Remember success is spelled "EFFORT"
Ode Maddox - SuperintendentSchool Board
Bob Fryar Andy Smith
Eston Fryar Carril Stovall
Olen Goodner Jack VincentFaculty
Mr. A. L. Banta Science, math Mr. E. W. Ramage Principal, coach Mr. Dendin Guinn Agriculture Mr Carl Smith History, mathematics Mr. Ronny Honea English Miss Francis York Business Education Mrs. Maxie Godbehere Librarian Mrs. Sandra Miller Home Economics People We Appreciate
Secretary Mrs. Marguerite Shields Custodian Mr. Nick Nichols Cooks Mrs. Thomas Beggs, Mrs. Minnie Singleton, Mrs. Hettie Dillard Green Thumb Workers Mrs. Emma Vincent, Mrs. Marvin Mullenix, Mr. Otto Sumpter, Mr Delbert Fryar, and Mr. Bud Singleton Bus Drivers Mr. Thomas Beggs, Mr Boyd Booth, Mr. Ossel Goodner, Mr. Ivan Sicafus, and Mr. Bill Stitzer Oden High School Class of 1970Anderson, Loyd W. Lewis, Joseph Banta, Kay New, Sandra K. Carmack, Carey Rodriguez, Romero Carmack, Stanley Ryan, Vernon Cox, Emily L. Scott, Thomas Jr. Elder, Eston Jr. Stanley, Eddie Elder, Shirley Summitt, Sarah. A. Fryar, Shirley Vincent, John Godbehere, Randy White, Marion Goss, MarthaOden High School Class of 1971Bush, Mary Lynn Lewis, John Fryar, Connie Ryan, Diane Gaither, Teddy Singleton, Kathy Gibbs, Judy Scott, Sue Hatfield, Hoyt Stovall, Kathy Hatfield, Sheri Stovall, Leon Irons, Mary Summitt, Carol James, DavidOden High School Juniors 1971Beggs, Judy Henderson, Lisa Beggs, Phyllis Howard, Eulene Carmack, Cordell Lowe, Brady Carmack, Joe Snow, Bill Fryar, Sharon Stovall, Connie Gibbs, Eva Wheeler, Kathie Goodner, Jim Young, Wheeler Hatton, MichaelOden High School Sophomores 1971Belcher, Gene* McCallion, Sue Breshears, John Moffat, Sherry Bush, Allan Powell, Bruce Carmack, Mary Singleton, Timmy Collins, Darlene Spurling, Joel Cox, Barbra Tarkington, Theresa Elder, Herman Whitehouse, Nathan Lewis, Antia Williams, Tommy Lewis, ElizeOden High School Freshmen 1971Abernathy, Phillip Moses, Randy Banta, Len Pearson, Eddie Carmack, Martha Russert, Jerry Don Carter, Bruce Ryan, Victor Garmon, Colleen Shields, Dennis Garmon, Dennis Stitzer, Joy Hatton, Sharon Stovall, Billy Helms, Gary Stovall, Donna Helms, Larry Stovall, Gay Holiday, Kimberly Turpin, Dewayne Moffatt, Sheila* Young, Pamela Wheeler, SherriJunior High Eighth Grade 1971Booth, Aldridge McCormick, Fredrick Breshears, Treva Prince, Debbie Bush, Erwin Ryan, Rita Copeland, David Smallwood, Bobby Copeland, Martha Stovall, Karen Cox, Debbie Summitt, Fae Fryar, Loretta Wells, Tommy Lewis, Dianne Whitehouse, GaryJunior High Seventh Grade 1971Brown, Bruce Goodner, Dennis Campbell, R.L. Lee, Tommy Carmack, Bruce Powell, Cindy Carter, Steve Ryan, Jackie Dillon, Peter Summitt, Kathy Fryar, Linda Vincent, Brenda Fryar, Reginald Wheeler, Ronnie Godbehere, Cindy Whittaker, CharlesElementary Sixth Grade 1971 Mrs McMahenBrown, Kathy Rusert, Retha Belcher, Steve Scrimshire, Daniel Carmack, Robert Scrimshire, Wiley Dillon, Maureen Singleton, Kelly Fryar, Dennis Smith, Steven Helms, Alice Spurling, Randy Lenard, Ricky Starr, James McConnell, Fredericka Thomas, Terry Mushaney, Leatrice Wheeler, Randy Relic, KingElementary Fifth Grade 1971 Mr. Bobby MillerAbernathy, Dianne Lenard, Ronnie Abernathy, Suzanne Rodgers, Debbie Beggs, Samuel Ryan, Billy Belcher, Patricia Ryan, Donald* Breshears, Ricky Singleton, Robert Bush, Deborah Spurling, John Carter, Randy Taylor, Rose Ann Dillon, Eddie Vincent, Noel Elder, Dale Whitehouse, Polly Laird, Harry Whitehouse, Richard Lawrence, Mitchell Young, DebbieElementary Fourth Grade 1971 Bethel HicksBrown, David Minor, Donald Carter, Terry Ryan, Ladell Dobbs, Michael Scimshire, Russell Ellison, Lance Smith, Craig Greenwood, Theresa Starr, Keith* [born Feb. 19 1962. Died 2010 aged 49] Ledbetter, Michael Tarkington, Carroll McConnell, Norma Taylor, Marty McKay, Reginald* Turpin, Karen Hiaumet, Billy Young, Robert Ledbetter, MichaelElementary Third Grade 1971 Dorthy BurkittBliss, John Relic, Paris Carmack, Kevin Rodgers, Alfred Dillon, Shawn Scottie, Moffatt Fryar, Elaine Scrimshire, Rosetta Goodner, Jim Summitt, Tammy Helms, Janet Thomas, Laura Hiaumet, Margaret Vincent, Craig Lenard, Marty Wheeler, StevenElementary Second Grade 1971 Mrs. RelicBates, Donna Norman, Gary Fryar, Randy Relic, Echo Lynn Godbehere, Joe Ryan, Terri Goodner, Mark Smith, Lisa Greenwood, Patricia Spencer, Carol Ann Griffin, Christy Spurling, Bruce Helms, David Spurling, Mary Lawrence, Valerie Starr, Sammy Lee, Russell Thacker, Tony Lewis, MargaretElementary First Grade 1971 Mrs. HartBanta, Mary Gail Pearson, Lorri Bliss, Sherry Beth Ryan, Annette Fryar, Charlie Singleton, Lela Hopper, Brad Singleton, Robin McConnell, Lynn Spencer, Sharon Minor, Henry Stapps, Travis Norman, Barry Starr, Ardena Pearson, Lisa Vincent, CarlReference: 1971 Timber-Wolf Year Book. 213 pupils with an average of 18 in each classroom with one classroom per grade. 