High school graduation was not a one-night celebration in 1924. It lasted more than a week, ending with the commencement address by the Hon. Alben W. Barkley, who was then serving as U.S. Representative and would become the 35th Vice President of the United States (1949-1953) in the administration of President Harry Truman.
Twenty students were in the graduating class of Livingston County High School in 1924. This was the largest class in the eight years’ history of the school. Graduating were John Haynes Adams, Anna Dean Boughter, Millicent Downen, Raymond Bishop Dycus, Viva Grace Foster, Thomas V. Frazier, Dorothy Adams Hibbs, James Lacy Hibbs, L. Leroy May, James Mantz Nelson, Camille Parsons, Mary Elizabeth Peal, Ann Louise Presnell, J. Glenn Radcliffe, James Abell Rutter, Eldon Thompson, Verna Frances Threlkeld, Mary Musa Webb, Emma Aylee Wilson and J. Ned Worten.[1]
The commencement exercises began Thursday evening, May 15th with a varied program. The graduating class presented the senior play, “Much Ado About Betty,” on two evenings, Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16.
The baccalaureate sermon was delivered Sunday, May 18, at the Baptist church by Rev. W.L. Baker, pastor of the Smithland Methodist church. The class night exercises were on May 22 in the high school auditorium.
Barkley delivered the commencement address on Friday evening, May 23, at the school building.
[1] “Barkley
Will Be Smithland Orator at Commencement,” The Paducah Sun-Democrat,
Thu., 8 May 1924, p. 4.
Published 15 July 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment