Dr. Howard J. Cleland
The following letter was written by Dr. Cleland to the Class of ‘61 upon learning of their plans to raise funds to build a field house for Murrah and name it in his honor.
To all members, Murrah High School Class of 1961:
Your class is very special to me. The three years with you were the highlights of my professional career. What a great privilege it was to work with you.
From the beginning, our philosophy at Murrah was that every student can be challenged, motivated, and inspired to excel in all areas of activity. And you did just that! You excelled academically, but in many other areas as well -- including music, drama, athletics, creative writing, art and journalism.
Twenty-five students of your class were National Merit finalists -- ranked in the top half of the top one percent of all students in the nation.
You were only the sixth graduating class, yet Murrah had already won
Big 8 championships in basketball, football, baseball, and every year
in track!
The Hoofbeat won many honors including the All-American rating by the National Scholastic Press Association. Murrah also won first place in the National Traffic Safety Contest promoted by the Hoofbeat staff.
The Concert Choir received national recognition by singing for the conventions of the National Choir Directors Society in Miami, Chicago and Atlantic City.
The Theatre Guild, which included eight clubs, produced musicals and plays which were highly acclaimed by the press and community. The executive secretary of the National Thespian Society, writing about Murrah in the THESPIAN MAGAZINE said, "The Murrah High School production of the musical The King And I was one of the best high school productions I have ever seen." Had he seen our production of Carousel, he would have reported it as the best! A real carousel on stage built by the Stage Craft Club -- magnificent! I personally think our presentations of The Teahouse of the August Moon, Li'l Abner and Call Me Madame were professional in every regard.
The Class of 1961, in the Murrah tradition, continued to win honors and awards -- almost too many to list:
- First Place, Mississippi Classical Conference competition.
- Youth Congress elections.
- The Pleiades Literary Magazine and RESUME honors.
- The band and the Murrah Misses, who were considered the best in the state.
We share many happy memories of your three years at Murrah High School. Since graduation, the Class of 1961 has continued the winning tradition with unprecedented individual successes in many different endeavors -- unparalleled!
Bill Lipscomb has told us that your have planned to give Murrah High School an exciting new building which will be used and enjoyed by students and faculty for years to come. I am very humbled and thankful to all of the Class of 1961 that the new facility may be named in my honor. Thank you all for remembering me in such a special and meaningful way.
Mrs. Cleland joins me in sending our love and gratitude to you all.
Howard J. Cleland
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