We will divide the history of the senior class into four distinct periods. First the Prehistoric, or what little is known of the class before it's organization. Second, Ancient History, or history of the freshman year. Third Medieval, or Sophomore Junior history. And last but not least, Modern, or history of the past year.
Now, as a historian would say, let us look at the prehistoric time. Nothing is known or dreamed of the senior class of 24, from Lone Oak. Its members are scattered over the city, this and Graves County, and one of them attending school in Missouri.
We will consider the history of this class to begin the first day of school in 1920. This class has been cross graded and some members in school longer than others that it is hard to get an accurate and authentic record. But the author after unearthing several old manuscripts and parchments, pens these lines.
When the Freshman class was called at the beginning of the 1920 term, the following members reported; Trevia Lovelace, Thelma Ingram, Lucile Green, Katy Housman, Brandon Shelton, Homer Jones, Kelly Crayne, Truman Ross and Paul Farthing. For the first time this class tackled Algebra and Biology. In the course of a month, three members were added to the class roll. Horace Ross, Nell and Silva Woods, and last but not least, Paul Perdew, who has gone down on the pages of school history as the wisest fool the school has ever known. Mr. Perdew was exceedingly fond of Algebra. In the old parchment I find this statement, which is characteristic of Paul; Paul Perdew, freshman, Algebra, X times X = 2X and X plus X = Xsquare.
All went well for half the school, then one day, from the clear sky the greatest disaster the world has ever known fell upon the class, namely Latin. The cannons begin to boom, and the class has constantly been at war since that time. But some author has said, "The Pen is mightier than the sword," so this class won all the battles.
Bessie Ward, Dessie Ward, Hazel Sperry, and Hillard Otey spent their freshman year at Lowes, and access to an official record was not gained. Clara Adcock, spent her freshman year at St. Mary's Academy, and little is known of her record there. Lee McKenny, Herman Thompson, and Lucille Futrell, spend their freshman year at Lone Oak, but with another class.
Next we come the Medieval, or Sophomore Junior history. The same class reported for work at the beginning of school with the exception of Trevia Lovelace and Thelma Ingram. The class was glad to welcome and receive as members, Hillard Otey, Bessie and Dessie Ward, and Hazel and Elna Sperry from Lowes. Also Miss Clara Adcock from St. Mary's Academy. And we're sorry to lose Truman Ross, who quit school a little later.
At the beginning of the Junior year we lost members and gained one, Kelly Crayne, did not report for work, but his place was taken by Miss Roberta Jones another student from Lowes. But we are sorry to state, Homer Jones, Brandon Shelton, Roberta Jones, and Elna Sperry left the class before the close of the year. The beginning of this year marks another great episode of history, the class conquered Geometry.
Now let us come to the Modern, period or history of the past year. The following members reported for Senior work, E.D. Overstreet, Lee McKenny, Hillard Otey, Herman Thompson, Paul Farthing, Clara Adcock, Lucile Green, Lucille Futrell, Katye Housman, Hazel Sperry, and Betty Ross. Nothing is known of Betty's early life, but her presence has been strongly felt by the class. E.D. Overstreet, joined the class and little is known of his life except that he attended school at Lone Oak, Paducah, and Bowling Green. Bessie and Dessie Ward started to school at Lowes this year, but the magnetic attraction of the old Lone Oak could not be resisted, and they came back a few weeks after school started.
Nell and Silva Woods, by attending a summer school, graduated a year ahead of the class.
The following class officers were elected;
This class has been known all along as an irresistible force, and several times when supposed immovable objects were thrown in the path of this class they went down in defeat like Napoleon at Waterloo.
Each member of this class has several volumes of personal history, some of it too personal to mention. I will tell some of their characteristics.
Our honorable president E.D. Overstreet, is noted for his marksmanship, no head has been discovered that at a distance of twenty five yards he cannot hit with an eraser or piece of chalk. Clara Adcock, our secretary, is noted for her temper and kind words when she is angry. Hillard Otey is so thick headed, in Mathematics, that some facts he learned in the freshman year are just penetrating the brain. Lee McKenny, is so bright his mother calls him son. Herman Thompson is so well cultured in High School subjects that he has not seen fit to look at a book in the last years, except when it was time to recite. Bessie and Dessie Ward, has puzzled both class and faculty for a long time, no one can tell which is which, and if they don't care to tell the truth we don't know then.