CONGRATULATIONS
AWARD WINNERS
THE BLACKBIRD
GOOD LUCK
SENIORS!
Publi»hed by Journalism Clan of Rocky Mount High School
VOLUME XXIII
ROCKY MOUNT, N. C., TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1952
Newsees
Mellor, ‘Girl of the Year’
Outstanding service to her
school has brought Janet Mellor
two of the highest honors a sen
ior can receive.
Janet has been declared winner
of the Civitan’s first essay award
^nd presented a $100 scholarship.
She has also been named as the
“Girl of the Year” by the Busi
ness and Professional Women’s
Club of this city.
For the last four years, Janet
has worked hard and these two
honors have climaxed her high
school career. "
^ViniJham, Holliday Co-Editors
Jo Ann Windham and Wjlton
Holiday have been elected co
editors of the Blackbird for 1952-
1953 and Jane Edwards will serve
as business manager.
After serving this year as as
sistant editor, exchange editor,
and assistant advertising manager,
respectively, Jo Ann, Wilson, and
Jane' are “in-the-know” about
what is expected of them in their
new positions.
This is- the first time The
Blackbird has operated under a
co-editorship since the present ad
visor has been working with the
paper. When asked how she
thought this combination would
work out, Mrs. Young said, “With
NUMBER 14
Commencement Plans Are Completed
QUO VADIS
bird has a double chance to win
back that one rating or maybe
even a Medalist grade. I’m sure
they’ll do their best.”
Williams, Pullen Gel
Braswell Scholarship
Two outstanding students, Gene
Williams and Sylvia Pullen, re
ceived the first scholarships set up
by the Planters Bank in Memory
of Mr. J. C. Braswell. These
scholarships, named the Planters
Bank James Craig Braswell Mem
orial Scholarships, will be given
each year to the two students of
Rocky Mount high school who de
sire to further their education and
who are deserving of this help.
Mr. Braswell, noted official
of the Planters Bank, was for a
long period of years outstanding
in the work of education in
Rocky Mount, having served many
years on the school board. The
bank wanted to pay tribute to his
memory and did so b"y establish
ing the scholarship. Even before
his death, Braswell school was
■ named so in honor of this well-
known citizen.
This award was set up by the
bank in the form of a trust fund
with the $500 interest to be given
in th6 form of two scholarships
valued at $250 each to the two
students selected. A special nom
inating committee, composed of
faculty members, was appointed
by Mr. Edson and the complete re
cords of the students nominated
along with personal comments
from several individual teachers
were sent to the bank. Here a
committee, made by the bank,
studied this material and made the
selection of the recipients.
i>mn (ifne Byrum, Grace Daniels, Fred Patton and Carolyn Ellis.
— Photo by Rabil
Manj Recognitions Made
On Yearly Awards Day
Awards and recognition beyond
every day routine were presented
in assembly Thursday and Friday.
Athletic awards were presented
Thursday and civic and general
awards were made on Friday.
Thursday’s program was divid
ed into four general categories;
individual athletic awards and
trophies were presented by the
donors; intramural awards were
made to the members of the home
room champion in the different
sports; the GAA awards were
presented with Margaret Moore
Eason and Anita Williamson
winning high recognition for their
work for four years: and letters
and stars were presented to the
members of the varsity athletic
teams and cheerleaders and re
cognition was given to members of
the track team.
Civic and general awards were
|m«de during Friday’s program. A
Inumber of departmental awards
were male including music,
science, and Student Organiza
tion. Local civic clubs of Rocky
Mount presented numerous recog
nition in the form of certificates,
medals, and different scholarships.
Delegates to different conferenc
es such as Girls’ and Boys’ State
and Citizenship Youth Conference,
were announced. In honor of the
former superintendent of schools,
the annual R. M. Wilson award
was made as was the Babe Ruth
Sportsmanship award. Also at
this time came the recognition of
the Hi-Noc-Ar and Blackbird
staffs by Miss Murchinson and
Mrs. Young.
Annual Dedicated To Mr/Mac’
Thanks *To You
A* this school year comes to
a close, THE BLACKBIRD staff
members wish to take this op.
portunity to express apprecia
tion and thanks to the students
and the teachers for support
through subscriptions, contribu-
Hons and patience. We hope that
our efforts to maintain a policy
in keeping with the high stand
ard of the school and to bring
you An inteir^stiiig' view
of the news have met with your
approval.
