Austin High School Alumni - Austin, Texas

Friday Night at House Park

jsayers — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:13:27 +0000

For over 20 years I’ve lived in the Old West Austin Neighborhood and my fall Friday nights are filled with the roar of the crowd, marching band performances and high school fight songs. Not only do the sounds fill our neighborhood but it stoked my own memories of high school and the rite of passage that is a high school football game. Whether you were a cheerleader, the quarterback, on the dance team, a trumpet player, the science nerd or a little used, under sized cornerback / kickoff team kamikaze (the photographer), you have memories of your high school football games. Not necessarily memories of the game but everything the game created around it. High school football makes its own weather – the emotion, the excitement, the teachers, the parents, the nerves and the rivalries inside your own school.
My project is an attempt to capture what happens around the game of high school football and in particular, at historic House Park Field which is located in the middle of downtown Austin. House Park is one of many unique things about Austin’s urban core. Many thanks to Austin Independent School District and Austin High School for allowing me to follow their great tradition and students for two seasons.
History of House Park
In 1903, Colonel E.M. House owned all of the property east of Shoal Creek from what is now Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard south to 12th Street and west of the West Avenue property lines. As his political career began to develop, he gave that land to the City of Austin for the “benefit of Austin’s youth”. What had been his “horse pasture” is now House Park. The east stands at House Park were built and the stadium was dedicated in 1937.

Net proceeds from print sales will be donated, in memory of Austin High student Audrey Ducote, to the Austin High School Endowment.

Bob Wynn
Partner/Co-Founder

CLASS REUNION INFORMATION

jsayers — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:03:29 +0000

AHS Class of 1992 will hold their 20 Year Reunion June 2

The reunion in June 2, 7-11 pm at Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Austin, TX 78701
REGISTER FOR THE PARTY HERE
Please contact Lindsey Sartain for more information

Any other classes planning a reunion, we are here to help, contact the webmaster , we’ll post your party information and help you find your classmates.

Who Remembers their date to Carousel

jsayers — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:57:36 +0000

The AHS Archives needs memorabilia from the past members of the social clubs Terpsichore and Carousel. We are looking for past invitations, decorations, programs or any other saved items. The clubs evolved over the years from formal dances with dates to after game functions.

Harris Directory Requests

jsayers — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:48:38 +0000

You may have received a yellow postcard in the mail asking you to verify your contact data as an AHS Alumni. This survey is not related to the Loyal Forever database or website and any changes you send will not be reflected on this site. The Harris Poll is a commercial survey and all collected data belongs to the surveyer.

The official alumni website: www.loyalforever.com, is the place to share information securely. I invite you to register at the site and review the contact information listed for you. By registering, you provide current data that will be added to the site by the webmaster. I encourage you to keep this information up-to-date so you will be more easily contacted by other AHS alumni for reunions or other events of this type.

Class of 1956 Remain Loyal Forever!

jsayers — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:18:13 +0000

reprinted from AAS article written by Andrea Ball

Nearly two dozen 70-somethings poured into the Central Market Cafe on Thursday, drinking coffee, reminiscing and catching up on the latest news.

Joe had come straight from a medical procedure. Mary was talking about the holidays. Gene circled the group, snapping pictures and greeting friends.

This is Stephen F. Austin High School’s class of 1956. And if you go to Central Market at 4001 N. Lamar Blvd. on any Thursday morning, chances are that you’ll see this pack of seniors clustered around three or four tables, laughing and talking about all measure of topics: old teachers, grandchildren, vacations and, of course, medical problems.

“That’s where we are these days,” group member Keith Rhea said with a laugh. “We’re ticking time bombs.”

It’s been more than five years since Rhea and a former classmate started what would eventually become a weekly ritual. It was 2006 — the 50th anniversary of the group’s high school graduation — and Rhea wanted help trying to track down people for the reunion. Rhea invited a friend to brainstorm at Central Market. Soon, others joined them. Then more showed up.

Ultimately, the reunion came and went, but the former classmates continued to meet.

“We were just a unique class,” said alumnus Keith Harrell, who comes to the gatherings with his high school sweetheart-turned-wife, Gayle Grimmer. “We just stuck together, even after graduation.”

Let’s be honest here. High school came with baggage, right? Academics were tough. Clique warfare was tougher. Most of us never felt smart, pretty, athletic, cool or stylish enough to claim top social status. Revisiting that era can be intimidating — even when it’s been decades since you were stuck in sixth-period math on a sunny spring day.

