Woodrow’s alumni committee is moving forward with a big 80th birthday party April 24-25, featuring individual class parties at the school Saturday during the day and a Saturday night all-Woodrow blowout at Eddie Deen’s Ranch/barbecue pavilion downtown. The party may include a "Battle of the Bands", and party planners are hoping for a 500-person turnout. Additional planning is still in the works, and we’ll update you as the event takes shape. Members of the planning committee include Burton Gilliam (’56 of Blazing Saddles fame), Sam Blair (’50 and a former DMN sportswriter and author), Bradley Sue Howell (’51 and Woodrow’s librarian for life) and Kyle Rains (’76 and co-founder of the WWHS Alumni Association. Carol Lewis Paglia (’70) and Karen Matney Brown (’76) hosted the most recent planning event at Juliette Fowler Homes in our neighborhood, where both work.