Alief Elsik High School - Ramblings Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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'arslty Cheerleaders Leslie awless, Julie Johnson, :amllle Brown, Joyce Miller, .errl Nlppert, Dlano Shrout, Kim Adams, Robin Williams and Julie Goecke ride in Senior Wado Watson’s truck with Wade driving and The Allef Volunteer Fire Department participated in the Autumn Festival Parade every year. The dalmation shown is one of the two that rode with the Fire Department. Photo by L. Cates Seniors Robby Jamos and Tim Moore along for the ride. Photo by L. Cates Motor Company don- this truck to drive some tho ten thousand pumpkins that were given to Photo by L. Cates the festival by the West Houston Medical Center. Drum Major Jay Grantham talks with Sophomoro Bart O'Connor and Senior Robbie Bageant warms upon his bass guitar while everyone waits for the parade to start. Photo by L. Cates Autumn Fost and Parade 19

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Revellier Captains Trade Rutherford and Mitzl McDowell and Lieutenants Belinda Tunon, Tracy Kizzar, Kim Ihle and Kim Rathgeber lead the Revelliers out of the parking lot at Chancellor Elementary School to begin the parade. Photo by L. Cates Autumn Fest Encourages Yearly School Participation “We’re pulling out all the stops to make this festival by far the biggest and best ever.” stated the general chairman of the Alief Autumn Festival. Bill Henry. Additions to the festival included many new booths and a dance on Saturday night. Mel Garret and “The Texas Travelers played at the free dance on October 6. Other highlights of the festival included the largest selection of rides ever for the festival, homemade arts and crafts and ten thousand pumpkins that were given away by the West Houston Medical Center. Not only was the festival better than ever, but the parade also provided a good time for those watching and participating in it. The parade included many civic organizations and school groups. Groups from Elsik that participated included the Marching Ram Band and Flag Corps, the Revelliers. the cheerleaders and. for the first time, the Student Council had a truck full of members. President Tracy Kagan explained. “We wanted to represent Elsik. The parade got us publicity and we had a lot of fun.” Senior Cheerleader Julie Johnson. After participating in the parade for the past three years said. “This is my last parade ya’ll. One of the reasons that the parade was Sophomoro Melinda Klenke helps Sophomore Raclyn so memorable was that it was on a Saturday morning and, after staying out late on Friday night, many of the participants would have preferred to be at home asleep. Senior Revellier Angie Hudson remarked. “I am too tired. I wanted to sleep in. Why can't they do this in the afternoon?” Student Council members began Spears decorate Senior Blake Meyers' truck for the Student worrying when Senior Blake Meyers was late arriving with the truck they were to ride in. Vice President Dee Dee Jefferson remembered, “Tracy and I were about to die when Blake didn’t come until 30 minutes late. The annual parade also gives the community a chance to show their support for the organizations Council. Photo by L. Cates participating in the parade. Junior Revellier Shannon Pratt remarked. “It’s really fun to come out and have everyone support you.” Junior Revellier Jessica Bates said. I feel the parade is an enjoyable experience and I will always remember it!” By Rae Rabe, Editor in Chief 18 Autumn Fest and Parade

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Having Fun, Setting Traditions Ten Years Marked With Many Changes Those were the days “when we had fun at school,” remembered Coach Gary Pless of his first year at Elsik (1976-77). In the beginning, activities such as Student-Faculty Volleyball games. Christmas plays involving students and faculty. Pep Rally skits by teachers and the first Freshman Slave Market (Sale) in which not only freshmen but teachers also were sold, were not uncommon. Mrs. Susan Contine, who has taught at Elsik since its first year, remembers when there were only 23 teachers and 313 was the only principal. The second year (76-77). Mr. Bobby Porter became the vice-principal and the third year (77-78). Mrs. Elsie Kneeling came to Elsik from Hastings as one of the two assistant principals. The first students had a big hand in starting many traditions. As eighth graders, they assembled and decided Elsik's mascot, colors, alma mater and fight song. “When they voted on the colors, there was a tie between green and white and purple and white. Just before the run-off vote, Those were the days when we had fun at school . . . students, all classes were held in ten upstairs rooms (because the school was not finished) and Mrs. O'Donnell was the only principal. She said, One of the funniest things about the school was that at the football games, we always had our band, drill team and all the parents and students while the other team's stands were practically empty because they were freshman and sophomore games.” Elsik's first principal. Mrs. Ann O'Donnell, served for six years (1975-81) and in the school's first year, she someone suggested Columbia blue and white because a chair outside of the auditorium was blue. That color combination won,” said Mrs. O'Donnell. Mrs. Marti Toulmin started the winning tradition for the girls cross country team in her first year at Elsik (77-78) which was also the first year for Elsik to have a cross country team. Actually, there weren't enough people running to have an official team. Five people are required to score team points. For the district meet, three Coaches Bob Kopetsky (basketball 1976 1981), Lcn Smith (volleyball and bas- ketball, 1976-77; biology. 76-80) and Gary Pless (football and track. 76- people were quickly recruited making a team of six that placed third in district. “We sent two runners. Freshman Chris Meeks and Sophomore Donna Barr, to state and Chris placed first. The second year of cross country, we upset heavily favored Memorial and won district and went on to place first in regionals and ninth in state.” present) are the unofficial winners of the four-legged race in the second Student Congress sponsored Field Day on Friday. May 13, 1977. explained Coach Toulmin. Mrs. O'Donnell remembers that in Elsik's first years, It was exciting to see the birth of a new school and the unity of the students and teachers that started many traditions.” By Rae Rabe. Editor-in-Chief Cheryl Cook is one of the fi students to eat in t cafeteria. Before it opened 1975, students ate Hastings. 20 Elsik History