Tucked in a room off the main office are trophies, tarnished and dusty, with faded inscriptions of the names of social clubs that once flourished at Grady High School. Names, such as the "Bubbles", "Squires", "Jinx", "Aces", and "T.N.T.", or "TopNotch Teens" characterized the members' personalities, social interaction, and spirit for the school.
The Grady social clubs were formed by students wanting to help the community and world while promoting pride in their school. At the time, people appreciated the social graces, such as proper etiquette and conversation. In 1948, this was a catalyst for establishing the shortlived "Variety Club", the first recognizable social club, whose members were "the Big Wheels" of the school and "generally did what they wanted, " according to the 1948 Orator. These factors inspired Grady students in 1951 to form many clubs, each comprised of 15 members, representing groups in each grade, that lasted for nearly twenty years.
The 1958 Orator describes these clubs: "During the spring many types of parties, from formal dances to scavenger hunts, fill the weekends ... these groups of 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students accomplish many worthwhile tasks for their community and their school, as well as carry out the more enjoyable duty of keeping the Grady grapevine up to date .... without them school spirit would not seem so alive; the hustle and bustle during all the seasons of the year would not be so prevalent."
To promote unity an "Inter-club council" was formed to plan events and brainstorm for project ideas. This council was comprised of the presidents of the social clubs. The Southerner dedicated a part of a page in every issue to social clubs, calling it "Klub Korner," reporting on and announcing events and activities to the school population. The girls' and boys' social clubs organized several activities for the school year, including fund-raisers and service projects primarily for school, community, and world causes, such as canned food drives, selling gift wrap to support hospitals, and raising money each year for the Red Cross. The "Snaps" club entertained the children at Grady Hospital and held a Valentine party as one project. "Each club had requirements that it had to meet by the end of the year in order to be a club. They had to do so many pep rallies and so many charities, like in scouts," said Bobbi Wilson, class of 1964, and former member of the "Aces."
As an outlet for creativity, social clubs promoted school spirit and social interaction between students. During the early years of the "Pegs" social club, the members created "Beat Murphy" badges and name tags for Grady football fans and incoming eighth- and ninth-graders, respectively, to help strengthen school spirit and welcome students to the Grady atmosphere. The clubs organized and decorated for dances including the anticipated Christmas dance and Junior-Senior Prom, and decorated for pep rallies as part of their club requirements.
Parties were held frequently, The December 17, 1953 Southerner announced that Linden Longino had been elected to follow Conroy Almond as Sweetheart of the "Curves" social club, and a party was held in the two Sweethearts' honor. Charles Boyter, member of the class of 1964, recalled being chosen Sweetheart, or Beau of the "Paces" social club. "They just walked up to me and asked me if I would be their Sweetheart," he said with a smile. For some clubs, sweatshirsts with the name of the club printed in bold letters across the front helped solidify their identity. Mr. Boyter still has the "PACES" sweatshirt.
The "Whirls" had a slumber party at one member's home after a hayride to Stone Mountain. Breakfast was enjoyed at another member's home the next morning. Mother-daughter teas were held for certain clubs, as well as "coke parties" planned by individual members, and large buffet suppers, like one arranged and provided by Linden Longino's parents, inviting the "Cleatz", an all-male club, and their dates. Social club breakfasts were held bi- monthly as well. The food was prepared at sixo'clock in the morning by the mothers of those involved.
Fifty years have brought about much change in the prevalence of social clubs. By 1987, only two social clubs remained out of the 87 that had been created over the years: the junior social club and the Senior social club, comprised of 28 and 17 members each, respectively. They organized the same social functions, though the emphasis upon frequent parties was outweighed by service projects and improving school spirit.
Today social clubs do not exist in their most recognizable form as formal groups. There are no longer catchy names to provide a place in the Grady social circuit and in students' memories. But for those who attended Grady in its early days, close friends that were made through social club functions still remain close friends today. "I'm getting together with some of my friends from school for dinner tomorrow night. In fact, they were all in my social club," Mrs. Wilson said with a laugh.