Vivian Lee ~ Graduate of Norman Institute

April 12, 2011 at 7:23 pm (Education In the Wiregrass, Lee Family)
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Martha Vivian Lee was born May 13, 1908,and raised at Ray City, GA. She was the daughter of William D. “Bill” Lee and Mollie Bell Clements. Her father, rented a farm on one of the settlement roads at Ray City.

Brand Hall at Norman College, Norman Park, GA

Brand Hall at Norman College, Norman Park, GA

Vivian Lee graduated from the Junior College scientific program at Norman Institute, Norman Park, GA.  The  June 5, 1927 edition of the Atlanta Constitution (full transcript below) reported the ceremonies.

The college celebrated Commencement with four days of activities, beginning Friday evening, with a program presented by the grammar school graduates, followed by the inter-society contest in piano, reading and declamation. On Saturday night, the senior play was presented to a large audience. Dr. H.F. Loomis, pastor of the First Baptist church of Daytona Beach, FL, delivered the baccalaureate sermon.  On Monday morning, the Bessie Tift society and the Excelsior society debated the subject, “Resolved, that President Coolidge was justified in vetoing the McNary-Haugen farm relief bill.” L.H. Browing, president of Norman Institute, delivered the diplomas to the graduates. Rev. G.W. Christopher, Baptist pastor at Whigham, Ga., made the literary address to the graduates of the junior college, the high school and the commercial department, and Frank Clark, county school superintendent, addressed the alumni.

After college, Vivian Lee returned to Ray City to live with her mother and father. The January 3, 1929 edition of the Ray City News noted in the personal mentions:

 Mr. Bill Lee and daughter, Miss Vivian,  are visiting relatives in Tampa, Fla.

In the census of 1930, she was enumerated in her parents’ household. The occupation data of the census shows that she found employment in a law office as a stenographer .

Later, Vivian Lee married Thomas Pate Exum and lived in Lakeland, GA.

Vivian Lee Exum died 21 Nov 2001.

Atlanta Constitution
June 5, 1927  Pg B8

Norman Institute Commencement.

