"Enter these halls with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to learn."
1921-1922
Six graduates of Lake Wales High marched down the aisle to receive their diplomas. Members of the Senior Class were Frances Campbell, Gertrude Jones, Hazel Kirch, Esther Caldwell, Mildred Brantley and Florence Everitt. Instead of the cap and gown used at later commencement programs, the all-girl class wore white dresses and each carried an arm bouquet of pink roses.
Four years of history, mathematics and English were required, while Latin, French, botany and zoology were elective. Parents and teachers united to form the first P.T.A. organization in this vicinity.
The Senior sports program included only basketball matches with a few of the neighboring towns.
1922-1923
Delegates from several Ridge towns decided to form a Ridge Baseball League. Sebring, Avon Park, Frostproof, Winter Haven and Lake Wales participated.
Members of the graduating class were Eleanor Branning, George Brooks, William Edwards, Roy Wetmore and Roy Wilhoyte.
1923-1924
Lake Wales girls’ basketball team defeated Haines City cagers by a score of 13-5.
Lake Wales boys won the Ridge Championship in basketball.
The first Crown Jewel was published by the Senior Class with B.K. Bullard, Jr. as editor-in-chief.
1924-1925
This was the first time over 85 students enrolled in high school.
Winter Haven played the Highlanders in Lake Wales. The score was 13-0 in our favor.
The high school students gave a carnival to raise money to print an annual. $237.50 was cleared.
1925-1926
School opened with an enrollment of 115 students.
The Highlanders won the Ridge Champion Football title.
Outstanding athletic starts in the Junior Class were Earl Green, Walter Woolfolk, William Zipprer, James Thornhill and Bryant McLendon.
1926-1927
Lake Wales remained undefeated throughout the entire football season and held the honor of being the only undefeated squad in the entire state of Florida. The Highlanders fought on to victory in all their contests except two in which they tied the score with their opponents.
With the help of the local Woman’s Club, the Lake Wales schools were allowed to remain one of the 76 accredited schools in the state. The need for $500 for the purchase of new books for the library was supplied in part by the club.
1927-1928
This memorable year created a record in football. The Highlanders, with Tom Campbell as captain, were the only undefeated football team in the state of Florida. The invincible Highlanders were the honor guests of the Athletic Association at the Florida-North Carolina football game in Tampa.
The last big event of this school year was the annual Junior-Senior banquet. It was announced that 25% of the students in high school were on the honor roll. On May 23 Lake Wales High School added 25 more students to its list of graduates.
1928-1929
Florida witnessed one of the worst storms in its history.
Captain G.W. Bryan and his fighting team played their first game on the new football field. The days of ankle-deep sand and sandspurs were at an end.
This was the year of the dedication of one of the most beautiful places in Florida, the Singing Tower. Given to the public by Edward W. Bok, it was dedicated on February 1, 1929 by President Calvin Coolidge. The first recital by carillonneur Anton Brees was presented on December 2, 1928.
1929-1930
Highlanders played Avon Park for the first time and won 13-8.
The cafeteria was used for the first time with a new steam cooker installed.
The Spanish Club was organized.
A music festival was held at Tampa for the glee club.
The Junior-Senior banquet was held at Hotel Wales (later called Plantation Inn) with a theater party afterwards.
1930-1931
The annual May festival was held at Crystal Park. Spectators acclaimed it the most beautiful celebration staged in the history of Lake Wales May Festivals.
Excitement echoed through the stadium Friday night as fans waited eagerly for the kickoff that would begin the Haines City – Lake Wales football game. There was a reason for this intense rivalry. For several years the Highlanders had been under instructors J.B. and J.T. Kelly. However, this year J.B. Kelly was coaching Haines City. For the first time the brothers sat on opposite sides of the field, pitting their teams one against the other. Although both teams displayed fine sportsmanship, Lake Wales took an early lead and smothered the Hornets with a record score of 70-0.
1931-1932
Jim Oliver was the Valedictorian.
Jane Chadwick reigned over court as the Queen of May Day.
Ross Swartsel played fullback and was the Captain of the Highlanders.
Murfee Grace was President of the Senior Class.
1932-1933
“W” Club was organized.
The Senior Class presented a mystery thriller, “The Thirteenth Chair”.
Effie Ola Tillman reigned over May Court.
George Oliver won an oratorical contest.
1933-1934
The Senior Class presented a comedy, “The Whole Town’s Talking.”
The members of the LWHS Spanish Club were introduced to a group of visiting Puerto Riquenos. Reports were that the Spanish pupils found it easy to converse “en español" with the visitors. It was rumored, too, that the Spaniards could understand the students!
