Cherryville High School - The 1960s

The 1960s

The 1960s brought about more rapid change at Cherryville High School as it continued its legacy as a highly regarded secondary school in the state of North Carolina. In the early 1960s, Superintendent William H. Brown appealed to the Cherryville citizens and succeeded in levying, by public vote, a fifteen-cent tax increase to support the Cherryville City School System.

In 1961 construction was completed on two additions at the CHS Campus: a free-standing high school cafeteria at corner of Pink Street and East First Street and the "Instrumental and Choral Music Building", attached to the north side of Starnes Auditorium.

Largely a community effort, the Rudisill Memorial Football Stadium was built at a cost of $78,000 and was dedicated September 6, 1963. The Rudisill Foundation, created by C.A. "Carl" Rudisill, long-time benefactor of Cherryville Schools, contributed significant funds to build this modern, brick stadium on the north-north/east portion of the CHS Campus. The Cherryville citizens matched the Rudisill's contribution in a short period of time. The stadium was named in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Rudisill and their son and his wife, the late Mr. and Mrs. Ben Rudisill. Sadly, in 2012 the stadium was demolished after an engineering study revealed permanent damage to its structure.

In the fall of 1963 the Cherryville City Schools, including CHS, was widely recognized as a leader in public instruction, culminating with a visit of then-Governor Terry Sanford. Governor Sanford toured the schools and the CHS campus, accompanied by Cherryville City School Board Chairman Mr. David R. Mauney.

In 1966 John Chavis High, which had graduated Cherryville's African-American children for thirty-plus years, was integrated with Cherryville High School. It was the first school in Gaston County to fully integrate grades 10 through 12. Harvey Lee Patterson was the first black student who entered CHS in 1965 and he graduated with honors, as Class Salutatorian in 1969.

In 1968 the citizens of Gaston County narrowly voted in favor of abolishing the Cherryville City School System and absorbing it into the Gaston County School System, creating the "Gaston County Consolidated School System." The Cherryville citizens overwhelmingly voted against the consolidation effort with 900 votes. Only 9 votes in Cherryville were recorded as "in favor" of consolidation.

For nearly 80 years, the people of Cherryville had proudly supported their independent school system, imposing a tax to provide their children with a quality education. In contrast the larger Gaston County School System was funded exclusively by authorization of the Gaston County Commissioners as part of the county property tax. As a result of consolidation, the Cherryville tax was eliminated and the level of financial support for Cherryville schools was greatly diminished.