Polytechnic High School - Caerulea Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS 19 I am glad to see that you folks are showing Daddy Burcham, while he is alive and here rubbing elbows with us all. how much we really respect his manhood, cherish his friendship, and are inspired by his friendliness. During 1908 and ' 09, I remember Daddy Burcham ' s climbing the step-ladder and winding the assembly clock at the old Poly Higli on American Avenue, where the George Washington School is now situated. Sometimes lie could wind it, and sometimes he couldn ' t — I am not now telling why he couldn ' t, because that would be revealing ' confidential communications ' , and also be writing a book in ancient history; and I am no historian. As a student at Poly High, when there were less than six hundred students attending, and Daddy Burcham was, in fact, the disciplinarian as well as principal, and when he was chaperon to our athletic teams in out-of-town games, his fair but firm treatment, his virile manhood had a great influence for the highest and strongest things of life. And the years since graduation in June. 1909. have increased my respect and love for this man; and my wife, Lydia Yeomans Doyle, (L. B. P. H. S. ' ll) joins me in these observations. Good luck to Poly High, and ' God bless vim. HAROLD B. RILEY 10 Harry Riley, outstanding student in his time, recently president of the Alumni Association, and one of Poly High ' s real friends, calls to mind the stirring days of the early history of the school. Years have passed since I was a student at Long Beach High School, but I still enjoy some pleasant memories of certain events that transpired there and hold dear some the friendships made at that time. When I attended high school it was located at Eighth and American and was considered to be out in the country. We boasted an enrollment of approximately five hundred. What we lacked in numbers was made up in appearances. I have a number of comical pictures that prove this last assertion. At the first football game there were six husky rooters, and we had a difficult task in keeping them on the bleachers throughout the game. When the first serpentine was held the residents of our city thought we had gone mad. Throughout our struggles, both in and out of class room, we received encouragement from our principal. By his words and actions he proved himself a friend, and I am glad of the opportunity to offer my word of appreciation of and praise for Mr. David Burcham.

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18 CAERULEA ' 28 I will never admit that the editors and writers entered into their task with more enthusiasm, faith, or courage than did we in those days of small beginnings. Proud we are of Poly High and her graduates and particularly proud of Caerulea. EUGENE TINCHER ' 08 Another version of the clock story ' ' is given by Mr. Eugene Tincher, student leader in his time, now one of Long Beach ' s most prominent attorneys, whose constant loyalty to Poly High is characteristic of many of the alumni of those early days. To have served twenty years continuously as principal of the Long Beach Polytechnic High School, to have seen its student body grow from less than three hundred to more than three thousand in number, and to have put into the lives of thousands of young people passing through its class rooms an impress that left no regrets to mar the years of life that stretched beyond, is a record which would seem in itself too magnificent to include reminiscence of the common place. David Burcham, however, is like all of us and is human; but just as the touch of the minor lights and shades brings out the beauty of the central motive of a master painting, so the commonplace in life adds brightness to the exalted qualities in men. The old high school building which stood at Eighth and, American, where now the George Washington School stands, was destroyed by fire about ten years ago. On the wall in the assembly hall of that building in 1908 there hung a clock. It was just an ordinary clock, but it had a very attractive face, so attractive indeed that Mr. Burcham, then a young man, paid it constant and devoted attention. A stepladder was always near at hand and several times a a day Mr. Burcham would with agility mount the stepladder and peer longingly into the clock ' s face. Occasionally a look of satisfaction would spread over his countenance at the meeting, but most often a look of disgust, and he would seize the clock by its hands and give its face an adjustment. Why all this attention? was the question often asked. The answer was simple. The clock was wrong, and ' Daddy ' Burcham was right, and not even a clock was permitted to go wrong if he could help it. CLYDE DOYLE ' 09 Polytechnic High can boast no more loyal supporter than Clyde Doyle, whose leadership at this institution was notable and who for many years since has been one of the most brilliant members of the California bar.

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20 CAERULEA ' 28 GLENN HUGHES 11 Glenn Hughes, poet, playwright, critic, and assistant professor of English and dramatic art at the University of Washington, cheerfully waves his hand at Caerulea. I should certainly be very sorry to miss an opportunity to pay a tribute to Principal David Burcham, whom I remember often as the embodiment of gentlemanliness and the spirit of friendly paternalism. At the same time I am happy to wave my hand at Caerulea. in which my first writings were published. I still cling, sentimentally, to an old copy, for it is a tangible link between I.. B. P. H. S. and me. PAULINE FARQUAHR ' 12 The name of a former outstanding Polyite, Pauline Farquahr, is widely recognized in music circles. As a teacher and concert pianist she has marked ability. Her recent tour was pronounced a great success, and Poly High is proud of her excellent record. A kindly greeting, a ready smile, the comradely talk on kindred interest — these are a few of the impressions that will always remain of our splendid leader, Principal David Burcham. We owe him a boundless debt of gratitude for his unswerving loyalty to the youth of Long Beach, for his never failing, enthusiastic response to their achievements, for his sympathetic encouragement in times of trouble. How fortunate for us to have had such a one to guide our school to its present stable position. LORNE MIDDOUGH 12 No two men are better known and better liked than the Middoughs, whose pep and efficiency made them all around Poly students and later two of Long Beach ' s foremost business men. Both have maintained a constant interest in the high school. You say this year ' s annual should be dedicated to David Burcham — that it is ' fitting and proper ' . Well, I should say SO. Daddy Burcham has been a big inspiration to me. During my last year at dear old Poly, when I was trying hard in my feeble way to manage student body activities as president, I always found Mr. Burcham going more than half-way. He ' s a friend of all — white or black, rich or poor, bad or indifferent.