This Day in History: September 1, 1960! 📜⏳
While our 2026 school year is already underway, today marks a fun historical milestone! A look back at the September 1, 1960 edition of the Boone County Headlight reveals that 66 years ago today was the official FIRST day of school for Harrison Public Schools!
Under Superintendent Omar Stevens, students kicked off the 1960 year with a half-day session (8:30 to 11:30 a.m.) before taking off for Labor Day weekend.
Here is the complete staff and school directory listed on that historic day:
Senior High School
Principal: Joe A. Kraus
Counselor: W. H. McCutcheon
Librarian: Mrs. Mauree Taliaferra
Coaches: Gene C. Higgenbotham (Football, Sociology, Psychology), Robert L. Denniston (Basketball, Boys P.E.), Mrs. Barbara Woolsey (Girls P.E.)
Faculty: Francis E. Roomsburg (D.D.O.), Fred McKnight (Vocational Agriculture), Robert L. Kirchman (Band), Miss Danna Louise Hefley (Commercial), Mrs. Virginia Nickels (Chorus, English, Spanish), R. E. Rush (Biology, General Science), Bruce Spradlin (Math, Algebra I), Mrs. JoAnn Rite (Chemistry, Physics, General Science), Gerald Kelley (Math, Algebra II, Plane Geometry), James L. Cooper (English IV, Speech, Journalism), L. C. Blackwood (American History, English III), Verlin L. Breedlove (Geometry, Algebra I), Mrs. Johnnie Horton (Home Economics), Miss Martha Ann Shelby (Commercial, World History), Mrs. Ethel Granner (English I, II), William Edward Knabe (English I, III)
Junior High School
Principal: Hulen Quattlebaum
Librarian: Mrs. Esther Cook
Faculty: James W. Woolsey (Boys P.E.), Mrs. Mildred Madewell (7th History), Mrs. Marguerite Moore (7th English), Garvin J. McCutcheon (8th Math), Mrs. S. L. Morris (Girls P.E., Civics), John Wallace Hudson (8th Science), Ivan Hefley (7th Math), Mrs. Frances Doshier (7th Science), Bobby J. Watts (8th Civics), Miss Eileen Bowden (8th English)
Central Grade School
Principal: Mrs. Tula Toney
Faculty: Mrs. Winnie S. Perkins (6th), Mrs. Clara Palmer (6th), Mrs. Mildred H. Crawford (5th), Mrs. Wilhelmina West (5th), Mrs. Naomi Carroll (4th), Mrs. Avo Campbell (4th), Mrs. Mary Rose Hamm (3rd), Mrs. Omar Stevens (3rd), Mrs. Eileen Hefley (2nd), Mrs. Gladys Pledger (2nd), Mrs. H. L. Brown (2nd), Miss Dorothy Mallard (1st), Miss Kathryn Griffin (1st), Mrs. Eleanor Robertson (1st), Mrs. Nina Ruth Tatum (Music)
Eagle Heights Grade School
Principal: Mrs. Irma Adair
Faculty: Miss Lou Ella Kelly (6th), Mrs. Almeda Hickman (5th), Mrs. Sybil Hefley (4th), Mrs. Corene Hill (3rd), Mrs. Waldo Fowler (3rd & 4th), Mrs. Lena Magness (2nd), Mrs. Pauline Estes (2nd), Mrs. Gertrude Milburn (1st), Mrs. Darlene Whitlow (1st)
Woodland Heights Grade School
Principal: Virgil Stonecipher (6th Grade)
Faculty: Mrs. Helen Wardlow (5th), Miss Jewell Villines (3rd & 4th), Mrs. Pauline Irwin (2nd & 3rd), Miss Beulah Morris (1st)
Capps
Principal: Mrs. Fayma Watts (4th, 5th & 6th)
Teacher: Mrs. Walsie Castleberry (1st, 2nd & 3rd)
Practical Nurse School
Instructor: Mrs. Mary W. Hammack | Secretary: Mrs. June Carroll
Support Staff & PTA Leadership
Board of Education: Garvin Fitton (President), Donald Raney (Vice President), Ray Atchley (Secretary), Dr. Wm. H. Breit, Douglas Hudson, Tom Bill Rogers, Dr. Wm. P. Barron, John O. Campbell
Maintenance & Custodians: Joe F. Page (Supervisor), Ray Page (JH), Wendell Page (SH), M. R. Rosencrantz (SH), Mrs. Beulah Wilson (Capps), Leon Raby (Central), Frank Burns (Woodland Heights), Wm. H. McArtor (Eagle Heights)
Bus Garage: Victor M. Gipson (Mechanic/Driver)
Bus Drivers: Clyde Deakins, Joe F. Page, Loy Cox, Wesley Cox, Taylor Crawford, Earl Martin, Verlin L. Breedlove, L. C. Blackwood
Do you see a teacher, relative, or neighbor on this 1960 roster?
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