Frank Bailey:
CLASS OF 1955
Bessemer High SchoolClass of 1955
Greensboro, NC
Frank's Story
Bessemer School, Started in first grade with Miss. Frye. Contnued, Second Grade, Mrs. Fields, Third Grade Mrs Randolph, Fourth Grade Mrs Morton, Then 5th Mrs Reese, Sixth grade Awful Mr. Sexton, 7th Grade Miss Franies Higgins, 8th Grade, Mrs Smith. High School teachers were many, Mr Festa, Mr H Clendenon, Mrs Snipes, Mr Bolen, Mrs Arvin, Mrs Steele, Miss Dixie Guill, Mrs Gaines, kicked me out of clas for the year. Mrs Allen, Algebra. Many I cannot remmeber now. My favorite Teachers, was Miss Frances Higgins. and Mr Bolen. Many other great teachers but I was not much of a student, and Mr. Cude and I was well acquainted over the years. Was in Band such as it was, but it helped me graduate. I still listen to loud music taught by Mr Bolen to hear all the instruments. I drove a School bus both my Jr. and Sr. Year, can you imagine that, It scares me to death to think of the awsome responsibility then, but I was totally irresponsible then and didn't even give it a thought. I was a bit talented in art, music, dancing, and was chosen the most talented with really talented young Lady, Nancy. Some sports, but was always afraid of getting killed, I weighed only 115 pounds then with black horned rim glasses. Larry Hatley was my hero, he was about my same size and was tough as a Lider Knott {Pine Knott} played an entire quarter on a broken ankle in a championship game. What a guy and could he ever tell a story. On book reports it was always the Hardy Boys and we would all sit on the edge of our seats as he unfolded the drama of that month. I would find a movie that was about a book, and go see the movie and give my report on that. Lousey Student. Noe I regret it, then "who cares". Teachers, I apologize for being a problem not a protege. I remember the girls who dared to go out with me and the others who were too cautions to. I did have fun. When everone saw me dance in the Fall Festival my dating success went up dramatically. Two would go out even then. Darlene and Carolyn. What a disappoinment. But tow of my buddies in class married two of my girl friends that I brought to a school function. Shields and Larry. Nancy, and Shelba, which I discovered on my second date was my cousin, that killed that. Oh well Graduate on a hot June day with a shout. and gong to whip the world. How many of did that? Oh well, we still have time. some do, we lost 11 classmates along the way. Jackie T and Audrey C, Faye G.James Stacy, and more recently Ann, Richard our friend who developed polio during the outbreak yearrs ago. Still the results linger great man Richard. Many of us left mates along the way through divorce, what a shame, others on the battlefields. time does take its toll. But the rest charge on. I charged across the landscape from the weeks after graduation in '55 to Cone Mills for enough funds for a blow out at Myrtle Beach before I went into Air Force in Aug, '55.
Off To Texas, to Illinois on Air Force Career, It was in Illionois, actually St. Louis, Mo. where I met My Bride Carlene Howe. She unlike me was an incredible student, Scholarship to Nursing Training. Bright Lady, I guess all those academics took i...Expand for more
ts toll in boredome, only kidding, but when she met Frank Bailey, the Life of the party, the happy go lucky the devil may care, Dance Dance Dance, I won many Dance Contests over that perion. She was knocked off guard, and had decided she would say yes if I asked her to marry me, even before I decided to, and in a period of only 3 weeks from meeting to marriage. Carlene is not an impulsive person, especially not anymore, that last impulsive decision cost her a sentence that has lasted for 54 years. what a price to pay. Boy was I blessed. I told her I never dated a girl more than three times, and never single dated always with a crowd, becuase there was safety in numbers, And I was never serious and didn't want to be, I told every girl I loved her and had no idea nor cared what that meant, I used poetry, Spanish and French to wow them. How much French or Spanish do you need to memorize to wow a Jr or Sr in high shcool? And I was about as opposite of Carlene as anyone could have ever been and her the same with me. The greatest thing that ever happend up until That time in My life was Carlene. What a Peach I found when I stumbled across her path. Blue eyes, Long Blonde hair, one Demple on her right cheek, little nose 5' 2", cute as a button and with a ski-jump butt. HOMERUN, FRANK. Oh Yes she was a quick study when it came to dancing. I taught her the tango in just a few minutes. She was good. When we dediced ot get married, I called my Mom, I used to cut up with my Mom and pick at her. She was a Jewel. I had just been home for Christmas and had not even met Carlene, and this is the firrst of Feb and I call and told her I was getting married. She of course thought I was just picking and joking, when she determinied I was serious, she shouted, "Have you lost your Minid". now coming from Mom, she know I didn't have too far to go.. then added Don't you ever bring her around here.!, Carlene asked why would she sat that about me, I told her, Mom don't know you Honey, she knows me, she don't know what I might come dragging up from St. Louis. She is terrified. But once Mom met Carlene, she was so relieved that she wasn't some Vamp on the dark side, that she never took my side ever again, one Sister in Law said Mrs. Bailey loves Carlene and she is her favorite Daughter in Law. I said no, she has the greatest emapthy with her, because she has to pick up where she left off, poor Carlene Mom thought. She was right. Poor Carlene she is a mighty trooper and Partner. Her Grandmother was a Pioneer, actully went to the Territory, Oklahoma, in a covered wagon when that Indian Territory opened. Carlene has a lot of her Grandma in her. Strong Metal. So she started raising me. ten months later along comes Timothy our First Son and the second kid Carlene is having to raise. Boy what a Gal. Oh yes did I mentiion we were both 18 years old at the time we married and were 19 years old when our First Son came along. He had to be born grown up to survive. He did.
Hang on, the next chapter is going to be evern more dramatic. or nerve wrecking which ever fits.
Frank Bailey at this point in the story is 19years old.
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