Thomas Dale High School - Reflector Yearbook (Chester, VA)

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and after weeks of practice we presented, “The Bargain Bride’, one of the most successful plays ever given by ‘Thomas Dale students. “The play was directed by Mrs. Faye Casey. The Junior-Senior Reception, given in the early spring, was an outstanding event featuring music by a local orchestra and tempting refreshments . The twenty-five couples who participated in the figure, directed by Mrs. Brumble, did an excellent job. Due to the paper shortage, the school newspaper, the ‘T. D. Sentry, was dis- continued during the war. With conditions improved, however, and paper more plentiful, we undertook again to print a school paper. ‘The name Junior Journal, was chosen as the title of the new publication, and the staff was headed by three faculty sponsors, Miss Chappell, Mrs. Brumble, and Mrs. Casey. The student heads were Editor-in-Chief, Stuart Holmes, and Business Manager, Eugene McCook. After three months of the balmy summer sun, the beach, and many gala events, we returned to ‘Thomas Dale as dignified Seniors. “The very capable sponsors for this dignified group were Misses Williams and Park. Stuart Holmes and Nelson Bennett were reelected as President and Vice-President, respectively; Ernest Eastman was chosen Secretary, and Marie Birdsong was elected ‘Treasurer. One of the outstanding extra-curricular activities of this year was the Junior- Senior Reception, which was given by the Juniors on March 14, in honor of the Seniors, under the supervision of Miss Spencer, Mrs. Smart and Mrs. Casey. The entire reception was a delightful affair—with the music of the Southern Serenaders, the figure, which was again directed by Mrs. Brumble, and the de- licious refreshments. Another stellar presentation of the year was the Senior Play. Presented under the direction of Miss Daisy May Park, the play entitled,. “Almost Eighteen’, starred Eugene McCook. In addition to being a great dramatic suc- cess, the play was the most profitable one in the history of the school. Under the faculty advisorship of Miss Williams and Mr. ‘Thompson, we de- cided again to print a yearbook, The Reflector. Advertising was solicited from firms in neighboring cities, as well as in the village, and this money was used to finance the book. ‘The staff heads were Betty Lou Farrow and Barbara Daughtrey, Editors-in-Chief, and Eu gene McCook, Business Manager. And now—as the hour of graduation approaches—we realize that the goal which we began striving for four years ago, is really no goal at all. It is, instead, a stepping stone to bigger and better things for our future. With this thought before us and with appreciation toward the faculty and others who have done so much to give us a solid foundation upon which to build, we bid our friends, teachers, principal, and school a fond farweell. STUART HOLMEs, Historian. “The Reflector

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Class History T LAST, we have reached the goal for which we have been striving. ‘Through the count- less hours of study and hard work, some of us may, at one time or another, have ques- tioned the worth of attaining this goal; but surely none of us now doubt the value of a high school education. We look back with mingled feelings over our four years at Thomas Dale. We are jubilant at the thought of leaving behind our schoolday toils and of moving on to higher fields of endeavor. It is, however, with a great sorrow that we leave the many friends we have made here in the past four years. With graduation now upon us and the time for our departure from Thomas Dale drawing near, our minds wander back to the fall of 43 when we enrolled as a proud and ambitious—but scared—Freshman Class. We were one hundred and fifty in number that bright September morning when we first en- rolled at Thomas Dale. ‘The fear that gripped us when we first entered our new school soon melted, and we settled down to a successful year’s work under the guidance of our sponsors, Miss Daughtrey, Miss Morrisey, Mrs. Clarke, and Mrs. Harwell. Class officers for this year were: Mary Jo Rogers, President; Jean Stewart, Vice-President; Stuart Holmes, Secretary; and Ralph Wray, ‘Treasurer. After a short but refreshing summer vacation, we returned to ‘Thomas Dale as Sophomores; that is, approximately ninety of us returned. It seemed that the remainder of us either had lost our ambition or had fallen into scholastic difficulties. Mary Jo Rogers was reelected President for this year; Mildred Hill won the vice-presidential nod, and Bob Picardat served as Secretary- Treasurer. We decided to have some fun during this usually dull year. With the as- sistance of our sponsors Miss Hudson, Mrs. Fulmer, and Mrs. Crump, we pre- pared for a party in the gymnasium. At this party, we played games of all types, danced, and enjoyed tasty refreshments. Summer vacation and we were back to the old grind! We, who were one hundred and fifty in number two years ago, had now dwindled to approximately seventy-five, but what we may have lacked in quantity, we more than made up in pride, dignity, and replenished ambition; for now our goal was much, much nearer. As sponsors for this eventful year we had Mrs. Smart and Mrs. Casey. The class officers who were elected early in the year were: President, Stuart Holmes; Vice-President, Nelson Bennett; Secretary, Eugene McCook, and ‘Treasurer, Ernest Eastnfan. Two of the year’s major occurences were the Junior-Senior Reception and the Junior Play. An excellent cast was selected by Mrs. Casey and Mrs. Smart, her erlector

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lass Prophecy HURRIEDLY fasten my new hat on my graying hair and survey the results in the mirror. I wince slightly as I think of the price I paid for this newest creation of the world famous milliner, Ann Boyd. But it has been so long since I have spent the sparse profits from my candy shop on any luxury and I do need a new hat for the Thomas Dale Alumni Meeting of 1977. All of my famous classmates will be there and I would not want them to think that I am a failure. I walk rapidly to the Hotel Chester where the meeting is to be held and I enter the crowded lobby. ‘There, greeting everyone, is Dr. Nelson Bennett, well- known Richmond minister, and with him is the President of the United States, Stuart Holmes, who left Washington to run its own business while he came to the meeting. Coming toward me is Clara Bury who just won the “Miss Chester” title for the tenth consecutive time and with her is Eugene McCook, Centralia’s Am- bassador to Chester. Eugene and the popular Congressman Lemuel Grammar are attempting to start a Good-Neighbor Policy between Chester and Centralia. Seated in the lobby, I see Jimmy Moorefield and Shirley Clarke, famous in- ventors of the Clarkefield Comfort Chair which can be adjusted to any relaxing position. Could the eccentric millionaire the crowd is talking about be “Dumbo” Neatrour? ‘They say he lights his cigars with million dollar bills. Peggy Cogbill and Julia Palmer, missionaries to Piney Branch, have just arrived. My, they look just as young as they did when we were in school. Why, look who is sitting across from me! It is Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Curtis. Someone said that Betty Lou gave up an opportunity to run for the Chester Senate to become Mrs. Curtis. Speaking of Curtis’s, I hear that Catherine Curtis has made millions off her new book, “Silence is Golden”’. Oh, here comes the famous Hollywood director, Ernest Eastman, with all of my classmates whose pictures he directs. George Carnahan, the greatest screen lover since Valentino, is accompanied by his enchanting co-star, Alice Chenery, whom her fans, have nick-named “The Gasp”. I remember their last picture, “A Bush Grows in Chester’. It was simply wonderful. William Bottoms played the part of the villian and Jimmy Woolard was the kind uncle. Another ex- cellent picture was “A Journey For Herkimer” starring the child prodigy, “Chip” Warthan, youngest son of Mrs. Vivian Sasser Warthan. ‘There are some stunt girls with Ernest too—Frances Judd, Eileen Wilson, and Carol Humphries. ‘Their agility is due, no doubt, to basketball practice in their school days. Here comes the charming Anne Gallier. Anne, much to the amazement of all of us, followed the teaching profession and she is now a mathematics in- “The Reflector.