Evening star., 1942-12-27
Central High Honors -Four
Alumni for Distinguished Acts
Vice Admiral Wilson Says Enemy Has
Reached Resource Peck as U. S. Coins

The enemy has, in many places,
reached the peak of his resources
and initiative, while our forces are
gathering new strength every day in
a combat which can end only in
complete and overwhelming victory,
Vice Admiral Russell Wilson, dep
uty commander in chief of the
United States Fleet, told his fellow
alumni of Central High School at
the annual award of certificates for
distinguished service last night.
Expressing pleasure at being back
at Central High School Alumni
reunion after Al years absence from
the school, Admiral Wilson, former
superintendent Of the Naval Aaca-
emy, said:
Il hope you all sense that the
Navy is now in full stride, doing its
part toward bringing victory in this
war. We are fighting a two or three
or four ocean war with a one-ocean
Navy which is growing rapidly, but
which has not yet reached the status
where it can overwhelm our enemies.
Four Given Certificates.
Certificates of distinction were
awarded by the Alumni Association
to Admiral Wilson, class of 1901,
for distinguished service in national
defense and naval inventions: Bruce
Baird, 1910, president of the Ma
tional Savings & Trust Co., for
finance and banking; Judge William
E. Richardson, 1898, chief judge of
the new Municipal Court of Appeals,
for judicature and historical re-
search, and Capt. Mary-Agnes
Brown, class of 1919, service COM
mand director, Women's Army
Auxiliary Corps, 9th Service Com
mand, law and social service.
Miss Bessie Whitford, chairman
OF the Award Committee, presented
the selections to Charles E. Smoot,
presidetn of the Alumni Association,
who made the awards.
G In order to save fuel, the Alumni
Association did not meet at Central
High School, as in previous years,
but gathered instead at the OAR
Chapter House, 1882 Massachusetts,
avenue NV. Oldest graduates pres
ent were Mr.. and Mrs. Appleton p.
Clark, jr. Florence Perry, both Of
the class of 1888, which was the flrst
co-educational high school class
completed at Central High. Before
his retirement Mr.. Clark was a
well-known architect in the District.
Mr.. Smoot Reelected.
Mr.. Smoot was reelected presi-
dent of the Alumni Association.
Other officers named were Mrs.
Dorothy Deland Dowd, vice presi-
dent in charge of social activities:
Miss Felicia Miller, vice president
IN charge of school interests; Mrs.
Martha T. Baker, secretary, and
Mrs. Mary Jane Mayer, treasurer.
Miss Dorothy Sherman, chairman
of the Nominating Committee, pre-
sented the slate.
Elected to the board of directors
were Lawrence G. Hoover, principal
of Central High School; Miss Helen
M. Coolidge, assistant principal, and
Richard K. Brown, acting assistant
principal, all honorary members of
the board, and the following regular
members: Mrs. Katherine Fisk
BARLEY, Charles H. Bates, Miss
Janet Bittner, DR.. Robert Halle,
George w. Hodgkins, Miss Pauline
Haler, Miss Pearl A. Jones, Mrs.
Jeannette G. Kern, Miss Elizabeth
Meininger. Col. Samuel J. Morris,
Robert A. Maurer, Robert E. Newby,
George RAYMOND Pruett, Mrs. Pearl
Willis Richardson, Mrs. Margaret
Russell Roller, Mrs. Florence B.
Stewart, Hubert Tucker, Miss Bessie
Whitford and Ernest F. Williams.
Graduate Of Annapolis.
A graduate of the Naval Academy,
Admiral Wilson organized and de-
veloped during the World War the
code and signal section of the
Navy Department and was awarded
the Navy Cross. He served as naval
attache at the American Embassy in
London in 1885, became superin-
tendent Of the Naval Academy In
February, 1941, and since last
March has held the rank of vice
admiral.
Mr.. Baird, who was born in Alex
andria County tnow Arlington
County,, Va, received his bachelor
of laws degree from Georgetown
University in 1918. He became as
sociated with the National Savings
g. Trust Co. in 1919 and was elected
president of that institution in 1910.
From the time of his graduation
from National University in 1901
until his appointment as chief Judge
OF the new Municipal Court of Ap-
peals, Mr.. Richardson practiced law