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Panthers News and Updates
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West Valley schools cheer
former Maryvale student Henry Cejudo |
| Comments on this article can be seen
HERE by Betty Reid - Aug. 20, 2008 12:00 AM
From The Arizona Republic |
Friends, teachers and coaches gathered in west Phoenix to
celebrate the triumphant journey of a former student wrestler
who earned a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics Tuesday morning.
Henry Cejudo, who won in the 121-pound freestyle wrestling, did
not attend the event at Maryvale High School Tuesday afternoon
because he is still in Beijing, but his connection to the
Phoenix Union High School District school remains strong. He
attended Maryvale High in 2002 and 2003 before he moved to
Colorado to train for the Olympics. He finished high school
there.
On Tuesday, the school called the athlete one of their own. The
marching band played, cheerleaders screamed and a video clip of
the win was shown.
"This means a lot to our community," said Maryvale Principal
Phil Verdugo. "This is a milestone accomplishment by a former
student."
Cejudo attended the Cartwright Elementary School District, where
he also has fans.
School officials said they knew the gold-medal winner was
special when he first started flexing his muscles at age 10 in a
wrestling club.
"We are ecstatic for Henry Cejudo," said Cartwright
Superintendent Michael Martinez. "Our teachers, support staff
and administrators can be very proud of the part they played in
helping Henry along his journey to success."
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| Comment Quotes: Congratulations Henry, you've made this
country and state proud!
I can only hope that those hateful posting miscreants will bite
their own tongues and remain silent.
Signed SepharAZ
Congratulations Henry! You make Maryvale proud!
Continued success to you and your family.
And may you provide inspiration to young people facing hardship
in their lives. You prove that with hard work and determination
you can overcome hurdles and succeed.
When you carried the American Flag as you ran around the track
after your victory and tears of joy streamed down your face, it
brought tears to my eyes too. You need to know how much you
touch millions of people and feel that love as well. You earned
it and now you can live the rest of your life knowing for one
moment you were golden! May it bring you much happiness always.
Signed ACrazyCowgirl from Maryvale HS Alumni Go Panthers!
maryvalepanthers . com
EXCELLENT Post acrazycowgirl!!!
To have watched Henry at the Olympics with the US flag wrapped
around him, it was quite a beautiful scene to behold.
Sometimes we take things for granted and don't really appreciate
what we all have as US citizens.
Signed SepharAZ
Also there a lot of
YouTube.com videos just do a search there for "Henry
Cejudo"
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Spotlight on wrestling!
by Nicole McGregor - Aug. 21, 2008 07:36 AM
12 News Today |
 Kids
all over the world watch the Olympic games. As they do, they
often get inspired by what and who they see. One such story
unraveled before our eyes earlier this week. And as a bonus, he
has a home town tie with our valley. Henry Cejudo is now the
youngest American man to ever win the gold medal in freestyle
wrestling and he just happens to have gone to Maryvale High
School. The story, as I'm sure you've heard, does not end there.
Cejudo was from a family that came to the states, as
undocumented immigrants from Mexico, years ago. His mom raised 7
kids on her own. His father, was in and out of jail and died
when he was 4. The entire time, Cejudo held on to wrestling,
making it his life long goal.
This week he reached that goal, defying odds, he made what some
saw as the impossible, possible. He is getting a lot of press
because of it. And a lot of children are keeping a close eye on
Cejudo too. Now, if you have kids, you know they're impressed by
what they see. Often times they emulate it. Which means, the
sport of wrestling could get a shot in the arm. So what does it
take to be a wrestler?
Hard work and serious dedication says Maryvale wrestling and
football coach Pat Rowe. He himself knew and taught Henry when
he was at the school and says they're looking for someone who is
strong and confident enough in themselves to be in a sport where
you can't hide! Sure, you're a part of a team but when you step
on the mat it's you and your opponent only. Practices at
Maryvale are everyday of the week, about 2 hours and 45 minutes
each. They're done in a room that's about 90 degrees and,
honestly most people, says Rowe, just can't cut it. No the
wrestling numbers aren't near as high as the football teams but
success does not evade them. The school has produced 16 state
champions in the last 8 years alone. Including 3 sets of
brothers, Henry and his brother Angel being one of them.
Coach Rowe is proud of the attention Maryvale is getting lately,
he hopes it will highlight the sport, the school, the area and
the dream. Yes, at 21-years old Henry Cejudo did achieve the
ultimate American dream, but the best part is, so can you.
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3rd Annual MHS
Alumni Remembrance 2007 |
NOVEMBER 10th, 2007
In honor and memory of ALL MHS alumni, teachers, and staff,
who've deceased; we will again be placing silk floral bouquets
(with individual personalized cards attached) at gravesides in
10 cemeteries valley wide, for those who we are aware of their
having passed on, and their final resting place is within the
Maricopa County valley area.
