(The John Rundle High School Senior Class of 1957 is saluted today in the article below. The Junior Class of 1957 is to be commended for planning and executing the elaborate banquet. Also, the Sophomore Class of 1957 was included in an appropriate role as underclassmen. The 89 students of the Class of 1957 was the largest graduating class in Grenada to that date. Graduation exercises were held in the high school auditorium on May 24, 1957, at 8 p.m. Valedictorian was Martha Fay Williams and Sandra Paschal was Salutatorian. Mrs. John Rundle gave the principal address to the graduating seniors.)
Grenada County Weekly
Thursday, May 9, 1957
One of the most lavish affairs ever held in Grenada was given by the Junior Class of John Rundle High School honoring the Senior Class of 1957 at the annual Junior-Senior Banquet on Friday evening, April 26, at the City Auditorium.
John Criss, President of the Junior Class was Master of Ceremonies. He gave the welcoming address. The response was given by Joe Thompson, President of the Senior Class.
The theme carried out at the banquet was “Oriental Gardens.” From copy given the Society Editor by members of the arrangement committee, we quote the following:.
“In order to enter the Oriental Gardens, one must pass through a door draped with red and gold streamers, then down a red carpet into the banquet hall.”
The hall was decked with Japanese figures which included black dragons painted on red backgrounds, umbrellas and Coolie hats. The four long banquet tables with gold and red ribbon down the center were decorated with red candle accented figurines, Ming trees and arrangements of yellow and red Spring flowers. Individual incense burners filled with incense with place cards served as favors. The main centerpiece depicted a Sunken Garden arranged around a mirror, which reflected the greenery and flowers.
The backdrop, painted by David Tart and Fay Collins, done in perspective, showed a Buddhist Temple in the background, a stream of water rushing down the hill by a Ming tree under a rustic bridge. Huge natural rocks, green carpets and beautiful shrubs served as a basis for this outdoor scene. A golden bridge was fashioned in this scene. Dry ice furnished the fog gradually rising from under the bridge during the program.
Miss Martha Grant, in charge of these decorations, stated that work on this affair had begun three months prior to this occasion. Most of the decorations were made by the students.
The guests were entertained during the program by several musical and dancing skits. Harvey Bays and Trecia Monteith gave an Oriental dance. Sandra Matthews, Bertha Oliver, Gale Bowen, and Myra Martin sang “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.”
Mr. J.C. Hathorn gave a very inspiring talk as principal speaker of the evening.
Tommie Darras served a smorgasbord supper consisting of chicken, banana salad, pickles, olives, pineapple, shrimp, baked ham, English peas, dressed eggs, hot rolls, tea, and brick ice cream.
Waiting and serving the tables were sophomore boys and girls dressed in Coolie coats, dark pants and Coolie hats.
After the meal, the group enjoyed dancing until Midnight. Ballons, confetti and serpentine added to the fun during the dancing.
Mrs. J.S. Rice and Mr. Gayle Wilborn are class sponsors. Special guests of the evening included Supt. and Mrs. J.C. Hathorn, all the high school faculty, and members of the Board of Trustees and their wives.
