Friona’s First Graduating Class–the Class of 1916

by Darla Bracken, fridarla19@yahoo.com

When Friona Schools were established in 1908, the school was a hastily-built small wooden structure near where the portable classrooms are now on the current Elementary School Campus. The schools were appropriately built along Euclid Avenue, a street named for an early mathematician. By the 1911-1912 school year, the first brick school had been completed at a cost of $12,000. A handsome, two story structure, it became the center attraction in the tiny village of Friona, Texas. In addition to the school, there was also the Friona State Bank building on the corner of 5th and Main as well as the Friona Hotel within the same block on Main. Our school began its history as a 3rd class school with a nine month school term and eleven grade levels. By the 1916-1917 school year it was upgraded to a 2nd class school with two new teachers added as well as two new departments: manual training and domestic science. [Friona became a 1st class fully accredited independent school district with 12 grade levels in 1926.]

William “Sport” Younger had just succeeded W. H. Saffold as the superintendent. William was the son of the Reverend W. H. Younger, a Baptist pastor from Canyon, Texas and the teaching staff consisted of three teachers. Mr. Lynn Fertch, was the head schoolmaster with two faculty members: Glenna Cole Carter and Esther Schlenker Burns from Des Moines, Iowa.

School Board members included: J. W. Karr, D. H. Meade and Andy Wentworth.

1916 was also the year the first girl’s basketball team was organized. Members of the team were recalled by Mabelle Schlenker as Florene Schlenker, Orma White, Mina Powell, and Fern Taylor. They were coached by Glenna Carter. [The first yearbook was not produced until 1929 so we will just have to imagine what their uniforms were like, etc.]

The first boys team had been organized earlier and their 1916 team members included: Elwin Gischler, Clyde Goodwine, Harry Sherrieb, Fred White and Dempsey Wynn according to Fred White who wrote the Star article in 1951.

Members of the first graduating class were: Elwin Gischler, Clyde Goodwine, Ethel Sutton, Fred White and Dempsey Wynn. Their graduation exercises that year were held in the 24 feet by 30 feet wooden structure which had been part of the three room school which burned just three years later in 1919. The current junior high auditorium was not constructed until 1951 and was new for the Class of 1951’s Graduation.

Fred White was the class valedictorian and Ethel Sutton was the salutorian. Immediately following their graduation, a reception was held for them at the Friona Hotel. Fred White continued to make Friona his home after graduation where he operated an electrical repair business for many years. Clyde Goodwine also remained in Friona and was engaged in farming for many years. Elwin Gischler had an insurance business in California. Dempsey Wynn became a Certified Public Accountant in Amarillo. Ethel Sutton married (Moyer) and moved to San Francisco, California. This was quite a distinguished class for its time and place.

Friona’s 90th Graduating Class–the Class of 2006 has also distinguished themselves with civic service, academics and athletics and we are very proud of all of them. Seventy seniors make up this year’s class from a current enrollment (which is growing and growing) of 1,235. The faculty, which includes many dedicated personnel, now numbers approximately 150–it is nice to show that much progress in 100 years. You are all welcome in Friona anytime! We’d love to have you choose it as your home.

The Class of 1916