This is the complete faculty of Thomas Jr. High School 1957-1958 School Year.

I was in the first grade that year.  Construction had not yet started on nearby Interstate 65.  Next door then and now was Aaron Dennis and wife Myrtle Kelly Dennis.  Across the road was a wonderful country store owned by Mr. Nabors, which owned the land on the other side of the school as well.  Fridays were special as we didn't have cola and candy machines in those days, but on Fridays at 1:00 PM, Principal J. D. Hopper allowed Mr. Nabors to bring candy to the fence in front of the school, which was a very joyous occasion to everyone.  A penny bought you a piece or two of candy and everybody shared with all.  Thomas Jr. as many similar rural schools closed in about 1963 and the students were consolidated into the big city schools at Clanton.  The school property lay vacant for many years as an unwanted parcel of land, however, it became very prime property and is currently occupied by a modern Alabama Power Facility. Parents were very involved in making the school be all that it could at that time.  The faculty of seven taught: the Junior III class (9th grade) of eighteen students, the Junior II class (8th grade) of 20 students, the Junior I class (7th grade) of twenty students, and the first through sixth grades of over 80 students.  Thomas Jr. had a large play ground of about four acres and a wooded play area of about five acres to enjoy during the two daily recess period.  The non-wooded play grounds were coed by there was a dividing line trail that segregated the boys area from the girls area of the wooded play areas.  The worst possible offense was to be so naughty as to cross into the other's wooded side.  Out door facilities were still in use the first few years, a four staller in both the boys area and the girls area.  A lunch room was adjacent to the school with three lunch room workers.  All the faculty and lunch room workers were humble and caring people that loved each of us students as their own child and instilled us with both and education and what matters most and that was to love and care for one another.  Principal J.
D. Hopper later was my 7th grade teacher at the old Chilton County High School which had became the Henry Adair School and then Mrs. Sue McKinney was my 10th grade economics teacher at the new Chilton County High School.  Principal Hopper's sons, Joe, Bill and David all became educators and have been appointed as Principals at Isabella, Verbena and Marbury.  As an adult of 48 I am thankful for all of lives joys that God has blessed me with, especially the fond memories of Thomas Jr. High School.
 

Regards, Bruce Glenn