Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-25
Gordon Walker, Washington
Lee Student, to Represent
Virginia District.
EASTERN CONTEST WON
BY RUTH CRITCHFIELD
Two Victors Will Take Part in
Meet to Be Held Here
Next Month.

Two high school orators advanced to
the zone finals of The Evening Stars
area in the National Oratorical Contest
last night, when Gordon Walker of
Westinghouse High School. Ballston,
Va, won first honors in the Virginia
district finals and Ruth Critchfleld, a
16-year-old Junior in Eastern High
School, captured the school champion
ship at that institution.
Both contestants will participate in
The Star finals in Washington, May B.,
when the IL division winners in the
local territory compete for the honor of
representing the zone in the national
finals.
Six winners in early county elirnina-
tons met in the Virginia district finals
to determine which orator would pro-
gress to the area contest.
Six Speakers Compete.
The various counties and their speak
erS were: Arlington County, the winner,
Gordon Walker; Prince William County,
Ray Swank, who took second place;
Fairfax County, j. Francis Jones, third
place; Loudoun County, Woodrow VIII
son DeFord: City of Alexandria, j. Hay
wood Davis, and Fauquier County
George H. Davis, jr.
Walker, who is II years old and preSi-
America and the Constitution" The
chairman of the meeting was Howard
w. Smith, Representative in Congress
from the eighth Virginia district, and
judges were Col. Wade H. Cooper, preSi-
dent of the Commercial National Bank;
Byron Price, head of the Associated
Press Washington Bureau. and Justice
Jesse c. Adkins of the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia.
A musical program was supplied by
the WaShington-L High School Or
chestra and the School Girls Glee Club.
Following announcement of the judges
decision Walker was presented with a
500 cash prize, which The Star gives
to each division winner In its zone.
BY previous agreement the prize at
Eastern High School was divided among
the six contestants, Miss CritchfieId
receiving $50 as winner, while Cloise
Crane, Hoburg Lee, Anna Miller, DON
aid Moore and Leonard Minkoff, the
other five speakers, each getting $40.
Miss Critchfield, who spoke on THE
Political Parties in the Functioning of
the Constitution" is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs Ray Critchfield of 1906 A
street northeast Her father is clerk
in the War Department.
Prominent at School.
Durlng ner n1gn ScnoOl career the
young winner has been vice president
of the Hiking Club, president of the
Science Club member of the Consti-
tuition Club, Of Phi Pi Epsilon and of
the fastener staff. She also has been
on the girls basket ball team.
The Eastern orator is the third of her
family to participate in the oratorical
contest at that school. Her sister was
alternate in the finals last year and her
brother Charles took part in the school
finals the year before.
The Washington competition was
held in conjunction with the meeting
of the Eastern High School Home and
School association. Judges were Prof
Paul E. Lutz CT Wilson Teachers Col
lege. Arthur G. Bishop. former presi-
dent of the Home and School Associa-
ton, and Prof. Reed West of George
Washington University. Fred c. Robin
cite, current president of the associa-
ton, presided. and the presentation of
awards was made by DR.. Charles Hart,
the high school principal. A musical
program was supplied by the Eastern
Orchestra.