Excerpts from the
"Tech High Review" Yearbook
The Memphis Technical High School
- 1944 -
Senior Class History
By Eula Inez Sansing
"All the world's a stage and
All the men and women merely players."
Time: September 1941—May 1944
Place: Memphis Technical High School
Acts:
- I - Silly Sophs
- II - Jolly Juniors
- III - Dignified Seniors
- Climax - Graduation
Manager: Mr. J. L. Highsaw
Assistant Manager: Miss Effie E. Wright
Director: Miss Margaret Kelly
Assistant Directors:
- Mrs. J. L. Barnes
- Mrs. Hallie Douglas
- Mr. Harry Esslinger
- Mr. J. E. Hasselle
- Miss Jeannie Johnston
- Miss Daisy Kirk
- Miss Mayo Linder
- Miss Ella Reilly
- Miss Anne Shewmaker
In the year of our Lord, 1941, there entered through the doors of Tech High more than three hundred sophomore students nervous, shy, and uncertain. But that was only for a few days, for after the warm welcome they received, they immediately began to feel at home.
As this school year 1944 draws to a close there are many faces missing from the class. There are boys who felt the urge to serve this country before they received their diplomas. There are others who quit school to take defense jobs. Still there are others who attended the summer school and received their diplomas early; some in August 1943 and some in January 1944. Our prayers go with all these young people wherever they are, that they may return home safely
Act I. Silly Sophs
The first year plays a prominent role in this history. Filled with wonderful teachers, talent, friendship, and unsurpassed entertainment, many students began to feel school a pleasure instead of a burden.
The officers of the sophomore class were: President, George Cathey; Boys' Vice-president, Clarence Camferdam; Girls' Vice-president, Frances Griffin; Chaplain, Joe Bishop; Treasurer, Beverly Brown; Secretary, Mary Lee Forbes; Sgt.-at-arms, Richard Osborne.
Only a few weeks after the play began, the sophomore class had given a variety show, which was a great success and much talent was discovered among the "silly little sophs".
The sophomore class again stepped into the lime light before Christmas with a program consisting of the Christmas Story, songs, and musical numbers.
After "Pearl Harbor" the sophomore class had a Defense Stamp Drive with a beautiful flag as the reward for the class that bought the most stamps and bonds. The two classes which kept the flag longest were Miss Kelly's and Mr. Esslinger's.
The class gave a skating party early in January at Rainbow which was a great success in spite of a hard rain. After this party the class had saved enough money for the scholarship fund and had a nice balance besides.
A beautiful May festival was given by the sophomore class with a contest for the May Queen and her six maids. The class sang and some danced around the May pole. The queen was Dorothy Wheeler. Her maids were Martha Beatty, Jean Hollifield, Mary Louise Seawright, Lois Seldon, Mavis Weakly, and Evelyn Yancey.
The football team marched forth with both the city and state championship in '41. The Girls' Drill Team of sixty girls marched at each game, twenty-five of them were sophomores and received their letters.
The sophomores played a prominent role in the Glee Club. Ruth Tidwell had a part in the operetta "Hansel and Gretel". The Glee Club went on a singing tour through Leland and Grenada, Mississippi. They sang at the Mid-South Fair, Musical Clinic at Memphis State, City Musical festival, and many other places of interest.
The class played parts in almost every organization in the school including the art department, Latin and Spanish departments, typing and sports.
With all these fine achievements our first year drew to a close and we found ourselves standing on the brink of an even more successful year.
Act II. Jolly Juniors
Since the spring of 1942, Tech lost four of its most valuable teachers. Miss Dorothy Evans, teacher of speech, left to marry Mr. Frank Fisher, now in the Air Corps. Her position was immediately taken by Miss Betty Collins. Mrs. Stella Marsh, sewing teacher, retired and Miss Betty Finley took her place. Mr. Dewey Orr, physics teacher, joined the Air Corps, and is now a Captain. The last to leave was Coach Charlie Jamerson, who joined the faculty of Memphis State. Mr. Murel Nemecek then came as our coach from Southwestern.
The junior class elected its officers very early and very efficient ones were chosen; The president, George Cathey; Boys' Vice-president, Clyde Hooker; Girls' Vice-president, Jay Hawkins; Secretary, Jane McClaran; Treasurer, Martha Beatty; Chaplain, Ruth Tidwell; Sgt.-at-arms, James Sullivan.
The class put on its first program early in the fall with a variety show. A Halloween dance was given by the juniors and seniors in the gym and a very large number of students attended.
The last party was the junior-Senior Prom given by the junior class in honor of the seniors. The dance was held on the Claridge roof, immediately after the class banquet.
The juniors won many honors that year.
Elizabeth Alvarez came in second in the football queen contest.
Ruth Tidwell and Ed Childress had the leading roles in the operetta "Maritana". Paul Kernodle, John Jolly, and Ed Crump also had parts.
The Glee Club gave a weekly radio program "America Is Right" over WREC each Tuesday. Several programs were given by the chorus and soloists at the Millington Naval Base.
Ross Harris, Elmer Tapp, and Fred Silberberg were among the top ten non-commissioned officers, a group from which the outstanding non-com officer was chosen.
Cadet 2nd Lt. Ben Cockrill won the Sons' of the American Revolution Medal for outstanding cadet.
Evelyn Riddell was runner-up in the annual Easter Seal Design contest and also won honorable mention in the city wide O.P.A. contest.
Two juniors won Journalism awards. O'Neil Bishop was chosen the best poet and Eula Sansing the best news writer.
Twenty juniors became members of the Fifty Club, a group of typists who can type as many as fifty words a minute.
