Foreword

FROM ALL POINTS NORTH of Ponce de Leon Avenue and east of Cypress Street we the co-eds arrived for the first time at an Atlanta community high school, and Henry Grady High School had its beginning. New subjects, new fellow students, new teachers, new experiences, and a new organization awaited us, the first students. Ours was a glorious opportunity to mold the character of our school; ours the responsibility of laying the foundations for decades of progress.

In Henry Grady's beginning we have found a parallel in history, man's own beginning. We, just as early man, discovered ourselves in a world where there was no past, but a limitless future which depended upon the present. Though ours was a world infinitely smaller, bound to some extent by the limits of our campus, in many ways our situation was much the same as that of our ancestors. To better his circumstances and to establish order, man found it necessary to combine his efforts with those of others. Out of such cooperation grew the opportunity to develop skills in leadership, sports, arts, and sciences. This binding together was man's first step on the road to progress. In a similar manner the new schools served to bind the community. The organization of our many activities, our athletic teams, our military department, and our student government has passed through the initial stages of growth. It is therefore fitting, that primitive man be depicted on the following pages as a symbol of our school's beginning, the history of which the 1948 ORATOR endeavors to portray.

Henry Woodfin Grady

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS ago when the South faced the difficult task of either restoring her old way of life or establishing a new South of justice, equality, and opportunity for all, Henry Woodfin Grady led his people to the better choice. Unheeding the strife and sectional hatred in his native Georgia, he taught the doctrine of brotherly love. Engaged in newspaper activities, Henry W. Grady continually used the power of the press to assail corruption and avarice still flourishing in public office as unhallowed remnants of Reconstruction. When he became editor of his paper, he used his pen to battle the uncertainty and confusion still gripping the land and to introduce his beloved "New South." To develop industries, natural resources, and agriculture, he encouraged industrialists to establish some branches of their empires in Dixie. Thrown into prominence by his brilliant literary work and by his golden words from the rostrum, this "statesman without an office" lent his support to men who worked for progress. Though in the zenith of his years he was overtaken by death, his plans for reconciliation did not perish; and his people yet turn to his wisdom for guidance and inspiration.

Surely it was such immortals as he that prompted the educational authorities of Atlanta to name the city's schools so that they would become living monuments to Georgia's heroes. In our name, Henry Grady, we received a great heritage and a great challenge.

EIGHTH GRADERS

THOUGH the members of the eighth grade are the youngest of the school, they are by no means the least active. One of the homerooms placed first in the initial paper sale and the highest individual participant was from the same class. Another homeroom was first in both the Polio and Tuberculosis Drives. The class as a whole has responded enthusiastically to all the drives as well as school functions. Its nine homerooms contributed eighteen representatives to the student legislature and two to the council. It has evidenced excellent cooperation with the student government as it has with all the activities.

NINTH GRADERS

IN THE FIRST YEAR of Henry Grady's beginning the ninth grade also completed its first year of high school. As did every class, it elected its allotted number of representatives, twenty-four, and seated its president and vice-president in the student council. With a spirit of enthusiasm it lent itself to the various school games. Wholehearted participation in paper sales and charity drives proved its willingness to cooperate. These musically-minded freshmen made up a large part of the glee clubs, band, and orchestra. The girls showed their desire to be successful "Future Homemakers of America."

TENTH GRADERS

THE TENTH GRADE, the largest in the school, has over three hundred members, and has made excellent showings in all the school-sponsored drives. First place in the paper sale and Community Chest drives was won by tenth grade homerooms. This class sent twenty-three representatives to the student legislature and two to the council. It had members who played on the varsity teams of the sports, and who dominated the "B" teams. The class has shown a good spirit of cooperation and participation.

ELEVENTH GRADERS

Hot on the heels of the senior class came the juniors. As though preparing themselves for the last burst of high school activity its members in some respects or even surpassed their upper classmen. From the junior class came members of the legislature, of which one was an officer, and three members of the student council. There were also the captain, co-captain, and seven lettermen on the varsity football team from this class. Its favorite sons played on the varsity football and basketball and football "B" teams. Both favorite sons and daughters turned out to take part in all the activities.

TWELTH GRADERS

An observer watching the seniors assemble September 5 to view for the first time their classmates, might have thought that this newly formed group could not be able to cope with the extraordinary difficulties that lay ahead. Now that same observer, looking back, would attest that those recruits of September 5 have met the challenge, conquered the difficulties, and come to be a staunch and worthy class which has contributed its share in keeping the halls of Henry Grady humming with activity.

