The Grove Comet ~ 1969 ~ Final Copy ~ Section One ~ Page 3

E. W. Grove High School
stands as a castle on the second
highest point in West Tennessee.
From the windows of the Tower
one can see for many miles; thus
enabling him to get a birds-eye
view of the world he must
prepare himself to enter.
Educational institutions are
more than architecture and
landscaping, however. They are
masses of cement and brick to
house the students who enter
their doors eager to broaden
their perception of the world.

Schools like Grove have to
have more than ordinary people
who serve as students,
teachers and faculty. E. W.
Grove has long been considered
one of the most predominant
schools of learning in West
Tennessee. To have established
such reputation she has had to
have the most capable leadership
possible throughout the years.

Dr. Clovis Chappell of
Waverly, Tennessee, came to
Grove in her first days as a high
school institution in 1906. As the
first principal of the new school
he bore much responsibility in
establishing the standards the
school would continue to follow
for many years to come. Dr.
Chappell bore another task in his
first year of service; his other
main responsibility was to serve
as coach of Grove's first football
team in 1907.

Dr. Chappell was a serious
and most dedicated man to his
job as principal. He was noted to
have almost always maintained
an open mind in any matters
where important decisions were
in question. Dr. Chappell was
very well thought of and
respected in the community. As
Grove's first principal he realized
that he had to set a good
example for the men who were
to follow in his footsteps.

Some fifty-five years later a
man named John Underwood
came to the city of Paris. He
liked Grove High School and the
potential it possessed to be a
top-notch high school. He, like
Dr. Chappell, realized how
important it was for Grove to

have only the best leadership
available; for Mr. John
Underwood was to go down in
history as the last official
principal of Grove.

Dr. Chappell had to make sure that Grove got off on the right foot; Mr.
Underwood had the task of
reassuring everyone that Grove's
fading years would be as bright
and full of enthusiasm as her
first ones had been.

The students in Dr. Chappel's
time and the students of Mr.
Underwood's time are naturally
different people. Yet, the
problems of youth remain
basically the same regardless of a
specific time in history. The
campus of E. W. Grove was
almost bare when Dr. Chappell
arrived. Of course, the Tower
stood staunch and proud, daring
anyone to intrude. One could
stand on the east steps of the
building and look down Grove
Blvd. to Dunlap Street. Today
the steps are still there; but
instead of dirt roads and grass
walks; there are also flowers,
trees, and cement and pavement.
A few years later came the
addition of Cavitt Hall. All this
and more represent the scenes
that "Dr. Chappell could observe
every day as he went to work.

John Underwood's picture of
E. W. Grove is a bit different.
Besides the Tower and Cavitt
Hall there is Weston Hall and the
junior high gym. There lies a
junior high school only steps
away from the senior high
campus; and a joint cafeteria
used by both schools.

Dr. Chappell has seen long
dresses, horses and buggies,
white socks, and overalls. Mr.
Underwood has seen mini-skirts,
souped-up cars jammed in the
parking lot, and any hairstyle
one could think of. The students
of 1907 and 1969 are somewhat
alike. They like talking, goofing
off, and occasionally learning
something. They each had more
pride in his school than one
could measure in a ten-gallon
hat. But each set of students was
young and full of ideas on how
to make the grown-ups
understand them better.

Dr. Chappell, now 86, has
fond memories of Grove and
some things he has said show
that he still has a most pleasing
manner about him with young
people.

He spoke last to an
audience of Grove students at
the 1967 football banquet. He
told the boys that he didn't
want to be young and ignorant
like them; for he had fished that
stream out. He wants to see
young people happy; and he
suggested that youngsters go
home and look in a mirror and
see what others laugh at!

Dr. Chappell and Mr.
Underwood are devout religious
men; Dr. Chappell is a retired
Methodist minister. "I thank
God I have had the privilege of
playing football. No man wins
every time," he has remarked.
He urges young people to
develop "the fine art of
appreciation" and calls gratitude
"a mark of growth." He says, "If
you are going to be grateful, say
so."

Mr. Underwood came to
Grove High School upon leaving
his position as principal of
Peabody High School in
Trenton, Tennessee. He is a man
of strong ideals and principles;
he seeks what he thinks would
be best for all concerned in any
situation. John Underwood is
sincerely interested in furthering
the cause and purposes of
education in young people.

Mr. Underwood faces young
people every day as Dr. Chappell
did; but his young people are a
people of a new society and new
era. Mr. Underwood has
dedicated himself toward
maintaining all the honor and
recognition that this historic
school has earned and deserves.

This school has been
successful throughout the years;
but she could never have been
anything unless she had the
leadership of two prominent
men. To Dr. Chappell and Mr.
Underwood we extend our
heartfelt appreciation for
beginning and ending one of the
most distinctive eras of history:
The era of E. W. Grove High
School.