Muray Fulcher, Graduate

For the past several years Amy and I have been sharing stories in April with eighth graders from Monroe, NC. Like most schools these days, the senior class has t-shirts printed with all the names of the year's graduates. That could be 300 or more students, they tell me. Then I hold up a similar t-shirt from the Ocracoke School. Printed on the shirt, front and back, are the names of everyone who ever graduated from the school, from 1931 to the present!

I like to hand the shirt to one of the eighth graders and ask him or her to read off all the graduates in 1957. "Murray Fulcher," they say. "Go on," I prompt. "There aren't any other names," they reply.

That's correct. In 1957 Ocracoke School had only one graduating senior, Murray Fulcher. Here is a newspaper article from The Coastland Times - Friday, May 10, 1957; pg. 2:

This year Ocracoke School will have 5 graduates.

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke Lodge No. 194, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. You can read the Newsletter here: https://www.villagecraftsmen.com/island-inn-lodge-no-194-independent-order-odd-fellows/.