Austin High School Alumni – Austin, Texas

Vernice Tilford Smith, Austin High School’s first African American teacher and a pioneer of integration in Central Texas, died August 23, 2011 of cardiac arrest. She was 88.

Her family and friends said she’ll be remembered as an icon of the Austin education community, a loyal parent and a faithful woman.

Later, in 1967, the Austin school board decided to integrate African American students from old Anderson High School in East Austin to the schools of their choice in the district. Read the rest of this entry »

AHS graduate, class of 1929, and former teacher Mineola Grumbles died on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Those who knew her knew a person who enjoyed many things throughout her life. She taught piano and organ, taught in Austin public schools, taught Sunday school, was a member of NARFE and ADK in which she held several offices, and knitted caps. The 400-500 caps she knitted each year went to mission groups all over the world and to people in Austin who needed warm caps. She loved her church, Hyde Park Baptist, and especially the people in the senior adult department. She was truly a loving, compassionate person who loved her Lord and her family.

She will be greatly missed at Dedication Day next year. The roll call for the class of 29 always drew applause from the crowd and a lovely smile from Mrs. Grumbles.

Online Obituary

Recently the 2009 Fall Newsletter was delivered to the users of the AHS Alumni site.  We are excited to report that from this last mailing we have received over $600.00 in donations and gifts to the Alumni Fund.  We encourage all AHS alumni to join the association or renew memberships for 2009.

Membership to the Society costs $20.00 per year or $250.00 for a lifetime membership. You can purchase online or send a check to the the Association at 1800 Nueces St., Austin 78701. Membership is open to all AHS graduates and Friends of Austin High School. Dues are used to pay for maintenance of the website and the Austin High archives.

Lifetime Memberships and Donations (10/2009)

Barry Anderson, Class of 1958 – Lifetime Membership
Mark Naftanel, Class of 1995 – Lifetime Membership
Jimmy Balagia, Class of 1972, renewal
Julie Merritt, Class of 1978, renewal
Anne T. Kohler, Class of 1942,  renewal
Bill and Amelda Stoermer, Class of 1957, renewal
Alan Baum, Class of 1960, renewal
Jay C. Davis, renewal
Temple Freightliner, renewal
Peggy Crakes, Class of 1970, renewal

Additional donations made earlier in the year
Read the rest of this entry »

Madison Fare-Staff Writer for The Maroon

Over the summer the uniform of our mascot was replaced with a new design, the $5,000 inflatable. It now cheers on our football team and represents our school. Sophomore Hannah Bergman is Austin High’s new mascot. She is in the Austin High Orchestra, but decided to take on a new opportunity so that she could represent Austin High.

“[ I just want to] be crazy without being myself,” Bergman said. To become the mascot Bergman tried out by creating and performing a skit and submitting an application which included an essay asking the candidates why they wanted to be the Mr. Maroo mascot.

“It’s better because it looks fuzzier and more like Mr. Maroo. It has a constant air flow which is good for the cleanliness of it all since the mascot is cleaned only twice a year,” Bergman said. Despite the price tag Bergman thinks it’s a much better design, and money well spent. In contrast to Bergman’s view, some students have not taken to the new mascot so quickly.

“It looks really different. I kind of liked that old one better. It was cuter. The little hairs make it look like it has dread locks,” senior Emily Mixon said. Although many students at Austin High find the new mascot odd, the person inside is commited to Austin High and firing up the spirit of the crowd.

“I stand on the field facing the crowd with the cheerleaders and I jump around and cheer. I’m like a giant, maroon puffball cheerleader! It’s really fun and you’re not nervous because it’s not really you out there. Nobody knows who you are since you’re in costume. Also, you can’t see the crowd,” Bergman said.

An Austin High alumnus, unnamed at this time, has made available to us a $2,500 matching grant. If we can raise $2,500 through a membership drive, they will match the funds. The Alumni Association Board has voted to help new principal, Calzada with two projects that he is undertaking this year (see previous article) as well as helping the Brian Schenk Archives with their capital campaign for expansion and preservation of the archives. During this fundraising drive, anyone buying a lifetime membership will be send a copy of the 1971 DVD of activities at the Rio Grande Campus.

The 7th annual Stephen F. Austin Society fundraiser took place on Sunday, August 31st at the home of Chris Mattsson and John McHale. Against a beautiful backdrop, nearly 150 Austin High supporters heard from Steve Saunders, who announced that more than $30,000 was raised during the event. That brings the total dollars raised by the SFA Society to nearly $200,000 since the group was formed to provide financial support for extracurricular activities at Austin High. Read the rest of this entry »

This year, the recipient of the Lady Bird Johnson Humanitarian of the Year Award is Dr. Charles F. Pelphrey, an alumnus of Austin High School, the University of Texas, and Southwestern Medical School. This award is presented annually by the Central Texas Chapter of the American Red Cross to a Central Texan who has gone to extraordinary lengths to save the life of another. Read the rest of this entry »

WE’VE DONE IT—Thanks to several new Lifetime Memberships our goal of $5000 to match the Saunders Foundation challenge has been met. If you haven’t renewed your membership in the Alumni Association or would like to upgrade to a Lifetime Membership, please do so. Purchase online, or you can mail a check to: AHS Alumni Assn.; 1800 Nueces St.; Austin, TX 78701. Now that we have reached the $5,000 mark, the Saunders Foundation will donate $5,000 to the Austin High Archives. Among those recently buying lifetime memberships:

