Austin High School Alumni Association
P. O. Box 31495
El Paso, Texas 79931
75th Anniversary Items
Availableth
Mugs, embossed or etched
$12.00 + $4.00 shipping
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Austin HS celebrated its 75th Anniversary this last school year!
May 21 - 27 - "Austin High School Week"
Proclaimed by the Mayor and City Council of the City of El Paso
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April 4, 2006 - Sandra Day O'Connor Visit
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Nearly 60 years after graduating from Austin High, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor paid a special visit to fellow Panthers and shared some of the wisdom she acquired since leaving the school.
“I’d like to wish every bit of good luck to the students here today in reaching their dreams,” she said, adding that reading and writing well were especially helpful in her career. “I hope that your time here at Austin High will make you look back and think of how important it was in your life.”
O’Connor was invited last year by then-Student Council President Robbie Corral, who wrote her a letter asking if she would be willing to lend her name to EPISD’s newest magnet program. Corral introduced her that day to the crowd, which ncluded state and local dignitaries and EPISD administrators — all of whom looked just as charmed as the students.
The Sandra Day O’Connor Criminal Justice/Public Service Academy’s instruction is designed to educate students interested in serving the community with their career. The program is a collaboration between many law enforcement agencies in the community including the FBI, Fort Bliss, U.S. Border Patrol, the El Paso Police Department, the EPISD Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department.
Though O’Connor’s words were directed at everyone in the room, perhaps they were especially meaningful to the women and girls in the audience.
“When Ronald Reagan decided he would put a woman on the U.S. Supreme Court for the first time in 191 years that we’ve had a court, it was about time,” she said. “When I graduated from Stanford Law School in 1952, none of the law firms would hire a woman lawyer — believe it or not. They would not even give me an interview. … But in my lifetime I have seen incredible changes for women. And now there are more young women in law school than men. And we are rapidly approaching the time when there will be as many women practicing law — and we make pretty good lawyers, so it’s going to work out all right. I am very pleased to be a small part of that.”
April 1, 2006 - 75th Anniversary Gala Dinner/Dance
The following is an editorial submitted to the El Paso Times by Charlie Hooten.
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"I would like to pay tribute to Austin HS on its 75th anniversary. It's interesting: The Play Theatre and Austin High both opened about a week apart in September 1930. I attended the gala AHS 75th anniversary banquet and dance recently. There are many solid citizens who were educated at Austin High. A roll call was made for attendees of each graduating class to sound off, starting with the present and moving back. There was a good representation over the years. Two fine gentlemen were there from the first graduating class of 1931: Henry Holman and Harry Lewis. Harry had a date and got up and danced. I enjoyed talking with both men and hearing about the thrill of attending the brand-new and beautifully built school. The yearbooks (The Roundup) from every year were on display. It was great fun to look back in time, feel the school pride, and realize that things actually don't change too much. It was my honor to lead the singing of the school fight song. Austin HS is, indeed, an El Paso treasure." |
February 25, 2006 - Austin-in-Action
Austin-in-Action was held on Saturday, February 25, 2006. The Alumni Association and the PTSA honored 1972 A-in-A Queen Debbie Askins. Thanks for joining us Debbie.
February 24, 2006 - Boys/Girls Track Invitational Classic
Thanks to all the coaches who helped organize the 75th Anniversary Boys/Girls Track Invitational Classic held at Irvin HS on Friday, February 24, 2006. Schools participating were Andress, Austin, Bowie, Chapin, El Paso, Franklin, Irvin, Canutillo, Parkland, and Cathedral.
September 8, 2005 - Oustanding Ex-Student
Alejandro (Alex) Acosta, class of 1969, was selected as Austin's Outstanding Ex-Student for the 2005-2006 school year. He was honored at a dinner reception on Thursday, September 8, 2005. Congratulations!
June 26, 2005 - Golf Tournament
The Austin HS Football Boosters sponsored a 75th Anniversary Golf Tournament on Sunday, June 26, 2005 at the Ascarate Golf Course. The entry fee included golf, cart, dinner, drinks and door prizes.
Trophy Cases and "A" Room
A special thanks to teachers Dorthy Weiser and Ruben Batista for the outstanding work on the reconfigured trophy cases that now reflect the different decades of the school’s history.
The long-awaited “A” Room is being assembled for the preservation and display of memorable photographs, trophies, and other treasures from the past. A continued search is underway for memorabilia such as uniforms, sweaters, jackets, programs, photos, and the like, that are already part of the proud Panther tradition. Your donations, however big, small, significant, meaningful, or just plain sentimental, are all welcome. Monetary donations are also being accepted and will be earmarked for this project.
The co-chairs for this project and can be contacted through phone calls or email at the following:
Ruben Batista, 562-0402, rxbatist@episd.org
Dorothy Weiser, 58702500 ext. 6263, dbweiser@episd.org
AUSTIN COMMUNITY MEETING MINUTES
Meeting
Date: January 30, 2006
Place: Austin High School Cafeteria
Time: 6:30 p.m.
"A" ROOM: Ms. Dorothy Weiser and Coach Ruben Bautista have been appointed co-chairs for the "A" Room project. This room is being assembled for the preservation and display of memorable photographs, trophies, and other treasures from the past. They are looking for donations. For information, please contact Ruben Batista at 562-0402 (rxbatist@episd.org) or Dorothy Weiser at 587-2500 ext. 6263 (dbweiser@episd.org).
TRACK, QUADRANGLE AND TENNIS COURTS: Part of the last bond proposal included the renovation of our track, quadrangle and tennis courts. Mr. Robert Anderson, EPISD Director, Planning, Engineering and Construction provided information on these renovations.
They informed the group that since our track is not regulation size it would need to be expanded. This expansion would mean that the existing concession stand would have to be moved. The lower field will have to be built up in order for the track to extend into that area. Expanding the track towards the stands would be too costly because of the recently installed new lights and the concrete stands that would need to be moved. Also, irrigation for the field would have to be considered and improved to protect the new track.
The plans for the quad include removing the existing trees, repairing the sidewalks that need to be repaired, and laying sod. A subterranean watering system would be installed. New trees would be planted. Also, the circle area in the center of the quad would be improved.
Two new tournament style tennis courts are planned to replace the three lower courts. It was mentioned that there is a rumor that at one time a swimming pool was under the old tennis courts. The district is trying to determine if this is true. All construction is planned to begin in July and will continue until about October or November.
SCHULMERICH BELLS:
Tara Lewis from Schulmerich Bells gave a demonstration of the system that
could be installed in order to have chimes in the tower again. The system
is electronically controlled and would cost about $15,000. The system
can be programmed for times and dates up to several years in advance.
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Last Updated on November 5, 2007