1998 enrollment is approximately 250 -260 pupils. * Deceased.
Oden School District was organized in 1928-29 when the area schools consolidated and today children travel by buses from Pine Ridge, Caney, Hog Jaw, Brushy, Sims and areas in-between. Oden High School and Ode Maddox Elementary schools are located on the hill in Oden. Ode Maddox was a graduate from Oden in 1932 and served as a teacher and coach then Superintendent for the Oden School District 1944-1975. Mr. Maddox was a State Representative from 1957 to December 1998, for District #17 which covers most of Montgomery and Polk Counties, he did not seek re-election. He was member of the House Education Committee. Mr Ode, as he was known, was a staunch defender of the rights of small towns and schools.
Throughout the years approximately a third of the teachers have been past students or have roots in the area and chose a country life style over higher salaries and are committed to see Oden pupils obtain a quality education. Today past pupils who are teaching for the 1998-99 year include Lisa Smith nee Abernathy, Kay Banta, Mary Ray Gaston nee Irons who is teaching kindergarten and are all following in their parents footsteps. Rita Flatte, nee Ryan is also teaching at Oden Elementary.
Hal Goodner (1911-1990) a native of Oden had strong tires to the area schools. His father, Samuel, was a teacher as well as his four sisters, and two brothers, Earl and Seldon. Muriel at taught Mt Ida, Mildred Hart taught first grade at Oden, Thelma taught until she married and Gladys taught at Oden. Hal completed his last two years of high school at Mount Ida as Oden didn't offer the higher grades. During those two years he stayed in Mount Ida during the week with his sister and brother in-law, Thelma and T.A. Humble and during the weekend traveled back to Oden. Terry Alonzo Humble was the County School Supervisor 1922-1943 and also a Oden School Superintendent. By nineteen Hal was teaching. He taught at Brushy, Cherry Hill and Oden. His future wife Flossie Shaw also taught at Brushy and third grade at Oden. She had come to Oden as a young teacher from the Conway area and stayed at her brother's home, J.H. Shaw, as he was the first Oden Consolidated School District Superintendent 1928-1932. Hal was the County School Supervisor from 1953 -1981. Reference: Minnie Whitehouse, former County School Supervisor Secretary 1967 -1997. The extended Goodner family has devoted more than 181 years to teaching in Montgomery County with the majority at the Oden Elementary school plus 50 years as County School Supervisors. Flossie Goodner died Monday 24 Jan. 2000 a day before her 91st birthday. The service was held at Conway and interment was Wednesday 26 Jan at 2 p.m. at the Oden Cemetery.
Mr. E. W. Ramage was principal at MIHS for 30 years. He has a BSE degree from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and a MSE degree from the University of Arkansas in School Administration. Before coming to Mount Ida, Mr. Ramage was a basketball coach and science teacher at Oden High School. Mr. Ramage is married to Corlene and they have two children. Mr. Ramage's motto for life is "think positive," and his goal for MIHS is "develop a bridge to the 21st century." 2004
Pupils names from the senior classes can be found etched on the sidewalk in front of the Oden High School building. For early schools histories see Montgomery County:Our Heritage Volume 1. An article by Kathryn Stucker in Montgomery County News September 14, 1989 has recent Oden School history and lists the 1989 faculty and programs.
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