The 70th anniversary celebration was certainly an “aw shucks” day for me. To be included as an inductee in to the hall of fame with such luminaries as Lawrence Marcus ’34, PeopleSoft founder and CEO Ken Morriss ’68, the ultra-cool Rooster Andrews ’41 and the famous Forester brothers, was a real treat. I’m sure I was recognized for loyalty. It was also great to be included with Commander Kenyon Hiser ’76, whom I have known since first grade at Lakewood and Merrill Lynch whiz Joe Sholden ’76, my friend since I met him at Lakewood Methodist Kindergarten in 1963. And my mother, Annelle Rains, was also celebrating her 70th that day with a pizza party at Campisi’s.
Thanks go to Paul Dalton ’68 a laudatory lawyer who chaired the committee and served as emcee. Inductee Sam Blair ’49, retired Sports Editor of the Dallas Morning News, created a wonderful program with our hirsute pictures from the Crusader and our current baldy photos. What happened to all that hair? Thanks to other committee members Marian Richmond, who also has wrought a wonderful new Woodrow brochure that was distributed to returning alums (and recently went out to Realtors); Abby Glenn, PTA president; Spanish teacher of 30 years Betty Parrett; and, as always, Librarian/Historian/Inductee, Bradley Sue LaFon Howell ’51, whose husband, Rev. Richard, provided piano accompaniment.
Organizing and ramroding the beautiful Antione Courtyard was parent Jeri Huber, who led the class of 2000 in many workdays to complete the landscaping. Did you see the class painting the horseshoe and papering the trees for the first day of school? It made the TV and newspapers. I am glad to see these traditions carried onbut, as I told principal Nancy McLaughlin, in our day it was strictly unofficial. Speaking of principals, honored guests included the ageless Wayne Pierce, who led Woodrow through the transitional 60s, 70s and 80s, and Mr. J. Willy Brown who taught calculus and trigonometry from 1952 to 1988. Mr. Brown, who is now 84, is still substitute teaching near his home in University Park, although I haven’t seen him taking tickets at SMU events as he did for decades. That J. Willy never would let us in without a ticket!
Prominently parked in front of the school was Class of ’49 Bulldog Cunningham’s red and silver ’57 T-Bird. Bulldog (who should be the next hall of famer) also helped his big brother Eugene and wife Wanda celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, which was the other great party of the year.
Best bits of the day: Lawrence Marcus telling about how he tried to date Georgia Carroll Kyser ’38, picking up tips to fix up my rental properties from the “Super Handyman” Al Carrell ’43, and a funny story about the first letter sent to Marvin Runyon to inform the retired U.S. Postmaster General of his inclusion in Woodrow the hall of fame. It was returned “address unknown.”
Homecoming will start with a parade and pep rally on Thursday, Nov. 4, the game on Friday night in “Pleasant” Grove (watch out for those splinters on the bleachers!) and the student dance on Saturday. They always have it some place fancy now — we decorated the cafeteria with kitsch and boogied and awkwardly slow-danced the night away in those disco days … .
