Schools:  Zwolle School Memories, Sabine Parish
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., May 6, 1998
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net 

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Introduction by James Q. Salter

  The 1995-96 school term marked the centennial year for Zwolle High
School. I attended school in Zwolle on an everyday basis for
thirty-five of those 100 years -- 7 1/2 as student; 17 as teacher;
10 1/2 as principal.

  My assignment on the centennial year commencement program was to
share some thoughts with the audience from those three vantage points.
The audience seemed to enjoy some of the brief incidents that I
related. Perhaps, some Index readers might enjoy some of them. Also,
I hope that some of the incidents might help others to recall some of
their own school memories regardless of where they went to school.

  As we make plans for Zwolle's centennial celebration as a town, I
thought that, perhaps, these thoughts about Zwolle's schools might
help to focus our thoughts on the role of education during Zwolle's
100 years.

  We will be presenting the history of all of Zwolle's schools later
on and during our centennial celebration in September.

  These thoughts will be presented in three parts:
  "A Zwolle Student Remembers",
  "A Zwolle Teacher Remembers", and
  "A Zwolle Principal Remembers".

Part 1 - A Zwolle Student Remembers

  When I moved to Zwolle in 1933, I enrolled in the fourth grade at
mid-semester. At that time Zwolle High School included grades 1-11
(grade 12 was added in 1950).  After a few months our principal, Mr.
Marcella, walked into our room with a tall, athletically built,
handsome young man at his side.  "You folks have been wanting a
holiday," he said. "Here he is; your new principal, Mr. Noble
Holladay."

  Mr. Holladay remained my principal all the way through my graduation
in 1941. Not only was he my principal, he was my friend, my next
next-door neighbor, my fishing partner, and my tennis coach. In those
days we had a tennis team at Zwolle High School.

  I was fortunate to have some wonderful teachers in Zwolle. They
influenced my life greatly. The '95 commencement audience seemed to
enjoy the following story about a very special teacher -- Mrs. Ruth
Knouse (deceased).

  When I was in the eighth grade I received the only "F" of my life for
a grading period. It was interesting to watch the facial expressions of
many parents and grandparents in the audience when I related this story.
I held up my old eighth grade report card (which, for some reason is
turning yellow).  I have no doubt that some members of that audience
were thinking about their own experiences in Mrs. Knouse's classes.

  I completed that eighth math with "B" for the year. Years later it
was my privilege to teach on the same faculty with Mrs. Knouse for
seventeen years. Furthermore, she was the only person who ever called
me "Little Jimmy."

  Another special teacher in Zwolle High School was Mrs. Sue Keelen
(deceased). One day in her speech class I was taught a real lesson.
I did not prepare my speech very well -- thinking that I would dream up
my speech as I went along. That "dream" turned into a nightmare.  I
got so mixed up and confused that I stopped talking, crumpled my notes
in disgust, and tossed them into the wastebasket in front of the class.
I'll never forget how Mrs. Keelen handled that incident. In her kind,
soft-spoken way she encouraged me to do better next time. On that day
she certainly would not have believed that I would get a bachelor's
degree and a master's degree in speech -- much less that I would teach
speech right there in Zwolle High School for seventeen years.

  Perhaps the following hodge-podge of thoughts might help someone else
to recall some school memories: the scent of those old oil-soaked
floors; those old steam radiators that we had to sit on in order to
get warm; those games of "one-and over" (leap frog) that the boys
enjoyed so much; those five-cent hamburgers at Margie's; never having
enough spending money (but that was O.K. because everyone else was in
the same boat).

  I wonder how many Zwolle High School graduates of bygone years
remember the kind gentleman who was our janitor for many years -- Jim
Williams. He was everyone's friend and confidante. In summary, I just
wish that everyone's school memories were as pleasant as mine.  I
appreciate all of my teachers and the way that they helped me to
prepare for college and for life in general.

  Footnote: There will be more of "Zwolle's Early Movers and Shakers"
articles in the future. If any of you would like someone to be
featured, please help my find information and pictures.