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Spending twelve years (or more) anywhere would create an abundance of memories; however, memories
from a person's school days serve as reminders of a time when life was care-free and worth remembering.
Below are stories submitted by Oakdale Alumni about favorite teachers, first days of school, and memorable
events.
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Sam Hoskins was one of the best teachers I ever had.
Throughout my school years at Oakdale, Math had always been my weakest subject. Not through any fault
of my teachers, who were all excellent, but because my brain is wired for words, not numbers. When I
entered high school this became even more of a problem as the Math became more
advanced.
Mr. Hoskins realized I was struggling to maintain my good grades and offered to help me by privately
tutoring me every morning before school. We worked together five days a week, for 30 minutes a day,
before his first class of the morning. His patience and dedication really paid off. Thanks to him, I graduated
at the top of my class.
When Mr. Hoskins passed away last year, I felt like I had lost a friend in addition to a well-respected,
extremely admired teacher. The Oakdale community will miss his guidance, leadership, and never-failing
sense of humor.
Meredith Scarbrough Bell
Nashville, TN
Class of 1992
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Madalyn Hughes and Ms. Barbee were my favorites because they spent many hours preparing me for
dramatic performances. I represented our school for 2 years in the County Dramatic Reading Competition.
Because of their work with me I went on to pursue acting and eventually became a member of a professional
repertory company, The Human Race Theatre, here in Dayton. I shall always be grateful to them for the
interest they took in me and the hours they spent working with me.
Barbara Isaacs Meece
Dayton, OH
Attended Oakdale School 1945-53
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About all I remember from Senior English class is part of a poem called The Owl and the Pussycat by
Edward Lear. It goes:
"The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea green boat.
They took some honey and plenty of money wrapped up in a five pound note."
The rest has been lost in time.
That English teacher was either Madeline Hughes or Mrs. X and I can't remember X's name. Other
graduates like Vera Scarbrough would know this and specifically who the teacher was.
Probably the most influential class I had was Typing class with Mrs. Bessie Eble. I have used that skill
everyday since. I will never forget the timed writing I had memorized, "Now is the time for all good men to
come to the aid of their country". I could type that sucker at 60 words/ minute with few mistakes.
During the years 61-62, myself and Gene Heidel (62) were given the responsibility of washing football
uniforms at a wishy/washy in Harriman. We were sent there by longtime football coach Hollis Eble. We
drove my 51 Chevy and would spend far longer than necessary to get this deed done.
Also during my senior year, principal Jerry Snow would send me, and either Gene Heidel or Carl Lehman
(62) to the bank loaded down with several heavy sacks of coins from the lunchroom take for that week and
again, we would stay gone for a long time. Being a teacher for 40 years, I cant' believe we did those types
of things. You
sure could not do that today. But it was good to have wheels during that time.
Another memory I have is Paul Scarbrough's Buick car that had been modified with hand controls, since he
could not use his legs. I believe Paul was the American History teacher my senior year, and he too would
send
us on errands and we drove his car. It was a real blast using the hand controls to give it gas or to brake.
I will never forget the smell of coal smoke from the local steam engines and the coal fired boilers at the
school that permeated the entire school area. This would have been in the late 40's or early 50's.
Ron Bingham
Manchester, TN
Class of 1962
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Dixie Alley(1st Grade) who gave me my first whipping in school after sending me out to get the switch she
used on me.
Wilma Golston who was very strict but was very accurate when throwing projectiles at those "Ol mean boys".
She was a good teacher!!!
Margret John Martin was very patient and had ways of motivating one to learn. She was pretty too!!!!
Francis Short was my first cousin and I took book keeping and typing, which she taught. I was a sophomore
when she started teaching.
I had it all figured out that it was going to be a snap in those classes. So, on the first day of bookkeeping
class, I tested her and she deducted 20 points from my grade and I didn't even have a grade!!!! That had
the same effect on my learning skill as did the switch,in the first grade.
P.S. - I have one of the original Woodstock
typewriters that we used in Frances Short's typing class.
Jim Sloan
Jackson, AL
Class of 1951
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I suppose I would have to say that Helen Barbee, the Home Ec. teacher, influenced me most because I took
her classes for 4 years and she guided me into my college major. She personally took me to UT to visit and
guided me into applying for scholarship money which enabled me to attend UT. She also took many of us to
FHA camp for great experiences and to her home where she grew up since it was not far from the camp site.
My first experience with horseback riding was at her home! She didn't just teach in the classroom -- she
educated the person!
I suppose most of my memories center around basketball because it was "my life" for 6 years! I started
playing in the 6th grade with 7th and 8th graders because I was tall enough. I was never very skilled at it
but have many good memories of the games, trips and especially the friends on the teams.
Oakdale was a great place to grow up and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Swimming, hiking, basketball,
riding bikes--just all the fun we had and how the "bigger kids" always looked after the younger ones and
taught them where to dive off Tunnel Rock!!
Carolyn Headrick Broady
Pigeon Forge, TN
Class of 1952
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I feel like I owe my successful career in Health Information Management (Medical Records) to Bessie Eble
for my years of taking "typing" and bookkeeping/business subjects. Of course I learned to use manual
typewriters as well as IBM electric typewriters by our weekly rotation of our seating in typing class. I
graduated in 1961 and started working in the hospital setting that same year and went on to obtain my
credential of RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) which is the equivalent of the Roane State
2-year HIM program. I have had to maintain my credentials over these years by attending continuing
education seminars and conventions on a local, state and national level. I held the position of Director of
Medical Records in association with Administrative Secretary for 14 years at the Chamberlain Memorial
Hospital in Rockwood. Then I was Director of Medical Records for 9 years at the Cleveland Community
Hospital in Cleveland before relocating to my present position as Medical Transcriptionist for Covenant
Health in Knoxville.
Of course I advanced to learning the computer age with my current job where a lot of my colleagues who
were my age had to retire or change their line of work as the computer just proved to be too much for them.
After these 47 years, I am making plans to start enjoying retirement in the middle of 2009.
In addition to utilizing my typing abilities, I have been able to compile statistical reports (spread sheets) over
the years thanks to my bookkeeping class. Over the years, I have planned trade shows, convention
programs, school reunions and family reunions, all with my knowledge gained from my high school
education. I designed and printed all forms used in the entire hospital while I was employed at the hospital
in Rockwood.
I must also acknowledge my English teachers; both Madelyn Hughes and Wilma Goldston. Without the
knowledge I gained from them, I would not have been able to compile policy and procedure manuals, letters,
memorandums, minutes of meetings, newsletters, and newspaper articles.
When I was in high school, I was afraid and worried that I could not find an "office job" and would have to
work in a hosiery mill which I did not want to do. Thanks to these teachers, I did not have to work in a
hosiery mill.
One thing I remember specifically from my senior year in high school was the day I was asked by the
principal to go to the 2nd grade classroom and be the "substitute" teacher. This one day was enough to
definitely influence my decision that I did not want to be a school teacher. The students would not listen to
anything I said. I could not eat any lunch as it was like a zoo in the cafeteria. According to my mother, I
looked "very ill/sick" when I walked into the house from the school bus that day and she didn't have a clue
as to why. The reason I was asked to go to that classroom was during the last few months of school if a
regular teacher was not there, the principal was using seniors instead of calling in a regular substitute
teacher.
Virginia Shortt Brown
Knoxville, TN
Class of 1961
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