Does it not seem hard to realize that the class of 1962, now possessed with strength, beauty, and a wealth of experience written, on its countenance, was ever a class of silly young Freshmen? Silly young Freshmen, indeed, with nothing in our minds but nonsense, and nothing in our outward actions but a lot of giggles! Yet such was the case. Yes, "within these halls a metamorphosis has taken place. A mass of raw, crude, unwieldy humanity has developed into noble, thoughtful and mature seniors.”
In September of 1958, 208 Freshmen entered the mighty portals of Ligon School. Led by Charles Rand as president and guided by Mrs. M. R. Cook, M. E. Ligon, Mrs. A. M. Levingston, Mrs. 1. E. Washington, S. R. Cloud and M. C. Bullock as advisors, we embarked on the first lap of our adventurous journey through high school. To help make our trip more interesting, we decided to affiliate with the many extracurricular organizations that our school had to offer. Elbert Laws, James Howard, and Leymont Jenkins joined the football team. Maurvene DeBerry, Betty Thomas, Dewey Lee, Sandra Mial, and Eloise Murphy were Student Council Representatives with Alice Mann 2nd Vice President and Marilyrn Yarbrough Assistant Secretary.
Our class was abundantly endowed with musical ability. Cecil Grifith, Shirley Ruffin, Charles Rand, Lonnie Anderson, William Howard, Joseph Hunter, and Harold Willians played in the Band. Shirley Hinton, Brenda Harris, Alice Mann, Nell Hamm, Georgia Taylor, Judith Adams and Harold Williams were members of the String Orchestra. The Glee Club was blessed with the beautiful voices of Betty Evans, Jean Fox, Brenda Kee, Georgia Taylor, Madelyn and Marilyn Yarbrough. Patricia Gill reigned as Miss Ligon Junior High and Barbara Turner attendant.
With Mrs. R. B. Beattie, Mrs. Ethel Clark, Mrs. M. W. Blakely, M. C. Hill, D. J. Webster, R. E. Stewart, H. A. Poole, and the late Mrs. M. B. Jones as our consultants, 268 sophomores embarked on the second lap of our journey in September of 1959. Our number increased when other 10th graders joined us from Washington School.
As Sophomores, we displayed other facets of versatility. Our athletic prowess was exhibited in Lonnie Anderson, Roy Hicks, Cecil Griffith, James Howard, Charles Jones, Dewey Lee, and Alfred Leonard who played on the football team. Haywood Moye, Ray Debnam, Marvin Harris, Robert Height, Andrew Horton and Bernard Wilder were members of the 1959 State Championship baseball team. The basketball team was indebted to the class for Willie Griffis, Robert Height, Lonnie Holden, James Howard, Lawrence Dickens, and StanIey Watson. Lemuel Mial, Richard Davis, James Howard, Charles Jones, Alfred Leonard, Robert sanders, Harold Williams ran on the track team. Then Lorettia Cotten, Emma Lee, Jacquelyn Ricketts, Beverly Vinson, Madelyn and Marilyn Yarbrough became cheerleaders. Three of the illustrious Sophomores were elected officers of the Student Council: Secretary, Alice Mann; Assistant Secretary, Patricia Gill; Reporter, Viola High. Patricia also traveled to West Charlotte High School as an exchange student, and Gloria Johnson placed fourth in the Piedmont District Typing Contest. To the bard we gave Barbara Mitchell, Sandra Trevan, Johnny Jones, Paul Alston, and Robert White.
We further distinguished ourselves by having four students selected "Students of the Week." They were, Jennie Davis, Brenda Kee, Marilyn and Madelyn Yarbrough.
In the third of our four stage journey, our guides, Mrs. D. B. Clements, M. B. Bugg, Mrs.S.V.Perry, H. A. Poole, Mrs. 1. E. Washington, C. C. Lipscorb, and D. J. Webster advised us. Then Brenda Kee was elected President and Billy Robinson Vice President; Emma Womack, Secretary; Frances Roberts, Treasurer; Jares Howard, Parliamentarian; and Maurice DeBerry, Reporter.
Of the 204 juniors, six lent their energies to the football team. Ernest Kelly, James Anthony, Hubert Guess, Rudolph Robertson, Lawrence Dickens, and Andrew Horton; five to the basketball team Haywood Moye, Robert White, Charles Spence, Rayrnond Bullock, and Thomas White; and two to the baseball team: William Howard and Dewy Lee. Viola High joined the cheering squad.
Brenda Kee won local and district awards in the Omega Talent Hunt and traveled to the Golden Anniversary Conclave in Washington, D. C., where she participated in the Talent Hunt Demonstration Prograrm.
Juniors dominated the officers of the Student Council with Brenda Eke, Vice President; Patricia Gill, Secretary; Gail King, Assistant Secretary; Billy Robinson, Treasurer; and Armayne Dunston, Parliamentarian. Patricia Gill was elected Secretary of the State Student Councils and represented North Carolina at the National Student Council Convention in Oklahoma.