But none of that matters when you’re 70-something years old and you know who you are, where you’ve been and what you want.

“Those lines existed when we were in high school, but we are so commingled now,” said former student JoAn Baird. “No one is worried about where you shop or what you drive.”

Besides, the class of 1956 isn’t interested in living in the past. Yes, they talk about old teachers (Ms. von Rosenberg, anyone?) and after-school activities (baton twirling for Joan Meadows Bostic, cross-country for Buddy Streetman). They share old stories about classmates and parties and sports events. (”When you get to be our age, stories are all you’ve got left,” joked unofficial class storyteller Bo Franks.)

But they also celebrate birthdays, go out to lunch and visit the Broken Spoke.

They recruit each other for their volunteer projects, continuing-education courses and Bible study classes.

They’re also very active in raising money for the Stephen F. Austin High School Continuing Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to post-high school programs such as community colleges and trade schools.

The group celebrates birthdays together (Mary Morris Hornsby is known as the “Cake Fairy”) at Central Market. And when someone is sick, alumni step up to bring food or escort them to doctor appointments. They keep up with each other between meetings with group emails.

“It’s such a supportive group,” Hornsby said. “It’s a place where you can go and visit and feel loved.

In Memoriam List for AHS Alumni Who Passed Away in 2011

jsayers — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:10:13 +0000

Ray B. Smith, class of 1969 (12-27-2011)
Lenora Estelle Jansen née Cromeans class of 1941 (12-9-2011)
Naomi Ruth Meharg Sparks Kyser née Sawyer class of 1957 (12-3-2011)
Gordon Allen Walser, class of 1936 (12-2-2011)

Alan R. MacDougall, class of 1967 (11-30-2011)
James F. Dear, class of 1946 (11-29-2011)
Antoinette “Toni” DeVane née Seekatz, class of 1943 (11-29-2011)
Floyd B. “Chuck” Inks, Jr., class of 1943 (11-29-2011)
Emily Ann Van Niel née Anderson, class of 1951 (11-28-2011)
Catharine “Bunny” Longenecker née Jones, class of 1951 (11-25-2011)
Mary C. “Marylee” Anderson née Beaver, class of 1941 (11-25-2011)
Donald Clark Senterfitt, class of 1957 (11-21-2011)
Marjorie Avant née Holcomb, class of 1941 (11-18-2011)
Alden Keith Traugott, class of 1950 (11-17-2011)
Nancy Schuller née Shelby, class of 1958 (11-8-2011)
Robert H. Bose, class of 1966 (11-3-2011)

Casey John O’Connell class of 1974 (10-31-2011)
Ingrid Warren née Berkman, class of 1938 (10-25-2011)
Wallace Lynn Smith, class of 1941 (10-18-2011)
Barry Bishop, class of 1960 (10-11-2011)
Kristine Michelle “Kris” Ross née Lane, class of 1989 (10-9-2011)
James Francis “Jamie” Struhall, class of 1950 (10-7-2011)
Aurora R. Rodriguez, class of 1950 (10-7-2011)
Billie Lou Guinn Leach née Berkman, class of 1944 (10-4-2011)
David Gordon Gannaway, class of 1941, (10-3-2011)

Robert William Abbate, class of 1976 (9-25-2011)
Ruby Elizabeth Reissig née Meschke, class of 1935, (9-11-2011)
Linda Anne Moran née Roberts, class of 1946 (9-10-2011)

Ellen Doris Kathleen Nauert née Johnson, class of 1944, (8-6-2011)
Vernice Tilford Smith, Former AHS Teacher (8-28-2011)
Paula Marie Sullivan née Petty, class of 1979 (8-25-2011)
Dorothy Castille née Anderson class of 1930 (8-23-2011)
Francis Leo “Hank” McNamara, Jr., class of 1952 (8-18-2011)
Paul B. Ragsdale, class of 1962 (8-14-2011)
James Vincent “Jim” Ruiz, class of 1952 (8-6-2011)
Ellen Doris Kathleen Nauert née Johnson, class of 1944, (8-6-2011)
Frances Louise Johnson Avant, class of 1948 (8-3-2011)
Patricia Griffin née Cox, class of 1949 (8-3-2011)

