Trips were a big part of our high school experience.  The clubs, organizations, and programs that we belonged to had state, regional and national affiliations that required representation from Sheffield High at conventions and workshops.  In other programs, like the Latin Club trip to Nashville, the trips were designed to expose us to learning opportunities.  One trip, however, was organized for fun, celebration of the coming end of high school--the first ever SHS Senior trip. 

These experiences broadened our horizons beyond the city limits of Sheffield which had been our safe and secure home and allowed us to dream of opportunities that didn't even exist in the Tennessee Valley.

Boys' State/Girls' State

It was a distinct honor to be selected to represent SHS at Boys' and Girls' State--a summertime leadership training/civics laboratory held during the summer before our senior year. This program is sponsored by the American Legion on the premise that the survival of our republic depends upon leaders who have been well trained in the ideals and objectives of American government.  Ten of us attended Boys' State at The University of Alabama and four attended Girls' State.

Click here for the 

group picture legend.

.

You can read the names of the Girls' State attendees by clicking on the news clipping.

Click here to read about the Boys' and Girls' State programs at the Alabama Legislature's website.  

Miss Sherrod always and forever took a group of students (I'm not even sure that you had to be a Latin student) to Nashville to visit the Parthenon which was constructed over a 10-year period from 1921 to 1931 in the Tennessee Centennial Park.  Isn't it ironic that the Latin Club visits a Greek temple!  But, that's the closest classical destination we had.  From the Hi-Lites' account of that trip, I learned that we visited the capitol complex, Centennial Park and, of all things, the Tennessee State Penitentiary.   As you can see from these photos taken by Joanne McMoran, Gayle Steverson, Peggy Wynne and Louis Buettner, we played the typical American tourist--gag poses, awkward poses and fatigue.

D. O. Convention

Our D. O. Club was an extremely active and talented group which went to the state convention well-prepared.  Not only did the skit which utilized Ron Newborn's talent as a radio announcer win in the skit competition, Joyce Horton won the title of Miss Alabama D. O., and Ron was runner-up Mr. D. O.!

Here are some of Joyce Horton Johnson's D.O. memorabilia

1956 Convention Program 

Officers  

 Tri-Cities Daily news photo

l-r: Paul Wood, Patricia Logan, and Jimmy Kimbrell (the paper said, "Kimbrough.")

Newspaper stories about D.O. 

Skit Cast

 Cast of Winning Skit

Joyce Wins Title! 

Band Trip to Lions Club Convention, Chicago

In the summer between our freshman and sophomore years at SHS, those of us in the band got a memorable trip to Chicago, as described in the 1954 Demitasse:

BAND INVADES CHICAGO

Sixty-five SHS Band members were guests of International Lions Club Convention in Chicago, July 7-11. They with bands from Tuscaloosa and Andalusia were chosen from nominations by Alabama band masters.

Mr. Frank Shires, Lions member and band master, worked with Lions, Bill Jones, Lawrence Hull and others to finance the trip via Illinois Central.

The October issue of the HI-LITES describes the trip in part: "The regiment then unpacked, ate, and headed for the Palmer House to inspect booths sponsored by the different Lions' Clubs. The band spent that night viewing everything from Skid Row and a beautiful fountain to China Town.

The long awaited day here at last, the gang donned their gold painted shoes and marched down Michigan Avenue past throngs of people and the judges' stand. Due to the wonderful performance, the rest of the afternoon was their own to shop, swim, or relax, if anyone was that stupid! Dressed in their best Sunday clothes, the band arrived that night at a ballroom to dance and enjoy dancing sponsored by certain delegations.

The next day the class attended the "Breakfast Club", The Museum of Natural History, aquarium, planetarium, and The Museum of Science and Industry. To top the day, a few members rode a subway to see an actual stage production, "My Pal Joey".

After a glorious week, the students left" The hog Butcher of the world" to dream of bright lights, a huge city, and the nice quietness of home.

Student Council

National Honor Society

Sheffield High Band

Journalism Workshop

French Club

Latin Club (see above)

Science Club

Key Club

D.O. Club (see above)

Future Teachers of America

Future Homemakers of America

All-State Band

All-State Chorus

Boys' State/Girls' State (see above)