EDGEWOOD The Story· The People
.092 EDGEWOOD I.S.o. LIBRARIES
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, I \1 UI Ref. 370 . 092 Edgewood The Story - Edg The People f,9QaY'ood School UlSt"., - \Jbrarie. EDGEWOOD The Story· The People . , ~ Published as a Sesquicentennial Project by The Community Relations Office Edgewood I ndependent School District 0." San Antonio, Texas J 1986 EDGEWOOD I.S.D. Lt6RARtES 1954 - Aerial view of the Edgewood campus. ,'- , . , . 10":..," ..,:. ..v. I .' J- . ~ -;:~..... ~ --- 'ff ~~~ .. Copyright 1986 by the £dgewood Ind ependent School Distri ct San Antoni o, Texas. 2 CONTENTS Page Introduction .... 5 The Story ...... 7 The Leaders ...... 21 The Namesakes ...... 29 The Historic Visits ...... 49 The Present . 63 The Future ...... 69 History of Edgewood Common School District No. 41 ...... 74 Footnotes of Edgewood History ...... 80 Epilogue ...... 86 Acknowledgements . 87 3 ~ - -~ 1954 Edgewood High School. 4 INTRODUCTION One of the characteristics of a civilized society is to keep track of facts. that. is. wriLe a history, to preserve the past. Lo pass it on to the next generation. Just like our ancestors passed on their knowledge so that. we may know about them. so do we now make a printed record of where we have come from ... where we are going. The legacy of Edgewood School District is a proud one. One that challenges a ll fulure Edgewood students and parents to preserve what we have nurtured. and to continue in the path of excellence which we have laid. EDGEWOOD: THE STORY, THE PEOPLE is by no means a complete history, by no means a chronologically complete record of our illustrious and sometimes rocky past, hut it serves as a tribute to those who came before us. In the words of former Edgewood Superintendent and District historian, Dr. E. E. Arnaud. who published a history of Edgewood in 194 2: Most of us are likely to take for granted the lit tle schoolhouse around the corner from us ... But seldom do we think of a schoolhouse as having a real history of its own. But it does, and in Edgewood it li ves. David D. Ochoa Community Relations Officer 5 1937 · Edgewood High School's first graduating class. This page intentionally left blank 6 - - Although Edgewood: The Story. The People chronicles this school district's hi story beginning in 1905. "The Story" actually begins years before when San Antonio continued to grow and people continued to move into the desirable West. Side. The need for a public education system for "the edge of the woods" folks was met. The now ramous $1 deal which is the modest beginning of what we know today 8S t he multi-million dollar, multi-campus, front-runner in Texas public school systems is an ex ample of the Edgewood" spirit" still evident today in its community members. Although impossible to list everyone's contributions to "The The Story", we should remember that Edgewood School District-1986 is the result of many citizens' tireless hours of work. high energy. generous con tributions, and inspired foresight. I n Edgewood. Story "The Story" is "The People". 1985 - Graduating Class of Memorial High School. 7 • Frey School Opens In 1910 Even though the present Edgewood Independent School District. actually became "independent" on January 21. 1950. the formation and history of Edgewood go back to the turn of' the 20th century. County Court records show that on l\lay 8. 1905. Carl and Friederike Frev sold to Robert B. Green, Bexar cou~· ty Judge. a tract of land for one dollar "for the purpose of a school sight (sic), and to be used for school pur poses only." Thus began what wa s to become Edgewood School District. According to a thesis published in 1942 by E.E. Arnaud. Parke R. LonbTWorth bought land from the Murscheidt Farm and divided it into the Edgewood Addition. Many families moved into the section lured LAKE VIEW GARDENS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 41 - The Frey School, open by the rich soil and abundance of arte ed in 1910, was located at the northwest corner of Parker and Stephenson Roads sian water for irrigation. (now General McMullen and Menefee Street). The Frey School was built by Charles It is during this time that the Frey who donated the two-acre site. On September 8, 1915, the school board sold name "Edgewood" was chosen. Ac the Frey School building to David Anderson for S301. The building was moved cording to Arnaud. since the area was and became the dwelling for the Vers(uyft family. The first schoolhouse in just beyond the city limits of San An Edgewood is still the property ~ f the Verstuyft family and is presently situated tonio. it was assumed that the name at Cupples at Kirk. (Pictured at the first schoolhouse are Darson and Marie Verstuyft. Photo courtesy Homer & YlJonne Verstuyft). took into account the fact that the area was the "edge" of the "woods" In early 1900. the area wa s part of Elementary School. for South San families. and other School District 15. which extended To consolidate the Frey and valuable property on its tax rolls. The west beyond the present Loop 410. Lakeview Schools. in 1915. a red courts generously defined South Due to the large size. its Trustees brick. three story school named San's area to include a "large oil com decided to subdivide it. On January Edgewood was completed at the cor pany. a fa ctory. and approximately 13. 191 3. a group of Trustees and ner of Cupples and Ceral\'o Streets. 13 miles of railroad right of way." Un patrons filed a petition with the Bex Later it became Edgewood Elemen fortunately for Edgewood. only thrC£' ar County Commissioner's Court re lary. The building was lorn do\'m. quarters of a mile of railroad properly questing the division of District 15. then renamed and is the present site remained on its lax rolls. On February 13. 191 3. just one of the Perales School. Even after losing the South San month later. Carlos Bee. County Although the Edgewood Di strict area. Edgewood continued to attract School Board President. and the was outside San Antonio. the City more and more families who were Board memhprs approved the peti. grew closer through developments at looking for a desirable place to live. tion. Out of the eastern segment the District's southern and eastern As more families moved in, the stu' evolved the District known as Lake boundaries. In 1917. Kelly Field was dent enrollment grew and more View Gardens School Di strict No. 41. established soulh of Edgewood. Also schools and classrooms were needed. Two separate one-room. wood frame in 1917. Elmendorf Lake was deeded To accommodate the increased school houses inherited from the to the City for park land. These two enrollment. a new schoo l. Stafford. previous district became the begin developments helped spur even more was built in 1931. Residential ing of the Edgewood School District. population growth. development a round Edgewood The Frey School. named for Carl In 1922. the citizens of the Sout.h School also increased. By 1936 the and Friederike's daughter. Emma San Antonio area of Edgewood broke school had to be expanded by four Frey. was located at the northwest away when Bexar County Commis classrooms cmd a gymnasium. These corner of what is now General sioners granted them their own in additions primarily served the grow McMullen Drive and Menefee. dependent school district. ing number of high sc hool students and the Lakeview School was in the Thus. Edgewood lo st Fenfield whose first class 112) graduated in vicinity of the present Stafford School. which had been built in 1918 1937. 8 1917 - Children board the " bus" on the way to the Edgewood School. The driver of the "bus" behind 8 pair of old gray mules is Edward Trapp pictured above with his wife, Lora Mae. In 1917 children would climb aboard with Trapp each morning behind "Bess" and " Kate" to head for the Edgewood School. 1918 The Edgewood School.!ooludentloo pictured \\ilh their teacher. l\lr!oo . Thurman (top righU. 1\lr.,. Thurman'.., hu .... · band. \V. Anhur Thurman, \\U.!oo the rirl'ot principal 01 the .!-ochoo!. I\lr. and ;\Ir!o,. Thurman li ved in tht' ..,chool building. The li ving roum a nd bedroom were located in thl' loooutheul'>t room 01 the lir.!oollloor. The kitchen and dining room \q'n' located in tht" room adjoining to the north. 9 During this growth pe riod. Edgewood was rename d the Edgewood School Districl. Still greater increases in student popula tion between 1937 and 1940 caused expansion of the Edgewood School properly by 3 acres. conversion of the auditorium inLO classroom space. the leasing of the Edgewood Baptist Church for a first grade class. and double sessions in some of the cla ssroo m s. For 83. 0 0 0 . the Edgewood Board bought 3.0b acres just north of the school property to accommodate student enrollment. In 1938. the school district had to issue S40,000 in bonds to finance the construction of Edgewood High The Edgewood School building wa~ completed in AUgUbt 19 15. The. p~ebent School and an addition of four rooms Peraleb Elementary School ib situated on the bile of the three·.. tor~ building. at Stafford School. With the help pro vided by the Works Progress Ad ministration, the new high school and creating major .... tarring and .... pac(' pro Stafford additions were ready for use blems. Eh'caus(' of Edg(·wood· .... prox in 1940, the year the District recorded imit\· LO Kell \ AFR, Duncan Fi l'ld a record enrollment of I ,5~ 6 students. and - '\' ormoyl~ (luartermaMer Ill-pot. This 1940 " record District-wide man\' families and workl'rs nfK'kl'd to enrollment" is today the size of the Ed g~ w ood to be dO .... l' to \\ orld \\ ar s tudent body at Kennedy High II - related defense jobs School. Classroom span> was cf('a ll'd In Edgewood II igh School in 1940 had agam renli ng ou t lhl' Edgl'wood Bap a s tudent enrollment of 155 st udents. t ist Church, a pecan .... hl'lling plan on Edgewood lIigh School in 1986 San Gabriel Street and anOlhl'r small boasts 1,000 Red Raiders. church on San Bernardo. In 1940, t he Board approved the Federal and slate authori lll's n'a iI I. salaries for the District 's 33 full-time ed the impact of thl-' man.\" dl'Il'lhl' teachers. The early 19·10 '8 also related fami lt es on lh(> .... chool di .... trin bro u g ht con t inued jumps in and in 1941 increased state mo ni es. enrollment s. By 1943, 1.911 were at Edgewood, H.K. Williams Elemen t e nding s choo ls in Ed gewood . Original Edgewood Elementary tarv built in 19·n, and (;ardl'ndall' EI ~me n tarv, built in IH-J9, v.en fina nced h~' F(>dera l monil' ..... By 19;;0, the District's populalton was 5, 140. On ,January :W, 19;)0 voters elected t.o become an indepen dent school district . '\laJor increase .... in en rollmpnt ('on t inued to o(,cur throu~hout lh(, 1950's. T Ilt' District gn''''' from f), I 10 students in 19,,0 to la,·J 16 <.,tud('nts by 19;)9. Eleven addilional .... rho()ls v.·ere added to th(> J)islritt in lhl' 19;>O's, Six ell'm('ntar.\ <.,('hool<.; ..... (.f(. qUlckl.\' built: Bur)('son (I YG II. ('or' onado (l951J. Iv\ m .... ton (l95~1 LOll1u Park (19:-):31. and (j \\ Carv('r whlth now hou<.;(-'s thp Adult Community Education Program. Despite these Ill creases. double session school days Student. of the Edgewood School. CIRCA 1920. were necessary to accommodate in creasing stude"nl enrollments. 10 Continued growth compelled Edgewood to build six more schools in the late 1950's: Edgewood High 119541. Las Palmas (19551. Lincoln II 956) now closed. Roosevelt 1195 7}, Emma Prey (1957). and Escobar (1958). In the 1960's Edgewood made na tional headlines. Demetrio Rodriguez brought suit against San Antonio In dependent School District and the State of Texas in 1968 in an attempt to enroll his children in a financially better school system than Edgewood. The suit eventually was heard before the Supreme Court. The case was defeated by one vote. but it was suc cessful in that it brought attention to the plight of the tax-poor and predominately minority school districts. Significant educational reforms. increased funding, and stigate needed plans and projects in overwhelmingly passed the largest research initiated by the Federal cluding park and drainage im bond issue ever in the hi story of Government resulted from the provements near Kelly Air Force Edgewood by a 17 to I margin. .. Rodriguez Case" Base. The first six years of the eighth In spite of continuing problems. By this time, Edgewood's physical decade of the 20th century was a time Edgewood managed to add eight new plant had grown to the current when Edgewood continued on a path schools to its system: Truman (1960 twenty-five schools. with construc of excellence in education. Examples which became San Antonio's first ful tion of Guerra (1970), Cardenas like establishing a high technology in ly air conditioned school), Iloeischer (19721. and Garcia (19721. Perales ternship program, only one of two in (19611. Johnson (19641. Kennedy Elementary. which was built in 1978, Texas. and instituting a ·'no-pass. no (19631. Brentwood II 965), Gonzalez replaced the original Edgewood play" rule years ahead of state man 119671. Wrenn (19681 and Memorial School which was damaged by fire. dates are evidence of educators who (1969). A bond Issue in 1984. described by are looking well past the next '3everal In 1973, the San Antonio City Plan current Board President David Gar years. ning Department identified za. as "able to carry the District into Other examples include: Edgewood as the City's second most the 21 st Century" provided the *inaugurating the sophisticated deserving area for social, economic. District S8.5 million to renovate and PLATO computer system (the only and physical planning. helping to in- remodel 12 schools. District voters one in Texas and in place at 200 of the nation's colleges) at Edgewood High School. *becoming the first school district in San Antonio to aCLively recruiL teachers to fly into space on the Shuttle mission. *being the lead sc hool plaintiff in a suit that sought creation of a system that would "equalize" funding for all Texas children. *passing in 1985-86, the largest District budget of over 851 million. It's a long way from the 8 1 deal in 1905 which made possible the first Edgewood School to the multi-million dollar. multi-campus Edgewood School District we know today. A gymnasium and four c1a~s roo m s are added to t he Edgewood School in 1936. 11 Piclured 8bo\t~ a .- R) Mr \\' illiam Suman, principal Al(onl,(' Burkhart. Annt'lla Andt>r ... on Ih\ mund Hohlt· ... . J ....'Uif· Bohl!' .... W il ... on Elkin." and lIomf'r \ er.,tu, h Homer \ f' r.,lu\ ft ., r!' f) ('(' tio n i., on lhf' follfJ~in~ P8)(f 12 IU I I I:( IIO'\S school class graduated from an Edgewood school in 1937, more than 14 years later. Verstuyft was too young to go to the original one-room school. Instead, he went to the Edgewood School from 1915 to 1923. Edgewood was a new, larger, brick building, built to replace the two older one-room school buildings. Verstuyft says it had three floors and aU eight grades in multiple rooms and roughly 200 students. But there were other im provements, too, including a bus he says looked like a bus of today, enclosed and with windows, but Markette drawn by a pair of mules. He says, the Frey "No, I didn't take that bus. I had to Homer Verstuyft walk. The bus drove by me with those cistern was used for drinking water, little mules." He walked about two when it rained enough. "When it ran miles a day, while about 25 students Homer Verstuyft remembers one of out, everybody had to carry his own from farther out rode the bus. the first schools in the Edgewood In water to school! They had old Edgewood opened at the new site in dependent School District. the Frey outhouses, you know, for otherwise 1915, bringing other improvements, schooL He lived in it! they had no running water then." including a high water tank and At 78. Verstuyft has a face like a The old, original Frey school was pump, about ten blocks west of the walnut, tanned and wrinkled from located near the corner of what is now school. Ethnically, the students were years in the sun on his farm south of General McMullen and Menefee a mix of white and hispanic, of Kelly AFB. His palms are like leather Streets. "I don't think there were assorted ages, as shown by the dif from work and a twinkle of laughter over 35 stude nts - 25 or 35. ference in size of students in photos. shows in hi s eyes. something like that. There were all Verstuyft says his only ethnic pro He talks of the school, saying, "All different sizes, I know that." says blem was with a German kid. and that I remember was that it was an old Verstuyft of the original school. he got along just fine with the wooden building and they caught However, not many children who Hispanic kids. He even traded their own rain water in a cistern that lived outside the city went past Belgian food for Mexican tortillas at was buried in the ground. a wooden eighth grade. Children on the farms lunch. cistern, I played there a few days, I had to quit school to go to work on Heating was a story. Asked what remember, on the school yard. And the farm and later start their own happened when it got cold in the next to the school was a little white farms, especially later with the winter. Mrs. Verstuyft says with a house where the widow woman lived. depression. " Hardly anybody went to laugh. "you freeze!" "And barefooted Mrs. Darby." high school in those days, from the most of the time, too," says Verstuyft lived in what had been a people in that area," says Mrs. Verstuyft. "I could have worn shoes, small one-room school, the Emma Verstuyft. "Now. downtown people, but I just didn't want to wear them. Frey school. Verstuyft's parents that was different. The people that that's all. I'd run barefooted and the bought the school and had it moved lived in that (rural) area were mostly soles of my feet were as tough as when the building was sold in 1914 or farmers or something. They didn't go leather, anyway." 1915. The exact date eludes to high school. Edgewood didn't have Students lined up and went in Verstuyft. a high school for a long time, " she whenever the bell rang. "We had Verstuyft was born in San Antonio says. spelling, arithmeLic, language, in 1907 and married his wife Yvonne in "We had to quit in the ninth geography, physics or something like 1927 when she was 16. She is now 74. grade." says Verstuyft. "That was as science, that's about all. We didn't Both were children of Belgian im far as we could go." For one year. have too many classes," he says. As migrants who settled on farms 1923, there was a ninth grade, with for sports, only in 1922 did he begin around San Antonio. After they mar seven students in Verstuyft's class, to play baseball and basketball. Up to ried. they continued to truck-farm and then this too was dropped. "They that time. there were no sports. land southeast of Kelly AFB. They didn't have enough pupils to make a In 1924 after ninth grade. planted, harvested and then took grade," he says. Most of the children Verstuyft quit school to work on the their crops to market themselves un had farms and had to quit to work on farm ... I t ruck-farmed all my life. I til they retired. the farms after they had finished was born on a farm, I'll die on the Verstuyft remembers that times their elementary grades. "They didn't farm." were different then. A cistern was a have enough people going to school in Asked about what he's learned wooden barrel under the downspouts those days for that long, " says from life, he says with a laugh. "if you to catch runoff from the roof. The Verstuyft. In face, the first high live a long time, you get old! " 13 , Con~truction l!otage!oo or the Edgewood High Mhool on Cupples Road . • "W' rlAm~ " ,,,-. r!1'IHiP.!1 f IIIttl NI Himlit .."' -'.E'W"'1---'" ••.... - ~ ....• ..., ....,~- The New Edgewood School i!oo completed in I!HO. 14 IU'I I.E( IIO'\'i Dolores Ortiz and Mary Presas belong to the first class to graduate from Edgewood School District, the Class of 1937, Today, almost 50 years later, the women still live in Edgewood. And they still remember, with amazing detail, events from their childhood. They giggle, a lmost like schoolgirls. when they recall how Pete Harvath (a classmate) used to yank their braids and dip them in t he ink well. One interrupts to remind the other of the time the teacher chases David Millenburg (another classmate) down the stairs because he was eating Doloret; Ortiz an orange during class. " He ran away from her I" Ortiz (formerly Dolores remembers the boys as a little more was," agrees Ortiz. Orta) says, "and when he got to the mischievous. Their teacher also seems to have bottom of the stairs, he just kept go Don 't think Ortiz and Presas didn't been a bit of a psychologist. There ing and went home!" have fun. Once or twice each term, the were children in the class whose "It was different then," says class was allowed to slide down the mothers sent tortillas in their lun Presas (formerly Mary Luderusl. fire escape for a fire drill. They loved ches. These children were embarassed "There was more respect-even the chance to do it with that they had tortillas instead of among the kids your own age." permission .. .it was something to look bread like their friends, and they "We were closer, " says Ortiz. forward to. And Ortiz remembers a would hide to eat their lunches. The This may have been because the pet squirrel she was allowed to bring teachers discovered this and put a classes were small. "One teacher to school during the day. "The stop to it by offering to trade lunches taught most of the grades," she says. teacher would put it in a cage," she with the children who had tortillas. Did they like school? They chuckle, says. "And sometimes we'd get to "What a turn when those kids realiz " I t wasn't a question of liking take it out and play with it." ed the tortillas were something the it-there was nothing else to do'" Even the rules seem to have been TEACHERS wanted," says Presas, The two women believe things are fun. Presas thought it was great when "Then it was okay to have tortillas!" different today. Attitudes toward the principal visited the classroom, The women in the 1930's played school ha ve changed. . 'The kids are and everyone had to rise. "We got out sports, but they laugh now about not learning what we had to," says of our work then," she says with a their uniforms. "We wore bloomers!" Presas, and Ortiz agrees. They recall wink. said Presas. "And our mothers long days struggling with algebra, Occasionally, the teachers would weren't quite sure that was right." geometry and English, as well as allow a little more than the normal Ortiz liked tetherbaU, volleyball, soc' Texas, European and world history. hour for lunch, and "Sonny and Jack cer and dodgeball, Some girls played Ortiz's favorite subject was science, and all of us would go to Mr. and Mrs. baseball, but only boys played foot, especially "the day Jack Watson (a Elkin's store across the street," Milk ball, Edgewood's colors were red and classmate) made the explosion'" was three cents and hamburgers were white then, Presas liked English best, but a nickel. Mrs. Ortiz's mouth still Graduation was a special event, history obviously made its mark on waters when she thinks of the just as it is today. Ortiz has her her, too. "Fourscore and seven years homemade pies Mrs. Elkin made. graduation picture, her class ring, ago, our fathers brought forth on this "We were all good kids-we behav, and her leather-encased diploma. continent... " she begins. ed in school," says Ortiz, "or we'd get One memory is a Junior-Senior Another difference the women in trouble for it when we got home," Luncheon that was held in a point out is the large amount of vaca The womE"n recall one very special restaurant downtown. Another is the tion time that children have today. teacher named Mi ss Holland, who in day the seniors planted bushes in "We only had a week off for vited the class for a Christmas party front of the school, as their class gift Christmas," says Presas. "Now, kids in her home. " } had tomato juice for to Edgewood, Finally, there was bac are off at the drop of a hat!" the first time in my life." says Presas, calaureate, and the class of 12 Evidently, the students then didn't "and she told us (girls) how to wear students, Edgewood's first. miss the time off. A t the time the perfume carefully-you know, not to graduated on the high school stage, girls graduated, there was no such splash it on. The teachers were our "It's a good life," says Presas. thing as playing hooky. However, a role models-you wanted to be just "We're old too soon," says Ortiz, few years later, when Presas' like them." taking exception. But a good life? brothers were in school. s he "There isn't respect now like there "Yeah," she says, smiling. 15 Edgewood's First Rhythm Band, Alvin Carpenter, Director, 1942. Photo courtesy E.E. Arnaud The Original Stafford School. Starford's First Rhythm Band - Lois Breckenridge, Director. 16 Addition to Edgewood Elementary - 1951. 17 H . K. Willia ms School - 1951. Photo fro m The Pio neer Gardendale School - 1951 T he Stafford School 1951 !.{'vcnlh g r ade r ~ . Teacher!. I-I enr.\ !\ietl.ger and Leo Sperr.\ . 18 1922 - Eighth grade class of the Edgewood School. The Edgewood School basketball team. CIRCA 1933. Pictured with the team is Coach Fred Hightower. (Photo calmes), of John H enry LedgerJ. 19 1948 . Hugb K. Williams This page intentionally left blank L 20 Seven educators have led Edgewood as Superintendent of Schools. Hugh K. Williams 1!939 to 1948), Elie Arnaud 1!948 to 19561. Bennie Steinhauser 1!956 to 19681. Joe Leyva ([968 to 19691. Dr. Jose Cardenas I! 969 to 19731 and Ruben Lopez I! 973 to 1978) were all men of vision. men who left a legacy to our present Superintendent. James R. Vasquez. to guide Edgewood as a progressive school system in Texas. Hugh K. Williams and Joe Leyva are now deceased. Dr. Elie Arnaud is now a professor at Our Lady of the Lake University. Bennie Steinhauser retired in 1985 as Superintendent of the Southwest Independent School District in Bexar The County. Dr. Jose Cardenas is the Executive Director of the Intercultural Develop· ment Research Association in San Antonio. Ruben Lopez is an assistant Leaders superintendent with the Houston In· dependent School District. James R. Vasquez. Edgewood's current Superintendent of Schools. was named to that position in 1978. 