AUG./SEPT. 2004 Volume 89 • Number 1 LeaguerUNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE Excellence Briefs in leadership and Notes Sponsor award recognizes teachers They are the teachers and UIL sponsor for the Sponsor Ex- Calendar of coaches who arrive at school be- cellence Award. Fifteen sponsors, upcoming events fore sunrise. They devote their academic and athletic, are hon- Sept. 15 .................... Deadline to lunch and after school time to ored each year. In addition to the submit fall/winter meet organiza- tion form and requisition for help prepare students for upcom- award and presentation, each win- Elem/JH Academics ing competitions. They give up ning sponsor receives $1,000. Sept. 15 .................... Deadline to their weekends to take their stu- “Every year we have really good order invitational contest material for Elem/JH Academics dents to invitational meets or ath- applicants,” Breithaupt said. Oct. 1 .................................... UIL letic competitions. In addition, “Competition is so fierce.” membership fees due they spend thousands of hours The teacher/coach does not Oct. 1 ....................... Spring meet district directors and academic fundraising in hopes of making have to have the best record or coordinators names due enough money to support their brought home the most trophies Oct. 1 ......................... Enrollment program. And they rarely are rec- to win an excellence award. cards due for One Act Play Oct. 1 ....................... Deadline to ognized for their hard work. “We are trying to see who is hold planning meeting for CX UIL sponsors, whether aca- going the extra mile for the stu- Debate demic or athletic, need to be com- dents,” Breithaupt said. “It’s not Oct. 20 ....................... First day of practice for girls’ basketball mended for their hard work and just who has the most winning Oct. 21 ...................... Last day for dedication to students. The UIL record or who has been there the and respected these teachers are, said. “What makes the UIL aca- marching band region contests Sponsor Excellence Award gives longest. We are looking for some- how important they are in their demic program so special, apart 3A and 5A Oct. 26 .................... Deadline for principals that opportunity. one who is dedicated to service. schools and community, how from the fact that it is the only district certification for team “I think there never can be Maybe they have an extraordi- loved they are.” program of its type and scope in tennis and volleyball 4A enough rewards for those who narily large number of students Hawthorne said UIL under- the nation, is how important it is Oct. 27 ....................... First day of practice for boys’ basketball work above and beyond,” Charles participating or they have had to stands how important sponsors in preparing young people for life Breithaupt, director of athletics struggle to get students involved.” are in the lives of students. One of in college and beyond,” he said. and assistant UIL director, said. Academic director Bobby the best indicators of success in The nominations are due Oct. “We believe sponsors are a great Hawthorne said over the years he high school, college and beyond 15, 2004. All schools will receive academics Notes service to society as a whole.” has presented several sponsors is participation in extracurricular the forms in September. If you do Each year the principal and with the award, and “the one thing activities, whether it’s baseball, not receive a nomination form, The four Student Activi- ties Conferences have been superintendent can nominate one that strikes me is how admired choir, drill team or yearbook, he please contact UIL (512) 471-5883. scheduled for this fall. • Sept. 11 - Tyler Junior ‘Dr. Pat,’ beloved music educator, dies at 92 College • Sept. 18 - West Texas Nelson G. Patrick, “Dr. Pat,” Education earned a Masters in Education, Infantry, 1st Platoon in WWII in A&M University - Canyon beloved Texas Music Educator in 1940. with a minor in Music Education, France, Germany, Austria, and • Oct. 9 - University of and a resident of Austin for 50 He under- from Texas Tech in 1947, and a Italy from 1942 to 1946, Dr. Pat Texas at Austin years, died Saturday, July 31. Dr. took gradu- Doctorate in Education from UT- re-established his music educa- • Nov. 6 - Texas A&M University - Kingsville Pat, age 92, was born in Marlin, ate studies Austin in 1954. tion passion as the band director Texas on April 19, 1912. His in several Dr. Patrick’s teaching career in San Benito, TX from 1946 to Each conference will begin father died when he was 6; so he institu- began in Premont, TX where he 1952. He then moved to Austin, at 9 a.m. and conclude at 1:30 spent many of his early years help- tions, in- taught vocal and elementary TX to become the band and or- p.m. Admission is free to all ing to