New Easley High School Dedicated

As a child, former Easley School teacher Kim Welborn never dreamed the grounds she rode her bike on would one day become the site of Easley High School.

Welborn grew up a stone's throw from the site of the new EHS campus and graduated from the class of 1975, before beginning her teaching career at Easley High School.

Her students brought “unimaginable joy to my life, year after year,” she said.

Welborn spoke at the dedication ceremony for the new EHS campus, held Sunday afternoon at the school. The Easley community came out to dedicate the school for future students and generations, and the ceremony concluded with an official ribbon-cutting.

“This is a great day for Easley,” Welborn said.

The ceremony began with a slideshow of Easley High School's history from the original school building to the Pendleton Street campus to the new Easley High School campus.

Welborn said that when she heard thunder this morning, she knew exactly what is was.

“It was the Easley High School saints pulling their chairs up to be a part of today's dedication,” she said.

Those saints included Capt. Kimberly Hampton, Capt. Jim Franklin, Bill Carr, Tom Oxendine, Dick and Celia Gettys, W.M. Scott, B.B. McKelvey and Eddie Barbary, she said.

“In so many ways, what was Easley High School will always be Easley High School,” she said. “Pride in our academic successes, loyalty to our athletic and fine arts programs and the traditions of belonging to the great community we call home, Easley. It is a new day for Easley High School. We come to celebrate the final construction of this beautiful new building with all its bells and whistles. What will never change about Easley High School is the quality education afforded to students who attend here.”

Easley High School has been a large part of Mayor Larry Bagwell's life. A member of the Class of 1955, Bagwell taught and coached at Easley High for many years.

“It's a pleasure to talk about Easley High School,” Bagwell said.

The motto of Easley High School is “Character First, Then Scholarship.” Bagwell said so many Easley High School graduates continue to serve their community after they leave EHS. Many department heads and five of the seven Easley City Council members are EHS grads, Bagwell said.

He recalled 1969, the year the school was integrated.

“Big year for Easley High School, big year for the whole town,” Bagwell said. “It was one of the smoothest transitions that I can find anywhere among other schools that went through the same thing, because of the people coming in, and the people accepting them. And I contribute that to the tradition of Easley High.”

He praised the beautiful new facility, and reminded the audience that the new school is in the city limits, contrary to what some may believe.

“I think this new school is really the Taj Mahal of this state,” Bagwell said.

He told Bob Folkman, who heads up the district's building program, that the last Easley High School building had last 73 years.

“Can you guarantee this one will last 73 years?” he asked.

Folkman said he could.

“Okay, good,” Bagwell said.

Bagwell quoted Maya Angelou, who said, “I have learned that people will forget what you say, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

“I think that fits Easley High School to a T,” Bagwell said. “The memories will go on and on.”

Bill Houston, a member of the Class of 1962, served Easley High School in many roles – as a teacher, coach and principal.

The new is built out of steel, brick and mortar but the “heart and soul of any school building is found its students and its staff,” he said.

“The people are the heart and soul of Easley High,” Houston said. “It's the people who make the difference in our lives. It's the people who have wove the fabric of the Easley High legacy for over 80, almost 90 years. Over the years, many Easley High School graduates have returned to this community, to live, work and to serve. They have supported and given back to their alma mater.”

Houston said he hoped students would fine “certain nuggets” that he himself was fortunate enough to find during his time at Easley High School, including character, knowledge and friendship.

“Character does matter,” Houston said. “Character does matter. If I could give you any present today for this building, and for future students, it would be the 3 Fs. Not Fs of failure, but faith, family and friends.

Our love will ever be, Easley for thee,” Houston said. “Go Green, Roll Wave, and continue to build on the wonderful legacy of EHS. Write some wonderful chapters over the next 70-plus years.”