The 1960 yearbook yields history (Part 2)

All of last week’s information came from the 1960 Mustang yearbook, which I think is the most informative one I’ve ever seen. The staff included Senior Editors Linda Hilbun and Betty Jo Stevens and Junior Editors Beth Burtis, Johnny Standley, and Carol Gustine. Louis Piboin was photographer, C.A. Bedinger drafting artist, and Charles Grizzle sports editor. Jolene Hamby and Fannie Sue Merchant were the typists. I enjoyed this yearbook so am sharing lots from it here. That yearbook advisor, Miss Louise Hatcher, and the staff made this an exceptional history book. It even included the facts that the school year began on August 31 and morning classes began at 8:35 each morning! It also included the fact that this 1959 homecoming celebration was the second one ever in Madisonville, so we know when the first was held. This wasn’t a yearbook really, it’s a history book!

Excitement for Mustangs didn’t end with the football season. Basketball season kicked off. Our team compiled an impressive record, winning 35 games and losing only four. We won our own tournament plus those in Huntsville and Centerville. We won the District 19-A West Zone title and went into the playoffs with Huntington, winning the first game but losing that last two. Our basketball A-team, coached by Floyd Dickens, included John Nesmith, Tommy Poe, Johnny Carter, Joe Hudson, Roy Dean Kyle, Charles Bradbury, Charles Grizzle, Dicky Farris, Tommy Ferguson, and Kenneth Standley. Grizzle and Farris were team captains, and Leon Wakefield manager. The B team included Mike Manning, Ronnie Broadway, M.Y. Vick, Jerry Grizzle, Bill Hopkins, Marion Rigby, Wayne Dyer, and Jerry Wester. Dicky Farris made First Team All-State plus All-South. Look back and you will see that several of those were two-sport athletes.

It appears that in those days, students were more involved in school activities. Our National Honor Society chapter held two initiations a year, one each semester. Its officers included President Martha Baker, First V-P Bruce Gaylor, Second V-P Harold Hoke, Secretary Linda Hilbun, Treasurer Charlotte Ingham, Reporter Brenda Wilson, and Parliamentarian Kathleen Owen.

Student Council was quite active, sponsoring Homecoming and Western Day. Joe Hudson was president, Betty Jo Farris first vice-president, Linda Hilbun second vice-president, Bobbie Gail Bates recording secretary, and Brenda Wilson corresponding secretary.

Future Homemakers of America was a popular group, with Mrs. Norma Piboin and Miss Dottie McAdams as sponsors. Officers were President Mary Ethel Parker, Vice-President Barbara Patton, Secretary Angela Farris, Treasurer Sally Singletary, Reporter Rita Faye McMahan, Parliamentarian Charlotte Ingham, Historian Davie Carter, Song Leader Honeysuckle Turner, and Pianist Myrtle Lou McRee. Ray Lee Reding was voted FHA Sweetheart.

Future Farmers of American was also quite popular, with Mr. E.N. Trant as advisor. In those days, only boys could take agriculture classes, where they were learned carpentry, welding, and much more. Senior FFA officers were President Fernon Gibson, Vice-President Billy Dean, Secretary Ray Lee Reding, Treasurer King Cole, Reporter Billy Owen, and Sentinel Kenneth Goodrum. Junior FFA officers include President Kenneth Baker, Vice-President Jimmy Ketchum, Secretary Bill Hopkins, Treasurer Randy Morgan, Reporter John Stineff, Sentinel Joe Goodrum, Historian Jerry Grizzle, and Parliamentarian Gilbert McClain. Kathleen Owen was chosen Senior Chapter Sweetheart, and Sue Park was Junior Chapter Sweetheart.

In those days, students published a weekly newspaper called “The Stampede”. Sponsor Mrs. Lockie Thompson worked with Editor Jolene Hamby, Associate Editor Carol Gustine, Advertising Editor Johnny Standley, Art Editor Brenda Wallin, and Sports Editor Robert Wagstaff. Typists Fannie Sue Merchant, Bobbie Gail Bates, and Dell Ann Williams did their work on manual typewriters (photos clearly show the page return lever). The Stampede was printed on a then-new machine, the Mimeograph, with Carolyn Stineff and Freddie Jo Sharp operating it. Today I feel sorry for what I know those last two went through!

The new Choral Club entertained at school programs, at banquets, for civic organizations, and for Homecoming. Officers were President Nona Flowers, Vice-President Martha Phillips, Secretary Anna Marie Hall, Treasurer Mary Ethel Parker, Reporter Sally Belkham, and Parliamentarian Mary Ann Hoke. The school superintendent’s wife, Mrs. Lewis, was the group’s sponsor, and Johnny Yeager was elected as sweetheart.

Spanish Club held monthly meetings, with skits, games, songs, and special reports on history, customs, and places of interest in Mexico. Officers included President Jane Brown, Vice-President Lois Patton, Secretary Diane Suther, Treasurer Sue Park, and Program Chairmen Angela Farris, Louis Piboin, Carol Holloway, and Patricial Belew.

Math Club was organized primarily to give interested students training in Number Sense and the use of the Slide Rule. Membership was limited to students with at least a “B” average in Math. Meetings were held during home room, and contestants for Interscholastic League Number Sense and Slide Rule were chosen from the club members. Sponsor was of course Mrs. Hatcher.

Back then, our high school and its population was different than the current one. First, there were no girls’ athletics offered. Most yearbook photos show girls in dresses. The school enrollment was smaller then, with the yearbook showing 53 seniors, 56 juniors, 67 sophomores, and 67 freshmen. Black students attended Marian Anderson High School across town, though their Panther football team played on the same field as the Mustangs, just on different nights. It was not until the late 1960s that Black parents could choose the school for their children to attend, and not until January of 1971 that integration was complete here.

There was another difference then, a different school song. Many of us recall the words and tune, so here goes:

•Dear old Madisonville High School

•You’re the school for me.

•Dear Old Madisonville High School,

•You will always be;

•For you win us friendship,

•Everywhere we go.

•I shall always think of you

•When I lay down to sleep;

•I shall always bet on you

•The football games to beat.

•Dear old Madisonville High School

•You’re the school for me! Again, facts for this Musings came from the 1960 MHS yearbook. The Museum has some yearbooks, the Library has a few more than the Museum, and the High School library holds the largest selection. Museum visitors often ask about the yearbooks, and I wish all three of those places had a full set. My daughter will never want mine, so they are already at the Museum. If you ever feel so inclined, please donate your local yearbooks to one of the 3. When we get duplicates, we share to help one of the others towards a full set.

Musings now appear on behalf of both the Madison County Museum and Madison County Historical Commission. The latter is working towards publishing Volume 3 of local history, and I urge you to write something to include.

When you finish, you may email it to stories@ madisonchc.com or snail-mail to Madison County Historical Commission, 101 N. Commerce, #64, Madisonville, TX 77864. The Commission meets the second Tuesday of each month, at 5:30 p.m., usually at the Kimbro Center, and the public is welcome. The Museum group meets the third Wednesdays each month in the Museum at 10 a.m. and as always, is located at 201 North Madison and open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10-2. Please visit!