RANDOLPH RO-HAWKS - Randolph AFB, TX: June 2019

THE MOSAIC OF THE SCHOOL MASCOT, THE RO-HAWK, GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL BY THE CLASS OF 1964 HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE WALL IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE AND IS SAFE AND BEING STORED UNTIL IT CAN BE RE-MOUNTED IN THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING!!!

Along with the mosaic is the original construction nameplate placed on the original building.

As you know, I have been involved with Randolph High School since I graduated in 1965. I coordinated reunions every 5 years since 1975. The last reunion was held in 2013 and it celebrated the 50th year anniversary of the school and the 50th year of the graduating class of 1963. Randolph was ESTABLISHED in 1962. The first of these students held classes in empty buildings on the base until moving into the new high school and junior high building. At the end of the FIRST school year 29 students graduated being the first graduating class of RHS.

I wasn't there yet, my family was still in Springfield, VA where my father was stationed at Bolling AFB and then the Pentagon. We were RE-stationed at Randolph AFB in the summer of 1964. I spent my Junior and Senior year at RHS. Since it was a small school we pretty much knew everybody, even the kids in junior high. The Band, which I was a member, consisted of both junior and senior high students. We didn't have a ROTC program because we didn't have enough students in the school. But we had a great FOOTBALL TEAM and a great BASKETBALL TEAM. Of course being in the world before Title IX, girls were involved in Tennis and volleyball and basketball, Cheerleading and Pep Squad. We were a little school but we were mighty.

In 2013 I had decided to throw one more reunion for the 50th Anniversary. I thought then I would "retire" from doing reunions and keeping up with everybody. I had my blog and I was losing interest in that. One day in 2016 I was contacted by Mike Scott who told me that he had heard about me and about the reunions and was I doing anything or did I know about the school being demolished and re-built? Mike was Class of '67, however, his dad was transferred to Colorado and he didn't graduate from RHS but he was interested in getting together and talking about anything we could do or notify the alumni about the demolition. Then we realized that he '64 class gift was still mounted on the wall and nobody could tell us what was going to happen to it when demolition started. Mike and I began to contact the school, making a presence and meeting the administration and asking questions. We discovered that a Foundation was going to be formed.

Mike and I want to express our appreciation to Superintendent Lance Johnson, his entire staff and the teachers as well as members of the Randolph Field Education Foundation (RFEF) for their dedication, continuing to build for the future and graduate excellent young men and women. The original RHS education building has been replaced by new state of the art buildings. At the same time the RFISD, RFEF and several alums have started new traditions as well as continued old ones. Superintendent Johnson established the Randolph Field Education Foundation selection several RHS alums as charter members.

We have located and ensured all yearbooks are in the high school library and that a copy of all future publications will be placed in the library as well. The current RFISD Librarian, Jennifer Martin, established a RHS history showcase in the library and is in the process of posting several RO-HAWK posters. Alums have supported her efforts to ensure all yearbooks are in the high school library and provided additional historical documents and items.

Forever Ro-Hawks ~
Gloria Campbell Gallagher '65
Mike Scott '67

THE RO-HAWK STORY

With the support of Dr. Mark Malone, Principal of RHS, we reached out to Jeff Anderson, Class of '63, and the other student committee members, including Jim Peck '63, Toni Buchert '63, Dickie Buchert '64, Judy O'Neil '64, Dennis Ruefer '64, Pam Pratt '65 and Jody Hargis '66, who were responsible for the naming of the school mascot. Jeff submitted his story which we had printed on a poster then presented it to the school which has been posted in several places around the facility. There is a You-Tube video of Jeff Anderson explaining the history of the Ro-Hawk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIccLYnKkKg&t=7s

Posting the Ro-Hawk Story has led to several new Spirit T-Shirt designs! We found that some of the present students didn't know what a Ro-Hawk was or the history of the naming of the school's mascot. There is now a t-shirt which says: "What is a Ro-Hawk?" and on the back of the shirt it states all the facts. Also, check Urban Dictionary! (We did not create this t-shirt -- but I wish I had!!).

