Woodrow Wilson High School - President Yearbook (Portsmouth, VA)

Page 16 text:

12 “Ark of Safety” ” a a a ‘es r a eehciateiea cane a ee ee Leaning over Tom’s grave, Sue Ann sings of her love for him. Remembering his past life, Clyde Tollett sings “Changing Times.”

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Class of ’78: The Dream To Be” Fag rar As anyone who attended would agree, the activities of Homecoming night were some of the best in student life for the year. It was a night filled with spirit, anxiety, and tension as the Fighting Presidents “swatted the Hornets” of Deep Creek by a score of 32-8. With only five minutes left before halftime, Deep Creek was leading 8-7, but with amazing speed, two touchdowns were scored and at halftime the score stood 20-8 in favor of the Presidents. Nine different clubs, classes, and organizations showed their spirit by constructing floats, the largest number in several years. First place honors were award- ed to the Senior Class float entitled “Class of ‘52: The ‘Dream That Was — Class of ’78: The Dream To Be.” This was done in orange and blue and included a beautifully constructed rainbow. Members of the Senior Class paraded on the float in ’50’s costumes and in graduation attire. Second place was awarded to the Junior Class; third place to the Freshman Class. Halftime came to a close as Sharon Martin was crown- ed ' Homecoming Queen 1977. Also chosen by the stu- dent body were Rita Bennett — Maid of Honor; Iris Thomas — Sophomore Representative; April Sweeney — Freshman Representative; Valerie Winborne — Eighth Grade Representative. Homecoming Queen — Sharon Martin Eighth Grade Representative — Valerie Winborne Freshman Main of Honor — Rita Bennett Representative — April Sweeney

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While cleaning his gun Tom Tollett tells his mother what he plans to do to John Cutshaw. ee a cc l i John Cutshaw says his last words before the Judge passes sentence. “Ark of Safety”, the fall play, was presented on stage December 16 and 17. It told the story of a bit- ter conflict between two feuding mountain families, the Tolletts and the Cutshaws. The setting was the great Smoky Mountains, around the turn of the cen- tury. “Ark of Safety” was the first realistic drama to be presented on our stage in many years and was Sur- prisingly well received. It is also interesting to note that Wilson was the first High School in the country to represent this play. The play had an extremely large cast which con- sisted of dancers, drama students, thespians, and chorus members. The play was unique in that no props were used. Actors had topantomime such ac- tions as using a gun, drinking from a whiskey jug, eating dinner, and carrying a coffin. Throughout the play the stage took on many dif- ferent scenes such as; a wedding, murder, church, court, and a drowning. One of the most beautiful scenes was the wedding between Sue Ann McTavish and Tom Tollett who is later murdered by John Cutshaw. Later, John Cutshaw was put in prison. During the church scenes the cast sang old hymns and listened to several sermons. As the play ended, the two feuding families had resolved their differences and life became peaceful again. During the disco scene David and Stephanie do the “Bump”.