South Houston High's
memories set in stone

If you are a South Houston High School graduate, your place in history literally could be set in stone.

As part of an ongoing fund-raiser for Project Graduation, bricks displaying students' names are being sold for the school's "Walk of Fame," located in the Victory Bell Garden near the center of the school. The bricks, which are selling for $30, may be purchased in honor or in memory of graduates at the school. Members of the senior class also are eligible to purchase bricks, as well as current and former faculty and staff.

The project began almost two years ago and more than 100 bricks have been placed along the walk. However, plenty of space remains. Etched in black are on the bricks are the students' names and year of their graduation. Eventually, the entire walk will be covered in brick.

"We thought this fund-raiser would be a good way to honor all graduates and create a part of history that will last forever," said Tana Haass, South Houston High School's assistant principal.

Once the walk is filled, Haass said more bricks will be used to create a small wall lining the sides of the path. "That's our long-term goal," she said. "We see this as a project that will keep growing."

For more information, call South Houston High School at (713) 944-2450.

Now they call him 'boss' 
It was in the leisure-suited days of August 1977 when Hancock was approached by a member of his faculty when he became the new principal of Jackson Junior High. This wasn't just any faculty member, though. It was one of his former teachers.

"He walked into my office and we started talking about old times," Hancock said. "It was pretty funny. Here was my old teacher telling about the things I used to do as a kid and now I was his boss. There also were several other of my former teachers who were still teaching there when I came in as principal. That was a pretty unique and humorous occurrence."

Although it had been many years since he graduated from Pasadena High in 1958, he proved his blood still ran Pasadena green when he returned to the campus as associate principal in 1981. He then became principal in 1982 - a position he held for 13 years.

"When I first entered the field of education, I would have never in my wildest dreams thought I would have been principal of two of the schools I had attended as a kid," he said.

You've been deputized 
The district offered a retirement incentive package in 1995 and Hancock had planned to take it. That is, until he received a call from Superintendent Rick Schneider.

"I was set to take the incentive package and was making plans about what I was going to do once I retired," he said. "Then I got a phone call one day and it was Rick saying he was not ready for me to leave the district just yet. At that moment, he asked me to come on board as deputy superintendent."

Schneider said having Hancock by his side for the past seven years is one of the best decisions he's ever made.

"Tom Hancock has served the children, parents and employees of this district in an impeccable manner," Schneider said. "His leadership, guidance, mentoring and immense caring for the children of our school district has played a major role in establishing the key concept of 'support and service' to our campuses."

A place among legends 
Carroll Teague. George Thompson. Elmer Bondy. These are just of the few in a long list of the most influential educators Pasadena ISD has ever known. All have buildings and even school campuses named after them. Now one more name can be added to that list, Tom Hancock.

Pasadena High School Principal Wayne Adams felt naming the school's library after Hancock was only fitting. "We want him to know that his contributions to this school and this district have not gone unnoticed," Adams said. "He has been an invaluable asset to the students, teachers and other employees of this district."

Looking back with pride 
Hancock has seen many changes over the years, but he said one thing has remained the same. The district's commitment to children.

"When you're an educator, you spend a lot of time with your colleagues because you work hand-in-hand with them on so many different things," he said. "You begin to embrace them as your second family. When you have that kind of team effort, it creates a formula for success.

"There is a comment that Dr. Schneider tells people all the time that I believe in," he added. "He says that today's schools are not what they used to be...They're better."

Hancock said he has pleased to have been a part of helping the district achieve recognized status from the Texas Education Agency for three consecutive years. 

"To be in this business you must have a real heart for children," he said. "It has been a joy to help make a difference in their lives for 39 years. I would not have traded it for anything in the world."