Sunday, February 15, 2009

Flint Southwestern Colts Unite

All you Southwestern grads should check out Southwestern Reunion. It's a social networking site that's a great way to get in touch with old friends, post photos and get info on the school, which is hosting a 40th reunion on June 13.



25 comments:

  1. I NEVER heard it called "S-dub" at any time I or my sisters attended Southwestern. My remaining Sister would be having her 40th reunion this year, but I just don't see her coming up from Texas. I was disappointed to see that Mr. Swain had passed on. He was one cool dude. About 8ft tall back then, w/the world's largest afro. we had the riot that one year, in the cafeteria, Mr. Swain had a chair thrown at him, he picked it up and threw it back. one of Flint's finest cracked me on the head in his backswing w/the baton, Mr. Swain made sure I was all right, then told me to get the hell outta school for the rest of the day. What a lovely learning experience, a great atmosphere for education. we had probably 15-20 cops there that week. I'd get searched for "bombs" coming in from the parking lot. go back for that reunion...hmmm. all I can think of is Joan Cusack's line from Grosse Pointe Blank- "I went to my reunion and it was like everybody had swelled." I'll go down to visit the remaining Family in Flint, the occasional Coney Treats, and maybe catch some jazz, but the rest? naw. Thanks Gordy.

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  2. From the website --"Flint Southwestern, nicknamed “S-Dub” was founded in the mid 1960’s on the city’s south side."

    Mid 1960's?

    If memory serves, the school opened in the fall of 1958 and the first graduating class was 1960. (Mrs. Cooley was in the class of '61.)

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    1. Flint Southwestern opened in the fall of 1959 and the first graduating was indeed 1960. 😉

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  3. ok so the site is not without a few flaws. however, to date over 800 SW alums have taken the time to sign up. personally i think the site is well done and above all...someone actually put forth the effort to do so.

    i think the term s-dub was adopted well after we old farts vacated the premises....probably the mid to late 80's which seems to have the largest population on the site.

    in my opinion(along with $2 will get you a good cup of coffee)the site is well done and has allowed some old classmates to re-connect and catch up on some memories.

    Slick

    P.s. gordie, I posted a link to expats on my page of the S-dub site
    it looks good by the way.

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  4. I was thinking that the Southwestern site is exactly what Powers needs...a free way for alums to get in touch with each other, sort of a more focused Facebook. So would Powers be P-Dub?

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  5. And Slick, thanks for getting the word out about Flint Expats. I noticed that I got several hits from the Southwestern site already.

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  6. No malice intended, Slick. The site is very well done, indeed. Love the map thingie.

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  7. Our class 1988 was the last official class to graduate from our beloved alma mater. In order to commemorate our 20 year reunion this summer, the flintsouthwesternreunion site was born to help us to connect to our classmates more easily. Initially, it was only made for us, then we invited the last 3 classes 84 - 87. Then, we got an overwhelming response from other alumni, so we opened it up to all Colts, even those Colts graduating in 1989 that choose to have their diplomas say Colt instead of Knight.

    This summer our site was featured on ABC News. The press release follows;

    MEDIA CONTACT: Princess Clark-Wendel
    Company Information:
    Princess Clark Consulting
    Phone: 773.991.9885

    DATE: September 7, 2008

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR YEARS, THEY WERE COUNTED AS DEAD, TODAY THE MIGHTY COLTS ARE ALIVE AND LIVING IN CYBERSPACE

    Twenty years ago, Flint Community Schools made a decision to “virtually kill” S-Dub as the city had known it for so many years as stated by a former Colt. Flint Southwestern, nicknamed “S-Dub” was founded in the mid 1960’s on the city’s south side as an answer to the widespread growth on that side of the city. A little over 20 years ago, students, as well as parents took to the streets and to “the block” to protest the merger of Flint Southwestern with Flint Academy. Their protests did little to keep the schools separated. Today, the mighty Colts have risen and are reconnecting virtually on their own social networking site call FlintSouthwesternReunion.com.

    The site was started by a former colt to reconnect with old friends and commemorate the 20 year reunion of the Class of 88, which was the last class to officially graduate from Flint Southwestern. In a spirit of unity, the Class of 88 will share their reunion with the last two classes that graduated from the original school, class 87 and 86. The weekend reunion will be held on the weekend of October 3 – 5 at the Elks Lodge at 7177 E. Maple Ave (near Vassar Rd) in Grand Blanc.

    Any former Colt interested in attending or joining the website can log in at www.flintsouthwesternreunion.com or email princess@princessclark.com

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  8. Like Bustup said, at least through 1965 it wasn't called "S-dub". Sounds too much like the last 8 years of "Dub-Yah" for my liking. Sort of gives me the creeps!

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  9. Princess,

    Good work. Like I said, this is a model that other schools should follow.

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  10. Princess - The class of 88 appreciate your hard work and dedication. It doesn't matter what you call it "S-dub", etc., It's an act that has brought us together again! Lookign forward to seeing you in October.

    Thank You!
    Yolanda "Lynn"

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  11. Lynn, I want to echo what you said. Speaking from experience, I know how much work went into the Southwestern site. And Princess, please pass along any Southwestern info that might be good to post on Flint Expatriates.

