Mrs. Knox on Sam Houston Jr. Hi

Dear friends,

Mary Lou Knox gave me permission to post this to our blog. I am proud to do so. I too feel we had a great staff and wonderful students. It was one of the best times of my life and I'm not just saying that. I have very fond memories of my Amarillo days. Anyway, enjoy Mary Lou's remarks and leave your comments if you are so inclined. Enjoy:

Jake


Hi to all,

This is Mrs. Knox, the homemaking teacher, and I am delighted that someone wrote about Mrs. Eads. I met her in about 1948 through a mutual friend. She was going to school at WT at the time and so was I. I didn't see her again until I walked into the faculty meeting in September, 1970, the first day I was at Sam Houston. What a surprise to see her and what a wonderful experience to get to work with her. She was truly amazing. She spent her entire career teaching in that room at the end of the hall, and you students probably didn't know that she was a super good cook. The faculty did and we all looked forward to the special times she brought so many goodies to the teacher's lounge we could nibble on them all day long. I still use her recipe for Banana Bread. And Mrs. Pierce's Zucchini Bread is still the best. I noticed in the paper today that Spam is getting popular again because it is low in price, so some of you might want Sarah Leisure's recipe for Spam Salad which is delicious.

Another teacher I enjoyed getting to know was Pat Groom. Her late husband was my late husband's high school basketball coach at Hereford, so I had heard him talk about them for years. What a treat for me to get acquainted with her and work with her! I still hear from her and talk to her on the phone occasionally. Great lady.

You students are not aware that the years we spent at Sam Houston Junior High are probably the best years of our lives. The school had a unique quality that I have never seen equaled. The faculty during the '70's was second to none. As one of the teachers, I can truthfully say that they were my most enjoyable years out of the 35 years I taught. Remember how much fun it was when we walked across the street to the park, sat on the grass and enjoyed Awards Day? I don't know if the kids get to do things like that anymore. Every year on the last day of school just before he rang the bell to dismiss us, Mr. Dial played the hymn, "God Be With You Til We Meet Again." I know that tradition has been done away with. Too bad.

I now live in Cordell, Oklahoma so I can be close to my two brothers. I find it a joy to live in a small town again. The traffic nothing compared to San Antonio's traffic where I lived before moving here last November.

I feel like you do, Jake, I hope more people will write post a word or two so we will know where they are and what they are doing.

Hoping to see more of you contribute to the blog soon!

Mrs. Mary Lou Knox