University of West Georgia - Chieftain Yearbook (Carrollton, GA)

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Aaron Buckalew, class of 1939. Briefly these are only a few precedents, though revised somewhat, which have been handed down to West Georgia students. I watched with pride as West Georgia matured in respect of stature and as new meaning was added to the school as an educational institution. Growth In Stature To say that one organization had excelled more than all others would be to fail to give due credit to any of the many others that have been created. One of the most popular and note-worthy groups has been the choir which first began with separate men ' s and women ' s glee clubs. Through the years these have united to constitute a choir which is not only highly respected here in the college commu- nity, but also widely known for its annual series of appearances in various high schools, civic clubs, colleges, and churches. The West Georgia College Debating Team has played a prominent role as it has brought to life the words of its motto, Investigation, Discussion, Ac- tion. The first organization of West Georgia to appear publicly was the Y. M. C. A. chapter in- stalled by a student. Fielding Towns. Another group to achieve much renown has been Alpha Theta, first known as the Dramatics Club whose first presentation was Oscar Wilde ' s The Impor- tance of Being Earnest . Mu Zeta Aplha was cre- ated as an honor science club To give recognition to outstanding students in the sciences and to offer a means of expressing themselves in the scientific field. Alpha Psi, devoted to those students inter- ested in home economics, has not only given those students an opportunity to broaden their interests in this field, but has on many occasions assisted in social activities and in the making of costumes for plays. The first Chieftain, edited by Stewart Martin, present mayor of Carrollton, was published in 1934. Through the years it has been the aim of the annual to typify life at West Georgia and to present to its readers pleasant memories and important events of each school year. Behind the cherished year-books have gone myriad frustrated hours of ceaseless labor in efforts to give the students publications of which they could be proud. This effort was not in vain for on several occasions the Chieftain has won high- est awards in its class throughout the nation. The Chieftain ' s sister publication, The West Georgian, made its first appearance during the fall quarter of 1933 under the editorship of Franklin Dorsey Parker. Today this student publication rates among the best small college newspapers in the South and has received on several occasions honors from the Associated Collegiate Press. It stresses student expression, student solutions to problems and campus relations. The Voluntary Religious Association of which all students are considered members upon enroll- ment in the College, has continued for the duration of the life of West Georgia to stimulate the spiritual life and thought on the campus and is climaxed each year with Religious Emphasis Week. The Future Business Leaders of America and the Student National Educational Association were established to broaden the interests of students in those fields. The Veterans ' Club, organized in 1946, had as its purpose to help each other in both social and school activities and to encourage more veter- ans to attend college. During the years other clubs in coperation with various departments have been created. Some of these have been abolished or reorganized under new names, but many have helped in securing for West Georgia a reputation for providing a wide range of interest and opportunity for leadership and originality for its students. Since West Georgia was estab- lished to emphasize teacher edu- cation, obsers ' ' ance and practice teaching were vital parts of the educational pro- Laboratory Schools

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before me. There are faculty members and students who devoted time, energy, and talents so that future generations could profit from their efforts. During the depression years, competent faculty persons were available, and West Georgia College was fortunate to secure such services as those of Dr. James Boyd of Georgia Institute of Technol- ogy ;Dr. Robert Strozier, president of Florida State University; Miss Anne Weaver, Librarian; the late professor of English, Gordon Watson of Alabama State Teachers College; Dr. J, C. Bonner, Head of History Department, Georgia State College for Women; Dr. L. E. Roberts, President of Middle Georgia College; and others of comparable train- ing and experience. Dr. Gunn was the first Dean of West Georgia College and Miss Sara Ward was the first Dean of Women. Mr. Strozier was first Dean of Men. It would be quite difficult to verbally express the appreciation and esteem the students as well as fellow professors held for these people I have named. I saw the first scared, timid, and boisterous fresh- man don the now traditional red and blue rat caps which are still a very definite part of West Georgia life. The school colors of red and blue were selected by the faculty and approved by the student body. The red was to represent hardship, glory, and honor in addition to the main branch of the Red and Black in Athens. The blue was to represent hon- esty, sportsmanship, loyalty, and truthfulness. To- day ' s West Georgia students are just as proud to wave high the banners of red and blue as those were who set the precedent. After much dissension over the choice of the college emblem, the students adopted Braves in honor of Mcintosh, the half-breed Indian who aided the federal government in procuring a treaty with the Indians, which opened the western sectors of Georgia for settlement by the white man. In honor of the memory of Mcintosh, the horse block was procured and placed in the corner stone of Adamson Hall. From an editorial in The West Georgian, November 17, 1933, are taken these words, The state of Georgia, the western part, and even our campus are marked by the Indians. This horse block has been removed and now stands as a small monument near the east gate of the front campus. I become quite amused when I see today ' s stu- dents complaining about their one weekly assembly. While West Georgia began making history, she required her students to attend chapel twice each week. One chapel program was of a devotional nature and the other featured speakers and student- presented programs. Freshmen then were allowed two dates per week. For entertainment, couples and groups played games and made conversation . In the early thir- ties, social dancing was pronounced as a part of the physical education program by Dr. D. M. Bras- well, physical education director. He said, A few years ago the person who danced was automatically stereotyped and placed in the great class of people who would, by dancing, wreck their lives and be of no worth to cooperative commonwealth. Hap- pily this attitude is changing by more and more people securing opportunities to see and experience real social dancing. Today I smile as lovely belles and proud gentlemen maintain the tradition of dancing as the most popular source of recreation on the campus. Vespers were inaugurated during the first year of the life of West Georgia. These services were held ' weekly on Sunday evenings to complete the day ' s devotional services and to give all a chance to experience Christian fellowship right here on the campus. I am grateful that this facet of col- lege life has been retained by my sons and daugh- ters. Vespers has served through the years as a link between college, the students ' new home, and the churches of CarroUton. June 1, 1938, marked the adoption of the West Georgia College alma mater, which was written by

