In the early 1920's before the Rose Hill High School came into being, the nearest High School was in Teachey, NC. My father, James Ward, attended Teachey High School. His father, Oscar Ward, gave him money to pay for room and board with a Boney family in Teachey.

My father had no money to pay for a class ring so he wanted to use that money to pay for his ring. In order to use the money for a ring as his alternative to rooming with the Boney family was to commute. The only mode of transportation that James had was a blind mule. For his high school career he rode back and forth from his home farm every day on that blind mule. That was a trip of some 6 or more miles each way.

When he graduated in 1921 there were two in the graduating class. The other member of the class was a Mr. McMillan. In later years Daddy sometimes came home from a trip to Wallace and would announce that "We had a class reunion today." which meant he had seen Mr. McMillan on the street in Wallace that day.

I have the ring that Daddy bought with that money that his father had given him for room and board.

Peggy Ward Rawheiser