From left: Mike and Ruth Vail, Burton Gilliam, Barbara Adamson and Kyle Rains.
Woodrow Wilson High School has a lot of traditions, and the senior dinner is one of them. This year, more than 200 seniors and their families and friends gathered at Lakewood Theater to toast each other, hear some advice for their futures and, in general, close out their high school careers. The guest speaker for the event was Burton “Bubba” Gilliam, a 1956 Woodrow graduate who has been featured in 49 movies, nearly 200 television shows and, of course, some commercials for car dealers that feature the now-famous phrase: “I don’t care how you get here, folks; just get here!” Best known for his work in Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” and “Paper Moon” with Tatum O’Neal, Gilliam joined senior class sponsor and Woodrow teacher Alvaro Cantu in addressing the graduates. Commencement is scheduled June 5. Principal Ruth Vail reports that the class of 2010 has the highest percentage of students who have been accepted for post-secondary schools in her five-year tenure — 88% of the 300 graduates.