support his family. cluding the school from 1930 to 1935. He chestra director at Austin High activities. Please check the His undergraduate studies took American Dr. Patrick taught band and choir in Donna, School from 1954 to 1960. Dur- UIL website for more details. place at Texas A&I University in University, TX from 1935 to 1942. After a ing the summers, of 1936 to 1952 Kingsville and Texas Technologi- Oxford University, Texas Tech, short detour in the US Army, while finishing his degree work, cal University in Lubbock, where Columbia University, and The attaining the rank of Captain in he worked for Texas Tech Uni- The UIL web page is: th www.uil.utexas.edu he earned a Bachelors degree in University of Texas-Austin. He the Antitank Company, 410 Dr. Patrick, continued on page 15 UIL Leaguer 2 • News Aug/Sept. 2004 It’s the journey, not the trophy Participating in UIL academics or athletics makes every student a winner It is that time again. ruler was another possibility. A simple task assigned to a simple boy by an EDITOR A new school year. A These days were great learning experiences interested teacher initiated an involved elemen- Dr. Bill Farney fresh start. Everyone for a young boy whose family had no history of tary, junior high and high school record of par- UIL Director is excited as students formal education beyond the ninth grade. It is ticipation. prepare for activities. not that my family did not value learning. They Along the way other teachers encouraged and MANAGING EDITOR Fall sports teams are did. But circumstances of economics, wars and expected that boy to participate. Jeanne Acton all undefeated in dis- the Great Depression took away their options for How fortunate was I to have attended a small assistant academic director trict play and hopes are extended education. They wished for a better life rural school that placed huge emphasis on par- alive for all possibili- and education for their children and grandchil- ticipation. ADMINISTRATIVE ties. dren. They respected teachers. Get a spanking The UIL programs were the only gifted and STAFF Bill Farney I remember the el- in school, get a whipping when you got home – or talented programs in our school. The student Dr. William D. UIL Director ementary school years worse – get a really good whipping when Dad got body was so small (only 67 in high school and 13 Farney, director when we had new jeans home from work. in my graduating class) that almost all of us had Dr. Charles and shirts, and new notebooks and supplies, and My first poetry experience was a direct result to join in order to have enough participants and Breithaupt, assistant most of us had new shoes, although we preferred of playing marbles for “keeps” at recess. As players – even if some of us were not especially director and director of going barefoot until the first norther. punishment, my teacher made me stay in from gifted or noticeably talented. athletics Part of beginning school in those early years recess for a whole week. Sloth and inactivity I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my home- Richard Floyd, was the perpetual scrutiny of our teachers on were her greatest enemies; so I had to memorize town and its teachers for being positive role director of music each and everyone to assess any particular talents a poem to recite while my classmates were out models and motivators to all of us. I am con- activities in math, writing, speaking or spelling. playing. “The Unknown Soldier” is a stirring vinced they did so because they genuinely were Bobby Hawthorne, Even though our academic contests would not recollection of a terribly tragic World War and interested in us and in our future. director of academics be conducted until March or April, it seemed a also a testament of patriotism. To this day I can It is the mission of the University Interscho- Darryl Beasley Holy Grail for our teachers to find2 some com- still recite all of it – down to the last lines: lastic League to extend competitive performance assistant athletic petitors. The first pressure was a class spelling “I am the Unknown Soldier opportunities in a wide range of activities to as director bee. This not only called for spelling knowledge And maybe I died in vain, many students as possible. Diana Cardona, but the ability to stand in front of the class with But if I were alive and my country called, The history of the League, beginning with the spring meet materials confidence and correctly spell out the words. A I’d do it all over again.” University of Texas initiatives before 1910, has a director; significant hindrance to this was several seated They gave me a first place blue ribbon at the record of providing students of this state a chance Peter Contreras, classmates trying to distract the contestants with district contest, and I wore that ribbon proudly to identify, develop and polish this talent.