Miss C.F. Vigor

C.F. Vigor was Assistant Superintendent of Mobile County, Alabama Public Schools for more than 30 years, serving from 1910 to November 3, 1941, and was mainly in charge of rural schools in the system. He was a lifetime resident of Mobile, having graduated from Barton Academy, and was the first president of the Mobile Education Association. It was fitting that in January of 1944, a new elementary school at 913 N. Wilson Avenue in Prichard was named for him. (This aerial view of the school was taken in 1957. The view is toward the Southwest with Wilson Avenue at the bottom of the picture). Originally there were eight grades in the school. After its opening, the student enrollment quickly increased to such an extent that three grades were put on double sessions. Three years later, relief for overcrowding came when the elementary grades were absorbed by other schools in the area. Eight additional classrooms were added to the existing facility and Vigor began concentrating on the upper grades.
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In the fall of 1956, when some of the class of 1960 entered Vigor in the 9th grade, a 12th grade had been added and Vigor was becoming an up and coming member of the Big Four in Mobile area high schools (Vigor, Murphy, University Military School and McGill).
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In addition, Kenny Middleton was President of the Class, Albert Gaston and Carolyn McDonald were voted Most Likely To Succeed, George Mayfield and Sarah Jane Little were Mr. and Miss Friendship, Pat Mastin was Miss Vigor, Joy Winfield was Homecoming Queen and Suzelle Cranford was Head Cheerleader, just to name a few.
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Vigor had its first exchange student, from Denmark, Rolf Albinuissen.
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Vigor also had one of the most unique pranks played by two classmates who skipped school one day and flew over the campus in their plane, dropping flour bag bombs on the unsuspecting below.
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Vigor won the championship in a best of three series against Tuscaloosa High School. The last game was won 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Who could forget swimming at Johnson's Lake in Eight Mile, sizzling delicious hamburgers at Tom's near the campus and the Kreame Bar in Chickasaw, roller skating at Rambo's in Saraland, bowling at the Smith Brother's bowling lanes near the campus, waterskiing on Bayou Sara and fishing in Chickasabouge. There was the "Stairway to Stardom" teenage talent show on WAIP Prichard radio on Sunday afternoons which Vigor 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".

C.F. Vigor was Assistant Superintendent of Mobile County, Alabama Public Schools for more than 30 years, serving from 1910 to November 3, 1941, and was mainly in charge of rural schools in the system. He was a lifetime resident of Mobile, having graduated from Barton Academy, and was the first president of the Mobile Education Association. It was fitting that in January of 1944, a new elementary school at 913 N. Wilson Avenue in Prichard was named for him. (This aerial view of the school was taken in 1957. The view is toward the Southwest with Wilson Avenue at the bottom of the picture). Originally there were eight grades in the school. After its opening, the student enrollment quickly increased to such an extent that three grades were put on double sessions. Three years later, relief for overcrowding came when the elementary grades were absorbed by other schools in the area. Eight additional classrooms were added to the existing facility and Vigor began concentrating on the upper grades.
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In the fall of 1956, when the full class of 1959 entered Vigor, a 12th grade had been added and Vigor was becoming an up and coming member of the Big Four in Mobile area high schools (Vigor, Murphy, University Military School and McGill). The crowning night of recognition in 1956 was when Vigor beat Murphy in football for the first time. The celebration at Ladd Stadium lasted long after the end of the game. In fact, Vigor beat Murphy for two of the three years that the Class of 1959 was in residence. Who could forget swimming at Johnson's Lake in Eight Mile, sizzling delicious hamburgers at Tom's near the campus and the Kreame Bar in Chickasaw, roller skating at Rambo's in Saraland, bowling at the Smith Brother's bowling lanes near the campus, waterskiing on Bayou Sara and fishing in Chickasabouge. There was the "Stairway to Stardom" teenage talent show on WAIP Prichard radio on Sunday afternoons which Vigor 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".