Alumni of North and South Calhoun High Schools gathered on their respective campuses last Saturday to erect monuments, share memories and speak of the impact the schools had on their communities.
Dr. George McNamee and Albert Goodman, son of longtime North Calhoun principal A.D. Goodman, were among several who spoke at the dedication at Bruce Elementary.
“This school was the hub of the community for us,” said Geneva Rose, a graduate of North Calhoun High School. “It wasn’t just for the education, but this was where our parents came and met. They were a part of us. Whatever we did, they supported.”
Rose said the entire school community looked out for everyone, “like the village raising a child. Some of this we need to get back to today.”
North Calhoun High School was founded in 1945 where Bruce Elementary is today. It served as the school for Calhoun’s black citizens prior to integration.
A.D. Goodman was the longest serving principal at the school. His son Albert was among the many who spoke at the Saturday dedication.
“I did my schooling here, as a matter fact, my house sat right here and the outdoor toilet was right over there,” Goodman said pointing to the area where the BES playground is now. “I remember the whole school taking care of me. We all have a long legacy here. My family certainly does and I thank everyone for respecting my family over the years and doing what you’ve done.”
Supervisor Earnest Fox said in addition to the education, North Calhoun provided him with the much desired trip to town every day.
“Growing up in the rural, when school was in I got a chance to come to town every day. Back in the 50s and 60s you didn’t come to town every day if you didn’t live in town,” Fox said with a smile. “When we played basketball, if you didn’t have food, and sometimes we didn’t have money to buy food, Mr. Goodman would always see to it that every student got some. I can’t thank the Goodman family enough, can’t thank this community enough.”
“I thank (Albert Goodman) for sharing his father with us,” said Rev. Leon Harris, who emceed the program at Bruce.
Dr. George McNamee, a successful surgeon and professor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, credits North Calhoun for his career.
The sign honoring South Calhoun High School was unveiled at the ceremony at CCES Saturday. It will be installed over the next few weeks. Photos by Joel McNeece
“I’m really happy I graduated from this school in 1965 and went on to become what I am today because of this school,” Dr. McNamee said. “My greatest memories are of the teachers and instructors here.”
“Other than my mother and father, my greatest inspirations were teachers,” McNamee said. “The high school Principal A.D. Goodman, basketball coach Thomas Mason, band director William Franklin, 8th grade teacher Rosie Lee Daniels, my best friend’s mom Katie Mae Rose and my first grade teacher - Bernice Helm helped shape my life and career.”
Jerry Williams also reflected on the impact of the teachers.
“I remember Mr. Franklin and Mr. Sanders telling us there is more to life than just this,” Williams said. “You’re going to have to compete in life to make it. Then after you got out on your own you saw what they were trying to teach you. I’m grateful to them and this school.”
Bruce Elementary Principal Jeff Patton thanked everyone for helping install the monument on the BES campus.
“I was born in 1969. People my age and younger don’t fully understand the history and heritage here,” Patton said. “Putting this here so everybody can see it will be a constant reminder for everyone from now on.”
“We’re proud of the history here,” Calhoun Superintendent Mike Moore said. “To get to the future, we have to remember our past.”
Calhoun City Elementary Principal Dr. Lisa Langford and Mayor Pro-Tem Barbara Goodson were among those who welcomed everyone at the South Calhoun Program.
Dr. Carl Roberts, who rode a bus to North Calhoun in Bruce for two years before finishing at South Calhoun, emceed the program at CCES.
“We’re so grateful for everyone who worked hard on this,” he said. “This school was so important to us.”
Charles Willis, Jo Ann Bozeman, and Carl Roberts all spoke at the dedication at the former South Calhoun High School.Willis and Bozeman are children of South Calhoun principals C.M. Willis and Aubrey Enochs.
South Calhoun opened in 1959 and C.M. Willis was the first principal. T.B. Holloway was assistant principal and Coach Henry Loggins was the first coach.
Charles Willis, son of C.M. Willis, spoke of his father’s love for the school.
“He loved this school and this community. He was dedicated to helping young people obtain a good education. We lived on the west side of this building. He told me he thought living close to the school he could better monitor the care of this school. We thank everyone who are responsible for this monument here today.”
Jo Ann Bozeman, daughter of former South Calhoun Principal Aubrey Enochs, spoke of how the school and community were one in the same.
“The vision my dad always had was for the school and the community to be a family. I think right now he’s smiling down on us,” she said. “My dad was a man who didn’t do a lot of fussing. His words were few, but when he did speak it was very powerful. One of the things he would always say to his students was, ‘If a task is once begun, never leave it until it’s done, be the task great or small, do it well or not at all.”
The popular saying from Principal Enochs is highlighted on the monument soon to be erected at CCES.
Bozeman recalled Mrs. Rosie Holmes, the girls’ basketball coach at South Calhoun, and so many of the teachers that had an impact on the students there.
“We are all very grateful for all they did for us,” Bozeman said.
Dr. Roberts said by erecting this monument, it will help to preserve the memory of South Calhoun and its impact in the community for generations to come.
“We’re all so grateful for what this school provided us,” he said.
