THE BLACKBIRD
Published by Jonrnalism Classes of Rocky Mount Senior High Schod
VOLUME XXXII
ROCKY MOUNT, N. C. TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1962
NUMBER 8
Governor Is Visitor
Vincent Edwards, better known as Doctor Ben Casey, is the
judge of the 1962 Beauty Court.
Ben Casey Accepts Invitation
To Judge 1962 Beauty Court
Mr. C. M. Edson, principal, Governor Terry Sanford and Robert
K. Smith, Student Organization President, discuss quality education
after Governor’s Sanford’s speech to the students.
Dramatics Students Take Trip
To See Broadway Productions
Vdncent Edwards, star of the
television series “Ben Casey”, has
consented to serve as judge for
the 19G2 Beauty Court of the an
nual Junior-Senior Prom at Senior
High.
Beitler known as Dr. Ben Casey,
Vincent was chosen by members
of THE BLACKBIRD Staff, who
sponsor the Beauty Court, to serve
as 1962 judge.
Sylvia Hutto, Business Manager
of THE BLACKBIRD, wrote a let
ter to Mr. Edwards asking him if
he would consent to serve as judge
for the Beauty Court. After wait
ing many days for an answer, and
not rceiving one, Sandra Sulton
Gravel Is Given
By Club Members
Members of the Service and Ku
dos Clubs have recently donated
gravel for the school parking lot
on Nash Street.
Gravel has been needed for some
time in order to fiU in holes, to
level the ground, and to make the
parking lot more attractive and
convenient to use.
This donation is only one ex
ample of worth-while projects car
ried out by these two clubs. Ser
vice Club members undertook
such money^makiing projects as
selling light ibulbs, selling pro
grams at football games, book
covers, and yearbook covers. Ad
visor for the Service Club, Mrs.
Carolyn Bailey, and advisors for
the Kudos Club, Mrs. Margaret
Williams and Mrs. Mary Bobbitt,
have worked diligently through
out the year to see that all pro
jects for this year were boosted
to the highest extent.
It is the desire of both clubs
that all students co-operate in
keeping the parking lot clean and
neat.
finally called him in California and
got his consent.
Vincent Edwards plays the lead
ing role in the popular television
series “Ben Casey” which he
broadcast over the ABC Network.
His real name is Vinceti/ti Zoino,
and he was born in Brooklyn, New
York June 9, 1928. He stands 6
feet 2 inches tall and weighs 195
pounds, and has brown hair and
eyes. He is single and his hobbies
are weight lifting, writing, and m'j-
sic. Vince has been associated
with Hollywood for 11 years.
Members of THE BLACKBIRD
staff fell pleased and honored at
the consent of Mr. Edwards to
judge the Beauty Court.
Assembly Features
Naval Commander
As Guest Speaker
Commander Richard Altman of
the Norfolk Naval Air Training
Station spoke to the Senior High
student body during assembly Fri
day, April 13.
He spoke on the subject of Com
munism, belhavior of soldiers in
prison camps in Korea, and moral
decay in the service and civilian
Ufe, especially among American
youth. Commander Altman told
the students that as a result of
the lack of discipline in Korea,
measures were being taken in the
service to combat the increase in
misconduct. He stated that results
of their leadership training pro
gram was remarkable and all
phases of misconduct had dropped
sharply S'ince the institution of this
program.
Commander Altman has traveled
through the South giving talks on
this subject. He is partic'jJarly in
terested in educating the public
in commimism.
Members of the Dramatics De
partment accompanied by their
advisor, Mrs. Ada Hobbs, travel
ed to New York City April 11 for
a three day visit to attend various
plays and tour New York City.
Their sightseeing included such
points of interest as the Statae
of Liberty, the Empire Stat Build
ing, he United Nations Buildng,
and Columbia University. “Sub
ways Are for Sleeping,” “Shot in
the Dark,” and “Gift of Time”
were the Broadway plays which
the group attended. They met cele
brities Henry Fonda, Robert
Morse and Julia Harris and saw
the daytime television broadcast,
“Play Your Hunch,” and the Eas
ter Spectacular at Radio Qty HaU
featuring the Rockettes.
