YHS History
© copyright, Marlene Whiting, Brandywine Woodcrafts, Inc.
Table of Contents
- York High School's Early Years
- York High School's First Senior Class
- Bailey Field
- John P. Wornom Auditorium
- York High School's Past Principals
- WYCS 91.5 FM Coming Soon!
York High School's Early Years
Located on Route 17 about 3 miles south of Yorktown, York High School opened in 1954 and students in grades 6 - 12 could now graduate within the county. Before York High School opened, students attended other neighboring schools: Poquoson, Mathew Whaley in Williamsburg, and Morrison, in Newport News, later to be known as Warwick High School. Black students in grades 1 - 12 attended the newly constructed James Weldon Johnson school.
Several additions were added to York High School within its first few years as the building would need to provide space for more than a thousand students in grades 6 through 12. After several adjustments, as new schools opened, a student body consisting of grades 9 through 12 resulted and the school served the entire county until Tabb High opened in 1972 and Bruton High opened in 1976.
From 1955 to 1970, an avalanche of over 5,000 pupils descended upon the York County school system. Families were moving out of the cities and many came from other states as some were returning to the county after having been stationed here during their military service. Many changes to the schools came during that period as well. 1964 would be the last year for funds to be received from the district school levy. As of 1964, integration of our schools began and the fall of 1967 would mark the end of segregation.
Information complied from "Footprints."
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York High School's First Senior Class
It was a warm September day in 1954 when students boarded their respective buses for the ride to a new school with new teachers, principal and friends. The seniors were probably most affected by this change in schools since they had previously attended Poquoson High or Matthew Waley High, and had made many friends and participated in various school activities there. However, the bus ride to York High would be a much closer distance and this would be nice for after school activities.
As the students entered the front door of the new building, they were met by the principal, Mr. Thomas Gillis. He welcomed each one warmly and told them: "We do not have rules here today, they will be made as we have the need". The 41 seniors and underclassmen met for their first assembly. This was the beginning of new friendships while we studied and worked together to make the building a school and to make this senior year an exciting and unforgettable one.
The seniors were forever grateful and honored to have Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, who transferred from Poquoson High to York High, become their senior sponsor and homeroom teacher. She capably guided and directed them in the many tasks that were ahead. Another honor was the kind of leadership provided by Mrs. June Yeatts who was sponsor of the SCA. Alex Gillikin was voted senior class president and was also elected president of the SCA by the student body. His personality and leadership capably led us through this year.
The seniors participated in the organization of the many clubs that were formed. York High proudly organized its first band and first football, baseball and basketball teams playing together for the first year. The senior class supported the girls basketball team with two co-captains that capably helped to win 7 of 11 games that year.
The seniors sponsored a school play, supported the school paper - "The York Yell", published the "York Bugle", chose school colors and a school emblem - "The Falcon", while achieving their academic credits this final year. The busy schedules to meet deadlines also bridged friendships for a lifetime as we worked and made decisions together in a few months.
We enjoyed the first senior prom held May 20, 1955. We also planned the first graduation. This was a very exciting evening as proud parents, friends and leaders of county government gathered to observe 41 graduates who had worked diligently to make the new building into a functional school.
Yes, many of the seniors left this first year behind with mixed emotions as they would be leaving behind fellow classmates that they had only known for a short time while looking forward to taking their places in a mature world. Some of the graduates were going to immediate employment, some were planning marriages and still others were attending institutions of advanced learning.
We, the members of the graduating class of 1955, are honored and proud to have helped set the groundwork for the future. We extend our thanks to the leaders and citizens of York County for making this school a reality.
The "falcon" and the "blue and gray" have stood the test of time for 50 years - may the next 50 be equally memorable to generations of students yet to come.
Credit: Vivian Hogg Smoot Class of 1955
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Bailey Field
The athletic field was named in honor of B. Herman Bailey, local family physician, and a truly gifted and caring doctor and York County hero.
Dr. Bailey was raised in Keysville, Virginia. He attended Hampden Sydney College and the Medical College of Virginia. He settled in Sandston, Virginia. There he rapidly developed a very busy medical practice with long office hours, many house calls daily and over the years delivered over 2,500 babies, either at the hospital or at home. These were the depression and World War 2 years; times were hard and often Dr. Bailey's payment came in many forms, i.e., food, services. Dr. Bailey was always available and his practice spanned a wide territory.