   ” The commencement program of Norman Institute came to a close Monday morning with the delivery of diplomas.  Rev. G.W. Christopher, Baptist pastor at Whigham, Ga., made the literary address to the graduates of the junior college, the high school and the commercial department.
    The inter-society contest in piano, reading and declamation was held Friday night. The winning contestants were: Piano, Frances Sims, Savannah, Ga.; reading, Miss Maude Hendley, Bainbridge, Ga., Excelsior society; Raymond Harvey, Pine View, Ga., Excelsior Society.
    Preceding the contest Friday night the grammar school graduates presented an attractive program under the supervision of Mrs. J.F. Morris. Those receiving certificates of graduation from the grammar school were: Sarah Gawin, Philadelphia; Jack Jones, Jacksonville, Fla.; Walter Jones, Tampa, Fla.; Le Roy Post, Holly Hill, Fla.; Luculle Trutt, Thomasville, Ga.; Judson Wilder, Lakeland, Fla.; A.D. Williams, Jr., valedictorian, Tampa, Florida.
    The Senior Play was presented Saturday night to a large audience.
    D. H.F. Loomis, pastor of the First Baptist church of Daytona Beach, Fla., preached the baccalaureate sermon.
    President L.H. Browning delivered the diplomas to the graduates Monday morning.  The following received degrees:
    Junior College (scientific) – Hughes Browning, Norman Park, Ga.; Benton Fillingim, Cuthbert, Ga.; Vivian Lee, Ray City, Ga.; Claude Reynolds, Norman Park, Ga.; Harvey Simpson, Hahira, Ga.
Normal – George Elton Clark, Norman Park, Ga.; Elois Hoffman, Faceville, Ga.
    High School – (Classical) Mildred Callan, Norman Park, Ga.; Esther Graham, Barney, Ga.; George Scott, Barney, Ga. (Scientific) Wayne Christopher, Whigham, Ga.; D. Alson Griner, Lennox, Ga.; John Hoffman, Daytona, Fla.; Kathleen Jones, Enigma, Ga.; Edith Lodge, Whigham, Ga.; Stanley Newton, Norman Park, Ga.; Arnold Scruggs, Barney, Ga.; D. Maurice Smith, Cairo, Ga.; Lucy Nell Tompkins, Norman Park, Ga.
    Normal – Olis Harrell, Pavo, Ga.; Eloise Overton, Norman Park, Ga.; Louise Parker, Orlando, Fla.
    Commercial Department – Lillie Anthony, Vero Beach, Fla.; Lizzie Barrett, Monticello, Fla.; Elnora Brewer, Morgan, Ga.; Anna Mae Browb, Ocalla, Fla.; Charlie Coleman, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Paul Dozier, Damascus, Ga.; Katherine Erwin, Tampa, Fla.; Inez Keerce, Hahira, Ga.; Elizabeth Martin, Knights, Fla.; Mercer Mitcham, Omega, Fla.; Sanders Morgan, Fort Meade, Fla.; Gwuynnie Morgan, Thomas Morgan, Norman Park, Ga.; Ida Moss, Perkins, Ga.; Grace Mugridge, Cairo, Ga.; Elizabeth Murray, Arlington, Ga.; Clarence Watkins, Putman Hall, Fla.; Roy Wlech, Fort Pierce, Fla.; Nada Wills, Norman Park, Ga.
    Violin – Elizabeth Martin, Knights, Florida.
    Previous to the baccalaureate address Monday morning the semi-annual inter-society debate took place, the subject being, “Resolved, that President Coolidge was justified in vetoing the McNary-Haugen farm relief bill.”  The affirmative was presented by J. A. Thompson and George Scott of the Bessie Tift society, and the negative was defended by Harry Simpson and Claude Reynolds of the Excelsior society. The Judges gave the decision to the negative.
    Frank Clark, county school superintendent, made an address to the alumni which was followed by announcements of some special work done and some work to be undertaken next year.  He called attention to the large number of normal diplomas; 21 B.Y.P.U. diplomas; 171 seals on books in Sunday school teachers’ training course; 39 red seals; 27 B.Y.P.U. seals on Pilgrim’s Progress. He also announced that work on the new dormitory for boys will begin at once and will be ready for occupancy by January.

Related Articles

Leave a Comment

J.I. Clements, Jr of Ray City ~ Georgia Southern Hall of Famer

February 19, 2011 at 4:32 am (Berrien County Sports, Clements Family, Education In the Wiregrass)
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

J.I. Clements, Jr. was born and raised in Ray City, Georgia, a son of James I. Clements and Annie May Carter.  He attended Norman Junior College in Norman Park, GA, served in the Army during WWII, then completed his bachelor and masters degrees at Eastern Kentucky University.

After graduating, J.I. Clements joined the athletic department at Georgia Southern University as an assistant coach for the basketball team. At the time, his brother Mason Clements was playing third base for the Georgia Southern baseball team, and brother Keith Clements played center field.  J.I. Clements was five years older than Mason and was named head coach of the baseball team in 1949, Mason’s last season.

J.I. Clements was inducted into the Georgia Southern University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.

J.I. Clements Bio

Courtesy: GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com
Release: 01/08/2008

