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Official Gainesville High School 
Alumni Association
800 South Morris, Gainesville, Texas 76240
Office: 940-668-3625     Email: nichols@gainesvilleisd.org
      Alumni Board Members
President, Tom Kennedy - Class of 1964                                                            Cliff Gibbs - Class of 1956
Vice President, Peggy Holt - Class of 1956                                                      Joybell Schalk - Class of 1963
Secretary, Carol Ann Hess - Class of 1965                                                       Debbie Fleitman - Class of 1972
Treasurer, Shelia Colwell - Class of 1988                                                         Susan Beall - Class of 1984
 Travis Budlong - Class of 1939                                                                          Penni Nichols - Class of 1990
Kim Otto - Class of 1979
 Joe Leonard Jr. - Class of 1937                                                                         Darin Allred - Class of                                                                                                                                                                 
{Go Big Red!}
The President's Message - 2011
By Tom Kennedy
GHS Alumni President
Have you noticed that individuals who have the talent and gumption to ask people for money are truly rare folks that are always in demand?
 
Over the years, I've attended dozens, even hundreds of fundraisers for various charities, causes and, yes, even politicians. I learned that if you don't have this rare talent to ask and to receive the big bucks, then you must take the advice of the wise men and women who keep their voices low at such events when they remark, "If I ask for money, I don't ask often and I darn sure don't ask for much."
 
I am following the sage advice now as I ask for little money as you read this and am able to promise I won't officially ask again until next year.
 
For $15.00 you can help write a positive news story about your alma mater. Nope, there won't be any mention of budget cuts, layoffs or football losses.
 
The good news is that the eight-year-old Alumni Association recognizes excellence in GHS alumni achievement and honors the educators who helped to make it possible. It does so on an annual basis at Homecoming. And even more good news is that your fifteen dollars also helps to fund another newer tradition: the Alumni scholarship program designed to help a deserving 2011 senior with that important first year of college. One requirement for this scholarship is that one parent must be a GHS alumni.
 
And let's keep KISS alive by keeping it simple, stupid. All you have to do is mail a $15.00 check for the yearly membership or a $100.00 check for a Century Club membership. Century Club gives $15.00 to the Alumni and $85.00 to the GISD Education Foundation. The Foundation awards yearly grants to deserving teachers and it also hosts the annual Shining Stars Gala that recognizes the top 10% of the Senior Class. Mail the checks to Leslie Nichols, Alumni Liaison 800 S. Morris Street Gainesville 76240. A form can be downloaded from this webpage. Please include your name, address, class year and YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.
 
So ends my short, sweet and inexpensive message. My best to GHS alumni everywhere!!
 
Tom Kennedy, GHS Alumni Association President
Class of 1964
Kennedy lives in Houston. His email address is tomkennedy1@comcast.net
Please support the official GHS Alumni Association by joining today!
 
 
The GHS Alumni Association Luncheon will be held on Friday, September 23rd at Whaley Methodist Church.  The room is always full of GHS graduates, some dating back to 1936. A small bio is given on each honoree and  they are  presented with a plaque. The Alumni Association began giving out a scholarship in 2010. The recipients were Christina Wiese and Madyson Bond. One of their parents was a GHS graduate. Below is the list of Distinguished Alumni and Educators.
 
Education Hall of Fame Honorees 2010
Jayne Austin
Vernon Austin
Jim Campbell
Leo Swick
 
Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees 2010
Dr. Joseph Rosenstein - Class of 1936
Chuck Curtis - Class of 1953
Tommy James - Class of 1966
Dr. Alan Raines - Class of 1984
 
                                  Education Hall of Fame Honorees 2009
Anita Homer Wilson
Anneta Earle
Margaret Duncan
Joy Die
 
                                              Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees  2009
Dr. John W. Priest -  Class of 1968
Dr. Patricia Levell Robertson - Class of 1969
Lt. Col. Thadd Blanton - Class of 1936
Jim Bass - Class of 1937
              
GHS Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees
 
2004
Lou Allen - Class of 1942
Caroline Cunningham - Class of 1940
Joe Leonard Sr. - Class of 1917
Joe Leonard Jr. - Class of 1937
Joe Leonard III - Class of 1962
 
2005
Travis Budlong - Class of 1939
Frank Morris - Class of 1966
James Allen "Red" O'Neal Class of 1938
Sue Simpson Schwartz - Class of 1964
 
2006
Spencer Hays - Class of 1956
Joyce Estes Malinowsky - Class of 1942
Jo Ann Webb Powell - Class of 1941
William Wright Stevens - Class of 1939
 
2007
James Lindsey Embrey - Class of 1942
Rear Admiral William C. Francis, USN - Class of 1956
Michael J. Henry - Class of 1973
Karen Budlong Simpson - Class of 1964
 
 2008
         Sue Cartwright - Class of 1973
           Dr. Clinton McPherson - Class of 1936
           Wally Cullum - Class of 1955
           Dave Tanner - Class of 1967
 
GISD Education Hall of Fame Honorees
 
2005
Marcus Austin, Band Director
Naomi Austin, Home Economics Teacher
Guy Beasley, Math Teacher/Computer Science
Clyde Yeatts, Math Teacher
 
