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

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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.

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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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structor at Thomas Dale High School. Someone said that Anne became so at- tached to math in her high school days that she just could not give it up. Here comes “Deedle’”” Hill whom I have not seen in years. I heard that she was back in Chester to receive her M.R.S. degree. The president of our Alumni Society, Kaki Mi tchell, who has just com- pleted her 30th post-graduate course at Thomas Dale, is announcing that dinner is served. As we go into the dining room, I see four of the instructors from Columbia University who were in school with me. ‘They are Georgia Payton, Doris Jacobs, Edith Williams, and Ralph Wray—true scholars, these four. Sam Wall, the millionaire playboy, is seated at the table with me. Sam sbows me the pills he takes for his acid stomach. “They are manufactured by the Zimmerman-Womack Company. I never thought that Floyd and Kenneth would have such a prosperous business. Fendall Vaughan, famous Broadway actor. is here with Joanne Baylis, who stars with him in the new Broadway hit, ““The Ice Man Wenteth’, which was written by Jack Flippo, our modern Shakespeare. Jerry Hynst and Joe Davis are seated next to my table. Jerry is coaching his twentieth year at Thomas Dale and Joe has been principal for fifteen years. Marjorie Frederick and Jean Motto, style models for the renowned stylist, Earl Dale, are sitting with Jerry and Joe. Martha Zappulla and Janet Pence have a radio show over Station S-L-U-R-P called “Ingrid Igglestine’s In-Laws.” I listen to it every day in the candy shop. Bobby Picardat, who teaches art in Richmond, is still mourning over the loss of his assistant, Marie Birdsong, although it has been ten years since she left him to marry her childhood sweetheart. Dorothy Dunford and Dorothy Donohue, famous dancing team, entertain us with some of the numbers from their newest show, “Till the Clouds Come Over.” Ann Dodge has with her a manuscript of the book she is writing. It is en- titled “Government Made Easy”, and it really is quite interesting. Anne plans to send it to the Sherman-Cersley Publishing Company owned by Jean Sherman and Kathleen Cersley. Jack Williams, Chester barber, tells me that Charles Minetree is caterer for this Alumni dinner with the help of Louise Penny, noted dietician. Marvin Foster and Carl Chandler, inventors who have, for years, been trying to improve on Edison’s electric light tell me that they have discovered a sensa- tional process of burning water in worn-out light bulbs. A far cry from Edison's genius, I should say! Physicist Nancy Ellison is going to give a speech on “The Value of Motors” at the Chester Mosque tomorrow night. Oh, here are the last entertainers on the program—Why, it’s Marie Allen and Wesley Perkinson giving impersonations of the 1947 ‘Thomas Dale Faculty. Once more, with pleasant memories of old and dear friendships still fresh in my mind, I turn in at the door of my candy shop. In the back where I have my rooms, I remove my lovely hat, but I do not wince this time, for it is now as much a part of me as are the day’s memories. BARBARA ANN DAUGHTREY. meme eflector