From left are Marie Hurley Blair, Fletcher Bright, Mai Bell Hurley, and Bernard “Tal” Hurley III
photo by Jackie Phelps
Back during the Great Depression, an elementary school youngster from North Chattanooga named Mai Bell Conley was attending Bright School, which was then in a now-razed building on Fortwood Street by what is now UTC.
Despite the bleak-looking opportunities ahead for many Americans, and even fewer for women in what was then mostly a man’s world, the young Ms. Conley felt encouraged by the school’s founder and head, Mary Gardner Bright.
“I think she told us all we could do better,” the former student recalled Thursday. “I think she believed in our possibilities, believed we could make a difference in the world.”
That student went on to graduate from the sixth-grade at Bright School in 1940, attended Girls Preparatory School, and became a pioneering woman leader in Chattanooga as, of course, Mai Bell Hurley.
Not only did she serve on numerous community boards, but she also became a Chattanooga City Council member after the city switched to the district representative-form of government in 1990 following a federal lawsuit. Prior to that, men had always served on the old City Commission and were elected citywide for what were fulltime jobs.
On Thursday, Ms. Hurley’s connection with Bright School came full circle, as she was presented the Fletcher Bright Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award during the school’s Founder’s Day Luncheon at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club ballroom.
Also during the event, the late Gordon Street Jr., who graduated from Bright’s sixth-grade in 1950, was posthumously presented the Jack McDonald Distinguished Service Award for his and his family’s longtime support of the school.
And some current Bright School fifth-grade students played the traditional Bright School song to the tune of “Country Gardens” on recorder musical instruments under the direction of teacher Ann Moore.
Among the small crowd on hand were Mr. Street’s wife, Susan Street; his daughter, Lorie Street Runge ’75; his sister, Frances Street Smith ’42; and members of the extended Smith family.
Ms. Hurley’s son, Bernard “Tal” Hurley III ’66, and daughter, Marie Hurley Blair ’69, were also on hand.
Both Ms. Hurley and the family of Mr. Street were presented paintings by former Bright School parent and local artist William “Billy” Parker, the publisher of the Lookout Mountain Mirror.
Bright School celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013, and, at the initiation of headmaster O.J. Morgan, has tried to reconnect alumni with the school through such events as the Founder’s Day luncheon.
This marked the second year for the luncheon, with the first in 2013, when Mr. McDonald and Mr. Bright, the nephew of the school founder, received the first alumni awards now named for them. Both were in attendance on Thursday.
A picnic designed to conjure up memories of the old Bright School picnics at Warner Park has also been held the last two years to draw alumni interest. They have been held at the North Chattanooga school’s quadrangle and covered concourse.
The school plans to make both the picnic and the Founder’s Day luncheon biannual events.
Bright has also formed an alumni association. The group’s president, Austin Center, officially inducted members of the Class of 1964 into the school’s Half-Century Club at the luncheon.
To hear the entire audio interview with Mai Bell Hurley regarding her memories of attending Bright School, click here.
Jcshearer2@comcast.net
From left are Jack McDonald, Susan Street and Frances Street Smith
photo by