2006
Robert "Bob" Claxton, School Board Member
Joybell Die Schalk, Math Teacher
A.W. "Pop" Wells, Math Teacher
Roy P. Wilson, GISD Superintendent
 
2007
Ray E. Die, High School Principal
Wilburn O. Echols, GISD Superintendent
Sally Echols, Sixth Grade Teacher
Juanita Hardy, Chemistry Teacher
Glenn D. Wilson, Choir Director
 
2008
           Bertie Lee Gibbs - Coach & Principal
           Jo Kennedy - Fourth & Sixth Grade Teacher
           Horace  McCain - Coach and Shop Teacher
           Patsy Wilson - GHS Librarian
GISD Alumni Century Club Members
Class of 1937
Mary Jane Sparks
 
Class of 1938
Harvey E. Elkins
Jack Merrick
Mary Merrick
 

Class of 1939
Travis Budlong
Kathleen S. Coughtry
Billie C. Webb

Class of 1940
Lorna Budlong

Class of 1942
Albert B. Sisson

Class of 1947
Jack C. Cartwright
 

Class of 1948
Virginia Archer
Jarius Beck
Ben Cox
William Rike
 
Class of 1951
Mary Jo Lay
 
Class of 1953
   Pat O’Brien
Don Hutto
 
Class of 1954
Daniel H. Hayes

Class of 1955
Sharon Colson
Mary Lou Leftwich
Lloyd Nichols 
Class of 1956
Jack Holt
Peggy Wilson Holt
Frederick Lausen 
LuAnn Redman
Rex R. Wagoner

Class of 1958
Charles Horn

Class of 1959
 Larry Cotton

Class of 1960
Sue Swick Henry

Class of 1962
Ginger Grant

 
Class of 1963
Ruth Adams

Class of 1964
Phil Adams
John Beck
George R. Bryant  
Glenda Kennedy
Tom Kennedy
Laron D. Robinson
Sue Schwartz
Gordon Smith

Class of 1965
Patsy Wilson
Class of 1966
Brenda Myers Brown
Linda Ritcherson

Class of 1969
Patricia Robertson
Carla Waters

Class of 1970
Mike Schmitz

Class of 1972 
Brent Magers
 

Class of 1974 
David Rodawalt

 
Class of 1976 
Jim Ford
Le’Ann Santone

Class of 1978
Phil Bellows
Robin Rose
The President's Message - 2009
By Tom Kennedy
Alumni Board President
 
There are two cliches that have developed over the past few decades that seem to crop up every day. They both pertain to our touchiest element.
        And they are:
        "Follow the Money."
        "Show me the money."
 
The six year old GISD Alumni Association has set up some innovative procedures designed to make membership fun and easy. For the first time, it also has set up an Alumni scholarship program designed to help a deserving 2010 senior.
 
Annual dues are only $15.00 and the first inclination you might have is: Follow the money. The money defrays the cost of the annual luncheon honoring distinguished Alumni and Gainesville Educators - the people who have demonstrated excellence and high achievement.
 
All you have to do is mail a $15.00 check to the Alumni treasurer, Shelia Colwell, GISD Alumni Assoc. P.O. Box 1738 Gainesville, TX 76241. A form to be completed can be downloaded from this webpage. Please include your name, address, class year, and YOUR  EMAIL ADDRESS.
 
Alumni board members (non-paid volunteers) each expressed weariness over phone and regular mail solicitors when they discussed the best way to remind fellow Alums that their dues are assessed annually. The board decided that reminders  will be emailed several weeks prior to the July 1 fiscal year.
 
Show me the money.   Please. It's a reasonable amount in today's economic world and goes toward supporting something dear to our hearts - growing up in Gainesville and graduating from Gainesville High School, where we solidified lifelong friendships worth more than any amount of money anywhere. 
 
We already have hundreds of Alumni email addresses, making communications quick and easy for reunions or just for your information and needs.
 
You will receive our email newsletter published throughout the year to include special news updates from your hometown alma mater.
 
The first Alumni scholarship will be awarded at the 2010 graduation. The amount will depend heavily on Alumni support. An Alumni committee will choose the recipient next spring.
 
We urge all Alumni to go a step further by becoming a member of the Century Club. This is a $100.00 donation with $15.00 going to  the Alumni and $85.00 going to the GISD Education Foundation. Each year the Foundation awards grants to teachers across the district. They also host a gala to honor the top 10% of the Senior class. Each honoree invites a teacher who they feel supported them as they strived for academic success.
 
This fall the induction of eight additional members to the GISD Hall of Fame will bring the number of honorees to 25 Alumni and 21 Educators. You're bound to know many of them and shopuld nominate your own worthy candidates next year!
 
Tom Kennedy, Alumni Association President
Class of 1964
Go Leopards!!
 
 Tom Kennedy lives in Houston.  His e-mail address is tomkennedy@houston.rr.com
 
 
Would you like to remember, honor or memorialize a special person? Now you can! The GISD Education Foundation is selling bricks to be placed at either the new GHS or at the old GHS, soon to be the GJHS. Go to the GISD Foundation homepage and download the form.  This is a terrific way to honor someone and at the same time assist the Education Foundation as it continues to support the students and teachers of GISD.