Ouida Mae Sanders won highest rating in the city wide competitive piano festival contest.
With two wonderful years passed, we now come to the last and happiest act of this play.
Act III. Dignified Seniors
As the curtain rose on the last act of the senior class history, we found the class split into three groups: the summer graduates, the January graduates and the regular class. There were sixteen seniors who attended summer school and received their diplomas in August. They were: Billie Lee Bolton, Joseph Jacobs, Chris Kentera, Magnus Kook, Robert McCain, Charles Neal, Roy Nelson, Carlin Stuart, Jean Holifield, Grace Douglas, Nevelle Dunavant, Thelma McDonald, Margaret Rafferty, Dorothy Shipley, Dorothy Wheeler, and Jack Perry.
In the mid-term graduating class there were forty-two members. George Crow, Gerald Smith, James Sullivan, Billy Warren, George Russel, and George Williams joined the armed forces before graduating, but did receive their diplomas.
Immediately following their graduation Eva Nell Williams and Mickey Bethany entered nurses training.
Ben Cockrill was the president of the January Class and was also Lt. Col. in R. O. T. C. His sponsor was Ruth Tidwell.
Carroll Killgore, William Chandler , and Ben Cockrill were members of the National Honor Society in the mid-term class.
The following boys have joined the armed forces too early to receive their diplomas; Ronald Clark, army; Lucian Turk, army; Cecil Mosby, army; Carlos Dawson, Marines; L. H. Doyle, Air Corps; Logan Hipp, Marines; and Cecil Pace, army.
With all these already gone the senior class had grown considerably smaller in number.
The senior class officers were, President, George Cathey, serving his third year; Boys' Vice-president, Clyde Hooker; Girls' Vice-president, Jay Hawkins; Secretary, Frances Griffin; Treasurer, Mary Louise Seawright; Chaplain, Ruth Tidwell; Sgt.-at-arms, James Sullivan.
A supporting cast composed of National Honor Society Members consisted of: President, Joe Neudecker, Martha Beatty, June Camp, Chris Kentera, Irma Jeanne Clark, Ed Crump, Gerry Gardner, Jane McClaran, Seth McGaughran, Betty Jane Moore, Roy Nelson, Sarah Oglesby, Roy Patterson, Jeanne Rooker, Fred Silberberg, Ruth Tidwell, Mary Ann Bauer, Melton Brown, Vivian Campanova, George Cathey, Doris Finley, Ann Gardner, Pattie Holt, Clyde Hooker, Estelle Houston, Virginia Jackson, Verace Johnson, Paul Kernodle, Carrol Killgore, Mary Eleanor McCarthy, Julanne McCrory, Elizabeth McFerrin, Virginia Nichols, Mary Nell Tucker, James Williams, Barbara Pardue, Mary Joyce Langham and Eula Sansing.
The football team had only five senior members in '43. These players were Capt. Clyde Hooker, Joe Johnson, Bokin Boyce, Eugene Caudle, and Billy Jones.
Elizabeth Alvarez was crowned the football queen. There were seven senior cheerleaders: Betty Jane Caruthers, Louise Johnston, Louise Braswell, Mary Louise Seawright, Edna Earle Gurley, John Jolly, and John Stewart.
Next the spotlight flashes on the drill field where we see the R. O. T. C. officers and their sponsors:
Lt. Col. George Cathey and Jay Hawkins
Major Joe Neudecker and June Camp
Capt. C. L. Pfeiffer and Frances Griffin
Capt. Clay Ackerman and Martha Norton
Capt. Fred Silberberg and Jill Robinson
Capt. Charles Hunt and Janice Crenshaw
Capt.. Ed Childress and Barbara Cooper
Capt. Dick Bennett and Mary Eleanor McCarty
Capt. Walker Perdue and Lois Mattice
1st Lt. Richard Raby and Shirley Sheffield
1st Lt. Jerry Cox and Sara Beth Meadows
1st Lt. Roy Eddins
1st Lt. Harold Ellis
1st Lt. Billy Warde
1st Lt. Elmer Tapp
1st Lt. John Stewart and Louise Johnson
2nd Lt. Bill Helland and Bettye English
2nd Lt. Bill Rothrock and June Miller
2nd Lt. Richard Akers and Corrine Massey
2nd Lt. Bill Wallace and Coleen Scott
2nd Lt. Cecil Pace
2nd Lt. Carroll Killgore
2nd Lt Jimmy Pentz
2nd Lt. Robert Land
2nd Lt. Adam BotherThe Yellow-jacket staff had eight senior members: Editor-in-chief, and sports editor, Richard Raby and Harold Ellis; Exchange Editor, Eula Sansing; Assistant staff: Virginia Nichols, Ruth Tidwell, Louise Braswell, Dorothy Henderson and Gladys Stone. Of these seniors seven are members of the Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for high school journalists. They are: Harold Ellis, Louise Braswell, Virginia Nichols, Richard Raby, Gladys Stone, Ruth Tidwell and Eula Sansing.
The members of the faculty have all been wonderful to us. Our class division teachers deserve double recognition for they have guided us through all our problems and difficulties, our programs, schedules, and other matters which we could never have managed alone. Most valuable of all has been our senior director, Miss Margaret Kelly, who has helped us to make such a great success of our high school days.
And now it is good-bye good-bye, teachers, classmates, good-bye Tech High, good-bye to all but the priceless memories we carry with us and our school Motto "Ad Astra Per Aspera" which we shall follow and forever bear in mind until that glorious "someday" .when we shall meet again.
The lights grow dim, the curtain falls and our play is ended
The End
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