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

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The class 0+ I908. consis+ing 0+ 36 members, was +he +irs+ +0 gradua+e a++er Da- vid Burcham assumed his du+ies as principal. The s+uden+ body numbered a Ii++Ie more +han 300. In a group 0+ +his size everyone knew everyone and i+ was in +his si+ua+ion +ha+ +he new principal won rec0gni+ion and approval. I+ migh+ be expec+ed +ha+ in a span 0+ 34 years, and in a s+uden+ body grown +0 over 3,000, David Burcham would have become submerged in his individuaIi+y. This is no+ +he case. The name Daddy Burcham was no+ given him as a y0u+h+uI prank. I+ was +he sp0n+ane0us choice 0+ a +erm which was more signi+ican+ in meaning +han could have been expressed by any 0+her more deIibera+ely chosen. I+ was +he one word +ha+ sums up +he high regard which y0u+h has held +0r +his man. He has been sympa+he+ic and unders+anding in +he li+e 0+ y0u+h. He has been wise in counsel, heIp+uI in sugges+i0ng +irm in convic+i0ng cons+an+ in +ideli+y: and spiri+ual in example. Surely no more las+ing monumen+ +0 +he enduring in+Iuence 0+ his life can be +0und +han in +he lives 0+ +housands 0+ men and women now grown +o ma+uri+y who will always a+fec+iona+eIy call him Daddy Burcham. Eugene Tincher Presiden+ S+uden+ Body '08 A++orney a+ Law I have been s+eeped in Poly +radi+ion-A +radi+ion developed by +he +hir+y-six years +his school has served members 0+ our family. Since I began school, I, +oo, have looked +0rward +o my gradua+ion from Poly High. Tradi+ion is buiI+ on pers0naIi+ies, and +o me +he guiding personaIi+y 0+ +his school has been our principal. My +a+her was in Mr. Burcham's +irs+ gradua+ing class. I am proud and happy +0 round ou+ our +amiIy +radi+ion by being a member 0+ +he Ias+ class he will presen+, a gradua+ion no+ comple+e +or me wi+h0u+ his ex+ended hand 0+ encouragemen+ and inspira+ion. Ted Robinson-Class 0+ I94l To +ruI re+lec+ +he sen+imen+s 0+ all loyal Poly High Alumni on +he prospec+ 0+ Mr. Burclham's re+iremen+ is a magni+icen+ responsibili+y. I+ is a +ask no one can adequa+eIy per+0rm bu+ which any one 0+ us would be glad +o under+ake. For +hir+y years I have cherished an admira+ion +0r Mr. Burcham which goes be- yond descrip+i0n. Thousands and +housands 0+ you, my alumni +riends, also hold deep in your hear+s +his same respec+, +his same devo+ion and I know +ha+ you are all uni+- ing wi+h me now in saying +o +his good man- we're loyal +0 you-we'Il ever be +rue. John B. Halber+, 'I4 Presiden+ Board 0+ Commissioners Poly High Alumni Associa+i0n Inves+men+ Securi+ies David Burcham has always been +o me a symbol 0+ democracy. He is an Abraham Lincoln +ype 0+ man--easy 0+ access, approachable, ready +o gree+ o+hers wi+h friendliness and c0nsidera+ion. Mr. Burcham is no believer in quick and easy answers. He is more in+eres+ed in doing +hings +he democra+ic way +han in having his own way. Whenever possible, his policies are decided +hrough par+icipa+ion 0+ in+eres+ed par+ies ra+her +han by his own edic+. He is pa+ien+ 0+ opposi+ion and +oleran+ 0+ di++ering poin+s 0+ view. Tha+ pa+ience has 0++en been rewarded by +he +ac+ +ha+ +hose who di++er wi+h him usually have +0und him +o be righ+ and +hey wrong. Thus, his au+hori+y increases, no+ +he au+hori+y 0+ +0rce, bu+ +he impelling power 0+ ripened wisdom acquired +hrough wide experience. He is no reed shaken by +he wind. When necessary he makes spli+-second de- cisions, and when aroused can express righ+eous indigna+ion in clear-cu+, +0rce+uI English 0+ which he has easy mas+ery. Mr. Burcham is unique in his in+ense spiri+uali+y. By +ha+, I mean his reverence +or, and his sense 0+ resp0nsibiIi+y +o, his Crea+0r. By ac+, more +han word, he +eIls +he world +ha+ his religious c0nvic+i0n is +he +hing +ha+ c0n+r0Is and anima+es all his being. Somehow he radia+es +ha+ c0nvic+i0n +0 o+hers. The Long Beach schools have been +0r+una+e in having such a +ine leader +hrough- 0u+ +hese years. Seymour I. S+0ne Depu+y Superin+enden+ 0+ Schools

