[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9009-9010]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




THE 130TH ANNIVERSARY OF MORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, COUNTY OF MORRIS, NEW 
                                 JERSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 10, 1999

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
people of Morristown and surrounding communities, in Morris County, New 
Jersey, as they commemorate the 130th anniversary of the founding of 
Morristown High School.
  Morristown High School began as the Maple Avenue School on December 
13, 1869. Over 400 students, seven of whom would become the first 
alumni of Morristown High School, entered the halls of this new school 
that day. Students from many distant communities came to Morristown to 
participate in one of the few high school programs offered in the State 
of New Jersey. At that time, Morristown offered the most complete 
curriculum, including courses of studies in varying levels of 
mathematics, science, and philosophy, as well as reading, composition, 
singing, and drawing. Morristown High School now offers students over 
200 courses of study and more than 100 extracurricular activities in 
which to participate. The newspaper, yearbook, and student literary 
magazine have been awarded the highest national honors, and the 
athletic, music, and drama programs are ranked among the highest in the 
State.
  Even in the earliest days of its existence, Morristown High School 
did not discriminate against anyone who was eager to learn. In 1886, 
Clarence H. Walker, the first African-American student was admitted, an 
occurrence unheard of in other communities at that time. His sister, 
Estella Walker, member of the Class of 1897, went on to attend Wilber-
Force College. Equal educational access was, and would always be, a 
priority at Morristown High School.

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  Many of Morristown High School's students have gone on to serve 
proudly in our Nation's Armed Forces. John Monteith, member of the 
Class of 1912, was the first Morristown High School graduate to make 
the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life in World War I. Roland M. 
Brown, member of the Class of 1941, distinguished himself as a Tuskegee 
Airman and Admiral Fredrick Turner, also a member of the Class of 1941, 
would command the U.S. Sixth Fleet.
  Mr. Speaker, for the past 130 years Morristown High School has 
prospered as an exceptional educational institution and continues to 
flourish today. Its graduates have gone on to serve both our community 
and our Nation in countless ways. By all accounts, it will continue to 
prosper in the future. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues to 
congratulate all members of the Morristown High School community and 
their alumnae on this special anniversary year.

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