The Blackbird
Published by Journalism Classes of Rocky Mount Senior Higli Scliool
VOLUME XXXII
uo;ky moont, n. c. Tuesday, may 20, 1962
NUMBER 9
Class of 1962 Awaits Graduation
Margie Parrish is queen of the 1962 Beauty Court.
Photo by Killebrew
Margie Parrish Wins Crown
Of Annual Beauty Court Queen
Calendar
Margy Parrish, a senior girl,
was crownod q^jeon of the 1962
Beauty Court, during the Junior-
Senior Prom sponsored May 11 in
the Seniior High gymnasium.
Sylvia Hutto, Business Manager
of THE BLACKBIRD, introduced
the winners of the contest. Chosen
as Maid of Honor was Mary Alice
Kay. First runner-up was Dawana
Gay; second runner-up, Shelley
Stallings; third runner-up, Martha
Weeks; fourth runncr-up, Judy Kin-
cheloe; fifth runner-uip, Carolyn
Swain. Ladies-in-waiting were
Betty Jo Biryiant, Polly Reynolds,
Marietta Broadfield, Pat Daniel,
Lee Cuthrell, Diane Smith, Bryan
Daley, Ginna Aldridge, and Ther
esa Haggerty.
Queen Margie was crowned by
Sandra Sultan, Editor of THE
BLACKBIRD. Crown bearer was
Scott Merit, and flower girl was
Lee Brewer. After being crowned
in the 'center of the dance floor,
the queen walked to the throne
which was decorated with flowers.
Her court then made their entrance
and took thedr places beside her.
Later, members of the Junior
class, Jackie Redding and Deverna
GerMnger performed for the queen.
Winners of the contest were cho
sen by Vincent Edwards, better
known as Dr. Ben Casey.
Monday, May 28 — Caps and
gowns issued, Athletic Awards
Assembly.
Tuesday, May 29 — THE
BLACKBIRD issued. Caps and
gowns issued.
Thursday, May 31 — Senior
Class pd'cture made on steps of
First Baptist Church, End of
senior exams.
Friday, June 1 — Beginning
of regular exams.
Sunday, June 3 — Baccalau
reate Sermon, (5:00 p. m.)
Monday, June 4 — Senior Day
activities.
Tuesday, June 5 — End of
regular exams.
Wednesday, June 6 — Awards
Assembly, Make-up exams,
Commenceanent EScercises.
Friday, June 8—Report cards
issued.
Monday, June 11 — Summer
School registration.
MemorableServicesConducted
In Honor Of Graduation Class
In honor of the Class of 1962 a
(baccalaureate and a commence
ment service wiU be conducted
Sunday, June 2, and Wednesday,
June 6, respectively, in the Senior
High auditorium.
C. M. Edson, principal, will pre
side over the baccalaureate. Band
members will play a prelude entit
led “To a Wild Rose” and the pro-
Delegates Selected
For Annual Project
Honored this year as Senior High
delegates to Girls’ and Boys’ State
are! Jimmy Hubbard, Skipper Tut
tle, Gimia Aldridge, aud Ann Flye.
This program is sponsored an
nually by the American Legion.
Those who attend live and work
in a miniature state government.
Each delegate participates in a
party and elects officers. To teach
the stnuicture of governlment and
, 1 g f-k 1 show the importance of good
Student Body Chooses Utticers the
Big Crowd Attends
Performance Given
By School Bands
Rocky Mount Junior and Senior
High bands conducted a jodnt
spring concert in the Senior High
auditorium May 18.
Approximately 800 people at
tended the program, which cansis-
ted of both popular and classical
musdc. Jundor High appeared first
and presented five compositions.
After a short intermission the
Senior Band presented the remain
der of the program.
Mr. C. M. Edson, Senior High'
Principal, presented the annual
■music awards. Ddannt Wiihalf was]
recipient of the Chambor of Com
merce John Phillips Sousa Award.I
Arnold Adams received the W. C.|
Reid Award.
cessiional and recessional of “Pomp
'and Circumstance”. Dr. James
McChesney, Jr. will present the
invocation. Members of the Senior
High choir will sing selections en
titled “Twenty-Third Psalms” and
“One God.” Reverend Hok H. Rit
chie of the Trinity Lutheran Church
in Rocky Mount will read the
scriptures and pray the prayer.
Reverend Frank C. Perry of the
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in
Ohapel HiU will deliver the ser
mon. Dr. McChesney wiU then
give the benediction, and Seniors
wiU march out of the auditorium.
Members of the Class of ’62 will
be officially graduated at the Com
mencement Service. Reverend
Heniry Ruark of the local First
Methodist Church wiU give the
commencement invocation. Dr.
Stacy Weaver, President of the
new North Carolina Methodist Col
lege, will deliver the commence
ment address. Diplomas wiU be
presented to graduates by a mem
ber of the School Board. Band and
choir members wiU provide music.
A prelude of “Waltz and March”
[win be played by the band, as well
jas the processional and recessional
)f “Pomp and Circumstance”.
iChoir members will sing the “Bea-
Ititudes” and “Alleluia”. Reverend
iRuark will prono’ance the bene-
'diction.