Good luck,
The Staff
Cooley, Waterhouse
Principal Speakers
Caps and gowns have been hit
ting the halls as the seniors of the
Class of ’52 prepare for that “biy
day.”
Although the upperclassmen
aren’t wearing them now, the caps
and gowns may be seen neatly
tucked under arms and in lockers,
as the seniors, who have prepared
for the commencement exercises
every morning this week at 8:30,
prepare for their graduation.
Last in line but first in import
ance on the seniors “Important
Days” list is the one circled in
red. Graduation day! Hon. Harold
D. Cooley has been selected by a
committee to deliver the com
mencement address on the evening
of June 4 when approximately 160
seniors will walk across the stage
for the last tin^e as high school
students to receive the long
worked-for diploma, the Bible,
and the hand clasp of congratula
tion.
Dr. John W. Kincheloe will give
the invocation and benediction at
the exercises.
Rev. Wilfred T. Waterhouse of
Washingrton, N. C., is to deliver
the Baccalaureate Sermon on the
late afternoon ot Jnne 1. Rev.
Hoyt Ritchie and Rev. Gray
Temple are also to take part in
the services. The high school choir
will sing “Ave Maria,” and “Chei-
bim No. 7.”
“Senior Day,” May 29, will be
the day that the seniors will make
their caps and gowns work mira
cles for them. These “Senior
clothes” will open certain doors
and provide certain privileges.
Seniors will be allowed to “teach”
classes, leave the classroom early,
and do other “PC” stunts during
this day.
Glass Elections Held;
Hallford Not In Race
‘‘ ■■ In his many capa
cities he has proved that young
people are an intregal part of his
life. So we, the staff of the 1952
Hi-Noc-Ar, gratefully dedicate
this, our annual, to Mr. A. M. Mc
Gregor—teacher and friend.”
So stated the dedication of the
11952 Hi-Noc-Ar which Albert
Rabil, editor of the year’s annual,
read when he presented the first
of the ’52 Hi-Noc-Ar’s to “Mr.
Mac.”
In describing Mr. Mac, the dedi
cation said, “Through the years
we students came in contact with
those who, through kind attention
and patient effort, mold our
thoughts into a better understand
ing and a deeper sense of appre
ciation of the world in which we
live. Such a man is the one hon
ored here.”
The cover of this year’s annual
is most attractive and shows the
different aspects of school life
with designs depicting the sports
activities by the figure of a foot
ball player and the social field by
a dancing couple. Other figures
are graduates, a majorette, a
cameraman, and a man at a desk.
In the recent class elections the
rising sophomores chose Bobby
Savage as their president; Bill
Hedgepeth, vice-president; Audry
Kennedy, secretary and Sandy
Thorpe, treasurer.
Margaret Daughtridge was elect
ed president of the rising junior
class and Ruth Sides, secretary.
There will be a re-vote between
Lloyd Hedgepeth and Sue Gre
gory for vice-president and be
tween Nancy Hollingsworth and
Stan Steel for treasurer.
The rising senior class elections
have not been beld but since Ed
ward Hallford withdrew from the
race Mary Ann Braswell is auto
matically made secretary.
The elections and re-votes will
be held before the end of school
on Thursday.
Retd Announces Work
Of New Cheerleaders
Marland Reid, newly elected
head cheerleader, has announced
that the new cheerleaders have a
lot of work to do on several pro
jects during the summer.
Several of the old cheerleaders
are back to help Marland with
these projects. They are Shelia
Robbins, Richard Byrd, and Jud-
ith Ann Johnson, The newly elect
ed ones are Janet Fulcher, Marie
Tyler, Jim Barksdale, and Gene
Arnold.
One of the biggest projects for
the cheerleaders themselves to
profit by is a new letter system.
Points will be given for the ac
complishments made by the group.
This system is being worked out
by Mr. Edson and Mr. Fountain
and means that the cheerleaders
will really have to work this year
for their letters.
^ The second most important pro
ject is the raising of money for a
Public Address system. The cheer
leaders will raise this money them
selves and the system will be for
their use out at the ball park.