1946 by Rufus McClure
The war now over, new blood would begin to transfuse the faculty. Many of these newer, younger men will go on to become legends in their own right. Two of these, Captain Walker and Captain Roth, shown here for the first time, will become stalwarts in the fifties, and they couldn't be more different.
Walker was every inch the academic and would depart the school to become a Fulbright Scholar. Roth, on the other hand, was every inch a coach, in the best sense of the word. He eventually departed because he could not live with the changes wrought by the elimination of the military.
Captain J.G. Roy was another important addition as indicated by his lengthy job description. He is often remembered by the more scholarly students. He advised all the publications at one time or another and boosted them to a higher level of scholarship. He was a classical musician who is remembered by many cadets for introducing them to a lifelong love for music. Finally, The Reverend Allison debuts as yet another chaplain. One might wonder facetiously why chaplains couldn’t survive in the Bolles environment.
Three of these— Hirsig, Kenaston, and Barton– were introduced previously as juniors on the rise. Add to these Fred Schultz and Fred Teed and you have a truly commanding quintet. More about Schultz later.
Among his many distinctions, discussed elsewhere, Barton was the school’s first National Merit Scholar.
Chenoweth, world renowned artist/painter, is discussed elsewhere.
Beverly Hirsig, discussed previously and again later, joins Chester Skinner as the only other person to serve as both battalion commander and senior class president.
Joseph Kittinger, bottom, was the first Bolles grad to achieve world-wide acclaim, for which he earned the cover of Life Magazine, August, 1960. Joe became the first human in space when he piloted a balloon to 102,000 feet over the southwestern desert in 1959, thereby recording the highest balloon ascent in history. However, he descended in a parachute, thereby recording the highest parachute jump in history.
Frank McGehee would found another Bolles dynasty. The auditorium bears his family name, and countless off spring attend functions there today. He would be another alum to serve as chairman of the board of trustees.
Fred Schultz, middle, was the scion of Clifford Schultz, who served with great distinction as Chairman of the Board of Trustees during the transitional forties. The senior Schultz would make the greatest physical contribution in the history of the school to that date, when he donated our first academic building, Schultz Hall, a state of the arts facility in 1949. Fred would earn distinction as financier and philanthropist, but he is best remembered as a political leader, both locally and state-wide. These experiences, which culminated in great success, would catapult him to national prominence as vice chairman of the FED during the Carter years.
Once again, take a good look at the names opposite for they will be the corporate, professional, and political leaders of Jacksonville in the fifties and beyond.
The same Major Hirsig who appears often in the history and destiny of The Bolles School, proving once again that Bolles began producing leaders from the very beginning.
Here again is Captain Canaday, later to become Professor Canaday.
Cadet Captain Frederic H. Schultz is on his way.
Captain J.G. Roy is now advisor to the Bugle. Captain Walker is also involved, not to mention these same students who have earned all kinds of accolades.
Captain Roy, standing front left, is now Glee Club Director, the best we ever had during the military era.
Look at the names. Need we say more?
One wonders what melodious sounds emanate from The Stardusters .
One wonders what underground news will spring from these talented individuals at the top.
Chapel Wardens Association is discussed earlier.
Captain Roy continues his dominance of the Bolles news media as he founds the Quill and Scroll, national honor society for high school journalism.
So far as we know, this picture represents the debut of this organization, and there sits Captain Roy in the middle of the second row!
One wonders why a WWI battle scene illustration for Athletics; but, being Bolles students, they must have had a reason. I’m guessing that Cadet Chenowith, mentioned earlier, produced the image.