wallerhistory

In the year 1959, before the doors of Waller Junior High School were opened, the teachers were assigned, and the students from Emerson Junior High School who were to be transferred to Waller had meetings to discuss their new school. Plans were made for the fall of 1959, when the doors of Waller would be opened for the first student body.

DeWitt Waller Junior High School was constructed by Perry C. Davis and Sons and D.A. Smith Associates. The original building contained eighteen classrooms. In 1964, a new ninth grade wing was added to the school, and in 1980, our new gymnasium was constructed.

The Board of Education dedicated the building on November 8, 1959, with these words:

With these words, the first school year of DeWitt Waller Junior High School began, with an enrollment of 550 students and a faculty of 28.

Our namesake was a great man and educator, Mr. DeWitt Waller. Having come to Enid as a teacher and a coach, Mr. Waller moved on to the position of principal and finally superintendent of the Enid Public Schools. He gave a total of forty-eight years of his life to better the lives of children. His distinguished leadership was honored by having our school bear his name. With the philosophy of "Students go to school to learn", Mr. Waller placed academic fundamentals first through his years, and at one time, was recognized as one of the top three educators in America.

A year after his death, Mr. Waller's family donated momentos of the high points of his career. These articles may be viewed in the Student Center in a lovely display case purchased by a past Student Council.

At the suggestion of two former students, Jimmy Ray and Tommy Kay Huddle, a day is set aside each November to honor Mr. Waller's memory.

This is a special day for all past and present Waller students and faculty. It is Waller Day, a day in which former teacher, students, principals, superintendents, and school board members gather for a program recalling the beginnings of Waller Junior High and the successful paths it has since followed.

With the approval of Mr. Farrant, Mrs. Ice the music teacher began researching songs from schools all over the country to find several that would be appropriate for Waller. Finally, Mrs. Ice found four songs that greatly impressed her, and she arranged them into our school song. Our own Alma Mater is the same tune as Mr. Wallet's Alma Mater, the University of Missouri. At the opening of most assemblies, our student body sings these words:

Anna Mary Ridgeway was asked to accept the responsibility of writing our school creed. Her first thoughts were that school be an extension of the American creed since we are all privilege Golden Eagles who soar to lofty heights. The Golden Eagle is the one eagle species that never stoops to anything less than honorable. It was with these thoughts that she composed our school creed which was her hope and dream for every student and faculty member. The DeWitt Waller Junior High School Creed is as follows:

"I believe in the DeWitt Waller Junior High School as an organization of the students, by the students, and for the students; whose existence is a privilege for all members; established upon the principles of citizenship, service, leadership, and character.

I believe it is my duty to my school to respect its policies, to obey its regulations, to be loyal to its leaders, to serve its members with my time and talents, and to represent it honorably at all times."

It is with humility and gratitude that we dedicate this building. We are proud to serve our community in the promotion of the principles of public education. We feel that in the schools of America rests the responsibilities of preserving the democracy of our country."

The emblem of the Golden Eagle was voted on at Emerson Junior High by the students who would attend Waller. Some students wanted gold and black as the school colors, so a compromise was reached, and black was used as the background color with gold being the prominent color. On either side of our auditorium stage were placed two striking golden eagles formed from metal. Jimmy Ray Huddle and some of his classmates, assisted by Miss Velma Murray, the art teacher, designed and constructed the first eagle models from paper. Those designs were then sent to a company who molded them from metal. Under the bright spotlights, these majestic golden eagles are reminders to each and every student of our proud Waller heritage.

A highlight of each Waller Day program is the performance of the Eagle Dance. The first Eagle Dance was presented in 1959 with the eagle's nest being the stage setting for the class history. To this nest the students brought their contributions for the ideals, customs, and traditions of the new school. From this nest came Melissa Cleveland, presenting the first rendition of the Eagle Dance. Mrs. Ice composed the beautiful music, and Miss Velma Murry, the art teacher, designed the striking costume.

1984 marked the year in which the old combined with the new. A new Eagle costume was designed and a new musical score was arranged for the Eagle Dance. Each year a ninth grade student is selected to perform the dance.

Wynn Mabry was our first student council president. The council's responsibility of writing a constitution was not easy. With the able assistance of Mrs. Leatha Schockley, the students worked many hours to accomplish their goals. The following is the Student Council Pledge:

DeWitt Waller Junior High has had nine principals. Our first was Mr. Ray Farrant, who served as principal until 1964. Mr. Jewell Ridge, who later became superintendent of the O. T. Autry Vocational and Technical School, was our second principal. The third principal was Mr. Rex Martin, followed by Mr. Glenn Estil, the counselor who acted as principal during the long, fatal illness of Mr. Martin. Mr. Estil was principal until Mr. Jerry Simmons was appointed as our fourth principal. Mr. Henry Schneider was followed by Mr. Charles Webster, Mr. Steve Hart, and Mr. Tom Worley, which brings us to our present principal, Mr. Michael D. King who's leadership has brought us into the new millineum. Under the leadership of these fine men, DeWitt Waller Junior School has risen to great heights.

Waller students and teachers of the past stand in long rows behind us, each with a dream...all telling of our school, its greatness, its faults, its goodness, and its accomplishments.

We, the Golden Eagles of today, express our thanks to those past educators who have left us with a rich heritage and many traditions that make our school great.

We are challenged to continue the dreams of Mr. Waller and those who have made this school what it is today.

Mr. Ray Farrant was DeWitt Waller's first principal and served in that capacity until 1964 when he became Assistant Superintendent of the Enid Public Schools. As the first principal, Mr. Farrant asked the aid of the teachers and students in establishing the traditions, the creed, the school colors, and our school emblem.