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

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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.

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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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ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS 21 WAY MIDDOUGH 13 In ray opinion the success of Poly High School is measured greatly by the ability of its head. Principal David Burcham. Need we say more? DONALD C. WILLIAMS 18 Donald Williams, at present attending Harvard, is one of Poly ' s brightest stars. He has won scholarships to leading colleges, including Yale, and has been rated the best college student in the United States. His letter is indicative of his striking personality. In my heyday I perhaps made for the high school administration all the kinds of trouble there are, except (thank God) the imbecile fraternity boy kind of trouble. I have faith thai these kinds of trouble arc still being made (for they constitute, I suppose, what Caerulca is celebrating as ' the spirit of advancement. ' ) If they are, the trouble-makers will meet in Principal Burcham what we used to meet — the understanding, kindliness, and tolerance of a thoroughly fine gentle- man, winning him a unique claim on the respect and affection of all those into whose lives he enters. I am glad that the high school is again conspicuously acknowledging the rare, the very rare, dispensation it possesses in Mr. David Burcham. CLARE McCORD ' 19 Clare McCord, world traveller and winner of international trophies in advertising, has kept in close touch with high school affairs since his graduation. He sails shortly for Honolulu, where he will again compete in the advertising field. I have closely watched the growth of Long Beach Poly High School every year for over fifteen years, and I believe that its advancement is due, through more than any other single influence, to the life-work of David Burcham. He lias given the best years of his life, has worked tirelessly, has dealt with the pupils in a fair, merciful, considerate, sternly just and yet kind,, fatherly attitude, has inspired them to better living and greater heights of achievement, and has continuously kept a keen foresight into the future for the advancement of the school and its various activities. The school as it stands to-day is a monument to his faithful work; and the advancement made by its graduates, many of whom have won both local and nation-wide reputations, has been due largely to the foundations laid during high school days by our beloved ' Daddy ' Burcham.