1939

1939

by Rufus McClure

To our knowledge, no one knows why the color was changed to blue. However, as this image clearly shows, it was a good decision.

Although Neil Armstrong might be unhappy with me, I’ll still say it anyway.

“The EAGLE has landed.”

This is the first dedication to a deceased person. As we saw earlier, Doctor Lewis started out as headmaster; but for unknown reasons, he returned to the classroom as a math instructor.

All indications suggest that he was an outstanding teacher and a revered member of the faculty.

Apparently, Colonel Clemens succeeded Doctor Lewis as the academic head of school, a position he retained until he was succeeded by Colonel Ligon in 1942.

As the faculty matured, revered names began to appear, starting, appropriately, with Major Andrews, often cited with praise and reverence by alumni who have responded to our request for input and other data.

Huston was another of those beloved early mentors.

In fact, the first Student Canteen, donated by Clifford Schultz, was named for him.

The list keeps growing.

This is the first appearance of William (Bill) Hochheim, whom everyone recalls with great affection and respect, particularly for his sense of humor. He was one of my personal mentors when I arrived in 1951 as a neophyte.

As one who knew him personally and one who taught many of the same students, I can assert with confidence that more cadets could actually imitate his inimitable (?) voice than anyone else I have ever known.

We can add the name Captain Orville Snyder, “Leader of the Band.�

Another of my personal mentors, he was a gifted musician, having performed with John Phillip Sousa, and a delightful gentleman.

Finally, it’s a pleasure to introduce a couple of very dear and distinguished ladies: Mrs. Dewitt R. Searles, House Mother, and Mrs. Grace Hochheim, teacher and wife of the aforementioned “Bill.”

Both ladies had sons who graduated from Bolles.

Mrs. Searles’ son, Richard Searles, 1939, retired from the USAF as a Major General, our highest ranking flag officer, we think. Mrs. Hochheim’s son, “Bill”, 1943, became a teacher first and later became a Catholic priest.

Already we begin to see names of individuals whose names will reappear as their sons continue their dads’ tradition.

Jean’s son Timothy, 1968, was an early graduate of the civilian era.

Today, 2010, Tim owns and operates a unique business, Troops of Time, which recalls his father’s military roots and which deals with all kinds of antique military paraphernalia. Jean was both battalion commander and class president

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Dewitt Richard Searles, retired Major General, USAF, was introduced above with his mother.

Among his military awards are the following: 680 combat hours in P47and P51; Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal; and Distinguished Unit Citation.

More in the Companion Text.

As nearly as we can tell, this picture depicts the cast of the first theatrical production. It’s interesting that it involves a military theme, but it is also interesting that the playwright was British.

Since we had no theatre nor auditorium, it undoubtedly was staged in the improvised gym. The cast includes three noteworthy names: Tyler and Searles, whom we have met before, and Chester Skinner, whom we meet here for the first time.

We know that Tyler has rendered his last salute. To our knowledge, General Searles is still answering reveille, and Chester Skinner is still the proud soldier who commanded the Battalion in 1939. No one better personifies Bolles , both past (military) and present than Chester Skinner. He has contributed to The Bolles School in every conceivable way, not the least of which is his long list of progeny. Since his first son, Chip, graduated in 1969, there has always been at least one Skinner family member enrolled. To date our alumni directory lists over twenty Skinners, not all of whom belong to Chester, but he surely holds the record for most of them, including many grandchildren and even great grandchildren.

His most recent contribution, January 2010, is a magnificent new flagpole and appropriately sized flag located in the new Flag Pavilion which bears the family name.

Obviously, our wrestlers wasted no time pinning the opposition.

1939 was the first year of a long history of Bolles Championships. Golf won the first State Championship in 1939 and basketball also brought home its first state trophy in 1952.

Charles Nuckols, our first super athlete, ranks right up at the top of our Athletic Hall of Honor, more later.

Number 34, Charles Nuckols, first player, second row, was Bolles’ first super athlete, halfback on the AllSouthern team.

Times Union: “His record of 70 completions out of 103 attempts…is phenomenal.”

That in a day when passing was secondary!

The first of many basketball championships.

This 1939 golf team went undefeated and thereby won our first state title.

Observe these names carefully because they are permanently engraved in the Bolles Pantheon.

These names reverberate forever.