That Was Then...continued
C. Benton Manley 1936-1946
The Principals of Will Rogers High School
O.A.H. Setzepfandt 1946-1950
Raymond W. Knight 1950-1969 Roy James Lewis 1969-1973
Martin McGinty 1973-1982 Richard Cox 1982-1992
James R. Sharpe 1992-1994 Jim Howard 1994-1996 Nora Cook 1996-2005 Tenna Whitsel 2005-2006 Kevin Burr 2006-2009 Lyda Wilbur 2009-2011 Stacey Vernon 2011-2013 Cheryl Carter 2013 - Present
8
During the war, to save on tires and gas, there were fewer cars in the parking lot, more bicycles in the racks and more crowded buses at 3:30 p.m., the end of the school day. There were collection areas for tinfoil, wastepaper and toothpaste tubes. Students were asked to bring in their weight in scrap metal and steel. When all was weighed in, they almost doubled their quota. Male teachers were called into military service and both men and women worked in defense plants. Labor shortage almost closed the cafeteria, but mothers of students volunteered to help prepare and serve school lunches. During 1946 and 1947, some 70 veterans of World War ll were enrolled to finish high school. Ever wonder why early pictures of Will Rogers High School from the south side were so bare of landscaping? Conservation and rationing were more important during those war years than trees and shrubs. By 1948 landscaping was finished, yet no one felt the school had been neglected. Some things are more important. And today? Just try to take a picture without greenery blocking out some essential part of the building. A good word needs to be said about that cafeteria specialty – bean chowder and cinnamon rolls. You can buy a pretty good hamburger today, but no one does bean chowder and cinnamon rolls like we remember from the cafeteria. (You can try your hand at it. Recipes are on page 10.)