Looking Around the Teen Age Set
Celebrating the RMSH Class of 1971
by
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Summer 1970 has just melted into another official school year. Rocky Mount teenagers have been scattered to the four winds during June, July and August. Basically, all have been enjoying themselves, accomplishing different objectives and building towards the future.
At Governor’s School in Winston Salem for seven weeks in June were Kathy Wright, Joanne Atwell, Louise Weeks, Sara West and Vickie Person. “It’s a situation that just can’t be described, you have to experience it!” Vicki excitedly exclaimed. Also in June, Boys State sponsored by the American Legion was attended by Tim Brinn and Thurbert Baker. Both were deemed successful. Thurbert was elected Mayor of Pickett City, and Tim was elected Lieutenant Governor of Boys State. Robin Bourne served as a senator at Girls State.
Margo Wiley, Florence Jeffress and Amanda Brantley cooled off at Nags Head. Mary Barr relaxed at Wrightsville Beach.
Rock groups jive. August 20th, Phil Bailey, Bill Pully, Steve Morgan, Michael Haggerty and Jerry Powell heard “Chicago” at the Dome in Virginia Beach. Saturday, August 29th. Al Bullard, Denny Allen, Rick Pirkey, Lee Braswell, Mike Wiggins and Janice Harper rocked to the beat of the Huckleberry Mudflats at Louisburg College.
Last Friday night, a farewell party was held for varsity cheerleader, Bridget Roderick, who is moving to Charlotte. The party was thrown at the Pizza Inn after our football game at Northern Nash. We will miss you, Bridget!
Traveling great distances outside the United States, teenagers experienced new tastes, sights and sounds. In July, Greg Fields, Bill McCullen and Mrs. Carolyn S. Bailey left the country to tour Europe. Ann Pitt, traveling with a different group, Gateway Tours, visited many of the same countries: France, England, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain. All agreed that Switzerland was quite beautiful with many snow-covered peaks. According to Greg Fields, “Germany was the most organized.” Returning this week from Brazil, American Field Service student, Becky Sheridan, can now speak Portuguese.
August turned into a month full of activity. Janice Taylor taught a decoupage class at Nash Tech. Millie Harris, Robin Thorp, and Dale Stilley served as waitresses at Camp Kanuga. Alice Buffaloe and Marian Davis helped special needs children as counselors at Camp Don Lee. Janice Joyner sang and played her guitar for a Newport News, Virginia church. Serving veal parmesan, lasagna and eggplant, Dennis Pittman worked as short order cook in an Italian restaurant, Tomi-John’s in Wildwood, New Jersey.
The Beach: a place where one can acquire a tan, cool off in the ocean, and relax. Sherry Skinner, Kimball Draper, Nell B. Eatman, Betsy Strandberg, Ann Chipley and Cathy Alford were a few to enjoy a house party at Morehead Beach in August.
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About the Book
Take a whimsical dive back into the 70's with this book, "Looking Around the Teenage Set" written by an 18 year old. You can almost hear Marvin Gaye singing "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" and Al Green crooning "Let's Stay Together." The red-hot Embers, Chicago, Santana and the Temptations released wave after wave of fabulous music. The town was Rocky Mount, North Carolina, but it could have been anywhere USA. Vietnam, college deferments, and President Richard Nixon soon to be destroyed by Watergate cast shadows of darkness onto the historical backdrop. The enthusiasm and innocence of a sparkling generation determined to change the world were in sharp contrast to the political woes surrounding them. The year before the book begins, Rocky Mount Senior High's Blackbirds had just integrated with Booker T Washington's Lions, ending the school days of segregation. The two high schools combined forces to create the mighty Gryphon, a mythological creature which is half lion, half bird. Take a gentle walk along memory lane back into 1970-71, a nostalgic time filled with friendships, optimism and humor. Reconnect to the high school days of yore.
About the Author
Robin Bourne Mowbray was a member of the RMSH Class of 1971 and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1975 with a BA in Journalism. Having discovered a scrapbook of newspaper columns written about her class over 50 years before, she wants to celebrate the Class of 1971.