In the summer of 1965, the cost of gasoline was $.31 cents a gallon.  The average cost of a home in the United States was $13,500.  A new car could be purchased for $2,650. More importantly to the significance of this moment in time, the brand-new high school on Harvard Avenue was opened to students who became “students of excellence.”  John Fitzgerald Kennedy High School in Cleveland, Ohio was born!

From our inception there were high hopes for this school located on the edge of the suburbs.  Our student population was racially integrated.  A vigorous curriculum was presented that included, at that time, the state of the art vocational as well as scholastic tracts to follow.  There was an excitement and a beautiful spirit that all felt when we entered in the building that fall.   Teachers were dressed to the “nines.” The books were new. And a powerful yet caring man who dressed in a short sleeve shirt with biceps bulging, with a God inspired concept of students striving for and achieving excellence within his vison, Mr. George E. Mills greeted all at the front door. The best high school in the land was birthed along with THE Million Dollar Marching Band.  We, the students of John F. Kennedy (JFK), were destined for greatness!

A fitting name of our school’s mascot had to be chosen to embody our destiny for greatness.  Those in the know knew our mascot was voted on by the football team on the field of Elliot Junior High school in the summer of 1965.  The football team had a choice to vote between the names of the Blue Dragons or the Fighting Eagles.  Coach Hanchuck presented it at the beginning of a week and gave us till the end of the week to vote. Lobbying occurred and true to the nature of the “team” sports, those who were recognized as “stars” had more influence on the voting outcome. Remember our school colors were already chosen for us, red, white and blue because of our naming after the 35th President.  Many of the team felt that the “Blue” dragon would be justifiably appropriate.  Bottom line, however, the majority vote was for the fighting eagles. The “stars” were aligned.

Later that fall, the entire school assembled in the gymnasium for the unveiling of the mascot.  A prominent newspaper person literally unveiled the fighting eagle after a very uplifting and purposeful speech by our principal, Mr. Mills.  When the mascot was unveiled there was an almost spontaneous gasp of silence followed by students who felt it looked like a “weak fighting chicken.”  Needless to say, order had to be restored and it was restored in no time.  The administrators of our school heard the students and somehow a fighting eagle emerged out of the phoenix of a chicken. This obviously spoke to the “power” of the students but more importantly to the administration that set the tone for excellence.

Let us be perfectly clear, Mr. George E. Mills set the tone for excellence.  He was an educator before his time.  Mr. Mills believed with no trepidation that all of “his” students could and more significantly, would strive for excellence.  This was a new concept in education. The majority of us were not accustomed to a principal who actually believed in us and at the same time walked the halls as a disciplinarian. He would know all by name and had words of encouragement to those who needed it.  Let us be reminded we were from diverse areas of the city. We came from John Adams High School and from feeder Junior High schools of Hamilton, Elliott, Audubon and others.  Somehow, we quickly became “one” high school. I contend it was because of one man, Mr. George E. Mills.  He was THE man for the season.

Let us also be reminded of the time.  Of GREAT importance to each of us who have blessedly reached the age of 65, President Lyndon B. Johnson created Medicare. (Thank God for Medicare and Obama care).  In February of 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated.  In March of the year the Selma marches had occurred.  In August before our school opening the Watts race riots resulted in over 30 deaths and over 1000 people injured.  Our nation was evolving.  Since 1954 we in the public schools recited “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” In 1965, we as a nation were questioning the meaning of “for all.”

 The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was leading the cause for our nation to evolve into the land of liberty and justice for all. The testimony of this evolvement occurred in August before our school opening. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 became a reality. This was the time of our genesis as a high school. The legacy of our destiny was clear.

We will, accordingly, as a high school, be forever tied to the legacy of Dr. King.  It was our destiny to enter into the building at the pinnacle of the civil rights movement. It was our destiny to pursue excellence.

In this pursuit of excellence, we had no choice but to remember the speech given in the spring of 1965 that accompanied the three civil right marches where Dr. King echoed the immortal words “How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever. How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” We were the students who understood that there was something special. “Papas got a brand new bag’ sung James Brown.

We who entered into school in 1965 and graduated in 1967 and 1968 were the recipients of standing on the shoulders of giants who paved the way for us to enter into colleges of our choosing. It was a “brand new bag.”  Those of us who graduated in 1968 vividly recall the all school gathering on Friday April 5, 1968 where we heard the speeches of our Student Council President and Principal Mills urging us “to not let the dream die just because they killed the dreamer.” The dream will live on in all of us who will, have and are graduating from JFK. “People got to be free.” We were destined for greatness.

We who entered those hallowed halls in the fall of 1965 were destined for greatness because we pursued the call to excellence.  We were the ones who laid the foundation for 50 years of creating a legacy of achievement.  A known quote that depicts our legacy is: “A house must be built on solid foundations if it is to last” We built a great house.

As we celebrate 50 years of this great house of education, let us fondly remember those classmates who have gone on to be with God.  You are never forgotten if someone speaks your name.  Let it be said that the name of John F. Kennedy High School of Cleveland, Ohio will be celebrated 50 years from now at our 100^th anniversary because the spirit of excellence will not have it any other way.  Graduates of John F. Kennedy are destined for greatness. We WILL pursue excellence!

Happy 50^th Anniversary!

Penned by “Anonymous.”