1962: Eastwood High Builds Traditions Through Adopted 1880 Heritage

11/14/1962

By Kathie Nordell

“Eastwood, queen of high schools,

Home of the Troopers bold …”

So begins the alma mater of Eastwood High School, and well these words portray the pride that each student has for the school.

Eastwood, celebrating its first birthday last Sept. 4, bears the colors of blue and gold and the mascot Troopers. The high school with grades seven through 10, is located on McRae Boulevard and is part of the Ysleta Independent School District.

People often wonder just how a school chooses its name, colors and mascot. “Eastwood” was chosen by vote of the parents of the Scotsdale area. “Cavalry,” “Rebels,” “Plainsmen” and “Matadors” were some of the names for mascots presented to Superintendent J.M. Hanks, and Principal Russell Paul Mack, and Frank Goss, area representative of Star engraving, Ostwald Band Uniforms and Henington Publishing Co.

The three men, after carefully studying pictures of uniforms and discussing the name, decided on “Cavalry.” However, after trying “Cavalry” in yells, they found it hard to pronounce and rather lifeless.

They then decided on “Troopers” because it was a nickname for “Cavalry” that is easy to yell and quite flashy. Later in the year, Eastwood’s student body voted unanimously for this mascot.

Blue and gold were chosen as the school colors because of authenticity in connection with troopers.

Few traditions have been established at Eastwood as yet but a reputation of excellent sportsmanship has been established by the student body which nearly exceeds 1,000 pupils.

Many school clubs are adapting the name “Troopers.” Some of these organizations are “Trooperettes,” girls marching corps; “Trooper Brigade,” the booster club, and “Troopers’ Alliance,” the foreign language club. The yearbook, “Salute,” and the newspaper, “Sabre,” were also named to go with the theme.

Two customs now in practice will very likely become the first traditions established at Eastwood. The first is a bugle call played by the entire cornet section of the varsity band at each kick-off. At the conclusion of the bugle call, everyone from Eastwood yells ‘Charge!”

Secondly, at each game played on Eastwood’s field, the halftime show will begin with a band member riding a galloping horse across the field as again the cornet section plays a bugle call.

When one sees the band marching at football games and in parades, he will notice uniforms patterned after those of Troopers in the late 1880’s. This date was chosen because it was in these years that the U.S. Cavalry, colorfully uniformed, won the West and made it a fit place for man to live. Eastwood’s band uniforms are the authentic pattern and cut of the Cavalry’s dress uniforms except that they have not tails.

Navy blue coats and light blue trousers with a gold stripe down each outside seam make up the main part of the uniform. Accessories are navy blue forage caps bearing a crossed sabre insignia, a gold scarf worn only during marching season, a gold patch like that of the 1st Cavalry as drawn by Wiley Heath, a black belt having a large golf buckle bearing a large black ‘E’ and black shoes.

To distinguish him from the rest of the band, drum major Mike Wiseman wears a black Stetson, white leather gloves and a silver sabre which he uses instead of a baton.

The Trooperettes, girls’ marching corps, wear a different version of the Cavalry’s tunic, navy blue jacket with reversible light and navy blue front. Also, the girls wear light blue skirts with gold kick pleats, black riding boots like those of the Cavalry, forage caps and First Cavalry patches like those of the band, and tan kid gloves.

Deviations are found in the uniforms of corps leader Miss Diane Yarbrough and majorettes Miss Sheila Cahmbliss and Miss Janis Hayes. These girls war a black Stetson with a large gold father-like plume, a long gold sash ending in two gold tassels and a gold braid citation cord under the left arm. The majorettes wear no gloves.

Eastwood High School, a new school, building its traditions and growing rapidly, is truly one with an interesting heritage and a colorful background.

Comments

[nancy]

You forgot to mention the school magazine: Reveille. Also in honor of the whole "Trooper theme".

[Taelor Edmisten - Saulte Editor 2003]

This article was written in 1962; while Reveille keeps with the theme, it wasn't around that early.