The Waltrip Alumni Association, Inc. was formed during the 50^th Anniversary Celebration of the school.  We discovered  that no alumni association had ever been formed during the 50 years of the school’s existence, so as a member of the first graduating class, I, along with others,  made the decision  to remedy that issue.  At the close of our anniversary program, we called for the formation and the entire attendance in the auditorium stood in the affirmative.

Since then, all of the legal aspects were completed as well as obtaining a 501 (c)  (3) status from IRS.  Our general  board of directors and our executive board are comprised of Waltrip alumni.  Our advisory board is comprised of distinguished alumni including State Representative Debbie Riddle, the director of legislative affair for Governor Rick Perry, and former state senator, Ken Armbrister, along with successful alumni business owners, pastors,  and  attorneys.   Dr. Joe Stuessy, retired chairman of the music department at the University of Texas at San Antonio is our advisory board chairman.  Mr. Joe Tusa, the first assistant principal at Waltrip and athletic Director for HISD, is an active member of our advisory board. Other notable alumni include Senator John Whitmire, and  Judge David Patronella.  The late actor, Patrick Swayze was also an alumni of Waltrip along with actress, Shelley Duvall, pro football players Keenan McCardell,  Van Malone, and Sean Washington,  former City Council member, Toni Lawrence and her sister, Barbara Olsen who was a victim of the Sept. 11 attacks, Debra Maffett, Miss America 1983 and Mark Callaway, pro wrestler known as “the undertaker”.

On May 3, 2012, we awarded our first  three academic scholarships to Waltrip graduates, fulfilling one of  the main objectives of our association.  We are also committed to providing stipends to faculty and teachers at Waltrip and to assisting in capital improvements to the school campus.

Presently, the school is undergoing a renovation using funds from a 2008 bond issue.  We anticipate the renovation being completed in early May of 2013.  Five members of the alumni association are serving on the Project Advisory Team of HISD for the renovation.

In our letter to you, we stated that we would like for you to consider serving on our advisory board in an honorary position so we can maintain a continuity between S.P. Waltrip,  you and your family.  The ideals of education set out by S.P. Waltrip are alive and well in the lives of the 20, 399 graduates of Waltrip.

Waltrip has changed since that opening day back in September of 1960.  The demographics are different  but the emphasis on education must remain  strong.  With the help of the advisory board, the two elected boards and the growing  alumni association membership, we purpose to maintain  guidance, mentoring, and dedication to giving Waltrip students the very best education possible, both while attending and after graduating from Waltrip.

The Waltrip Alumni Association understands that “the past is our heritage, the future is our legacy, and the present is our responsibility”.