1986 - James R. Vasquez 21 H.K. Williams is District's 1948 . Hugh K. Williams 1968 . Bennie Steinhauser Hugh Kelly Williams was Eli E. Arnaud has the distinction of Bennie Steinhauser believes in the Edgewood's Superintendent from being the first superintendent of the quality of education. His concern and 1930 until 1948 when the school "independent" school di~lricl. committment to all aspects of educa district was the Edgewood Common He succeeded to the superintenden tion has spanned 38 years. School District No. 41. cy upon the resignation of H. K. Steinhauser graduated from Trini Williams was a native of Yoakum. Williams. ty University in 1950 and began Texas. and had resided in San An Arnaud served as superintendent teaching the 7th grade at Edgewood tonio for 18 years. from 19'18 until 1956. Elementary School that same year. Williams lived at 433 Patton Blvd. Prior to that, he served as a teacher He also taught two night school The former superintendent died in for the 1937·1939 period and served classes at Trinity during this time 1948 just months after he retired as as principal of the Edgewood Elemen· Diplomatic History and the History superintendent. tary School from 1939 until 1948. of the Far East. He died at the age of 69. Services Arnaud received a B.A. and an In 1951. after earning his Masters for Williams were held at t.he f\I.A. degree from Sl. Mary's Univer· from Trinity, Steinhauser became Methodist Church in Yoakum. and he si t~ , and a Doctorate in Education principal of Stafford Elementary was buried in Yoakum. from the University of Texas at SchooL He remained in this position His wife was named Ruth and his Austin. for three years. J n 1954 he was named son's name was O.K. Williams. As part of his requirements for the Assistant Superintendent. On April 5. 1949. the H.K. Williams master of arts degree from Sl. Steinauser became Superintendent School was dedicated in the f\ )arv·s. Arn<'tud wrote his thesis en for the Edgewood I.S.D. in 1956. superintendent's honor. titled Hi!:>tor) of the Edgewood Com· While at Edgewood. he was President mon School Di .... trict No. 41. The of the Teacher's Association, District publication is dated June 1942. 20 representative to the Texas The San Antonio native is currently Association of School Ad· a professor of education at Our Lady ministrators. and Region 20 treasurer of the Lake University, a position he for the Texas State Teacher's has had si nce 1956. Association. He was always a strong Dr. Arnaud took a special interes t supporter of professional and in human relations. li e is said to have parent/teacher organizations. known almost every student and staff In 1969 Steinhauser left his posi· member in the sc hool district during tion with Edgewood to become hi s term as educator in Edgewood. lie Superintendent of the Southwest still maintains close contact with I.S.D. He remained with Southwest m<:lI1~' former students and staff. until his retirement last June. 22 First Superintendent of Schools 1978· Joseph P. Leyva 1976· Dr. Jose Cardenas 1978· Ruben Lopez Photo courtesy Today's Catholic. Dr. Jose A. Cardenas served as Ruben Lopez served as superinten Joseph P. Leyva served only one Edgewood superintendent from June dent of Edgewood from 1973 until year as Edgewood Superintendent. 1,1969 unW May 31. 1973. 1978. He succeeded Dr. Jose He started his teaching career at Prior to becoming superintendent, Cardenas. Edgewood in 1951 and continued as a Dr. Cardenas was an elementary and Lopez taught in Corpus Chrisli teacher until 1958. He then transfer· secondary school science teacher, as schools from 1957 until 1966. From red to the Northside Independent well as the district science supervisor 1966 until 1970, he taught schools in School District and served there for during the period 1953 until 1969. Robstown, Texas. five years. In 1963. Leyva returned to Cardenas is a well·known national In 1970. Mr. Lopez came to Edgewood and served until he was educator and has a host of publica Edgewood and served as principal of named to succeed Bennie Steinhauser tions to his credit. Stafford Elementary School. Prom in 1968. Among the several honors he has the period 1970 and 1971. he was Leyva was born in San Antonio and received throughout the years include Director of Personnel. Before being graduated from Central Catholic the " Human Rights Award" which named Superintendent of Schools, High School. He earned a master's was presented to him in 1972 by the Lopez served as A s sistant degree in English from Trinity National Education Association. Superintendent from 1971 until 1973. University. He served in the Army in Dr. Cardenas graduated from Mar· Lopez was born in Robstown. Texas World War II. tin High School in Laredo, Texas and and graduated from the local high Upon leaving Edgewood. Leyva received a BA degree from the sc hool. Robstown Iligh School. lie studied for the priesthood and was or University of Texas at Austin. He received a BA degree from Pan dained on May 29. 1971. received a M.Ed degree from Our American Coll ege and an MS degree Following ordination, Fr. Leyva Lady of the Lake University and an from Texas A and I University in was principal at Antonian College Ed.D. from the University of Texas Kingsville. Texas. Preparatory for three years. He also at Austin. After his resignation from served at Sacred Heart Parish. St. Cardenas is presently the Ex Edgewood in 1978. Lopez moved to Stanilaus Parish in Bandera. and ecutive Director of the Intercultural the Houston Independent School served as pastor of Our Lady of Development Research Association, a District to become Associate Guadalupe Parish in Cuero until hi s position he has held since 1974. Superintendent Clu ster Manager. a retirement on October 1, 1983. position he still holds. The former Edgewood s uperinten' dent passed away on December 3 1. 1983. at the age or 62. 23 HEFLECTIONS education for its constituents. see that anymore." The school board also was beefed He also recalled vendors selling up from three to seven members. in water in the streets in some cluding the first two Hispanics to neighborhoods. The area was years hold such seats. behind other parts of the city in The absence of Hispanics. the most receiving capital improvements and significant element of t he area services such as water, sewage and population, from the political and drainage the city wa s responsible for . social arena had been a major .. I t made perfectly good sense to obstacle to progress. Arnaud said. think (the city water board) should The district's new independence was have supplied those services - they of little consequence to most of its just didn't." constituents. he added. Drainage problems l:ombined with "There was no big concern, because construction on relatively unsuitable 99 percent of the people didn 't know former farmland led to problems at what was going on," he remarked. the Gardendale and Williams schools, "The only people really concerned the educator said, recalling the shif· were the trustees and their families ting earth and rapidly-cracking foun who had a more intense interest than dations. the public," The dearth of water manifested The bulk of the Hispanics adopted itself in other ways. Arnaud mention the Westside district when the city ed an elementary school housed in an 1986· Dr. Eli. Arnaud housing authority in the 1930s razed old pecan shelling factory in which a In the late 1940s. County Common t he old Southside neighborhood barrel caught the meager yield of a School District No. 41, otherwise where the Alazan-Apache lowcost nearby well. t he students' only source known as the Edgewood School housing stands now. of water, District, was in a state of crisis. One Although expected by the city to "(The flow) was so slow it would of the largest districts in the area, it move back to the new residences. take all night to fill up the barrel was also the state's poorest. many Hispanks opted instead to set with enough water for all the kids:' Dr. Eli. Arnaud, Edgewood tle in the Westside of San Antonio. Arnaud said, laughing, ;' It was very Superintendent from 1948 to 1956, " The Latinos moved to Edgewood unsanitary. because the kids would recalled the common district's plea in and didn't move back (to the old all drink from the same cup. For 1949 to merge with its wealthier neighborhood)," Arnaud explained. tunately. we never had a contagion." neighbor. the San Antonio Indepen "They're the kind of people who like Eventually, Arnaud said, Westside dent School District. to own their own homes." leaders and members of the politically "The chairman of the (SA ISO) The district's poverty cut across prominent Good Government League school board got up after hearing our ethnic lines and Arnaud's examples saw to it that the problems largely case and said, 'We have a moral included the yearly arrival of hun were recti fi ed. obligation to annex the Edgewood dreds of migrant workers in the I n addition to the Hispanic popula district, but... · .. Arnaud recalled. neighborhoods and schools after fall tion, the Edgewood area consisted of "And that's all he said." harvest. a relatively wealthy community of Left to their own devices, the "We'd cut off enrollment just Belgian farmers to the South, a small Edgewood school board seceded before Christmas." he recalled. percentage of blacks. and mi litary without opposition from the county "After Christmas. we'd have 600 new dependents. each group of which district. Severing the district from students to chase around and try to stayed pretty much to themselves. the county's jurisdiction allowed the find room for. The Belgians. Arnaud said. sent board to estahlish a separate tax col "There was never a dull moment." t heir children to parochial schools in lection office. and consequently. a he remarked. chuckling. the city and had little interest in more realistic tax rate for the district. "The interesting thing was that the underwriting a public school system The county's tax office allowed administrators and teachers groups or mixing with Blacks and Hispanics. common districts to collect on only 30 weren't crying about the situation. The farmers eventually sold off their percent of a property's assessed They would just buckle down and do land and moved from the area. value. while the county itself did the what needed to be done. The Blacks still were segregated appraisals. "They could have made several prior to the landmark U.S. Supreme "With county values the property hundred dollars more if they crossed. Court integration order. Those in the had no value at all." Arnaud em the city line, but they stayed." he said Edgewood District congregated in phasized, referring to the low percen in praise of the educators. "one big, open room with a dirt tage on the already low appraisals. Things have changed. he added. floor, " as Arnaud described it. known The new independent district Quickly "There's been a whole lot of change. as the old Carver School. got to work re-appraising and raising The first graders were almost all Those that continued past eighth more revenues to provide better barefoot in those days - you don't grade attended Wheatley High, the , 24 ~ HEFl.ECTIO:'\S city's Black high school. superintendent," during his term as lack of facilities and crowded condi The professor said the merging of Superintendent of the Edgewood tions of many of the schools. Blacks and Whites after the integra 1's.D .• from 1956 to 1969. Steinhauser says. tion order went smoothly. "When I see how much money is Another difficult period which "There was no pressure from the available now for school programs, I Steinhauser recalls concerned an ef Blacks to be accepted, ,. he recalled can't help but wonder how we sur fort to unionize Edgewood teachers. "When the law passed, the school had vived in those days," he says. In 1962. A.F.L.lC.1.0. orgaruzers an open house for the kids and Student enrollment in the District from Buffalo. New York. wanted everything went properly. ,. increased 1500 to 2000 every year Steinhauser to help them organize the "The kids didn't have all the over a ten year period. Steinhauser teachers into a teacher union. "The animosity earlier generations had," says this represents 50 to 75 addi members said if I didn't cooperate, he added. tional classrooms a year. they would 'get me'." The military famHies to the south In response to the growing need for Steinhauser says the union at one sent their children to nearby Winston classrooms, approximately 20 new time had a membership of 19 Elementary, and generally were not schools were built during his term. teachers, but that the vast majority involved in local education concerns Steinhauser says the pressures of teachers wanted no part of the ef except for their school's PTA. created by overcrowded schools fort. "The rough tactics of the "They weren't there long enough," didn't deter teachers. though. "The organizers is what eventually Arnaud remarked, alluding to the dedication of teachers during that era defeated them." transient nature of military duties stands out vividly in my mind," he Steinhauser's says his term reflects and stays. says. "They were true crusaders ... the experimental approach The absence of school buses, Steinhauser says the supervisory characteristic of the time. another product of the district's assistance teachers received didn't Edgewood was one of 14 schools financial woes, was not without its extend past their own school prin districts selected in the middle 1960s benefits, Arnaud said. Because there cipal, and their teaching aides con to participate in a program known as was little sense of community and no sisted of an adequate supply of text Education for the '70s. "The real recreation program before the books. superintendents from the 14 school 1950s. walking the two miles or so to Yet Steinhauser says the recruit districts met monthly and school assured some regular exercise ment of good teachers wasn't too dif brainstormed ideas to upgrade educa for the young students. ficult. "It was well known that the tion for the changing times we would "There was no busing. It just parent's support for teacher efforts have in the '70's," Steinhauser says. wasn't a problem - people were used was outstanding." Under special fund grants, to walking," he recalled. "Farmers Support for teachers was also Steinhauser says a number of ex would bring kids who lived way out in prevalent in the Texas State perimenal programs were conducted on trucks." Teacher's Association, Steinhauser in various districts. says, Steinhauser remembers the During one of the meetings T.S.T.A. meetings as being construc Steinhauser raised the question of tive agents in maintaining and im class scheduling. He questioned why proving teacher morale. .. Picnics, a class period was an hour long. " No barbeques and banquets jointly at one had ever researched if an hour tended by administrators and was a good span of time. In teachers were a tradition during that Edgewood we researched the varia era. We were a small, happy family tion of scheduling and developed at that was growing rapidly." Kennedy High School the two hour This period wasn't without its pro class period." blems, though, "I t was a time of Steinhauser says the usual six political unrest and upheaval from class schedule pulled the students six the standpoint of ethnic and racial different ways. "The idea was questions," Steinhauser says. developed to offer three classes a day, Edgewood was no exception. There each class period being two hours were two walk-outs in Edgewood, long. There would be time set aside both occurring in 1968. for normal classroom instruction as Steinhauser says the first walk-out well as time for the students to com was in reaction to a statement a board plete their homework. " member made. In his statement, the Steinhauser's position as board member commented on how Superintendent for Edgewood ended poor some of the students were and in 1969, but his concern for the Steinhauser how t hey suffered from their home District has continued. Bennie Steinhauser says he often situations. felt "more like a construction A second walk-out was led by some superintendent than a school community members protesting the 25 EDGEWOGD I.S.p 'BR~R'~ HEFLECTlO"~ the classrooms. " Cardenas says those District. Cardenas says when he left years were hard but they were also his position as Superintendent in very rewarding. 1973, virtually every teacher had a Cardenas says he enjoyed teaching teaching certificate. And the turnover much more than he enjoyed his ad· rate had dropped to less than nine ministrative positions. "But the abili percent. ty to change policy and improve Cardenas says his program of not various aspects of education lies in learning to live with the problems of the administrative end." Edgewood, but to attack them with Cardenas was able to put the full force was very successful. "It was wheels of change in motion in 1969, a period of innovation and experimen when he became the Superintendpnt tation. of eliminating weakllt:!sses and of Schools for the Edgewood I.S.0. developing strengths. It was a period When he took over Cardenas was of tremendous growth," Cardenas faced with a case pending against the says. School District. .. I turned the case Cardenas still maintains contact around. and made it a case against with the District. He is now operating the State of Texas." Cardenas says. the Coca-Cola Drop-Out Prevention In 1971 the lower court ruled in the Prof,J'fam at Memorial High School case of Rodriguez v. San Antonio and Truman Junior High School. The I.S.0. that the whole system of school program provides the two schools financing was unconstitutional. with $45 thousand a year for drop out When Dr. Jose A. Cardenas became The case was appealed and went prevention. Superintendent of Schools for the before the Supreme Court in 1973. .. I still consider Edgewood my Edgewood I.S.0. in 1969. he vowed Although the case lost there by a vote home away from home," Cardenas that he wasn't going to learn to live of 5 to 4, Cardenas says it created says. "and I'll always have a vested with the problems of the District. but state wide interest in the ways interest in it." rather try to resolve the problems. schools were being financed. And he kept his vow. Cardenas implemented many pro Cardenas' first contact with the grams as Superintendent. All were District was in 1953. when he ac aimed at improving some aspect of cepted a teaching position at Cor education. onado Elementary School. The follow I-Ie instituted the Career Oppor ing year. Cardenas transferred to tunities Program, which encouraged Edgewood High School where he students to stay in the District and " J still consider taught science and biology. move into professional positions. "The new high school had not yet Cardenas was particularly suppor· opened when J began teaching at tive of the Parental Involvement Pro Edgewood my Edgewood." Cardenas recalls. Ho gram. in which parents volunteered to remembers the high school as being teach in the classrooms. home away very old and crowded. "One of the Cardenas says the Early Childhood teachers taught class in a bus. And Education PrObJ'fam. opened in 1971. when a student wanted to leave my is one of the best in the country. He from home, and classroom. he had to walk over tabfes says people from every state have in order to get ou t. " come to visit the center. to see why In 1955 Cardenas was appointed it's so successful. I'll always have Vice Principal in charge of attendance Cardenas faced many problems dur and discipline at Edgewood High ing his term. A major problem wa s a vested interest School. He remained in that position the staffing of schools in the District. for three years. When Cardenas took over as His next position was as principal Superintendent. 50 percent of the in it. " of Stafford Elementary School. ·'The teachers didn't have the minimum re three years I spent as principal. from quirements needed for a teaching cer /Jr. Jose A. Cardenas 1958 to 1961. were the hardest years tificate. And the turnover rate of of my life." Cardenas says. "There teachers was 33 percent a year. were 1200 children in the school. And With federal funds. Cardenas in there were no aides, no secretaries s tituted a training program which and no librarians. I remember getting helped teachers meet the re to school at 6 a.m. many mornings to quirements for certification and en help the janitors light the heaters in couraged teachers to stay in the 26 HEFLE("lIO,\S " I wasn't sure whether to get rid of still a difficult one to analyze, partly the alligators or drain the swamp," because of the way it is defined. or not Vasquez says of his early experience defined, by the State. A 14-year-old as superintendent. "I tried very hard girl who drops out of school because to maintain the administrative and she is pregnant is not considered by structural integrity of the school the State to be a drop-out. district, in the face of the criminal in Vasquez says he thinks Edgewood vestigation. " knows what a drop-out is: "a student. Once the investigation was com who's not prepared educationally to pleted, Vasquez says the School function in the general society." And District went through a good period he says Edgewood is working hard to redefining its goals. combat this growing problem. Vasquez says Edgewood started Vasquez says there are those who very far down and has made tremen disagree with Edgewood's broaden dous progress. "We're talking about ing sphere of influence in areas such apples and oranges," he says of as parent literacy and student drop Edgewood's comparison to other out. But he argues that these have districts. "There's no such thing as a been determined needs in the district standard American school system. and will continue. Each has different audiences with dif Into his 26th year with the District, ferent expectations." Vasquez says his wide range of posi· Vasquez says in the past, many tions have provided him with a "very A superintendent's work is never school systems didn't consider pro full, enriching set of experiences." finished, at least not as far as blems at a student's home to be any "The only thing I'll brag about is Edgewood I.S.D. Superintendent responsibility of the school. "We that I'm a very good judge of people," James R. Vasquez is concerned. know better. We know that what hap he says. "I've hired and trained peo "I'm always opening up new ques pens at home is a determinant as to ple to handle the business of the tions, new perspectives," Vasquez what the student will do in school. " District very well. And as a result, says. "When I turn over a rock to find Edgewood is becoming increasingly things go right." an answer, ] find 10 new questions. more involved in parent literacy. And every time I turn over one of "Research shows that at least one those questions I find 10 more." half of the learning a child goes When Vasquez became Superinten through is reinforced at home. If that dent on May 30,1978, he says it was a reinforcement is not there, try to "There's no very difficult time in the District. realize the impact of the student's "The new school board was looking performance in the classroom," Vas such thing as a into the possibility of fraud that had quez says. been caUed to their attention by the In response to this need, Edgewood previous administration and school offers adult education courses. In one standard board," Vasquez says. After the program. parents take a test which district discovered tremendous finan determines their efficiency in educa cial losses, Vasquez says a thorough tional survival skills. Based on the American investigation followed. results, the parents are given in The investigation continued dividual packets which list what they school system. through 1981. and more than three need to learn in order to pass the test. hundred t.housand dollars was Last year, over 200 adults recovered. graduated from the program. "It Each has dif "The first three years of my posi makes so much difference when a tion were very difficult ones," Vas child can go home and have that base quez says. "In a situation like that, it of support," Vasquez says. ferent audiences was difficult to do more than one Edgewood is also concerned about thing at a time." trying to prevent students from drop with different Vasquez remembers a standing ping out of school. There are current joke among superintendents: ly three programs in the district aim "Superintendents are hired to drain a ed at drop-out prevention. They are expectations. " swamp." They don't know quite what the Coca-Cola Drop-out Prevention to do. They either fight alligators and Program, San Antonio Youth James R, Vasque1. let the job that is supposed to be done Literacy, and Communities and just lie there. or they drain the swamp Schools. and let the alligators eat them. Vasquez says t he drop-out issue is 1942- Emma Frey J953- E.T. Wrenn 1963- John F. Kennedy 28 When a school is named, the ideals of the person being honored are taught to the children who walk through its doors. Edgewood is proud that the names chosen for its schools reflect American society and the "melting pot" ideal. There are schools named for American presidents - Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson; there are schools named for educators - Cardenas, Frey, Wrenn, and Hoelscher; there are schools named for ci vic leaders like Gonzalez, Guerra, Garcia. and Escobar. Finally, there is a school named for those who have given the ultimate gift of love: Memorial. Included in this group are people - the mighty and the humble, those who had national pro minence, and those who were known only in the immediate area in which they lived. Included in this group are people - teachers and superintendents, those who had a spark of compas· sion and concern and love for children. Included in this group are people - individuals who spoke up against wrongs and injustices, those who believed that one person could make a difference. Included in this group are people - who went to a foreign land and who left their families. The sacrifice was so personal and the The pain so great for those left behind, that the hurt continues to be held within the secret places of the heart. Included are Anglos, and Blacks, Namesakes and Hispanics, the great and the modest, the known and the obscure, men and women - all whom Edgewood remembers. All are part of the family of Edgewood. Here is the story of the people . . ..