Celebrating The Hixson High School Centennial

  • Monday, March 30, 2009
  • Nina East

You might say the Hixson High School Centennial Celebration began when members of the Class of 2009 first entered their high school as freshmen. Signs were everywhere greeting them as the Centennial Class and they knew something special was about to happen.

Things really got going though when midway through her first year as principal, Christine Couch recognized the need to prepare for the Centennial year and invited community leaders and alumni to serve on a Steering Committee to plan the celebration. Alumni Marty Haynes, Mike Kirk, Jim Coppinger, and Everett Fairchild were joined by Hixson High staff members Suzanne Rushworth and Nina East to form the Hixson High School Centennial Steering Committee.

Monthly meetings began in January of 2008 as the committee explored the scope of the celebration. Members met with Central High School alumni who had recently celebrated their school’s centennial for ideas and soon decided to make the Hixson celebration a year-long event, kicking off on August 18, 2008 with the culminating celebration on April 18, 2009.

The Centennial website, www.hixson100yr.org was created to help publicize events, as well as gather Hixson alumni.

The Centennial kick-off took place in front of the current high school building. After the presentation of colors by the Hixson High School AFJROTC, State Sen. Bo Watson and County Commissioner Jim Coppinger each presented a proclamation congratulating the school on its centennial. Alumnus Marty Haynes outlined the planned Centennial Highlights and Superintendent Jim Scales and School Board member Everett Fairchild offered comments to an audience of other HCDE dignitaries, former faculty members, principals, and alumni.

Class of 2009 officers, Gabby Boyd, Justin Barr, Jarrelle Wolff, and Sidra Naseer read from the proclamations and presented the school with a Centennial Banner in gold and black which read “Celebrating 100 years of teaching, leading, achieving, inspiring.” As is customary at Hixson High events, the band, under the direction of Matt McHenry, provided music.

In early October Hixson Middle School opened its doors on a Saturday for a farewell visit. For 30 years the School Drive building had been Hixson High School and for many alumni it was the only high school they knew. Wildkitten basketball players of the 1940’s reminisced about their games in the gym (known now as the south gym), remembering teachers who were barely older than they. Other alumni walked past rooms naming the teachers who once occupied them. Many were happy to see Coach Tony Martino and Mr. Everett Fairchild as they gathered in the library for refreshments and reminiscing.

Throughout the football season each home game was assigned a decade to recognize alumni lettermen at half-time on the field. Alumni wore ribbons identifying their decade and were introduced on the 50 yard line at half-time. One lucky alumnus at each game took home a gift bag and card courtesy of the Hixson Super Bi-Lo. Most exciting was the Homecoming game when nine members of the first Wildcat football team of 1948-49 were reunited on the field to be honored.

A chance phone call from the mother of an alumnus brought an unexpected centennial opportunity. Robert Ballew, class of 1978, is a colonel in the U.S. Army and serves in Iraq in a peacekeeping capacity. As his soldiers enter the small villages of Iraq they like to bring gifts to the children there. Soccer balls are the most popular items. The Class of 2009 decided to continue their Centennial Celebration with a service project around Patriots’ Day and Constitution Day. They collected 100 soccer balls to send to Col. Ballew and encouraged their fellow Wildcats to write letters to our troops in Iraq. The Seniors presented soccer balls and letters to Col. Ballew’s mother in November. Col. Ballew sent his thanks and pictures of the children receiving the soccer balls. A month later an official framed certificate came from the government of Iraq thanking the students of Hixson High School for their service.

Also in November, former faculty and staff were invited back for a reception during American Education Week. Over 50 educators returned for the event, reminiscing and greeting old colleagues and friends. Each received a commemorative Centennial ornament and the promise of making the event an annual one.

In late January with the help of Green Thumb Nursery, Seniors planted daffodil bulbs and a pin oak tree as a commemorative to the Centennial. The daffodils bloomed just in time to greet students on their first day at the new Hixson Middle School, adjacent to our campus. A commemorative plaque is planned at the site of the tree planting, as well.

The annual Hixson High Art Show in February featured the unveiling of alumnus and former teacher Jack Denton’s Centennial Painting. Mr. Denton presented his painting to a crowd of current and former faculty and alumni and explained the historic meaning in the various parts of his art piece. Signed prints are still available for purchase through the school. The Centennial Painting itself hangs in the high school’s main office.

A new requirement for graduation this year is the capstone experience which Seniors must complete. Several seniors participated in the Hixson Oral History project, video-interviewing alumni and creating a booklet of their stories. Needless to say, they gained insight into the history of their school.

Another ongoing Centennial endeavor is the 100 books project. Hixson High librarian Susan Gros compiled a wish list of books for the school’s library. Classes have the opportunity to purchase a book, sign it for posterity, and donate it to the library. Alumni and community members are welcome to join in this project, as well.

The Class of 2009 will have great memories of this, their senior year. As an extra special commemoration their 2009 yearbook will be entirely in color. Their gowns for Commencement will also be screened with the now familiar Centennial logo.

There is less than a month left until the April 18 Centennial Celebration which we hope will bring many alumni and community members to the Hixson High campus. In addition to the on-campus events, alumni have organized “Hixson Alumni on the Southside” at Loose Cannon Studios. The evening celebration includes refreshments and music featuring alumnus Kelley Lovelace. Ticket information is available at www.hixson100yr.org. All proceeds will benefit a Hixson High Centennial Alumni Scholarship Fund.

Students, faculty, alumni, and the community have helped this year-long celebration happen. Special support has come from the Hixson Chamber of Commerce, Jim Coppinger, the family of Steve Underwood, the family of Marty Haynes, the family of Mike Kirk, the Hixson Kiwanis Club, the Classes of 1977, 1988, 2008, and from donations in memory of Dub Haynes. The Hixson High Centennial Steering Committee thanks you for your support.

One hundred years is a great milestone. This event celebrates every graduate, teacher, and supporter of Hixson High School and the great community whose name we share. And, it challenges the same to build on the strong tradition of teaching, leading, achieving, inspiring.

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