100 Years with

#high/andpark100

-HPISD CENTENNIAL

Alumni Recall What Makes HP Special By Sarah Bennett PEOPLE NEWSPAPERS

Highland Park is a district that doesn't just pride itself on the bells and whistles of plaid and bagpipes.

It's the academic rigor and sense of community that stand out - and that's something any alum will tell you.

"I can take my daughter to school and see five people I went to high school with," 1996 HPHS graduate Katherine Trungale said.

Growing up, her family moved her from Ursuline Acad­emy to Highland Park so she could play basketball in a more competitive environment, even­tually earning her a scholarship to the University of California at San Diego.

Today, she has a daughter at Bradfield Elementary, and the sense of community is what brought her back.

"You pick up a school di­rectory, and you're going to see your teacher's home phone number and address and know that you can call them when­ever you want;' she said. "That doesn't happen anywhere else."

Even for Parkies who spent their entire academic life in the school district, the impact of having faculty willing to go the extra mile is notable.

"I won't forget being pulled into [principal] Ben Wiseman's office," 1950 HPHS graduate Pierce Allman said. "He said, 'I noticed your last report card ... and I know you can do bet­ter.' And, boom, that was it. But that's part of Highland Park. The principal knows every kid."

Not only did Wiseman exem­plify the faculty's personal at­tention to students, but he also showcased the district's dedi­cation to academic excellence that continues today.

"There's no question the program prepared us for the future," 1971 HPHS gradu­ate Guy Kerr said. "But while we were going through it, we didn't think it was anything special. We just thought that was the way it worked. It's only been since we've been gone and moved back later that we real­ized what a blessing and oppor­tunity we had to go through and what it did for us."

Kerr met his wife, fellow 1971 graduate Cindy Kerr, at the old middle school building on

HIGHLANDER YEARBOOKS: 1932-2006

TOP: William Clements, Doak Walker, Blackie Holmes, and Charles Ostott SECOND: Cindy Vaughan Kerr, Guy Kerr, and Wendy Kopp BOTIOM: Stephanie March, Stark Sands, Clayton Kershaw, and Matthew Stafford

"WE BELIEVE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE BELIEVE IN EDUCATION AND WE HOPE WE'RE DOING A VERY GOOD JOB WITH IT."

PIERCE ALLMAN, CLASS OF 1950

Normandy Avenue, and the two have been together ever since - Cindy even collected a few bricks when the building was demolished.

Now, they have had two chil­dren go through the school sys­tem: Preston, class of 2005, and Audrey, class of 2009.

"I hope people really under­stand how special this centen­nial is," Cindy said. "It's kind of a culmination of looking 100 years back, but preparing for the next 100 years.''

In fact, that academic rigor is what has sustained Highland Park for 100 years and what propels it into the future.

"It's not a superior attitude at all," Allman said. "We care and we share and we dare. We

believe in what we're doing. We believe in education and we hope we're doing a very good job with it, and we're always looking for a way to do things better.''

No matter how long it's been since a graduate walked across the stage, the affect of Highland Park is immediate and lasting.

"We need to take what edu­cational opportunities are giv­en to us," 2008 graduate Carly Bender said. "At Highland Park, we have good teachers and a good reputation, so you're sup­posed to take that education and use it for good - go forth in the community and make a pos­itive impact as an alumnus."

Email sarah.bennett@ peoplenewspapers.com

ROLL CALL

• Margaret McOennott (1929): philanthropist and community leader

• William P. Clements. Jr. (1934): 42nd and 44th governor of Texas

• John Leedom (1939): state senator

• Don Houseman (1940): former University Park mayor

• Dorothy Malone (1941): Academy Award winner

• Louis A. Beecherl, Jr. (1943): UT Board of Regents chairman

• Doak Walker, Jr. (1945): Heisman winner

•Jack Turpin (1947): Dallas Theological Semi­nary board president

• Skippy Browning (1948): Olympic diver

• Jayne Mansfield (1950): Golden Globe winner

• Blackie Holmes (1953): former University Park mayor

• Charles Otstott (1955): 1960 West Point valedictorian

• Alton Thomson (1956): 1960 Naval Academy valedictorian

•Wendy Kopp (1985): founder of Teach for America

•Shaun Jordan (1986): Olympic swimmer

• Megan Mylan (1988): Academy Award winner

• Stephanie March (1992): celebrity ambassador

• Hank Kuehne (1994): professional golfer

• Stark Sands (1997): Broadway actor

• Matthew Stafford (2006): Detroit Lions quarterback

• Clayton Kershaw (2006): L.A. Dodgers pitcher

Building a District, One School at a Time School names honor town's first leaders·, By Sarah Bennett PEOPLE NEWSPAPERS

In Highland Park, the vision that started with one school grew slowly over time to seven campuses. Many hon­or community leaders in name, but each campus keeps the spirit of tradition alive while contributing its own personality to the district's character.