____ .-_-,., whom Edgewood honors. 29 Sgt. Arthur P. Adame L.lCpl. Robert D. Murphy, Jr. Sgt. Armando M. Zepeda Edgewood Pays Tribu~e Roosevelt Elementary School is named for the 32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a man described by most historians as one of the greatest ever to serve. (Photo courtesy F.D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York, and United Press International Used with permission) Roosevelt Elementary School is than 7 million votes. 1940 had exhausted his tremendous named for the 32nd President, In the next 3 months, he enacted strength. While considering various Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a man laws to abandon the gold standard, problems. he took a brief retreat at described by most historians as one of set up a Conservation Corps to Warm Springs. Georgia where he died the greatest ever to serve. employ young men, inaugurated on April II, 1945. His education was conventional in widespread federal emergency relief. Rec ords show that when cluding college preparation at Groton and steered national income to the Roosevelt's successor, Harry School, graduation from Harvard Col farms. He expanded crecHt. set up the Truman. visited Edgewood District. lege (1904) and professional training Tennessee Valley Authority, in Truman stood and saluted in the at the Columbia Law School. He prac troduced the National Recovery Ad direction of the Roosevelt Elemen· ticed law in New York and after three ministration and reorganized the tary School when he was informed years was elected to the U.S. Senate. Federal Reserve banking system. that Edgewood had a Roosevelt Woodrow Wilson later appointed him Roosevelt also established supervi named school. as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. sion over the sale of stock and which led him to the nomination for securities and later of the Stock Ex Vice President of the U.S. on the change. Democratic ticket. His ticket lost the Roosevelt was overwhelmingly Records show that when election, but in 1928 he was elected reelected President in 1936 and Governor of New York. elected to a third presidential term in Roosevelt's successor, He ran for President in 1932. In the 1940, and a fourth in 1944, though he campaign, he outlined a program of died the following year. Harry Truman, visited federal measures to support and World War II came to the United Edgewood District, Truman guide the failing American economic States when without warning J apan system, to reform and make full use bombed Pearl Harbor. Hitler declared stood and saluted in the of its credit institutions, to assure war on the U.S. soon after. From then direction of the Roosevelt more effective organization of labor, on to the time of his death, Roosevelt to support farm prices. and work out was primarily preoccupied with Elementary School when he social security arrangements. strategy to win the war and with On November 4. 1932. he was over plans to organize a peace more likely was informed that whelmingly elected President. carry to endure than that followed WWI. Edgewood had a Roosevelt ing 42 states against Herber t But thirteen years of intensive Hoover's 6, with a plurality of more struggle and the political campaign of named school. 30 to U.S. Presidents was promoted t.o captain and given Roosevelt. Elected in November, he command of Battery D of that regi served as Vice President only 83 ment, participating in the Vosges. days, succeeding to the Presidency Saint-Mihiel. and Meuse-Argonne April 12. 1945. on Roosevelt's death. campaign. He was promoted to col His first year as President was mark onel June 17.1932. ed by the dropping of the first atomic On his return from overseas he mar bomb and the end of World War II ried Bess Wallace. who he had known Beginning in 1946. his administration since childhood. on June 28. 1919. was beset by reconversion problems Their only child. Mary Margaret. was at home and increasing difficulties born February 17.1924. From 1919to with the Communist nations abroad. 1922 he ran a haberdashery shop in The 1946 victory of the Republicans Kansas City with a war time in both houses of Congress was inter associate. Eddie Jacobson. The firm preted as a repudiation of his policies. failed as a result of the depression of but after a hard-fought "whistlestop" 1921. but Mr. Truman refused to file campaign. he was reelected to office a petition in bankruptcy and paid off on November 2. 1948. At the beginn his share of the firm's debts during ing of his second term he announced the following 15 years. his "Fair Deal" program for pro In 1922. Mr. Truman. a Democrat. moting the general welfare of the peo was elected one of the three judges of ple of the country and the Point Four the Jackson County Court (an ad program for technical assistance to (Photo courtesy HS Truman Library, Indepen ministrative rather than a judicial underdeveloped nations abroad. dent, Missoun', Portrait by Leo Stern) body). representing the eastern part When Communist forces invaded of the county. He was defeated for South Korea in June 1950. he ordered Harry S. Truman. 33rd President of reelection in 1924 but elected United States troops to resist the in the United States. was born in presiding judge of the court in 1926. vaders on behalf of the United Na Lamar. Missouri. on May 8. 1884. the and reelected in 1930. In that position tions. Two Puerto Rican Nationalists son of John Anderson and Martha he had the chief responsibility for ex tried unsuccessfully to assassinate Ellen (Young) Truman. In 1887. the pending sixty million dollars in tax him in November. 1950. In the fall of Truman family moved to a farm near funds and bond issues in Jackson 1952 he gave full support to Governor the present site of Grandview. County. including Kansas City. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois. the Missouri, and in 1890 to In In 1934. Mr. Truman was elected to Democratic Presidential candidate. dependence. Missouri. the county the United States Senate with a After leaving the White House. the seat of Jackson County. He attended plurality of 262.000 votes. During his former President returned to in the Independence public schools. first term in the Senate he was chair dependence to devote his time to graduating from high school in 1901. man of the Senate subcommittee writing and lecturing. On July 6. After serving briefly as timekeeper which wrote the Civil Aeronautics 1957. the Harry S. Truman Library in for a railroad construction contractor. Act of 1938 and was one of the spon Independence. built with his en he obtained employment in nearby sors of the Transportation Act of couragement and collaboration. was Kansas City. to which his family. in 1940 (Wheeler-Lea-Truman Act). He presented to the Federal Govern cluding a younger brother and sister. was reelected to the Senate in 1940. ment. along with his personal papers had moved in 1902. He worked as a In 1941 the Senate Special Commit· and mementos. The Library is clerk at the National Bank. In 1906. tee to Investigate the National operated by the National Archives at the age of 22. he returned to Grand Defense Program (the Truman Com and Records Service of the General view. where he spent the next ten mittee) was established at his sugges Services Administration as a research years assisting his father in operating tion. With him as chairman. it reveal center and museum. the family farm. ed waste and extravagance in the On October 11. 1960. President Mr. Truman joined the Missouri World War II defense program. sav Truman visited the building site of National Guard in 1905 and was ing the American taxpayers in the Truman Middle School. the first discharged as a corporal in 1911. At estimable sums in defense production secondary school in the country to the outbreak of World War I he costs. bear his name. helped organize the 2nd Regiment of In July 1944. Mr. Truman was The thirty-third President of the Missouri Field Artillery which was nominated as the vice-presidential United States died on December 26. called into Federal service as the candidate at the Democratic National 1972. He was buried in the courtyard 129th Field Artillery. In France he Convention to run with Franklin D. on the Truman Library. 31 "Children are this country's greatest natural resource. " John Fitzgerald Kennedy P resident J ohn F itzgerald Kennedy 35th President of the United States. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the Kennedy's presidency was brief. He Antonio that he would return to thirty·fifth president of the United served a little more that 1.000 days in Texas to visit the High School named States. office. for him. He indicated he would like to He was born on May 29. 1917. and On September 10. 1962. almost a schedule a visit in early 1964. was the son of Joseph and Rose Ken month before the Cuban Missle Twenty four hours later, the presi· nedy_ Crisis. generally agreed by historians dent was assasinated. in Dallas. He was elected president on to be Kennedy's finest hour. the Kennedy High School's colors are November 8. 1960. in one of the Edgewood Board of Trustees named green and white in recognition of Ken· closest elections in history. Kennedy the District's second high school after nedy's ancestry. Its sports teams are received 50.71 percent of the overall John F. Kennedy. Unknown to called "Rockets" in recognition of popular vote. while Richard Nixon. Trustees at the time. they were ap Kennedy's interest in the space pro· his opponent. received 49.29 percenl. parently naming the first high school gram. On J anuary 20, 1961, Kennedy was in the country to be named. for Presi Kennedy High School is known to sworn in by Chief Justice Earl War dent Kennedy. have the only sustained memorial ser ren. His Inaugural Address is con On November 21, 1963, President vice in the United States in honor of sidered by hi storians as one of the Kennedy and hi s wife arrived in San the president each year on November most eloquenlly deli vered by any Antonio for the beginning of a trip 22. Chief Executive. "'ASK NOT WHAT through Texas. Over 18,000 President Kennedy 's brother, Ed YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR Edgewood residents had signed a ward M. Kennedy. finally fulfilled his YOU, ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO petition inviting the president to visit brother 's final promise to visit the FOR YOUR COUNTRY" is perhaps the school named in hi s honor. Time, school. Senator Kennedy offi cially the best known quotation attributed however, did not. permit such a visit. dedicated the school on October 22, to Kennedy delivered on the day of Kennedy, instead. promised Con 1980. his inauguration. gressman Henry B. Gonzalez of San 32 A t the desk where I sit, I have learned one great truth. The answer for all our national problems of the world-comes down to a single word. That word is "education" L )'\ 1)0,\ /1. JOII,\ SON, I ddren he/ore tile lO()lh a""i,'erHlrJ' cOIII'o('(lIiol1. lifOit'll l ";I'ersil.\'. /·rol'i(/el/ce. H.I .. 18 Sept., /964. Lyndon Baines John~on. the 36th youngest director at age 26 ticket defeated the Nixon-Lodge President of the United Slales was Johnson decided to enter the ticket in one of the closest elections in born near Stonewall. Texas on special election for the 10th congres American history. lie was well August 27. 190R. II e earned his sional district and won the election prepared to assume the ro le of Presi· bachelor's degree from Southwest easily defeating nine other can dent when John F. Kennedy was Texas Stale Teacher's College in San didates. I n Congress. in 1937, he tragically assassinated in Dallas in Marcos in 1930. lie earned money worked hard for rural electrification. 1963. Within months of Kennedy's while going through school by work public housing. and eliminating assassination, Johnson had won ing as a janitor and office helper. and government waste. In 1941. Johnson, passage of most of Kennedy's e\'en dropped oul of college for one became the first member of Congress legislative programs. year to work in Cotulla. Texas. to go actin' duty following the bomb In 1964, President Johnson and Following graduation, Johnson ing of Pearl Harbor and was even Hubert II. Humphrey were elected by taught public speaking in Sam tuall\' decorated with the Sil\,er Star. the greatest popular vote in modern Houston High School in I!ouston 1n - 194B. Johnson defeated Coke times, and his term in office is best where his debate team won the Ste\enson in the race for U.S. Senato, known for his Great Society Pro District championship. Johnson by ~7 \,otes and earned the nicknam( grams. Aid to Education, Urban followed Congressman Hichard ':Landslide Lyndon" Johnson Renewal. Medicare. prevention of Kleberg to \\'ashington DC as his became the majority leader in the crime and delinquency, removal of secretary, a job he held for three Senate in 1954 and considered the obstacles to the right to VOLe and the years. highlight of his career to be the Vietnam War. He married Claudia Alta Taylor passage of the first Civil Rights Act The Lyndon B. Johnson Elemen "Lady Bird", a girl he met on a trip in 82 years and the vitalization of the tary School was named in his honor home. Johnson became the State American Space Program after the by the Board of Trustees on ,January Director of the National Youth Ad· launch of Sputnik. 13, 1964. Following a short hut active ministration and also became the In 1960. the Kennedy·Johnson retirement Johnson died in 1973. 33 District Lauds Our Lady of the Lake University and. It r in 1966. hi s Doctorate from UT Austin. In 1961. he became Associate Pro fe ssor and Chairman in the Depart· ment of Education at St. Mary's University. In 1967, he left St. Mary's to become the Director of the Texas Migrant Educational Develop ment Center. He resigned from that pos ition in 1969 to become Superintendent of Schools in the Edgewood I.S.D. Dr. Cardenas re mained in that position until hi s resignation in 1973 to become the Ex· ecutive Director for Texans for Educational Excellence. Presently. he is Executive Director of the Inter cultural Development Research Association. a posi tion he has held since 1974. Dr. Cardenas is a member of the Emma Frey Board of Directors for several organizations including the Center for Applied Linguistics. the Institute Emma Frey was the daughter of a for Pinance and Governance. the Na German farmer, Charles Frey. who tional Research Center for Vocational owned land in the Edgewood area. Education. and the Cleveland Con· Mr. Prey built the first schoolhouse ference of the Spencer Foundation. called the Prey School on a corner of He is also the School Pinance Chair hi s farm. He donated the one-room man for United San Antonio. He has hou se and the site on which it sat to received numerous special awards for the district in 1905. It was located Dr. Jose A. Cardenas his work from such organizations as near the corner of South Gen. the National Association for Bil McMullen Dr. and Menefee. Ms. Frey ingual Education, the Crystal City was the first school teacher in Dr. Jose A. Cardenas was born on Public School System, the City of Edgewood. She taught her brothers October 16, 1930. He attended school Lubbock. and the U.S. Commissioner. and sisters along with other German in Laredo, Texas, and graduated from International Year of the Child. and Belgian children living in the area Martin High School in 1946. He earn Dr. Cardenas has provided consul from 1906·1 907. She received her ed hi s BA from the University of tant services to many federal. state. teaching certificate from San Marcos Texas at Austin in 1950 and returned and local governments and agencies. College and continued to work on her to teach in Laredo. Prom 1951 to private foundations and corporations. BA and Master's degree until she 1953. hpwasa member of the U.S. Ar and some foreign governments. He completed her studies in 1927. She my. has given major addresses at hun· joined the faculty at Brackenridge On his discharge from the Army. he dreds of conferences and has publish High School and remained there until began to work for the Edgewood In· ed a multitude of publications on the her retirement in 1947 at the age of dependent School District. During hi s subjects of bilingual education. 70. tenure as a teacher with the district migrant education. and school financ 11953·19691, he held positio ns as an ing. elementary school teacher, a secon Dr. Cardenas is married and has dary school science teacher. an five children. elementary school principal. ami iI On June 21, 1971. the Board of district all ·level science supervit'or. Trustees recognized his achievements Also during this time. Dr. Cardenas and dedication to the field of educa continued his education. In 1955, he tion by naming the early childhood received his Master's degree from center in hi s honor. 34 Dedicated Educators many of her colJegues strongly urged the Board of Trustees to name the district's newest junior high in her honor. So, on March 18, 1968. the Board vot.ed to name the new school E. T. Wrenn Junior High School. Ms. Wrenn died on November 20, 1973. . - Eli zabeth Terrell Wrenn was born Regina Hoelscher on December 2. 1902, in Karnes City Texas. She graduated from San Mar cos Hi gh School. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Prarie View Hoelscher Elementary School was A&M University in 1938. Before that named for Regina Hoelscher who was time. she taught in Fredericksburg H.K. Williams an educator for 47 years. 11925·19261. Reedsville in Caldwell Ms. Hoelscher was born in Rowena, County 11926- 19271, Corsica na Texas. She received a master's degree 11927-19281. and La Verni a in education from Trinity University 11928-1942). In 1942. she began H. K. Williams Elementary School and a A.B. degree from Incarnate teaching at George Washington Word College. was named for Edgewood superinten Carver School. t he school for Blacks From 1925 until 1946, Hoelscher dent Hugh K. Williams. He received a served in Falls County Schools. in the Edgewood Common District. B.S. degree from San Marcos College In 1951, Hoelscher began working She was the first Black teacher in the (now, Southwest Texas State Univer in the Edgewood District as an eighth district. During the summers from sity). In 1930, Williams was ap grade teacher at Edgewood Elemen 1949 to 1951. Ms. Wrenn attended pointed principal of the Edgewood tary School, At the time, Edgewood the University of Nebraska and earn School and was considered both prin· Elementary (now Perales Elemen ed an MA in School Administration cipal and s uperintendent. He retired tary) was first through eighth grades and Supervision. When Lin co ln on June 29, 1948. Williams died with all classes self-contained. School openf'd in 1959. she became its shortly after his retirement. He is She served as assistant principal at principal. buried at Restland Memorial Edgewood Elementary and then serv Ms. Wrenn was known by her Cemetery in Yoakum, Texas. Addi ed as principal of the Brentwood associates and the community to be tional information on H. K. Williams Elementary School from 1961 until very helpful and very kind. By the is found in the section on "The 1972. time s he retired at mid·term 1966. she Leaders" in this publication. The School Board renamed Brent had over 41 years in the teaching pro wood Elementary to Regina fession and 24 of those years in t he Hoelscher Elementary in honor of the Edgewood Distri ct. Because of her school principal who served over dedication to the field of education. twenty years in Edgewood. many members of the community and 35 EISD Recognizes political falJj es to lecture the crowd Antonio and organized his election to on the necessity of improving the the San Antonio Independent School schools. One incident which especially District Board of Trustees. He was outraged him was the placing of the first Mexican American to be frame barracks which had already elected to a position on the board. been condemned at the DeZavala About this time. Garcia became in· School. The buildings burned down to valved with various Hispanic and the ground before they could really be civic organizations including G I used. Forum. LULAC. the School Improve- On Januarv 5. 1959, the EISD ment Lea~e. and the. League of Board of Tru ~ tees voted La name the Loyal Americans. For a time, he was district's new junior high in honor of also consulting attorney for the Mex- Mr. Escobar. On 1\lay 10. 1970. :\'Ir. ican Consulat.e. Escobar died at. t.he Luthern General But. it was the legal and political battles he fought for which he is Hospital and was buried at the San remembered. The first. occurred. in Fernando Cemetery (H2). 1948. The Delgado case. which was decided in U.S. District Court by Judge Ben H. Rice Jr .. made the segregation of Mexican Americans in public schools illegal. This case was a major vict.ory for the cause of equal rights for all people. Eleuterio Escobar Next. in 1949. the body of a war hero named Felix Longoria was being returned t.o the United States for burial. The young soldier's family re Eleuterio Escobar was born on quested that he be buried in the all Anglo cemetery in hi s hometown, September 11. 1894. in Pearsall . Three Rivers. Texas. When city of· Texas. lie came t.o San Antonio as a ficials denied their request. Garcia young boy and eventuall y had several was outraged. He and then-Senator businesses including a shoe binding Lyndon B. Johnson arranged to have and repair compa ny across from the the young soldier buried in Arlington San Fernando Cathedral. a furniture with full milit.ary honors. business. and the Internationa l Finally, there was this most impor' Leather and I mporting Company tant case: Hernandez vs. State of whi('h was located on the corner of Texas. I n this case. he argued t. hat. Dolorosa and South Laredo. the convict.ion of Pete Hernandez for Escobar was president of the murder in Edna. Texas, was invalid School I mprovement League from because citizens of Mexica n descent. 193H to 1950. The Leab'Ue fought to Gus C. Garcia had been systematically excluded Impro\'C' the conditions of all schools from serving as jurors: Pete Her· on the \\"est Side wilhin the San An Gus Charles Garcia was born on Ju· nandez had been denied a fair t.rial tonio I ndcpendent School i)islricl. ly 24. 191 5. in Laredo. Texas. He at· because he was not tried by a jury of Fscobar himself was \'ery vocal about tended various San Antonio area hi s peers. So eloquent was Garcia's his demands and on more t.han ol1e oc schools and f,rra duated from Thomas argument that. Chief Justice Earl casion had to be escort.ed out of J efferson High School in 1932 at the Warren allowed him to continue for meetings of the SA I SO Hoard of top of the class. He continued hi s an extra 16 minutes past the usual education at the University of Texas Trustees. one·hour t.ime limit. Further proof of at. Austin where he received a BA the eloquence and strength of Escobar would oflen v i ~ it school s degree in 1936 and hi s LLB in 1937. Garcia's arguments came on May 3. on the \'\"est Sirle and make notes of In 1938. he passed the bar examina 1954. when the Supreme Cou rt the condition s. I f he saw a child tion and was appointed Assistant. rendered its decision on the case. The without shoes. he wou ld buy the child Dist.rict. Attorney for Bexar Count.y. Court unanimously agreed with Gar· som(' s hoes. People would !'-ometinws During WW I I. Garcia served wit.h cia that Il ernandez' rights had been call him with ('ompla ints and Escobar the Judge Advocate Corps, U.S. Ar· violated. would make phone call s or write let· my. where he served with distinction. lie died on June 3.1964. in the Old t.ers to settle the matter. He attended A ft.er the war, he returned to San Farmer's "'larket. in downtown San 36 Civic Leaders Antonio. He was buried at Fort Sam sa" He also served as executive forts are bills which would prevent Houston with full military honors. On director for the Pan-American Pro the dismantling of federal assistance October 8. 1972. he was honored at gressive Association and. during for bilingual education and all public the dedication ceremony of the new World War I I. he served in civilian in· education. He has also submitted a E ISD junior high school which had telligence under t.he Army and Navy. proposal to establish a U.S.-Mexico been named for him. In the 1940'5. as chief probation of Joint Development Bank which ficer for Bexar County, he overlooked would create a $4 billion loan capabili and reformed the juvenil e probation ty for development within 200 miles procedures t.hat were in effect. In the of the U.S.l M ex ico border in an effort 1950·s. he served as Deputy Director to stem the tide of ill egal immigra' of the San Antonio Housing Aut.hori tion. ty. Under his guidance. no one was Gonzalez married the former Ber ever forcibly evicted fr om land ac· tha Cuellar on November 10. 