Dr. Mark Malone, Principal and Mrs. Amanda Crumpler, Assistant Principal of RHS, were very supportive in reviewing and approving the Captain William M. Randolph Story and the Alumni message which both have been posted at RHS.

In addition, the Captain William M. Randolph Senior ROTC Cadet of the Year Award and Scholarship have been established. (See below)

Mike Scott scribed his life's message to the future students of RHS and we posted the Alumni Message as well.

Alumni Message

Guess you had to be there such a beautiful school, we were cruisin' along never thinkin' we'd ever change. We were sharin' a new day, singing a new song and everyone's problems were suddenly gone. Everything we ever wanted and all our beautiful friends were at this place.

Yeah we guess you had to be there it was a wonderful ride. We were young and hurried but we felt like the stars had aligned. We were sharin’ a new name, singing a new song and our parents were heroes but you’d never have known.

Guess you had to be there, our teachers dedicated their lives to help us change the world in our own way. So we chose the name Ro-Hawks to define ourselves and have a name that would forever identify our school and serve as a legacy for all the classes to come.

Well we guess you had to be there to see what we learned. To live a life of humility while working every day at being beautiful on the inside. We were the music makers, the dreamers of dreams and yes we were champions.

As a student you are now one of us sharing a new day, singing a new song.

This is our alumni message to you –

May the good lord be with you down every road you roam and may you grow to be proud dignified and true. May you always do unto others as you’d have done to you. May you dream of things that never were and ask why not? May you be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it. May you choose happiness and be an optimist – it does not seem to be useful being anything else.

It’s not always easy making choices regarding your future – make the best decisions you can and live with those decisions, when you make a mistake don’t blame yourself, however, take responsibility. Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. You don’t have to decide what you will be forever, you just have to decide what you will be next. Take time to decide your raison d’etre, once you decide make it your true North. Don’t give up until you drink from the silver cup, you never know until you try.

On the road of life you must have a code that you can live by, above all integrity is number one. Remember, your actions may not only reflect upon you but on your parents, brothers and sisters. It’s simple, good is good and bad is bad, there is no middle ground. Do good then do it again. Who can say where that road of life goes? Only time. Be open to the unknown. Take risks for what you want and believe in, dare to go boldly where no Ro-Hawk has gone before. Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.

Opportunities will come your way; be ready to recognize and seize them, no matter how daunting they may seem.

Once you choose a goal and know the risks, the military discipline is to make a plan in an unemotional, logical sequence and unless something desperately goes wrong, you don’t vary from the plan, because all sorts of other dangers can come along. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Lead your own way, keep on strong, moving everyday toward your goals.

Words to remember -

• A RHS teacher said “Pride plus hard work equals excellence”.

• A Reverend said “I have a dream” – keep that dream alive every day.

• An American pilot said “You do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can’t, you do the next best thing. You back up but you don’t give up”.

• An Alum said “Always know where you’re at and what’s up, watch your six. When downrange - stay frosty.”

• Si vis pacem, para bellum

• Raison d’état – eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.

There is only one version of the truth, it has no special time of its own. Its hour is now – always. May you always know that truth because the truth shall keep you free.

May the Force be with you as you preserve protect and restore our cherished Ro-Hawk mosaic donated by the class of 1964, it is our timeless symbol uniting all Ro-Hawk classes. So be true to your school just like you would your girl or guy and always remember the silver and blue.

Yes it’s true, to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose. So live each day as if it might be your last and learn as if you are going to live forever. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today, make the most of it – carpe diem. Most of all - never, never, never --give up and remember there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

When life presents a choice to sit out or dance ---- dance.

Standing Under Stars and Stripes

WE ARE FOREVER RO-HAWKS"

THE MICKLER MEMORIAL FIELD

During a halftime at Homecoming, Alums with the support of the RFISD and RFEF rededicated The Mickler Memorial Field. The Football stadium was named after Robert Mickler who was the original football coach who became the winningest coach around these parts during the '60's and '70's. We also worked with the Mickler and Charet family to accomplish the re-dedication and the refurbishment of the Mickler Plaque and it was installed on the newly painted ticket booth where it can be seen and read by all who attend the games. (See earlier Blog Posts)

Condition of plaque as of 2015

New Ticket Booth

Newly painted Ticket booth with the refurbished Mickler plaque for all to see!

