GRADUATION OF ODD FELLOWS HOME SCHOOL FRIDAY BARRY MILLER PRESENT DI- PLOMAS; A. M. BLACKMAN DELIVERS ADDRESS Commencement exercises for the graduating class of the I. O. O. F. Home high school, the awarding of numerous cash and other prizes to various students and the formal presentation of diplomas by Barry Miller, Dallas, lieutenant-governor of Texas and grand master of the Texas I. O. O. F., were held at the auditorium of the school Friday evening at 8 o'clock. A. M. Blackman, high school supervisor of the state department of education, Austin, delivered the class address. A number of the high officials of the I. O. O. F. lodge were on hand. In the beginning of his remarks Mr. Blackman stated that he had seen the heart and soul of Odd Fel- lowship and the spirit that actuates that order at the Home Friday. He referred to the great educational institutions in Texas—how the people of Texas spend much money for education, has $180,000, 000 invested in school buildings and plants; pays the 40,000 teachers $45,000,000 yearly; has 1,250,000 students in the schools; and sends out 25,000 high school graduates annually. He declared that the entire school expenditure in Texas yearly aproximated $60,000,000. Just Starting Life Directing his remarks to the members of the class, Mr. Blackman stated that he had rather be a member of that class than to be John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, Thomas A. Edison or President Hoover as the men named were on the descinding side of life while the graduates were just beginning their lives. He declared that there was plenty of adventure and opportunity in the world, although practically all of the exploration of territories had been completed. The fields of inventions, electricity, medicine, transportation, government and education present, plenty of work and opportunity for lead- ership and changes. He stressed the fact that only a people can advance who are educated. In the presentation of the diplomas to the graduates, Grand Master Miller advised the boys and girls that he was the spokesman of 40, 000 Odd Fellows in presenting them their diplomas who were with them were interested in their welfare. He said that their paths would not be all sunshine, but that when adversity came, that they could still go to the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs for help and comfort who were with them still even if they were leaving the I. O. O. F. Home here. Banquet Is Held. At the conclusion of the program, the senior class held a banquet honoring the ex-students of the home who were present. Each member of the graduating class and those students who are leaving the home due to the age limit, twenty-one in number, were presented $5 each by J. H. Rattan, noble grand of the Fort Worth I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 251. Following Is the program: Selection—Home orchestra under the supervision of W. O. Barlow, director. Invocation—Travis Brooks, Port Arthur, Texas, formerly superintendent of the I. O. O. F.; Sunday school. Salutatory address—Melba Chapman. Vocal selection—Girls' sextette. "Scrap Bag"—Wilbur Johnson. "Good Night"—Piano solo, Melba Chapman. Valedictory address—Opal Whitaker, Class address—A. M. Blackman. Class song—Senior class. Presentation of diplomas and awarding of diplomas—Barry Miller, Dallas, grand master of Texas. Awarding of fine art medals- Ross G. Harris, superintendent. Awarding of W. H. Wray prize— W. H. Wray, Dallas, treasurer of Home board. Awarding of Francis prizes—W. R. Francis, Fort Worth, vice chairman, Home board. Awarding of Masters prize—C. P. Masters, Pecan Gap, trustee of the Home. Distribution of $250 in prizes for Industrial and vocational work— Ross G. Harris, superintendent. Awarding of books for highest average in each grade in school— Dr. E. A. Johnson, Corsicana, secretary of the school board and past grand master of Texas. The Home Robekah Lodge No. 128, through Mrs. Ed Sheets and Mrs. Sam Spikes presented both the boys and girls with hose. Lodge Officials Present Among officials present and not participating in the program Friday evening were J. K. Sasche, Sasche, Texas, chairman of the Home board; E. Q. Vestal, Dallas, grand secretary; and Mrs. May Hatcher James, Dallas, treasurer of the Rebekah Assembly and new member of the school board. Mrs. James succeeds Mrs. John C. Hughes of Corsicana as a member of the school board of the Home. Following are the prizes and winners: Fine Arts. 1. Melba Chapman 2. Kitty Arledge Expression, Grace Gibson Commercial Department. Opal Whitaker, medal Pinson Prizes. Kindergarten, Ollie May Webb; first grade, Sam Helleson; second grade, Johnnie May Hearon; third grade, M. Goodloe; fourth grade, Bessie M. Nelson; fifth grade, Clisto M(not legible) sixth grade, Lottie May Own(not legible) seventh grade, Helen Knight; eighth grade, Catherine Brown; ninth grade, Bill Webb; tenth grade, Ruby Hitt; eleventh grade, Opal Witaker Vocational Prizes. Boys—Billly Webb $20; Sterling Brister, $10; Bill Vest $10; Pascal McMenemy $10; R. D. Hitt, $10; Neal Nelson $10; Woodrow Harbin, $10. Girls—Mae Foster $15; Pearl Fletcher, $10; Opal Patterson, $10; Linnie Jackson $10; Lillie McMenemy, $10; Elizabeth Trice, $5; Rose Thanert, $5; Lillian Miller, $5. Wray Prize. Mary Ellen Yarborough, best all-round student $25. Francis Prizes. Catherine Brown, first. best grade $10. eighth grade with average of 92, 5-6 Jack Erwin and Neal Nelson, boys both of the eighth grade were tied for the honors with averages of 91 1-6 and were given $5 each. Masters Prize. Oscie Williams won the $5 prize given by C. P. Masters for the best work in the seventh grade. Superintendent Harris presented the scholarships to the high honor students. The vocational cash prizes are provided for by the Kienery trust fund. The Corsicana Daily Sun - Saturday, June 1, 1929 Submitted by Diane Richards