1943. quired by Gonzalez for the SA HA. The couple has 8 children and 17 Gonzalez (or Henry S .) lost his first grandchildren. He maintains offices county-wide race to Stanley Banks. in both Washington. D.C .. and San Jr. in 1950. In May of 1953. he was Antonio. elected to the City Council. For three years, he worked to abolish segrega tion ordinances, reform the City Water Board. and stop corruption in city government.. In 1957, he was elected state senator for Bexar Coun· ty. In the stat.e legislature, he con· tinued his fight for desegregation and won passage of laws that started ur· ban renewal in every major city in the state, and that. establi shed a medical school in San Antonio. Henry B. Gonzalez In 1961, Henry B. was elected to the U.S. House of Represent.atives. In 1962. he lau nched hi s "20th Century Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez Program for the 20th District" which was born on May 3. 1916. in San An included plans for a world's fair in the tonio. H is parents had immigrated heart of San Antonio. Por the next six from Mexico in 1910. After mastering years. he recruited local leaders and English at Beacon Hill Elementary conceived and carried out t he School. Enrique excelled in hi s necessary federal laws that made studies at Mark Twain Junior High HemisFair possible. School and at Main High School (now Some of his other accompli shments Fox Tech) and graduated from include the establi shment of the Thomas Jefferson High School. His Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital, education continued at San Antonio the Mass Transit Act which helped t.o Coll ege and then at the University of create VIA, t.he Academy of Health Texas at Austin where he finished the Sciences, the Food St.amp Act.. and equivalent of a bachelor's degree in the Job Corps. Henry B. is the chair· civil engineering and hi s first year of man of the House Subcommittee on law school. He came back to San An Housing and Community Develop· tonio and graduat.ed from the St. ment. As chairman, hf' has focused at Mary's University School of Law tention on the state of housing for ILLB. JDI. migrants or seasonal farm workers After college. his vocations includ and on shelt.er for the homeless. For ed teaching math and citizenship 10 years, he was Chairman of the classes to World War II ex-G I·s. do Banking Subcommittee on Interna ing Spanish·English and English tional Development. Spanish translating work with his Among his present legislative ef· father. managing editor of " La Pren- 37 returned to the elementary schooL Alonso S. Perales was horn on Ot· J oseph f!. loses Guerra was horn on LObN 17, IH9H. in Aiic(', T('xas. J anu ary 8. 1908. Around 19 12. he Around 1916. Perales moved to San was orphaned and he wenl to li ve at Antonio and entered a local business the St. J oseph 's Orphanage. When he coll ege. After studying at th(' came of age, he returned to some pro Washington Preparatory School in perty hi s parents had left him. He D.C., Perale-s enroll ed in the National served in the Army! Air Force from Uni versi ty of Washington. He even 1942·1945, returned to San Antonio tually ea rned a BA and. later. a law after the war, and. in 1948. married degree from the same university. the former Nellie Scott. His concern Pera les s uppo r ted h imself for children overflowed from his own throughout hi s s tudies by work ing at family of four children onto others. a va l'iety of jobs. He coached several baseball tea ms us Soon after graduation. Perales was ing his money to buy equipment. appoin ted to the Diplomati c Corps. entering the teams in leagues, and I Ie quickly became a valuable asset to transporting the kids to and from the Central and South Amen can missions games. He felt he had to do because of hi s abili ty to communica te something to provide opportunities in both Spanish and E ngli s h and which he did not have as a youngster. because of hi s knowledge of Jiispanic It was the same concern of providing protocol and customs. His appoint· support to children that led him to be ments with the Diplomati c Corps Joseph M. G uerra the spokesman for t he parents and an took him to many south-o f-the·border outspoken advocate for a new and countries including Cuba. Mexico. '" went all the way down t. he road better school. and Nicaragua. once. Then. back all the way to Il wy . His efforts were not in vain. In In 1925. he was appointed to the 90 and I still couldn't find it." said January 1971. the main building of position of Chief Attorney fo r the Erma Jac,{son. a teacher of 20 years the Call aghan Road Elementary mission on Tacna and Africa Arbitra· at Joseph :\1. Gu(>rra Elementary who caught fire and was destroyed. On t ion led by John J . Pershing. The was describing her first attempt to November 21. 1971. a new elementary peak of his diplomatic career was find the school. .. I fina lly stopped school was dedicated across t he street reached when the government of t he where I saw a group of cars parked to from where the old main building had Republic of Nicaragua appointed him ask for directions. When I asked. they stood. People in the surrounding com as its representative to the United said. 'Well. you found it!" munity gathered to dedicate this new Nations organizational meeting in Originally. Guerra Elementary was school in honor of Joseph 1\11. Guerra. 1945. The Hepublic of NicaraI:.rua also called Callaghan Hoad Elementary. It the man who had led the fight fo r a named him as its Consul General in was a clustering of mostly temporar~ ' new school. San Antonio. Perales continued to huildings on both sides of Ilerbcrt serve in this capacity until his death. Lane. J'he main buJldlllg used parti Perales had chosen to move back to tions LO divide rooms into several San Antonio years before his U.N. ap smaller classrooms. Herbert Lane. as pointment lie had moved back well as the school grounds. were un because he fe lt he was needed. ' ndeed. paved. The children on the east side the documented cases of blatant had to walk across Ilerbert I,ane in discrimination and segregation of rain or shine to eat in the cafeteria. Mexican Americans indicated the These conditions were intolerable to need for someonp to fight these in .Joseph (;uerra. lie demanded and justices. H IS books. En D efe n ~a de Mi fought for beLler conditions at Raza (Vols. I and I I) and Are \Ve Callaghan Hoad Elementary. Good Neighbor!;? are his apologia for When the district moved the sixth devoting himself to the struggle for grade to E.T. Wrenn Jr. High, Joe equal education and social justice for Guerra became the spokesman for the the Mexican American. Perales was group of parents who were upset over not alone in his fight and. in 1927. the plan. The parents fe lt that their under his leadership. the Lea!,rue of children's li .... es were being en· United Latin American Citizens dangered because the children had to ILULACI was formed . Though he cross Old Hwy. 90 to reach Wrenn J r. could have been its first president. he High. The parents organized a sit. deferred to the candidate from the ci out and a march-in to protest the ty where the organizational meeting move. Eventually. the distr ict was being held. Later. he became en relented and the sixth grade was Alonso S. Perales tirely devoted to the Mexican 38 American cause and to the "Mexican Trustees for the Carnegie Hall Foun Edgewood District has had two American children and youth of this dation in 1959 and served on the school!; which have closed. country who will SOOn become adults Senate Foreign Relations Committee The Carver School was named for and. as they witness our efforts, will as a special advisor. George Washington Carver. The ask us for an accounting of our favor In 1962 President John F. Kennedy school was founded because Black for the Mexican American cause." appointed him to serve on the Board students were not permitted to at· His efforts to establi sh social justice of Directors for the 1964 New York tend the school in the area which was and equal education opportunities World 's Fair and in 1964, President for white students only before in Lyndon Johnson named him Special were recognized by the E I SD Board tergration in the Edgewood Indepen Assignments Ambassadors. of Trustees on November 18, 1974. dent School District. Elizabeth His awards include being selected when Edgewood Elementary was Terrell Wrenn was credited with in renamed in his honor. the 1974 Man·or·the·Year by the Port Jefferson, NY, Port Authority, itiating the idea of starting a school awarded the rank of Officer of the for Black students around 1940. Order of Leopold II of Belgium. The first school was located in a awarded the rank of Knight Officer in small frame Methodist church on the Order of Merit of the Italian 40th street. Ms. Wrenn was the first Republic and awarded The Great teacher. At the end of the first term, Cross for Merit by the Republic of the school was moved to a brick house Austria. that was owned by a private citizen, In 1969. Winston again showed his whose name was Ms. Lee. From that generosity by donating the Norman site the permanent white stucco Winston House to Memorial Hospital school was built by the school for Cancer and Allied Diseases in New district. This school was dedicated on York. April 18, 1945, .bout • week .fter the The man is remembered across the death of President Franklin Delano country, but his roots are in Roosevelt. Edgewood. Mr. R.W. May, county superinten dent, gave the dedication address and Mr. H.K. Williams. superintendent Many Edgewood schools were nom· also gave remarks. ed for the subdivision area or plat as The Carver School remained open it is commonly known. County until 1957. records show when the following The Carver School building is at present being used for The Com· Norman K. Winston plats were first recorded: BRENTWOOD HILLS . July pentency Based High School Pro 1946. Brentwood Elementary gram. Winston Elementary School is School Inow Hoelsher Elementary Another school which was closed named for Norman K. Winston, the School) wa!oo named March 28, 1957. was Lincoln School, named after the generous benefactor who donated the Brentwood Junior High School sixteenth president of the United land on which the school is built. lnow. Brentwood Middle School) States. He saw a need for a community was built in 1965. The Lincoln School was in opera school in the Kelly area and took ac CENIZO PARK . March 1944. tion from 1956 to 1984. tion. Winston will a lways be Cenizo Park Elementary School The building is at present being remembered in the Edgewood com· W8!oo built in 1953. leased to a private firm. munity for his tireless energy and GARDENDALE WEST June driving force. 1909. Gardendale Elementary He will be remembered for his long School was named October 9, 1949. Not much information could be ob: history of service not just to the LAS PALM AS ADDITION tained on C.P. Stafford, namesake of Edgewood community but also to the April 1951. La!oo Palma!oo Elemen· country he loved so much... the Stafford Elementary School. Accor tary School was built in 1955. ding to Dr. Arnaud's thesis, Stafford United States. LOMA PAHK HEIGHTS During his lifetime, he ser ved as the " lent valuable assistance in the pur February 1952. Lorna Pork New York Mayor's personal represen· chasing of the property." Elementary School W8100 built in tative to the European International Trade Conference in 1947. He was the 1953. U.S. Special Delegate to the No verifiable information could be UNESCO Paris Conference in 1957 obtained on the nomeloookeloo of and the following year served as the Burle~on Elementary School and Cor· Special Advisor to the U.S. Depart· onado Elementary School at pres~ ment of Commerce. time. Winston was on the Board of 39 Memorial Honors The 1968 annual of Memorial High listed as casualties of the Viet Nam Some were not able to complete School. The Patriot. dedicated its Conflict. Of that number. at least 50 their high school education. first volume to "the memory of all are known to have been residents of They did, however, share common those members of Edgewood in· the Edgewood area at the time of bonds. All lived as neighbors in this dependent School District Schools death. community known as Edgewood. who have gallantly given their lives in Included in this total is Sgt. Arthur And they believed that democracy defense of their homes and country ... P. Adame who entered the service was worth fighting for; was worth The school's crest. adopted in 1967. after graduating from Edgewood having for all people who cherished includes a draped helmet "to remind High School. Sgt. Adame became San freedom. us of those who have fallen in battle Antonio's first Asian Conflict casual· Because of their belief and dedica· from Concord Bridge to the jungles of ty. And there is Lance Corporal tion, they went when they were call· Viet Nam." Julian Escobedo, another Edgewood ed. They fought in defense of what Hence, Memorial High School is High School alumnus. who after 19 they held dear. They gave their lives named to honor all those of the years, is still listed as Missing in Ac· in order that others might live. Edgewood family who gave their lives tion. Another is Lance Corporal Memorial High School is a testa· in defense of their country. Gregory Van De Walle who was from ment to these Edgewood heroes who Time has had its toll on being able a prominent family of San Antonio gave us that gift of love. In our to do a complete search of all those which still resides in Edgewood and thoughts and in our prayers, let us who died in World War II. the Korean for whom the Van De Walle Park. remember them and honor their Conflict and Viet Nam Conflict. across from Guerra Elementary is sacrifice. Presented in this section is but a named. The names continue. Many Let us remember their love, their small percentage of Edgewood other names are certainly missing. devotion to the ideals of democracy I residents, all from the Viet Nam era, Some of these young men their hopes for our future, their who are known casualties of the con· graduated from Edgewood or Ken· sacrifice they made for us. flict. nedy High Schools. Others who lived Edgewood remembers. Two hundred and ninety·five men in Edgewood attended schools The Edgewood family is proud. from Bexar County are officially elsewhere. Let us remember their love, their devotion to the ideals of democracy, their hopes for our future, their sacrifice they made for us. SP4 Adolpho Aguilar Jr. SP4 Robert Aguilar PFC Santiago (Jimmy) Aguirre Edgewood Edgewood Edgewood 40 America's Greatest Sgt. Gilbert Caballero Sgt. Refugio Jose Cantu Edgewood Edgewood Edgewood PFC Rudy Cardenas SP4 Louis CastiUo PFC Ernesto F. Castro SP4 Robert G. Cevallos Edgewood Edgewood Edgewood Edgewood CPL Roy Cisneros PFC Jesus H. De Leon SP4 Mario O. De Leon Edgewood Edgewood Edgewood Delgado Brentwood (La SaUe) 41 "Greater Love Hath No Man ..." John Staff Sgt. Jose EscamiUa PFC FeliI Esparza Jr. PFC Juan Santos Estrada PFC Ramon Flores Edgewood Edgewood Edgewood Edgewood [ \ / I I PFC Rudy Garcia SP4 Santiago R. Gonzales Stafford Edgewood Edgewood CPL Raul C. Gutierrez CG Herberto Hernandez SP4 Raymond Hernandez SP4 Robert Lilterio Edgewood Kennedy Edgewood Edgewood 42 Sgt. G. Longoria PFC Richard V. Lopez Escobar Edgewood Sgt. Gilbert Palacios Edgewood Edgewood Sgt. Tommy Rendon SP5 Joe M. Riojas PFC FideDcio G. Rios PFC Fermin Saldana Jr. Edgewood Kennedy Edgewood Edgewood (Continued on Page 46) 43 i Edgewood Area Lookil 44 ilg Toward OLL- 1920 45 LlCPL Gregorio Valdez Jr. III PFC Juan Vallin PFC Jimmy Lee Woolfolk ~ Coronado (Chicago) Edgewood Kennedy Sgt. Armando M. Zepeda L/CPL Julian Escobedo (MIA) PFC Hilario H . Guajardo (MIA) Kennedy Edgewood Kennedy The following are names of those young men that we do not have pic tures of and who also gave their Jives in Vietman: Jose Garza Jr. Roy Gonzales Jr. Enrique Hernandez Raul Ruiz Jr. Staff Sargeant Paul Weltner, Edgewood High School Class of 1939, World War [I. Died December 23, 1943. Lucio Resendez, World War II Frank Allen. Edgewood High School, World War II. Died December 24. 1943. Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. lists the name or Robert D. Murphy, Jr., graduate of Edgewood High School. 47 1960 - President Harry S. Truman This page intentionally left blank 48 Edgewood has welcomed educators )m throughout the United States. reign ambassadors. governors. nators. and other prominent of :ials Notable among the many stinguished guests is the visit of the te President Harry S. Truman who ured the building site of the present ruman Middle School on October II. }60. and said, "It's an honor I've ~ver had before." Truman Middle chaol was the first secondary school I the country named for the Presi ~nt. Other visiting dignitaries include ice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Irs. Robert F. Kennedy, wife of the residential aspirant. and Senator :dward M. Kennedy, brother of 'resident J ahn F. Kennedy. The most recent V I P was First .ady Nancy Reagan, wife of Presi lent Ronald Reagan, who came to Vinston Elementary School on Dc ober 12. 1984. Other visitors include former Texas }overnor Bill Clements. Attorney ;eneral John Hill. Congressman -Ienry B. Gonzalez. Congressman The !\braham Kazen. and Senator Ralph Yarborough. Colorado Senator Gary Hart. Chief White House Protocol Of :icer Abelardo Valdez, House Speaker rip O'Neil. H. Ross Perot. and San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros have Historical all visited Edgewood Schools over the past years. In 1973, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, daughter of President Richard M. Nixon, visited H. K. Williams School. Visits Edgewood made Texas history when Mrs. Linda White. wife of Texas Governor Mark White, made her first offi cial visit as Firs t La dy to Edgewood High School. 49 1984 - First Lady Nancy Reagan President Dedicates Hl-1rr,v S. Truman. t he thirty-third " The most important thing a Truman pr~ ,idl'·\t of the United States. youngster can do is to get everything Salutes Roosevelt visited 'le construction site of the in his head. A head full of knowledge Truman ,Iiddle School and dedicaled is the greatest thing in the world. Then·Edgewood Superintendent t he school which bears his name. They can't take it away from you." Bennie F. Steinhauser. who presided The former president visited the He asked the children to "go to at t he ceremonies, pointed out to the Edgewood school on October 1 L work to learn." As for the future. he ex-president that the Roosevelt 1960. and said having a school named urged: Elementary School was located just after him W2 an honor" I never had "Study our government and ap' south of the Truman School. Truman before," preciate it," saluted the school named after the The ex-president spoke to a crowd " If you let it (the government) go to man who preceded him in t he presi of 5.000 people and issued a call for pot, you'll have no one to blame but dent's office. youngsters to "study the constitu yourself." Then-Board president Eddie tion" and t he workings of the U.S. .. I might right now be talking to a Montez said "because of Truman's in· government. future president of the U.S." said terest in the generations to come, we Truman said: Truman. decided to name our nineteenth " You're members of the greatest During his speech the president school in his honor." government in the history of the pointed to one of t he children and said Included on the speaker's platform world. The more you know about it, that although he won the highest at the dedication were Mayor the more you'll defend it. Go home. position in the land. his accomplish· Kuykendall. Postmaster Dan Quill. read the constitution and don't stop ment was made harder by a lack of a Bishop Stephen A. Leven. Dr. W. W. until you're well informed," full. formal education. J ackson, president of state board of Truman gave the audience Truman was presented letters from education. and Congressman Thorn somewhat of a dissertation on the school children in t he district which berry of Austin. duties and powers of the president were bound in book form and given to Truman, was 76 years old at the and called on the school children to the Truman Library in J ndependence. time of the dedication and helped " get as much education as possible." Mo, He was also given a color sketch break ground for the then-new He added: of the new school. Edgewood school. 50 TruInan Junior High Truman Was The First Truman, thanking the Edgewood Truman Middle School was the se School in San Antonio was an honor cond school in the United States nam .. I never had before' Independent School ed and dedicated in President Harry Edgewood's Truman was dedicated District for naming S. Truman's honor. on October 11. 1960. the school, at The first school in the country nam The next school in the country nam ed for Truman was the Harry S. ed. for the former president was Cornelia and Thirty Truman Elementary School in Kan Truman Junior High School in fourth, for him, sas City. Missouri. which was Tacoma, Washington which was said it was dedicated on January 23.1956. dedicated on December 10. 1963. Technically. t hen. the Truman According to Benedict K. Zobrist. "" .an honor I never School in Edgewood was the first Director of the Harry S. Truman had before. " secondary school in the country nam Presidential Library in Independence. ed for the thirty·third president of the Missouir. in the United States there United States. This fact probably ex are now three high schools. five junior plains the former president's com highs or middle schools. five elemen· S 51 Vice President of U.S. Preeid"!ntial candidate Hubert H. Humphrey visits with excited pep squad members. John F Kennedy High School has see this as an American family where "You are the best investment you the tlisti nt· j'lI1 of being visited twice people of a ll races can live and work can make," he told the students. by Hubert Humphrey. once as a together. This is the kind of America The vice·president warned the vice presil L1tial candidate in 1964 we are going to build." he promised. students against the" voices of hate and another as a presidential can· As a wil d shout of approval subsid and suspicion and doubt, saying " we didate and as Vice·President of the ed Humphrey resumed: "J want can't build a better America through United States in 1968. America for all Americans that hate, or race, or religious bigotry." The late Vice· President first visited belongs to people of every race, creed. Closing his address. the vice presi the school on September 17. 1964. and nationality... there are no groups dent drew another wild response Humphrey spoke before a packed with a monopoly on talent. when he said: "If I had my way. you crowd of 1.200 people in the school "Look at the record: four Congres would vote at age 18." auditorium and many more heard the sional Medal of Honor winners came The Ilumphrey caravan arrived at speech via closed-circuit television. out of this school. Look at our Olym Kennedy High at ) L05 a.m. and was Humphrey returned again to the pic team and there they are, white greeted by several hundred students school on October 23. 1968. and spoke and black. But they are Americans lined up outside with the school band. before wildly enthusiastic students and thcy arc carrying the banner of Studenls jammed the auditurium ~h o packed the school auditorium. this country." and classrooms on two levels on both lie told the students of his plans to in· lie told the students that sides overlooking the auditorium. vest in youth without regard to race. Americans are proud and do not want When Humphrey entered the creed , or color. handouts but want "the hand of auditorium. the students leaped to lie spoke to some 1.900 students in help." He cited a host of anti-poverty their fee t in one wild cheer. side the school shortly before noon programs which have brought the On stage with Humphrey were Rep. while over 2.000 peop'le waited out· hands of help to youngsters in Henry B. Gonzalez. Sen. Ralph Yar· sid e the school. Edgewood School District. brough, Rep. Abraham Kazen. Kika His theme at the high school talk "I want every boy and girl in this de la Garza. and Texas llouse was summed up when he declared, room to know that if you want to get Speaker Ben Barnes. " lhis great America has been moving advanced training. we want to invest and in the right direction. I want to in vou," 52 Visits JFK High Vice President Humphrey reaches out to Edgewood The Vice President reviews Kennedy High School's residents in typical campaign style. Behind the vice presi Junior Re!!lerve Officer~' Training Corps. dent (Dot visible) is u.s. Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez and Senator Ralph Yarbrough. 53 Fate Intervenes President's There was an air of excitement and anticipation at John F. Kennedy High School on November 21. 