HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1958
By Katherine Gregory

     It has often been remarked that history has a particular way of repeating itself, and so to a certain extent the history of this class is much like the history of classes which have gone before, and of others which will follow.
     Remembering that to many people, history is rather a dull subject except to those who have participated in it personally, the historian of the class of 1958 will strive to be as brief as possible and to touch only upon those subjects which are significant not only to the class but to others.
     This history is divided into three parts: Discovery, exploration, and settlement.

DISCOVERY

     The discovery of the class of 1958 was an accident. Twelve years ago, early one morning on the 1st of September, 1946, the faculty of the Kosciusko Elementary School were strolling aimlessly to their classroom, chatting about the just-ended vacation and wondering whether there would be any startling changes in their work during the coming year.
     Suddenly they caught a glimpse of something new and strange. Just inside the front door, huddled together in mute embarrassment and anxiety, were the members of what became the class of 1958. To the casual eye, we seemed merely a group of ordinary boys and girls, well dressed, reasonably good looking, and badly frightened. Out of these 105 first graders, 27 are still with us.  Their names are: Mary Faye Braswell, Drew Chandler, Jeanene Crosby, Annie Laurie Fleming, Jeanette Furr, Sandra Giles, Betty Glaze, Katherine Gregory, Edward Harkey, Lelia Ann Jamison, Jeraldine Jenkins, Katherine Jordan, John Lee, Douglas McAdams, Jackie McGee, Kay McGee, Martha Mills, Janice Moore, Walter Newell, Jimmy Paquinette, Sara Jo Pender, Connie Proctor, Ann Russell, Ruth Steen, Roy Terry, Pat Vanderford, and Mary Davis Williams. But to the trained eye of those dauntless and experienced explorers, these strangers seemed distinct and widely separated individuals, each possessing aptitudes and talents, deficiencies and capabilities decidedly worth investigating.
     Gently attempting to dispel the fears of these strangers, the first grade teachers, Miss Annie Smythe, Mrs. Tony Mansell, and Mrs. Eudora Payne bade them enter and spent the next few weeks attempting to gain their confidence and friendship. They succeeded after great difficulty. The discovery of the class of 1958 will be celebrated in history because of the gentleness and courtesy that was displayed toward those strange things by the teachers, who they so curiously encountered on September 1, 1946.

EXPLORATION

     The discovery having been reported to the ruler of the elementary school, Principal Moore, she received the news of this remarkable acquisition to her territory with marked delight and
a few misgivings. Thus the Kosciusko Public School System set out on its 12 year job to convert a band of ignorant, untamed beginners into intelligent, courteous citizens of their great school.
     Probably the most outstanding events in the first five grades were the operettas. These operettas were The Christmas Operettas, The Land of Dream Come True, Rumplestilskin, The Magic Beanstalk, and Tom Sawyer. How scared we all must have been?
     In the fourth grade we saw the edition of a new high school. For the first time, we ate in a lunch room instead of bringing our lunches. Also in the fourth grade we saw our football team win the state championship.
     Then came Junior High. We really thought we were grown up then. When we arrived in the 7th grade we found that we had more than one teacher. During the first month of this year, we suffered much inconvenience because of unfamiliarity with the new rules. We were forever taking the wrong turn finding ourselves in the wrong corridor, and arriving at our classroom somewhat late. Because of this we incurred heavy penalties, but by Thanksgiving we had become familiar with the topography of the school building and were often in the right place at the right time.
     In the eighth grade Mrs. Ricketts helped us put on an eighth grade play. Of course all of us were very excited and Edwin King had to dress up like a girl.

