Page 11

Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that it is schools which are often named for our Alumni, many of whom are graduates of the University’s well-renowned teacher education programs. The list below—a continuation of that from the last issue of The Pride—bears the trend out. You will see some exceptions, however, including one gym, one ball field, and a city street.

JACK D. JOHNSON ELEMENTARY

Jack Davis Johnson (BS ’49, MA ’56) was superintendent in the Texas district of Carroll for more than 30 years. The elementary school named for him and pictured at right was dedicated in 1979 while he was still superintendent.

HERMAN J. FURLOUGH JR. MIDDLE SCHOOL

JO NELSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Ruby Jo Collins Nelson (BS ’49) is in her 49th year of teaching. Not only that, but she’s teaching at a school that bears her name. A year ago, the Santa Rosa ISD dedicated its new middle school to the woman who has been with them for more than four decades. At 70-years-plus, Ruby Jo says she has no plans to retire, and enjoys as much as anyone the student-circulated legend that she helped Christopher Columbus discover America. “I tell them, ‘Yes, I did,’” she says. At the dedication ceremony for “her” school, Ruby Jo offered the audience something from what she’d learned in nearly 50 years of teaching: Everyone should get three hugs a day.

JAMES HUGHEY FIELD

Former Dallas ISD superintendent and longtime educator James H. Hughey (BS ’56, MED ’58), pictured in the center of the photo at bottom left, was honored last spring when a Seagoville High School ball field was dedicated as James Hughey Field. James was principal in Seagoville, Texas, in the 1990s. They even let him throw out the first pitch in the baseball game that followed the field dedication.

STALEY MCBRAYER INSTRUCTIONAL PRINTING FACILITY

Mr. McBrayer (BS ‘33) changed journalism in cities worldwide with his pioneering efforts in the development of the Vanguard press. The A&M - Commerce facility was named in his honor in the summer of 2000. GENE WEAVER GYM Located in Avery, Texas, the Gene Weaver Gym was dedicated in 2002. It was 1965 when Gene (BS ’67, MED ’71) began his teaching career for Avery ISD, and he now has more than 38 years there as a teacher, coach and principal.

DR. BRUCE WOOD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

The school named for Bruce (BS ’68, MED ’71, EDD ’94) is pictured below. He has the uncommon status of being superintendent in one district while having a school named for him in another. He now is superintendent in Kaufman, Texas, but before that he had retired after 13 years as Terrell superintendent.

IMOGENE GLENN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Located in Yantis, Texas, the school is named for Imogene Ruby Morgan Glenn (BS ’48, MS ’49), who taught for more than 50 years in the district. Even after her retirement a few years ago, she continues to substitute teach and volunteer.

JOE B. RUSHING HALL, ROAD AND CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Joe B. Rushing (MA ’49) was the founding president of Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and in 1980 the college honored him by naming an administration building Joe B. Rushing Hall. In 1965 Joe returned to Texas to start Tarrant County Junior College. Upon his retirement in 1989, a new building on that campus was named the Joe B. Rushing Center for the Performing Arts. Shortly after his retirement, the Fort Worth City Council named a boulevard adjacent to the campus

WILLIAM STRIBLING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

William M. “Bill” Stribling (BBA ’49, MED ’51) was a classroom teacher and principal before being elected superintendent of schools in Burleson, Texas. Bill was a superintendent for 29 years in four different districts and retired as superintendent of Burleson ISD in 1980. The Web site for the elementary school named in his honor has a “Meet Mr. Stribling” button that takes viewers to a mini-biography of this Alumnus. They even list Bill’s hobbies (volunteering and traveling), his favorite food (chicken fried steak), and his favorite candy (“anything chocolate”).