Mcallen Daily Monitor

Honors Paid at Annual McAllen Graduation Rites

STUDENTS END YEAR OF BUSY WORK IN CITY

1936 Class Members Are Honored With Presentation of Numerous Local Awards.

Before an audience of several hundred friends and relatives formal graduation exercises were held for the Centennial graduating class of McAllen High School Friday night at the high school auditorium.

The processional, "Marche Pontificale," played by Parks Goodey, opened the evening activities. Rev. Norman Dyer gave the invocation, followed by a violin solo, "Souvenir," by Miss Eleanor Smith.

During the salutatory, by Milton (Tony) Goldstein, several interesting points were mentioned. Among them, he mentioned the prospects for employment after graduation and the prospects in view in the future for the graduates of 1936. He said that there was no basis for pessimism that was being expressed by present day graduates, that education was merely the preparation for life to come, and that education was the first step in the work of life.

Class Prophecy, Will Miss Marian Brown gave the class history, giving a short regime of senior class members, followed by a presentation of the day's news in 1956, by Miss Marjorie Rose. Miss Rose was active as the news commentator and told what the graduates of 1936 were doing two years hence. The class will, naming the bequests of each of the senior class members to underclassmen and sophomores was read by Ross Whittenberg.

William Doyle, high school glee club instructor, sang "I Am Fate," by Hamblen.

The valedictory by George Taylor, consisted of summing up the 100 years of progress that had been made since the signing of the Texas independence. He spoke about ambitions of present day graduates, about the percentage of those who would make good, and those who would fail. He told of the disillusionments that would face seniors when they went out of school, and of the challenges facing students of today. He spoke briefly about the task of developing one's mind. In conclusion he said that the future was in the hands of the students of today.

Following the valedictory, the mixed sextet sang two songs, "Homing," and "When Stars Are in the Quiet Sky." Edna Mae Wischan, Cornelia Grasso, Marian Brown, Eleanor Smith, Granger Smith, Max Hill and Ronald Graham composed the group.

Cups Are Presented

The honor awards for the evening were next announced. A. M. Weir, high school principal, announced the scholarship awards. The K. C. Boysen cup for extemporaneous speech was given Miss Marjorie Rose for her work in past year in extemporaneous speech. He read the list of students who had not been absent or tardy all year. The awards will be given to them later, Mr. Weir said, and then gave out the pins for the school chapter of the National Honor Society to nine members. All underclassmen had received theirs previously. The announcement of the scholarships was next made.

George P. Taylor, valedictorian, was given a scholarship in any Southern college, Milton Goldstein, salutatorian, was offered two. Margaret Jean Rhoades, as the highest ranking girl, received several scholarships.

The McAllen Lions club, represented by H. I. Sawyer, announced that the most improved student cup went to Virgil Smith, a non-graduating senior, and the best all-around student cup was given to Cleanthus Rochelle, third highest student in the class. The American Legion awards were given by Homer L. Leonard, due to the illness of Guy L. Johnson, American Legion representative. The awards went to Ross Whittenberg and Marjorie Rose.

Vannoy Presents Diplomas

The certification of graduates by John H. Gregory, followed the award announcements. During his talk, he analyzed the situation facing the students of today and said that education was the only relief for the present day crisis.

The presentation of diplomas was made by A. F. Vannoy, president of the school board. The graduates marched across the stage, as their names were called, to receive their diplomas. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. H. W. Shirley. The recessional, "Pilgrims Chorus," was by Mrs. Faye Jones.

The stage was beautifully decorated. Decorations were in charge of the sophomore class, and junior class members acted as ushers for the occasion.