"Old times there are not forgotten"
The French were defeated at Dien Bein Phu and abandoned Indochina. It did not seem important to us at the time. In transportation, plans for the transcontinental highway system we know today as the Interstate Highway System, and development of the St. Lawrence Seaway to open a lane between all of the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean were unveiled. Television sets graced the living rooms of 29 million American households representing 60 percent of those available. A business recession brought hard times to the coal fields. Signs proclaiming Beckley City of Champions were extended to the city limits with official sanction. The last Nash automobile rolled off the assembly line.
New book titles: A Fable, No Time for Sergeants, Sweet Thursday and The Bird's Nest..
At the movies: On the Waterfront, The Barefoot Contessa and The Country Girl.
Television premiers: Lassie and Walt Disney.
Songs we listened to included: Secret Love, Three Coins In The Fountain, Little Things Mean A Lot, Mister Sandman, Hey There, Young At Heart, The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane, Hearts Of Stone, Cross Over The Bridge and Sh-Boom.
January 1
West Virginia University lost to Georgia Tech by the score of 42-19 in the Sugar Bowl played in New Orleans, Louisiana. WVU's first major post season bowl appearance.
March 20
Woodrow Wilson High School won yet another state basketball championship defeating Mullens by the score of 40-32 in Morgantown. It was the fourth state basketball championship in as many years and the fifth state basketball championship for Woodrow Wilson.
April 12
Sam Snead, a West Virginia native won the Masters Golf Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia, his third Masters victory.
May
Classmates James Daniel, Francene Mitchell and Jerry Williams were awarded Knight and Lady of the Golden Horseshoe awards resulting from the state wide competition in knowledge of West Virginia History. The annual competition began in 1931.
May 24
Mary Anderson, Nancy Arthur, Edna Balaskey, Keith Brazzie, Shirley Bryant, Donna Cox, Phyllis Faykus, Phyllis Fitzwater, Dewey Laws, Billy Nowlin, Lynda Oscar, Darrell Pettry, Eugene Solonka, Frances Solonka, Patsy Thornton, Dean Walker, Roger Williams and Gene Wiseman graduated from Eighth Grade at the Prosperity School Commencement.
September 7
The future Class of 1958 reached its full potential as ninth graders when students from the feeder schools joined those already enrolled at Beckley Junior High School.
October
Home coming at BJHS. Homecoming Queen was Loretta Bays. Her attendants included Peggy Phlegar and Vicki Christopher.