Sumner High School - Maroon and White Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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fuFutenS .7 , Alvanza Wilson, Class of January, 194-7, presents Mr. Brantley with bronze plaque honoring members of the fac- ulty who particularly inspired and encouraged him as a student at Sumner. Left to Right: Mr. Hudlin, Mr. Brant- ley, Mr. Skinner, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Don- aldson, Mr. Roberts, behind Mr. Donaldson, Mr. Ingram. Mr. Wilson. The Sumner graduate presented the plaque in person at Sumner, October 29, 1957. Teachers listed on the plaque are: Mr. George Dennis Brantley, Principal, Mr. Herman S. Dreer, Assistant Principal, Mr. William Pops,' Beckett, Athletic Director, Mr. Ulysses S. Donaldson, Ad- visor, Miss Bessie E. Coleman, English, Miss Amanda L. Montgomery, English, Miss Araminta M. Parker, English, Mr. Harry L. Phillips, Industrial Arts, Mr. Wiley L. Thompson, English Literature, Mr. Richard K. Fox, Al- gebra, Mr. P. Eugene Davenport, Social Science, Mr. Robert B. Hayman, Social Science, Mr. Richard A. Hud- lin, Social Science and Sports, Mr. Herbert C. Roberts, Spanish, Mr. Preston. D. Ingram, Science, Mr. Walter L. Skinner, Science, Mr. Lamar F. Smith, Track Coach, Mr. Wirt D. Walton, Glee Club and Choir. Every sincere teacher hopes that someday his students will become useful and successful citizens. When this does happen, he likes to feel that in some small measure he was partly responsible. It is the greatest reward any teacher can ask for. Frequently a few former students even exceed this hope and go on to become outstanding. However, when a former student 'who has become outstanding re- members those teachers who inspired and encouraged him, and is thoughtful enough to pay tribute to those teachers, the gratification is complete. Such is the case of Alvanza Wilson, Class of January, 1947. The following excerpts from a letter to Mr. Brantley express just how much Mr. Wilson appreciates what certain teachers at Sumner did for him. . . . I have always felt deeply indebted to you and certain members of the faculty, several of 'whom are no longer teaching at Sumner. . .I had to work be- cause my family was very poor. . I went to school tired and sleepy many days. . . Mr. Donaldson, my advisor, Mr. Hudlin, Mr. Smith and Mr. Thompson not only were my teachers, but friends who encouraged me. Soholastically I was an average student but I would not have done as well as I did had it not been for these teachers. Through the teachings of some of my other instructors a desire was in- stilled in me to be someone and succeed in life. Some of your talks at assembliem were very helpful to me. None of my sisters or brothers finished high school. All of us had the same home training, so I know that my experiences at Sumner made the difference. . .These are a few of the reasons I am proud of being a Sumnerite and appreciate the experiences I had while a student there. . .This plaque is the least I can do to show my appreciation to all of you. I hope that it will indicate to teachers that some of their students do appreciate their efforts..To the students now in Sumner, I hope that it will inspire them to work hard and profit from the training given so unstintingly by their teachers. Editofs Note: Alvanza Wilson attended Drake University where he was an out- standing track star and winner of the 1948 Drake University Honor Scholar- ship. Upon graduation he enrolled in St. .Iohn's University, College of Pharmacy, where he made the Dean's List for excellence in scholarship. Mr. Wilson graduated from St. .lohnis in 1953 and is at present a successful pharmacist in the City of UWZWZA New York, where he- plans to open his own -business in the very near future. if ZIkff2f1fWflLi V7 f l77fZW' W aroma. 'a f.,f'7s-

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aio T , 'Through the years books have served as a huge reservoir of knowledge. The more time one takes to avail himself of the information and tried experiences they hold, the richer one becomes in this intellectual virtue we call knowledge. It is well to cherish thinking of good books as being potential energyg they become operative kinetic energy when we avail ourselves of the contents thereinf, John A. Nelson Assistant Principal 4'The importance of books is undeniable when We consider that each succeeding generation, not having to start at the place -where the first generation began, shows a marked dependence upon the past in recording, in books, its reactions to its environsf' John E. Anderson Jr. Assistant Principal

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Our Officers an .VVKQ 2 vanish' i it 'vt Q9 P1 ' O61 'Y is b Members of the 1958 Maroon and White: Loretta Green, Manuel Hughes, Barbara Young, Bar- bara Hamilton, Elma Benn, Jeanette Richards, Glenda Washington, Joyce Smith, Norma Davis Rufus Washington, Paul Fort, Evelyn Randall, Colin Williams, Bessie Bean, Lennette Torian Marion Williams, Barbara Cobbs, Alice Mason, Lillian Nunn, Mr. C. B. Stafford, Faculty Ed itor.