High School 1924-1926

At the time I attended school, Junior high school consisted of the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades and high school the 10th, 11th, and 12th. It was a big day in my life when I moved from Junior High to High School. At High School they had R.O.T.C., a program sponsored by the regular army to give us some military training. They furnished us with uniforms which everyone had to wear to school, and with rifles for drilling. My first year I was in a company commanded by Chet Zinn. He was a good captain and we had the best company in the regiment. We were graded on attendance, appearance, and marching. We were taught the manual of arms and each year a drill team was chosen to put on a close order drill at the big annual school ball. We also had many review parades when the commanding officer of the regiment would stand in review of all the companies. While I only participated in the drill work for one year I enjoyed it and believe the discipline that comes from such a program is very beneficial.


YEAR (FILE ) PICTURE AND SUBJECT
---- ------- ---------------------------------
1926 (4682) John Griffin in uniform
1926 (4692) John Griffin in uniform
1926 (1032) John Griffin's ROTC record
1926 (1033) John Griffin's ROTC record

The following year someone found out that I had a trombone and I was drafted for the school band. The band used to participate in the review parade but I missed the opportunity of working my way up to command a company which I would liked very much to have done. I was made a First Lieutenant the last year I was in the band.

The first year at high school I became interested in a debating club called the Forum. I was influenced to do this largely by a friend named David Camp whose mother was an English Teacher at high school and an advisor to the :'Forum". Membership in the club was by election of the existing members and I shall never forget how surprised I was and how thrilled when I was elected a member. I was subsequently elected president of the Forum and during my last two years in high school was a member of the debating team. Other members were David Camp, Garf Wilson, Winefred O'Connell (died of pneumonia about 1931 or 1932), and Frank Rose. David Camp was my debating partner on numerous occasions and he used to travel and have a good time together. About three years ago (1949) I ran into David Camp at a meeting of grape growers in Sanger, California and was very surprised to learn that he was working with his father-in-law on the farm.

My debating coaches at high school were Willis Smith and Rina Beck. Mr. Smith was a kind fellow who used to spend a lot of time with us teaching the fundamentals of debating and public speaking. He was also an advisor to the "Forum" and when he passed away at an early age the Forum started the Willis Smith memorial, a scholarship fund to help worthy students. The Forum is still an active club at Ogden High School and I receive an invitation each year to attend their annual banquet.

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