We are now in the midst of graduation season. This is a time for both looking back and looking ahead by the diploma recipients and their families and friends.

May 15, 1895—John Stewart of McComb, Miss., received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in Lebanon, Tenn., today. (A couple of years later Stewart and his bride came to Morgan County and put up at a boardinghouse. He stated to the few with whom he talked that he was a new law graduate with a good practice already at McComb, but was looking for a suitable location in some good county seat. It was evident he was in deep financial trouble, and being a man of education and refined sensibilities it weighed upon his mind. Last Wednesday night he disappeared, leaving no trace, only a short note to the proprietor of the house, where he had been stopping. His wife knew nothing of his leaving until the next morning. Parties here who knew the couple say they are of good families in McComb, and Stewart’s tale is true. In appearance the man was very dark and sallow, cold black hair and moustache, dark brown eyes, weighing about 135 pounds, of slender build and thin features. He was an inveterate cigarette fiend. The belief is strong among all that Stewart has made away with himself.)

May 15, 1909–I. T. Quinn, of Bell Green, Franklin County, graduated from Auburn today. (This distinguished member of a family with strong Hartselle connections ultimately became commissioner of the state department of game and fisheries.)

May 21, 1911–The citizens here turned out en masse for the commencement exercises of the Morgan County High School which began Wednesday and lasted until tonight. This is the first class to graduate since the high school was established. A class of 12 received their diplomas at the hands of J. H. Riddle, the principal. Prof. Dr. S. S. Burleson made a masterly address to the graduating class and to the large audience which had gathered for this initial commencement exercise

May 22, 1913–Notwithstanding the rain which fell steadily, the auditorium of the high school was packed tonight during the impressive exercises attendant upon the awarding of diplomas to five young ladies and four young men. Orations were delivered by Ethel Corsbie, Nell Masterson, Yetta Lee Sobotka, and R. E. Gibson. The other graduates were Lois Kitchens, Elsie Puckett, Fred Hammond, Simpson Day, and Isaac Johnson, Jr. Prof. J. S. Thomas of the University followed with a most scholarly address.

May 21, 1914—Commencement exercises of the Morgan County High School which began Sunday with the sermon by the Rev. J. L. Woodward of Decatur, followed by appropriate exercises by pupils from the various grades nightly, were concluded today with the graduation ceremony in which a class of four young ladies and two young men were awarded diplomas by the principal, J. H. Riddle.

May 15, 1917–Cecil Hartselle received his diploma at the state’s school for the blind at Talladega during commencement exercises at the school today. Mr. Hartselle was valedictorian of his class. In the fall he plans to return to Talladega for a post-graduate course in music and piano tuning.

May 15, 1921—A number of the MCHS seniors who received their high school diplomas tonight plan to continue their studies at the college level. These include women graduates. Lucy Britnell, LaUna Freeman, Katie Sue Hodges, Hazel Holmes, Lizzie Penn, Marie Penn, Othello Roberts, Cleo Wiley, and Belle Williams, all of whom will be students at Women’s College in Montgomery this fall.

Note: In some instances, specific graduation dates have had to be estimated as accurately as possible.