Pfeiffer University - Chimes Yearbook (Misenheimer, NC)

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CLASS PROPHECY A few weeks ago, while in a pensive mood, I idly thumbed through a dust-covered volume. Suddenly. I realized that the book I was thumbing was a copy of the 1939 PAjACA. While reminiscing over the good times I had had at Pfeiffer and the happenings of the ten years which have elapsed since then. I felt the desire to see the old grads ot '39 and find out just how life is treating them. Not being able to resist my new wanderlust, I dropped everything and started in search of the class of 1 939. Of course, my first stop was at the magnificent old institution itself. Outwardly, it was the same old Pfeiffer. But imagine my surprise when instead of finding Dean Seay at his desk, I found Dean Lyons, very little changed by the decade except for the waist line which seemed to have tripled in diameter. Lfpon inquiry, I learned that several old students held positions at the school. In the chemistry laboratory, Carmen Vernon was busily explaining to a group of freshmen the mystery of preparing hydrogen without an explosion. Across the hall. Billy Long wasl delicately dissecting a mosquito and lecturing to the biology class at the same time. The college farm was the next stop. Here, I fully expected to find Harry Starnes as manager but instead found Harold Lhomas ministering to a sick pig and contemplating calling J. D. Love, the veter- inarian in Albemarle. From an issue of the “Torch” I learned that Dr. Harry Starnes and Mrs. Starnes (nee Elvas Almond) had just left for South Africa as medical missionaries. Before leaving the school, I was shown by the librarian, Frances Cochrane, an issue of the “Southern Pines Bugle, published by Preston Matthews—foremost editor of the day. In the “Bugle under the grand old caption, “Local Girl Makes Good. was a full-page story of Edith Matthews’ skyrocketing to fame in the movies and her recent signing of a seven-year contract with Twentieth Century-Fox. Leaving the school, I stopped at a prosperous-looking road house and service station and found to my surprise that Fred Lowry was the proprietor. In Albemarle, I learned that Willie Lea Fowler and Gladys Causey were secretaries to Charles Penninger. president of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Pearl Bost, the new “Song Bird of the South,” was also in Albemarle on a personal appearance tour. Going to Salisbury. I saw the former Lucile Owen, home for a visit. She is married and lives on a farm near Newton. Yes, she had the twins along. I also met Leola Bame, the first police woman on the Salisbury force. From her I learned that J. V. Furr did not choose a pro- fessional career but. instead, makes her home in Mt. Croghan, South Carolina. I also learned that the leading beauty salon in Salisbury is operated by Charlotte Montgomery and Gertrude Bingham, while, in the Rowan Memorial Hospital. Carrie Kluttz very capably holds the position of head nurse and Hazel Jenkins is acting as dietitian. From Salisbury I went to Raleigh, where the State Teachers' Convention was in progress. Here, I found many of the class of '3 9. Jessie Fhomas is teaching home economics at Cameron and Xenophon Tysinger instructs English at Denton. Joseph Thomasson is principal and teaches economics and sociology in the Elkin High School. Franees McClure, though not teaching in the state, was present as guest speaker. She is an analytic chemist at Vanderbilt University. Louise Shaver teaches English and French at Rockwell, while Sarah Herman is recognized as the foremost bacteriologist in the country and spends her time traveling from school to school, lecturing. Pre- siding at the Convention was Elizabeth Wilson, who took her major in math at Purdue. From the Covention, I moved on to the governor's mansion where I found his chauffeur, Jack Fcsperman. waiting to take the executive on a tour of the state. When the governor came out, with him was Joseph Beaman, his legal advisor and constant companion. Going on up the street. I passed the office of Lindsay Feezor, superintendent of public schools. Page Twenty-five

