Paulding High School had never put out an annual at the end of the year and I didn't know there was such a thing until Bill Jackson and some other students, whose parents had gone to college, began talking about it in our senior year; suggesting that we organize a staff and publish one. Both Mr. Elder, the principal and Mr. Schumacher, the superintendant, considered it a good idea and, after some discussion, a meeting of the class was called for after school. There were 31 of us and officers and staff were selected. Arthur Neeley and William Jackson were co-editors and I was elected artist. The hardest job was undoubtedly selling advertizing but I can't remember now who had that job. The whole class was enlisted in getting orders for the book, of course, both in school and out. There was no one to bail us out if we went in the hole.
Arthur and Bill took their job very seriously and had the book copyrighted. I don't think there was anything in it that anyone would want to steal but it gave them a feeling of importance. A special meeting had to be called because of a difference of opinion regarding the dedication. Everyone except Arthur wanted it to be dedicated to all of our parents but Arthur's girlfriend was the superintendant's daughter and he held out for dedicating it to the superintendent of schools, Mr. Schumacher. After a lot of discussion it came to a vote. I voted with Arthur and Lucile but, of course, we lost, as I knew we would. I thought I ought to be loyal to my best friend but I didn't really care which way it went.
I was fairly proficient as an artist but as a cartoonist, which is what was needed, I was a flop. I lacked ideas and had to have a model to work from.
Table of Contents
High School
Beginning of World War I