One of Dr. Bailey's passions in Richmond was supporting the local athletic teams, especially Highland Springs High School. The teams knew where to go if they needed uniforms, balls, bats, or a physician.
These years took a toll and at age 46 he suffered a near fatal heart attack, which was followed by several others over the years. Finally Dr. Bailey was advised to retire and having purchased a small cottage on the banks of the beautiful York River, he moved to Yorktown. However, prior to leaving Sandston, the community honored him by naming the athletic field at Highland Springs, Bailey Field.
Once in Yorktown, Dr. Bailey found retirement life did not fit his temperament and he formed another practice and established an office on Nelson Street. His commitment to people and to the community along with his gift of being a great doctor and friend meant his practice grew and community involvement grew as well. He was very active in his church, the Lion's Club and the York County Volunteer Rescue Squad. And, of course, on Friday night he was sitting on the bench at every York High School football game, both home and away. At least twice yearly he would close his office and go the high school to do all of the sports physicals. This was done while maintaining a very busy medical practice, including many legendary house calls and a personal and cherished involvement with his patients and community.
Unfortunately, Dr. Bailey's heart disease progressed and limited his stamina but his love for the community and athletics continued. On September 22, 1962, while watching the UVA - W&M football game. Dr. Bailey suffered a sudden and fatal heart attack. The community was truly saddened but very supportive of our family. I will always remember, and our whole family will always be touched, by his funeral procession. As we proceeded slowly down Route 17, in front of York High School, as far as you could see on both sides of the road, stood all the students and teachers from York High School and neighboring county schools. No eyes were dry and the tribute and memory are beyond words to describe.
Shortly thereafter, when I returned to Yorktown to continue with what is now known as Yorktown Family Practice, Tom Gillis, principal at York, and the school board, asked the family if the athletic field could be named Bailey Field. We were overwhelmed and truly honored.
It would be our hope that those who attend games at Bailey Field would remember why Dr. Bailey was honored with such a tribute. He truly believed you could make a difference in someone else's life with a caring attitude and a commitment to your community. And he would love to see the people of the community enjoying each athletic event the way that he did. He loved Yorktown as much as life itself.
Submitted by Dr. and Mrs. Rives Bailey on behalf of the entire Bailey family. In particular Francie Bailey, Rives Bailey, Jr., Katie Bailey Cowen (all York High grads), and Dean and Susan Bailey (former York High teachers).
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John P. Wornom Auditorium
One of six sons, John P. Wornom was born in Dare, Virginia, on April 2, 1909. He was able to complete ten grades at the one-room Dare School and then finished his last two years at Randolph-Macon Academy. His first job was in the gas fields of West Virginia. When he returned he worked for Mr. Leslie O'Hara in the ice and gravel plants. During World War II he worked at the Newport News Shipyard.
He married Margaret Cornick in 1937. Mrs. Wornom was a first and second grade teacher for many years at Yorktown Elementary School on Ballard Street in Yorktown. They did not have any children, but dedicated their lives to children of all ages. They lived in the "West House" on Main Street in Yorktown and later lived off of Moore House Road on Lafayette Street.
Around 1948 he went into business for himself and opened the York Hardware Store on Main Street in Yorktown. He sold this business shortly before his death in 1978. He also developed land between Lakeside Drive and Showalter Road, now a housing development known as Lakeside Homes. Part of this land was sold to the county for the construction of Grafton Bethel Elementary School.
Appointed as one of the first members of the York County Planning Commission in 1952, Mr. Wornom served in that capacity for over a decade. Before he was drafted to serve on the board, 50 percent of secondary grade students attended classes outside of the county or were privately tutored.
In November of 1955, John P. Wornom was selected as "The Outstanding School Board Member in the State of Virginia" by the Virginia Education Association. The decision to name Wornom recipient of the honor was made at its Association's annual meeting. On November 1, 1956, he won this distinguished service award given to a school board member for "community service and achievement" in Education. He was selected from more than a dozen finalists from across the state. He was instrumental in securing growth in teacher benefits, both salary and retirement improvements. Samuel C. Morgan, superintendent of the York County Schools, said: "It couldn't have happened to a finer man...he has put his whole self into community service...the award is most appropriate." Mr. Wornom said he accepted the award on the behalf of all who worked for the betterment of York County schools. He was then serving as chairman of the York County School Board.
John P. Wornom died of Lou Gehrig's disease on September 4, 1978.
The above information was compiled from conversations with Dr. Paul H. Wornom, brother of John P. Wornom, and newspaper articles from the Daily Press.
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