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Judy Maxwell (1971)

Rosa,

Jose Silva, the Rice student has already done his interviewing and his paper. There is a copy of it above if you would like to read it,

J

,

Katherine Newton (Courtland) (1968)

   Hi everyone!   That was an interesting  perspective by the Rice professor, emphasizing the music and sports  I agree those were important, especially since there were so many successful black performers and athletes and that was a way for them to be admired and more accepted by the whites  Did you watch the movie, The Green Book, yet?  It was an eye opening true account of the challenges a black performer had in trying to find hotels and restaurants  that allowed black customers as they travelled and performed in the South   It ends with a scene from Birmingham where I now live. The country club had a sellout crowd who could not wait for a black pianist to perform but refused to allow him to eat in their dining room, instead wanting him to eat in the janitor’s closet even as he was dressed in tux or tails  He left without performing.

It was at Baylor where I first had a couple of fellow black students that I met and got to know. It was a strange and curious thing for me. I wondered if their skin had a different texture to touch. I hugged a Kindergarten student in my teacher training and felt her little arm. I was glad I felt the same care for her as the white students, but it all seemed strange at first. We have come a long ways now, from a total unfamiliarity to almost every family having mixed race couples or grandchildren, cousins, etc  I remember hearing about the riots at SHHS while I was at Baylor  They made national TV news.  I felt embarrassed at the parents who jeered and demonstrated against the buses of black students and was relieved when it all settled down. I can imagine it was a tough adjustment on both sides, white and black, and I don’t blame people for trying to get equal access to oppportunity. The bribing scandal around getting rich kids into elite schools is also not fair and in my opinion, America is about providing equal opportunities for all of its real (legal!) citizens, whatever the color, origin, or economic status! My husband grew up in an orphanage but ended up with a Baylor MBA and achieved a debt free life. He was from a disadvantaged Hispanic background but prejudicial bias just caused him to work harder.  Besides work, it takes luck and courage to try and fail.  It has been disappointing to us the way some political groups belittle success instead of encouraging our youth that everything is possible. Sam Houston students on the whole seemed to me to be hard working, salt of the earth good people! 

Judy Maxwell (1971)

Katherine,

First of all I just want to say I love your Wedding picture. I do weddings so I alsways notice if we have a bride among us!!

You are right about the blacks also suffering that were bussed over to SAM, They were not wanting to be take from their schools.  Also even though some did have fights and caused some issues, there had to be several students scared and were worried about what might happen to them. Not to mention their parents worry for them.

Yes things have come a long way ~ some for the good and some not so much! I don't remember but was just wondering did any of the white students get sent off to black schools? One thing I can always say I was at SAM in 71 when it all started happening. Even with some injuries, Glad we all survived!!

Judy

Debbie Vollert (Campbell) (1971)

Judy asked if any Sam students were sent to other schools. I grew up on the west side of I-45 & Parker Road. Some of us in this area attended Sam. Others attended Reagan and I believe others attended Waltrip.  Prior to the situation that caused so many students to change schools, we were allowed to go to any school we wanted as long as we could get there. I had to walk to Parker & Nordling to catch the bus to Sam.

After the policy change, we were supposed to go to a high school west of Shepherd Drive. My friends & I tried to find it one day but weren’t successful. Most of my friends & acquaintances’ parents decided to not comply with the changes. Several families came together & started Northwest Academy. Other families found family members or friends that had addresses they could use to stay at Sam, Reagan, etc.

We used a relative’s rental house address. This worked for a while until I was called to the counselor’s office and told me that they knew I didn’t live at that address. I was told that I would have to leave Sam and enroll in the school assigned to my address. I called my mother at work so she could come get me. She told me to tell them that I was dropping out of school. 