1963. Kennedy High was just barely two mont.hs old since it had opened its doors for the first time when word was received at the school that there might be a chance that President Kennedy would visit the school. The president was in San Antonio on a political trip hoping to patch dif ferences in Texas between conser vative Texas Governor John Connol ly and liberal Senator Ralph Yar brough. Armando Balderrama. a coach at Kennedy at the time. remembered that "Secret Service men were on top of a water tower located near the President Kennedy delivers the dedication address at the U.S. Air Force School schoo!. " of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base on November 21, 1963. . ' ) know there were plans for him (presideat Kennedy) to come. The Secret S(rvice chet:ked inside and out for San Antonio that day that Presi campus immediately. Then we found side the school. Security preparations dent Kennedy told Congressman out what had happened to the Presi· w('re made in case the president Henry B. Gonzalez that he would dent." would vi~it." said Balderrama. return to San Antonio to visit and Paul Rodriguez, a coach at Gus "School officials were hoping that a dedicate the school. Garcia Junior High School. and a last minu tE> hange would reroute the The Congressman recalled that freshman at Kennedy at the time, president '1' cavalcade to Kennedy "We shook hands on it." said that "Everybody couldn't Hi g h School," continued the coach. Congressman Gonzalez recalled the believe it. We watched TV in the f\ewspaper accounts at the time president saying, "Henry. you tell classroom. A lot of students were cry· show that a preliminary plan was for those s,uden,s a, JPK High. 1"11 be ing. We were just astonished," said the president to visit Kennedy High there .. , Hodriguez, School, while Mrs. John F. Kennedy After San Antonio, the president " ' hen word was recei ved that the would be taken to Our Lady of the and hi s party went to Houston. Port President had died, students hastily Lake College (now. University) to Worth and Dallas. planned a memorial service outside receive an honorary degree. On November 22. 1963. around the school, scmething that was even O. B. Willis. the school's first prin 12:45 p.m. Mr. Willis remembered tually to become an annual tradition cipal, recalled that the student coun that a student "with a transistor a t the school. cil had organized a petition drive to radio told me that the president had "The school name plate was drap· i.wite the president to visit the been shot. " Willis then announced ped in black." recalled Willis, The school. Newspaper files show that the news to the student body over the ceremony was about 20 or 30 18,000 Edgewood residents signed school's public address system. minutes. Taps was played by the the petition. Willis said that the peti Students followed the news on TV school band." said the former prin tion was given to Congressman sets located in the classrooms, and cipal. Il enry B. Gonzalez to forward to the radio wa s left on the public ad I t had been only 24 hours before President Kennedy. dress system as the news unfolded. that a smiling President Kennedy Willis said that students and facu l· Coach Balderrama recalled, "The was told about Kennedy High School. ty waited that day hoping that they cafeteria was not equipped to serve the first school in the country to be would receive word of the president's hot lunches then. so students were named for him at the time. last minute visit. .. As t ime lapsed, we sharing the Brentwood cafeteria. On The president never kept hi s pro· then knew that he wouldn't be com ly athletes were eating lunch at the mise to visit the school named after ing.·· said Wi lli s. time. A student came in to tell us that him. for on Novemher 22. 1963, fate It was after Presid ent Kennedy left the principal wanted us back on the intervened. 54 Return Trip to Edgewood ..... on that fateful trip to Texas on or at such time 8S .y ou want. I will just a few bloc ks away for the trip to November 21. 1963. I was one of only come to San Antonio, and San Kelly Air Force Base to go to three Congres!oomen on Air Force One: Antonio only, and spend all the time Houston. [ said. !io imultaneously. we and the reason was that the President you want.' He stuck out his hand and could provide for Mrs. Kennedy to be wanted to explain, since I was raising we shook on it. The reason was that I taken to Our Lady of the Lake Col so much commotion. why it was that had told him San Antonio had this lege (it was then a College rather than he would be in San Antonio just a brand new High School named after a University) to accept an honorary bare three hours. while in Dallas-Fort him. I said. 'Mr. President, where in degree that the President of the Col Worth he'd be a night and a day. He all of Massachusetts do you have a lege had told me they wanted to offer !oJsjd, 'Henry. when I come back from new school?" He smiled a nd said, Mrs. Kennedy. and that is why he this trip. I immediately will go to the 'Henry, you know better than that.' I made that comment to come to San Pacific to meet with CINCPAC to said. it would take only a few minutes Antonio and JUST San Antonio ... " review that whole Southeast thing,' for us to drive to the school for a sim H enry B. Gonzalez (meaning Vietnam), 'but in January ple dedicatory ceremony and then Member of Congre&& "Henry, you tell Schools Keep Schedules those students at "'.In \m,'n" ,1I, .. ,l-oJloJo",.!,,, Iht'lf ,J'K'" I "oJ .. , ~lIon'KlnJu, ,,,,h'-rtc JFK High Sehool loJ~nl "k.. ,h IhuUfh m,,,, hJJ mrm", 1.. 1 "',,,,<"' oJu"n~ ,,-h'~11 h.,ur, ••• "11 be there. Jr J"hn I l\(n"",1\ 1 11~h .... h I t.<: ,,~n J~"Fn.llrn~ Ih,' 1<.h ... ol ".' John dr.~,J 10 1l1 .. ~l .. n,J .. m,"mh.:r "I ,lie f.. ~ul1\ "II" " d, .. n \om " WI,",Un, Fitzgerald ( lur>l~rn 1',(>.(n,W ~ PU'CI Kennedy November 2'. '963 Kennedy Promises To Return l .., Rep 1I ,·n" B t.n",~lez_ Thu., A smiling Mrs. Roberl F. Kennedy wear& a Kennedy bweater presenled to her b) the school's btudent council. By E. J . Slay man t.he school. noting it was a fitting Washingt.on. D.C .. while three of her reminder of the Kennedy's native younger children, 15. 12 and II. work A warn' m d friendly Ethel Ken Ireland, in the headquarters after school and nedy mad about 2.000 frie nds in a '" know he (the senator) would par· on weekends. few minutes at John F. Kennedy ticularly like t.o mee t. Dario Gonzal es "There are many t.hings you can do High School, where representatives and wonder how he got to be presi· to erase the injust.i ces of this world, " of Edgewood Di s trict s chools dent,"' Mrs. Kennedy cont.inued. As she declared. quoting from a saying \\!elcomed her. president of the freshman class. Gon· "that. we should live t.o tame the In San Antoni o Thursday to focus zales had presented Mrs. Kennedy savageness of man a nd make gent.le attention on the campaign of her wit.h a dozen yellow roses. the li ves of the world." brother-in-law, U.S. Sen. Edward Remembering a favorite quote of And she closed her brief talk with Kennedy. the wife of the late Robert. the late president and her late hus· ··Vi va Teddy.·· F. Kennedy was received wit.h en band, she said. " Every man can make One of her gifts wa s a green t.husiasm by s tudent.s and school of· a difference and each of us can try" sweater, in school colors, and she fi cials alike. and s he told the students s he hoped promptly donned it and wore it She sairl on hpr last visit. here. she they would take the words to heart. throughout a reception that followed. asked for and received support for She urged them to "talk out and School officials had announced a John F. Kennedy for president. make the difference." holiday from classes for the reo " When Teddy remembered t.hat, he Suggesting her young audience mainder of t.he afternoon. "~ I hope you said, 'how about. going to San An become active politically. she said remember which candidate got that tonio and doing t. he same thing for me those too young to vote can be in day off for you when you go to the you did for J ack?'" po litics , m entioning h er s on , poll s"· she quipped. She observed the release of green Christopher, 16, works fulltime at /(epnnil)d Il "lth permiH io n of the San Anlomo and whit.e balloons on her arrival at. Kenn e dy h eadquart.e r s in IAKhl fA/orrlt 7. 1970) 56 Hearts at High School Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy is given what the SAN ANTONIO NEWS termed a " spectacular" welcome to the Kennedy High School campu!io. The !:ochool '!oo JROTC !iocrved U!:t an honor g uard for the di.stinguilShed visitor on March 6, 1980. Next to Mr!,. . Kennedy i!:o the son of farm aclivi&l Ceabar Chavez. "Both Bobby and President Kennedy were jond oj a quote 1 want to share with you: 'Every man can make a dijjerence and each oj us can try.' " I know that when you students see wrongs, you are going to talk out against those wrongs." ,\tn. Ranal F K fmlt',J\' Although there are now over 1,000 schools in the United Stotes named for Prc!oo i· " ul/lO]I-1( H 1xh.\thool dent Kenned,} and Senator Robert F. Kenned,)'. thi" wa~ I\lr1:>. Kenned,} '!:t fir!:tt M unh 6, 1980 Vibil ever to a Kenned) -named !:tchool. 57 JFK High Dedicated District's 27 schools serving 17,000 students, gave the senator a thunderous welcome on his arrival and a warm reception during his presence on the stand. Politics out Politics was out for the ceremony. The only other elected officials On the ~talld outside of school trustees were U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez, the man whom the slain president the day before his assassination in 1963 had assured he would return to San Antonio to dedicate the school named after him. and City Councilman Ber· nardo Eureste. state co·chairman of the Carter Mondale campaign. Ken· nedy was the only one of the three to speak. Kennedy's message to hi s audience - and that message was beamed by closed circuit television to the By James McCrory School grounds. took note of his tar students at the district's other diness. schools who couldn't attend - was l S. en. Edward M. Kennedy may .. I have a note from home asking nostalgic and uplifting, looking at the ha\ (. b~'n 17 years late. but Wednes admission," he quipped. " I 'm 17 past and to the future. day he finally formally dedicated the years late." "President Kennedy would have first high ;c hool in the United States But school administrators and of loved this school.·· the senator said. named aftE an assassinated brother, ficials and the students themselves "with hi s joy in America's adventure President I) hn P. Kennedy. seemed to believe the wait was worth in outer space and his love of educa· The smihng senator, in his opening it. tion. ,. Kennedy said his brother remarks to a crowd estimated by The 1,750 students from the high would have loved to meet the police officials at more than 2,000 on school. along with delegations from district's young men and women pro· the spacious John F. Kennedy High each of the Edgewood School ud of their Hispanic heritage, Observing the late president wanted to be present for the dedica tion, Kennedy said he did not live to see another year, Brief " It was all so brief." Kennedv said in his moving address. "The tho~sand days are like an evening gone. But they are not forgotten." But the president endures. the last surviving Kennedy brother said, in the hearts he touched and the lives he changed. "He was a common thread linking people everywhere." Kennedy said. "Apart from poverty. the single bond of hope that often linked a dwelling in Appalachia and a barrio in San An tonio. a shack in Nicaragua and a Senator Edward M. Kennedy i~ greeted by the !:ochoo!'" JROTC. Each 01 desert hut in the Middle East. was his high bchool JHOTC unit!:> participated in the welcoming ccremonie!:o. picture on the wall." 58 By President's Brother President Kennedy. the senator did not make the world it li ves in . it ~'Teen windbreaker and a cowboy hat said. believed each individual can does have a chance to change it.. as a remembrance of his visit and on make a difference and each must try. Never in hi s lifetime. the senator said. hehalf of the Kennedy family he Rejecting the view the challenges of has he seen such opportunities for presented t he school with a bronze today are more difficult than those of change a nd progress on so many bust of hi s brother Jack. past years, Kennedy said it should fronts as now. Heprinled II'Ilh permls.5ioll of Ihe San Alllonlo not be more difficult to achieve Na Kennedy was presented with a J.;xpreH and ,\leu'" (Octobn 21. 19HO) tional Health I nsurance in the) 9805 than it was to enact. Social Security in the 1930s or Medicare in the 19605. The senator noted a billion people in "President Kennedy would have loved the world, have no access to health this sch ool. With his joy in/America's care. adventure on the new fronfier of outer Notin g two-thirds of the world's people li ve at or below the poverty space, he would have come here and level, Ken nedy said " vVe cannot ig cheered proudly for the Rockets." nore t heir fa ces pressed against our Senator J;'du'ard M , K enned\ windows: we cannot ignore their Ded/f11I/on ( :t'remome~ of }FK H/gh School silent cries for help." ()ctober 22, 19XO Kennedy told hi s audience while it Senator Kennedy acknowledges the enthusio!:>tic welcome given him by Edgewood District !'tudents and com munity members. 59 First Lady has lunch ly congratulated by Mrs. Reagan for turning his life around! After the presentation, Mrs. Reagan went to the school library for a private V I P reception. The ten minutes for the reception was enough time for school officials to bring the entire Winston fifth gracip, so the students would have lunch with the First Lady. When Mrs. Reagan arrived again in the school cafeteria most students had already sal down and were waiting to begin their lunch with their special guest. Mrs. Reagan had a special escort of six fifth graders who took the First Lady through the cafet.eria line. The menu for all Edgewood schools ~ udentb watch the First Lady's arrival from roped off areas. The visit was car that day was pizza. tossed salad. bul· d II1'c to all Winston classes via closed-circuit television_ tered mixed vegetables. banana twins. milk and an ice cream sand· ·v was made for Edgewood was escorted to the school cafeteria wich. (h )0 Ii strict on October 12. 1984. where a program was presented and Ms. Reagan seemed to enjoy the h n rst Lady Nancy Reagan she learned first hand of the problem company of her hosts as she and I e nston Elementary School. and dangers of inhalant abuse in San students chatted on a variety of I hf' (vcnth elementary school she Antonio area. topics. h'ls \'I'.ited in the United States as Three teenagers from the Nos Otros She and the students didn't seem to First Lad, program in San Antonio and who mind that media from all over the \1rs. Re. ,an was in San Antonio to were not from Edgewood spoke with country (and even from Australia) focus attcntion on her personal war the First Lady and told of their per were watching their every bite. on drug abuse. sonal struggle to stop taking in At 12:10 a Secret Service man ap \1rs. Reagan arrived promptly at halants. Each said that he had con- proached Mrs. Reagan and told her 9:40 in the morning and was greeted quered his struggle and was personal· that it wa s time to leave. At that by applause and cheers from the school's 677 students and teachers who were assembled in the school yard behind a roped-off area. Mrs. Naomi Brown. the school's principal. was the first to gref't Mrs. Reagan as the First Lady stepped from her limousine. Mrs. Brown p l e~e IlLet1 Mr~. Reagan with a bou quet of "yellow roses of Texas." Although not part of the prearrang ed agenda. Mrs. Reagan walked over to the assembled students and spoke with a few of them and shook hands. The First I.ady then proceeded to a private meeting in the principal's of fice where officials of the Texans' War on Drugs spoke to Mrs. Heagan on the problem of drugs and specifically inhalant abuse in San An tonio. After the meeting. J\lrs. Heagan 60 at Winston EleInentary int she asked "Can I al ieasl fini sh The almost two-a nd-a- half hours I milk?" i\lrs. Heagan ate all the spent at Winston was a historic mo- )d on the tray. ment for the school children, a couple As she got up to leave. t he fifth of hours with li ving hi story aders applauded Mrs. Reagan a last There are only seven schools in this ne. nation that can make a claim that As the Secret Service escorted her they were visi ted by the First Lady. t he waiting limousine outside. Winston Elementary School and her ""inston students watched the October 12, 1984, are now a footnote parture of their special guest from in American history_ eir classroom windows. The lild ren had been watching the entire 'oceedings on Edgewood's closed rcuit television in their classrooms, hich was broadcast by the school lstrict's Media Center. Mrs. Reagan immediately went to le children and waved to the :>ungsters who were on the first a nd ~co nd floor of the building. The goodbyes lasted briefly and efore long Mrs. Reagan departed the : hool campus amid more cheers and pplause. First Lady Nancy Reagan, wife of President Ronald Reagan, visits Winston Elementary School on October 12, 1984. The menu for all Edgewood schools on October 12. 1984: pizza. butter mixed vegetables, tossed salad, banana twins, milk, and ice cream ~andwich. Setting Mrs. Nancy Reagan, October 12, 1984. to Mrs. Reagan's left is student Joey Robledo. 61 1935 Edgewood Elementary School. This page intentionally left blank Perhaps when Texas celebrates it bicentennial fifty years from now, someone will write Edgewood's history from 1986 to 2036. In that light. therefore, this section of EDGEWOOD: THE STORY, THE PEOPLE, documents how we in Edgewood were in 1986, the State's sesquicentennial. There are presently twenty-five school campuses with 64 permanent buildings and over 1,703,500 square feet of space. A 1982 study showed that the replacement value of the space was estimated to be $87,175,000. There are three high schools, three The junior highs, two middle schools. and seventeen elementary schools with a total enrollment of 15.636 students. There are 560 elementary teachers and 421 secondary teachers for a total of 981. Present In addition to the teachers, ad ministrative staff and supportive per sonnel round off the total number of employees in Edgewood to approx imately 2,000. =; Top administrators serve ames R. Vasquez began his Mr. Anthony Castellanos is cur Mr. Earle Bolton is at present the t 'lching career at Edgewood High rently the Assistant Superintendent Assistant Superintendent for Ad s ( h, 01 in 1960 and rose "through the for Education. ministrative Services. r Ilks to the superintendency which He was born in Mercedes. Texas. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia. ssumed in 1978. Mr. Castellanos started teaching in Mr. Bolton was motivated into the A graduate of San Antonio's Brownsville Public Schools. He teaching profession when he joined ~ld r Lanier High School. he at- laught at Brownsville High School, the Air Force during the Korean War 'n San Antonio College and Brownsville Faulk. Central and Stell He was stationed at Lackland Air r (V I a bachelor's degree from Sl. Schools for ten years before coming to " lal y University in 1959. In 1970. Edgewood Dislricl al John F. Ken Force Base. I nstead of being sent to n. e ived a master's degree in nedy High School in 1966 where he Korea, he was assigned as math counseling and guidance from St. served as Band Director. In 1973, he teacher there and later was assigned \- tar) 's university. His professional became the school's principal and as Drill Instructor. That's what administrative certification is from served in that capacity for two years. started his teaching career. Our ~ady If the Lake University. In 1975 he was named Assistant Mr. Bolton came to the Edgewood \''lsqu(> IS co-founder of the Educa Superintendent for Administra1jve I.S.D. in 1958 where he slarted tion Resource Equity Center and cur· Services_ In the following year he teaching al Edgewood High School rently serVPg as vice president. He served as Assistant Superintendent He was there for eight years. In 1966. has called attention to the inequities for Secondary Schools and served in he was assigned Math Supervisor for in Texas school system of finance by that position for nine years. In 1985. about four years. and, at the same presenting seminars in Texas and he was named Assistant Superinten time. he was also teaching math over across the country. dent for Education in charge of all television at the T. V. Studio at Ken Vasquez has c~I1ed Texas' system grades. Mr. Caslellanos' philosphy of nedy High School. of finance a "moral" issue. lie has education is: In 1969, [\lr. Bolton was named said publicly that the struggle for "Despite their many individual Assistant Superintendent for Ad justice in public schools will not be differences. children are all the ministrative Services. a position over until everv child in Texas has the same in their human nature. opportunity fo·r financial equity. As a which he slill holds. and. therefore. all children have Mr. Bollon's philosophy of educa· result of these can victions. he was a the ability to learn. Individual tion is: leader in the financial equity fight for differences are only differences "Public Education needs to provide school districts in Texas which in degree. never differences in every student the opportunity to resulted in the passage of House Bill kind. Every child is educable up 72. to his or her capacity. There is become whatever he or she aspires to In 1983, Vasquez received the no unteachable child. There are be. Some of the goals of education are " Trendsetter Award" for his work in only children that we fail to to pass the heritage of the past to the bilingual education from the San An teach in a way that befits their next generation, to provide a set of tonio Area Association of Bilingual individual condition." values that will enable students to Educators. 1\.lr. Castellanos has been an take their rightful place in a society. In 1985, \' asquez was named the educator for 30 years. twenty of those to provide students with a set of skills "Key Communicator in Texas" by which have been in Edgewood. with which they can survive." thp Texas School Public Relations :\1r. Castellanos received his B.A. ~lr. Bolton- has been in the Association. lie was the first degree and ~l.A. degree from Edgewood District for twenty eight superintendt'nl and the first San An Southwest Texas State Universily. years. tonian to receive lhe award. 64 Edgewood a total of 73 years Edgewood Independent School District operates on a Five-Year Priorities Plan which focuses on in creased academic competence as its overall goal. EISD will produce students who are effective learners in the academic area, people who have learned how to learn. BASIC FACTS IN 1986 Student enrollment: 15,636 Number of schools 25 Number of citizens 70,489 Area 16.27 square miles Per·pupil cost S3,061.83 Tax fate per 5100 valuation .65287 Budget 85·86 $51 ,604,907 Assessed valuation S584.950,062 Number of teachers 981 Elementary 560 Secondary 421 District attendance ratio 95.2% 1986 Board of Trustees, (seated, I-r) Sam Williams, Jr., Vice-President/Secretary StudentlTeacher ratio 15.9411 David D. Garza, President; Enrique Barrera. (top, I-r) Superintendent J ames R. Vasquez; Juan Castillo, Raul Villasenor, and Pete Gonzales. J r. (missing from photo, Pablo Escamilla, Jr.) CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS Summer schools: E I SD offers sum each campus provide necessary Gi fted and Talented Progra m: Ac mer instr uction for elementary counseling and guidance, schedule tivated in 1985 as a pla nning year to through high school students. classes. and plan staff development. be implemented in 1986. Pre- Kindergarten: Program for Language School: Opened in 1985. High Tech High School: In coopera fo ur-year old students. this is a school for immigrant children tion with Alamo Community College, Honors Classes: language arts. grades 4 through 8. Edgewood students attend t he math. science. social studies. and Tutorial Programs: TuLOring ser magnet high school on t he campus of Spanish vices offered after school at all San Antonio College. Guidance Programs: Counselors at schools. Health Careers High School: In cooperation with the Northside In dependent School District. Edgewood students attend the magnet high Salaries are competitive school located in the South Texas EDGEWOO D Medi cal Complex. House Bill 72 Salary Schedule Plato Computer System Instruc 1985· 1986 tion: Supplementary computer in struction Bachelor's Degree· Fully Certified Master's Degree· Fully Certified Technical Educa tion Internships: 10 Mont h Contract l O-Month Contract Schools- business pa rtnerships: E ISD 518.000 stude n ts t r ai n at a r ea h igh o 818.500 1·2 818.500 1·2 819.240 technology businesses. 818.500 Elementary Bi-literacy Program: 3·4 3·4 820.100 5 $18.750 5 fo r students in grades kindergarten 520.100 6·7 818.750 6·7 through sixth which meets t he needs 821.110 8·9 819.350 8·9 of limited Englis h proficiency S22.270 10 821.490 10 students. 823.615 11 ·12 822.850 11·12 Firs t Grade Readjng/Writing Pro 825.050 13·14 824,040 13·14 gram: Introduced in 1984, a more 826.600 15 824.040 15 comprehensive program 828.285 16 825.450 16 Writing to Read System: Designed 830.095 17+ 527.750 17+ to support teaching kindergarten and 831.200 first grade students to write anything they can say and anything they have written. 65 COURSE REQU IRM ENTS GRADES 9-12 "REGULAR" PRESENT IIIGH SClIOOL "ADVANCED" PROGIlAM PROGRAM PROGRAM HEQUIREMENTS REQUIREMENTS I{EQUIREME NTS COUHSES English 4 4 ~Ialh 3 3 Science 2 3 Foreign Language III 2 Social Studies 212 212 Economics 12 1 2 Ilealth 1.2 1 '2 12 Physical Education I I 2 1 I 2 12 CompUlt'f Sci. "lath 1 Fine Arts Elpcliy('s 7151 8161151 Hl'llwciialion 121 2121 (,HEDITS 20 22 22 DIPLOMAS Although all Edgewood high school Trustees Adopt diplomas are the same, transcripts will indicate which of four types of Record Budget certificate s tudents have earned. Edgewood Trustees approved a Advanced Diploma ... s tudent take$ advanced math courses and addi· budget (I $51,604,907 on August 12, 1985. for the 1985-86 school term. The tional courses in science. foreign budget IS a record for the school district. language. and Britis h literature. The spending plan includes an avt;rage Regular Diploma ... studenls lake reo 11 .6 percent salary increase for teachers. quired courses. no extra year in science. math. or foreign language. Where The Money COJTIes STATE (77.3%1 Advanced Diploma with From: Honor,!" ... sludent takes advanced diploma required courses but also General Fund Revenues take honors labeled courses. Local (7.5%) Combined Cerlificate ... student takes advanced or regular diploma reo FB Carryover (6.2%) quirments with a concentration of vocational units. GRADING SYSTEM A ...... 