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We are all glad fo honor Mr. Burcham fhrough fhe cledicafion of fhis l94l Cae- rulea fo him. He has served Polyfechnic High School for fhirfy-four years wifh dis- fincfion. If is inevifable fhaf such a long period of service should leave imprinfs on fhe school for which he has labored. Someone has said fhaf an insfifufion is buf fhe lengfhened shadow of fhe man. Poly High School fypifies many of hrs personal virfues, and we are glad fhaf he has been so insfrumenfal in fheir developmenf. I fhink fhaf if would be unworfhy if we did nof fake fhis opporfunify fo fhank Mr. Burcham for his leadership in fhe schools. His associafes in school adminisfrafion know fhe abilifies which have been demonsfrafed, fhe fhoughffulness expressed and fhe kindness radiafed. We shall miss his presence and counsel. As fhis year closes, I join wifh you in an expression of esfeem and respecf for Mr. Burcham. Our besf wishes go wifh him and his good wife, Mrs. Burcham, as he refires from acfive service af Poly. Kennefh E. Oberholfzer Superinfendenf of Cify Schools If is kind fo favor me wifh fhe privilege of bringing fo fhe Caerulea my fribufe fo David Burcham who for fhirfy-four years has influenced fhe lives and direcfed fhe desfinies of fhe sfudenfs and pupils of Polyfechnic High. May I congrafulafe him upon fhe opporfunifies fhaf have been his and upon fhe way in which he has improved fhem. His has been an evenfful experience. During fhe fime he has presided over fhis insfifufion, fhousancls have been added fo fhe populafion of fhe cify, millions fo ifs wealfh, wide opporfunifies fo ifs commercial and indusfrial acfivifies and a greafly ex- panded and modern school sysfem. He has kepf pace wifh all fhese changes and has grown wifh fhe years, nof alone educafionally, buf he has grown info fhe hearfs of an appreciafive sfudenf body and a grafeful people. Through fhe days of sunshine and fhe hours of adversify and clesfrucfion he has remained a never failing inspirafion fo his pupils, his fellow feachers and our cifizens. Happy is fhe school, fhe cify and fhe sfafe when such men are leaders. May David Burcham have years of good healfh and happiness and confinuing opporfunify for fhe exercise of his falenfs in fhe building of good cifizenship. Frank F. Merriam Governor of California, I934-'38 The faculfy of Polyfechnic High School sfands foday af salufe in affecfionafe farewell fo our refiring Principal, David Burcham. For a fhird of a cenfury, we have had his guidance, friendship, and leadership on our pafhway fo educafional growfh. We respecf him, we honor him, and we love him-fhe man who has lisfened fo each feacher's ideas, who has praised every feacher's efforfs, and who has encouraged all feachers' ideals. Thousands of sfudenfs have shaken his kindly hand, hosfs of alumni have known his friendly inferesfg fhe educafional policies of our school, our ciiry, and our sfafe have felf fhe force of his quief, earnesf, sincere personalify. Mr. Burcham may leave our assembly halls, buf he will long remain in our hearfs, our fhoughfs, and our councils. One hundred fwenfy loyal feachers exfend fo him our hands and hearfs in fhanks, in appreciafion, and in grafifude for his life, his undersfanding, and his leadership. He is one of Poly's greaf fradifionsg he, foo, enfered Poly fo learn, he, foo, has remained fo serve. He has been a foundafion sfone in Poly's growfh, a source of friendly help for every feacher. We feel fhaf Poly fhis year, loses a greaf leader. The voice of Poly's Faculfy speaks: Mr. Burcham: You have been bofh a prince and a pal, fhaf has made you our principal. As you have been our principal in fhe pasf, so shall you be our principle in fhe fufure. For your sincere, unselfish, imparfial leadership, we, your feachers, are forever grafeful. Poly High Faculfy R. E. Oliver, Presidenf

