Vigor High School - The
School that Spirit Built!!!
C.F. Vigor High School has had a rich history since its “birth” as an
elementary school in 1944. It is named for Mr. C. F. Vigor, Assistant
Superintendent of Mobile County, Alabama Public Schools from 1910 to 1941.
More details of its history can be read on the Class of 1960's website,
Vigor60.com.
1961, the year we graduated, marked Vigor High School’s 10th Anniversary.
There had been many “firsts” and outstanding accomplishments for our Alma
Mater, beginning in 1951, when Vigor was State accredited and our band was
District Champion. Vigor’s first 11th grade graduating class was in 1952,
the same year construction began on our auditorium. The Vigor Highlights,
our school news paper, won its first Sweepstakes in 1953 ( then again in
‘55, ‘56, ‘57, ‘58 and ‘59). In 1954 Vigor hosted Alabama’s first Science
Fair. 1955 was the year Vigor introduced its guidance program to help
students with problems at school, at home, and in their career choices. 1956
was a banner year: The Vigor Wolves established their reputation as a major
sports contender when our baseball team grabbed National acclaim as its
pitcher hurled a perfect game, and then in the fall, when our football team
defeated the Murphy Panthers for the first time - and the Vigor-Murphy
rivalry was born. Also in 1956, before he became known as the King, Elvis
Presley was featured in an assembly that ended abruptly when Principal J. M.
Laird closed the curtains because of Elvis’ gyrations and unconventional
style. Vigor’s 1957 Key Club was awarded the State title of “Most
Outstanding” A new and progressive principal, James A. McPherson, came to
Vigor in 1958. The Vigorama took its first Class A award at the AHSPA
convention in 1959. The Class of 1960 was the first to hold commencement in
the new Prichard Stadium. The Class of 1961's football team drew the
spotlight, boasting an untied-undefeated season. Wow! And to think, we were
part of all this! And More!
Do you remember? The Class of 1961 had two Valedictorians and 482 graduating
seniors. Our class officers were all GIRLS. Our Senior Class Play, “Shadow
of a Cross”, was a religious production. Our undefeated football team won
the City Crown and State AAAA Championship. Our Basketball Team won the City
Tournament. Our Tennis Team won the City Championship. Mr. White’s POD
Class!!! The elevator to the Second Floor.
And......Who could forget swimming (and dancing) at Johnson’s Lake in Eight
Mile, sizzling hamburgers at Tom’s and the Kreme Bar, and the Chatter Box,
french fries at the Shed, roller skating at Rambo’s, bowling at the Smith
Brother’s bowling lanes and the Bowlarena, waterskiing on Bayou Sara,
fishing in Chickasabouge, and Saturday nights cruising between Johnny’s
Drive In, The Krystal and Ozzie’s Bar-B-Que. There was the “Stairway to
Stardom” teenage talent show on WAIP Prichard radio on Sunday afternoons
(which Vigor students dominated) dancing at the Teenage Haven over the
Prichard City Hall on Friday and Saturday nights, and if all else failed,
there was always the "Kali Oka Road light show". Mobile had only three
television stations in those days and there were movie theaters in both
Prichard and Chickasaw. Prichard had the Waterall, the Prichard, the Rex and
the Gem. Chickasaw had the Air Sho and Whistler had the Do Drive-in. Flat
tops, 45 rpm records, full skirts and bobby socks, ‘Dixon on Disc”
television show on Channel 10, sock hops in the gym after games.
This is the Vigor High that we knew and loved. Old age, water and wind
damage, termite infestation and wear and tear of 63 years of students
roaming the halls have resulted in most of the school that we knew being
demolished and a new school being built in its place.
But our Vigor “Spirit” lives on!!
SOURCE: Mobile County Public Schools, Office Of Communication
Personal Memories of Clay Swanzy, Class of '60, conversations with
1956-1960 graduates, and comments from Class of '61 as compiled by Sandra Lacey.
Please e-mail your memories, recollections or corrections to your webmaster.
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