association history

Early in 1946, the late Mr. Albert Jones and Mr. William Elkins went to Jefferson High School and met with the late Dr. Paul Fisher, principal and informed him of their desire to form a Jefferson High School Alumni Association. He embraced the idea with open arms.

At its initial meeting Mr. Jones agreed to assemble a small group along with Dr. Fisher for a luncheon to discuss the formation of the alumni association for Jefferson High School. Two weeks later a small group met including Mr. Jones, Mr. Elkins, Attorney Harold Cherness (now judge), Blanch Wiley Jones, Ella Tate, Dr. Fisher and Carl Carson, student body president at the time. Two weeks later a larger group met for the purpose of electing officers and organizing the association.

Mr. Jones was elected to serve as the charter president along with a complete slate of officers. Thus, the Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association was founded in March 1946. Mr. Jones led the association for 18 years as president. Throughout the years some loyal, devout and dedicated persons have untied their efforts in carrying out the goals and objectives of the alumni association to faithfully serve Thomas Jefferson High School, its students and community. These persons have made many personal contributions to the advancement of the Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Association. The list is long, but some have stood out over a period. Some of those are James and Rose Cook, the late Carmen Boswell, Alma Steel Woods, Algerita Toomes, Thurston Carlock, Lang Stanley, the late Yvonne Mayhem Turner, Eli and Morjorie Sewel, Betty Walker Cunningham, Alvan Burton, the late Roosevelt Counter, and a host of others who came later and continued to carry the torch for the great, THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.