Document text
October 10, 1939
Alexander J. Paradis
High School Student
Charlotte, N. C.
Frank B. Rupert, Writer
Dudley W. Crawford, Reviser
No Names Changed
Alexander X. Pardalis, a student in the 1940
graduation Class of Harding High School in Charlotte,
N. C., was born in Morgantown, W. Va., April 23, 1920
of Greek parents. He Is a decondant of some of the most
distinguished men and women among the Greek nobility, and
inherited from them many ideals and traditions of Greoian
aristocracy, and is cultivating his talent for art in its
several branches.
When he was five years old, his mother took him to
Greece for P visit. For two years they traveled to the
beautiful cities of Greeoe, absorbing their evidence of
culture and education, and then journeying up into the
mountains to spend a year with his great grandmother, who,
by way of record, died in 1938 at the age of one hundred
and nine, polems=ntdt.
Here Alexander attended a small school where roads
were almost unknown, the children journeying each day on
foot or horse back. Good drinking water was scarce near
tLe school and Alexander had to carry a small voter jug of pure
water from home.
Already his mind was occupied with the beauty he saw
in everything, and he busied himself sketching scenes and
people at every opportunity.
At the age of eight years he and his mother returned
to America and back to Morgantown to Join the father. En-
tering sohool,Alexander continued his studies for four
years when they were interrupted by financial losses suffer-
ed by the family.
Moving to Morristown, Pa., he entered school and at
the as of 12 years became an honor student in art, winning
a medal and a trip to the Art MUMMA of Philadelphia.
After n year the family moved to Frederick, Md. when,
as a student in the sixth grade, Alexander won a Blue
Ribbon in an art contest; his art teacher taking him, as
a reward, to Washington where he spent two profitable days
visiting the Smithsonian Institution and the Corcoran Art
Galleries.
Being dissatisfied after a year, his family moved
to Mercersburg, Pa. where Alexander was free to study nature
and outdoor scenes and attend school.
In 1935 the family arrived in Charlotte where he
entered the eighth grade at school, continuing his art
studies under the instructions of Miss Lemmond. These
studies were interrupted by a year in Greenville, S. C.,
where he attended high school and also studied the Greek
language under the Resident Greek Priest.
In 1937 he returned to Charlotte entering the tenth
grade at Harding High School, still concentrating his
effort in art studies. In 1938 Alexander won a Blue Ribbon
at an Art Blhibit at the Mint Museum of Charlotte, much
of his sculpturing also receiving great oommendation.
Alexander is a modern American boy in every regard.
While respecting the high ideals and traditions of his
parents, native land; he recogAizes all the benefits and
opportunities which he and his parents have enjoyed in
America, and he combines them all into a well balanced
mode of living.
He is a ohristian, attends the Greek Church and
believes in freedom of worship.
He is fond of the less strenuous forma of sport,
such as swimming, tennis and horse back riding. He loves
good music, his favorite instruments being the mandolin and
accordion. He is also fond of dogs, being the owner of
a fine Great Dane, and enjoys his association with the
group of students with whom he studies.
Besides his interest in his art career, he has an
ambition to bring to America a colony of young Greeks
-Lo
iftweivand study American democracy and all phases of
agriculture so that they could return to Greece and
teach the higher standards of living and progress among
the peasant class, where it is much needed.
The glow of inspiration and enthusiasm which comes
into his fine face when discussing this ambition causes
one to wonder if, indeed, future years will not bring
success to a person with such a vision, and devotion to
his career.