1955

1955

by Rufus McClure

Here we are again, beginning the long journey.

It was September, and indeed it was hot.

It was the beginning, and indeed it was confusing.

At the bottom, I’m shown checking in young Tom Lee who spent his life in the Air Force, retiring as Colonel Lee. A long retrospective by Tom appears in the text for the Scrapbook. Roger Congdon, middle, also had an interesting Bolles career, an account of which also appears in the text.

Some mom, bottom, appears to be having difficulty getting her son fitted to her liking.

Mr.Frederick Hackett makes his appearance.

He had been headmaster of a northern school, but he wanted a new challenge in sunny Florida. His choice of Bolles was a no-brainer.

A scholar of the first magnitude, his mission was to invigorate the academic program, which he certainly did.

He continued to elevate the faculty as well as the curriculum and guidance.

He was personal mentor to me and chose me as his assistant and eventually appointed me to succeed him as director of studies in 1964, when he retired..

He continued to elevate the faculty as well as the curriculum and guidance.

He was personal mentor to me and chose me as his assistant and eventually appointed me to succeed him as director of studies in 1964, when he retired..

Lt. Lockwood Seegar, class of 1946, has returned from his stint in the navy to teach English and serve as commandant, making him the third alum from 1946 to repeat this career pattern.

The earlier ones were Tom Horton, math, and Nick Canaday, also English.

Lt. Stasco, top left, was better known as Coach Stasco.

After about five years at Bolles he returned to graduate School, following which he entered the Duval County Educational System, rising to become a respected principal at Lee High School, probably the best high school in Jacksonville at that time.

He passed on about three years ago.

I think that hard-top convertible outside Bill’s classroom belonged to me.

The most important acquisition this year was Captain Lanquist. “Bugsy,” as he was affectionately known to his students, was a towering figure, one of the most respected and revered teachers in the history of the school.

A very dear and life-long friend to me, “Pike,” as he was known to me , passed on three years ago.

Bob Love, also a dear friend, was discussed earlier, and Lt. Lamb, some of you will recall, replaced “Chubby” Simmons as football coach when the ball bounced the wrong way for “Chubby.”

“Chuck’ Sowash and Joe Dyess both arrived about the same time.

Unfortunately, “Chuck” failed to make the transition, but Joe was instrumental in facilitating the transition.

He remained on until his death in 1998.

In fact, he was a VIP during the seventies and eighties.

This monument is discussed in detail in the companion text.

Jose Gaztambide was the first of four Puerto Rican brothers to graduate from Bolles.

All were outstanding scholars and gentlemen.

Joe Whelan, once ranked # one in the nation, has become tennis coach.

His connections will enable him to organize and stage a world-class tennis tournament.

Wonder how many hair cuts Doc sliced through during his long tenure: it would have to be in the thousands!

He also cut my hair (Yes , I had a little hair in those days.), and he gave my first son his first hair cut.

Thursday evenings in the mess hall.

I’ll bet that every cadet spent at least one night in one or more of the above hotels. Kloeppel, by the way, was Bolles family, including several generations of progeny.

The Temple was indeed an exalted spot. Many were called, but few were chosen.

I met the lady who would become my wife there.

She had been a piano student of the exalted one.

As indicated in the text, he reigned until the military was dropped, when he decided to head for the Big Apple, where he lived out his life.

In case you don’t know, we staged world-class tennis tournaments for several years during the fifties.

For one tournament, Ulf Schmidt, above right, played Vic Seixas ( more later) in a rematch of the Wimbledon.

Doris Hart was ranked # one for women at the time.

“It was warm and the afternoon was lazy...”