For those deceased alumni who are not interred within the valley
(both in & out of state), those who chose cremation, those who
we do not yet know of their final resting place, and those we
are not yet aware of their passing; there will be a respectful
moment of silence for all.
Please review the MHS memorial tributes on this website. IF you
happen to personally know of a deceased alumni's final resting
place, that isn't indicated within their tribute, then we don't
know it yet. Please consider sharing that information with us,
so that we may include them in these annual remembrances; and so
that others, who would like to privately pay their own respects,
may go and do so.
ALL placements of silk floral bouquets will be done, cemetery by
cemetery, during the 1st week of November (annually) with the
final placements to occur at NMCA.
This is a BIG effort. Various MHS class year alumni have
volunteered each year to commit to helping with floral
placements at a particular cemetery, of their choosing.
PLEASE CONTACT ME (the earlier the better) AND LET ME KNOW IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASSIST WITH THE FLORAL PLACEMENTS AT ANY OF
THE 10 VALLEY WIDE CEMETERIES DURING THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE
CEREMONY AT NMCA.
*11/2007 estimate is 300 total individual placements of
floral/card remembrances.
The brief ceremony of remembrance will be held either just prior
or post placements of the floral bouquets @ NMCA.
We will all meet by the small outdoor amphitheater/stage, with a
grassy area, near the visitor center, 8:00a.m., Nov.10th, 2007.
We would greatly appreciate a concerted effort of all class
years of MHS fellow alumni to join us in these remembrance
endeavors by attending the ceremony at NMCA.
NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF ARIZONA
23029 North Cave Creek Road
(Cave Creek Rd. & Pinnacle Peak Road)
Phoenix, Arizona
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The current MHS-JROTC (they've dedicatedly joined us every
year) will be joining us in these efforts. They will assist with
floral placements at NMCA and provide a ceremonial color guard
and formation for the brief reading of names of those alumni who
served in the military, and the respectful moment of silence.
All known deceased alumni Veteran names will be included in a
reading of names; regardless of whether they are actually
interred at NMCA or elsewhere.
If YOU live in the Phoenix valley area, it would be greatly
appreciated if YOU would PLEASE COME and help us to pay respects
to ALL of the alumni who've gone before us, and to honor those
who proudly served us and our country in the military; and to
show appreciation of the current MHS-JROTC student cadets for
their volunteer efforts and thoughtfulness of and toward us, and
especially all of our alumni and alumni Veteran's who've
deceased. This should take no longer than the above stated
8:00a.m.- 9:30a.m. time. Please consider coming and being a part
of these most important respectful efforts.
Nov. 11th is Veteran's Day, every year.
Please take time to say thanks to ALL Veteran's, who have made
the commitment and sacrifice to serve us all and our country,
especially including those who are presently in active duty; and
remember those who have gone before us.
This event has been organized by the MHS Alumni Assoc.
Floral bouquets, bows, flags, and individual personalized cards
attached to each, are all provided by the MHS-AA and donors, to
fulfill the needed supplies.
Thank you to Major Eddy, the MHS-JROTC instructor. and student
cadets of MHS-JROTC, fellow MHS alumni, individuals, families,
and local businesses, who've assisted with these remembrance
endeavors for the last 3 years.
This year, 2007, all of the U.S. flags, needed to be included
for acknowledgment of those who are/were Veteran's; have already
been generously donated by Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery.
We greatly appreciate those who warmheartedly have given and
will give their time, financially donated; and also those who
will possibly consider donating to assist in this most worthy
cause, so that we will have everything needed to respectfully
remember all of these individuals.
If you have any further questions, please contact:
1972-Melody (Johnson) Baker
momcares623@cs.com
MHS-AA Memorial Committee chairperson
OR
1964-Cee (Smith) Friese
ccfree1@aol.com
MHS-AA President
OR
1969-Janet Mohn
jmohn1@cox.net
MHS-AA Database chairperson
This growing Memorial provides Panthers around the
world with a place to share their memories.
The
Panther Talk Forum Board
allows them to post stories and search for lost friends.
For updated info and or discussion for this event on the
Panther Talk Forum
under the Events forum
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2nd Annual MHS
Alumni Remembrance 2006 |
NOVEMBER 4th, 2006
Saturday morning, from 8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m.
All Maryvale Panthers and their families are invited to a
special ceremony to remember and honor all MHS Alumni who've
passed on.
The ceremony is to be held at National Memorial Cemetery of
Arizona (NMCA) on N. Cave Creek Road at Pinnacle Peak Road,
Phoenix, Arizona.