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I am proud fo be a member of fhe i908 graduafing class of Long Beach High School, fhe firsf fo be presenfed by David Burcham. We began our senior year wifh a new principal. He was young, fall, dark, and of serious counfenance. We soon broke fhrough fhis reserve and found Mr. Burcham a real friend and counselor. Under his leadership fhe school af once fook on new s irif. Enfering info every phase of our school life he led us fo new heighfs of accomplishment Affer graduafion he confinued fo follow fhe varying forfunes of his former pupils wifh pafernal inferesf. Many of us have had fhe deep safisfacfion of seeing our child- ren under his guiding hand. If is nafural for us fo fhink of him as our beloved Daddy Burcham. During Mr. Burcham's years of service, Long Beach has grown from a village by fhe sea fo a mefropolifan cify. His vision, undersfanding and leadership have kepf pace wifh fhe growfh of his cify and his school. lf is in fribufe fo fhis greafness as an educafor fhaf fhe fhousands who have had fheir lives enriched and sfrengfhened by his personal influence rise fo do David Burcham honor. Franklin W. Robinson Presidenf Senior Class '08 Presidenf of Board of Educafion We lose fhe counsel of one of our mosf freasured friends fhis year when David Burcham leaves fhe porfals of Poly High for a well earned resf. Mr. Burcham has been fhe hearf of Poly fhese pasf fhirfy-four years, during which he has been ifs leader. Through him has passed fhe warmfh, sincerify, and un- dersfanding for fhe youfh of our cify whichihas made our school fhe insfifufion if has been and is foday in our communify. No sfudenf fhaf has ever been under his in- fluence can buf admif wifhin himself, Here was a friend indeed and l am a beffer cifizen by having had fhe opporfunify fo be under his undersfanding and kindly guid- ance. Besf wishes always. David Burcham, if has been a ioy fo fhe members of your Parenf-Teacher As- sociafion fo have had fhe privilege fo work wifh you. Mrs. R. V. Mercer Presidenf Poly P.-T. A. As one who had fhe pleasure of serving for eleven years as vice-principal under Mr. Burcham, l can vouch for his infegrify and his loyalfy fo Polyfechnic High School. Under his leadership, Poly has grown from a small suburban high school fo fhe largesf in fhe sfafe and ifs gracluafes have gone forfh fo serve 'rhis communify wifh honor. lf may well be said fhaf Polyfechnic High School is buf fhe lengfhened shadow of fhe man who has served if so faifhfully and well for fhe pasf fhirfy-four years. To you, Mr. Burcham, fhe faculfy and sfudenf body of Woodrow Wilson High School, your friendly enemies across fown, say goodbye wifh regrefs and wish you success and happiness in fhe years fo come. Harry J. Moore-Principal Woodrow Wilson High Mrs. Clyde Doyle and fhe undersigned bofh affended Long Beach High School in l909. Daddy Burcham was our Principal. ll' was fhen fhe only High School in Long Beach and was locafed af Ninfh Sfreef and American Avenue, and had abouf 525 sfudenfs. So, we boys and girls who fhen were privileged fo have Daddy Burcham as our principal, had fuller opporfunify fo know him personally-and for him fo know us personally. Then, as now, he was a grand genfleman. His fairness fo us, his loyalfy fo fhe principles of personal and communify conducf, which always build up moralify and highly efhical conducf, have all fhese years been an inspirafion fo fhe Clyde Doyle family. Our youngesf daughfer, Dorofhy Doyle, insfead of going fo Wilson, in which dis- fricf she resides, insisfed fhaf she musf go fo Poly fhis year of I940, in order fhaf she could have Daddy Burcham as her principal fhe same as her parenfs had. His fineness of mefal never rusfs ouf, corrodes or disappears: if endures forever. Clyde Doyle Presidenf Sfudenf Body '09 Afforney af Law