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Volume XXI
PUBLISHED EACH SCHOOL MONTH BY THE STUDENTS OF THE OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL
Oxford, N. C., May, 1956
Number 5
Commencement
Exercises To Be
Held May 31
Rev. Russell Harrison, Dr.
William H. Cartwright To Be
Speakers
Plans for the graduating exercises of the
Class of ’56 have been completed, as an
nounced by Superintendent C. W. Duggins
and Principals W. J. House and E. T.
Regan. The annual baccalaureate sermon,
which begins the exercises, will be held
at the First Baptist Church at eight o’clock
on May 27. Following the custom of the
rotation of ministers, the Reverend Rus
sell Harrison, pastor of the Oxford Metho
dist Church, will deliver the baccalaureate
sermon. Rev. Harrison will be assisted
by several local pastors.
Class Night
Informal exercises in honor of Class
Night will be held in the Oxford High
School auditorium on Wednesday, May
30, at eight-fifteen o’clock.
The valedictory will be delivered by
Johnny Welch, who has achieved the
highest scholastic average in the class;
the salutatory will be given by Jack Raper
whose average is second highest. At this
time, Peggy Hamme will read the pro
phecy ; Charlotte Hunt will deliver the
Class Poem.; Rowland Matteson will pre
sent the East Will and Testament; Guy
Reid will review the Class Historj’^ and
Jean Earl Hawks will introduce the Class
of ’56. Class gifts have been chosen by
Johnny Welch, and Jack Raper, class
treasurer, will present a farewell gift to
the school. Various medals and awards
will be presented at this time by Mr,
House.
Graduation Night
On the night of May 31 at eight fifteen,
members of the Senior Qasses of Oxford
High School and of John Nichols High
School will receive their diplomas. Speak
er for the occasion will be Dr. William
H. Cartwright, chairman of the Depart
ment of Education of Duke University.
Members of the Class of ’56 who will
make up the Oxford High School roll are:
Adcock, James Astor, Jr.; Baker, Allan
Price, Jr.; Baker, David Joseph; Blackwell,
Bobby Clifton; Blackwell, Nelson Gray;
Bryan, Dora Allred; Burnette, James Gar
rett; Cheatham, Vera Mae; Clayton, Al
bert Thomas; Crawford, James Walker,
Jr.; Crews, Walter Washington, Jr.; Cur-
rin, William Crawford; Currin, Rosalie;
Day, Frances Ann; Dement, Bruce Ed
ward; Dickerson, Janet Marie; Dixon,
Myrta Ann; Gentry, Benjamin Autry;
Gibbs, Ovis Marie; Gillis, Kathleen; Ham
me, Mary Elizabeth; Hatton, Joanne
Clara; Hawks, Jean Earl; Hogan, Thomas
Ward; Hughes, Phillip L.; Hunt, Char
lotte Ann; Jones, Doris Jean; Mangum,
Carrie Patricia; Matthews, James William;
Matteson, Rowland Lanier, Jr.; Morgan,
John Hayward; Munn, Robert Thomas;
Newman, James Willie, Jr.; Newton, Bar
bara Grace; Oakley, Naomi Rhe; O’Brien,
Nancy Carolyn; Parrott, Nelson O’Biiant;
Puckett, Carl Leland, Jr.; Quick, Stella
Louise; Raper, Julius Rowan, Jr.; Reid,
William Guy, Jr.; Seate, Margaret Jean;
Walters, Shelba Jean; Watkins, Betty
Jean; Watkins, Jack; Welch, John Tuns-
tall; Wells, Patsy Taylor; Wheeler, James
Howard; White, David Lee; White, Doris
Patricia; Wrenn, John David; Yow, Earl
Russell, Jr.
Seniors Leave Many
Useful Gifts
The senior class of 1956 has left Oxford
High School several gifts which will re
main useful over the years. The new
n'^eaker’s stand, which has a beautiful
light oak finish, replaces the one given by
the Class of 1947. The stand was made
by Mr. John Baker who lives in Oxford.
The school has long needed some new
flags, so the Seniors gave a new United
States and North Carolina flag. Ever
run around wondering what time it is?
Well, those days are definitely over, be
cause that shiny new clock in the Audi
torium keeps good time all day.
It b the sincere hope of each senior
that these gifts will be used for the com
fort and enjoyment of the students.
Student Body Elects Officers
Nellie Holmfis Ballou was elected by the
student body of Oxford High School to
serve as President for the 1956-57 term.
Martha Taylor was chosen by acclamation
for the office of Vice-President, as was
Ann White for Secretary and John Webb
for the office of Treasurer.
Nellie Holmes serves as President of
the Junior Class, a forward on the Basket
ball Team, a member of the G.A.A., this
year she was Vice-President of the Student
Council and Associate Editor of “The
Owl.”
Martha, who was chosen for Vice-Presi
dent, is a member of the Latin Qub, G.
A. A., guard on the Basketball Team, and
Circulation Manager of “The Owl”. Mar
tha was also the Sophomore representa
tive in the Homecoming Court.
The Secretary, Ann White, is President
of the Latin Club, a member of the Chorus
and Girls’ Glee Club, she is in the G.A.A.,
as well as being prominent in Church acti
vities.
John Webb, who was chosen as
Treasurer, is a member of the Debating
Club, Latin Club, B.A.A., and was this
year a representative from his home room
to the Student Council.