Col. Charet and Margaret Mickler

COACH ROBERT MICKLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP and AWARD

This year 2019, the RFISD and the Randolph Field Education Foundation presented the third Coach Robert Mickler Memorial Scholarship and Award. The nominating committee is made up of all head coaches. This year's winner is Drew Savannah Williams, Class of 2019. Here is a copy of her letter to the Mickler Family:

THE SCHOOL SONG

The current RFISD Band Director Hector Perez continues to support alums and the foundation. We posted the original school song and presented it to the Band Department for the band hall. Over the years, the original words had been changed. "Never to Return" was removed from the original words.

Present Song Words:

We salute thee Randolph High

With this song we sing.

And to you our loyalty ever more will ring.

Randolph High

We'll be proud of you

And remember as we go

the Silver and the Blue

NEW SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

During homecoming halftime the last three years the alumni, RFISD and the RFEF established the following awards and scholarships. The awards and scholarships are presented to the teachers on their campus and to the students on senior night.

SUPERINTENDENT'S ACADEMIC AWARD

This award is based not only on excellent grades but by providing examples where the student helped other students improve academically and has demonstrated outstanding character traits.

TERRY ENGLISH LEADERSHIP AWARD

In 1966 Terry English was selected as an All-State Texas High School Player. After 53 years he still owns Ro-Hawk football records for most total yardage in a season and most passing yards in a game. Terry went on to play for Rice University before a long coaching career at the high school level, beginning at Randolph high school. Terry believed sports kept some students in school who may have otherwise dropped out. He believed sports developed character, resilience, and life-long friendships. He loved Randolph ... his sports and teaching experiences, and the many friends he made. His family is sure that Terry is smiling his large impish grin tonight and that he is honored to have this award presented in his name in this very special way.

Coaches Terry English and Bob Mickler

BOB MICKLER SENIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

(Robert) Bob Mickler established a program that transcends time and sidelines. The Ro-Hawks compiled a record of 217-50-10. The .781 winning percentage ranks Mickler as one of the winningest High School football coaches in Texas history. More importantly, Bob Mickler knew that not many of his players would continue in their sport past high school, so he was focused on molding them into men and leaders in life, when many had a least one parent in South Vietnam serving their country.

To qualify for the scholarship an athlete must meet the following requirements:

*Must be a senior

*Achieved a 3.0 or higher GPA throughout high school

*Exhibited leadership qualities toward fellow teammates, encouraging them to be all they can be by both example and mentorship

*Exhibited outstanding sportsmanship to fellow teammates and competitors when representing RHS

*Has expressed an intention to pursue a post high school education or military service.

CLAUDE A. HEARN JR. -- 2018/2019 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

3 AWARDS - ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL and HIGH SCHOOL

Claude A. Hearn, Jr. served as the first Superintendent of Randolph Field ISD for 38 years, beginning at the young age of 28. Mr. Hearn's philosophy with his teachers was "hire the best available and let them teach!". If Mr. Hearn were here today, he would be pleased to see that this practice continues today.

Heather Hearn Rathnau and Gloria Campbell Gallagher

CAPTAIN WILLIAM M. RANDOLPH JUNIOR ROTC CADET OF THE YEAR AWARD

In 2017, Randolph Field ISD established its own Air force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. The ro-Hawk cadent chosen for this award has demonstrated the qualities expected of a leader: s strong moral compass, humility, and respect for those in authority, poise when corrected, a sense of purpose, a strong work ethic, and can be an independent leader.

JOHN BRIDGES BAND DIRECTOR AWARD

This award is presented to a student band leader has been observed for at least an entire year on a daily basis by the current Band Director. This student has a solid academic record, has continued to mature and to develop the necessary 'people skills' when placed in leadership roles, and has to respect of student peers.

John Bridges presenting the Band Director's Award

In 2016, Gloria Campbell Gallagher, Class of '65, was recognized and awarded a gift from the Alumni for her 50 years of service to alums at the Homecoming half time. (See earlier Blog posts).