School Memories

by Edie Hall

Hi!

My name is Edie Hall Smith formerly know as "Miss Hall" to the cadets. I was attending Seminole Junior College (now Seminole Community College) and needed a job. I marched into SNA with a idea that they might need some help planning their big events. After interviews with Captain Spencer and then, Admiral Smith, I became the Sanford Naval Academy's first and only Social Director from 1967-1969 reporting directly to Admiral Harry Smith. I have a few mementos in a scrapbook including old clippings from the Sanford Herald of one of the formal dances I organized for the boys in the beautiful Halsey Ballroom overlooking Lake Monroe.

I taught many of the boys how to dance, how to order a corsage for their dates, gave them advice for the lovelorn, and taught them how to decorate a ballroom, pick a Band to play, set up logistics for a big party, etc. I used my baby blue Rambler station wagon to transport a gaggle of boys to the old A&W Root Beer Stand on 17-92 where we enjoyed massive quantities of root beer floats in frosty, heavy glass mugs. I organized a couple of pool parties each year with a cook-out around the big pool. Sometimes we group of the guys would ride over to New Smyrna Beach with me to swim and we visited one of the teachers who lived there....can't remember his name but I think he taught Spanish. Everyone liked him and he was lots of fun.

One time I was walking across the quarter deck in my mini-skirt and boots (the absolute rage of the era) and Adm. Smith motioned me over to him with his finger and whispered that from then on I should only wear long skirts or slacks around the boys. Boy was my face red! Of course, having 4 younger brothers and 2 younger sisters, I was oblivious of any undue attention my outfit was causing but I relented and wore slacks from then on and had to bring them from school to change into at the Academy ladies room if I had a decoration committee meeting with the students. One day, as I was crossing the quarter deck in my mini-skirt making a beeline to the ladies room, I heard Adm. Smith's booming voice coming down the hall. I quickly slipped behind one of the massive columns in the room and hid as he passed by with one of his underlings. He never caught me again cause I changed in the ladies room at the college so as not to endure another embarrassing scolding from the Admiral who I loved but feared dearly as did everyone else. I know for a fact that the some of the boys would sneak out of their second story windows of their rooms to go get pizza and I always told them someday they would get caught or fall. They worried me to death but they just laughed at me and kept doing it. I never reported them.

I loved my time at SNA and will always remember the fun and laughs I had. Those young boys were so nice and polite. The Sanford "Townies" used to get in fights with them and taunt them and I would tell them not to worry, they were just jealous because all the cutest girls in town came to our dances because the boys acted like gentlemen and looked great in their uniforms. That uniform will get the girls every time!

Best Regards, Edie