Herald's history series: Exactly 50 years ago, front page lists 73 seniors set to graduate from Sylva, Webster

Sylva Central to Graduate 42 Seniors Tuesday Night Forty-two boys and girls, seniors of Sylva Central High School, will receive their diplomas at graduation exercises in the Elementary school auditorium next Tuesday (May 22, 1951) evening at 8 p.m.

In announcing commencement final events, Principal Ralph L. Smith stated that activities got under way Tuesday night, May 15, with the Senior play, "Here Comes Charlie," presented in the school auditorium.

The annual baccalaureate sermon will be delivered Sunday morning, May 20, at 11 o'clock by Dr. L.B. Hayes, pastor of the Sylva Methodist Church.

The program for the Sunday morning service, which will be held in the school auditorium, is a follows: Processional, "Entrance March of the Mastersingers," Mrs. Florence Houts, of Cullowhee. Invocation, Rev. C.M. Warren, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Sylva. Song: Come Though Almighty King, Congregation.

Scripture reading, Rev. L.B. Hayes, pastor of the Sylva Methodist Church.

Benediction, Rev. B.S. Hensley, pastor of Scotts Creek Baptist church.

Recessional, Coronation March, Mrs. Florence Houts.

The churches of the city will dispense with their regular 11 o'clock worship hour so that the members may attend the baccalaureate sermon service at the school. They will however, have the regular Sunday School service.

Graduation exercises with the presentation of awards and diplomas will be held at 8 o'clock Tuesday night, Mr. Smith announced. Dean W.E. Bird, of Western Carolina Teachers College, will deliver the graduation address.

The exercises will open with the senior's processional, followed with prayer by Rev. B.S. Hensley. Patrick Montague, the class Salutatorian, will speak on "The Public School - Cornerstone of Democracy." "The Drama of Life," will be presented by Dennis Monteith, Valedictorian.

Mr. Smith will present the diplomas and the benediction will be given by Rev. C.M. Warren. Marshals are E.P. Stillwell, Jr., Bobby Jo Thomas, Evelyn Beck, Rachel Allen, Franklin Fricks, and Edward Carter.

The senior class is composed of the following boys and girls:

Jimmy Allison, Dorothy Ashe, Emma Lou Blanton, Robert Blanton, Thornton Cabe, Eleanor Cable, Charles Cagle, Jo Ann Cagle, Bruce Carden, Dorothy Chester, Cora Lee Cole, Jack Crawford, Jean Dalton, Roy Dillard, Patsy Dills, Carolyn Ensley, Dennis Ensley, Billie Fincannon, Elizabeth Gass, Wanda Greene, Jack Holcombe, Lois Hooper, Betty Jamison, Emily Johnson, Doris Jones, Donald Kinsland, Miriam Mills, Patrick Montague, Delos Monteith, Dennis Monteith, Mack Monteith, Mary Morris, Dorothy Parris, Sara Parris, Thomas C. Shepherd, Mary Stillwell, Audrey Sutton, Willa Jo Sutton, Jo Meta Turpin, Nell Williams, Mary Worley.

Cowan Announces Finals For Webster High School The Webster High School commencement exercises will begin with the baccalaureate sermon Sunday, May 20, at 2:30 p.m. The sermon will be delivered by Rev. J.G. Miller, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Bryson City. McKinley Edwards of Bryson City will introduce the speaker. Rev. R.M. Nix, pastor of the Webster Baptist Church, will give the invocation, and Rev. S.J. Lawrence, pastor of the Webster Methodist Charge, will give the benediction.

The graduation exercises will be held in the Savannah School auditorium Tuesday, May 22, at 8:00 p.m. Dr. Hoyt Blackwell, president of Mars Hill College, will deliver the graduation address. He will be introduced by Oliven T. Cowan.

The thiry-one seniors will be presented diplomas by the principal, Oliven T. Cowan. Barbara Lou Sutton will give the salutory, and Lou Annie Cable will give the valedictory. Ernest Penland Jr. will present the awards to the winning high school students.

Special music for the commencement events will be furnished by the high school chorus under the direction of Mrs. J.B. Madison.

Diplomas will be presented to the following: Irene Angel, Mary Jo Barron, Peggy Nell Bishop, Evelyn Hyatt Brendle, Lou Annie Cabe, Barbara Ann Deitz, Frankie Deitz, Audrey Dillard, Nancy Ensley, Artie Estes, Elizabeth Frizzell, Eula Mae Frizzell, Frances Fox, Jo Anne Higdon, Ruby McMahan, Claudine Monteith, Joyce Monteith, Betty Lou Shuler, Barbara Lou Sutton, Betty Grace Sutton, Mary Etta Thompson, Mary Wilson, Julian Buchanan, Bryson Cagle, Eugene Estes, James Mason Jr., Harold Potts, Clifton Sutton, William Turpin, and Andrew Wilson.

Editor's note: This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001.

Back to Archive: 05/17/01.