For an area that shares one high school, much of that personality comes from the four elementary campuses.

John S. Bradfield

"Tradition has so much to do with communi­ty;' 1950 HPHS graduate Pierce Allman said.

Though communi­ty leaders used an old house as "Highland Park School" starting in 1909, the newly incorporated district's first chance to

make an impression came in 1914 with the Armstrong School.

Named after town founder John S. Armstrong, the land on which the school sat was donated by Armstrong's widow, Alice. So touched was the community by her generosity, that the first issue of the Highlander yearbook (which came years later in 1917) was dedicated to her.

"To her who has ever proven in ev­ery way a faithful friend of our beloved school, and an ardent sympathizer in and promoter of its best interest, to Mrs. John S. Armstrong, this, our first volume is af­fectionately dedicated;' the issue read.

And that spirit of generosity continues on today, reflected in each campus. The Armstrong School added the word "ele­mentary" to its name once Highland Park High School opened in 1922 on Norman­dy Avenue.

Then came Bradfield Elementary in 1926 on Southern Avenue, named after school board president John S. Bradfield, who served from the district's founding in 1914 to 1933.

"When my grandfather retired, my grandparents bought a farm. It was so far out in the country on Forest Lane, just across Greenville [Avenue]," Bradfield's granddaughter Claire Roberts said. "The school board gave him a saddle for his horse, and my grandmother, a beautiful watch that hung on a chain around her neck, which I have."

University Park Elementary, added in 1928, doesn't honor a specific leader in name, but rather reflects a growing com­munity. With SMU opening in 1911, the city of University Park grew up around it and was incorporated in 1924.

True to its name, a cornerstone on the

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HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLANDER 1'

In 1956, when the above photos ran on a campus history spread in the Highlander, there were 4,974 HPISD students.

second floor still gives a picture of the community at the time, with a Bible, lo­cal newspapers, and coins.

"I started out at UP," Allman said. "I would suggest to anyone who's ever feel­ing down, get out and walk through a grade school. It is so uplifting because of the spirit and energy and smiles."

With a decade of middle school shuf­fling in between, the final elementary school did not open until 1949, delayed by a lack of steel during World War II. Hyer Elementary finally opened its doors on Caruth Boulevard.

"It was really special for me to go to Hyer, because my mom also attended the school," 2008 HPHS graduate Margaux Anbouba said. "We had the same librar­ian and she remembered my mom, and joked she never spent her time in the li­brary, but that was my favorite place on campus."

Once all four elementary schools were up and running, they were put to the test of time. Armstrong caught fire one night

in November 1951, first noticed by a pa­trolling officer. Once alerted, superinten­dent W.B. Irvin dashed into the school to save tax records.

"We were in the new wing that they just built, so there were six classes that stayed in the new wing, and everybody else went to HPUMC;' said 1963 HPHS graduate Tom Rhodes, who was in first grade that year.

Even Bradfield saw its share of danger when a twin-engine plane crashed on school grounds in 1967. Though the time of the crash was 3:30 p.m., students had been released early due to a staff meet­ing.

But despite challenges and bizarre acts of God, the campuses still stand, with much of their traditional architec­ture and history.

"When you're aware of the past, you have a solid feeling for the future," All­man said. "I hope that all of the tradi­tions that the school system cherishes will carry forward."

PIVOTAL MOMENTS

1922 High school campus built< Normandy Avenue

1937 New high school opens on Emerson Avenue; old campus becom Highland Park Junior High School

1970 Junior high renamed Highland Park Middle School

1914 Campus renamed Arch H. McCulloch Middle School, after the longest-serving school board trustee

19 9 5 New campus opens as McCulloch Intermediate School and Highland Park Middle School

1997 Old middle school campus demolished

HPISD CENTENNIAL

WHAT YOU SAID

•Unquestionab1y, my sweetest, most profound and most importantHPISD memory was learning-to read in Mr . Ruby Baln's fir t-grade c1ass at Bradfield in 1964 -- 50 years ago thjs fall. These. days kids often learn to read before fir t grade, but that wasn't always the case back then. 1 dearly re member Mrs. 'Bain sitting next to an oversized "Dick and Jane" reader perched on an easel as we ounded out words. The first word I ever read was prirtted in big letters under a picture of Dick and Jane's little ister, Sally. She carried an umbrella, wore yellow rubber boots, and wa about to step into a rain puddle. Under the drawing was the word "look" and r remember sounding out "LLLL' "00000' 'KKKK" and then putting them together. "LOOK!» flashed in my brain and it was like a key that unlocked a magic room full of treasures. Which icwas. l will be eternally grateful to Mrs. Baio for that wonderful gift

-JimRain

• ome of my favorite Arm­strong memories include our principal, Dr. Kenneth Thomas. He wou1d greet us every day at the front door and he knew every single srudent by name. And our P..E. teacher Coach .Rayburn, made us do push -ups and sit-up and then do sprints1

all rh~ while yelling at us "Go, chicken fatl Go!' In the cafeteria, we had these incredible cornbread rolls that were literally swim­ming in a pan of butter. My friend Richard Mean and I bet each other who could eat the most, and l won after fini hing18 Ofthem.

