Wednesday, June 4, 2025

70 Receive Diplomas at Shelby High School, June 5, 1925

70 Graduates, Largest Class in History, Receive Diplomas. . . Tom Bost Delivers Masterly Address. Nine Graduates in Teacher Training Department. List of Medals and Prizes

Diplomas were awarded to 70 graduates, the largest number of graduates the Shelby High School has ever turned out, Monday night when the finals were held in the auditorium before an audience that packed every available inch of space. The graduates presented an unusual spectacle in Shelby for the college cap and grown were introduced for the first time and the graduating class was so large the stage had barely enough room for the speakers to have comfortable speaking space.

Fourteen medals, cups and scholarships were awarded, as well as nine diplomas to the nine graduates of the teacher training class which was organized in Shelby about three years ago.

Tom Bost Speaks

Tom Bost, known as The Reverend Tom who writes for the Greensboro News and other papers and has an inimitable style, was the chief speaker of the evening. Reverend Tom is a member of the Episcopal church but declares himself a Baptist preacher. Intermittent with his newspaper work he preaches and speaks. He was introduced briefly by ex-Senator D.Z. Newton who declared Mr. Bost’s pulpit to be the public press and as one who has done much to advertise Shelby and who is one of the most astute politicians in North Carolina, although he never seeks office.

Mr. Bost asserted his faith in the young people of today and declared that although the signs of the times are a little discouraging, beneath the lipstick and flapperism there are hearts as sound as Adam’s and Eve’s. He took for his text the class moto which in translation says “not finished but just beginning,” and that in making ourselves free from ignorance, we are not finished until we make all people free, for the object of life is education and the object of education is life. His speech was a broad appeal for larger line—one that never stops with self, but goes on—the kind of life that diffuses into usefulness to others. It was a masterful appeal for never finishing and quitting, but keeping on in our efforts at mastery and cultivating the habit of control and temperate in all things, at the same time helping others over the rough places along life’s journey.

Class Exercises

The invocation was delivered by Rev. R.L. Lemons after which Max Dixon, president of the senior class, delivered the address of welcome. Then Frances Hendrick read the class history, May Wells Connor the class prophecy and William Pendleton the last will and testament. Supt Griffin announced that out of the senior class of 70 students, about 45 of them have signified a desire and intention of entering some college or university next year.

Diplomas Presented

As the principal, Mr. J. Horace Grigg, read the names of the graduates, Mr. R.E. Carpenter, chairman of the board of education presented the diplomas to the following graduates:

Letha Branton

Lena Green

Vernie Mae Tiddy

Sara Grae King

Mae Connor

Ruth Gaffney

Opal Poston

Betty Suttle

Wilma Poston

Zona Divine

Thelma Moss

Pauline Dedmon

Mary Ruth Webb

Fay Ross

Pauline Freeman

Jessie Borders

Ellen Turner

Grace King

Nellie Abernathy

Mozelle Anthony

Erie Cabiness

Pearl Plummer

Mary Turner

Madge McCoy

Roy Self

Harry Grigg

Pearl Smawley

Hazel Allen

Louie Eskridge

Carl Elerbee

George Wray

George Dedmon

J.P. Costner

Steve Furchess

Clyde Thackston

Winfred Graham

Clyde Wilson

Valiree Costner

Max Dixon

Evans Hartgrove

John Sparks

Sidney Anthony

Dovillenie Glascoe

Margaret Elam

Broadus Newman

Henry New

Ella Mae Mauney

Jessie Wall

Mary Ruth Lemons

Nelson Callahan

Elsie Hardin

James Grice

Earl Lutz

Melba Metcalf

Huldah Philbeck

Garland Roberts

Della Wall

Janice Green

Hattie Hoyle

Nannie Jones

Frances Hendrick

Bill Pendleton

Dwight Shytle

Lena Williams

Verie Randall

Eva Borders

Clara Kizer

Caroline Blanton

Virginia Hamrick

Little Nancy Lineberger, mascot

Medals and Prizes

The award of medals and pries was one of the most interesting features of the program because the inners and public did not know to whom they would go—or at least most of them did not. The presentation was made by Supt. I.C. Griffin as follows:

Speller’s medal, donated by T.W. Hamrick, won by Sara Grace King

Bible medal, given by J.R. Dover, won by Sarah Grace King

Bible, Sidney Anthony

Senior essay medal, donated by Lee B. Weathers, Editor Cleveland Star, won by Broadus Newman

Debaters medal, donated by Hon. O. Max Gardner, won by Dorothy McKnight

Washburn cup, donated by Max Washburn, won by Carolina Blanton

Cleveland Hardware cup, donated by Cleveland Hardware Co., won by Nelson Callahan

Girl’s scholarship, given by C.C. Blanton, won by May Connor

Boy’s scholarship, given by C.C. Blanton, won by Roy Self

Postal Service in Rutherford and Cleveland counties medal, won by Jessie Pearl Wall

Music medals, given by Miss Bertha Bostic, won by Margaret Elam, given by Mrs. McCord, won by Dorothy McKnight.

Honors at College

Wherever the Shelby High school students go, they usually win honors in the various school activities. At N.C. State, Henry Kendall was president of the student body. In Atlanta, Miss Eugenia Holland was such a skilled musician that she was asked to broadcast over the radio on a number of occasions. At University of North Carolina, Reed Thackston won honor roll and Phi Beta Kappa. Davison: John McKnight, debate and college reporter. Hugh Arrowood, football and basketball. N.C.C.W., members of French club: Mary C. Hamrick, Grace Bowling, Minnie Eddins Roberts, Frances Whisnant, also secretary literary society. G.C.W., Blanch Burris, honor student

Athletics: Western Championship in football, state championship in baseball. Baseball team: James Grice, Fred Beam captain, Max Dixon, Max Connor, Roy Self, Clyde Wilson, Charles Magness, Ed Harris, George Dedmon, Jack Hoyle, Melvin Peeler, John Sparks.

Debate: The Triangle—Shelby, Lincolnton Gastonia. At chapel Hill, Dorothy McKnight, Mae Connor, Caroline Blanton and Nelson Callahan.

County contest in essay—The Webb medal, winner, Letha Branton.

Honor roll: Janice Green, Sara Grace King, Roy Self, Carolina Blanton, Letha Branton, Mary Ruth Lemons and Nelson Callahan.

Teacher Training Diplomas

There were nine graduates of the teacher training class and these diplomas were presented to the following by County Supt. J.C. Newton in words commending Miss Keller, head of the department:

Diplomas, Teacher Training Class:

Maude Ava Hord

Dessie Roberts

Elizabeth Frances Bridges

Eleanor Jones

Pearl Smawley

Margaret Moss

Irma H. Bridges

Inex Morehead

Ruth Allen

From the front page of the Shelby Star, June 5, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1925-06-05/ed-1/seq-1/#words=JUNE+5%2C+1925

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