Stepping off topic........drop the "COUNTY"

Greetings once again to everyone. I hope the Fall weather is treating everyone well. In some ways, this post continues on the topic of the last posting of forward thinking. Only this time, I'm adding "conviction" to the post. You all know what that is......strictly defined, it means a strong persuasion or belief. And it is with that that I implore all of my Union High School classmates (notice, I didn't put that damn "county" in there) to show some conviction this election season. It is my understanding that some new school board members will be elected this November. Your first question to the candidates should be "If elected, how long will it take you to drop the word "county" from Union High School?" If their answer is anything but "It will be my first prioroty", then don't vote for that candidate. Seriously though, people's politics are their politics. What I believe in might not be the same thing you believe in. But, I really feel that most in Union think that the word "county" in the school's name is silly, short-sighted, and a little moronic. Of course, one could make the argument that since the school is, in fact, in Union County, then it should be named as such. If that's the case, do we call it Spartanburg Couhty High School?
In 1987, the school board voted to remove Marion Parrish as our principal. As a result, we had protests, big meetings at the Truluck Gym and USC-U. We even walked out of class as a sign of protest (thank you, Mr. Bramlett, for "kicking" us all out of the room that morning). We were displaying our conviction. Yes, the measure still went through, but when was the last time you heard of something like that happening out on Peach Orchard Road? I understand that the people of Jonesville and Lockhart will feel slighted if the word is dropped from the moniker. I understand that. To that end, I will say this: My USAF home, the 58th Fighter Squaron, Eglin AFB, FL, was de-activated a few years ago. There is no more 58th, no more 33rd Fighter Wing to speak of. Only history books will document those legacies. The 58th was deactivated because the mission changed, and we had to accept it. The mission changed in Union as well, and to add words to appease a few people seems a bit asinine. Nobody is suggesting that the history of either school that was closed be erased from the record books. In fact, I'm quite sure that Andy Youngblood and Micky Belue, two guys I know that graduated from Jonesville, still speak highly of their school. The same goes for the people of Lockhart. But, as a graduate of Union High School, it bothers me to no end that the name was changed just because of a short-sighted school board that had to back out of an earlier promise.
Maybe I'm just venting, maybe I'm on to something here. Maybe one of my classmates, with children of their own, will see this, and begin to feel the same way. Maybe the classes of the 80's and 90's will all get together and say, as one "I graduated from Union High School", and demand the rightful name be returned. Maybe Will Hickson and his "Noize Boyz" from the early 90's playoff runs will return to do their "Who ya rootin' for.....UHS" cheer once again. If you add an extra letter in there, it REALLY loses it's punch. If you do become "inspired" by this post, Union, to remove the "county" from the school's name, all I ask is one thing...........

Do it with conviction.


Till next time,



Patrick