Woodrow Wilson alumni from multiple generations came to the school on Monday, Jan. 9. (Photo by Emily Charrier)
Homecoming had a late second swing at Woodrow Wilson High School this morning when around a dozen former alumni returned the tour the school, peruse old yearbooks and take a walk down memory lane.
Aaron Schmidt of C. C. Young pins a homecoming mum on Sally Green Metheny, Woodrow Wilson’s class of 1953.
“If you wanted to get in good with the principal, you had to join ROTC,” says Willie Cothrum, a member of the class of 1956, who remembers target practice in the school’s basement gun range.
Sally Green Metheny, class of 1953, remembers the time three of her friends caught an alligator at White Rock Lake. “With their bare hands,” she smiles.
Students are still on winter break, but the guests of honor were greeted in proper style, which for a Texas homecoming means mums. As residents of C. C. Young retirement community, most have stayed in the Dallas area all their lives but many had not been back to the school since graduation day.
Woodrow Wilson alum check out a trophy case outside the library.
“I can’t remember anything about high school,” says Connie Strow, a member of the class of 1944, “but I know I really liked it.”
Most in attendance graduated between 1940 and 1968, although some C. C. Young staff who attended the school in the 2000s also came along for a dose of nostalgia. Most fondly recalled Woodrow’s legendary first principal G.L. Ashburn, whom everyone affectionately called “Pop.”
“Sometimes he would get on the intercom and say, ‘It’s just so pretty outside, let’s all go outside. Come back in when the bell rings,’” remembers Ruth Esgar, class of 1956. “You could never do that today, the kids would just take off.”
Carolyn Dunlap laughs at her yearbook photo from 1940.
The highlight was the chance to look at old hairstyles, fashions and friends in the yearbooks the library staff collected for the occasion.
“People dressed so much better back in those days,” Strow aptly noted looking at the rows of coiffed classmates in collared dresses and bow ties.
Charlie Smith, class of 1954, checks out his yearbook photo.
“Oh look there’s me,” says a delighted Carolyn Dunlap, class of 1940. “Look, I still had my teeth. Do I still have my tits?”
