Howard F. Manly

“We all have our favorite teachers who made a difference in our lives. Miss Lois Reed, a civics teacher, had a lasting impact on me, and I still visit her where she is confined to a nursing home. Huntington High School changed lives, and there is a bond that a student will never forget.” Howard F. Manly

My visit to Newport News reminded me of the powerful bond that develops between teacher and student, often merely beginning in the classroom and growing with passing years and decades. Interestingly, I found the interviewees truly wanting to talk - - - to me as well as to one another. My visit served as an occasion for alumni to discuss (further) the power structure of the Hampton Roads area and to wonder what really took place to lead to the dismissal of Principal Palmer. While I remained in my role as “oral historian,” I so enjoyed watching alumni talking to one another and discussing various aspects about the school and about historical research. At times, I felt as if my staged interview session served as an autumn reunion.

“Mrs. Wilson gave me the greatest gift: she told me that I could be what I wanted to be if I set my mind to it. She convinced me that I could succeed. Dedication, commitment, and loyalty: she taught me the true importance of these values. These were the teachers of Huntington High School. They were like parents. They made a commitment to us and sought to help us for life after we left school.”
Cleveland Mayo

Perhaps most touching was the time I spent with teacher and student, Mildred R. Wilson and Cleveland Mayo. Witnessing “the bond” was a fitting tribute to the power of this remarkable school.

For this, I remain ever so thankful.
Craig Kridel
Curator, The Museum of Education
E. S. Gambrell Professor of Educational Studies

Freddie Allen and Lillian Lovett
talking about an historical artifact.