New Student Organization officers are (1-r) Jan McCrary, Greg
Low, and David Williams.
Photo by Killebrew
Staff Members Elect Officers
To Head School Publications
To Serve in New School Year
student Organization officers for who claim 100 percent voting a-
the term of 1962-1963 were elected imong all present members. Sen-
May 15 in one of the most com- iors, sophomores, and juniors rat-
petitive elections ever conducted ed first, second, and third respec-
Bt Senior High. tively and left the auditorium in
New officers are Pr^ident, Greg that order.
Low; Vice-Prcsidcnt, David Wil
liams; and Secretary, Jan McGra-
ry. Edwin Arrington will fulfill the
duties of treasurer, as he was ap
pointed for this position by the
president. Candidates for the offi
ces were President, Ginna Aldridge
and Greg Low; Vice-Pres'ident,
Glenn Hemmerle, David Williams,
Neal Adkins; Secretary, Martha
Carson and Jan McGrary. Cam
paign managers for candidates
were Tom McAuley, Eddie Allen,
Jimmy Hubbard, John H. Daugh-
tridge, Tom Nicholson, Bill Bon
ner, Jim McChesney, and Shelly
StaUings, respectively.
Candidates spoke individually
lo both the Freshman and fk>pho-
more classes before they spoke to
the student body May 14.
Voting was stimulated by the
efforts of currcMt Student Organi-
r.'ation vice-president, Jimmy Dav-
t-nport. As proposed by Jimmy,
romixjtition among the classes was
conducted to encourage students
to exercise student governlment
voting. As an incentive to urge
students to vote, it was stated that
4 he class with the highest number
ot members voting percentage
wise was to be allowed to leave
the auditorium first at the next
Friday assembly. This competi
tion was won by the freshmen.
A committee of Junior Class fac
ulty memoers cnoose the dele
gates according to leadership,
character, service, and patriotism
qualities and potential civic res
ponsibility.
This year Skipper and Ann will
serve as alternates.
Students Honor Olivier Andre Hammel
At Final Farewell Assembly, Banquet
Foreign Exchange Student Day
was proclaimed Tuesday, May 22,
in honor of Olivier Andre Hammel,
foreign exchange student from
France.
Foreign Exchange Day featured
an assembly program at activity
period and a banquet at Josh Bul-
luck’s that nSght. Presiding over
the assembly was Jim McChesney,
Chairman of the Foreign Exchange
Committee. Dudley Harper intro
duced the guest speaker, Mr. Nor
man I^ee, who gave an explanation
of the American Field Chapter in
Rocky Mount. Jim McChesney told
the story of Senior High exchange
students, and Robert K. Smith in
troduced the 1962 host family of
iVtr. and Mrs. T. A. WiUiams and
son David. Following this was
Olivier’s farewell speech.
Olivier’s Banquet also was pre
sided over by Jim McChesney. ►
Principal C. M. Edson delivered
Hhe invocation. There were toasts
to Danielle Wenandy 'by Lanny
Shuff and to Greta Shine by Becky
Walder. Both Danielle and Greta
are also foreign students. Follow
ing these were the toasts to Olivier
by each of the class presidents, a
commun'ity representative, and a
representative of the Student Or-
organization. Olivier’s farewell
speech was the highlight and the
final item at the banquet.
Staff officers for the two Senior
High publications, THE BLACK
BIRD and the “Hi-Noc-Ar” have
recently been elected to serve on
the staffs of 1962-1963.
“Hi-Noc-Ar” staff members con
ducted their election May 16. Bec
ky Walker was elected to serve as
e^tor. Ginna Aldridge 'wUl fulfill
the duties of business manager,
and Pete Raper will be in charge
of circulation for the yearbook.
Jack Cummings will manage staff
advertising. Advisors for the “Hi-
Noc-Ar” are Mrs. Nellie Winstead
and Miss Alma Murchison.
As a result of the election of
THE BLACKBIRD staff, there will
be five seniors la'nd one junior serv
ing as officers next year. Staff
members elected Dwight Thom'as,
Jr. to head the officers as editor.
J. C. Kermon will serve the staff
in the capacity of assistant editor.
As circulation manager, Mike
Floyd wiU manage the circulation
of the paper; and Dell Harris,
Business Manager, wiU handle
staff business affairs. Receiving
training throughout a part of the
past sichool year in the field of
advertising was Njincy Helmb.
This training qualifies her to fill
the position of advertisinig mana
ger. Assistant advertising manager
will be a junior who is selected to
work on the staff. Prior to the
closing of school, Mrs. Margaret
'Williams, Staff Advisor, will ap
point page editors.
Olivier Andre Hammel
Publication staff officers for next year are, back row (1-r), Jack
Cummings, Pete Rapcr, Mike Floyd, J. C. Kerman; middle row
(1-r), Nancy Helms, Dell Harris; and front row (1-r), Ginna
Aldridge, Dwight Thomas, and Becky Walker.
Photo by Killebrew