Come back with us in history a dozen years or so,
To Vicksburg, a town in Mississippi as you know.
There lived a group of people, the finest in the land
Now you can hear their story; this is how it all began.
Twas the first of September, way back in "42."
Our friends began to lead a life that was to then entirely new.
For on that fateful day, you see,
They started to school to learn A through Z.

So let’s look in on grade number one;
The first day’s work has now begun.
Benny Ross in the corner sat.
He simply couldn’t learn how to spell cat.
Betty Ann Aldridge learned the tricks of the trade.
Her apple to teacher was never delayed.
Of Carl Brock now what do you think?
He dipped the girls’ pigtails in a bottle of ink.
Sue Ferguson, one of the cute little girls,
Wore her hair in cork-screw curls.
Ira Williams was then a you lad.
At 8:30 each morning he was very sad.
Sherrill Herring of her class was proud
Until she was trampled by the recess crowd.

A year has gone by already.
We’re headed for the second grade; slow but steady.
Jack Biedenharn, an artistic fellow,
Painted a true blue and yellow.
Carolyn Abraham invited one and all
To come to her seventh birthday ball.
Dean Desweese sat in the farthest corner.
They say he thought he was Little Jack Horner.
Margie Eskridge over at Clay
Liked it so well she wanted to stay.
John Faulk, who at this time was shy,
Said "I’ll get a girl friend by and by."
Gail Moorehead, who was then snaggled-toothed,
Said "That ain’t all, another ‘uns looth."
Well, summer returned in its glorious best
To give our poor teachers a well deserved rest.

But our third year began too soon
For Peggy Floyd, who slept till noon.
Kemper Meacham was teacher’s biggest pest.
He never showed up when there was a test.
Colton Smith gave his teacher a scare,
And from his head she pulled some hair.
Jane Moore, so happy and gay,
Played hooky to go to the circus one day.
The Cummins twins say, "Nope, that is my brother."
Ed and Pickett were mistaken for one another.
Grade three was ending; warm weather drew nigh.

We were happy and we all heaved a sigh.

But when the fourth grade doors were open
All the little girls were hopin’
That Barry Henry would look their way
Or jump the rope with them at play.
A perfect angel was James Leese, that lad;
He was always good and never bad.
Janice Penley with her ways so kind
Made all the students feel just fine.
Pete Barlow, telling jokes so funny,
Captured the girls and called them honey.
 

Before long we were surprised at the progress we’d made.
Just think, our next step was up in the fifth grade.
Joy Morgan would twist and turn
Because that poetry she just could not learn.
Velma Dunning was teacher’s pet.
She was a smart little girl, you bet.
Marilyn Randall with her friendly was
Could win a boy friend in just one day.
The sixth grade brought a bang and a shout.
Of grammar school we’d soon be out.
Bill Fenwick, who was kind of tall,
Always liked playing basketball.
Jean White as cute as can be
Enjoyed playing Tarzan in her back yard tree.
While Audrey Walker followed the Golden Rule,
Kirby Wells was at Central shooting pool.
As Cecily, Mary Ruth Smith later made a name,
But as "Dynamite Dolly" she gained her first fame.
Johnny DeCell might become a lawyer,
But this year he made a good Tom Sawyer.
Patsy Bolin, with her cute pug nose,
Always liked the perfume of a rose.
Hazel Bucholtz, two days in a row,
Said "That geography's got to go."
Wyvett Dungan, who got along fine and dandy,
From her boyfriend got a box of candy.
Sonny Penley, yes that wit
Just got funnier bit by bit.
 

First year of high school, we’re here at last.
But look how six years have gone past.
Studying was done on the side we can see
For Martha Roberts came to Carr Central in merry glee.
Louise Haven is doing quite well.
She walks into school and rings the bell.
Mobrey Parker is a nice fellow you see,
After school he works at the A and P.
Now we find Ernest Allen himself.
In the Library he is really a help.
 

Well, what do you, we’re in the eighth grade.
In spite of all the mistakes we’ve made.
Joan Barland with her flirtatious air.
Caused all the boys to stop and stare.
Sylvia Saunders had a nice smile.
Then as now she laughed all the while.
Bobby Shackelford knew lots of jokes
And told them to all us other folks.
As one moron said to another
"We’re off!" – to the ninth grade.

On Freshman Day, Bill Mallery said,
"Gosh, this lipstick is awfully red."
Carol Stout was in complete agreement,
And that perfume they used had an awful scent.
A typical freshman Betsy Rodgers was.
She wore an angora sweater with lots of fuzz.
Nancy Stepan, a member of the Latin Class,
Said "it really isn’t so hard to pass."
 

Into the tenth and getting along swell,
Keep up the good work; learn it well.
About this time a brown headed lass
Named Mary Lou Fielder fascinated the class.
Annie Mae Slawson came from Culkin one day.
She liked Carr Central and decided to stay.
Jimmy Wilson just didn’t like history.
Who discovered America is still a mystery.
Jean Meade loved to play basketball,
Making goals was no trouble for her at all.
A working man was Billy Coile.
Bill Porter was doing okay.
But he ran into Biology one day.
 

Now we’ve reached the cherished eleven.
It feels as if we’re close to heaven.
At this time Betty Keeling to our school came.
Since then it’s never been quite the same.
Betty Tullos came this same year.
The boys say it’s nice having new girls here.
A secret ambition has Clarence Lentz;
He’s always wished he could be a prince.
Jean Wylie joined us as a bride.
She wishes Walter could have been here beside.
Bobby Ryan’s dream was on the tennis court,
For he wanted to star in that particular sport.
Alfred Barfield to Miss Aaron’s class did go.
There he found out how much he didn’t know.
Carolyn Smith gained her fame;
Throwing big parties was always her aim.

At last we were seniors having fun galore,
At last we were seniors – nee we say more?
Natalie Letow shocked Miss Watkins they say
By saying "Dear Gussie" in English one day.
This year early in September
Helen Taylor of our class became a member.
Dot Wideman also joined our clan.
She’s a majorette in the Carr Central Band.
Glenna Gardner, our Yankee friend
Liked to say "you all" now and then.
Jerry Carter as a student here is new,
But he found a girl friend after a week or two.
Famous in speech class was Eddie King.
He did lots more in "Ruddygore" than sing.
Beau Beaufait at the top of the stairs,
Says "Dance to the music of the Rebelaires."
Richard Monsour we shall see then,
His friends have called him "monster" since way back when.
The members of speech class are laughing yet
At Buddy Hallburg’s version of Romeo and Juliet.
The editors of the Tattler are Jeannette and Lee,
"Hand your article in" is their everlasting plea.
Joylene Toler leads our football cheers.
She’s good at that, have no fears.
Richard Holman who works at the Hospital Lab,
Never has time to just stand still and bag.
Carroll Gerardy, who has an old car,
Says "the darned old thing won’t go very far."
Eleanor Tickell was our football queen,
May she reign forever in the hearts of the team.
Gordon Kirkman considered learning a bore.
He said "That English I’ll study no more."
Hugh Johnston in the classroom sat
And pondered his theory on this and that.
Bob Kaufman lives at the Experiment Station.
He says it’s one of the best in the nation.
Now, of course, you’d never know it.
But Jimmy McCall plans to be -- guess what? – a poet?
Martha, whose name was Mayfield, you see
Is now a Ledbetter and is happy as can be.
Our time has come; twelve years quickly pass
As you can tell for this history of our senior class.
May you remember us all in the years to come
When each his new life has begun.
As to our future no one can really tell,
But for now Sandra bids you all a pleasant farewell.