Excerpts from the
"Tech High Review" Yearbook
The Memphis Technical High School
- 1946 -
Principal's Message
The war is over, the guns are silent and the boys are coming home from every corner of the earth with most of them already here. Under the G. I. Bill of Rights they can make up for lost time spent at war and now obtain, what at one time appeared that they would miss, an opportunity to educate themselves in the country's best colleges. Now that the war is over it might be appropriate to review a few facts about Tech High's share in it. More than 2,000 of her sons fought in the conflict and at this writing 128 are dead or reported missing in action. Our beautiful plaque will soon be dedicated and now has 80 or more names on it. Hundreds of Tech High ex-service men have enrolled in the colleges throughout the country and the reports received about their work is very encouraging. From many colleges comes the report that the ex-service men are doing better than the other students. Be that as it may, Tech High is justly proud of its part in World War II and prays with all others that as we have now won the war, we shall also win the peace.
This year the Junior division of the R.O.T.C. has maintained a high standard of excellence and has stood high In all events in which it participated, the Armistice day parade, the annual inspection and competitive drill. The only event to mar its progress happened on Thanksgiving day with the tragic death of Cadet Lieut. Col. Dick Young in an automobile accident. Dick died at noon on that eventful day, for just two hours later our Football Team was winning its last Memphis Prep League game with C.B.C. and with it the City Championship. At the game taps were sounded in honor of Dick and a silent prayer was said by thousands for the departed lad. The battalion has been ably commanded by Lieut. Col. John F. Somers as Commandant assisted by Captain A. P. Ellis and Sgt. Arnie Harper. Tech High has never had a more faithful and hard working drill master than Sgt. Harper, always on the job and true to Tech High in every way. He has won a place of affection in the hearts of thousands of Tech students. He leaves us early in June to take his place in the army of occupation in Germany. Our best wishes go with our good Sgt. Harper. After the death of Cadet Lieut. Col. Dick Young the command of the unit was taken over by Cadet Lieut. Col. Russell Willis and Cadet Lieut. Col. Kit Avery, both of whom have rendered fine service to the battalion. Cadet Captains Billy Cathey of Co. A, Bobby Joe Thomas of Co. B, James Bradley of Co. C, James Crain of Co. D, and Johnny Smith of Co. E, have rendered yoeman service and contributed much strength to the organization.
Monday, May 6th was a red letter day for the Tech High Battalion for it was U. S. Government inspection day. Only two cadets were absent. The inspecting officials this year were Lieut. Col. E. J. Knott of Fort Henning, Georgia, Major W. M. King, Headquarters Second Army, Memphis, Tennessee, and First Lieut. D. W. Mulvey, Fifth Infantry Division, Camp Campbell, Kentucky. These Officers were of the best and conducted the inspection in a very satisfactory way. The Principal and Assistant Principal were hosts to a dinner, served by the Foods classes under the direction of Miss Ada Millett, to the inspecting officials. In addition to the above officials the dinner was attended by Mr. W. J. Prescott, President of the Memphis Board of Education, and Mr. O. H. Jones, Secretary of the Board Lieut. Col. John F. Somers and Capt. A. P. Ellis of the Memphis R.O.T.C. Staff. The three class division directors. Miss Anne Shewmaker, Miss Mayo Linder and Mr. S. C. Jordan were invited guests of honor.
In the field of scholarship, Tech High has kept pace with other years. Our scholarship holders at the various colleges and universities have all made good and have done much for the good name of the school abroad. All the new scholarship holders are able and well trained and will no doubt continue the Tech High tradition. We were placed on the roll of honor by the Tennessee Council of English Teachers for the good work of our graduates in Tennessee Colleges. This year we have had scholarship holders at Southwestern University, Memphis State College, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Missouri and at colleges in the east. Next year the list of colleges will be extended. A great deal of credit should be given our faculty committee on the National Honor Society, Miss Mary O. Butler, Miss Jeannie Johnston, and Mr. Harry Esslinger. This committee has worked very hard to see to it that Tech High has an outstanding National Honor Society, and they have done this very thing. Through the good work of our National Honor society so ably managed by this committee the general tone of our scholarship has been considerably raised. Our Assistant Principal, Miss Effie E. Wright has rendered outstanding service in the field of scholarship this year. She has given untiringly of her labor and strength to all scholarship groups and by her fine work in handling transcripts and records she has given much prestige to Tech High School.
This has been a banner year for the clubs of Tech High, all of them have been very active and have carried out their planned programs. These organizations include the National Honor Society, the Girl Reserves, the Hi-Y, the T Club, the various scholastic clubs and the now famous Key Club. Tech High is very proud of these clubs and hopes that they will continue to grow and be prosperous. They all contribute much to the spirit and morale of the school.
In athletics as everyone in Tennessee knows, Tech High this year, stands at the top for having not only produced the best football team in the state but also the best in the South. This football team also distinguished itself by winning the Post Season Charity game with the Knoxville High School and bringing into the coffers of the Blind Charity and some fifty-seven thousand dollars, the largest amount or money ever earned by any athletic event in the history of Memphis. Our coaching staff this year was composed of head Coach, Floyd Roberts, Assistant Coach Harold Swanton, with Andy Reese serving as trainer and Rus Stewart as baseball coach. Next year the staff will be the same with the exception of one member. Mr. John K. Vaughn was added to the faculty as teacher, coach in February and will take the place of Coach Swanton. Coach Vaughn assisted in the spring football and track team work. These coaches will face a great task next school year in rebuilding the football team as practically all of this least year's team will graduate Our basketball team won the City Title, as did our swimming team. We participated in many minor sports. Read the Sports Review for more detail on our athletic achievements for this school year.