ON TO HIGH SCHOOL

     Then came the thrill of our lives. We were actually going to be in high school. But on that hot morning in September of 1954, we were all frightened within an inch of our lives.
     Although we were proud to be Freshmen we encountered the same problems as we did in the seventh grade. Everyone looked down on us as if we were babies, but they soon changed their minds. Everything went smoothly until Freshman day. Of course no one will ever forget that day. Jimmy Fisher and Tip Rosamond were selected Typical Freshman Boy and Girl.
     Our class officers for 1954-1955 were: President-Tommy Elkin, Vice President-Drew Chandler, Secretary-Katherine Jordan, Treasurer-Elizabeth Busbea, Reporter-Mary Faye Braswell. We have lost 40 students since we entered the ninth grade.
     The next year strange thing happened. Remembering the scorn with which we had been regarded the previous year, we now adopted the same attitude toward the incoming strangers who took their places as Freshmen. Our Sophomore Class officers were: President-Drew Chandler, Vice President-Roy Terry, Secretary-Barbara Ables, Treasurer- Katherine Jordan, Reporter-Tip McMillan.
     Three very important things happened during our Junior year. First of all we had a new superintendent, Mr James T. Coleman. Under his leadership a Student Council was formed and John Kirkland was the first President. The second great event was the privilege of being able to buy a class ring. The third great event was the Junior-Senior banquet. We had heard about them all of our lives, but now we were actually going to one. For several weeks before the banquet we worked on decorations and program. The May pole was the center of our theme. That was one experience none of us shall ever forget.
     And now we come to the 12th and greater year in the history of the class. We automatically became Seniors in September. Many things have happened during the year. Nearly all of the club presidents are from the Senior class. They are: FHA-Mary Faye Braswell (also F.H.A. Sweetheart) , Y Teen-Katherine Gregory, Hi-Y -Jack Dew, Beta Club- Morris Chapman. Jack Dew is also the second president of the Student Council. Many honors have been bestowed upon Seniors. last year Mary Faye Braswell, Martha Mills and Jeanette Furr were chosen to attend Girl's State. Jimmy Fisher, Morris Chapman and Jack Dew attended Boy's State. Jimmy did such a good job that he has been asked to come back this year as a counselor. Katherine Jordan has been editor of the school paper and Jeanette Furr has been editor of the annual. Jack Dew and Katherine Jordan were elected as Mr. and Miss KHS. Katherine also received the DAR Good Citizenship award. 
     We are very pleased with the job Marilyn Watts and Neicy Turnipseed did representing our class as cheerleaders the four years they were in high school. "Luke" Terry won the "Player of the Year" award in football. We also saw our basketball girls win Choctaw Championship and enter the state finals. 
     Another highlight of our last year was the Senior Play under the direction of Mrs. Johnnie White. Those taking part in it were: Jack Dew, Renny Breazeale, Brenda Culpepper, Jeanene Crosby, Katherine Gregory, Pat Jones, Mary Faye Braswell, Marilyn Watts, Pat Vanderford, Morris Chapman, Martha Mills, Jeff Dendy, and Jeanette Furr.
     Our Senior sponsors were: Mrs. Flora Covington, Mrs. Johnnie White, and Coach McBeath. All of us will remember all the good times we had at Senior parties, and all the banquets we attended such as the Beta Banquet, The Sweetheart Banquet, and the
Football banquet. We all had a good time at the Junior-Senior banquet. The theme was "The Old South". Our first high school party was held on May 8, 1958. This was something new for all of us.

SETTLEMENT

     This next period, settlement, is not so easy to describe. A history does not deal with the future. Its function is to tell of the past and the present, but we trust we shall be pardoned if we pause for a moment and with hand shading your eyes, look into the years beyond.
     What we see may more truly belong to the class prophet, but we cannot refrain from the expression of the belief that no class has or ever will go forth from this institution with a finer and clearer record than has been made by the class of 1958. And further, we have firm confidence that in the "Who's Who" of the years ahead many of our number will appear and reappear, and that all, without a single exception will find the lasting satisfactions which life well lived is bound to hold.
     The curtain is going down on the history of the Class of 1958, but in reality the Big Parade is just commencing.