There will be a color guard (provided by the current MHS-JROTC),
with a reading of names (known) of all of our Veteran's, to
respectfully acknowledge their service and honor them; whether
their graves are at NMCA or at another cemetery, including those
who may be interred outside of Maricopa County and/or out of
state.
Please come and join other Maryvale High School (MHS) Alumni,
with the MHS-JROTC, and former Dean of Boys, Mr. Bill Stephens,
in a short service at the amphitheater, across from the visitors
center.
Following the ceremony, members of the MHS-JROTC and MHS-Alumni
Assoc.
will be placing floral bouquets (each with individual
remembrance cards) on the graves of all known MHS alumni at the
NMCA. A U.S. flag Those who served in the U.S. military will
also include a U.S. flag.
We hope you will join us
During the week prior to the ceremony at NMCA, all gravesites of
alumni who are interred in 10 other valley wide cemeteries, are
also remembered and honored with the same placements of silk
floral gold mum bouquets and a personalized card attached for
each of them.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASSIST WITH THESE ANNUAL
REMEMBRANCE ENDEAVORS.
Approximately 250 alumni graves, in 10 cemeteries valley wide,
will be adorned during the 1st week of November, 2006, to
respectfully remembered and honor each of their lives; by
volunteer alumni of various years.
November, 2005, was our 1st annual alumni remembrance, in which
approximately 40 alumni gravesites (from graduation class years
of 1964 to present), at NMCA, were adorned with a silk floral
gold mum bouquet with black silk ribbon (the school colors) and
a personal card that included each of their respective class
year(s) and their photo.
A brief ceremony was held, with the reading the names of each
Veteran alumni honored and the MHS-JROTC provided an honor guard
and salute to their fellow alumni from the past. Mr. Bill
Stephens recalled personal memories of many of the alumni as he
read their names.
Last year, November, 2005, when the MHS-JROTC placed flowers (at
NMCA) on the grave of
MHS;1986-Brian Mack, they were stunned to learn he had died
in action as an Army Ranger, just earlier that year (January
2005)in Mosul, Iraq.
Brian was an Airborne Ranger, Iraq Veteran and was awarded a
Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. It brought the act of honoring
their fellow students into sharp focus to realize this was a
soldier who was also a MHS alumni
from their school, fighting in the war they see on the news
every night.
If known, there were personal memories shared when placing each
bouquet and a moment of silence at these graves brought emotions
to the surface and tears moistened every eye.
Attending and also introduced were MHS;1980-Kenneth Riter, who
is a brother of MHS;1967-James Riter, who was KIA in Vietnam;
and MHS;1970-Jill (Thim) Wood, the widow of MHS;1969-Delbert
"Woody" Wood, also KIA in Vietnam. Both Ken and Jill shared a
few personal thoughts and memories of their loved ones.
Also attending (with her Mother) the ceremony last year were the
daughter and granddaughter of Vietnam Veteran Delbert "Woody"
Wood, MHS;1969 who was killed in action in 1972. Sadly, Woody's
daughter Tammy, was only 3 years old when her Father was killed
in Vietnam, and doesn't have many of her own personal
recollections and memories of her Father and was touched by the
honor.
Woody's and James Riter's names are on the Vietnam Wall Memorial
in Washington D.C., and also on the Arizona Vietnam Wall located
in Wesley Bolin Park, across from the Arizona State Capitol
building.
James Riter is interred at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale,
Arizona; and Delbert "Woody" Woods is interred at Greenwood
Memory Lawn in Phoenix, Arizona.
They are 2 of 9 MHS alumni whose lives were sacrificed in
Vietnam.
There are 4 MHS alumni whose lives have been sacrificed in Iraq.
The mother of Robbi Dann
Travis, MHS;1970 (one of the MHS alumni who was remembered
and honored at NMCA), later visited her son’s grave on Veteran's
Day and was moved to tears when she read the tribute from her
son's classmates. "We don't get there very often and to find the
flowers on his grave was so wonderful. We thought it must be
from another relative and were so surprised when we read the
card and saw it was from his high school classmates."
Several other families contacted the Alumni Association after
finding the MHS-AA floral remembrances at their loved ones
grave.
Daisy Williams, mother of
Darryl Lamar “Markie” Williams, MHS;1983, was so moved as to
chair a scholarship in her son’s name.
The project was funded and sponsored by a handful of Maryvale
Alumni Association members headed by Melody (Johnson) Baker,
Class of 1972, who also manages the online MHS Alumni Memorial
website.
You can learn more at www.maryvalepanthers.com
Learn More...
