Daily Newsletter- The Gavel

Tex Brewster- composer of the music of Sam Rayburn's alma mater

Newspaper- The Speaker

A Gavel is a small, wooden mallet used by a person in charge to call a meeting to order or to get one's attention. As Speaker of the House, Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn used his gavel with historic results. Thus, in 1964, this parliamentary instrument was chosen as the name of the school's daily bulletin and still remains as our day-to-day record of what's happening at Sam Rayburn High School.

The Speaker

Sam Rayburn High School is named for one of Texas' most famous politicians... Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn (1882-1961). He served for a record number of seventeen years as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Congress of the United States. Thus, in honor of this man and his congressional record, our school newspaper was named The Speaker in 1964.

The Statesman

A Statesman is defined as a person who is skilled in the business of government and/or diplomacy. In honor of Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn, a great American politician and statesman in the 1940's and 1950's, the annual (yearbook) at Sam Rayburn High School was named The Statesman in 1964. It remains today the yearly record of a great school named after a great American.

The School Seal

Located in the center of the old main entrance of Sam Rayburn High School is the School Seal embedded in the floor. This configuration features the map of Texas the location of Sam Rayburn High School. It was designed by American History Teacher Robert Kaer in 1964 at the request of Carter O. Lomax, the principal of the school.

Sam...The School Mascot

From the very first day of Sam Rayburn High School, we wanted a school mascot that was symbolic of strength and power. During his seventeen years as Speaker of House, Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn was  known as a powerful political force, a leader of men, and a popular man of the people. "Mr. Sam" was a force on the American political scene. In 1964, "Sam", a tall, muscular, good-looking Texan was designed and chosen to represent the ideals and goals of Sam Rayburn High School. Today, Sam, named after a famous American political force, remains a force to be dealt with. The battle cry of Sam Rayburn High School is still.... Don't Mess With Sam!

The desk in the front foyer was Sam Rayburn's desk that was donated to the school. It was in his Washington office.