I was out of school for about a week until my mom found an apartment near Sam we could afford. My mom, sister, brother & I moved from the house we had been in since 1959. I was reenrolled at Sam with a valid address. Most of my teachers let me make up any work or tests I missed while I was out. I only had one teacher who wouldn’t. This particular teacher didn’t give tests on a regular basis. During the time I was away, she gave two tests. Since I couldn’t make them up, I got my first & only F on a report card. 

We never knew how the school found out I wasn’t living at the address we were using.  We suspected someone turned us in but could never prove it. My friends who went to Reagan using someone else’s address continued there until they graduated in 1971 & 1972. 

I always thought it was sad that so many students were forced to change schools in their junior or senior years. This was played out all across Houston in many different neighborhoods. Families didn’t move around for work then the way they do now. Most of us had been going to school with the same friends we made in kindergarten or first grade. It was hard to be told that we wouldn’t be graduating with them.  Of course, there were probably no easy answers to the situation HISD was trying to solve. They had to start somewhere & we were part of the change.

Diane Grayson (Goloby) (1971)

I remember those days of students being called to the office on "non-riot" days. Everyone would be in class working, and suddenly the intercom would come on, and one or two students names would be called. We knew immediately what that meant. Someone wasn't living in the Sam Houston area and were going to be told to leave the school. Things sometimes were worked out, like in your case. It was a sad situation. They should have made the change gradually, staring with 10th grade the first year of busing, and allow Juniors and Seniors to finish out their SHHS attendance. After all by their Junior year they already had their Senior rings!

When I taught in Magnolia ISD and Magnolia West was built, they didn't force students in grades 9-12 to change to the new school if they lived in that area. They started with 9th grade only, having 9th grade the first year, 9th and 10th the second year, and so on. Finally after 4 years, the 9th graders who came in had become Seniors and there was no adjustment to change. This is how it should have been done with busing in HISD. But that's hind-sight. Perhaps it's because of the issues we had during our time, school districts deal with changes gradually.

I remember Northwest Academy too. Wasn't Mr. Doherty Principal there at one time?

Charles Ellis (1969)

1966-1969 Everyone on my street south of Crosstimbers went to Sam. At least several (7) students.

However, in those days you had a choice.

My Mother had gone to both Marshall Jr. Hign & Jeff Davis HS.

She was dead set against me going to either.

I went to PIGG, on Merill for the eighth grade, but to Burbank for the ninth.

MY parents, owned a buisness a block away from Burbank, so my Dad wired the deal.

When the forced busing started, all students were affected.

Kids torn from the neighborhood they went to Elementary & Jr. High were hit hard.

Transfering to a new school, in your Senior yr. after you had your ring, must have been a real disappointment.

Judy Maxwell (1971)

Just looked in on the camera that is mounted on top of SAM, they are about 1/2 way through with tearing down all the shop classes that were at the back of the property towards Hardy. Strange to see it being torn down. I am in hopes of being in Houston the day the main three story structure comes down.

Also ~ Looking up at the sky from the camera you can sure see all the smoke from the refinery plant that is burning as it drifts across the neighborhood.

Judy

Jerry Deason (1962)

Jane Ellen (Deason) Pavey, class of Jan.1962, has past away on March 19, 2019, at the age 75.

Lynda L. Voswinkel (Boehm) (1962)

Lawrence Tracy Lott (1976)

Judy #4293

Thanks for posting this - I looked yesterday early and didn't see anything. Now the shops are almost gone, but the ROTC building is still standing. Sad day indeed - I took a good look around at the Open House in December and the buildings definitely were not "falling apart". I understand that they want a fresh start, but throwing a huge amount of money at something for no good reason is a formula for disappointment. Just my $0.02... Tracy

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Judy Maxwell (1971)

Jerry,

My thought and prayers go out to you and your family at the loss of your sister.

Judy

Judy Maxwell (1971)

Lawrence,

It is interesting to watch them tear it down.

