Cincinnati Woodward High School Class of 1967 50Th Reunion
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Cincinnati Woodward High School Class of 1967 50th Reunion Memories Jim Pesout, President of Student Council When we were seventeen, how could we imagine what it would be like to be seventy? Now that we're nearing seventy, can we really remember what it was like to be seventeen? We can remember faces and places and events, but can we call forth the emotions and feelings from so long ago? I hope so. Some, at least. We went our separate ways in the March of our lives and now in our October we're wondering where it all and we all went. And what to do with the rest of our lives? There's really only one thing: love the loveless, help the poor, educate the ignorant, and aid the oppressed. There are still so many people out there who know not what they do. We've had a lifetime of experience now, successes and failures, each of which made us more resilient and hopefully a little wiser. In the time that remains, let's tell the story of our lives to our children, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and young friends. Admit our mistakes, offer good advice, accept responsibilities for our failings, and remind them all that hope is what our generation always cherished the most. Let's teach today's young people the truth as we see it because we were once them and certainly this is now their world to care for. My best to all. Be well. Be happy. Jim Pesout Doug Hammond's Founder's Day Speech - Class of '67 Golden Anniversary __________________________________________________________________________ I’d like to thank Shauna Murphy for hosting the Woodward Founder’s Day Celebration. Also, thanks to Penny Booker Beverly for all your hard work with the Woodward Alumni Association. Thank you for recognizing our class of 1967 as the Golden Anniversary class. Finally, sincere thanks to you - friends, faculty and students for being part of this celebration. Shauna, William Woodward would be proud to know where you and your team are leading Woodward’s students today. The contextual learning experiences your students encounter fit well with William Woodward’s original vision of high school learning. Your SMART goals are aimed at making sure your students are ready for life after graduation, ensuring that they are educated in a safe and welcoming environment, and encouraging your parents and community members to be engaged in your school. These goals would surely merit the approval of William Woodward. I remember Founders Day assemblies while a student at Woodward. Two memories stand out: 1. The ringing of the Woodward bell by the oldest living graduate, and 2. Walking out to the statue of WW to place a wreath. I’m sure there were songs and speeches, but as a high school student I don’t think I much appreciated the reason for Founder’s Day. As a more mature adult, I look back on my days at Woodward HS and I am so thankful for my education – in academics and in life. I now cherish the vision and dedication to educate all students that William Woodward fostered. His vision was to provide a higher level of education to many who would not have been able to afford it. In 1831, he opened the first free public high school in a tiny two-story country school house. Now look around. This beautiful building is the 5th high school to bear his name. The seeds of education he planted have and will continue to blossom many times over. Education at Woodward had many firsts such as the first manual training, domestic science program, night school, military training, art league, and yes, the teaching of Spanish originated at Woodward . William Woodward would be proud of the dedicated teachers and staff that have transformed high school students’ lives for so many years. While in high school, I didn’t fully appreciate Woodward’s diverse student body. We were blessed with great teachers and blessed with classmates from all walks of life, classmates we lunched with, learned with and teamed with. What a great environment in which to learn academic subjects and to learn life lessons. Let me personalize for a moment and reflect on a life lesson I learned during my senior year. It was third quarter, and senioritis began to creep in. I started to throttle back in Senior English. Reading all that stuff just didn’t seem relevant. When third quarter grades came out, I was surprised by the fact that my English grade was lower than I expected. The next day when I questioned my teacher as to the fairness of my grade, he asked me to come out into the hall with him. He said that my English grade reflected how I “did” compared to how capable I was of “doing.” He told me that perhaps the grade I got wasn’t “fair” but it was the correct grade for me. He reassured me that if my 4th quarter grade was where it should be, my year’s average would not be affected by my low third quarter grade. Life lesson: Don’t work just to get by. Work to produce to the level of talent with which you were blessed! Isn’t education great! My senior English teacher, Paul Hendrick, is with us today. Thank you from me and from so many others whose lives you have impacted. We bid you Godspeed Woodward. Thank you Doug's Founder's Day Luncheon Speech ____________________________________________________________________ Hello Woodward Graduates My name is Doug Hammond. I was president of the Woodward High School class of 1967. We are currently planning our class’s 50 year reunion to be held in October of this year. Little did I know 51 years ago when I ran for this office that all these years later I would still have officer duties. I guess when elected senior class president you assume the president’s duties for life! Thank you to Penny Booker-Beverly, president of the Woodward Alumni Association and to your helpers for putting this Founder’s Day luncheon together. I remember Founder’s Day assemblies while a student at Woodward Three memories stand out. 1) The Founder’s Day assembly was during school hours so we got to miss class. That was a good thing. 2) The ringing of the Woodward bell by the oldest graduate present. That was a fun thing to see. 3) Walking out to the statue of William Woodward to place a wreath. Those days in March were usually cold ones! Students didn’t get invited to the Founder’s Day luncheon. If we did, I’m sure that it would be tops on my memories list! I look back on my days at Woodward High School, and I am so thankful for my education- in academics and in life. I now cherish the vision and dedication of William Woodward to have free public high school education afforded to all students. While in high school I didn’t really appreciate how diverse our student body was. We were blessed with great teachers and blessed with the opportunity to lunch with, learn with, and team with classmates from all walks of life. What a great environment in which to learn academic and life lessons. A number of us had the opportunity to attend the Founder’s Day celebration yesterday at the Woodward Career Technical High School. Principal Shauna Murphy provided an opportunity for all to tour the facility, meet faculty, and best of all she had student leaders greeting us, touring with us, and talking with us about their school and their plans for the future. They were excited to share their campus and were very friendly and eager to interact with the graduates. Mrs. Murphy, I know you are proud of these young folks. Please pass along our gratitude to them. Let me take just a moment to personalize- My wife, a retired high school English teacher, has a true love of books. Last summer, while looking through old books, she came across a 1917 Woodward yearbook. In research, she found it belonged to her grandfather William Galle who graduated from Woodward High School in 1917. 2017 would be his 100 year class reunion! As graduates of the Woodward High School class of 1967 we’re halfway there! I am sure her grandpa and William Woodward are looking down on us today and saying “Go Bulldogs.” Roger Abrams Linda Ackerman Bailey Class of '67 Class of '67 Occupation: Librarian (Ret.) Occupation: Retired Real Estate Broker Family: Married with 3 children, 6 grand children and 4 great grandchildren. Interests: Music (Blues, Rock, Jazz), Movies, Reading Interests: Golf, theatre & travel. Have been in over 30 shows & directed 4 shows. Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: Graduated from Kent Biography / Memorable Life Experiences: My husband Dale and I State and Eastern Michigan Universities. Substitute taught for 2.5 have a retirement goal of playing golf in every state. So far, we've years and then got an M.L.S. degree from Indiana University. I played in 33. Hawaii and Alaska (played during high tide!) are top on became a librarian with Cincinnati Public for 27 years. Married Linda our list. We live on a farm and I've had the thrill of pulling a new born Cohen. She passed away in 2004 and I retired from the library the calf into life! As a real estate broker, I was honored as Realtor of the following year. Lived in Scottsdale AZ for a time and then returned to Year for the Missouri Assn.