This has been a great year for Tech High in Music and Speech. Mr. Mount has had the best musical clubs in years and all of them have won great honors for the school. One hundred of the best singers from West Tennessee were picked for the All-State Chorus and 64 of them came from Tech High. In spite of great transportation, and housing difficulties these singers participated in the State Music Festival in Nashville, April 19-20th. They were chaperoned in their trip to Nashville by Mr. Wilson Mount, Miss Martha Shelton Davis, and by Principal and Mrs. J. L. Highsaw. Mr. Mount was elected President of the Tennessee Music Educators Association. The speech department has been very active this year and has participated in interscholastic meets. One of the most interesting of these meets was the all-Southern Convention on Student Government held at Little Rock, Arkansas. Miss Collins headed our delegation and reported that she and the speakers from Tech High greatly enjoyed the affair. We made a distinct contribution at this meeting. Due to the fine work of Miss Collins at Tech High she was also elected to the Chairmanship of the Speech Section of the State Teachers Association.
At the student Congress of the National Forensic League held at Nashville, Tenn., May 3-4, in the Capitol building, Billy Rawlins was selected as the outstanding speaker of the Student Senate and Tommy Stergios was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for one session.
One of the most interesting of all of our activities is that of our publications the Yellow Jacket and the Year Book, the "Review." These publications have been ably sponsored by Miss Margaret Kelly. They have been both a financial and a literary success. Many people have said that this year's Review is the best in many years. Whatever success these publication have had is due to the untiring labors of Miss Kelly and her staff of hard working students.
Miss Margaret Warren has directed all physical education activities for the girls. She has not engaged in any interscholastic sports but has done a splendid job in physical education for the girls. In several programs her physical education girls have contributed much to the success of the occasion. She has erected the public health work in a very satisfactory manner. She has been assisted by various Red Cross personnel, including Mrs. Rollins and Mrs. Richard Ching.
Mr. M. F. Abt is a national asset to the city of Memphis and to Tech High. His work this year has been more than outstanding. His contributions to the field of Art are varied and numerous as a city builder he is without a peer.
The men of the shops, including Mr. E. H. Smith, Mr. J. B. Parker, Mr. C. T. Cooley, Mr. M. J. Bradley, and Mr. H. R. Widdop, and the teachers of the Commercial Department, including Miss Ruth Stanfield, Mr. J. E. Hasselle, Mr. S. C. Jordan, Mrs. Jo Len Barnes and Miss Mayo Linder, have maintained high standards of training which means much to the future progress and to the development of our city. A City with skilled hands is a progressive city. Miss Mayo Linder's work in school safety has been outstanding. In the Academic Departments, whose teachers include Miss Mary O. Butler, Mrs. C. C. Campbell, Miss Lula P. Cullen, Miss Martha Shelton Davis, Mrs. Hallie Douglas, Mr. Herbert Drane, Mr. Harry Esslinger, Miss Clara Grafried, Miss Jeanie Johnston, Miss Daisy Kirk, Miss Frances McDowell, Miss Anne Shewmaker, Mr. C. C. Wright, and Mr. A. A. Taylor, new records have been made and set for Tech High. Many first places have been won in various contests be-cause of the faithful work of these teachers. They are entitled to our vote of thanks.
Mrs. Margaret Whitcomb has rendered the business interest of Memphis a great service in maintaining at Tech High a very fine class in Distributive Education The prospects for next year are the best in history. One class of more than 30 has already been signed up.
Mrs. Earl J. Quinley has succeeded her husband as secretary of Tech High School, and has given untiring labors in maintaining a high standard for the office.
Miss Ora Lee Newton has attained full recognition by the Southern Association for the Tech High Library and has added tremendously to the total number of books this year.
Mrs. C. C. Campbell has rendered outstanding service to the public for her management of her various tag day drives in the school.
We pay honor and tribute to Prof. C. C. Wright and Prof. A. A. Taylor on their retirement from teaching. Each has devoted more than a half of century to the welfare of their country's youth. Each has been a faithful and outstanding public servant. They retire with the best wishes of all Tech High School for their future health and happiness.
The work of our PTA this year under the presidency of Mrs. Hugh Cullen has been most excellent. The organization has carried out a very fine program of activities and has held its sessions in its own, well-equipped tearoom, shared with the Home Economics Department. Several very enjoyable teas have been given during the year.
One of the most enjoyable affairs of the entire school year was the annual fashion show and tea given by the Home Economics Department, under the direction of Miss Betty Finley and Miss Ada Millett. The affair, given on the lawn of the campus, was largely attended by the mothers and friends of Tech High. Some 140 girls paraded in review, showing their handiwork in the matter of up-to-date styles.
We had the honor of sharing one of our best teachers with the Veterans Institute, so that we might contribute our share to the educational welfare of the ex-service men. This teacher was Mrs. Hallie Douglas. Mrs. Douglas has made a most excellent class director at Tech High and we are fondly awaiting her return next year to direct the activities of the Senior Class.
In closing the brief review of a glorious school year, let me give my vote of thanks to Mrs. Fred K. Beeson for having maintained a most excellent cafeteria under most difficult circumstances, and to Mr. C. E. Craig for his untiring efforts in his work as a custodian. In spite of many troubles in securing adequate labor, Mr. Craig has kept our buildings warm and clean. I give a vote of thanks to the faculty as a whole and to the student body for their fine spirit of cooperation, which made all these things possible. For all these blessings Tech High is profoundly grateful.
J. L. HIGHSAW, Principal.
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