Seniors Present'
"Green Valley"
“Green Valley”, a comedy-fantasy in
three arts written by Frank Wattron was
presented on April 20, 1956 by The Senior
Class of Oxford High School.
The play, under the direction of Miss
Lorena Averett, took| place in front of
Eldon Berry’s cabin in the fabulously fer
tile Green Valley.
The seniors who participated in the play
and the part they portrayed are as fol
lows:
Eldon Berry BiUy Currin
Prim Stokes Jean Earl Hawks
Tinker Smith Johnny Welch
Tobias J. Everheel Rowland Matteson
Martha Mears Dora Bryan
Eva Friese Nancy O’Brien
Lonesome Berry Jack Raper
Grandpaw Berry Guy Reid
Granny Berry Charlotte Hunt
Calhoun Berry Tommy Hogan
Zeb Berry Walter Crews
Ransome Berry Jimmy Adcock
Prudence Peggy Hamme
Rufe Thomas Phillip Hughes
Sarah Thomas Patsy Mangum
Hip Cooley Robert Munn
Mamie Cooley Frances Day
Shade Stokes Jimmy Burnette
Honor Students
JOHNNY WELCH
Honor Students
Chosen
At the close of the second six week’s
period the Valedictorian and Salutatorian
were chosen from the graduating class of
’56. The Valedictorian is Johnny Welch.
Johnny has been a fine student all through
high school. Some of his activities have
been: Band 1,2,3,4; Drum Major 4; De
bating Club 1,4; Debater 2,3,4: Beta Club
3,4; Latin Club 1,2; Chorus 2,3; Chief
Marshal 3,4; Junior Play; Annual Staff 4;
Giftorian; Senior Superlative.
Jack Raper is the Salutatorian. Some of
his activities have been: B.A.A. 1,2,3,4;
Intramurals 1; Chorus 2,4; Beta Club 3,
4; Student Council 3; Junior Play; Mar
shal 3,4; Debating Club 3,4, Vice President
3; Junior Class Treasurer; Senior Class
Treasurer; French Club 3; Band 1,2,4;
Senior Superlative.
Norwood Heads
Oxonian Staff
On April 30, 1956 the officers for the
1956-1957 Oxonian Staff were elected. They
are as follows: Editor, Buddy Norwood;
Associate Editor, Dan Averett; Art Editor,
Gwen Hester; and Business Manager,
Frank Bullock.
Buddy Norwood was elected Editor by
acclamation. Buddy has a wide range of
activities which include B. A. A., Oxonian
Staff, a member of the Football Team,
Basketball Team and Golf Team. Buddy
is also a member of the Bus Drivers Club.
Dan Averett, winning over his oppon
ent William Watkins was elected Asso
ciate Editor. Dan is a member of the
Annual Staff, B. A. A., Golf Team, Foot
ball Team, Basketball Team and is on the
Student Council. He also belongs to the
Latin Club and is Treasurer of the Sopho
more Class.
The Art Editor, Gwen Hester won over
her opponents, Johnny Williams and John
Cheatham. Gwen has a wide range of
activities which include: Latin Club, G.
A. A., Chorus and Girls Glee Club.
Gwen is also very active in Church acti
vities.
Frank Bullock was elected by acclama
tion for the office of Business Manager.
Frank is a member of the Baseball Team,
Basketball Team and the Football Team.
He is in the B. A. A. as well as Annual
Staff.
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JACK RAPER
Evening In Paris
Theme of Jr.-Sr.
On Saturday, May 12, the Junior Class
was host to the Seniors at the annual
Junior-Senior Banquet and Prom. The
dinner was held at the Woman’s Club,
where a French menu consisting of fruit
cocktail, salad, broiled chicken, asparagus
casserole, parslied potatoes, ice tea, hot
rolls, and Chocolate eclairs was served.
Guests were seated at card tables with
white table cloths and drip candles in the
middle. Nellie Holmes Ballou, president
of the Junior Class, was mistress of cere
monies and gave the welcome. Others
giving toasts were as follows:
Toast to Superintendent Jimmy Baucom
Toast to Principal Frank Bullock
Toast to Faculty Sallie Webb
Toast to School Board Tommy Steagall
Toast to Seniors Jane Hedrick
Toast to Mothers Mary Hall
The waiters and waitresses provided the
entertainment after the meal by doing the
Can-Can. The girls wore black costumes
with bright aprons and small headbands.
The waiters were dressed in black trousers
with white eton jackets and plain cummer
bunds. The waiters and waitresses were
Marsha Ray, Mae White, Callie Frazier,
Polly Daniel, Charlotte Easton, Augusta
Burwell, Mary Helen Blackwell, Jane Wil
liams, John Hall, John. Webb, Charles
Stovall, Jack, Overton, Edwin Knott, Jerry
Averett, William Lytton, and Fielding Wal
ker.
Following the banquet, the Prom was
held in the Gymnasium. Guests entered
through the Arch of Triumphe into a street
of Paris, lined with sidewalk cafes, shops,
and the Eiffel Tower in the background.
During intermission a floor show was giv
en as the entertainment. The orchestra
which provided the music was “The
Seranders.”
Juniors Receive
Class Rings
April 16 will always be remembered by
the class of ’57. On this most memorable
date the Juniors received their class rings.
After ten weeks the long awaited date
finally arrived. The members of the class
who ordered rings had a meeting after
exams and decided that they would all
order the same color stone. The color
selected was blue, which any Junior will
tell you is the most beautiful of all.