Smithfield High School - Shield Yearbook (Smithfield, NC)

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Page Fifteen

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History oF Smithfield Graded Schools f ' HE Tui ' liiigtoii Graded School of Smithfield was formed from the old Tur- lingtoii Institute. The school bears the name of the man Avho spent the greater part of his life in sincere devotion to the upbuilding of education in Smithfield and Johnston County. He had been head of the Turlington Institute for twenty years and was superintendent of the present school for five years. The building was then a large wooden frame of seven rooms. The enrollment of the school was 237, and the faculty consisted of five members. The trustees were E. W. Pou, President, W. L. Woodall, Secretary, J. W. Wellons, T. E. Hood and J. D. Underwood. Supplies of books were bought, and rented to the pupils each season. In 1910 Mr. Vermont was elected superintendent, to succeed Mr. Tur- lington, a position which he held until 1917. In his first year the eleventh grade was added and seven Seniors were graduated. In 1911 a petition for bonds was made in order to erect a modernly equipped brick building. The petition was granted, the bonds were sold, and the contract was given to Joe W. Stout Co., Sanford. Mr. H. B. Marrow succeeded Mr. Vermont in 1917. Mr. George T. Whitley continued to act as principal, a position which he held for a number of years, giving his best support to every improvement undertaken. During the four years of Mr. Marrow ' s suj)erintendency the number of students increased so rapidly that a new building was necessary to afford them the proper training. Again bonds were discussed and issued in the summer of 1921. In this year Mr. Thomas H. Franks, who had been principal during the 1920-1921 terms, was elected superintendent, and through his efforts the bonds were raised, the contract let to the Keyon-Thompson Company of Raleigh, and the Smithfield High School building, one of the best in the State, was completed in 1922. It was then that the county began to bring in by trucks, children of the rural districts, following out their plan of putting every child in the county within reach of a standard high school. During Mr. Franks ' s four years as Superintendent he has given loyal support to the upbuilding of athletics in this school and to raising the scholarship standard to the highest level of any high school. Today the school has an enrollment of 1200 and employs a faculty of thirty. The present Senior class consists of thirty-three members. Page Fourteen

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Mascots CaKL and ChARIJP: DArtillTEKY Class Colors : Bl iie and ]Vhite Class Flowkk : Sweet Pea Motto: Sua ring Irpward Worth Boyettk President Arah Hooks Y ice-Presklent Hose Grantham Treasure?- Carrie Young Historian Mar.torie Johnston Statistician Lawrence Stanoil Secretary Ben Baker Co7nposer Lawrence Stancil P - Leo Ennis ' Prophetess J RENE Page Stevens Testator Page Sixteen