Rock Springs High School - Rosphian Yearbook (Denver, NC)

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Senior Class History Thirty excited first graders began their education here at Rock Springs twelve years ago. It was a promising class, and these first graders ad- vanced as the years went by. These were joined by ten more from Mac- pelah in the sixth grade, Eight boys came from Triangle at the beginning of the eighth grade increasing our class of fifty students, Some of the members of our class were double promoted, which reduced the size of the class, We entered high school and Mrs, Sigmon’s home room in the fall of 1949 with great expectations for the future, and a great deal of worry about how we would get along with high school teachers and upper class- men, We selected Merriel Mundy, Wade Sherrill, Peggy Lawing and Dot Beatty as officers to guide us through this difficult time. Several new teachers had joined the high school faculty, so we learned the ways of Rock Springs High together. The freshmen distinguished themselves in basketball, contributing several players to the team, The basketball team made a good showing that year, but some games were very discouraging. We lost several games by one or two points, to the disgust of Mr. Wallin and Miss Dell- inger. g By the fall of 1950 we were wise sophomores, in Mrs. Maxwell home room, Jerry Lawing, Merriel Mundy, Dot Beatty, and Dean Reep were chosen as chass officers. Our class began to gain recognition in F,F.A., Dramatics, and in basketball. Ocie Bridges made the debating team and and went to the district contest. As Juniors in Miss Dellinger’s home room we elected Harvey Lawing, Dorothy Baker, Billie Mae Shellem, and Vaughn Dean Brotherton as class officers. The Senior class honored Betty Poole and Harvey Lawing by electing them Chief Marshalls, and Merriel Mundy, Peggy Lawing, W. J. Thompson, and Jerry Lawing as assistant marshals. Under the direction of Mrs. Gabriel Sigmon we proudly presented “Little Women’’ as our junior play. Then came the preparations for the Junior Senior Banquet. We had many difficulties to overcome because by now our class was very small and the senior class was exceptionally large. We finally settled on a Hawaiian theme for the banquet. After a great deal of work and worry, we finally worked out all the details and finished the last of the decorations of the Island scene, When we arrived that night feeling glamourous in our new evening dresses and suits, we felt that it was well worth all we had done. We went to Miss Miller’s senior home room this fall in high spirits for we had arrived! We were now in the ‘‘big time’’! Senior officers were: President, Betty Poole; Vice-President, W. J. Thompson; Secre- tary, Shirley Perkins; Treasurer, Vaughn Dean Brotherton. Next we elected the annual staff, Billie Mae Shellem was elected editor-in-chief, and almost everyone had a place on the annual staff. (With Miss Miller to sponsor The 1953 Rosphian we hope it will be the best annual ever published at Rock Springs.) We presented a hilarious comedy, ‘‘Off the Track’’ for our Senior lay. r ware are now dreading those last exams, but we are looking forward to the end of our school days and graduation with great hope for the future. Shirley Perkins Historian

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Sentor Play

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Class Prophecy Well, here it is 1963, and we of the class of °53 are back at good old Rock Springs for another ball game with Sherrill’s Ford School. Before the ball game I chatted with Billie Mae Shellem. She was vacationing from being the supervisor of nurses at the Presbyterian Hos- pital in Charlotte. Billie Mae told me that Dorothy Baker had retired from nursing andis going to take Evelyn Tinner’s place who plays on Kate Smith’s Show. Dorothy had been to Washington to see the Washington Senators play. And guess who was catching for them? None other than Cranford Barker! Reluctlantly I ceased talking for a few moments and noticed that the ball game at R.S. had gotten underway with our Alma Mater leading as usual. During the half I] went to get a coke and there pushing her way in to get three cokes was Mrs. Willie Little, the former Shirley Little. By the way she was getting cokes for herself and her twin girls, She said she was sitting with Betty Poole, so I want over to talk to her until the game started again. Betty said that she was working as Secretary for General Motors in Kentucky and was home to be a bridesmaid in Betty Ballard’s wedding. Betty had quit her job as manager of the Gray Shop in Lincolnton. By that time the game was again under way. I went back to sit with my husband, Jake. On the way backI saw Mr. and Mrs. Rusty Richard with their two children, Shirley told me that they had finished their new home in Lincolnton. She also said that she had been to Vaughn Dean Brotherton’s Beauty Parlor at her home, While there in came Mrs, Bill Lawing, the former Merriel Mundy. She and her husband Bill, are living in Boone where he teaches school. The game was about over and there sitting on the bleachers I noticed Grady Barker who had just returned from services. He said he had been playing basketball for the Army. He told me that W. J. Thompson and Wade Sherrill were in the Navy. After the game I was about to enter the car and I heard someone call me. It was none other than Barbara Little, who was teaching the first grade at Rock Springs. From her I learned that Peggy Lawing was in the Wacs and she will be out in three years, Barbara told me that Floyd was now a carpenter for the Smith Brothers in Chicago, Now I could go home knowing not only that we won the game, but also that the class of 1953 was happy and successful, Billie June Sherrill Prophet