Eisenhower High School Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

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During Eisenhower High School’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, current Eisenhower Principal Mandele Davis honored three principals who served before her. Pictured are (l-r): former Principal Todd Lindeman, former Principal Ben Ibarra, Davis, Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, and former Principal Fred Richardson.

Fifty years is a considerable amount of time and marks a significant portion of a person’s life. Turning 50 is a milestone for many, as is 50 years of marriage.

To mark Eisenhower High School’s 50^th anniversary, former and current Eisenhower High students, staff, and administrators, along with Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney and members of her  Executive Leadership Team, gathered at the school on Monday, Aug. 1, to celebrate Eisenhower’s 50^th anniversary.

Three former principals joined the crowd, Fred Richardson (who served as Ike’s principal for 13 years), Ben Ibarra, and Todd Lindeman, who joined current Principal Mandele Davis to share in the festivities.

Eisenhower teacher Angela Francis delivered the welcome, followed by remarks by Dr. Goffney.

Dr. Goffney said Eisenhower, or Big Ike as it is also known, has been an essential part of the community for the last 50 years.

“Today, we not only celebrate 50 years of learning, but we are also celebrating an opportunity to come together as a community,” Dr. Goffney said. “This community has a legacy, and there is so much pride in its students and school. We have many here who are students today, whose parents were students here, and whose grandparents graduated from Ike. I can tell you that I know, as Superintendent and as a parent, that every family whose had students cross these doors is that they seek the best for their children. They want the neighborhood to grow.”

She added Eisenhower had changed a lot since it first opened in 1972.

“Without a doubt, Eisenhower High School has changed and grown over the years,” she said. “The school is now an International Baccalaureate World School offering the rigorous and highly-valued IB Diploma Program. Eisenhower High School has so many wonderful traditions, and now that your children and grandchildren are going through the district, you are watching the impact of these traditions on your own kids.”

Following Dr. Goffney’s remarks, Eisenhower Librarian Allison Vaughn provided a historical perspective of Eisenhower. She shared with the audience that Julie Nixon Eisenhower, the granddaughter of school namesake President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the daughter of President Richard Nixon, attended the official dedication ceremony in November of 1972. Also in attendance were U.S. Senator John Tower,  Houston Mayor Louie Welch, and former Aldine ISD Superintendent W.W. Thorne. Vaughn also shared several highlights in athletics, academics, performing arts, and visual arts over the years.

Davis then introduced Richardson, Ibarra, and Lindeman and presented each with a token of appreciation for their service to the school.

She also singled out three current staff members who have served more than 29 years as Eisenhower students. The three were English Teacher Kelly Turner (32 years), Head  Athletic Trainer Doc Nelson (30 years), and Social Studies Teacher Jeffrey Brush (29 years).

Janice Weaver, a representative of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, presented Davis with a proclamation from the Mayor declaring Aug. 1, 2022, as Eisenhower High School Day.

Weaver had three children and one grandchild attend Eisenhower.

Amanda Edwards, an Eisenhower High School graduate and former At-Large Houston City Council Member, said she cherished her four years as an Eagle and thanked her former teachers for their dedication to her and her classmates.

“Dreams could be reached and realized as an Eisenhower student,” she said. “I want to give all of you a round of applause for all you did for us. I will never forget the love, support, and investment you made in all of us.”

Staff member Leslie Dever then recognized current and past employees at the event.

Davis, who is a 1996 graduate of Eisenhower, delivered closing remarks.

She fondly reflected on her time as an Eisenhower student.

“Growing up in the neighborhood, I understood the expectation of being excited about school. I was proud to be a part of my high school,” Davis said. “Having school pride and excelling were requisites for being an Eagle. I knew that I was entering a community that loved, protected, educated, and ensured I excelled in my potential. No one could have predicted just the amount of fun and the lifetime of memories I’d have as a student here.”

She said the 50^th Anniversary celebration would long be remembered by all who attended the event.

“Today is a momentous occasion for everyone assembled here and those who could not attend. We all have something in common – our love and adoration for our dear Eisenhower Senior. Today, while extraordinary special for us, is a day in the making 50 years. Fifty years of historical moments, 50 years of celebrations, 50 years of living the dreams of our ancestors who worked to ensure we live our mission of making the lives better for all who are educated here,” Davis said.

Francis, Vaughn, and Dever organized the 50th Anniversary celebration.