton, Jo- anne Parsons, Peggy Phillips and Stanis Lee Baer Business Manager—James Shrout Assistant Business Managers—Jo Ann White, Bernard Phillips, Claudine Shaffer, Millard Hilliard, and Bud Hehle Literary—Dolly Cross Art Editor—Joanne Simmons Publicity—Wanda Varner and Marion Nestor Athletics—Kenneth Knotts, Louis Phil- lips, Dorothy Gilmore, James Phillips, Clinton Nestor, and Waitman Collins. Historians—John Drew Blackburn and Audrey Harper Music—Hester Hovatter and Joyce Hebb Activities—James Miller and Verla Lipscomb Copyreaders—Ross Stemple, Charles Pownell, Mildred Sturm, and Eula Mae Bright Proofreaders—Joanna Felton and Peg- gy Phillips Class Reporters—Mary Anna Gilmore, Raymond Wilson, Deets Floyd, Brady Lynn Stephenson, Alice Harris, Janet Bible and Eddie McClain Adviser—Mary Alice Frum