Excuse the double negative; however, if Gerald Ford who graduated from South in 1930 could become President of the United States, so can anyone who ever attended South High; the difference between South and other schools, was that South had an intrinsic spirit which the teachers tried to impart to their students--that they could make a change in society for the better, and that their presence was essential to the well being of the community and the nation.  South raised $250,000 to buy an aircraft which was celebrated at the old airport during World War Two; South High Students raised money to purchase landing craft which were celebrated at Garfield Park; students knew that they were part of something special; they felt that they had a legacy to live up to.  When South was closed, it was like taking the heart out of the community and all of the students who had attended there since the school opened in 1928.

Roger Plafkin-Plafkin Brothers-Grand Rapids Bolt and Nut Company-Plafkin Farms, Ada, Michigan