Winkler County News - October, 1937
Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 
Carolyn Harrison  (carolynh112@yahoo.com)


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Contributed by Carolyn Harrison  (carolynh112@yahoo.com)
Transcribed by Kay Woods-Lopez  (kwoods@apex2000.net)

History of Local High School Given
October 1937 article found in Winkler County News
Written by Marie Millard


With the dedication of the new Kermit High school building coming up next 
week. It has been thought that it would be a good idea to tell all about 
the Kermit schools as far back as possible. With the nose for news as a 
blood hound after his prize, ye old reporter has interviewed a few people 
and dug up long forgotten records for the past few days and emerged with 
the following results for her victory.

In the year 1922 school was still going in the old frame shack that had 
housed students for K. H. S. since way before the World War. That year 
the enrollment was very large. Oh Yes. There were eight students and one 
teacher. For the first semester Miss Bean taught all eight grades. The 
second semester Miss Bean was replaced by Miss Richburg. The following 
year there was still one teacher, however, a different one. Miss Winborn, 
(the present Mrs. J. B. Walton) and she taught for two years in succession. 
The first year Miss Winborn taught there were three students, and next 
year a large increasement of three more making the enrollment six students 
and one teacher. The following three years there were from two to seventeen 
students and still one teacher. Miss Bean taught for the year of '25-'26 
and Miss O'Brien for the year '26-'27 and in '27-'28 Miss Frame was the 
only teacher.

The next year ('28-'29) there was a large increase in the student body and 
the faculty. The first principal, Mr. Cook, and five teachers, of which 
Miss Winborn was one, made up the faculty. The students numbered 115.

In '29-'30 Supt. B. F. Meek joined the faculty making the number of 
teachers seven and the students enrolled 150. From '29-'32 under the 
coaching of Mr. Meek, the first girl basketball team in K. H. S. grew. 
The star of the team during that period was Connie Norton. Coach R. M. 
Cook started a football team that ended soon after its rise due to lack 
of material. In this year the school moved into their "Christmas present"
-- the new building. (The present grammer school.)

In '30-'31 Mr. B. W. Quinn joined the faculty in place of Mr. Cook 
and one other grade school teacher. This made the teachers number 
seven and the students had increased to 165. The next year the faculty 
remained the same and the enrollment of the students dropped to 125. 
In this year ('31-'32) a football team of whom we especially remember 
J. L. Priest, Alf and Charlie Mitchel (now in Wink) and Clarence and 
Leoy Cavett, played the Jr. Hi squads of surrounding towns with much success.

From '32-'34 the student body consisted of from 125 to 165. During this 
time we had some wonderful tennis teams. In the year '34-'35 Coach Tommy 
Thompson (formerly Pecos coach and principal) took the place of principal 
and Coach in the K. H. S. faculty. Along with him several other teachers 
were added.
In the summer of '35, transactions were completed on the "Baird Field," 
and work began on it that summer. In the school term of '35-'36 all 
football games were played on this field. It was named in honor of 
W. E. Baird, Sr. -- long time president of the school board.

In the summer of '36 work began on this the new building. In April, 
in the spring of '37 the building was still incomplete, however, this 
was about the time that strikes were getting popular and the band 
members staged a "sit-down -- no blow" strike. They announced to 
Director Copeland, "No move, no blow" -- and spoiled children that 
they were they had their way. After this, rapid progress was made 
toward moving the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh 
grades into the new building. Completed at last in the fall of the 
year -- 1937 and to be dedicated October 21.

During the year, '36-'37 all football games were played at away from 
home. The "Baird Field" had been used to build a new school building 
on. Last spring (1937) work began on a new field given to the school 
by Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Walton and was completed September 23, only a 
few weeks ago. It is commonly known as the "Kermit Field."

The school, from the beginning has never had such a complete line of 
courses to offer as they have this year. Before I close my story may 
I remind you that we now have twenty-six and one half affiliated 
subjects. In case you are interested, here is a list of them. We have 
one unit in each of the following: Ancient History, American History, 
Modern History, Plane Geomentry, Advanced Arithmetic, General Science, 
Biology, Advertising, Commercial Law, Typewriting, Physical Education, 
Public Speaking, and Jr. Business Training. In the following subjects 
we have two units: Algebra, Spanish, Instrumental Music, and Secretarial 
Training. English is the only four unit subject we have and we have 1-2 
unit in each of the following: Civics, Economics and Occupations. This 
year we expect to add units in the following: Home Economics, Shop, 
Mechanical Drawing and Journalism.

Now as a closing word, may we say, "POWER TO YOU -- K. H. S."