Abilene High School - Flashlight Yearbook (Abilene, TX)

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Modifications affect traditional functior Specified by the FUNK AND WAG- NALLS DICTIONARY: change lchanjl v.- to make different, alter. An ancient Chinese proverb stated old ideas not always best ideas. With this in mind, change seemed inevitable for Abilene High. A new year, a new age and a new gener- ation met returning students. The year 1979 differed greatly from the previous one for the simple reason of advancement. One change that greatly affected Abilene High was the appointment of Mr. Gayle Lomax as principal of Abilene High. In the conven- tional role of former principals, Mr. Lomax accepted the challenge of over 2,000 stu- dents and struggled to make his plans and accomplishments known to the students, parents and community. However, the main concern on the part of students was with changes in that area known for frisbee games, smoking, racing, thefts and vandalism. To prevent the parking lot from becoming a catchall of other vices, a police officer, paid by the AISD, patrolled the parking lot four hours a day. In addition to the police officer, the parking lot was increased in size by the demolition of the fence that supposedly separated the freaks lot and the ropers lot. Striping was added to create additional parking spaces. Other changes in the parking lot came with the closing of the central gate on Mockingbird, and also the closing of the back gate with Kathy Batson Tim Baxtor Craig Bell Angel Benavidez Regina Black Chuck Bohanan Ann Bolls Phil Boone Dawn Bourland Kim Borcik Danny Bowie Brooks Boynton 1 4-Seniors the relocation of the gate and Crosswalk to the front of Eagle Gym. All in all, the parking lot changes proved to be effective. Statistics began to prove that the added protection decreased thefts and vandalism and increased student security and safety. A change not so radical as to be noticed by the student body, faintly understood or even slightly interesting involved the library. Once again the powers that ruled decided that the image of the library would no longer suffice, and so it was no longer the library but rather the LRC, lLearning Resource Centerl. Longer hours for those students who wished to increase their skills and knowledge were made readily available in an attempt to promote the use of the LRC and stimulate learning. However, a library by any other name was still a library. fr IWQI' 3 1 ,L ff ,ag ff A I I .,...,....-. 1,:g5f6,,Ew' ,Y 1

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1. In the midst of total confusion, Devra Hoef attempts to decipher an annual receipt during the delivery of the 1978 FLASH- LIGHT. 2. Getting back to the books literally, Chuck Mitchell and Tim Baxter supply English classes with dictionaries. 3. Readjusting to cafeteria food, Betty Dudley and Carole Simpson display their opinions. 4. An ever present reminder for those who drive down Mockingbird is the Abilene Eagle Gym representing a vital part of school. 4 Grace Andrews Esthel Aranda David Armendariz Channing Ashenfelter David Atkins Debbie Austin Velvet Baily Brett Baker Paula Balanciers Rosemary Baldwin Regina Ball Sandra Bartley School-1 3

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Reprinted from the morning issue of ctober 22, i978 Abilene Reporter News. Q. Why can't anything be done about the Abilene High School students who com- pletely ignore the traffic lights and stream across Mockingbird, stopping traffic? l go to work down Mockingbird and am just holding my breath and hoping that I don't hurt somebody. lf the kids aren't mature enough or responsible enough to cross the streets by why isn't there a patrolman A. This has been a problem since High was built, says Police Chief Warren Dodson. There aren't enough patrol- men, he says, to station one there on a regular basis. AHS Principal Gayle Lomax, says at least once a week he talks to the stu- dents about using the crosswal ks and crossing with the lights. As bad as it is, Lomax said, it's better than it was last year. He also says AHS is the only high school he knows of where the campus is divided by a major thoroughfare. How about it, AHS students? Are you too immature and irresponsible to be allowed to cross the streets by yourselves? 3 lg if x 'lx T 1. Caught up in one of the last exciting parts of his job, Office Santos Perez of the Abilene Police Department records the license number of a student's car. 2. During his noontime breaks, Pete Acosta enjoys the library's new additions. 3. Engaging in the daily trek to the parking lot, Karen Thompson, Cathy Stuehler, Chuck Mitchell and Kathy Martin make use of the new crosswalk. 4. A smile widens on the face of Gayle Lomax as he enjoys the pleasures of AHS hospitality during a surprise birthday party, 4 John Brady Darla Bridges Marelyn Bridges Amy Brock Laura Bromley Faye Brooks Dana Brown Jane Brown Leslie Brown 1 P Marchelle Brown Todd Brown Tonya Brown Changes-1 5