By SHERRI LONON

Wesley Partridge is proud to say he graduated No. 2 in Chamberlain High School’s first class.

Of course, Partridge was one of only two graduates during the 1956-57 inaugural school year. In fact, he and his fellow first graduate, Cliff May, had to wait and walk with the 1958 graduating class.

“It was a pleasure,” said Partridge of his year at Chamberlain.

Getting to Chamberlain took some work, too, Partridge said. Since the school wasn’t intending to have a senior class in its first year, Partridge and May had to request special dispensation to attend.

Why?

They wanted to play football for “Big” John Adcock, who had coached their junior varsity team the previous year at Hillsborough High School, Partridge said.
Following much discussion, principals Vivian Gaither of Hillsborough High and Ateo P. Leto, Chamberlain’s first principal, agreed and the two were allowed to go to Chamberlain.

“Mr. Leto was such a nice guy,” said Partridge. “Mr. Leto was close to all of us.”

May could not be reached for comment.

Partridge is not alone in having fond members of the school’s first few years.

Ray Seymour played on the 1961 state champion football team under Adcock’s direction and now teaches special education classes at the school.
He remembers playing on the school grounds before there was a school. The area, he said, was rural.

“Horses used to be here,” said Seymour, who graduated in 1962. Back when he attended Chamberlain, the school’s boundaries extended to Odessa and beyond, he said.

Seymour said his best memories of Chamberlain revolve around the championship football season. “It was the only time the school has gone undefeated,” he said. “At the time, you didn’t realize how special it was.”

Partridge’s wife, Pat, is also a graduate of Chamberlain. Her class is 1964.

Her best memories lie with the faculty, staff and students who filled the school’s halls.

“Over the years Wes and I could walk back in these doors and there were so many people (we knew),” said Pat Partridge.

The standout memory for Pat Partridge was being on the 1961 drill team, she said.

For Wesley, the biggest memory was when Leo Scarborough scored Chamberlain’s first-ever touchdown.
The three grads say the school remains dear to their hearts.

As for what’s changed the most. “I don’t see the school spirit we had,” said Wesley. “We were all a part of writing the alma mater, (picking) the school colors.”

Pat agreed. “There was a special spirit that went on here,” she said.

“We just fell in love with the place,” Wesley said.

Honoring the future

As the alumni remember their time at Chamberlain, the 50th Anniversary Committee is working to bring some of the old spirit to life.
Julie Quintana, a longtime teacher, is the chairwoman of the committee. The group is raising money to give the school a facelift of sorts during its anniversary year. The hope is to buy a wrought iron fence to encircle the campus.

Fundraising for the effort is ongoing. Supporters of the school can get into the act by:

u Submitting recipes to a 50th anniversary commemorative cookbook. Quintana is seeking recipes from former students, parents and friends of the school.

A minimum of five recipes per contributor is requested to ensure no duplication. The books will be sold later in the school year.

u Commemorative pins are now on sale for $5 each.

u Commemorative T-shirts are still available for $12 each.

uAds are being accepted for the anniversary newsletter that goes out every two weeks. Ads are business card size.

For more information, e-mail Quintana at or call 975-7677, Ext. 356.