On Senior Day there were evidences of Senior privileges everywhere. They were allowed to skip classes or even arrive after the tardy bell. On this day the Class of ’34 ruled – and made the most of it!
1934-1935
Immortalizing his team in Lake Wales football history, Captain Red Haslett led the Highlanders through an exciting season of wins to receive the Ridge Conference Championship Cup.
Mary Agnes Bennett and Rosalind Petrey were elected sponsors for homecoming.
Bruce Pugh was elected as All-Ridge Basketball forward.
The journalism class won the state and southeastern journalism award.
1935-1936
The Highlanders played Sebring for Homecoming. Mildred Crawford and Helen Griffith were the football sponsors.
On the last day of school before Christmas all went down to Washington Square and sang carols. It was wonderful to hear everyone singing “Joy to the World.”
In April the Seniors had Skip Day. That same month their class play was “Girl Shy”.
On June 4, 1936 there were 42 graduates from LWHS.
1936-1937
Seven new teachers joined the faculty force.
Emory Daniels and Shelly Thompson were named All-Ridge Football Players.
The Glee Club won first place in the Rollins Contest.
Helen Griffith and Don Corbett reigned over May Court.
The Valedictorian was G.W. Darty and the Salutatorians were Ola Belle Tillman and Helen Griffith.
1937-1938
Mrs. E.S. Bryon organized a glee club with a membership of 35 girls and 22 boys.
The American Legion honored the football team with a banquet at the high school cafeteria. During the course of the dinner 20 letters were awarded for the 1938 season and Judd Alexander was elected captain for the following year.
Paul Corey was elected President of the first Student Government.
1938-1939
Evelyn Murray was announced the winner of the “Campus Cutie” contest.
The Lake Wales Highlanders won the title of Ridge Champions under Coach Collins Fenton.
“Pinkie” Zipprer walked away with the tennis championship.
A new hair style called “Notch Cut” was popular among the boys. It was originated by James Hendrix.
1939-1940
For the first time in its history Lake Wales High School had a uniformed band led by Majorettes Mary Vogt and Annette Edwards.
Sam Pugh, as outstanding back, was sent to the Orange Bowl by the Orlando Morning Sentinel. Four Lake Wales boys made All-Ridge.
Sam Pugh made All-Ridge as basketball forward.
Neil Sims won first division on his clarinet in Miami.
Joe Pennington broke the jumping record in St. Petersburg.
1940-1941
Mary Vogt and Harold Phillips reigned over the May Court
“This is the Army” -- on October 16, 1940, Lake Wales had its first registration for the draft.
“Hail to Our Alma Mater” was composed by Harry Grant, band director, and the words were written by Mollie Mae Albritton and Tom Nelson.
1941-1942
The Key Club was organized and sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.
On December 7, 1941, bombs rained down on Pearl Harbor marking the beginning of war between the United States and Japan. Rationing of commodities followed with coffee and sugar first on the list.
Ruth Sprott and Louie Lamb reigned of the gala May festival.
The Orange and Black staff of ’42 headed by Tom Nelson, Jr. won the First Class award in the National Scholastic Press Association.
1942-1943
With a score of 19-6 the Kissimmee Kowboys defeated the locals in October of ’42. Despite the hard luck, students enjoyed a dance at the gymnasium after the game.
In November, Seniors were given a day off to register the Lake Wales community for fuel oil. Over 1,000 people arrived at the gym for registration.
Winter Haven Blue Devils were greatly surprised when the Highlanders walked off with a score of 9-0 at the LW Homecoming game. Esther Ashley and Joan Kinsbury were selected as sponsors with Douglas Dickson and Ronald Corey as escorts.
1943-1944
Overcoming any obstacles which may have been in the way, on March 31st the Seniors skipped school (it was legal!) and carried a big lunch and spent the day at West Palm Beach. At 6:00 p.m. they went to Morrison’s Cafeteria for dinner and returned via the Seaboard early the next morning.
“Cannibal Isle” was the theme of the Junior-Senior Banquet which was held at the Woman’s Club. Music was furnished by the Bombing Range Orchestra from Avon Park. The banquet was followed by a dance that lasted until 12:00.
1944-1945
Jean Blanchard and Marion Matthews were elected sponsors of the exciting Lake Wales– Bartow football game. The Highlanders defeated the Yellow Jackets for the first time since 1936.
Tommy Hudson, Preston Bradley, Tiny Pennington and Joe Torbert did a hilarious hula dance at the annual football banquet. Stratton Story acted as toastmaster and introduced the after dinner speaker All-American Bill Daly.
The Seniors under the directions of Mrs. Elspeth Smith presented their class play, “Her Emergency Husband”.
Note: The above information was taken from the 1946 Crown Jewel and represents the
25th Anniversary of Lake Wales High School (1921-1946).
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