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SOPHOMORE CLASS HISTORY The past is gone, never to be recalled, but it is only through the annals o( that past that we are enabled to understand the present. The fall of 1937 saw some sixty-eight freshmen entering the portals ol Pfeiffer Junior College. Most phases of college life were ol course new to us. but we learned rapidly. In our first class meeting John Lilly was selected as our leader for the year, while Diana Biondi. Carmen Vernon, and Charles Penninger were selected as vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, respectively. Miss Edgerton and Miss Rylander were the class sponsors. Shortly after election of officers, there came the inevitable initiation week, that bane of all freshmen. Rouge and lipstick were noticeably absent lrom the faces of the girls, while present in conspicuous spots on the boys’ faces. Books were carried to school in laundry bags, mismated shoes were worn, freshmen walked backward to classes, while sophomore books were carried and shoes shined upon request. A picnic at Bolton Springs completed the week and we smilingly decided that maybe the sophomores were pretty good fellows alter all. At any rate, there would always be next year! Such routine matters disposed of. the class as a whole settled down to work, with the result that when the honor roll was posted at the end of the semester, a fair percentage of freshman names was to be found there. Many changes occurred at Pfeiffer during the year. Our class was the first to use the new library and class-rooms in Jane Freeman Hall. Also, we were the first to use the two partially completed athletic fields. The year ended as all years have, and in September the class, now sopho- mores. returned to school. From our slightly depleted ranks we chose Frank Plyler as president; Preston Matthews, vice-president; Jesse Thomas, secretary; and Lucile Owen, treasurer. For sponsors to guide us through this all-important year. Mr. Conboy and Miss Masters were selected. Under such able leadership, the class progressed. Many meetings were held and in all ot these the spirit of co-operation was evident. Frank Plyler. the president, was selected as the person most capable of writing the class prophecy. Charles Penninger was chosen as testator; Ray Crook, historian; and Leola Bame. giftorian. Pearl Bost and Jack Blalock were co-authors ot the class song. The sweet pea was selected as the class flower, while blue and gold were deemed the most suitable class colors. The motto I rue nobility lies in becoming superior to your previous self was thought to express the spirit and aim of the class. During the year there were many memorable events. Having had. as fresh- men. some small part in the publishing of the first annual, we felt it our duty to continue the tradition. Preston Matthews was selected as editor of the second PaJaCa, and under his guiding hands and those of his co-workers the annual became a reality. There were other events of importance; the Alumni Banquet where we renewed acquaintance with the graduates. Sophomore Day. the Class Play, the All-School Banquet, Class Night, and the Baccalaureate Sermon. With mingled pleasure and regret, forty-odd graduates filed across the stage. Our days at Pfeiffer are over, but as we go our varied ways through life we hope that the elements of character which we have developed here will so guide our lives that Pfeiffer will never have cause to be less proud of the class of 1939 than the class of 1 939 is of Pfeiffer. Ray CROOK. Class Historian. Prgc Tu'enty-tour

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CLASS PROPHECY—Continued Before leaving Raleigh. I visited radio station VP I I and found Jack Blalock, announcer and daily news commentator. I learned that 1 had iust missed the program of Herndon Kendall and his mountain balladeers. featuring Kendall with his guitar. Gladys Poplin at the piano. Hazel Gibson with the banjo, Evelyn Davis and her bazooka, and Dwight Hunevcutt and Alex Shumolis. black-lace comedians, all under the title. Lasses and Ear. Dixie’s Stickiest Com bination. At the Raleigh airport I boarded a plane for New York. Kenneth Herman who is rated as Eastern Airlines crack pilot, having completed one million air miles, was at the controls. Also on this plane was Alice Bennett in the capacity ot stewardess, busily passing out chewing gum and magazines to airsick, first trip passengers. When we stopped at Richmond, who should board the plane but Bishop George Needham, bound for a conference in Philadelphia Upon landing at Floyd Bennett field in New York. 1 found a celebration in progress. 1 soon learned that it was in honor of Mary Crawford Dutton, noted explorer, just returned from two years in the wilds of Brazil, where she captured a rare horseface woodpecker, the only one in captivity. Wanting to see some ot the famed night lite of New York. I started down Broadwav At a lively place called the Platinum Horseshoe. I found John Lilly, proprietor, opening his new floor show. ' Stupendous l ollies. Chief attraction of this show was Helen King, ballet dancer, who composed her own songs and dances. Out into the night again. I was soon going down Fifth Avenue when I noted a shiny limousine gliding by. In it was Mrs. Doughy, the former Mary Sellers, now a member of the 400. bound for a first-night showing of Gone With the W ind which has finallv been filmed. At the Metropolitan Opera House, the Siberian tragedy. Faritzoff. starring Eddie Hall and Diana Biondi. was being shown. Always interested in education. I stopped next dav at Columbia University to see Rav Crook. Ph D., head of the Chemistry and Physics Department. He is considered the most re nowned physicist of the day and has just completed the successful construction of a perpetual motion machine with which he expects to revolutionize industry. Having found most of the class. I started my return to North Carolina. In Winston Salem I met Dorothy Carpenter, field representative of Pfeiffer College, now a four-year college, point- ing out the advantages and opportunities of this modern, beautifullv located institution Back in Salisbury. 1 dropped by to see Rov Alfred Glover. Jr., at home with his wife and sev.n children, having just returned from a business trip to Chicago Checking over the old 1939 class roll. I realized that I had heard from all the students of my class. All of them seemed happy and prosperous, so I basked in their glorv for a while and then went happilv back to my pansy farm to dream of a cute little air stewardess flving some- where far above the earth. FRANK PLYLER. Class Prophet. Pag? Twenty-six