90-100 Outstanding Where the Money Goes: B ...... 80-89 A bove Average Expenditures By Category C ...... 75·79 Average Administration ( 14 .2%) D ...... 70· 74 Below Average Failure.... Any grade below a 70 main!. & oper. ( 12.5%) ACCREDITATION All Edgewood Independent Schools arc accredited by the Texas Educa tion Agency. Pupil Services(13.7%) 66 CO~ I PETEN C Y BASED H IG H SCHOOL Formerly ca ll ed the ExtNnal II igh Schoo l. this is a sel f- paced adult cdua ti on program based on the Adult Per formance Le\"e1 Curriculum. T his pro gram is housed at Edge\.... ood Il igh School and is the only program of t he kind in the city. HONORS CLASSES La nguage Arb En!(lish I. II. II I. IV ~I at h Algebra I. II CieomHry. Pre Calculus. Cakulus Ph vsics. PhysIO logy and Anatom,\ Scienc~ Hiology I and II Chemislry I. II Social Studies American Il istor,\ Other The PLATO computer system was a feature of San Antonio's Education Fair Spanish I. II. III. IV held during Texas Public Schools Week in Marcb 1986. II igh Tech Courses . ~~ Laura DeAnda and Frank Espinoza, Memorial High School students. participate in the High T ech High School located at San Antonio College. 67 Alana Norton Valerie Carreon Winston School " .K. Williams School Pre- K_ Pre- K_ 68 he purpose of our schools is to cate every child to the fullest of or her potential and to prepare se children to take a place in the 'ld they would inherit as adults. "e realize that the future of society uires an informed and educated tulace. That is why we send our ldren off to school; that is why we vide them with an education. ,et the record show that 1986 was year when Edgewood took a giant ~ p. The community voted an $8.5 lion bond issue to renovate schools i )reparation for the future. lut renovation is only one part. As The ~ appproach the future Edgewood '\o;j I try new programs; will try new ~ )roaches; will try new disciplines; ".1 try new techniques. Sometimes succeed, and sometimes we fail , " if we fail, we rise to try again. If Future 1 is ever-changing, then so must our COl ools reach out and try. If our job is educate children for tomorrow, n we can do no less. 1986 Architect's sketch of the new Gardendale Elementary School. 69 Edgewood Case Touches Note: It is fitting that this page be dedicated to the Rodriguez case, a case which reached the Supreme Court. and had its origins SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL in Edgewood. It is also appropriate that this section be included as part of Edgewood's DISTRICT ET AL. v. RODRIGUEZ ET AL. future. For, even though this court case was decided in 1973, the ramnifications of Rodriguez are still being felt in Texas and APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE throughout t.he land. Whenever in the future Texas reaches the point. when aU her children WESTERN DIST RI CT OF TEXAS will enjoy finpncial equality in tht! schools, It will be said that the struggle for equality for all school children began in Edgewood. This is a No. 71-1332. Argued OClober 12, 1972-Decided March 21 , 1973 legal brief of Rodriguez and a summary of the historic decision which touched the conscience of America 's educational system. NAT URE OF CASE: Appeal from ground t hat the dual system and discriminatory, The allocation of finding of unconstitutionality of dual financial disparity denied Edgewood educational funds per year per pupil public school financing system, residents equal protection of the laws. in a school district according to the The district court found the system amount produced by taxation in that FA CT SUMMARY: Rodriguez (PI, unconstitutional and the Supreme district does not violate the equal pro who resided in the Edgewood district Court granted certiorari. tection rights of residents of other 't' here the highest school tax was paid ISSUE: Does the allocation of educa districts in the area paying a hlgher dnd S356 per year per student was tional funds per year per student in a rate of tax which produces less lIocated. fil ed this suit alleging school district according to the revenue and results in a lower per uenial of equal protection since the amount produced by taxation in that pupil allocation. Reversed. Alamo leights wstrict was taxed at district violate the equal protection DISSEl\T: (Marshall, J.I The majori· a lower rate but produced enough rights of resident of other districts in ty of this Court today seeks to revenue to permit the allocation of an area paying a higher rate of tax establish that cases under the Equal 8594 per year per student there. which produces less revenue resulting Protection clause fall into two CONCISE RULE OF LAW: The in a lower per pupil allocation? categories for review: strict scrutiny or mere rationality. A reading of the allocation of educational funds per HOLDING AND DECISION: decisions of this Court shows that a year per pupil in a school district ac (Powell. J.I No. The Equal Protection spectrum of standards have been cording to the amount produced by Clause does not require absolu te equality or precisely equal advan employed in equal protection cases. taxation in that district does not The only justification for the system violate the equal protection rights of tages. The class of persons here questioned is the local control of resident of other districts in the area represented by Rodriguez (PI is not a "suspect" class. The members of the schools. But the system does not real paying a higher rate of tax which pro class are unified only by the fact that ly advance that interest because duces less revenue resulting in a lower they live in a district with less taxable voters are unable to choose to allocate per pupil allocation. wealth than other districts. I t has not more to education and are instead FACTS: The average assessed pro been shown that these persons are bound by the amount of taxable pro perty value per student in the "poorer" than others or that the ad perty in their districts. a factor over predominantly white Alamo Heights mittedly dual system has a purpose of which they have no control. district was more than $49.000 while denying rights to the poor. Because ANALYSIS: The majority found in t he corresponding value in the the Edgewood residents pay more this case that I.lu~ re wa s no fundamen· predominatly minority Edgewood and receive less. Rodriguez (PI urged. tal right to education secured by the district was $5,960. This resulted in and the District Court agreed. that Constitution except that some educa t he allocation of $594 per year per the Equal Protection Clause was tional opportunity for all persons is :student in Alamo Heights and only violated by the unequal distribution required. However. if a "suspect" S365 per year per student in of the education funds throughout the class had been singled out for unequal Edgewood. despite the fact that entire SAISD (DI. Since nothing in treatment in the same way. an equal Edgewood residents paid a higher the Constitution either explicitly or protection violation would have rate of tax. The allocations were made implicitly guarantees education as a resulted. in each district separately according " fundamental" right and since to the amount of revenue produced in Rodriguez (P) does not represent a each . Edgewood produced less "suspect" class, the "compelling revenue from the school tax even state interest" standard applied by t hough residents there paid a higher the District Court was inappropriate. rate. and Rodriguez (PI along with Here the system employed was not so other residents filed this suit on the irrational as to be invidiously 70 11"AInerica's Conscience In a case eventually decided by the valuation per student. The Alamo More significantly, perhaps. Powell U.S. Supreme Court. Edgewood In Heights district raised 5333 per stu observed that "at least where wealth dependent School District. parents in dent. about 13 times that of is involved, the Equal Prot.ection 1967 sued to change the state of Edgewood, above the required assign Clause does not. require absolute Texas' system of financing public ment.. equalit.y of precisely equal advan education. Armed with these comparisons. the tages. ,. A U.S. District Court in San An plaintiffs convinced the district court The high court held that' 'the grave tonio in 1971 ruled in Rodriguez vs. that the state's basis for funding im significance of education bot.h to the San Antonio Independent School plicitly discriminated against poorer individual and our society cannot. be District that funds for educating each dist.ricts with less substantial tax doubted." The opinion went on to child in the state's public schools bases. state, however, that the importance should be derived from the wealt.h of The lower court in December. 1971. of a state performed service does not the entire state. found that assigning district funding render it "fundamental" for purposes The parents brought. t.he class ac· requirements on the basis of an area's of examination under t.he Equal Pro tion against the state commissioner wealth was a "suspect" or ques· t.ection Clause. and board of education, state at.· tionable practice. and that the state Hence, the court stated it "has long torney general and the school district. failed to "establish a reasonable basis afforded protection against un on behalf of Texas school children for these (suspect) classifications." justifiable governmental interference because they believed some students The defendants were held in violation with the individual's rights to speak were not getting a fair shake from the of the Equal Protection Clause of the and vot.e. funding system instituted in 1948. 14t.h Amendment. "Yet we have never presumed to The Texas Minimum Foundation That ruling compelled several state possess eit.her the abilit.y or the School Program contributed 80 per· education committees to scramble to authority to guarant.ee citizens (by cent of educational funding while reo develop alternative funding formulas equal education) the most effective quiring local school districts to pro· by the court's deadline of 1973. speech or the most informed electoral vide 20 percent of base revenues for The U.S. Supreme Court. mean, choice. ,. t.eacher salaries, operating expenses while. agreed to hear the appeal in and transportation costs. late 1972. and eventually overturned This required district revenues, the district court. ruling by a 5·4 vote. designat.ed as the Local Fund Assign· The justices had two legal ques ment, was determined by a complex tions to consider: whether the founda economic formula which involved t.ion program actually discriminated breaking down counties and school against a defined. "suspect" class or districts by tax bases and their violat.ed a fundamental. relative ability to shoulder necessary constitutionally·protected right. and education costs. whether the foundation program had Because of its lack of industrial and a legitimate, clearly·defined purpose. commercial properties. (strong The lower court's ruling was based sources of tax revenue). Edgewood. on the assumption that the quality of the area's poorest district, had the education is directly related to the highest property t.axes (81.05 per amount of funding devoted to it. 5100). and the lowest mean property Hence. the court reasoned that the value per student 185.960 worth of differences in per pupil expenditures taxable property per student). were directly accountable for As such. the district. consisting of qualitative differences between 25 schools and about 22.000 students schools and districts. (92 percent hispanic and 4 percent The Supreme Court majority did black). was able to contribute onlv not see it in those simple terms. 26 per student beyond those fund~s however. required by the LF A. Justice \ViIliam Powell stated in The relatively wealthier Alamo the majority opinion that the plain Heights I ndependent School District tiffs had failed to prove the funding was in a markedly different situation. system discriminated against a class and was cited in the case for its con of definably poor people on the basis trast to the Edgewood district. of wealth. PoweU cited a Connecticut Eighty-one percent white. the six study that concluded there was no school. 5.000 student district had the basis for assuming t.hat the poorest area's lowest (8.85 per 8100) tax rate. people are concentrated in the poorest along with the highest 1849.000) school districts. 71 ...... _ 1· Message to the Michael Gutierrez·Pre. K \Vin!:oton Elementary Emma Frey School Win!:oton School Todd Gutierrl'z·Pre. K Je!:o!:oe Perez· Pre. K Lorna Park School Emma Fre.) School Rodne.\ Rodrigucz-Pre. K Roland Sancho-Prl'. K i\1.) ra Torre!:o-Pre. K Lorna P~lrk School Lorna Park School II.K. \rilliam.o:, School Iloel ... cher School 72 Class of 1999 Edgewood Independent School District 5358 Wesl Comnwrce STreet San AnTonIO, TeKi'ls 782371399 (512)4332361 1986 To The Gradualing Class of 1999: 1999 .... the end of the twentieth century is the beginning of your adult life after high school graduation. The story of th e people of the twenty· first century will be more exciting due to many innovations brought about by the computer age. I know that it is these innovations that are go ing to afford you the opportunity to lead a longer. fuller. and more productive life than the generations that preceded you. fn our li ves. some of us saw skies change from airplanes with two·win gs fbi·planesl to rockets that transported human beings to the moon and back. Some of you in the twenty· first century will commute to distant places in our galaxy. I can remember. when it was an adventure to drive from San Antonio to Corpus Christi. Med ical technology. new medicines. and other medical treatments have eli minated diseases that crippled and killed thousands of people in the twentieth century. That assures you a longer life and a life·time more secure from illness While the body of knowledge has grown. the fundamental need to learn and to be educated has grown even more. From the earliest public schools proposed by Horace l\lann in the eighteenth century until now. learning and the reasons for learning ha ve been the fundamental means for im· proving society. One thing will remain constant in the twenty·first century and that is you must continue to learn and to expand the horizons. You can even learn to live in peace with each other and totally eliminate wa rs. If you ca n accompli sh t hi s, something we have not been able to ac· compli sh in the entire hi story of humankind. your generation would become the greatest genera· tion of a ll time. As you leave high school, the Class of 1999 wi ll be the last one. and hopefully. the best of the twentieth century. May your life be fill ed with wonderment. excitement. and peace. i\la~ ' the twenty-first century be a century of brotherhood, progress. and happiness for all of humankind. James H. Vasquez Superintendent of Schools 73 Texans as coyot~s, according to W. B. Elkins, respected grocer of the Edgewood community since 1911 The territory origlllally ..... as part HISTORY OF of the Meerscheidt farm, and was cutup only in 1909. when Parh R Longworth bought the land and divided It into the Edgewood Addl tion. From that time on, many families moved intothehrttion.lured THE EDGEWOOD by the n ch sod and abundance of a rtesian ..... ater for irngallon purposes, Before long the brushy chaparrals ..... ere transforml'd into level. producti ve fields of vegetables and flowers. And by 1914, the people 111 the community were talking about better school facilities COMMON SCHOOL fo r theIr children. At the turn of the century the Edgewood Addition was a part of Common School District No. 15. known as the Mackey DIstrict (See DISTRICT Fig. I ). T he immediate predecessor of the Edgewood School was kno ..... n as the Frey School, and was located at the north ..... estcorner of what are now known as Parkpr Road and Stephenson Road NO. 41 Another schoolhouse located in the vicinity of the presen t Stafford School. and called the Lakevie ..... School. while located in ..... hat is now the Edgewood District, does not seem to be considered a fore. runner of the present Edgewood. 1 The followmg cha pters are taken from the History of the Edge· u'uod Common School Dls/nct No. 41 written by Dr EliI.' E. Arnaud. T he Frey School was built by Charles F rey. who donated the former Edgewood superintendent and currently a Ilrofessor at Our two-acre site. which still belongs to the district. from a corner of his Lady of the Lake University, The history was published in June farm. The fi rst teacher was Mr, Frey's daught.e r. Miss Emma Frey, 1942 as part of Dr Arnaud's thesis requiremen ts at St. Mary's who recalls tha t her first class numbered 15 pupils. She taught 10 .... University Only the fi rst eight chapters are published here. and high first. second. third. and fifth g rades. Among the pupils OmittE"d because of >;pace lim itations are charts and appendieces that first yea r were her own brother and three Reeh children. whose Indudf'd in the original document Illstury of the Edgeu'ood Cum parents ..... ere laborers at the Frey farm. Mi ss Frey had received a permanent teacher'scerlificate from San MarcosCollege before she m Oil School Distf/ct No. 41 is reprinted with the per miSSIOn oflhe a uthor began teaching. and later received both her B.A. and M A. degrees. CHAPTER I She is now a member of the faculty of Brackenridge lI igh School INTRODUCTION She taught only one year at Frey School. The second teacher was MISS J ulia Grothaus, now chlefhbrarian Most of us are likely to take for granted the litlle schoolhouse at the San AntonitJ Public Library. As she remembers It, the school :l rou nd the corner from us. T rue. we are aware that the children of building was a one·room affair. about 24 by 16 feet There were tht> neighborhood attend classes there. and sometimes ..... e a re approximately 300r 35 pupils. and she taught every grade from the C(ll'rn 1 Into buying a ticket to some entertainment or party. But seldom do ..... e think of the sc hool as having a real history of its o ..... n. first to the seventh. Unfortunately. none ofthe early records seem to have been kept. making It dIfficult to learn ..... ho the early pupils As a teacher at the Edlo;:i' ..... ood Fllementary School. 525 Cupples were. Road . j ust outsidt> the City LImits of San Antonio. Texas. the ..... riter The ways of the early teacher were not al ..... ays smooth. For beea mt> interested in the backg round and history of the school and its d ll;;trict. There has been no attempt to keep a record of tht: events instance. Miss Grothaus had to ride horst>back. bicycle. or walk all the distance from the end of the street·car lines near Our Lady (lfthe ofth(> past. Many. If not most. records have been misplaced or lost. Lake College to the Frey School, a distance of at least two miles. At Common School District No. 41 of Bexar County. Texas. has been In times It was necessary for her to remain at the home of Mrs. John existenCI' for mo re than 25 years. now. and if some effort ..... t>re not Darby, who ..... as a true fflend of the early school. offering room and madt> at once to gather the facts of Its belo;:inning and subsequent board to the teachers when they were stranded by bad weather or development. a complete history cou ld never be recounted. Even no ...... many of those who were active in the school affairs of the early other circumstances. One stormy·looking morn ing. MISS Grothaus hurned out to school days fl f this century have passed on. Others have lpft the dIstrict to beat the storm. Just as she arrived It b roke in all Its fury and The ft>w remaining are growmg old. continued throughout the day. T he teacher devoted no time to her With these thoughts in mind. the ..... riter decided to gather all pupils that day, for not a single one ventured near the schoolhouse available facts from Bexar County and School records concerning A complete list of the teachers who follo ..... ed Miss Frey and MISS the Edge ..... ood district. Since these records were Incomplete. it was Grothaus was not located. but the names of Mildred M. Voight. found necessary to supplement the recorded data with information Nellie Ferris. Balzou Waite. Katyt> Talley, and Mrs. H G Bum· recalled by Individuals such as early trustees. teachers. pupils, and gardner have bt>en associated With the dIstrict by persons patrons. The writer Interviewed many of these people. as many as acq uaint.ed with the early days. and Court House records show these could be contacted in the time available. names as employees of District No. 15 A large number of names has been included in thiS study. because On January 13. 191 :1, a group of trustees and patrons filed a it is felt that those who were associated with the school district in the petition with the Bexar Coun ty Commissioner's Cou rt requesti ng past might find them of in teres I. T he spellings are given as they are the divIsion of DIstrict No. 15 into two separate districts. FollOWIng found on the Bexar Cou nty records and are not necessarily correct. are the petition and the names of ItS signers: Tht> ..... riter will attem pt to g ive as complete an account as is We, the undersigned trustees of School District No. possible of the historyofthe Edgewood Common School District No. 15. believing that the present district is too large and 41 , beginning with the days when it was a part of Common School that school interests could be better managed if tht> District No. 15. and follo ..... ing its subsequent divisions and devel· district were divided. leaving two schools In each dis opment until the present day. Mu ch of the material ..... ill be consoli· trict. pray your honorable court. the Commissioner's dated into tables to make for greater clarity a nd ease of reading. Court of Bexar County. Texas. to divide said Common A copy of this thesis is to be placed 111 the Ed.::ewood School School Di st rict No. 15. Into two school distncts, the Library, and it is the hope of the writer that add itional facts about dividng line at the Southwest corner of District 4, old the past will be appended to these pages by students and patrons. town tract, thence Southwest and South along the West hne of old city tract to the Leon Creek. We further pray C HAPTER II that that part of said d istnctlying West of said dIVIding A BRI EF BAC KWARO GLANCE INTO T H E H ISTORY hne be known as Common School Distnct No. 15. and OFTHE DISTRICT PRIOR TO THE ERECTION that the part of said district. lying West of said dividing OF TH E FIRST EOGEWOOD SCHOOL line be known as Common School Distrct No. 15. and It was nnt so lonl{ ago that tht, land in the vicinity of Edgewood Signed this the 31 st day of January, 1913. Herman F School in Bexar County. Tl'xa" ..... as covered ..... ith mesquite brush A. Tezel. trustee; H. Weimer, Julius Haner, Henry and was populated mostly by wolves, mo re commonly known to 74 Acker, trustee; Pa ul Hartmann, Cha rles Steubing, CHAPTER '" Cha rles Haese, August Ha ns ma nn, Albert Skola ut, THE FIRST EDGEWOOD SCHOOL BUI LDING Adolph Golle, James J . Wil son, Edwa rd Golle. Robert The na mes 0( 24 citizens of Com mo n School District No. 41 signed Baering, D F Wilters, J ohn Rosebrook, Jr., W H Wi l· to a petition da ted June 6, 1914 . a nd sent to the Co unty Commission son, 0 H Hlnes, J H Dea n, W S. Collier, Robert Fa ke, er's Court shortly thereafter, gave the fi rs t impetus to a movement Em ma Arunda ll, J J Cam pbell, Fra nk Reiff, A H di rected at the erection of a new school building for the co mmunity. Da rby, W B Elkins, Dr W, A Thom pson, F Belote, The petition req uested a n election fo r determining the will of the Carl Elsner, George Sta ppenbeck, A 0 Lloyd, Ha rriet taxpayers on the i:.sua nce of $20,000 in school bo nds to bear interest E. Yates, Michael Springer, F M Bowers, R J J en at 5'lf., payable 20 years (rom the dateof i88ue with option of redemp I nings, J C. Dar by, Jamelt Herrera (o r Ferrero). L. tion after 10 years, the money to be used for the construction and Hah n, H L. Brook, J E. Brook, J ohn A Heck, C. A equipping ora brick buildmg. It also asked the Court to authorize the Greene (or Grune) levying of a tax upon al l taxable property in the district suffi cient to I The petitIOn was approved by Carlos Bee, presldentofthe County pay current interest on the bonds and to provide a sinki ng fu nd SchooJ Board. and the board members, and was acted upon favora sufficient to pay the principal at maturity bly by the County Commissioner's Court on February 13, 1913 Receiving the approval of the Court, the citizens approached Thereafter the district was known as the (... 