Shaw University - Bear Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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Senior Class Officers Claude Flythe President Richard Cooke Vice-President Shirley Parker Secretary Helen Sneed Assistant Secretary 23

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shore weakens our confidence, and mocks our courage. But we are here to face it as brave mariners, each man in himself his own Odysseus. We pledged ourselves to make this year one of our greatest and most successful. We planned carefully each knot of our course in detail. We organized once again. George Stokes is again at the wheel with Shirley Parker our logue keeper, Charles Bullock our treasurer. Elma Melton our chaplain, and Mr. Daley still our navigator. We set our course and began to accomplish our destina- tion. During our sojourn Doris Lett joined the Shaw Players. Vonzie Erwin crowned her achievements as Regina in the Shaw Players production of The Little Foxes, and Melton Anderson strongly supporting her as Ben, her equally greedy brother. Greek letter organizations again like the sirens beckon us, Edna Marlowe, Elma Melton, Jesse Bullock, and Rosine Turner, Zeta Phi Beta; Shirley Parker, Alpha Kappa Alpha; Marvin Lassiter, Melton Anderson, Paul Crump, Kappa Alpha Psi; Clarice Stephens, Delta Sigma Theta. The rigors of probation for many of us were like the lotus blossoms, but we rallied from under the dangerous slumber and headed due north on course. Chapel and Religious Life Committee beckoned Janie Holloway, Queen Cooper, and Elma Melton. Other organ- izations, such as: Baptist Student Union. Student Christian Association retained many of us from our freshman and sophomore years. Highlighting this year of our voyage was Miss Shirley Parker ' s election of Miss Junior Class, with Myrtle Streeter and Daphne Alexander her attractive and talented escorts. Honored by outstanding academic achievement Myrtle Streeter. George Murphy, Helen Sneed were elected to Beta Kappa Chi; Vonzie Erwin, Helen Sneed were elected to Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society. Later on in the spring of this our third year of our journey George Stokes. Vonzie Erwin were elected to Who ' s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Also in the spring of this year the class took a break from the rigors of traveling and academic achievement to sponsor the Junior-Senior Prom. It was the most magnificent prom sponsored in recent years. Its theme was Sayonara to our predecessors, the class of 1958. For the first time in the history of classes of our Alma Mater the prom, setting no precedent, but yet. a milestone in our achievements, was held from nine p.m. to one a.m. Everyone attending this affair had an over- whelmingly good time. The decorations inspired by mem- bers of our own group, and executed by all of us were unique in the design and their exotic beauty. In the spring elections George Stokes was contender for President of the Student Body; Shirley Parker, Myrtle Streeter were contenders for Miss Shaw. Our traveling became a little rough that year, as personalities clashed and issues were viewed in terms of personalities rather than principle. We realize our mistakes, however, and attribute them to the problems of mental growth and development of character. George Stokes did not make President of the Student Body, but Shirley Parker was elected Miss Shaw to reign officially over all official school activities for the ensuing year. George Stokes was elected, however, as President of the Pan- Hellenic Council; Vonzie Erwin was elected the Council ' s Secretary. Vonzie Erwin was elected Basileus of her chap- ter of Alpha Kappa Alpha; George Stokes was elected Secretary of Iota Chapter. Phi Beta Sigma; Claude Flythe. President of Omega Psi Phi; Lucille Edwards was elected Basileus of Sigma Gamma Rho; Doris Lett was elected Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta. Again our year has been speedily, but successfully spent. Persephone returns and Ceres in her jubilation adorns old, tired, drab Mother Earth in her most exciting green splashed with many colors of the flowers, the nestled, the boughs of the trees with her choir of birds and rustling brooks with a constant background of the soft melodies of Zephyr. Like Odysseus, we fight the anger of Neptune, as the sea of final examinations rage. The storms subsided we awake and find ourselves on a strange land. We passed our examinations and now we are dignified seniors. In this final lap of our hazardous journey, we keep steering our course straight to achieve our goal and prize of the mark of our calling. After the usual summer break, we re- turn with renewed zeal, ready hands, stout hearts, and open minds to complete our program, successfully chart our course and reach our destination, our beloved Ithaca — Commencement. Once again we organize ourselves and this time at our helm Claude Flythe steers our course, and Richard Cook serves as his co-captain, Shirley Parker still keeper of our logue, Lucille Edwards, our exchequer, George Stokes, business manager, and Elma Melton is retained as Liaison Officer to Celestial Throne. Our navigator remains the same. Joining those of us who have taken our places as opportunities avail themselves in various activities, Bertha Greene, Joyce Fuller and Janie Holloway join the Chorale Society. Baseball, basketball, and football pulmulted Eu- gene Hammonds to the pinnacle of skill and sportsmanship. Vonzie Erwin and Melton Anderson in a play For France win second place in a state drama festival at North Caro- lina State College. Greek societies still beckon many late comers. Marian Anderson joins the throne of Zeta Phi Beta; Lillie Pearl Dewberry revels in Delta Sigma Theta; Em- manual Gray in Kappa Alpha Psi, and Lillie Mitchell in Sigma Gamma Rho. To begin the highlights of our year, we witness the coronation of our beautiful, beloved Miss Shaw, Shirley Parker, escorted by George Goode, President of the Student Body. In the court we see Myrtle Streeter, Vonzie Erwin. what a beautiful procession — and our class well represented. Highlighting the Homecoming Parade Joyce Fuller rises again as Miss Senior Class. Her attendants are Vida Wil- liams and Valeria Harris. She rides the beautiful float which won honorable mention for the commercial category of the float contests. Shirley Parker, our beloved Miss Shaw reigned over the half-time activities of the Homecoming Game. Who ' s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities recognizes more among our number and recog- nizes for the second time some others. Vonzie Erwin, George Goode, Elma Melton, George Murphy, Shirley Parker, Helen Sneed, George Stokes, and Myrtle Streeter are among Who ' s Who. Our plan to publish the Annual, The Bear, is a Hercu- lean task, even for an Odysseus — such was our struggle for success in this project, an exhibition of our skills, and record of our achievements. With the aid and guidance of our beloved advisor, Mr. Guilbert Alfred Daley, who has bridged many chasms for us during the past three years, we hope this project will be a success. Those frightened, curious students who entered the front gate 1955 have some losses among them, but for various reaso ns, these losses we regret. Also we have picked up many seafarers in our sojourn whose experiences and handicaps, whose associations have embellished our class, and enriched our lives. But that goal to be the Class of ' 59 was never lost sight of. We have reached our beloved Ithaca. History is a story of the past; this is our story. Being fully cognizant of the fact that history repeats itself; events occur and recur in cycles; and that the present is built upon the past and the future is built on the present, we the Class of ' 59 do not stop here. Commencement will not be our Terminus, but a mere pause and a period of evalua- tion of our achievements. This is a very important chapter. Like Odysseus, but firm of mind and will ... we the class of ' 59 . . . cannot rest from travel: (We) will drink Life to the lees . . . Made weak by time and fate, (We the Class of ' 59) . . . but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. — Elma Melton. 22

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Senior Class Officers Lucille Edwards Treasurer George J. L. Goode Parliamentarian George Stokes, Jr. Business Manager Elma Melton Chaplain 24