For the March 8 primary election, be sure to vote the Wildcat ticket.
If you live in Dallas County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, the Garland and Northeast area, you can punch your card for John Sholden (’79). Sholden is an SMU graduate and has been an Assistant District Attorney. He is the son of alumnus Joe Sholden (’38).
Sholden and most of the Wildcats following the tradition of public service are Republicans. If that makes you feel queasy, don’t forget Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Mattox (’61). The former State Representative, U.S. Congressman and State Attorney General is favored to win the nomination.
If you are an erstwhile or current Lakewood resident, don’t fail to vote for the ex-students vying for judgeships in the Dallas County Criminal Courts Republican primary.
In Place 1, Henry Wade Jr. (’72), another Assistant District Attorney and Texas Tech Law Honors graduate is the choice. In Place 3, longtime Judge Mike Schwille (’54) is unopposed.
And last in Place 8 is another Assistant District Attorney and second-generation Wildcat, Vic Cunningham (’80). Vic is the no-nonsense son of Bill “Bulldog” Cunningham (’49), our local insurance wizard. Vic’s campaign treasurer is political pro Barbara Byrd Adamson (’56).
The Cunninghams recently hosted a reception at their Avalon manor for U.S. Representative Sam Johnson (’47), who is running for re-election in the third Congressional District. This is the seat long held by the late Jim Collins (’32). The crowd of more than 100 honored Johnson, who is the fourth U.S. Congressman from our alma mater.
Even Woodrow parents are getting into the act. Former Texas Representative Bill Hammond is running for Nancy Judy’s seat, Dallas County Commissioner Place 2. When I was inWoodrow Judy served on the DISD board and led a fight to remove candy machines from Dallas schools.
Speaking of former DISD board members, Harryette Ehrhardt is running unopposed for the District 107 State Representative in the Democratic primary. Her children, Ginger (’75), Taffy (’77), Lynn (’78), John (’82) and Katy (’88), cut a wide swath through Woodrow academics, athletics and politics. Ehrhardt, who attended Stonewall Jackson, also has nieces and nephews surnamed Barnes who are Wildcats.
And a Cat Coup De Theatre
On my 18th Birthday, March 11, 1976, I portrayed the Artful Dodger in director Marca Lee Bircher’s first Woodrow musical, “Oliver!”. No autographs, please.
Bircher has scheduled her latest production on the same date – March 10, 11, 12 and 13. The classic “Singing in the Rain” will be presented. I wonder how they’ll cause a cloudburst in the auditorium. Bircher always pushes the envelope, especially when she gets a new principal. I’d like to have seen her try to sell that one to my principal, Wayne Pierce.