Head Coach of Georgia Southern’s 1962 National Champion Baseball Team… Served as Coach, Athletic Business Manager and Athletic Director from 1948 until his death in 1984… Born November 26, 1920 in Ray City, Georgia; died October 25, 1984 in Atlanta… Received bachelor’s (1947) and master’s (1948) degrees from Easter Kentucky University… Was assistant basketball coach, 1948-62; athletic business manager, 1957-74, and athletic director 1967-74, but is best remembered as head baseball coach from 1949 through 1966 and again in 1968… Had career record of 320-205 and led Georgia Southern to four National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 25 championships… The 1962 squad’s national title was the first ever for a Georgia Southern team… Led GSC to second place finishes in 1960 and 1968, and a third place standing in 1964… Served as president of NAIA Baseball Coaches Association (1962-64) and was a member of the U.S. Olympic baseball Committee in 1964… Inducted into the U.S. Baseball Federation Hall of Fame and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame… Was NAIA National ‘Coach of the Year’ in 1963… As administrator, led Georgia Southern from NAIA to NCAA Division II status in 1970 and to Division I level a year later… Eagle baseball, golf and tennis all represented school at NCAA I championship events during 1973-74 season… Named 1974 Georgia Sports ‘Administrator of the Year’ by Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame… Baseball Stadium was name in his honor in 1985.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Related Articles

3 Comments

J.I. Clements, Jr. Goes to College

February 17, 2011 at 12:50 am (Berrien County Sports, Clements Family, Education In the Wiregrass, Uncategorized)
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

J.I. Clements, Jr. Class of 1948, Eastern Kentucky University.

J.I. Clements, Jr. Class of 1948, Eastern Kentucky University.

James Irwin Clements, Jr. was born November 26, 1920 in Ray City, Georgia, the son of James I. Clements and Annie May Carter.  His father and uncle Joe Clements ran the family business, the Clements Sawmill .

The Clements family was among the most prominent families in Ray City.  The Clements sawmill was the largest industry and largest employer in Ray City.  After the Clements sold the lumber business about 1923, J.I.’s father went into the retail grocery business.

In 1940, J.I. Clements Jr. attended Norman Junior College, at Norman Park, GA, where he was engaged in student government.

 

Atlanta Constitution
October 12, 1940

STUDENT OFFICER NAMED

NORMAN PARK, Ga., Oct 11. In a runover election yesterday, J.I. Clements Jr., of Ray City, was elected secretary-treasurer of the student body of Norman Junior College over Warren Horton of Lake Wales, Fla., runner-up, and Earl Swindel of Ray City.  Doyle Rentz, Norman Park, student president, and Brown Pinkston, Tifton, vice president, already have taken over their new posts.

Brand Hall at Norman College, Norman Park, GA

Brand Hall at Norman College, Norman Park, GA

On June, 8 1944 James I Clements Jr enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army.  At 23 years of age, he was married, five feet eight inches tall and weighed 190 pounds.  He had two years of college education and was employed in the category of “Athletes, sports instructors, and sports officials.” He enlisted at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA.

 After the war he returned to school, attending Eastern Kentucky University.  He played on the baseball team and was a member of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education. He received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1947, and his master’s degree in 1948.

Eastern Kentucky University Baseball Team, 1949. First Row: Left to Right--Capt. Pete Nonnemacher, Roger Parsons, Jimmy Cinnamon, Dick Scherrbaum, Mac McCarty. Second Row: Left to Right--Lonnie Nelson, Howard Bartlett, Charles combs, Luther Wren, J. I. Clements, Jim Thompson, Coach "Turkey" Hughes, Manager Charles Spicer. Third Row: Left to Right--Don Newsom, Ted Dunn, Ed Lewicki, Ray Giltner, Goebel Ritter, Carl Eagle, Jack Meeks.

Eastern Kentucky University Baseball Team, 1949.

First Row: Left to Right–Capt. Pete Nonnemacher, Roger Parsons, Jimmy Cinnamon, Dick Scherrbaum, Mac McCarty.
Second Row: Left to Right–Lonnie Nelson, Howard Bartlett, Charles combs, Luther Wren, J. I. Clements, Jim Thompson, Coach “Turkey” Hughes, Manager Charles Spicer.
Third Row: Left to Right–Don Newsom, Ted Dunn, Ed Lewicki, Ray Giltner, Goebel Ritter, Carl Eagle, Jack Meeks.

Related Articles

2 Comments