By Lillian E. Small
(Fourth in a Series)
The Panther’s Paw, Dillard’s official school newspaper, headlines in bold dark letters seemed to come right off the page: HIGH SCHOOL OCCUPIES NEW PLANT. Just below the headlines in this October 1950 issue, a second article boasted of an enrollment of 1,684 students of which 600 were high schoolers. A third article informed that “Big Bertha” (Dillard’s bus), had gotten a new paint job over the summer. Thus, the era of the fifties was ushered in with grand style. Dillard was a new face in a new place.
Several sites had been home for Dillard during her embryonic years and right through infancy. A permanent structure was erected in 1925, site of the present-day Old Dillard Museum. However, it was not until 1938 that Dillard had its first official graduating class. There were 15 students in that class. Now it was 1950 and the June issue of the Panther’s Paw would headline 84 SENIORS PLAN TO GRADUATE.
The new facility for the high school would house grades 7-12. There were 15 classrooms, a home economics room, science room, cafetorium and administrative offices. While now separated from the elementary school, the separation was in distance only. The Dillard schools, as they were called, still maintained an intimate relationship throughout the early fifties. However, it was only a short time later that the new Dillard Elementary was erected on an adjoining site of land while the fourth street site was now named Walker Elementary School.
The Dillard schools began to experience an increased influx of “return on investments” in the early Fifties. The beneficiary of her own products, the students of the Forties, were bringing back to the faculties of the Dillard schools, not only the knowledge of their chosen academic areas, but a deep pride which was instilled in the students of the Fifties. It must be pointed out, however, that most of these returning teachers were on the elementary level. Nonetheless, their inspiration and strong feelings for Dillard were felt and noted in the students throughout the Fifties. It was a great “Family Affair;” a bivalent combination of love and respect which propelled the students of the early Fifties into an era which we see as having been strongly academic. The students grasped every opportunity set before them to excel in whatever endeavor they pursued.
Dillard’s products of the early Fifties made their marks within this community, this country and worldwide as they indelibly etched the name of Dillard in the annals of history. They remain as strong memories to us just to name a few- Living Legends: Mary Mourning Hiers Retired Educator and former Miss Dillard – ’52; Gloria Barr Jackson, Retired Educator and longtime Political Activist – ’55; Zebedee Wright, Retired Broward County Judge – ’53; Zarline Jones Scott, Retired Educator/School Administrator – ’53. Clytimus Way Austin, Retired Dillard Community School Registrar – ’53.
Fondly we remember these Fifties scholars who have passed on and left footprints in the sands of time: Eumergene Woods Hansberry RIP, Analyst at Broward County Credit Union and Lewis Scholarship recipient –’51; Kathleen Cooper Wright RIP, School Board of Broward County, class valedictorian – ’53; Dr. Niara Sudarkasa aka Gloria Marshall RIP, First female President Lincoln University/ Anthropologist / Distinguished Scholar in Residence AARLCC–’54; and Many members in the educational realm of the Broward County School System, Broward County Government and Law Enforcement, and the local municipalities governmental bodies in the county. They have been real crusaders for the causes of humanity but most importantly, in all their endeavors, they never failed to be proud of the bosom that nourished and molded their lives. (Next Article in Series – The Late Fifties In the New Dillard Territory)
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