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2006 Darryl "Markie"
Williams Memorial Scholarship
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Congrats to Irma Garcia recipient of the 2006 Darryl
"Markie" Williams Memorial Scholarship. May 18th at 6pm at the
Maryvale High School Auditorium, LeeAnn Sharpe'72 MHSAA
Secretary and Karen Bonine '71 MHSAA Vice President made the
onstage presentation recognizing Daisy Williams, the Scholarship
Chairwoman and Darryl's mother, in the audience.
Irma will received $750 toward her expenses at ASU.
To learn more.
Daisy has agreed to continue the legacy with initial donations
toward the
2007 Darryl "Markie" Williams Memorial Scholarship.
Please consider donating to this fund. We should have the 501c3
tax number soon to make your donation tax deductible. |
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Memorial Celebration for
Darryl "Markie" Williams
Greetings Fellow Panthers
Mrs. Williams asked use to extend this invitation to all
Panthers to join her and the family and friends for a
Memorial Celebration for Darryl "Markie" Williams
Saturday Feb 4, 2006,
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church,
1622 N. 39th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009 10:00AM – 12:00pm
Flowing will be a a gathering for food, games and fun
at:
Encanto Park –AMP Area
2605 N 15th Ave ,
Phoenix, AZ 85007
12:30 - 5:00pm
The Williams Family 602-278-6357
She writes, " He left us so suddenly, we don’t know why
really don’t know how, what we do know he will always remain in
our hearts"
She also sent a note that says, "LeeAnn, It was so good talking
to you. It really made my day to know we could set up a
scholarship in Darryl’s name. God Bless and thank you to all of
you. "Daisy Williams |
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First Annual
MHS Alumni Remembrance 2005
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| On Saturday November 5th, a group of
Maryvale High School Alumni joined by Major Eddy and the
MHS-JROTC and former Dean of Boys, Mr. Bill Stephens,
placing flowers on the graves of all known MHS alumni at the
National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on north Cave Creek
Road in Phoenix.
About 40 alumni, from 1964 to present, are interred at
the Veteran's Cemetery and each grave was adorned with a
gold mum with black silk ribbon (the school colors) and a
card honoring the alumni with their high school photo and
class year along with contact information and the Alumni
Memorial website
www.maryvalepanthers.com.
They held a brief ceremony reading the names of each alumni
honored and the JROTC provided an honor guard and salute to
their fellow alumni from the past. Mr. Bill Stephens
recalled personal memories of many of the alumni as he read
their names. |
Some more Photos from the day |
When the JROTC placed flowers on the grave of
Brian Mack, Maryvale Class of
1986, they were stunned to learn he had died in action as an
Army Ranger last January in Mosul, Iraq Brian was an Airborne
Ranger, Iraq Veteran and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze
Star. It brought the act of honoring their fellow students into
sharp focus to realize this was a soldier from their school,
fighting in the war they see on the news every night.
They were also introduced to Kenneth Riter, MHS; 1980, the brother
of James Riter, MHS; 1967,
who was KIA in Vietnam; and Jill (Thim) Wood, MHS; 1970, the widow
of Delbert "Woody" Wood, MHS;1969,
also KIA in Vietnam. Both Ken and Jill shared a few personal
thoughts and memories of their loved ones. Woody's and James Riter's
names are on the Vietnam Wall Memorial. James Riter is interred at
Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona; and Delbert "Woody"
Woods is interred at Greenwood Memory Lawn in Phoenix, Arizona. They
are 2 of 9 MHS alumni whose lives were sacrificed in Vietnam. There
are 4 MHS alumni whose lives have been sacrificed in Iraq. A moment
of silence at this grave brought emotions to the surface and tears
moistened every eye.
The mother of Robbi Dann
Travis, MHS; 1970, one of the alumni whom was honored, visited
her son’s grave on Veteran's Day and was moved to tears when she
read the tribute from her son's classmates. "We don't get there very
often and to find the flowers on his grave was so wonderful. We
thought it must be from another relative and were so surprised when
we read the card and saw it was from his high school classmates."
Attending the ceremony were the widow, daughter and granddaughter of
Vietnam Veteran Delbert "Woody"
Wood, MHS;1969 who was killed in action in 1972. Sadly, Woody's
daughter Tammy, was only 3 years old when her Father was killed in
Vietnam, and doesn't have many of her own personal recollections and
memories of her Father and was touched by the honor.
Over 100 deceased alumni were respectfully remembered with actual
placement of flowers and cards at each of their graves in 10
cemeteries valley wide by volunteer alumni of various years. All
deceased alumni Veteran names were included in the reading of names
of those being remembered and honored in a ceremony that was held at
NMCA on 11/05/2005, with the branch of service and rank of each of
them.
The project was funded and sponsored by a handful of Maryvale Alumni
Association members headed by Melody (Johnson) Baker, Class of 1972,
who manages the online Memorial website. You can learn more at
www.maryvalepanthers.com
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