Monterey Site

CLASS of 1960

CLASS of 1965

SEAL FOUND, ALUMNI RESPOND

Here is one of the responses the Alumni Association received from our story about the removal of the MHS seal from school entrance. We are still awaiting a formal response from Principal Griggs.

MR COKER,

After reading your letter on the web site ,I requested that Mr Griggs get the editor of the LISD reporter to e- mail the picture and story about the seal that originated from our class.

The day we went to see our seal in its new home (where it is a lot more visable for students and visitors)Mr Griggs took the time to take us on a personal tour and show our two out of town ex- classmates all the improvements. It was capped of with Bob Mcentire getting to see his old locker room and visiting with head football Coach Morton.we also got to meet the student body president.what a great bunch of folks! I they most certainly respect MHS and all alumni.

Jerry Etter
Chairman
MHS/LHS 1956 CLASS REUNIONS

The story Mr. Etter refers to is as follows:
The class of 1956 was the first group of students to graduate from Monterey High School. Led by class president Harold Hammett, students designed a seal to be placed in the concrete of the main entrance to the school facing 47th Street to commemorate the auspicious occasion. The seal would remain there as a constant reminder of the class of 1956 for nearly 50 years until planned renovations threatened to disrupt and most likely destroy the monument. Monterey Principal Al Griggs asked the workers replacing the concrete to carefully remove the seal and later asked his father to construct a framed case to properly display the seal. Last spring, the finished display case was mounted in the front hall near the main entrance. The 1956 seal once again keeps a silent vigil, reminding all who pass of the first Plainsmen to tread those hallowed halls. Shown in the photo above are 1956 class members Jerry Etter, Bobby McIntire, Rita Riggs Young and James Eby.

WHERE HAVE OUR TRADITIONS GONE

Sometime last summer The seal of Monterey, which had been at the entrance to the school for over fifty years, disappeared. Did anyone in Lubbock, except the perpetrators notice? If they did, why wasn’t it reported? The Monterey Seal was removed from the main entrance of the school by the administration. No explanation was given to anyone.

The seal was the very first senior gift. It was given by the class of 1956. The placement of the seal was well chosen and we all expected it would remain in it’s place of honor, as it had for fifty years. Someone made a arbitrary decision to move this seal. There is no structural reason for moving the seal. The administration had the legal right to make that decision, but a moral responsibility to notify the Alumni Association of the removal of this time honored tradition of Monterey High School. It did not!!!!!! The current administration, like those that came before it, is merely a caretaker of the traditions and heritage of Monterey, not the owners. In this task they have failed miserably. We, the alumni, are the true owners. The Monterey Alumni Association demands the seal be returned to it’s rightful place at the main entrance. Alums should use the e mails links below to voice your dissatisfaction with the removal of the seal but also the destruction of the “M” benches, gifts from the classes of ‘59 and ‘61. These three gifts are the ones we know about, there may be more. If the current attitude of the administration continues unabated we may find at the next reunion many other Senior gifts are missing. Furthermore the school has NO list of the senior gifts given over the last fifty plus years. This too is unacceptable and contemptible. . Remember, this is not the first time some of our heritage has disappeared, unchecked it will not be the last. Let them hear from you.

Chris Coker
President Monterey Alumni Association
Class of 64

Email your Concerns to: agriggs@lubbockisd.org.

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