I went to 2 couple of the tours of the old building and even though parts were ok, there are some major issues with a lot of the building. The gym and locker section was terrible and the pool area too. I know that the smell of mold was so stong my sister could not go back for the second tour. SHe had a lot of trouble breathing in the lunch room and in the hall ways. SO anyone with asthma would have a hard time stayng in the building and breathing.

I do wonder why some of the windows, doors etc...could not have been salvaged and perhaps sold or donated to someone. BUT that may cost more in the long run to do. A lot of Houston schools need to be upgraded and I am glad the students at Sam have a nice new building to attend ~ I bet grades go up just due to the better atmoshere they are in.

I have not heard from Mr. Monzon about how the abatement is going. I will shoot him an email or text and get an update. This morning looking at the camera the old shop buildings are gone and it looks like a bomb went off out there.

Judy

Caren Reynolds (Cates) (1965)

Jerry Deason:

My sympathy for the loss of your twin sister and pray for peace and comfort for you and your family.

I lost my twin brother, Coady Reynolds, in 2009.  When you are a twin, you are never alone.  After his death, I really felt alone.   I have great memories of playing with Coady when we were young.

Blessings to you, Caren

Caren Reynolds (Cates) (1965)

Post 4243, James Slaughter

Cute story about Burbank girls, James.  You didn't mention if the introductions worked.  :)

James Slaughter (1965)

Responding to Caren #4300

I got zero positive responses. I hit on all the Burbank "meat" within the first week or two. No talkers. SAVED ME A LOT OF TIME. I knew right offf if I did not want to go to a junior high girl I would have to find a high school girl outside Sam Houston. Eventually lead me to Shirley. So very happy outcoming.

Lynda L. Voswinkel (Boehm) (1962)

Judy Maxwell (1971)

Not much left of the shop classes....they are moving right along~

Charlotte Pate (Poole) (1962)

LOOKS LIKE MEMENTO GATHERING TIME IS CLOSE.  

Caren Reynolds (Cates) (1965)

James Slaughter, you are correct, you got a jewel in Shirley.  She is your sweetheart and so kind and generous to all.

Charlotte Pate (Poole) (1962)

HI ALUMNI,  THE CLASS OF 1962 IS HAVING A MINI REUNION ON SATURDAY, MAY 11TH, AT RUDY'S BBQ IN SPRING, TX.  OUR CLASSMATE, LINDA VANCE CARROLL, VISITING FROM PARIS, FRANCE WILL BE ATTENDING.  ALL OF YOU THAT KNOW HER ARE INVITED, AS ARE ALL OF OUR CLASSMATES.  RUDY'S IS ON I-45 AND WE'LL BE STARTING THE PARTY AT 11 AM UNTIL YOU GO HOME.  PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS.  THANKS

Judy Maxwell (1971)

Charlotte,

How exciting to have a classmate coming in from Paris...

Hope you and your fellow classmates have a good time...

Rudy's is a good spot to eat!!

Also they are getting close to the third story buiding at SAM being torn down. They are getting all the extra buildings and sidewalks torn up now.

Judy

Carolyn Singletary (Fuston) (1962)

It is with a sad heart that I report the passing of Virginia Hembree Tyler class of ‘62  Prayers are needed for family   She will be missed 

It is with a sad heart that I report the passing of Virginia Hembree Tyler this morning in Grand Rapids Michigan 

Carolyn Singletary (Fuston) (1962)

Virginia Hembree Tyler class of 62 passed away yesterday. She will be missed 

Lynda L. Voswinkel (Boehm) (1962)

Terry Martin (1970)

This is my first time to post but reading the post of the racial problems I decided to make a note.  Some have asked in the past why Lindale swimming pool closed. it was because the city told him he had to allow blacks into the pool, he didn't want to do that so he filled it in. 

In the fall of 1970 my mom would call me at home and tell me to go and get my brother out of school because she heard there were fights going on. I would go to the school and tell the office I was there to pick him, he was called to the office and we would leave no questions asked. 

It is sad to think that that's the way things were.