When J. William Brown came to Woodrow to teach mathematics in 1952, he was one of five new Woodrow teachers. It was the first major turnover in the faculty since the school opened in 1928.

“Pop Ashburn (G.L. Ashburn, principal from 1928-1956) gathered the new teachers and told us that we would never see him in our classrooms unless there was a problem. He said that the teachers should teach, and he would stay out of our hair,” says Brown, who retired 37 years later.

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The last three original faculty members recently died. Zada Wells, who taught business from 1928 to 1968, once told me: “I never ran across a bad kid in all those years.” She died a few years ago, after living on Avalon with her siblings for nearly 60 years.

Wade Thompson, who coached Heisman Trophy winner Davey O’Brien ’35 and left during the war years, died last year. Mabel Turman, who taught Spanish and was the Pan-American Student Forum sponsor until 1971, died this spring.

Other original faculty members who stayed from 1928 through the ‘50s and ‘60s include: Ruth Abernathy, Mathematics; O.E. Parris, Chemistry; H. Bush Morgan, Drama; and Coach Herschel Forester, who suffered a fatal stroke in his classroom in 1958. Forester Field is named in his memory.

As a 1976 graduate, I had the honor of being taught by J.C. “Coach” Riley and Doyle Smith during their 40 years at Woodrow. Paul Allen was the Crusader (yearbook) sponsor for 30 years, and he also was my first Spanish teacher. Wilhelmina Blevins taught Geometry to me, and she did for thirty-something years to other Woodrow students.

Other longtime teachers were Nora Evans and Daphrene Martin, who taught Chemistry and Science, Drama coach Helen Eckelman, Drafting teacher Bob Cargile, Home Economics teacher Sara Stovall, counselors Margaret Walker and Mozelle Newton, Latin teacher Doris Stratton, Study Hall Dean Gloria “Mama” Conner, English taskmasters Margaret Dunlap and Ann McSpadden, Detention Director Billy Barnes, ROTC Sgt. Don Bacon and Principal Wayne Pierce, who arrived in the early ‘60s and retired in 1987.

Joel Hayden, who served as Mr. Pierce’s assistant, remains at Woodrow, as does assistant principal Lucious Newhouse, who taught history in the ‘70s.

Two of my personal favorites have taught at Woodrow for more than 20 years: Betty Parrett teaches Spanish (and took over sponsorship of the P.A.S.F. from Miss Turman) and Marlene Mallewick, the English teacher with the infamous vocabulary tests.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone, so if you have more names and stories, write to the W.W. Alumni Association, P.O. Box 180008, Dallas 75218.