The Class of 1972 is celebrating their 50th anniversary
When members of the Bryan High School Class of 1972 arrived at their alma mater on Oct. 14, they thought they were attending a schoolwide pep rally. What they did not know was they were the special guests at a pep rally just for them.
Cecil Webster, a member of the class, said it felt like it was like the walk of fame to march into the pep rally being cheered on by the cheerleaders and the Shy-Annes.
Becoming 'One Big Family'
The Class of 1972 is not just celebrating their 50th high school reunion, but they also represent the first graduating class of Bryan High School. The school and class were a result of integration in the school district. Black students from Kemp High School and white students from SFA High School came together to create Bryan High School.
“That was a really hard year for everybody, but we made it through, and we all became friends and we all became one big family,” Lillian Hughes, another member of the class, said.
Webster said the integration took place earlier than the District originally planned due to fires at Neal Junior High School that affected the Black community.
“But as a result of that, we came together in a cohesive manner,” Webster said. “We all, I don’t like to use the words ‘got along’ because to me there’s some negative connotations associated with that, but we all worked extremely hard to make sure that everything that we did represented who we are. And I like to think that the result of what we’re looking at today in terms of the population of Bryan High School is a reflection of that.”
Establishing a Legacy
The class of about 600 students were on committees to develop the name of the school, the school colors, the song, the ring design and the mascot. Webster said he was on the ring committee and helped design the ring he still wears, though it sits on his pinky finger now.
After deciding on the blue and silver Bryan High School Vikings, the first students walked the hallways of the newly constructed Bryan High School in September 1971. Hughes said they were still working on the small punch list items of the school.
Celebrating the New Generation
Now 50 years after they left their mark on Bryan High, the class members were amazed at the programs and opportunities the District offers students. The Bryan High School cheerleaders, Shy-Annes, Los Vikingos Mariachi Band, color guard, marching band and drumline participated in the special pep rally, performing for the guests of honor and also taking pictures with members of the class in attendance who were part of the band, the spirit organizations or athletics.
“I love to see the mariachis; you have that. That’s awesome,” classmate Mary Lou Adame said. “We didn’t have the color guard at that time either, but just to see all of this, I’m not kidding you, I got chills because it was awesome. I didn’t expect all of this, but thank y’all so much because it was so wonderful to be here after 50 years.”
Hughes said the reception really made them feel welcomed. The class was recognized before the Bryan High School football game against Pflugerville Weiss also.
“It all started at Bryan High,” class member Eunell Visor said.
Friday night the class was also recognized before kickoff at the Bryan High Football game against Pflugerville Weiss.
BRYAN ISD
Children First. Always.