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gram. The first laboratory school was Maple Street School of Carrollton, where work was begun in 1934. Some time later, a rural Carroll County school, Sand Hill, became the lab school. Thtough observance and internship, West Georgia students have had first hand experience of working closely with all types of students. This experience gave future teachers some degree of foresight into the years when they would stand before their own classes, endeavoring to raise the standard of educa- tion of this nation. In a program of extension, a new laboratory school was set up this year in the public school system of Newnan. I saw my sons and daughters West Georgia ' s pend their efforts in the for- Contributions To . . War Time Effort . outh Adminis- tration and the General Machine and Wood Shop. i After having been trained for vital war work such as welding, forge, sheet metal work, and machine shop work. West Georgia men and women were prepared to acquire positions in defense plants. The purpose of the Shop was to produce certain war materials and to train students who had enlisted in that work. Thus West Georgia aided in defending her America. War Cloud During World War II there was a sharp decline in enroll- ment. But with the end of that blow-striking era, came a record enrollment with an influx of veter- ans. Since then I have seen brave defenders of my country return to this great institution after hav- ing served in the Korean Conflict and the customary tenure of service to Uncle Sam. These men have an eminent place about the campus. West Georgia ' s library began Sanford Library i h 500 volumes in one of the present classrooms of the Administration Building, with Miss Anne Weaver as librarian. Miss Weaver and I have watched the continual growth of the library. The present building, Sanford Library, was built on the lower end of College Circle beyond Mandeville Hall in 1937. Named for the late Chancellor Steadman V. Sanford, the library in- cludes spacious reading rooms, stack rooms, and staff work rooms. Its collection of 14,500 books covers a wide range of subject matter and includes a reference collection, fiction, general reading, and a special section of Georgiana. I saw Mr. J. C. Bonner and £, , ,„ D. M. Braswell establish ath- Tobacco Bowl , . r wa i- letics as a part or west Georgia s varied program, since they believed that physical education should be recreation instead of an un- desirable task to be done. Such sports as tennis, basketball, and baseball were popular with the men. The girls participated in field hockey, soft ball, basketball, and archery. During World War II the boys ' varsity basketball team was crippled. But in 1946 they regained their territory. The Braves first eleven appeared in the fall of 1946 under Coach Earl Wheby. Although this first football team gained no victories, they set a prece- dent which is still enjoyed today. The most glorious sports event I have witnessed was the football sea- son of 1947. The West Georgia Braves were the first team to receive a victory and trophy from the newly created Tobacco Bowl in Tifton after defeating Norman Park. I watched those robust players, Kelly Grenga, Tip Goza, Angelo Grenga, Ray Robinson, and Johnny Robinson, to name just a few who fought so diligently for the well earned victory. I have seen a number of awards Awards 5g yp £qj. students as memorials to great men of the college. The Watson Award, established in 1940, is a memorial to Gordon Wat- son, late Professor of English. Five honorary cer- tificates are given each year to students who have attained distinction in their work, and who have exhibited those qualities of character, integrity, leadership, and courtesy. In 1953 the friends and classmates of Thomas A. Herndon, Jr. of the 1939 class established a memorial to him. Each year a sheepskin brochur is awarded to three or five freshmen who have best exhibited leadership, inter-