26 Will Graduate At State Home Friday Evening Thirteen boys and thirteen girls will graduate from the Corsicana State Home in commencement exercises in the auditorium there at 8 p.m. Friday. John Ben Shepperd, Texas secretary of state, will bring the commencement address. The valedictory address will be given by Patty Sue Whisenhunt. Ethel Louise May will make the salutatory speech. Others who will participate in the program are Dr. Chet C. Henson, pastor of the First Methodist church of Corsicana, Franklin L. King, E. L. Peterson and M. E. Dumas of the State Home, and Dr. L. E. Kelton, who will present special awards. Graduates are Betty Ann Carpenter, Wesley Gene Belschner, Ruby Foy Denny, Jerry Claudell Canady, Aline Dowell, Morris Steadman Carpenter, Lois Nadine Fade, John Casey Jr., Florence Forester, J. C. Colburn, Peggy Edna Hammond, Milton Sills Hambrick, Elsie Mae Hilliard, Walter Leon Hambrick, Wanda Eulene Kilgore, Edward Leon Hull, Ethel Louise May, Edwin Walker Lambright, Delois Alleene Piland, Macca Ben Lawrence, Patty Sue Whisenhunt, Wallace Cross Mitchell, Lois Jean Young, Charles Ray Smith, Julia Ida Zanter and Harlyn Arthur Tucker. The Corsicana Daily Sun - Thursday, May 24, 1951 - Submitted by Diane Richards State Jp,e Graduates Hear Shepperd Declare Freedom “Gift With Strings” By TALMADGE CANANT Daily Sun Staff Twenty –six graduating seniors of the Corsicana State Home heard John Ben Shepperd, Texas secretary of state, warn against apathy to the democratic process, in a commencement address at the Home Friday night. He called freedom “a gift with strings”, and likened Democracy to the mule that died because his owner tried to work him without feeding him. “Our old mule is working for us, and wer are not feeding him; if he dies, we can thank lazy citizenship. It won’t be Joe Stalin that kills him—because Communism is a vulture that will come to pick at our bones only if we are dying of citizenship malnutrition.” Warns of Government Shepperd decried the growth of federal government, and the growing tendency to call upon the federal government to do even the most local of tasks. “We are throwing all of our burdens and responsibilities into the lap of government; we are trading our self-reliance for motherly security, in the form of hand-outs.” “The problems of democracy,” Shepperd said, “can best be cured by more democracy, in its purest form. But it is not a question of bigger and better constitutions, or political theories; democracy is a philosophy to be lived. The problems will be solved when every last citizen assumes his share of the burden in solving them.” Cycle of Service “Life is a cycle of service. He who serves best attains success, whether that service be humble or of great endeavor.” Dr. Chet C. Henson, pastor of the First Methodist Church here gave the invocation to start the commencement program. the senior class followed with a song “Now Is The Hour.” Ethel Louise May followed with the salutatory address, Patty Sue Whisenhunt was the Valedictorian. Another song by the senior class, “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You,” followed, and Franklin L. King then introduced Shepperd for the commencement address. Short Story Awards Following Shepperd’s speech, Dr. L. E. Kelton made the annual cash awards for the first and second place winners in the short story contest. Jerry Canady was the first-place winner and second place went to Josephine Fielding. Dr. Kelton reminded the winners that the award was established in memory of this father, who was a short-story enthusiast, and who was doctor for the local home for years. Present Diplomas E. L. Peterson then presented the senior class, and he and King awarded the diplomas as the graduates filed across the stage. The graduates were: Betty Ann Carpenter, Wesley Gene Belschner, Ruby Foy Denny, Jerry Claudell Canady, Aline Dowell, Morris Steadman Carpenter, Lois Nadine Fade, John Casey Jr., Florence Forester, J. C. Colburn, Peggy Edna Hammond, Milton Sills Hambrick, Elsie Mae Hilliard, Walter Leon Hambrick, Wanda Eulene Kilgore, Edward Leon Hull, Ethel Louise May, Edwin Walker Lambright, Delois Alleene Piland, Macca Ben Lawrence, Patty Sue Whisenhunt, Wallace Cross Mitchell, Lois Jean Young, Charles Ray Smith, Julia Ida Zanter and Harlyn Arthur Tucker. King then presented special awards to the students. Dorothy Beal, Ethel May and Cora May Smith received awards in cosmetology, for passing the state board examination. Typing Winners Receiving awards in typing were J. C. Colburn, Wallace Mitchell, Patty Sue Whisenhunt, Florence Forester, Lois Fade, Delois Piland, Peggy Hammond, Milton Hambrick, Elsie Hilliard, Wanda Kilgore and Ruby Denny. Receiving awards in shop work were Harlyn Tucker, Macca Ben Lawrence, Charles Roy Smith, Gene Belschner, and Wallace Mitchell. Receiving awards in secretarial training were Lois Fade, Jerry Canady, Wanda Kilgore, Peggy Hammond, Florence Forester, Ethel May and Patty Sue Whisenhunt. Dr. Henson gave the benediction. Marjorie Carpenter provided piano music for the songs and for the processional and recessional. The Corsicana Daily Sun - Saturday, May 26, 1951 - Submitted by Diane Richards