The beginning of the school year saw a wave of politics. Each homeroom elected a president and vice-president who made up the student legislature. Bobby Turk was elected the legislature's president;. Nance Fain its assistant secretary. A committee drew up a constitution for self-government which was submitted to, and ratified by the student body. From a group of the school's outstanding leaders who were named as candidates, Landis Cotten and Julian LeCraw were elected president and vice-president. Under their guidance traffic conditions in the school were improved, and a lost and found station was established, At the first senior class meeting its members elected Hagan Baskin president, Alice Farmer vice-president, Robert Stem secretary, George Wallace treasurer, and Richard Giblin historian. Hagan and Alice automatically became members of the student council of which they were chosen historian and treasurer, respectively,

While the student government was being organized, another form of activity had come into prominence--sports. The Gray Knights, so named by popular vote, could be found practicing football daily on Grady Marsh. Under the mud, their fellow seniors recognized LeCraw, Dominey, Dellinger, Turk, Martin, O'Kelley, Edwards, Pantaze, and Jolly as distinguished players. O'Kelley made all-region, all-city, and was considered most valuable lineman; Turk made all-region and was considered most valuable back. In winning four games and losing one, the team placed third in the city league. No sooner had the last football game ended than all eyes were on the promising basketball players; among them Tillman, Jacobs, Sidwell, Feldman, Turk, Joiner, and Cunningham represented the senior class. With the outstanding help of Tillman and Turk, who made all-city, the team was third in the city league. Running their way into second place in the city and third in the GIAA, were the senior cross-country men, Morse, Cureton, Baskin, and Jones. Holmes, Cobb, Thompson, and Stem were all promising golfers. A large crew of seniors turned out for tennis, track, and baseball.

Many of these athletes when they found time, trudged up the hill to take part with others in the clubs. The Hi-Y had about fifteen senior members. Twelve of the thirty "Red Peppers," sponsors of the two paper sales and two dances, were seniors. The Dramatic Club presented Illusions, starring Rita Lincoln Cecil Tanner, and Bill Pruett. The great success of this undertaking encouraged the club to produce Glamour and The Bird on Nellie's Hat. In conjunction with Illusions, an operetta, Trial By Jury was given. George Ross, George Carter, David Knowles, and Sally Daniel sang. David and Sally, along with Aglaia Carberis, represented the seniors at the first talent show. Knowles and Ross, two of the fifteen seniors in the mixed choir, made "number one" rating in the music festival. Courtenay Cauble was an outstanding clarinet player.

Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Folk and his eight senior officers concentrated on running the Military Department.

Hoping to record and preserve the activities of the school, "The Southerner" and the "Orator" staffs devoted countless hours to writing and editing material. Under the leadership of their editor, Elliott Levitas, and associate editor, Landis Cotten, the competent, senior-dominated paper staff published seven thrill-packed issues. On the other hand, Alice Farmer, though also aided by a competent staff, found it a task to finish the first "Orator" on time. The yearbook sponsored a celebrity contest which disclosed the following: 'Mary Denmark and Richard Giblin, most intellectual; Alice Farmer and Hagan Baskin, most representative; Miriam Buhman and Ray Dellinger, most popular; Bill Kendrick and Joan Burns, friendliest; Dan Dominey, handsomest, and Sara Osborne, most attractive; Edna Perry, cutest, and Bobby Turk, most athletic; Carolyn Price, most charming, and Don Hasty, most gentlemanly; Dolly Walker, sweetest, and Pete Pantaze, biggest woman-hater; Ed O'Kelley and Freida Frankel, laziest; Carol Cox, cleverest and Bill Pruett, biggest bull-shooter.

Thirteen seniors from the paper and yearbook staff were made members of Quill and Scroll for outstanding journalism. The Beta Club honored, over thirty seniors as potential leaders and public servants. Recognition of excellent scholarship was made to twenty upperclassmen by the chapter of the National Honor Society here.

In the person of Dr. Grace Overton and Dr. Evelyn Duvall the senior class had two dynamic speakers who discussed family relations. It also met distinguished educators with whom advanced education was discussed. Mr. Rumble was chosen class sponsor. In addition to school activities there were many matters which kept the senior class busy: designing the class ring, ordering invitations, sponsoring a talent show, providing for graduation clothes and flowers, practicing for the graduation exercises, and planning the last senior gatherings. These were added to the long list of projects undertaken and accomplished. It had been a long year--the last lap, as ever, the hardest-but just ahead was always the finish line, the goal of any high school career, graduation!

FROM ALL OVER THE CITY they came, teachers pulled from the various schools, from situations in which many of them had spent their entire teaching careers. it was hard, this uprooting, this changing of the old order, and most of them were not very happy, but, one by one, they fell into the spirit of cooperation that has made the first year of Grady so successful. They wholeheartedly taught new subjects, became acquainted with their different students, organized school activities and clubs. They caught much of the enthusiasm their youthful friends at first missed.

To be great, a school needs to grow--not in size, but in outlook, in methods of teaching, in the hearts of those who work under its roof, whatever may be their tasks. It must give to the community strong, upright, honest men and women. Unless it does this, it has failed. It is the teachers on whom the task mainly falls. It is they who help to determine how good our future doctors, lawyers, politicians, businessmen, and teachers will be. Yes, a great school must have a great faculty we believe ours can qualify.

BETA CLUB

One of the significant honors which can bestowed upon a student of Henry Grady High School is selection to membership in the Beta Club. The motto of the club, "Ducamus alius viendo, (Let us lead by serving others)", constantly reminds the members that it is their unchanging obligation to encourage effort, promote character, stimulate achievement, and assume an individual responsibility for their school and community. A non-secret organization, it continually strives to reward merit and to develop the ideals of honesty, service, and leadership.

FOOTBALL

Leading the way in the school's field of sports this year, the first Grady High football squad passed into existence. From numerous suggestions the student body chose the name "Gray Knights" for its team. The word "Knight" brings to mind such qualities as strength, bravery, valor, and good sportsmanship; gray and red are our school colors. Although the Gray Knights were not all victorious, the way in which they tackled the job made "all for Grady stand up and holler." Particular skill was displayed at the games with Rome and Savannah. Though only some players had the advantage of experience, all made a good showing. The team has made a proud beginning, and better things are foreseen in the future.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

The purpose of the National Honor Society at Henry Grady High School is to recognize, promote, and reward scholastic achievement and character development. Membership in the organization is a coveted honor which can be won only on merit, and those students attaining the honor deserve highest praise. The Society serves the school in that it rewards excellence in those fields which constitute primary aims of the educational institution; to provide learning and to guide in character development.

THE ORATOR

Just as early man left records on the walls of his cave depicting life around him, our first yearbook records for us the events and friends of our high school days. In choosing a name for our publication, it seemed fitting that one which best identified our school be used. Since Henry Grady, the man for whom our school is named, was a great writer and speaker, it was fitting to call our yearbook "The Orator."

The members of the 1948 staff have tried to give the senior class and the rest of the school a clear picture of the first year of Henry Grady High School and to set a worthy example for classes in the years to come.

QUILL AND SCROLL

It is an honor for our school to have qualified for the national organization, Quill and Scroll, so early in its history, an honor not only to the school but to those members of the graduating class who have been found worthy to receive the award.

To be eligible for the famous key of this society, a student must be a member of either the newspaper or annual staff. He must be outstanding in scholastic performance as well as journalistic ability. Only a few ever attain this summit.

It is the ideal of Quill and Scroll that membership will inspire students to eve] of achievement. With this inspiration and "The Southerner" may become better years. Thus may the entire school be ben talents of the chosen few, the talents which the highest high school journalistic honor Quill and Scroll.

WHAT IS R.O.T.C.?

The Reserve Officers Training Corps is an Army-sponsored program of military training for students in colleges and high schools. Beside teaching the fundamental weapons of war, the courtesies and customs of the service, and military strategy and history; the course develops in the individual a high degree of obedience to authority, yet encourages, rather than suppresses, self-reliance and individual thought. A cadet in a unit like that of Henry Grady High School gains experience in dealing with people who are classed as "superiors" and "subordinates" and so prepares himself for life in business or industry. The cadet is offered a chance to become proficient at riflery, swordsmanship, and drill practices that have long been used to develop poise, attention, and initiative. The cadet is schooled in the social graces and the practice of common courtesy which are essential to success in life. A cadet may gain experience in planning and presiding through the many social and service clubs of the unit, or journalistic experience in writing for the battalion paper, the "Bugle-Call". A person having "R.O.T.C." realizes the value of cooperation and shared work. But, above all the cadet realizes his duty to the nation to stand qualified to defend her, if need be, by force of arms.

THE SOUTHERNER

Our school paper came in answer to the need of a student spokesman in an organization so large and complex as our school was from the very beginning. Its name, "The Southerner", was chosen because it symbolized those traits which we hope will always characterize our school: a dignity and elegance in mind, manners, and taste; lofty ideals of integrity; a liberality of spirit; a courage to fight for justice; chivalry to fend for the weak; and a dauntless faith in the future.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Realizing the need for organized student leadership in coordinating and developing school activities, the pupils of Grady High early took steps to form a student government. A committee composed of representatives from all homerooms planned the type of organization they believed ideal for our school. The culmination of their work was the constitution which was ratified by the student body. The executive branch, the Student Council, whose duty it is to inaugurate student government policies, is composed of the president and vice president of the school, officers of the grades, and representatives from the major activities. The legislative branch, the Student Legislature, composed of two representatives from each homeroom, forms the policies of the organization and serves as a liaison between the homeroom and the executive department.

With the foundations laid, Student Government is growing and will continue to grow until it becomes what it should be, the mainspring of student life at Henry Grady High School.