Our parents were right when they said: “the older you get – the faster time goes flying by.” This is especially true for Northside High School’s first graduating class of 50 years ago in 1963. These classmates, consisting of students from Andrew Lewis, William Byrd, and Monroe Junior came together in our sophomore year. Many of us attended Southview Elementary School while they were completing construction on Northside and we had to learn to get along together. We had 158 graduates in 1963.
These first students were responsible for establishing much of the heritage associated with Northside today. The Viking mascot, the school colors of green and white which won out over scarlet and white, (the gold was added much later). We also had the privilege of selecting the school ring design, naming “The North Star” yearbook, and establishing the first school newspaper, “The North Winds.”
Some interesting facts from 1963 include the price of a gallon of gas was 29 cents; a loaf of bread 22 cents; and the average price for a new car was $3,233.00. Other major events that occurred in 1963 included the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas and movie star Marilyn Monroe’s death in Hollywood.
Ray Sarver, Edward Bennett and I started looking for classmates last year for a 50th homecoming reunion on October 11th. Many classmates have never returned to our school since they graduated all those 50 years ago.
Proud of the past and looking forward to the future – Go Vikings!
Tommy L. Firebaugh
Roanoke, VA
A reader from Bonsack, VA and member of the Northside High School Class of 1963