2018-1 Remembrances Special Edition1
City of Schertz
Remembrances Special Edition Article 2018-1
Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee
Legacy of A City’s Youth Well-Served: Clemens High School 50th Anniversary
Saturday, January 20, 2018, marked the celebration of the Clemens High School’s 50th
anniversary. The occasion was marked by an open house celebration at the school campus that
was second to none in its offerings of historical remembrances and alumni reunion
opportunities. The agenda for the day began at noon with welcoming of dignitaries and
distinguished alumni and concluded at 3:00 p.m. with a closing ceremony that included special
commentary from several former Clemens’ principals and former school district
superintendents. Throughout the festivities, rousing performances were given by Clemens’
choirs, band members, the Stars and Bells Dance Team, cheerleader squad members, and, the
ROTC Cadet Drill Team. Special campus tours were led throughout the event by selected
Clemens students. School-related historical displays were tastefully displayed throughout the
interior campus and the large guest contingent seemed fascinated by all of the historic artifacts
and photos. One special artifact on display was the original drum-major baton used by then
drum-major Gary Mueller during the last school year of Schertz-Cibolo High School and the first
school year of Samuel Clemens High School. Gary and his wife were present at the ceremony
and hand-delivered the baton to school administrators for permanent display within the school
trophy case. Two panel discussion events took place in the school auditorium. One of the
discussion groups consisted of distinguished Clemens alumni discussing their most memorable
remembrances of their Clemens school day experiences. The second panel included former
school and City dignities along with Schertz/Cibolo legacy family representatives. The Schertz
Historical Preservation Committee (The Committee) was represented on the latter panel and
Committee Chairman Dean Weirtz spoke to the legacy left by the Joseph and Anne Marie
Schertz family. Children’s activities were also included in the event. A scavenger hunt was
made a part of the festivities for those who cared to participate. Children were treated to face
painting and a bouncy house facility. There were lots of alumni present and all were amazed by
the excellent planning that went into the event.
The Committee was extremely proud to be an invited display and presenter participant. There
is great pride in the 1967 physical development of the Samuel Clemens school building. It is also
important to remember that it was all brought about through the toils and on the shoulders of
men and women whose legacy should always be remembered and honored. Such legacy
includes the mid-19th century labor of citizens who constructed and taught in the first one-room
schoolhouses along FM 1518 and at the Cibolo Lower Valley School (recently lost to
demolition). That Legacy includes property advancements such as the 1916 construction of a
two-story school building for grades 1-11 in Cibolo and a follow-on construction in 1917 of
another two-story school building for grades 1-12 on Main Street in Schertz. It encompasses
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the 1940 conversion work that led to the formation of the Schertz-Cibolo Consolidated
Common School District, a forerunner to today’s Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent
School District (SCUCISD). It’s a legacy forged by the many dedicated teachers, coaches and
school administrators responsible for development of the school curriculums and student
character throughout the early years.