Ella Lee Ayers, class of 1931 (7-28-2011)
Dorothy Eggeling née Hunt, class of 1936 (7-28-2011)
Helen Bernice Polvado née McCaslin, class of 1931 (7-27-2011)
William Clydine “Bill” Rountree, Sr., class of 1949 (7-22-2011)
Davy L. Porter, class of 1949 (7-20-2011)
John Shary Shivers, class of 1958 (7-21-2011)
John Albert Johnson, Jr., DDS, class of 1939 (7-18-2011)
Fred S. Webster, Jr., class of 1933 (7-16-2011)
Kathryn “Kitty” Patterson née Petmecky, class of 1928 (7-15-2011)
Mary Lou Allison née Scott, class of 1941 (7-10-2011)

Dorothy Nell Roos née Gruesen, class of 1943 (6-21-2011)
John Holly Sheffield, class of 1965 (6-18-2011)
Maurine Viola Kocurek née Gustafson, class of 1930 (6-17-2011)
Mary “Bess” Lewis née Thomason, class of 1951 (6-16-2011)
Richard Glenn Wucher, class of 1947 ( 6-15-2011)
Michael Darcy Williams, class of 1957 (6-12-2011)
William H. “Bill” Pittsford, Jr., class of 1939 (6-9-2011)
Lillie Belle Dunn née Bryan, class of 1956 (6-7-2011)
Oscar John “Topper” Kramer, Jr., class of 1944 (6-3-2011)
Jackie Miller Allen, class of 1953 (6-1-2011)

Byron Lunsford Kidd, class of 1947 (5-31-2011)
Marybelle “Jinx” Canfield néeHooper, class of 1944 (5-30-2011)
Courtney Paige Griffin, class of 1999 (5-27-2011)
Martha Golda Daniel, class of 1941 (5/24/2011)
George C. “Bugs” Schutze, Jr., class of 1963 (5-16-2011)
Katherine Stewart née Wilson, class of 1945 (5-10-2011)
Gabriel Felder “Scoop” Thornhill III, class of 1944 (5-8-2011)
Paul Eugene Gren, class of 1940 (5-8-2011)
Anthony Nicholas, class of 1944 (5-7-2011)
David Kenneth Lacker, class of 1947 (5-8-2011)
Jeanette Irene Ligon née Sullivan, class of 1957 (5-7-2011)
Cornelia Bess “Sissy” Strauss Adams née Spears, class of 1934 (5-5-2011)
Polly Miller née Robinson, class of 1938 (5-5-2011)
Richard Holman, class of 1965 (5-4-2011)
Vernell Francis Thordarson née Roemer, class of 1943 (5-4-2011)
Pamela Jones Bodoin, class of 1962 (5-3-2011)

Ann Carter née Rogers, class of 1956 (4-29-2011)
John Marvin “Jack” Yancey, class of 1948 (4-24-2011)
Roy S. Nunnally, class of 1941 (4-24-2011)
Jack Parker Chance, class of 1939 (4-23-2011)
Ralph Wesley Jarmon, class of 1951 (4-23-2011)
Justine Brian née Gerling, class of 1946 (4-22-2011)
Eura Jean Clark, class of 1950 (4-21-2011)
Thomas James Bashara, class of 1981 (4-20-2011)
Malford Cornelius Edwards, Jr., class of 1945 (4-19-2011)
Bernice Caldwell née Peterman, class of 1941 (4-20-2011)
Janie Sosa née Martinez, class of 1949 (4-14-2011)
Stanley J. Peterman, class of 1944 (4-9-2011)
Duard Desmond Linam, DVM, class of 1937 (4-9-2011)
Linda Weeks, class of 1947 (4-3-2011)
Charles Hayden Bowers, class of 2008 (4-2-2011)

Charlotte Jane Gault, class of 1950 (3-30-2011)
Charles Durham Nash, class of 1941 (3-28-2011)
Hazel “Lucille” Mehner née Hergotz, class of 1947, (3-27-2011)
Danny Kasparek, class of 1963 (3-25-2011)
Gary Mark Bilberry, class of 1980 (3-23-2011)
James Earl Anderson, class of 1935 (3-22-2011)
James Earl Clark, class of 1941 (3-22-2011)
Emory Chapman Thompson, class of 1949 (3-24-2011)
Webb Dycus Woodland, class of 1945 (3-22-2011)
Loren Douglas “Bud” Fletcher, class of 1942 (3-20-2011)
Victor Alton Short, class of 1948 (3-12-2011)
James E. Shriver, class of 1978 (3-7-2011)
James S. Jones, class of 1945, (3-4-2011)
Thomas “Tom” Dodson McCrummen, Jr., class of 1951 (3-3-2011)
Carolyn Mercer née King, class of 1969 (3-1-2011)

