Richland High School - Rebel Yearbook (Fort Worth, TX)

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any efforts to display the love Rebels have for their school mascot were shown, before the Texas Education Agency ruled in favor of the school in a complaint filed to do away with the flag and mascot by the NAACP. Mill Design by 5? liz' 2

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Oh my gosh! Stunned by the announcement of being named one of the seven Homecoming Court nominees, Robin Tidwell lseniorl Could not believe it was her named she heard. Ex- citement ran through the crowd of Dixie Belles during the announcement at the Trinity pep rally. Photo by Chip Mundy. Flippin' for it At the last football pep rally of the season, the Richland gymnastics team performed various stunts. Robert Gotcher lseniorl flips high in the air to the crowds amaze- ment. Photo by Chip Mundy. Bonded The closing of the pep rally always seems to bring everyone together as one. Each Friday one class is called down to join with the football players and cheerleaders during the singing of the Alma Mater. When the last stan- za is sung, each per- son feels closer to Richland High Our School . Photo by Robert Gotcher. Pep Rallies

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A big surprise came this year when the NAACP asked Richland to remove its Rebel theme. Richland has never had any reported problems with racial discrimination nor, hopefully, will it ever. We have always treated everybody like one and have all stuck together, and that is exactly what we did. As soon as the announcement came from the NAACP, the Rebels went wild. From then on, Richland had never seen so many Rebel flags and attire. When you walked into the gymnasium, faculty and Johnny Rebs would pass out small flags and encourage everyone to attend the night's game. On Friday nights the opposing fans would be in amazement as the whole side of the stadium would be covered with the school's flag and everyone so spirited. A special day was set up during 'Haltom Week' for 'Save the Flag Day.' Students from all levels dressed in their best Rebel attire. Some painted their faces while others were human flags. Even the faculty and administrators got into the action. Not only did the school get so involvedg but also the television news, newspapers, and media. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram brought up a stir when they announced the flag should be taken away. Anti-Flag proponents wrote on their viewsg some good, some bad. Richland's name was all over the news within two weeks that the NAACP called, but we still stood together ready to fight for what's right. The hard part was waiting for TEA to decide if we could keep VIN ur Flag our desired theme. After the news of South Prairie giving up their theme, things began to get scary. The last game of the football season was dedicated to our Rebel theme During the last football game of the season at the start of the fourth quarter everyone stood and pointed to the Rebel flag waving in the air at the end of the field Finally on January 15 a meeting was called about our flag Mr Clark had received a letter from TEA on their decision After reading the formal letter Mr Wade Parkey stood and sal that means we get to keep our flag There has never been a problem here they were just telling us we had one Dana Mitchell n avid supporter throughout the flag con- troversy was Wade Parkey. He gave much of his time and sup ort to the entire student body and faculty, keeping everyone informed as to how the fight for our flag and mascot was coming. Photo by Jeff Russell. Save the Flag