The Wilmington morning star., 1940-04-25
Seventy-Four Seniors, Largest
Class In History, Re-
ceive Diplomas

WHITEVILLE, April 24.-Seven-
ty-four Whiteville High school SEN
Tors, the largest graduating class in
the history of Columbus county, re-
ceived their diplomas and heard an
address by Judge H. E. Stacy, of
Lumberton, as commencement exer-
cises were held here Monday night.
The program eliminated exercises
in progress during the past two
weeks and marked the close of the
county finals.
Judge Stacy opened his remarks
with a plea for making schools
more responsive to the needs OF
their communities. Citing the fact
that only about is per cent of
high school graduates attend col
leges, he declared the state owes
something more in the line of prep
aration for life to the IS per cent
who never attend college.
He advocated more vocational
training for the boys and girls fall
ing this IS per cen and pointed
to one typically rural school in
Robson county as a striking *
ample of the need for making the
institutions more responsive to the
needs of their communities.
To the graduates, Judge Stacy
advised in preparing for the battle
of life to learn where to tap" and
urged them to specialize in the
field of work of their choosing so
that they may know where to
tap their opportunities to be a
leader in their field.
The objective of your education
is not wholly for your own ad-
vantage. The state asks repayment
not in the form of dollars and
cents, but the state and society ex.
acts from you a debt of service to
Your fellow man, to your COM
munity. That is the main objec-
tive of education"
Judge Stacy told the graduates
lastly, that they could not succeed
in life without the stamina of char
acter because your life will be de-
pendent upon whether or not you
can stand the storms"
The speaker was introduced by E.
K. Proctor, of Whitteville. The pro.
gram was preceded by a program of
music by the school band under the
direction of Professor R. A. Hodges.
Following Judge Stacy's address the
senior class sang Alma Mater"
Professor G. A. Rogers, principal
of the school, presented diplomas to
the following "A seniors:
Margaret Avant, Sarah Love Beas-
ley, Mildred Benton, Margaret Brown,
Hulda Brown, Doretha Coleman, &C.
nev Coleman, Marie Cooke, Eunice
Currin, Marjorie Dudley, Margaret
E d g G, Yetive Glenham, Ophelia
Hooks, Lucille Horne, Molly Kramer,
Resale Leinwand, Barbara Lennon,
Mary Ida Lennon, Frances Lewis,
Dora Jane Lumpkin, Cora Meekins,
Rosa Lena Miller, Diene Moskow.
6. r. Ammons, Hamp Avant, Miles
Batten, James Blackman, Ronald
Berry, Ralph Britt, Manson Canady,
Auburn button, H. c. Edwards, Guy
Formy Duval, Marley Fuller, Clyde
Gurkin, Harry High, Delmas Hooks,
Dewey Hooks, Alfred Inman, Hiram
Jackson, Monroe Johnson Robert
Jordon, Fred Long, James Owen,
Herman Page.
Frances Mottinger, Audrey Need
ham, Edna Oliver, Eula Pierce,
Elizabeth Powell, Elizabeth Rushing,
Sybil Sholar, Hazel Soles, Jessie Lee
Strickland, Christine Tedder, Aman.
da Thompson, Edelle Thompson, Del
ano Ward, Margaret White, Ruby
Williamson, Virginia Winesette.
Cecil Pierce, Monteith Powell, Paul
Powell, Harry P~revatte, Autie Sim
mons, W. P. Singletary, Homer
Thomas, Stacy Thomas, L~onnie
Thurston, Hez Walters, A. D. Ward,
Currie Wooten, and Robert Wooten.
In making the presentation of
diplomas, Rogers introduced Autie
Simmons to the audience, and called
attention to the fact that he had not
been tardy or missed a day at school
during his entire II years school
career.
He also introduced Eunice Currin.
valedictorian, Audrey Needham, salu-
tatorian, Rosalie Leinwand, Molly
Kramer, and Diene Moskow and said
that they each had an exceptionally
high average for their four years in
high school.
Rogers, in a few brief remarks,
after the presentation of diplomas,
made a plea for more class room and
laboratory space in the school.
Members of the commercial class
receiving certificates were: Margar-
ct Byrd, Betty Moore, Louise Stan
ley, Linnie Ruth Simmons, Harry
Lee Jordon, Eleanor Bennett, Dor
othy Parker, Sarah Martha Harrel-
son, Carrie Love Coleman, Alice Nc
Claden, Susie Smith, and Pauline
Edwards. Also, the following high
school seniors received commercial
certificates:
Margaret Brann, Margaret Edge
Dora Jane Lumpkin, Harry Preyatte