Pulaski County High School - Cougar Pinnacle Yearbook (Dublin, VA)

Page 27 text:

When asked If the Houston Rockets would win this year’s NBA champion¬ ship, Mr. Sampson’s reply was, “Yes, I know we will.” Mr. Sampson smiles as Mr. Wilson speaks with the students and faculty. Mr. Wilson thanks Houston rockets power forward Ralph Sampson for his enthusiastic speech. Ralph Sampson 23

Page 26 text:

Ralph Sampson Speaks; Students Listen Curiosity filled the minds of many students as they won¬ dered who the guest speaker was to be at the first all-school assembly on September eighth. Within minutes after class had been dismissed, bleachers in the gym were filled with excited, ch attering students. Conversations suddenly stopped as students spied Ralph Sampson, attired in a white satin sweatsuit and red shirt, ducking through the en¬ trance. He stepped on the small wooden platform at the end of the gym and folded his tall frame into a metal chair. Then as the noise of the crowd died down, Mr. Sheffey introduced the administrator of St. Albans Hospital, Mr. Robert Terrell, who had ar¬ ranged for the visit. After Mr. Terrell had introduced him, the crowd erupted in applause for Ralph Sampson, the power forward of the Houston Mr. Sampson used many methods to get the students involved in what he was saying. Here, he asks the students, “How many of you have tried drugs?” Rockets. As he approached the podium, it seemed to shrink. While he raised the micro¬ phone stand to its highest point, he made light joke s about his seven foot four inch height and his size seventeen shoe. Then in a serious vein, Sampson spoke for forty-five minutes about the use and abuse of drugs. “Drug abuse is a major problem, not only in schools but across the nation,” he stated. “Peer pressure is the number one reason for drug abuse.” He went on to explain some of the effects and statistics of drug use. He gave specific ways to prevent drug abuse at school and at home. He spoke of the popularity of cocaine and how deadly and destructive it could be to a per¬ son’s life. Cocaine and its newest form, crack, affect the central nervous system. Both are very highly addictive and dangerous, he added. He criticized the attitude of people who think that “it’s O.K. to try a drug once, because I won’t get hooked.” Sampson stated, “Most do get hooked!” “If you take drugs, you either live or die,” he said. “If a person who is on drugs is trying to fmd his her way out,” he advised, “you should stay away from your friends on drugs, turn yourself in to the police before someone else does, and get into a rehabilita¬ tion center.” Drugs are a problem not only to students, but to super¬ stars, too. Ralph Sampson spoke from the heart as he told of the death of Len Bias and the drug use of former teammate John Lucas. “Don’t let your friends pressure you into using drugs,” Sampson advised. “Find other people to hang out with. Find better things to do. Plan for and get prepared for your future. Make America drug free. Start with yourself.” “Make this the best high school in America,” he con¬ cluded. “To be the best high school in the country, start by saying no to drugs.!”

Page 28 text:

Honor Graduates for the class of “86” were Front row: Sharon Glasgow, Laura James, Karen McDaniel, Heidi Wood, Second row: Chris Stafford, Dena Cox, Heather Lockwood, Back row: Denice Jarrells, Cheryl Mabry, Charles Van Meter, Aaron Ratcliff. A welcome sight to many Seniors was the diploma. The diploma was the first step toward success. Jlepariment of Jtmcaiton htploma is afoarhrh to %. 1 lids foljo tjas complrtrh tljr rrqmrrmrnts for graduation from Pulaaki (Enmtlg IStyli Srlnml dmirn in Jnlasht Conntu tips month of atjg 1986. principal Jsutprrintrndcnl of j5 el|ools (Cl|nirman of Scl]ool oarb — Graduation