Mitchell George Attal, class of 1953 (2-25-2011)
Joan Lykins née Sundberg, class of 1951 (2-23-2011)
Paula Gutierrez née Perez, class of 1944 (2-21-11)
Toppy Champion, class of 1949 (2-20-2011)
Max L. Noe, class of 1935 (2-15-2011)
Mickie Love Maufrais née Reid, class of 1939 (2-14-2011)
George W. Burnup, class of 1940 (2-13-2011)

Carolyn Lorraine White, class of 1979 ( 2-11-2011)

Louise Kyle née Daywood, class of 1951 (2-9-2011)
Rosemary Wagner née Matthews, class of 1936, 2-8-2011)

Geraldine Houser née Campbell, class of 1946 (1-24-2011)
Betty Murray née Nichols, class of 1930 (1-23-2011)
Gregg Anthony Kerley, class of 1966 (1-20-2011)
Mary Frances Cauthern née Kutalek, class of 1933 (1-18-2011)
August Frantz “Gus” Pacharzina, class of 1948 (1-18-2011)
James Bradley Whitworth, PhD, class of 1951 (1-15-2011)
Seth Darnaby Breeding, Jr., class of 1952 (1-12-2011)
Jim “Red” Berry, class of 1951 (1-11-2011)
Margaret Alice Bond née Hamilton, class of 1938 (1-9-2011)
Gloria McCalla née Holder, clas of 1948 (1-1-2011)
Forrest “Toddy” Preece, Sr., class of 1928 (1-4-2011)
Frances Gould née Harrison, class of 1938 (1-3-2011)

The Hayden Bowers Classic – A Celebration of Life

jsayers — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:45:03 +0000

After allowing a couple of days for the soreness to subside, we’d like to update you on the Hayden Bowers Classic held Friday, December 30. To say that it was a success is an understatement. 20 teams of approximately 170 players participated on a beautiful, sunny day at House Park Stadium. Volunteers served over 1000 waters, 200 Gatorades, 120 hot dogs, 350 sausage wraps, 6 very large briskets and countless dozens of cookies. All 200+ t-shirts were sold. Kudos go out to all the countless numbers of folks who helped with organization, logistics, donations, volunteer coordination, t-shirts, announcing duties, sound, water & drinks, BBQ Pit team, cookies and all our referees.

Special thanks to Randall’s – Lake Austin for their help, West Austin Youth Association & Austin High Coach Mike Rosenthal for equipment and a very big thanks to Coach Lou Mora, Tommy Cox, Mike Szymarek of AISD for generously providing us the facility.

Everyone did an amazing job. In the process, we received over $6,000 in donations with more still streaming in. Checks can still be made out to:

Austin Community Foundation – memo “Hayden Bowers Classic”
c/o Curtis Page
3008 Scenic Dr.
Austin, TX 78703

These monies will be used as directed by the Bowers family in a way to both honor and build on the memory of Hayden. As successful as the numbers were, most impressive was the way in which our community came together as family to celebrate Hayden’s life. This was our intent. Chris, thanks again for the vision, initiative and follow through as Hayden and his legacy of friendship and competitiveness were properly recognized and served by the event, its participants, its volunteers and its contributors.

Steve, if we may quote you “One of the things that made it truly special for me was the fact that while we were there in memory of Hayden, it wound up being an event not mourning his passing, but celebrating what he found most important about life: friendship and athletics.”

See you next year!

Loyal Forever!

New Head Football Coach For AHS

jsayers — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:11:24 +0000

It is with great pride, joy and excitement that I announce to you the new Austin High School head football coach and athletic coordinator, Coach Mike Rosenthal.

Coach Rosenthal shared with the interview committee a most impressive plan for the future of Austin High School athletics. We are also impressed by his work with our students at Austin High School these past two years and his work with children outside of our school as he promotes fitness and a healthy life style. He is and will be a loyal Maroon for many years to come.

Please help me congratulate him and help him with his important mission.

Lucio Calzada Jr., Ed.D.
Principal of Austin High School

Reunion Honors Coach Seale, Coach Stark and Charlie Munson at Ruben Ray’s Hoffbrau on November 4th

jsayers — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:34:00 +0000

Class of 67 Planning their 45 Year Reuion

jsayers — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:16:46 +0000

Save the dates for our next reunion, Friday, April 20-22, 2012. Lynn Pugh Remadna is heading up the event and wants to hear from everyone. Click on our facebook page and leave us a message.
Also, be sure and register at the official alumni site Loyal Forever so we can keep your contact information up-to-date.