-MaxFuqua

•I am a third-generation alun:L! was the das of 1997, my mom was the cJas of 1967, and my grandfather the class of 1947. Although I love living in Richmond, Va., now, it kills me that my son will most likely not attend HPHS. HP is like uo oth er and I find that I am con-tantly trying to find things

that are imilar. At least, we now have Chuy's and Blue Bell ice cream here. - Holly Morris Raidabaugh

REMEMBER WHEN ...

1957 Scots 4A Football champs

Bill White '54, Art Barnes '51. Wade Smith '54, and Gifford Touchstone '54 in 2012

Ed Deloach leads the ROTC band in 1956.

Anbouba family at Hyer Elementary on "Old-Fashioned Day" in the 1990s

Chase Evans, Class of 1994

BRADFIEW ElEMENTARY SCHOOL Dads' Qub will spoosodbe 1995 l llhll!lnUal Pumpkin Patch Sale th.is ~from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at "Sam's Comer' on tl.te southwest comer or Mocllingbird and Douglas ~fill a secondary loca­tion in ffigbland Park '\.'iJIDge's center CIOwiyard. Money raised will benefit .Brndlield School. Pumpkin pickers are, back row from left, Brent Hargxave, Addi9on Delle and Thomas H'mes, and in front, Ame Hines and Kendall Delk.

1. Jack Sides - HP Varsity Football 1955 and 1956 2. Jack Sides - HP Varsity Football 1985, 1986 and 1987 3. Jack Sides - HP Varsity Football 2013, 2014 and 2015 Kathleen Cuellar in 1957

Travel Club in 1947 German folk music fills the halls in 1971.

HERE ARE 1HE 1BREE ~bers of the Highland Parle High School Class of 1924 who attended the Golden Scots reunion Saturday at HPHS. From left are sahrtatorian Frances Moot"et highest-ranking male student Dan Otslottand ~ dictorian Mary Margaret Edmondson.

Mrs. Newman's fifth grade Armstrong Eagles, 1980

Middle schoolers Mollie Loftis, Hannah Ashe, Kelly Parma, Mclean Brittinham, and Helen Coffee in 1998

Sh ining t;o ld 'ln<l true 'blue .;:e ot:r co lo rs cur h c !'.rt::s to thoe 'K.!..J.l b~ tru.;)

i,o nor ;-.nd f ;i.i t !l \•.;l<l 1)1'.r l<>•(:. n j. :P ul~ 111 ;i.'v-er we :;iv~ to the~

So let 1 g chc er f or iii Parl{ lii J:..et' e cheer fJr i::l:e: .:;o 1d an~. blue A ci1eer for t h<! t. (.e.::, t. 1:1~.t n.g!ta for us ni Parlt lii , Her .:! ' ::; t ..i yo'.1.

The school song circa 1926

2001 HPHS state swimming champs

HPHS Principal Ben Wiseman, 1928-1962

Sara Smetzer, 1995

Quarterback Bobby Layne ('45) also played basketball.

Julie Ann O'Connell with grandchildren Hallie Henry, Caroline and Hudson Weibel, Patrick and Anna Walker, and Mad for Plaid Sign Committee Co­chairwoman Kay Bradley in 2007

Candace Blackman & Megan McNamara Young Scots fans cheer on the 2005 state fooball champions.

WHAT YOU SAID

•The group photo is from Playbill in middle school. The funny tlllng (and the great thing!) is that I am still friends with a lot of

' those girl .. and the theater prqgraro was very formative for my high-school year . It is where I found ome of my be t friends and it is one of my favorite memories from HPISD. G tting all sucked into the dtama (on and off stage) was some of the most fun T ever had in. chool. The fact that we got to grow up together going to the ame scho0l throughout

the years was really special and something I didn' t appreciate until r Jeft for college.

The picture of me and a dude in a white jacket is actually me and my boyfriend, Travis, on our very first date, which happened to be junior prom. I'll never forget that he drove the wrong way down our one-way street to pick me up and I was so afraid my dad was going to get mad at him. I would like to think we look much better now.

- Erin Kanter