'Ike View Gardens Dis Albert Huth, tax assessor of Bexar County at that time. for a report trlcl or Lake View Ga rdens Common School District No. 41 until the as to values of co mmunity property. Mr H uth reported that the total Original Edgewood School building was er{'('ted (See Fig l) assessed value of real estate situated in the district amounted to The follOWing accnunt. tak(>n from the Bexar County School $A35,230, and that the personal property owned amounted to Annual of 1914·191~. compiled by County Superintendent of $12,970, a total of 5848,200. With P F Stewart, County Supermten S"hoolll P. F Stewart, will serve togivea good picture of the district dent of Schools. the trustees decided that a tax of 25 cents for each Ju"l prH)r to the er('('tlOn of the first butldinf.: to be known as 5100 valuation would be sufficient to handle the building program EdJ(ewnnd On July 8, 1914. ten yoters came to the Frey School. all of whom L 75 beyond the city limits of San Antonio, it is reasonable to assume petition for a tax not exceeding 50 cents on each $100 valuation for that the name took into account the fact that the section was at the supplementing the State apportionment was sent to the County "edge" of the "woods", although the woods in this case probably Commissioners on February 19.1917, by a commIttee of 35 citizens were mostly mesquites and other typical Texas brush The election which followed found 23 voting 111 favor of the raise in First principal of the new school was the late Mr_ W Arthur taxes and o ne voting against In June, 1917, the maintenance tax Thurman, who had as his faculty. Mrs. Thurman (now Mrs 0 B was set at 40cents. and the interest and sinking fund tax at IOcents Manes). Mrs H C. Bumgardner. and Miss Katye Talley_ Paul Elsner was the first janitor and planted many of the trees now C HA PT E R IV gracing the school grounds FI FTEEN YEARS OF P ROG RESS Mr. and Mrs, Thurman hved in the school building. with living There are no figures available to show exactly how many children room and bedroom in the southeast room of the first floor (now attended Edgewood School during any given year in the early days occupied by a second grade class). and kitchen and dining room In We may, however. judge that the large ma)onty of children listed on the room adjoining to the north (now housing a fourth grade class). the school census rolls, which are available. attended the school The pre· World War period saw at Edgewood the beginning of The number of such children increased from 155 in 1913· 1914. to 376 vocational classes in domestlc sCience and manual training and in 1918·1919. woodworking. Each department had very fine equipment donated Since the district was so wide·spread, It was only natural that the by George Brackenridgeand valued atmore than $1000. Miss Mary people in the South San Antonio area should ask for a school build· K. Downie (now Mrs. Edwin Paschal) taught home economics one ing nearer their homes when the number of pupils seemed large day each week at Edgewood, dividing the remainder of her time enough. Thus it was that a petition on February 25, 1918. a petItion between Alamo Heights and Harlandale. She recalls that some of addressed to the County Court reQues ted the issuance of $32,000 in her girls were very reluctant to use the sewing machines, being bonds numbered I to 32 consecutively, $1000 each. at 5'l1., payable afraid of them, probably because they had never seen them before. annually April 10 each year, to be payable 40 years from their date D. E. Coleman was teacher of manual training and worked on a with option for redemption after ten years, to be expended for the similar schedule as Miss Downie. Both worked out of the County erection and equipping of a school building of brick, concrete and Superintendent's office, since the three schools could not afford to hollow tile material. and for the puchase of a sIte for the budding hire a full·time teacher fo r vocational subjects. Tax Assessor Albert Huth gave the total valuatIOn of property as follows: real property, $1,680.925; personal property, $78,975; total. $1,759.900. 1 The bond election was held on April 6, 1918, and 36 votes were cast in favor, with six against the Issue. Plans were made for the new building. Property was purchased In the 600 block of Ellswood Avenue. in what is now South San AntOniO Because of the condl· tions caused by the war, there was much dIfficulty in the erectIOn of the building. It was a three·story concrete buildIng, and though architecturally it is all right. even to this day It has an "unfinishpd" appearance. Named Fenfield at the time of its completIOn. It IS now used as an elementary school in the South San Antonio indel)endent School District. Upon the com pletion of the Fenfield School, W. A. Thurman assumed the duties of principal there as well as at Edgewood I.ater he was elected County Superintendent of Schools (1920) and died shortly after his re·election for a second term 1Il that office In the early days. Edgewood was the leader 111 all Interscholastic League e\'ents. both literary and athletic. There was heated rivalry between Edgewood. Alamo Heights. and Harlandal{>, Alamo I-I{>ights usually suffered defeat from Edgewood in athletIC events, 1942 . The original Edgewood SchooL according to Mrs. O. B. Manes, the former Mrs Thurman The schools also frequently presented exchanj.(e programs for each On AUf,(ust 7,1915, the board petitioned the County Commission· other. er's Court for permission to sell the Lake View schoolhouse and The school wagons, used for transportIng I)Ullll s most of the year, property. and the old Frey schoolhouse and outbuildinj.(s. Permis· suddenly blossomed forth as floats In the Rattle of Fl owers parade sion to sell was secured and on September 8, the two acres and Lake when April rolled around. Outstanding students were chosen to ride ViE'w buildings were sold to W. A. Thurman for $950. while the Frey on the vehicles, which were decorated by the teachers and ladies of School buildlnj.( was sold to David Anderson for $301. It has si nce the community. White paper ros{>s W('ft' the favonte decoratllln been moved to the Cupples Road near the intersection of Kirk Place An increase in the tax rate was requt'slt'd 11\ a l)elltlOn dated and serves as an attractive dwelling for the Verstuyft family. March 18, 1921 , and asking for a rate not exceeding $1 P('f pach 100 There mav be some Question as to who actually owns the two acre~ vnluatinn On April 16. 1921. an (' I{'("tion was held, find 210l vn(l'r;; upon which the Frey School was built. There are some who contend approved, while eight voted against. For 1921, tht> nUllntenance tax that the land was gIven to the school so long as it was used for school was set at 80 cents. with 20 cents for lllterest and slIlkinf.( fund tax purposes and that afterward it was to go back to the Frey family or The following year it was 8.5 cents for malnten;ln('e and ]!j cen ts for heirs. No record of such an arrangement is to be found, so far as the int('fest and sinking fund. writer can learn; consequently from all appearances the land actu· On October 11, 1922. citizenl' of South San Antonio pelltlOned the ally and legally belongs 1(0 the school district. CommIssioner's Court to form an llldept'ndent s('honl district An Smce District 41 then included what is now part of South San election was held in the Communltv BuildIng on October 28, result Antonio, and the northern boundary was the Culebra Road. It was JIll{ in 120 votes for the proposal and 17 agalllst necessary to furnish some means of transportation for the pupils. Thus bus service was inaul'Curated. one "li ne" going out toward The resulting division is peculiar, as the read('f will ohserve when Kelly Field. one Into the South San Antonio area. and one to the City glancing at Fig, I. The complete leKal descnptlon of the division wdl View and Lake View sections. One of the vehicles was an ordllwry be found in the appendix The persons who dre\\. up the diVISion W('fe horse·drawn wagon, but the other two were real school wagons. most gen('fOUS with South San Antomo In the matter of parceling Early County School account records show that the following men out taxable railroad property, When all was srlld and done. the were among those who were paid as bus drivers; J. W. Dean, Willi am Edge\\.ood district received three quarters ofa mile of railroad right· Vaughn. A Y Stephens. Ed Trapp. F. E. McCulloch. John Stevens, of·wav to tax, while the independent dH;trict re{,{,lved about I:) miles J . 1'. Flournoy. J . T. Heizer, Frank Gaconnet, J . Chappell. W E lIad It not been for this little "gpnerof;ltv" Edgewood might now find Camp, and R. M. Morehead. It easier to finance the bIlls caust'd by the great Influx of new pupils The need for additional taxes was felt during 1917·1918. and a within tht' past few vears. In additlfJn. South San Antonio was given 76 the area in which a large oil company and factory were located. of the Lake Gardens Co. F. R. Dickey, Benjamin F. Woodruff, Leonard Kerr, Mrs. B. F. Clyde Williams was selected l! architect, and the name Ginther, Fred Bell, V.C. Easley, and D. E. Morriswereelected as the "Stafford" was chosen for the school in honor of C.P. Stafford, who first trustt:es of the South San Antonio Independent School lent valuable assistance in the purchasing of the property. The one District. story brick building containing six classrooms was ready for use in Following the formation of the new district, the Fenfield School the fall of 1931. ISee photograph) and its accounts were taken from the books of District No. 41 During the first year a~ Stafford Mrs. L. H. Whitley acted as Some time during 1921, or later, it would seem, the board pur principal. J. P. Wagner was named to that position for the years chased an automobile school bus. R. M. Morehead andJ. W. Havens 1933·1934. While Edgewood remains a common school district, were drivers, according to the records. They were followed later by J. actually only the chief school officer, at present H. K. Williams, has L. Chipman and Austin Siegert. the right to the title of principal. because the Superintendent of During the years 1920·1922, A. W. Suman served as principal of County Schools is the superintendent of all common school districts. Edgewood School. E. W. McDonald replaced Mr. Suman in the fall of However, since District 41 has grown to s uch large proportions, it 1922, hut the latter returned for the year 1925-1926. Miss Ethel has become the custom to use the terminology of independent school Swain was named principal for 1926-1927 and remained until 1928, districts, with the superintendent in charge, and the head teachers when E. C. Curry assumed the position. In 1930, H. K. Williams was at the three schools assuming the title of principal. appointed head of the school. Names of the teachers and trustees During 1932·1933, the Edgewood High School courses were affil during these years will be found in the accompanying tables. iated with the State Department. First to be accepted were Govern In March of 1931 the County School Board was reminded that in ment, Commercial Arithmetic, General Science, and Algebra. 1922 the South San Antonio Independent School District had been S. B. Davis replaced Mr. Wagner as principal of the Stafford created out of property of Common School District No 41 by an School in 1934 election, but that No. 41 had never been re-established and redefined From time to time during these years the schools presented var· as to metes and bounds. The board consequenrly ordered the re ious types of programs and entertainments. One of the most out· establishment to be made and appointed Robert V. Smith to survey standing of these was "America's Child", a pageant presented at the land and make a report of the field notes. Edgewood on December 14, 1934, under the direction of Vela Lynn, These notes were certified by Surveyor Smith on March 3, 1931, Sophie Schiffers, and Charlolte Huddleston. Margaret Pauly was and the plat of the district may be found accompanying the notes in accompa nist. The production was presented in cooperation with the the County School Minutes. Exact wording of the notes may be Edgewood P.T.A. Because of the wide interest in the pageant, the found in the appendix and a map of the district may be seen In Fig. 2 cast of characters has been included in the appendix. On April 2, 1934, the County Commissioner's Court ordered that CHAPTER V District 41 bonds amounting to $4000, dated September 10, 1914, be POPULATION INCREASES DEMAND sold to the district at par along with the accrued interest ($200). FURTHER BUILDING In May of the previous year, the district had been given permis Increases in the population of District No. 41 in the 15 years sion to take up $8000 of the bonds, saving interest of $300. This now following the erection of the first building were considerable. The freed the community of its first series of bonds and paved the way area immediately surrounding the school was further developed, as for a new issue. l more citizens left the city for the benefits of suburban life beyond the Following the customary procedure of petition and court appro city limits. During this period also there grpw up a sizable addition val, an election was held on November 21, 1935, and bya vote of 113 several miles west and somewhat north of the Edgewood Commun to 75, the issuance of bonds to the amount of $27,500 was made ity, and known as the J....ady of the Lake Gardens Addition. Citizens possible. Known as the County of Bexar Common School District of this area felt they were entitled to a school building a little closer No. 41 Schoolhouse Bonds, Series of 1935, these were payable to their own homes. While there had been bus service for that area, serially, $500 on the tenth day of January in each ofthe years 1937to several accidents involving the school bus had cooled interest in 1946; $looOon January 10 in each of the years 1947-1961 ; and $1500 further investment of the sort. Consequently in March, 1931, a peti on January to, 1962 to 1966, with interest at 5%. This was changed to tion was filed with the County Court for the issuance of bonds 4WJb, payable semi ·annuall y July 10, and J anuary 10, in December, valued at $15,000 for the purpose of erecting a new school building. 1935.2 Thp Court approved the issuance of the bonds, due and payable Trustees for the new building program were E. W. Uhl, Sam H serially, $500 on the 10th day of April of each year of the years 1932 Anderson, and Earl F. Hall. Property immediately adjoining the to 1961, inclusive, with interest at five percent, for the purpose of original tract of school acreage to the north was acquired. The deed , repairing, constructing, and equipping public free school buildings held in the office of the County Superintendent of Schools, states of material other than wood, and purchasing the necessary sites thattheproperty was owned by David Anderson and his wife, Rosa thereof. The election was duly held on April 25, 1931, at the Edge E. Anderson, and that it was a plot 30 feet by 726 feet, containing wood Schoolhouse, and 167 votes were cast, 142 in favor, and 22 one·half acre. It is more particularly described in the appendix. The against. On May II, the Commissioners voted the bonds, and the sale price was $600. Court ordered The building, designed by Phelps and Dewees, architects. con· there is hereby levied on all said taxable property a tax sisted offour large classrooms, and a large gymnasium. It was built of thirteen cents (I3¢) on each $100 valu ation of all of red brick and hollow tile with funds from the bond issue (55 per taxable property in said Common School District cent) and from the Public Works Administration (45 percent). H. A. Number Forty-One for the year 1931; and there is ht:re Miller was contractor. At the time it was built, it was thought that by levied a tax of thirteen cents (I3¢), or 80 much the facilities would take care of another ten years of development. thereof, or 80 much more, if any, as shall be necessary, One room was equipped as a science laboratory, and one as a on each $100 valuation of all taxable property in said libra ry. They were immediately put to use as regular classrooms district, for each of the years 1932 to 1961 . when the building was opened in mid-year of the 1936·1937 term. Four acres of land on Wood Avenue in the Lady of the Lake The building program included the addition of two classrooms and Gardens Addition were chosen as a suitable location for the new an auditorium to the Stafford School. building by the school trustees, F. O. Kingery, Alec McDonald. and During the 1935-1936 term Miss Esther Saathoff (now Mrs. Carl J O. Davenport. Otto Weltner replaced Mr. Davenport in April, Trulson) began her work with the high school chorus, work which 1931. The site cost $1000, according to the deed which is now in the was steadily developed into oneofthe most successful school activi office of County Superintendent R. W. Ma y. The Union Title and ties. Mi ss Jessie Howland was given charge of the library, in addi Trust Co. guarantees the title of the property, known as Lots of tion to her work as science teacher. and through her efforts the Tracts Nos. 5. 6, 14, and 15 in Block 7 of the Lady of the Lakes library each year has become more complete and has given more Gardens Addition to the city of San Antonio. Each lot contains one service to hoth faculty members and students acreofland, according to the map or platofsaid addition recorded in The first high school graduating class, thatof 1936·1937, included Vol. 368, Page 143, of the Map and Plat Records of Bexar County, the following students who completed the eleventh grade: Elton Texas. The deed is dated July 21, 1931, and is signed by R. L. Ball Harris, Jack Watson, Quentin (Sonny) Kingery, Mary Luderus, and R. H. Barclay, president and secretary, respectively, ofthe Lady Madeleine Caldwell, Ethel Martinez, Margaret Verstuyft, Dolores 77 Orta. Gilma Samaniego, Bert Bowen. Mildred Woltersdorf, and both inclusive_ Amount outstandin~ $26.500 Lucille Ahrednt (see photograph) 3. Proposed issue of bonds. beanng Interest at the Still greater increases in school population were recorded In 1937 rate of three and three-quarters per centum (3 %) per 1938. All rooms were in use early in the year, including the t ..... o annum, due and payable serially as follows: $500 In rooms on the third floor which ..... ere formed by closing foldtng doors each of the years 1939-1942. both inclusive; $1000 in on either side of the auditorium A first grade class finally was each of the years 1943-19t)(), both inclusive; $1500 in placed in the Edgewood Baptist Church. about a block a ..... ay on each of the years 1951-19;;7, both inclusive; $2000 In Ceralvo Street 1958; and $2500 in each of the years 1959·1965, both In 1937, the board made the purchase of an additional3.08acres to inclusive ._- $40,000. the north ofthe school property for the purpose of(urtherexpansion, Dated this. the 30 day of December. 193R a thing a lready becoming inevitable because of the Increasing R.W May. County Supenntendent number of pupils_ Mrs_ Rosa E. Anderson. widow of David Ander· of Bexar County, Texas son, was owner of the land. Title to the property is guaranteed by the CHAPTER VI Stewart Title Guaranty Co., and is described in the appendix THE NEW EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Roughly, a added a strip o{about 184 feet along Cupples Road. and With the passage of the bonds and all things in order. the superin 726 feet deep alongsid e the former northern boundary of the school tendent and school board made application for and were granted aid property_ This deed likewise is held in the County Supertntendent's from the Works Progress Administration for the new Edgewood office, and is dated September 11, 1937. The price stipulated is $3080 High School building. and for the addition offour rooms at Stafford Additional teachers ..... ere employed during 1938·1939 to take care School. The firm of Adams and Adams was chosen as architects of new pupils. The auditOrium on the third flooroftheold Edgewood The district furnished all the materials and the W P.A furnished building was converted into three classrooms by the removal of the mostofthe labor. B. B. Bryan was the building superintendent.later stage and the addItion of wall partitions. Once again the Edgewood replaced by Charles Foerster. Baptist Church was rented for use as a classroom. Because of the demands on the superintendent by the building In the latter part of the term, the board made arrangements where program and added numbers of pupils, the school board members by the Edgewood school purchased the heavier instruments of a decided to name a principal for the elementary and high schools at band, including bass horn. baritone, alto horn, drums, etc., thereby Edgewood. E. E. Arnaud was appointed head of the elementary making possible the organization of a concert band to be directed by division (first seven grades) in May. 1939. and Mattison L. Story E. E. Arnaud In addition. those children wishing to purchase was chosen during the summer as high school principaL Both instruments oftheir own, were permitted to do so through the school. assumed their positions in September. Clyde E. Smith, who replaced with the school making the purchases outright. and the purchaser S. B. Davis in 1938, was re-appointed to the Stafford principalship paying the school over a period of two years. without carrying During the 1939-1940 term. for the first time teachers' salaries were charges, This attractive offer was the means of gathering 40 paid on a twelve·month basis, the change from the previous nine youngsters into the first band at Edgewood. During the three pre month system having been preferred by a majority of teachers vious ypars the musical groups had included stringed instruments Early in the year Mr. Story resIgned to accept a teaching position and therefore were designated as orchestras. having considerably in a junior college. and after a brief discussion. the hoard appointed fewer students enrolled. During the summer of 1939, classes for the Ed Wyatt as his successor. new musicians-to-be were neld at the school. Although the new high school building was not entirely com· While the campus figures of 1938·1939 show 1354 children of I)leted , graduation exercises for both Edgewood High School and schoo! i.lge- in District 41, those of 1939-1940 top that record by more seventh grade classes were held in the auditoriu m in May, 1940. than 2:l0. bl'ing 1586. Of these. the Edgewood Elementary School During the summer of 1940. the board made final selections of enrolled '}7;1 with an average attendance of 440; the high school equipment for the building, including stage curtains and rigging, enrolled I.'}.'}. averaging 138; and Stafford enrolled 478 ..... ith an aver laboratory supplies. and the like. Band members were offered a 1 age membership of 339. (See Table) This year it became necessnry summer course in music. to hold double sessions in some of the classes at Edgewood. since the By September. 1940. all was in readiness for putting the new two buildings simply would not hold all of the pupils at one tIme building into use. Pupils registering at this time found available for Superintendent Williams and the board immediately went to work them six classrooms, a science laboratory. home economics room, at plannlllg for a new building, and fo r making addItions at large library and study hall, cafeteria, and an auditorium, well Stafford equipped and seating 500 persons. In addItion there was office On December 17. 1938. an election was held for the purpose of space, and two very large but unfinished rooms on the second floor decid i ng on the issua nce of bonds amounti ng to $40,000 for bui ldl ng These rooms were not included in the original plans, but were added purposes. Sixty-two votes were cast in favor. and 34 against. The at the far-sighted suggestion of H. K Williams, who pointed out that series ..... as to be known as Bexar County Common School District they could be built and left unfinished with very little extra expendi· No_11 Schoolhouse Bonds (of 1938. each for $500, beanng Interestat ture. At the present time the need for more room exists and as soon 3 ' 1 per cent, I)ayable April 10. 1939. and semi-annually thereafter, as funds are available these rooms will be converted into four class October 10 and April 10. rooms and put into use. In a statement as to the indebtedness of the dIstrict dated An increase of 372 chi ldren of school age above the previous year's npcpmhf'r :10, 19:1A. R W. May, lounty Supprintpndpnt of Schools. fi~ ure was recorded for 1941-1942. The burden of the increased t:(Jsl gave the following" information, which is included herein as one of of these new pupils was somewhat lifted by an "Emerf.:ency Cen the latest public records of the financial status of District 41: sus". The State of Texas provided for the taking of this census In I, R. W. May, Cou nty Superintendent of Bexar areas which ha ve become crowded because of the opening of defense County, Texas, do hereby certify that the indebtedness work in the vicinity. Since the Edgewood district lies adjacent lO of Common School District No. 41, Bexar County. Duncan Field (the San Antonio Air Depot where plant's are rebuilt, Texas, is as follows: etc.). the Normoyle Quartermaster Depot, and Kelly Field, the 1. Bexar County Common School District No. 41 Advanced Flying School of the Gulf AIr Corps Training Center. Schoolhouse Bonds of 1931, dated May 15. 1931. bear· many families have flocked into the section to be near the location of ing interest at the rate of five per centum (5'1\ ,) per defense and war·time jobs. In addition to this. the schools have annum. maturing serially as follows: $500 on April 10 received a great increase from the Mexican families which have III ~ach of the years 1953·1961. both inclusive. Amount moved from the sections inside the city where Federal slum· outstanding $4500. clearance projects were set up. Hundreds of tiny. poorly constructed 2. Bexar County Common School District No. 41 houses have been built to the west of the Edgewood Schools and Schoolhouse Bonds of 1935. dated December 10,1935, extending all the way to the Stafford section At the present time bearing lIlterest at the rate of four and one·galf per hundreds of more are being erected The acute problem of providing centum (41 /~ %) per annum, maturing serially as follows: education for all these added numbers WIth limited finances still $500 on J anuary 10 in each of the years 1939-1946, both rern8lns to be solved. The Emergency census added $7900 to District inclUSIve; $1000 in each of the years 194 7·1961, both 41 funds for 1940·1941 . and $4500 for 1941·1942 I Inclusive; and $1500 in each of the years 1962-1966, 711 In September, 1941, E F. Hall rejoined the school board to fill the wood School, Year Book, 1916-1917 .. C lub's Colors .