Lillie Boyd reigned as Miss Ligon High with Betty Evans as attendant. Jennie King and Robert Fresno journeyed to Elizabettown, while Marilyn Yarbrough to Winston-Salem as exchange students.
Heralded for their outstanding qualities of character scholarship, leadership, and service Yvonne Chavis, Joyce Cook, Maurvene DeBerry, Armayne Duston, Mary Rose Gill, Patricia Gill, Viola High, Shirley Hinton, Brenda Kee, William McCollum, Madelyn and Marilyn Yarbrough were inducted in the National Honor Society. Jennie Davis, Marilyn Yarbrough, Barbara Turner, Erma Lee and Armayne Dunston were inducted in the neophyte Mu Alpha Theta Honorary Mathematics Society.
The highlight of the year was the night of May 5,1961. The most spectacular of the spectaculars! Our Junior-Senior Prom!! We worked hard to make it a success, and on that night even we were surprised at the effectiveness. Our theme was "A Song in My Heart," and there really was as we danced this romantic and wondrous night away.
James Kearney, our contribution to the legitimate theatre, participated in three productions. Charles Rand starred in the play "Afraid of the Dark" which won an A-1 rating in the AAA Division of the State Drama Festival.
Joyce Cooke, Madely, and Mayilny Yarbrough were filled with love of school that they continued in summer Science Institutes: Joyce at A & T College and the Yarbroughs at North Carolina college.
Seniors at last!!!! But dwindled to to 173 determined students with J. E. Burke, G.H. Harris, R.E. Stewart, Mrs. E.D. Toole, and Mrs. R.B. Williams as advisors, and Billy Robinson Council President. This year Haywod Moye And Marvin Harris joined the football team which elected James Harris Co- Captain. Lemuel Mial And Benard Wilder joined the already senoir-stocked basketball team of which James Howard and Toole, and Mrs. R. B. Williams as advisors and Billy Robinson Council President.
This year Hayward Moue and Marvin Harris joined the football team, which elected James Howard Co-Captain. Lemuel Mial and Bennard Wilder joined the already senoir-stocked basketball team which James Howard and Robert height were Co-Captains Robert Height and Dewey Lee were elected positions in the baseball team.
Outstanding of Art were Raymond Bulock, Alfred Leonard, Yvonne Chavis Viola High, Cecil Alston, ad Andrew Horton all of whom won coveted awards for their artistic talents.
One of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year was the selection of Superlatives. They were: Most Likely to Succeed-Brenda Kee and Michael Harris; Wittiest-Joyce Cooke and Dewey Lee; Best Dressed-Mary Ragland and Billy Morgan; Most Versatile-Robert White and Patricia Gill; Most Cooperative-Viola High and BiIly Robinson; Most Business Like-Gloria Johnson and Billy Robinson; Most Athletic-Phyllis, McCullough and James Howard; Most Popular-Charles Spence and Patricia Gill; Most Attractive-Lawrernce Dickens, and Elizabeth Mitchell; Most Musical Robert Fryson and Brenda Kee; Most Studious-Marvene DeBerry and Eric May,-; Most Pleasing Personality-Armayne Dunston and Lemuel Mial.
Our class represented three one-act plays - "A Pair of Lunatics", "One Egg", and "The Income Tax" The cast included Cecil Dolby, Joyce Hopkins, William Myers, Paulette Cannady, Roy Hicks, Alice Mitchell, Robert White, Peggy Scott, Frank Hunter, and Kenneth Green. Among other students outstanding in dramatics were: James, Kearney, Joyce Hopkins and Barbara Mitchell who acted in the three-act play "The Girl in the Rain" Still others interested in dramatics were Alice Mitchell, Harold Austin, Lena Riddick, Eloise Burnett, Lucill. Thomas, Elbert Laws, Sallie Jones, Magaline Hunter, Sarah Houston, James Clay and Sandra Mial.
Twenty three members of our class participated in the High School Scholars program at Saint Augustines, of these, three were inducted In the National Honor Society: Jennie Davis, Lucille Thomas, and Eric May. Madelyn Yarbrough, Yvonne Chavis, Shirley Hinton, Eric Maye and Mary Rose Gill were admitted to the Mu Alpha Theta Math Club. Marilyn Yarbrough brought fame to Ligon and to herself by becoming the school’s first Merit Scholar. The Yarbrough sisters further distinguished themselves, by ranking second and third in the nation (Madelyn and Marilyn respectively) n the Howard University Examination.
This ninth edition of the Echo was published as a result of the efforts of several seniors: Lorettia Cotten, Editor-in-chief; Alice Mitchell, Copy Editor; and Robert White, Sandra Mial, Elbert Laws, Barbara Mitchell, Alice Mann, and Baxter Farrar, Associate Editors.
It has been wonderful to have been together and to have shared ,. many interesting experiences. We can always look back on them with great pleasure and delight, but now we must separate. Our happy years of friendship and metal understanding have welded in our hearts memories that can never be erased. There we will take with us and cherish in years to come.
As we depart may the guidance and training we have received here make us stronger, better, and finer citizens as we face the future.
Historians: Jenie Davis, Marilyn Yarbrough