Roanoke Rapids High School - Ro Rap Yearbook (Roanoke Rapids, NC)

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In September, 1945, the long awaited news of the unconditional surrender of Japan filled the hearts of men with joy. Simultaneously, in Roanoke Rapids the hearts of 157 students quickened perceptibly, as we entered the spacious corridors of Roanoke Rapids Senior High School as freshmen. That year was begun under the leadership of a new superintendent, Mr. I. E. Ready, who was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. C. W. Davis. We were an energetic freshman class that entered the Senior High School that autumn day, each with numer- ous ambitions. There was the usual course of study such as civics, English, algebra I, general science, physical educa- tion and one elective to struggle through; but despite these, a highly successful year flew by. The field of sports began to appeal to the spry youngsters, and Boob Lowder made the varsity football team. When the baseball season opened in the spring, Vance Stewart and D. W. Etheridge landed positions on the once- defeated diamond club. That was also the year in which Elizabeth City presented R.R.H.S. with a friendship trophy. Even though the day ' s schedule was new and difficult, the courses were mastered. Miss Iris Davis put her Eng- lish students through a hard year with the writing of term papers and an introduction to Shakespeare by a study of The Merchant of Venice. The nine months were packed with many special events, and the shy group of ninth graders managed to lend a helping hand in social studies week, science week, and math. week. We placed various exhibits on display and en- tered into the assembly programs commemorating the occasions. With the turning of the pages of the year ' s register. May sneaked up. The first bound annuals were sold, and June found us looking forward eagerly to our sophomore year. As sophomores we were still greenies, just getting into the swing of the high school activities. Our class- mates seemed to be quite athletically inclined; and we had quite a few budding sports heroes in football and basket- ball, as well as in baseball. The big event of the football season was the game with Elizabeth City, after which we entertained the Coastal Jackets at a barbecue supper. Senior High suffered quite a loss when Miss Winifred Beckwith was for ced to leave us quite early in the year. She was replaced, however, by Mrs. Kate Ashford, who substituted for the remainder of the year. We were very proud of two of our classmates, Dwight Elting and D. W. Etheridge, who obtained the peak in scouting by receiving their Eagle Scout badges. On October 14, 1946, the tenth graders, having decided to try their hand at Journalism, published a Sophomore edition of the Ronoko, which was printed in green ink to signify their inexperience. One of the big moments of that year was the Hi-Y initiations. Just having completed our study of Jidivs Caesar, we were again reminded of this historical character by Sonny Hines, who during his initiation, portrayed the great Roman ruler. To climax a successful sports season, the base- ball teams won the Northeastern Conference title by defeating Kinston 8 to 7 in Tarboro. Exam exemptions were doled out for .the last time as a new school statute went into eff ' ect the following year. At the beginning of our Junior year, our thoughts immediately turned to raising money for a good Junior- Senior prom. First, we had a Sadie Hawkins Day Dance in the gym, followed by an amateur program which proved to be a big success. We also sold school stickers and magazines. Finally, enough money was raised and plans were made to carry out our theme, May Time. This year looked good for our athletic department. Our football team won the conference friendship trophy with Tarboro and renewed its gridiron rivalry with Wei don. In basketball James Warren was named on the All- Conference team, and our basketball squad won the consolation game in the conference tournament at Greenville. Also benefited was our band, who received new uniforms through the aid of the local Exchange Club. With the purchase of the new sch ool bus, The Black Maria, there seemed to be many changes around school. The Building Trades Class took as their project the building of a garage at Coltrane Hall for the bus: and in the spring the bus provided a means of transportation for the Glee Club when they made their trip to Raleigh and later to Greensboro where they entered the State Music Contest. As the years passed, we became proud of the Journalism class for they published the first eight page Ronoko. They also did more good work; for the Ronoko was awarded a first class honor rating, making it the best paper in the school ' s history. Although we had a four-day holiday because of snow, summer holidays began on May 29, the earliest in the history of the school. As the year drew to an end. Miss Clara Hearne and Miss Mary Lowder retired from our school faculty. A glorious Junior year was in the past, but the dreamed of Senior year was soon to become a reality. We felt the absence of one of our outstanding student leaders. Pat Wilson, as we commenced our final year in Roanoke Rapids High School. Gone, too, were several of our faculty friends. Misses Josephson, Abell, and Wool- dridge. The vacancies were capably filled, however, by Mrs. Denny, and Miss Gay and Miss Townsend. Our Senior High Student Council rewrote our handbook and became co-sponsor of the school store. Various clubs were organized by progressive students, including The Journalism, The Science, The Camera, and The Dramatics Clubs. Each carried out an active program. The Vocal Music Department of the high school was well represented at Raleigh. Ensembles that performed included the mixed chorus, boy ' s chorus, girl ' s chorus, boy ' s quartet, mixed quartet, and girl ' s trio. For the second consecutive year, the Yellow Jackets were the co-recipient ' s of the N.E.A.C. Football Sports- manship Trophy. It was shared this year with Kinston. Sorely missed by the football squad of 1949 will be co- captains Wordest Felts and Vance Stewart; Robert Clary, Billy Clemmer, Dwight Elting, Walter Hargrove, Rus- sell Joyner, Hubert Lowder, Herbert Moore, and Lewis Moore. Another Jacket star of the ' 47 squad, Sam Wood, was physically unable to participate in sports this year, but aided the athletic directors by coaching the midget squad. Equally hard hit by graduation will be the high school basketball teams of 1949-1950. Captain James Warren, Clemmer, Rook, Hines, Edwards, and Hasty will receive their diplomas in June. Lady Jacket losses will include co-captains Evelyn Rook and Betty Myrick, George, Askew, Kidd, and Broun. Our baseball nine, always a leading contender for the conference crown, will be minus the hurling of Troy Hasty and Raymond Edwards, as well as the great all-around play of Lowde r, Clemmer, Bullock, H. Moore, Stew- art, Elting, Joyner, Hargrove, Wells, Armstrong, Fahey, and Wright. Band members and majorettes in our class include Clemmer, Bullock, George, Haggins, Moore, Ivey, Bunn, Ingram, Lassiter, Askew, and Sykes. We, the forty-niners of this twentieth century, now must venture out on our own individual paths. We, too, must seek nuggets, as did the peoples of a hundred years past, nuggets of knowledge, patience, courage, understanding, and perseverence. If we can seek veins of these precious ores, with the same lust that drove men across oceans and continents, then our years of preparation for adulthood on this troubled earth will not have been wasted. Page Twenty-Seven i

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Lewis, Allsbrook, Mausteller, Hodges JUNIOR CLASS OFFICERS President Mary Frances Allsbrook Vice-president Gwendolyn Hodges Secretary Jqyce Lewis Treasurer Betty Ann Mausteller 1 Page Twenty-Nine