Windham - Windham High Schools Brick by Brick Committee has been busy preparing for their annual scholarship dinner planned for August 14th at the High School. After careful consideration, the committee has chosen Mrs.Frances Davis as this year’s guest speaker. They have also chosen to honor girl’s individual state, regional, and district teams. The committee traditionally honors alumni or friends of Windham who have accomplished notable, remarkable and distinguished success.
Mrs. Davis graduated from Palmyra High School and Youngstown State College. She began her teaching career at Youngstown City Schools. She taught there until she married, because the district had a policy against hiring married women; she moved on to Southeast Schools. She the staff at Windham in 1962 and remained on staff until 1992.
While at Windham Mrs. Davis taught Health and Physical Education. She also was a cheerleader advisor, senior class advisor, track, volleyball and basketball coach. Mrs. Davis served as the Girl’s Athletic Director and later filled the position of Boys and Girls Athletic Director as well. To this day, one can find Mrs. Davis filling the role as girl’s basketball and volleyball scorekeeper at their games. Every year the school also hosts a volleyball tournament named in her honor. When not keeping score, Mrs. Davis can be found in the stands cheering for the home team.
In the early years when girls’ sports were often non-existent Mrs. Davis played an important role in Windham, not only implementing girls’ sports in the school district but also coaching many girls to successful seasons. Mrs. Davis was dedicated to the girls programs. She prodded and pushed for equality in girls’ sports and because of her persistence she set the standard for girls’ to get equal court time, gym time, field time, equipment, funding, coaches, and officials as the boys did, all during a time when girl’s sports were not considered a priority. This commitment to the program has made girls sports in Windham what it is today.
Come and expect to hear stories from an era when girl’s sports were not recognized and hear how she took the road less- traveled to bring a solid girls’ athletic program to Windham High School.
The scholarship committee will also pay homage to the 1972-1992 Windham High School Girl Athletes (individuals and teams), and Bomber coaches who coached with Mrs. Davis or who worked with her while she served as Athletic Director.
This year’s dinner will be held on Saturday Aug. 14, 2010 in the high school cafeteria. The doors open at 4:00 pm for one to visit with others, seating for dinner will begin at 5:45 with dinner being served at 6:00 pm. The Church Of Christ-Congregational will serve their classic chicken circuit dinner including homemade pies. The program is slated to begin around 7:00 pm.
Reservations can be made through Windham High School Superintendent’s Office by sending in ticket request form attached below. Ticket prices are as follows: adults $18 and $10.50 for children. A CD containing 83 pictures of the girl’s teams from 1972 -1992 may also be purchased. Make checks payable to Windham Schools Brick by Brick.
The Brick by Brick Scholarship Fund was established in 1999 through the sales of engraved bricks. The funds generated from the sale were placed in a Certificate of Deposit (CD) at Cortland Bank in Windham. The fund currently is at $175,000 and each year the committee awards scholarships from the interest paid on the fund. This year they awarded thirteen $1000 scholarships to seniors who applied, carried a 2.0 average and that are enrolled in an accredited school.
