1956

1956

By Rufus McClure

“ 1956.”

This is the class I grew up with. I taught every one of them, most of them two or three times. I taught them as freshmen, as juniors, and as seniors. They got me to the “church on time” when I got married that January and sort of adopted us thereafter.

I attended their Fiftieth Anniversary in 2006. I have attended their own weddings; and, sad to say, some of their funerals.

From their midst emerged Harry M. deMontmollin Jr., who would become the longest serving headmaster/president in the history of the school. Details in the text.

One of the most revered men ever to serve The Bolles School, Major Bradley renders his last salute.

Through the years, dozens of cadets regarded him as a surrogate father.

The last sentence in his dedication above is as true today as it was then.

Students who never heard his name are still impacted by his legacy.

That’s Cliff Mendoza taking aim. His verbal bullets must have been successful.

Ben Bolch is another of our bona fide academics, college professor at Vanderbilt and author.

Roger Congdon responded with a long retrospective, which appears in the text.

Frederick Carrington, Colonel Courington, M.D., spent his life in the Navy.

He responded with a lengthy memoir to which I responded because it gave me an opportunity to express some thoughts which I needed to express.

Both his letter and my response appear in the text.

I attended Ted Crosby’s wedding and remained in close contact with him until his tragic death at age 45. I also taught his children. Ted was serving on the Board of Trustees at the time of his death. His wife Evelyn also served on the board.

Charles Curtis is the first student whom I taught who would later become a classmate in a graduate course we took together at Jacksonville University.

I taught Harry in the ninth grade, in the tenth grade, and as a senior. I also facilitated his return to the school as a teacher who would quickly rise to president.

He is discussed in more detail in the text.

Lewis Fraser has remained a very loyal alum, sending his progeny to school in recent years.

George Hodges’ father was chairman of the board during the early fifties. Both father and son became great benefactors over the years.

In fact, both have made very generous contributions, especially to the athletic facilities.

Thomas Lee, that is , Colonel Lee, spent his life in the Air Force.

He responded with the longest, most detailed memoir I received.

An abstract appears in the text.

Gary Peacock, a dear friend, died of a heart attack in the middle the Gasparila marathon.

Gary drafted my first will.

William Smith, “Geech,” was sheriff of Camden County, Georgia, for decades.

Thomas Watts, III became another college professor, Russian, I think.

William White emigrated to New Zealand, where he carved out a unique career, explained in the text.

He has long since retired, but he is a New Zealander for life.

Class Sponsor, Captain Love, is discussed elsewhere.

Following Major Bradley’ s death, Mister Baysinger replaced him as registrar.

Mrs. Bradley remained on as his secretary.

I have now become head of the English Department and senior English teacher.

As such, I taught every senior who graduated from 1956 until 1961 or ’62 (?), when I surrendered a class or two to Joe Dyess.

This is the first appearance of the inimitable Dr. Meighen, terror of the Math department.

Whatever anguish “Tiny Tim” O’Connor experienced while listening to Hickory’s speech, I’m sure Hickory’s anguish was far more excruciating.

However, judging from Hickory’s later success as a banker, some of the speaking skills he acquired under duress must have stuck with him.

Nurse Woodruff must have been taking Cliff’s pulse.

Everyone considered Colonel (just kidding) Weaver, bus driver, to be a dear old man.

Many cadets recall him with great affection.

It’s a bit strange for me to sit here and remark about his age when I am older today than he was then!

Also, many recall “Spook,� the mysterious night watchman.

This distinguished cuisine team in the middle picture produced thousands of meals a week, some of which cadets recall today.

It is simply remarkable how photogenic the Bolles campus is .

If possible, it’s even more so today.

This Junior Class is on its way to becoming a remarkable class.

As stated elsewhere, it has just installed the magnificent bronze statue, TRANSITION, in front of the mall, the most significant , for many reasons, gift of any class in history.

Ted Quantz remains the battalion commander even today!

As the middle picture indicates, Commander Cornell was indeed commanding!

I wonder what the gentleman in the middle is thinking. “I wonder how long it will take me to return as master (headmaster, that is) of all that I survey?�

Not long.

As it turns out, about nine years, including college and the army.

Captain Bill Hochheim, as we have already discovered, was truly a renaissance man.

It should be obvious by now that Harry deMontmollin is also a renaissance candidate.

As editor of the Bugle, he discovered that he was a very talented journalist.

Indeed, when he first returned to the school as a teacher, he sponsored the publications, which, under his leadership, continued their brilliant journey, and he continued always to provide inspiration for continued distinction.

A new publication which has grown in to one of the most spectacular alumni magazines in the country.

Just take a look at a current issue!

I think Cora and Joe must be looking through the wall at each other.

Here is the Temple again with the maestro at the keyboard.

Dads’ Day grows in impact every year.

Here is another look at the tennis tournament and the two players, Seixas and Schmidt, who replayed their Wimbledon match on the Bolles court.

Parades and dances must be symbolically connected.