| AHSAA NEWS |
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| FIELD HOUSE OPENING | |
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Austin Alumnae woke up Saturday, April 29, 2006, to hear heavy rain pounding on the roof tops with weather forecasters advising to stay in due to tornado warnings, possible high winds and large hail. Well, these weather conditions would not stop a large group of current students, faculty, staff, former students and friends of Austin High School from coming out to commemorate the grand opening of AHS’s new Field House and honor a long legacy of student athletes at Austin from years past. | |
While the heavy rains and lightening did cause the scheduled football scrimmage to be canceled, it did not dampen the rest of the festivities. We just moved them inside to the school cafeteria. The program began with a portion of the AHS band directed by Keavon Runnels marching in led by the Austin Emeralds along with the drum line playing the Austin Fight Song. | |
Jacque McDonald Royce ‘59, President of the Alumni Association, welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. The presentation of the colors was made by the AHS ROTC with David Dealy ’60 leading the Pledge to the Flag and Hollis Dealy ’64 delivering the Invocation. These two Dealy brothers, along with their middle sibling Frazer Dealy ‘62, were asked to participate in this event to acknowledge the heritage of our school and the athletic program. Parents of the Dealy boys, Lucille and Roy Dealy were longtime fixtures in HISD, with Lucille arriving at AHS in early 1939 to teach English. Roy Dealy was a moving force in HISD athletics coaching at AHS for one year and at the old Sam Houston High School where he was known for his basketball teams. | |
He went to Jeppesen Stadium in 1954 as the Assistant Athletic Director for HISD, a position he held until he retired. Mrs. Dealy had 39 years in HISD and Mr. Dealy had 41 years when they retired. | |
Principal Linda Garza Llorente ’72 also thanked everyone for attending and gave updates on the newly remodeled buildings and renovations at AHS. She is very proud of the changes at the school and continues to work very hard to improve the academic and athletic status in the community. | |
Athletic Director, Pete Gareri, and Assistant Head Coach John Cunningham, impressed the audience with details of the great strides made by the Athletic Department since their arrival in the Spring of 2005. These men have visited the junior high schools in the Austin feeder group promoting the athletic program to all incoming students, both boys and girls. There are now over 100 young men playing football with freshmen, junior varsity and varsity teams. There are teams represented in basketball, baseball, golf, and swimming. While athletics play a major part in their program, they continue to build the character of these young men and women to turn out good citizens for the future. | |
Former Head Coach Bill Cook ’43 was recognized as the Honorary Coach of the Day along with his assistants Mike Wilhite and Chuck Gossett. The two assistant positions went to the highest bidders from the auction opportunity offered recently. Each one received an official coach’s shirt. Mike Wilhite played center on the football team graduating in 1960, while Chuck Gossett graduated from Jones High School in 1969 and played quarterback at Baylor University. He bid on the Assistant Coach’s position in memory of his uncle Martin Mathis ’41. | |
Coach Cook remains a very special person in the history of AHS – first as a player who excelled on the football field, and then, after serving in the Navy, returned to coach football from 1954 to 1967. He entertained us with several stories of his days as a student at AHS as well as fond memories of his coaching experiences. | |
In keeping with the theme of the day to honor the athletic program at AHS, the Class of 1955 has returned the huge picture of the 1954 State Playoff football team which will be hung in a prominent place in the field house. Dr. Vince Matthews ’55, quarterback of that team renewed memories of that special time in our school history. | |
Frazer Dealy ’62 and Laury Liles ’64, members of the two basketball teams that won State Championships in 1961 and 1964, spoke about these triumphs while bestowing accolades on some of their fellow teammates, David Parrish, Tommy Nance, Ray Vanover, Roger Ballard, Lee Hopkins, Ray White, Richard Kropp, Jerry Brewer, Jim Damon, Eddie Verner and Tim Timmerman from 1961; Mike Davis, Ken Spain, Richard Vasquez, Vernon Lewis, and Larry Skinner from the 1964 team. The two teams were led by Head Coach Pat Riley with Sidney Jones as his assistant coach. | |
Two present day athletes, senior Elizabeth Owens and junior Paul Andrado, told us what the athletic program at AHS has meant to them and how it is helping them in their academic life. | |
Marsha Mathis Eckermann, Co-Chairman of the 70th Anniversary Celebration, reflected on the programs at AHS allowing the legacy to continue reaching this next generation as a beacon of encouragement for their successes. | |
We continue to receive items donated for display in the field house including a cheerleader uniform and megaphone from Joe Nelson ’64, a majorette uniform from Barbara McCauley Polk ’57, and our old mascot, Stevie, from the class of 1965. Shop teacher, Dennis Villarreal is building a case that will become Stevie’s new home. | |
Following a short Austin Alumni Association business meeting to elect new officers, the band closed the event by playing Austin High. Thanks to David Waters ’58 and his friends from the Houston Symphony who came out to support the band with their brass addition. The entire football team was introduced along with the cheerleaders who led us in a couple of cheers. | |
David Villarreal, shop teacher, cooked hot dogs with drinks and chips available for everyone. Many attendees then toured the field house to see first hand this state-of-the-art facility. This event just served as a teaser to what we might expect at the upcoming 70th Anniversary Celebration planned for September 8, 2007. We don’t know about you – but we can hardly wait! |
