Waggener High School - RingBrothersHistory.com

The Voice Of St. Matthews, January 3, 1957: Highlight 1956Mallon Plan, Church Growth, Court Decision Highlight 1956Mr. Stevens had been active in almost every important phase of St. Matthews civic life.He helped found the St. Matthews Y.M.C.A. Acting as building chairman, he directed construction of the $205,000 St.Matthew Y.M.C.A. building in 1955.He helped start the St. Matthews Community Center, was friend and advisor to Mayor Noland of St. Matthews, and wasactive in the St. Matthews Kiwanis.He helped to found the Jefferson County Municipal conference.In July the Y.M.C.A. erected a plaque in his honor at the Y building.Another civic leader, Roy Boorman, died in July.Along with Burt Stevens, he was a founder of the St. Matthews Y. He helped organize the Indian Guide movement hereand was chief of the first tribe.For six years, he and Mrs. Boorman had operated the Church Weavers Gift Shop in Colony Way.Two other well-known figures died in January. They were Lewis D. Stigliz, police judge for Richlawn, and Mrs. CarrieGoodin Cooper, wife of Thomas H. Cooper, an assistant vice president of the First National Bank of St. Matthews.On the good news side:James Cottingham, president of the St. Matthews Jaycees, was named Outstanding Young Man in 1955 in the St. Matthewscommunity.Rattermans Honored: The federated Funeral Directors American Award “for high ethical conduct” was presented in Februaryto the Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home of St. Matthews, and to the owners John B. Ratterman, Jr. and Carl Ratterman.In February, Monsignor Anthony J. Gerst, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church was honored by his parishioners and fellow-priestsupon the celebration of his silver Jubilee.The congregation gave Father Gerst a new 1956 Chevrolet, Bel Air. He had been ordained in Rome, Feb. 24, 1931.Kenneth Farmer, former principal of Greathouse School, was honored by the P.T.A. for his many years of service.The P.T.A. presented a portrait of Mr. Farmer to hang in the school alongside two other former principals, Miss TommieGreathouse and Mrs. Mayme S. Waggener.Beargrass Christian Church in June honored the pastor of 25 years. Dr. Walter Lawrence by presenting him with a free tripto the Holy Land for himself and his wife. (Dr. Lawrence still hadn't been able to take the trip because he has been busyand because of the recent war in the Middle East.)Still Republican: St. Matthews stayed firmly in the Republican column in 1956.A District went for Ike by 5-2. The tabulation was 15,739 votes for the President and 6,264 votes for the challenger, AdlaiStevenson.Ike and the Republican ticket carried 40 out of 50 A District precincts.This area was in harmony with the rest of the County in voting overwhelmingly for Thurston Morton and John ShermanCooper for the senate. John Robinson for the House of Representatives, and Lynn Smith for Circuit Judge. All these Republicanswere swept into office.In another election, the people of the St. Matthews area in the school district mostly north of Frankfort avenue electedRucker Todd to the County school Board over four other candidates. That five candidates would enter the race from theone district attested to St. Matthews continuing interest in local schools.This area’s rejection of the occupational tax for schools was indicated in January by a poll taken among Stivers parents.Asked if they favored additional taxes for schools, they replied yes 414, no 102, and eight undecided. Asked if they favoredan occupational tax, they answered yes 302, no 265, and undecided 27. Asked about a sales tax, they said yes 309,no 192 and 14 undecided.The St. Matthews Elementary School P.T.A. won widespread attention in February. The organization opened a library inthe school’s first year, the first time that had ever been done by a county elementary school.