Students were given an opportu
nity to go shoppdng and visit ex-
cliisive sihops on Fifth Avenue and
famous New York department
stores such as Orbach’s and
Macy’s. Sunday they attended wor
ship services at the Cathedral of
St. John the Divine.
Those who took the trip inclu
ded Brendia Andrews, Martha
Brown, Jeanne Bryant, Prudy Eat-
man, Margie Fox, Pam Daniel,
Sara Hale, Sheila Murchison, Ann
Nelson, Sandra Perry, Jo Lynn
Randolph, Rena Ruark, Marilyn
Ward, Ann Wyatt, Dorcas Moore,
Bill Benfield, Oscar Elliot, Doug
Matthews, Jimmy Harper, Ken-
neith Rackley, John Daughtridge,
Dell Lamm and Mrs. Hobbs.
School Greets
Terry Sanford
As a part of his visit to Rocky
Mount, Terry Sanford, Governor
of North Carolina, visited Senior
High to speak to members of the
student body last Thursday.
A brief assembly was conducted
in honor of Governor Sanford. Ro
bert Smith, Student Organization
President, introduced Mr. D. S.
Johnson, Superintendent of City
Schools, who in turn introduced
Governor Sanford. Governor San
ford spoke to all stude'nts concern
ing the necessity of education to
world peace and the importance of
students in a program of quality
education.
He said that the gratesit steps
ever taken in North Carolina’s
educational history have been tak
en during the last year. Governor
Sanford also stated that certain
goals have now ‘been set for stu
dents to help their nation achieve.
Through working hard for person
al goals the students can reach
national goals.
Governor Sanford urged each
student to serve his country well
by striving toward bettering his
educational standards. He then
asked those who were in favor of
supporting the drive for better edu
cation in North Carolina schools
to show their support by standing.
AH stood.
PTSA Officers
PTSA officers for the coming
year are Mrs. Guy Barnes,
president; Mr. Theo PJitt, vice
president; Mr. Frank Low, Jr.,
second vice president; Mrs.
Janie Gay White, secretary: and
Mr. E. Wahab Edwards, trea
surer.
Student Council Congress Meets
Jan McGrary, Greg Low, Westry
Battle, Olivier Hammel, Skipper
Tuttle, and Miss Kate Parks Kit-
chin. Student Organization advisor,
attended the Eastern District
North Carolina Student Council
Congress April 13 in Plymouth,
During the morning period. Sen
ior High delegates along with dele
gates from various other North
Carolina High Schools attended
the opening session of the conven
tion as well as general sessions
and discussion groups dealing with
topics of interest to student coun
cils.
After lunch, all delegates as
sembled to hear candidates for
Student Council Congerss district
officers for the coming year de
liver their campaign speeches. Del
egates then attended another ses
sion of discussion groups.
In the last session of the day,
delegates assembled and voted for
officers. Reports were also given
by various committees.
Students who attended reported
that the meeting was interesting
and informative, and gave them
a broader outlook on student coun
cil activities.
"niis was the second convention
of the congress conducted this
year at which the Senior High
Student Organization was repre
sented. Senior High delegates pre
viously attended the first conven
tion of the school year which was
oondujcted in Fayetteville during
October.
To act as a linjk of unity between
various schools and to provide an
exchange of ideas between schools
is the purpose of the Student Coun
cil Congress.
Since a large numbr of students In preparation for his job of
enjoy the use of the parking lot heading the leadership training,
these itwo clubs have earned the Commander Altman attended a
appreciation' of all the students. special school in Indiana.
From (I-r) SWpper Tuttle, Greg Low. Jan McCrary, Westry
Battle, and Olivier Hammel were the students who attended the
Student Council Congress Convention.
Photo by Killebrew
Students: Summer holidays
begin June 8.