My brother, Bubby Johnston, recently received a text from Alan Atkison, Forest High School assistant principal and city council member, who wanted know the origin of the Bearcat Fight Song we have always loved. It has a wonderful beat, and one cannot help but bounce a little when the song is being played.
Some folks have sent suggestions, so I guess we will have to gather them together and try to decide where the song actually originated…or we can just enjoy the peppy lyrics it provides, and with a smile on our faces.
Former FHS Band Director Hal Polk believes that the tune, “Anchors Away,” was written in 1906 by Charles Zimmerman, bandmaster at the U. S. Naval Academy, as a fight song for the Academy. He was not sure whether Zimmerman also penned the lyrics or not, but he thinks he probably did. Mr Polk said that one of the early Forest band directors, Herbert E. Cagle or L.P. Bassett, Sr., suggested the tune as a fight song for FHS and that someone else wrote those lyrics.
Kaye Smith Hodges thinks that Henry Allen Moseley, who died a few years ago, would have known. Does anyone remember a discussion of this? I do but cannot remember any details. And this is getting so exciting!
The origin of the fight song is a frequent topic. Henry Allen posted the following information on the FHS Reminiscing site on January 8, 2010: “In response to Kaye’s statement and Hal’s inquiry as to the origin of the FHS fight song, I do not know for sure how it came about and who composed it, but I surmise the author was Herbert Cagle, FHS band director from around 1936 until 1943. Mr. Cagle was married to Emma Ryan Gresham, a local beauty from Forest.
“The FHS Band was formed in 1935 with Mr. Leonard as its first director. He served as director of the Forest, Newton and Morton bands. He lived in Newton and would work with the Forest band twice a week. When Mr. Leonard stepped down, Mr. Cagle, a Jackson native, was hired in 1936 or 1937 on a full-time basis.
“Mr. Cagle served until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. During the war, Mrs. Maude Adair served as interim director, with Imogene Miles serving as student director.”
According to a brief FHS history my sister Lynn Johnston Catalina included in the 1966 Rambler she served as editor, Mr. Cagle was the first full-time FHS band director and assumed his duties in 1936. The band had 27 members. Serving as drum major was Elizabeth Coleman. The first majorettes were Joyce McKenzie Red, Frances Vincent Boutwell and Florence Landrum Bogart. By the way, the band was rated All-Superior in concert, sight-reading and marching — the first of many years to come!
So, we do not know for sure who wrote the words to the FHS Fight Song, sung to the tune of Anchors Away. But the words are displayed below:
All hail Dear Forest High,
We sing to thee.
We pledge our loyal love
Through all eternity, forever.
True to our standards high,
march we today.
Singing for Forest High,
For Forest High
For Forest High,
For aye.
Anyone who has additional information is more than welcome to join the discussion!
Have a great day!
Carol Johnston Lindley is Miss Hattie. You can write to her at 395 Peps Point Road, Hattiesburg,MS 39401 or you can email her at hattie1014@bellsouth.net