- Green and unexpired term of the late Charles O. Watson. The April, 1942, White ... Club's Flower -. White Rose" election resulted in the re·election of F. 0 Kingery. The prl:sent Officers for 1933-1934 were Mrs. A. J . Dossat, president; Mrs. F. O. board now includes Messrs. Hall, Kingery, and Roy Bacon. The Kingery, first vice president; Mrs. D. E. Miller, secretary; and Mrs. names of earlier board members will be found in accompanying Austin Biegert, treasurer. Names of other officers will be found in tables. the accompanying tables. During the year the P.T.A. gave a play, During 1941 -1942, both Stafford and Edgewood opened cafterias "Old Maid's Convention"; held a school picnic, and gave a party for operated by W.P,A. help, making available very low-cost hot meals Miss Vesta Garry's room for having won the banner so often. (A for all the children. The ~welve-grade plan was adopted by advanc room wins a prize and gets to keep the special P.T.A. banner ifil has ing all the grades above the second one year the largest number of members present at a regular meeting of the In recounting the history of a school, it is impossible to give association.) attention to all the activities and programs presented during each There were fifty active members during 1935-1936,45 per cent of year A number of activities, however, have become annual affairs whom were men. A neat yearbook was published, and a publicity at Edgewood, among which are incl uded the following: high school scrapbook was kept. The precinct meeting of the County Council of baccalaureate and commencement exercises. elementary school Parent·Teachers was held at Edgewood on October 20. On Nov "graduation" program, high school senior play, high school junior ember 23, the Arkansas Hill Billies were presented at the school play, "E" Night for raising funds for athletic awards, junior·senior auditorium. At Christmas, the annual custom of giving bags offruit banquet. various class parties, Chorus and Band operettas and and candy was continued. On December 14 , the pageant " America's concerts, and, f;ince the auditorium is completed, weekly assembly Child'·, was presented. Funds for the purchase of new books were programs in both divisions. Since 1936. high school students have given to the school librarian. 1 issued a newspaper, "The Edgewood Campus Scout". now simply A profit of 580.24 was realized from a bazaar held in the fall of called "The Scout". At Stafford, pupils present programs at all 1935. A radio was donated to the school_ The theme of the program PT_A. meetings, have regular assemblies, present "Graduation" for 1936-1937 was "Character Growth". Joint meetings with the programs, and under the auspices of the P.T,A. present an operetta Stafford P.TA. were held twice. The Stafford group presented a play or May fete each year This year they have planted a "Victory "The Little Clodhopper", in the Edgewood auditorium in April. Mr Garden", raisi ng vegetables as a war-time activity. Both elemen· H. K. Williams was presented a lifetime membership in the as tary schools have organized rhythm bands for primary children, the sociation.1 first of these organizations being pictured in accompanying photo· Additional dishes, plates, knives, forks, spoons, and a coffee urn graphs were purchased during the 1937-1938 season. Joint meetings were Teams and individuals have represented the schools in various held with the Stafford P.T.A. and the annual school Christmas contests and have brought back honors in the form of trophies. party was given. The following year, the organization purchased an medals, ribbons, and the like. Other activities have been fostered, upright piano for use in the gymnasium. Funds raised during 1940- such as declamations, debates, music, particularly in a connection 1941 and the year following were used in connection with the year's with the Interscholastic League project, the beautification of the school auditorium. The association While Edgewood's athletic teams have won numerous honors in purchased handsome window drapes, both ornamental and useful competitIOn. it is of note to mention that the tennis doubles team of as well, since they make possible the darkening of the room for the Dorotha Delaney and Lila Jane Meisenhelder, coached by Miss showing of motion pictures and the like. 1 Evelyn DeSha (now Mrs. Riley Rhorer), went all the way to the state CHAPTER VIII serni·finals in 1939- 1940 THE IMMEDIATJo: FUTURE Also worthy of mention are two former students who were out The school year 1941-1942has seen further increases in the school standing athletes, They are "BuJr' Elkins, former captain of the population of District No. 41, particularly at the Edgewood Elemen Texas Longhorns football team, and Cecil Mynier, former track tary School. Approximately 850 pupils were in attendance during the months after the Christmas holidays. The Edgewood Baptist Church was rented early in the term, and during the second semes· ter it was found necessary to rent four rooms in the Mexican section CHAPTER VI I west of Our Lady of the Lake CoUege. Three of these rooms were set P.T.A. ORGANIZATIONS up in a former pecan-shelling plant in the 300 block of San Gabriel A vital part in the program and activitiesofthe Ed~ewood district Street. and the other in a small church in the 100 block of San has been played by the PTA organizatIOns at both Edgewood and Bernardo Street Stafford While the official date for the organization of the P.T.A is When the Federal Government began making outri ght grants to 1915. the Mother's Club of the old Frey School was the actual fore· schools in defense areas. school authorities made an application for runner of the association. According to all reports, members of the such aid and received word that the district would be given 532,000 early group had a greatamountoffun and were very active. There for building puq)Oses. The plans call for a schoolhouse of eight were box suppers and various kinds of entertainment, including rooms, offices. and a combination auditorium and cafeteria, as dances in which both the younJ;:" and old took part. Congeniality and drawn up by the firm of Phelps, Dewees and Simmons, architects co·operation were the keynotes to the early successes Unfortunately, the sum offered by the Government would by no !\Irs. A Darby. who twice held the presidencyofthe P.T.A , recalls means cover the necessary expenditures for a new school. and Fed· the presentation of numerous plays, including one called "Cordelia era I specifications also require that some ofthe money must be used Pickles··_ She tells of the fun the members had in staging the "hows for the completion of the unfinished rooms in the high school build- Among the "howling" successes was the ladies band. each member ing Consequently a request for furtner aid has been sent to of which played a toy instrument. Number one of their "hit parade" Washington. but there IS nodefinite assurance at this time that the was "Listen to the Mocking Bird" Typical of the good-natured fun. additIOnal funds will be allowed This is most unfortunate, for says Mrs Darby, is the fact that the largest lady in the group played unless the aid is forthcoming. the crowded conditions will continue the "mocking hud·· The band performed on numerous occasions to exist. I!lnce the district cannot afford to issue new bonds. Inde- and eYen played In one of the courts of the Bexar County Court pendent and common school districts in and around Bexar County House, Needless to say, the ladies were there as guests and not on have received larger sums from Washington recently. and their official business conditions have been considerably less crowded than at Edgewood It is unfortunate that earl~' records of the Mother's Club are not It II! hoped thatapprovalofan additional sum will bemadein timeto available. and that the date of foundation cannot be determined clear the Situation bv the coming fall From all Information obtained. it would seem that Mrs. R J Jen Regardless of the ·outcome, however, the patrons of the districts nings serYed as the first president of the PTA The first yearbook of may look forward to the continued interest and effort of the teachers the j{roup was printed in 1916-1917,and through the courtesy of Mrs and administrators, for there is a definite "spirit" In the Edgew()od Oarb~'. itf; Information is presented in the appendix in its entirety It and Stafford schools, a f;pirit of progress that has carried throu/o:h was three and one-half bv SLX inches. with while cover, printed in from the earliest days and which shows no f;igns of dVlng in the ,1 ______Rreen ink. The ("over reads: "Parent-Teacher Association of EdJ;:"e· 'm. _ m_'__ d '"_ t '__ f u t_ u,_' ______1 79 A Chronology of Footnotes M ay8. 190~ CiN'a 1914 t'ebru ....y 19, 1917 eircal931 lI'-y2:8.1937 enl f'l"ty and hll w"". Fn..d Elect,on"h.. ldmflvo,ofrall Four lere. of land on Wood Th~ &n,,,, CI ... of Ed/l~"ood tnke. HII to Robert 8 Glftn. Thomp,on and J t' BI.nh ,nK"xea23voit'dlnflvorlndl Avenue ,n the Lady of Lak. Hll{h School hold, II.. finn Com County Judllt'of Bnareou"I)" chOOllt' a 1'101 for Ihe n~w !lC:hool Ga.den.addJ\lonarechoHnfor mtnc.mfntt;"flTllIH,ntheh'lh "fo rth"purpo""'Or.lIChool.,~. hOUH ""hlch meaSurt'tl JOOfeoet Ihe ...... b .. ildonK The nlme Khootaud'l.CInum .ndlobeu~rorllChoolpurpoH' alonll Cuppl" Lane (now, CUI>" chOllt'n. '"Stafford," hono.. C P 1918·1919 only_" .. Incl orland In tht pin Road). and 726 feel IlonlC Stafford who lenl valuable a. County of B4-xa. The Fl"ty', HII C.... lvoSlr.... t School enrollmenl'" 376 818tlnce,nlhepurcha8lnl{oflhe September 23,1938 thtlandfo • •medolla. Thfland property The "udent enrollment II " dellC.,bed 81 follow, '·be.n~ ~dl\rwood 111l{h School II 111 April 18. 1914 February 25. 19 18 tllalofa lot No One. of llle subd!· Ptopl~.n the Soulh San Anlo EI ,..,uon ,8 h~ld al Ihe Frey Jo'a1l1931 vision of a,c.L. No, ~ It and 0 OlIO area pel,llon the County School and theplan'sappro"ed Stafford,aoneslorybu,1d",g 1937. 1938 f; I.,y): .h~ P"""'" h~.eby eOn Court for,uuaneeofS32.000", Student ,nn.. a8eneeeUllatti A Inial of 8 voit'rs J!'O In Ih<1' polls co"ta''''n~ 81. claurooma, 18 veyed h4-,n~ mOre pa rtIcularly bondJilobe~x(Janded f()flheeree ready for use MrsC. ll Whiley thalafirsll:radecll •• beplaced ducrl bed u beln,l( 9 300fut uonllndequl(JlIln l(ufa8Chool atlheEdl{ewood B8plIlIChu",h acu"' pnnclpal '(IUIHe out of Ihe 10uthwuI JuneS. 1914 bu,ld",g ofb"ck,concrete and aboul a block 9wayon Ceralvo corn"rof,ald Lol '4 firBlallow 24 e,hzens of Common School hollow lilt mllte"al. and for Ihe Strt'el Ifll( a Iwenly fool 111,,1' for a n.. t"ct 14 Ilarl ~ move men I l>urchnlllgofa8ltl'fo.lhebulid April 25, ]931 I'ounl yroadlobetakenofr"c)the c",..,led altheereeuon ofa new Elecuo .. IS held, 1938 .;all s.de of.llld I.ot No OM school bu,ldln/( ,n Ihe com favor of ''''''''''g oonds and 22 fBeurCountyo-d Re.:ord, Vol Cl)'de .; Smllh IS apPOInted 247,PIlgt'39I) AprilS. 19 18 pnnC'v.alofStafford JulyS, 19]4 Bondelecllonpa8!les 36voleln Ten people VOle at the t' rey favo •• nd6a,l(8lnul'rope.IYI. March 1931 May 1939 January 26, 1909 Schnolandallvole,nfavoroflh.. purehated .n the 600 block of Petlllon lifiled"',lhlh.. rounly f."xpr, .. t; t; Arnaudlllpl'lOlnledhead Th.. {)o,/" anno.. n"". bond 'ssue of S2O.000 ~IO bear EII ....,oOO Av.. nu.. Th.. ..,hool .. rou.lforthe,sallan.,..ofbond. IhefirBlpnzelnlt8GrandC"cu of{h.... lementarydlv ••• on nt~r~"1 of 5'11-. pa)·abl.. 20 year. named Fenfield (nowuaed aaan value dlvld .. ~ .t "'to ~dKewood Add, Oc l ob~r II , 1922 "' .... month. The Board voit'11O August 1915 lIon Manyfamll,umov""'lolhe m~ke mInImum uillry $100 00 Frl'yandLakevlewSchoolsar.. 8eellun, lured b,' Ihe f1ch 8011 and permonlhforallit'acher.0939- ~on.olldaled Lakev,e .... &ehool abundanc.. .,farlu.anwait'rfor Clllzen,ufSouth San A .. IO"'o 19401erm) Mr E t: ArnlUd ho ...... ""ld A red bTlck bUlld,nJo:" IrrlKat,on purpo.u Th.. nam.. petlllOn the (·ommlll.on<1'r'. eln:led p'lIlc,pal ofSlafford Ell' named EdgewouoJllcompletedal "Edgewood'" .. chosen Other C"ur! 10 form an .ndependent men Salary 12000 per moolh IhecornerofCeral"oStr.... 1 al a ..,hoold,.I"el nam" _e conSid .. red part.e· S B Oav,s r.. place. 1'o1r WaIC U939·1940 term) A budget of (OSI of SI7.000. Th,s" the firsl ularly"Alta VIsta " "LakevIew .• Ill'r as prlnc.pal of the Stafford $50000 .. lpprovedloaullt.n firellroof""hoolbu,ldlnK,nBeJlllr and<·Edl{evlew'·S,ncelhearea.s October 28, 1928 School equlpP"'Kbandfor]9391940 Cnunly There ar~ 8 large cllIBS J ..atbeyondlhecllyhmlt.ofSan t;lecuon"held 120 vole (or room. on Ih.. firsl and K<'ond AntonIO, It" a .. umed that Ihl' propo8alandl7,0leaKaln8t floor. and an lIud'iunUm on Ih.. November 21.1935 name look 'nloaecount Ihefact Ihlrd Ftrilp"nc.plIloflhe AnothereledlOn IS hfld forth .. Jun~ 7, 1939 IhattheK<'unn ..... althe .. edKe .. I!Chool .. Mr W Arthu.Thurman ,uuan.,.. of bonds for S27,500 for 5,. it'aeh<1'r.h ..ed JanllOriU of the .. wood .... ahhoul{h the Cirea 1923 Iils faculty Include Mr. Thur Ihepurposeofabu,ld'''Kpro G SquIre and 0 S S.ml are ..'ood.IIl thllulM> probably ...· .. r .. School d'strlCI'. d,v,ded Th.. man (Illter Mra 0 B Manel), perso .. s ... hod .....·Uplhedl, ·,slon gram Prnperty Immedlltely 8d allo",'ed ont ..., ..... k \"ael"on mOtltlymuqlllteaandOlhertyp. M" H G Buml{ardner,lInd M'I! )o, ... nl{theOrtKlnallraelof caIT... a,bru,h are mOlt l:enerOUI " 'lIh Soulh Kat)'eTlIlley Paul Elsner "the San Anl.OnlO Ed~woodn!C@lves ..,hool acr.. age 10 Ihe north.1 r'UI)anIiOr Ihree..quar\o!rS of. m,le of rail· Icqu.red Property.sownedby O .... ,d Anderson. It is a plot 30 19 10 road rll(hl·of ... ay 10 lax Snuth July26, 1939 Frey School open. The fir~1 San IndejWndent&hool D,strlcl fet'tby726.conla",,,,gonehalf August 7, 191 5 JD"'lortiDr~lIdm"nl~hed by the ~d",()r"'~rrn'~ M,~. t:mma Frey ree .. ,ves aboul Ll mlr~8 In /lddl acre Th .. saltpnc.. ,s56Q() Anard pl'l,llOns Ihe Counly Board 10 r.. fra,n fromd,,,,u88IOn lIOn, Soulh Sltn I~ l("'l'n Ihe area Comn"solOner's Court for per of Ilw ~<,hool aCllv.tle. wllh Ihe In .... h".. h a IlIr~e()ll compan~' and January 13, 191 3 mlnJOn 10 sell Ihe Lllkevlew puhllc factory are localed AKrou(Joflrusle... andpHl r"n8 !IChoolhouseandprol"'rlyandlhe Bulld"'l: ol"'no Bulldln/( con fIle a lIel1ll0n wllh Ihe Beur old Frey schoolhouse and oul ~,gls uf four large ICym""~.um. o.,Iober 2, I939 ('"unly Commlu",n .. r'. Courl bulld,ngs P .. rmlsslon II8eCured On.. room'Se 1939-1940 ~plember 24, 1941 pay. $24 add.. d for each year IllNh Sc:hool ofthe req .. "emenll c.n of t~.ch ~n who.~ abIlity £d,.... ond EI .. m .. nlllTyh .. an ~;,!!hl hohdayaart 10 be gIven f:Ipenence. nOI 1o exceed flyea ... ofgradualnandlhe .. complet",n and ·o r.-oo~ .. tlOnandloyalty 'nrollmenl of ::>13, ~;dgewood ~'o .. r Dr" 10 be made up A half expe" .. nce Ex ~"enctO ul lldt of I6 .. nlll.fo .. r ofwh,chmullbe .,~ quutlon.bl~ or .ubJ~ct to Ihlfh !khoolanenrolimenIOfl::>::>, holiday .. 1I1v t n for C IRCUS dlalrlCICOunIlOnehalf4;$84per In Enghlh .nd Siafford an enrollmenl of DAY Oclober 3, 1941 L..brary ye.radded 10 aalary unt,1 max,· ." b .. dlf e t $1 7f100 for the HIKh mum of SI,608'l rrached Th,.lI April 28, 1947 April 24, 1949 Sc:hool. S40.00 for uch elemen the maXImum f'lr all r ~ jtu l ar There III a conlroversy over Board volee to rfH!lect E.E t.rYlch ool SClenc.. b .. dget teachert.5. S96added for add, J.,>uary4. 1940 land deal Land whIch will ac Arnlud IS auperintendent of di.. S16000 t,onal degrHI, 6 $96ded .. cted Th.. upen~ ,hHI for Ihe baa q ....Pd by Edgewood I),.tncl In trlc l The Boa rd al.o 1"'lnl from ba l~ pay for no dfllrH, 7 k elhall and deball lournament 1905 was deeded In Mar<:h 1934 pnnclpall J A ~-o r eller Ed,,,, Teachera m .. stlOln local. Ilate. OUlol towp is announced A IOtal April 28. 19,12 b y Fr081 Woodhull. Co .. nl y wood Elem , J W Spr .. ce Edre and Nahonal Ed .. cahon Ano may nOlexoeed S8200 lor bauet· Edgewood Elemenlary lind JlldKe. to Mrs Frledncke Frey. wood II S; E W Mc Donald c.allona. 8. ~:ach teacher mllil b&ll and S2::>.OOfor debate II INh School ral.on conaumu who lale.dHded aame Irack of S"rl"lIOn. DB Wllh. Siafford. pay Poll Tax aUNarbec:. 1.I8eoflhew/lr land to M,u Emma FrfY True Ralp,," Shelton Co ronad o leel are pohtely demand,nN to Nlnety·four leacherl lire con May 1940 Marc h 25. 1946 know Itat .. 1 ofth .. and how 10 Irac~forI949.1950term Graduallon exer 83 i ~"' ..., h 2 1. 19 73 ,C ullt.ouS atto.ney and great May 21. 197fj M.y 31 . ]981 blond .bo,ul th~ '~'Uf Edll~II,.1d Th~Edll ... (><>d 1)1~1 ..("II"M'IIII Ameocan.tlM! l.a te AiolUo Perlle8 Kfnn~dv Itud~nl Chari .. 100 g •• duat".. from K.. nnedy Sch'... I I ),.I"elcan'l.ff"rdtol~t c.ul.... blaln flnannaINlull~·.a tl fi nally . reality E~ ... ood ("(I<)per ... namtd onf of S.n H.gh rec:etve dIplornas.t the Con d,~ 1... 1', n"l f,,,,1 ou ..... I ..·_abt" .. ' II Ca~~ knn .. n Ih~ R.,d"R"PI Elementary ... ill from no... on be Anton",', Top T~n _Iudent. h_1 ventlOn Cfttte. Arl'...... hal·~ al .take If Edllie .. o"d CG~P Th. Sup~m. Court ".IU kIlO"''' as Alonzo S P.... le. Ih~ S A £~P"u and fI,'p"" I",,,.. th.. flllhl .nd Ih. fundln~ !'t.4 tladlh.Ed~e .. oodnff"'ln Elementary School. A thes,s 00 lC"pb.otll@enp'",r ."dnch..,hool June 2 . 1982 b~ on. "Ol~. Ih. "'h,,,,1 fin." ..... AklnzoS. Penlea,ssubmtltedto dl~I''''1O (""nt'nu~~I.' ... ,dtn Ihfn '("fOU M"y 29. 1978 224 .:.adual~8 from Memnroal 1~·81~m Ih~ naU"" "Quid St, Mary'. Uru '"er!Jty by Dr PC"" k,d~ In T ...... ,II ~Imph' b.o Jame~ R \"a~qunt~ apP'"nto>d H,gh t ec:etve diplomas .1 lAune ha\"fbtot>n.~.hapN Do.. ",,,,,u "ul"flhrball~am .. actlnll: Sup""nlfnd .. nl of Auditonum. ON-l'mbl'r9, 1974 &h, .. ,I~ Man: h 2 4 . 19 73 A forf.unne. oflh.. p.t8tnlda~ June 7 . 1982 Edlli~"ond ('''n('~rntd !'arf'l\I~ CRI MESTOPPERS b} Ih. nam. May3 1. 1983 Oecem bl'r I . 1978 190 lI:.odual.. s f.om F..d.:~ ... ood A~~oclll",n "u"~lokH'pIl8flllihl ofSt; CRET WITN ESSCOMM IT Inan~d'I""allheSGnAn'on'" S'X nf'II Appl.. 11 ('omllul"'~ III.:h .l'<"t'I~f dIplomas al l..aurI" fo·t'(luall'du"al"'n~loppt'l.llInlh TE E accepted In help Iht F..dK~ fI,'~,,,, it'I"~ "Thf 1 ~1I"lalur~ co~lIn.: a IOlal of$]:J.4MM) ... III bf' Audltonum al,,'~ and ..... ,Ih Incr~as~ mon'fn .. ood Independfnl Sc-hoo] 0,. hOI had 10)-~ar.'lnc .. the Rod .. lum ""Th~ U S C"n811111110n dfl"~ In("l.nof(fTlnga.f ..... ardfo.In uudtotnchmalhand""ml,ute. NUf'Zd"",,~"'nlor .. medylht.horl 8("Ifntf 1<1 8tudfnl" ot EdlC ...... ,ood nol ",dud~I'ducallon a" a "lIht fo.mallon 0" Ih.. person and o. Jul y :?4. ]982 ("om,nJ{' of .("hool (, nanclnK K.. nn~dv and M ~rn""al III.:h ,.. ,t! n~,th~. d,.... ,I ,ndude w:" p< . ~on. ,nvolved ,n ~t"rhnK thr T'Ub(ee~ 'ut~ to c1"br the ~2- which "'~u ,~~oKn,ud by ,h~ SchonlK 11.... ,,~tt'm 1$ tI",f"'1 "f nomIc Illd I" Norlh VI~tnam' firt" at Lorna Park Elem.. nlary \"ea,·old Ed..:-e ..·ood Junio. HIKh US Su preme Court Un Ie .. " Ito kind ,n San Anton", public deduesSul..... nltndenl D. J,,~t Sc-hool on Oclob..r 31. 1974 ThfY Sc-h"ol cam pus becollse ofdf 8e"ouII .. ffo'l '" made In 1]ltC ... 1 ~("h,",18 A Ca.dena~ "Thf Sup.tn'f II)uld malch there ... ard offe. ed chnlnl{ ~n.ollm .. nl and Ih~ poor U~lIon at Ihf earhhl momenl C"u.1 ha~ ("opptd out b~("lIu8e by thf ~;dlCfllood Indep~ndent phv~lcal condltl"n oflhe school ~dlCell'ood IIhould movt ahtad Ihe.e ..... nn public M'honl ~~'_ Sc-hool J),gl rlcl IIlth III aCllon. and II·furll""lhtr ,lune27. ] ft79 lem ..... h~n Iht II S C"nslltul"", d,81 r1 Ct ...... hlCh nefd help tn ""n E,.:hl "dmln".I.all~~ p',"Ulnn~ Ju] y 27. ]982 l)ecem bl'.1 6. 1974 In .;d.:~ .. <>ndar .. rutlomak~IIa' COPS leaders mHt II'Ilh San PnnClpal Robf.1 Malesky of for m".e I~acher~ In th.. cla~. Antoniobu' ineul'Sto g. u ~rea(" June23. 1973 .:dll:e",ood H'lCh School .nlro· "".m liS part "r a dl~tnCl o'lI:a tic)n for a p.opow toencoutage June 14, 1983 Football adm.n.on proCt. da.:-es Adria... M UDOZ who ill! n1Zallonal~hak .. up bu,,"ts5eS to Ioca.te in E ISD Th... <;an AnI''''''' fI,·~",fo stalu ",crU~f Adull~ f.om $] :?~ 10 chosen OpUIl'U5t Club of Ameoca They took Mones, leader! on In '" an ed,t,,.,al that EdKtll",1d $1."MI .•ludenuatllial .. ·frnm7.'J( DECA pi of the y..... She ...on hou. ·long bua r ide th rough Schuol B"a.d "anllc,p'ltd th~ In $] 00. pre lI:am~ .'>Ck th!honor.boveaUthegu-I!UltlM! J"n ullry21-22, 19HO Edgewood. ulual dt.mal pf'.f".manc.. In Sin Antoruo &rHo The Emmo F.~, EI~menlary AU~\ln and II .... cor'KI Th .. pap.. ("onllnut~ t:dJ;(~ ... ""d Apr.112. ]973 Sch""I,.a .. a.dt"dlhf'F"lItl'la".. Trnph,' bv KW.:X T\' STATION A UICu 81 3. 1982 sh"uld mo ... ah.... d I"ch.llfn~e Th~ ~:dll ....·,,,.d S"h,,,,1 I)". The Sch"ol Soard appr",·e. " Ihl~ oulraKeou~ Slluat",n under tn"t'J pi .... 1".t And so EDGEWOOD: THE STORY, THE PEO PLE. Since a handful of children met in that one room house known as the Frey School 76 years ago, Edgewood has grown to be the thirty-fifth largest school district in Texas. A district boasting 25 schools, over 15,000 students, and thousands of graduates and success stories. Beginning in 1910, Edgewood has had its strug- gles, its hurts but it also has had its triumphs, its successes, its joys. Edgewood, a name echoed repeatedly in the halls of our state legislature, is also a name uttered in the chambers of the highest court in the land. It is a name synonymous with educational oppor tunity. It is a name in which her people - the com munity members and their children who have at tended Edgewood Schools - sense a particular pride. There is a reason. Edgewood is America's educational conscience. Edgewood is a voice which is heard. A voice which speaks loudly on behalf of all Texas and America's children. They want and deserve the best. They receive the best Edgewood has to offer. This sixteen-square mile area known as Edgewood, though small in geographic area, stands as a challenge to all of us. A challenge which calls each of us today to con tinue on the right road to make Edgewood vibrant in the spirit of FAMILIA. A unique and special FAMILY. Let us rush headlong into tomorrow cognizant of our rich heritage. 86 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project could not have been completed without the assistance of many, many people. Notable among the many is Dr. Eli Arnaud who gave us the challenge to continue documenting Edgewood's history. We gratefully acknowledge the wealth of information he supplied for this project. A special thanks to him also for giving permission to republish part of his thesis. We extend our thanks also to Reyna/Caragonne Architects for much of the historical informa tion obtained for the "Story" section. We are indebted to the following individuals for supplying us with either information included in this publication or photographs: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Persyn, Sandra De Winne Benavides, Isabel G. Garza, Alma Goldman, Margie Van De Walle, Margaret Markette, Homer Verstuyft, Yvonne Verstuyft, Mary Presas, Dolores Ortiz, Beatrice Muniz, Ann Price, Carmela Leal, Eddie Navarro, Georgia Spears, Irene Zapata, Nickie Cantu, John and Fern Surreddin, Ms. Leonard Mechler, Julia E. Knight, John H. Ledger, Donna Cameron, Betty White, Dorothy Collins, Pam Bond, Beatrice Castillo, Abel Reyna. We also thank the many parents, friends and relatives of the Edgewood heroes pictured in this publication who supplied photos of their loved ones. Randy Herrera did research and wrote the information on the school namesakes on pages 30 to 39. Frank Torres did research and wrote the chronology of Edgewood history on pages 80 to 85. "Reflections" in the sections were written by students from Trinity University News Service. The articles and authors are as follows: Homer Verstuyft reflection by David E. Hanzlik - page 13. Dolores Ortiz and Mary Presas reflection by Heather Fahlbeck - page 15. Elie Arnaud reflection by William Reinert - page 24. Bennie Steinhauser reflection by Lisa K. MacGrath - page 25. Jose A. Cardenas reflection by Lisa McGrath - page 26 James R. Vasquez reflection by Lisa K. McGrath - page 27 We also gratefully acknowledge permission of the San Antonio Express and News and San An tonio Light to reproduce news articles on pages 50, 56, 58. Additionally, we are appreciative of the photographs obtained on pages 30, 31 and 33 from the respective Presidential libraries of Presidents Roosevelt, Truman and Johnson. Too, we thank Goldbeck Photographer for granting permission to print the photograph of the 1985 graduating class of Memorial High School on page 7. Finally, we have a special group of people to whom we have a distinct word of gratitude and who were most instrumental in actually putting this magazine together: Eloise Benavides, Community Relations Liaison, did a remarkable feat by tracing the families and obtaining the photographs of the Viet Nam heroes. She has performed a tremendous service to our Edgewood community, a service in which we in Edgewood will never forget those from our special family of Edgewood who gave the ultimate gift of love. We thank G. Contreras and P. Gonzales who served as valuable consultants in the layout design of this publication and for their expert advice and guidance throughout the process of putting this magazine together. We thank Superintendent James R. Vasquez for his encouragement in this project and his con tinued support for positive community relations. In short, MIL GRACIAS to all THE PEOPLE who shared THE STORY. David D. Ochoa Community Relations Officer May 1986 87 I stius historiae scriptores uere omnes, ita qui scripserunt, qui SCribUllt, ac scribent, ipsos benedicat Deus Ipse.' This page intentionally left blank