Junior-Senior Prom

The school term has ended. Seniors have graduated. Juniors are looking forward to being in grade twelve and enjoying the festivities of their senior year. However, the year 1951 changed the traditional passage of junior to senior and formal prom. These upcoming seniors would be the last class to complete SHS in eleven years. The Class of 1951 had completed all credits needed for graduation, so these eight students were the senior class of 1951. Small, but certainly should be honored the same as other seniors. My junior classmates were perplexed, but we recognized that the Class of 1951 should treated with the usual honors. Our answer was to give a square dance instead of the traditional formal. This would be held at the new 4H Club House. After convincing Mr. Glenn, the class officers began to make plans. There would be a live band, carnival food and barn-dance attire. This was already sounding like fun for all. Searching for a band that we could afford was a challenge. I found it when I heard the Pope Henry Band from Soperton being advertised on the car radio. Bobby Sasser and I were class officers and set out to find this band that seemed just right for our square dance party. We reached Pope Henry on the phone, and he scheduled his band to play for us. Happy and excited we looked forward to the party. The 4H Clubhouse was decorated, and we were all dressed up in barn-dance outfits. Mr. Varner was there to call the square dance and keep the fun going. When the band arrived, we were surprised to see one man and three large middle-aged ladies with the high hairdos of the era getting out of their car and unloading guitars and fiddles. “That is not a band! It is the Gillis-Henry Gospel Quartet from Soperton! I’ve seen them before,” shouted a surprised classmate. I looked at Bobby and Bobby looked at me. How had we made such a mistake, and how could we correct. We hurried out to stop them and explain our mistake. They laughed at our distress and said, “We are a Gospel Quartet—but not tonight. We are here to play square dance music for you. It was an unforgettable evening with perfect music and fun for all. The SHS Senior Class of 1951 will always be a special memory.

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