Tim Dudley (class of ’81)
Jodi Zipp (class of ’75)
Carlton Lowe (class of ’72)
Bonnie Bilbeau (Friend of AHS)
Ann (’62) and John Pieratt
Neal Newberry (class of ’66)
Alexandra Saenz (class of ’88)
Lynn Remadna (class of ’67)
Lolla McNutt Page (class of ’66)
William “Billy” Page (class of ’64)
Rita Ramsey Kreisle (class of ’68)
Matthew Kreisle (class of ’66)
Mary Bailey “Bitsy” Henderson (class of ’66)
Cathy Scott McElroy (class of ’70)
Mark Bohannon (class of ’76)
Casey Magnuson (class of ’85)
Tim Dudley (class of ’81)
Ann Bauer (class of ’76)
Bob Miller (class of ’70)
Deborah Vacek (class of ’66)
J. Speed Carroll (class of ’53)
John and Ann Bloomquist (class of ’70)

Reunion season is upon us—Class reunions for years ending in ’08 and ‘03 are heavily into planning stages at this time. Be sure and check the Alumni Assn. web site and with your classmates so that you don’t miss out on any of these special events. Please be sure that you have registered on the site or that we have your correct address for the database that will be sent to your reunion chair.

Memorial funds have been set up for the two Austin High juniors that died in a tragic automobile accident on Feb. 16—

The Audrey Ducote Memorial Fund has been estabiished as a donor Designated Fund at the Austin Community Foundation. Annually a donation will be made in memory of Audrey Ducote to Young Life, with the donation directed for an Austin High student to attend Young Life Summer Camp. All contributions received will be acknowledged to the family and a tax receipt letter will be mailed to the donor. Click to donate to Audrey’s fund.

The Lauren Hoffman Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established as a Scholarship Fund, and each year a scholarship will be offered to a graduating senior from Austin High School that will be attending UT and majoring in Business. All contributions received will be acknowledged to the family and a tax receipt letter will be mailed ot the donor. Click to donate to Lauren’s fund.

The other Austin High students injured in the accident, Katy Powers is making progress but still in the hospital. Kate Singleton has been released from the hospital. For information on them, you can access the most recent PTSA newsletter.

For the first time Boys and Girls basketball teams win district in the same year—a long over due district title for the girls (last title was in 1975) and the boys team won another championship, both with dominating 13-1 district records. The girls team also won their first playoff game, another benchmark for a successful program.

Valentine’s Day Teacher Appreciation Breakfast biggest success ever—A 33-year tradition at Austin High continued this year with the Valentine’s Day breakfast. More than $13,000 was raised for the Austin PTSA, which will be used for teacher luncheons, parent outreach, newsletters, leadership training, etc. Congratulations to the committee for a successful day to celebrate the teachers and staff at AHS.

Austin High Jazz Ensemble invited to prestigious festival—The Austin High School Jazz Ensemble is in the top 15 of all jazz programs in the nation and the only one from Texas to be selected to attend the Essentially Ellington Festival at Lincoln Center in May in New York. Donations are being solicited to offset the $20,000 in anticipated costs and can be made by sending a check to Tonia Matthews c/o the Austin High Band/Jazz Department.; 1715 W. Cesar Chavez; Austin, TX 78703 more…

CHALLENGE DONATION OFFERED TO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION—The Saunders Foundation has offered to donate $5,000 to the Austin High Archives if we can raise a matching $5,000 to benefit the Austin High Alumni Association. Membership renewals will count towards our goal and we are hoping to complete our efforts by March 1st. Thanks to Steve Saunders for helping arrange for this opportunity.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL—Those of you who received a one-year membership in the
Alumni Association for your donation to the AHS125 celebration are now up for renewal. Membership renewals can be paid online (INSERT LINK) or by sending a check to:

AHS Alumni Assn.; 1800 Nueces St.; Austin, Tx. 78701.
Annual membership cost is $20; a Lifetime Membership is $250.

ENDOWMENT FUND TOPS $125,000—Melissa Jackson and Steve Saunders, co-Chairs
of the Austin High 125th Anniversary Celebration have officially presented a check for $50,000 to the PTSA President Elise Schram. The check represents the contribution of the remaining net proceeds from the AHS 125 celebration ($20,000 was set aside to fund the Austin High Alumni Association) and brings the total of the Austin High Endowment Fund to over $125,000. For more details visit the PTSA website:

BOOSTER CLUB WEBSITES—The Austin High School website has been updated with
new graphics and navigation tools and is your best source for information on our school’s athletic endeavors. The boys and girls basketball seasons are off to a great start with the AHS boys ranked in the top five teams in the Austin area. Be sure and check the schedule for games in early 2008. And baseball, softball, track and lacrosse seasons are just around the corner. For schedules and booster club information visit (and click ATHLETICS):
http://www.austinisd.org/schools/website.phtml?id=014

DEDICATION DAY—The Hall of Honor has announced that Dedication Day will be
held this year on April 25, 2008. If you have never attended this special day at Austin High, make it a point this year. The day celebrates the history and traditions at Austin High.

CLASS REUNIONS FOR YEARS ENDING IN ‘8—Be sure and check the Alumni
Association website for a list of class reunions scheduled for next year. If you have one scheduled that is not listed, please make sure we have your information and link to your website. Some classes ending in ‘3 are also holding class reunions (for example the AHS class of 1953 is holding a 55th reunion in April).

2008 GRADUATION SET—Graduation for the Austin High Class of 2008 will be at the Frank Erwin Center at 8:30 p.m. on June 5.
UPDATE YOUR LISTING— The heading at the top of the page is the current information we have in our file. Please update old information by registering online at
http://www.loyalforever.com . Within a couple of days, you will receive an email that will give you instructions on how to update your account.