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  12. I've sent your link to our over 800 members. Some have sent me private messages wondering if you were a Colt. From what I've read I said unfortunately no... but hey, even though there's no social network yet for Powers... at least you still have a school and mascot.

    I will post the link to your site.

    Best

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  13. maybe they can add the earlier Classes from the school, too? for a reunion website, it's not bad, I've seen worse. But, as BJ said, sounds too much like dub-ya for my likes, too. if anyone interpretted my previous post as a slam to the reunion website, sorry, but they're mistaken. I do believe I saw Mr. Wirt's face smiling in the Alumni photos...One of the former Music instructors from SW is living near me, Dr. Raymond Roth. He was an excellent instructor, as was the late Dr.Daniel Teare, from Zimmerman. I had deep respect for both men. kc10-50

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  14. Hello and thankyou for including a link to our flintSouthwesternreunion.com site. As Princess mentioned, our site was born just this past summer, intially to help the classes of 86-89 reconnect with one another (for our 20 year reunion). Thus far (just 8 short months later), the site has grown to include over 800 alum from previous Southwestern classes. Its been wonderful reconnecting with so many fellow classmates.

    I see that the moderator of this site is a Powers Grad. Ironically, my wife (Lori Kralik-Photiou) is on the 1989 Luke M. Powers reunion (20 year) planning committee. I had previously provided her committee with a link to our southwestern site as a possible template for a Powers website. At this time, they have been unable to put something together. Instead, 89 Powers grads are currently trying to reconnect via facebook.

    I'll provide her with a link to this Flint Expatriates site.

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  15. Hello and thankyou for including a link to our flintSouthwesternreunion.com site. As Princess mentioned, our site was born just this past summer, intially to help the classes of 86-89 reconnect with one another (for our 20 year reunion). Thus far (just 8 short months later), the site has grown to include over 800 alum from post southwestern classes. Its been wonderful reconnecting with so many fellow classmates.

    I see that the moderator of this site is a Powers Grad. Ironically, my wife (Lori Kralik-Photiou) is on the 1989 Luke M. Powers reunion (20 year) planning committee. I had previously provided her committee with a link to our southwestern site as a possible template for a Powers website. At this time, they have been unable to put something together. Instead, 89 Powers grads are currently trying to reconnect via facebook.

    I'll provide her with a link to this Flint Expatriates site.

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  16. Wow Southwestern. I went there for a minute in 1987. COLTS! I've heard Northwestern called N-dub, but never S-dub for Southwestern.

    Oh man, the mid 80's in Flint. Crack! Gangs. Early rap (no one called it hip-hop). What a time.

    I remember going to Atwood to watch a football game and remember when Mike Cross kicked a record city field goal. His Mom drove all us kids back to his house and she could barely keep the car on the road from the excitement.

    I've lost so many old friends from my childhood: Dr. Adam Goldstein, Dr. Mike Cross, Mike Lazard, Nick Murray, Bret Petriken, Jason Wiley, Shane Helms, countless others. When I mean lost I mean they died on me. Damn tragic, every one of them.

    So a lot of us kids lived by the Truck & Bus plant over on Van Slyke and had to WALK to McKinley Junior High (over 1.4 miles), but Southwestern had a bus come get us. Yet Southwestern seemed a lot closer. Coming from McKinley I thought Southwestern was great.

    Sometimes I'd walk over the pedestrian bridge in Broome park that went right over 12th street to get to school.

    Even though I didn't graduate I am gonna try and make it!

    Thanks for letting everyone know Gordy!

    P.S. Shout outs to: Tony Mills, Keri Edgar, Emily Lamboria, Mrs. Foster, Craig Center, Mike Stafford, Brian Ogle, Tim Melaragni, and way more than I can name right now! Love you all!

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  17. The site brings back a lot of memories.

    Speaking of the ones we lost go check out Jay Clothier's page.. yep the son of Mr. Clothier. He has many of the names you mentioned on their. Also go the "In Memoria.." page lots of Colts have passed on. It causes great pause.

    Driving other Flintites, stones to your site ... from all around the map.

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  18. I also think it is a shame that the fine history of Flint Southwestern High School has been forgotten, just like being thrown down the "memory hole" in George Orwell's book "1984".

    There was a pretty good article on Wikipedia on Flint SWHS, telling a fairly accurate history, and links to some well known graduates, but for some reason IT HAS BEEN REMOVED! Of course, high school articles about where convicted murderer Phil Spector attended near Hollywood remain and still proudly proclaim him as a graduate for instance. We're somehow completely forgotten.

    Any theories as to why?

    It would have been better if it had been closed rather than renamed and its mission changed. Now there is forever the confusion about two schools. I left the immediate area quite a few years ago and still don't understand exactly what the "Academy" is supposed to be.

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  19. I probably wouldn't attend a reunion anywhere, but it is good to see that my alma mater, Flint Southwestern High School (The Colts) is remembered by some who attended there. I graduated in 1966 from FSWHS. We had a lousy football team back then, but we had a great marching band. I have a lot of fond memories of being in that band and also the choir there. Good to see that other old Colts are out there.

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  20. the class 197 is having there 40th reunion July 9 ans 10 2010 for more info email

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  21. Everyone thats knows someone from SwB needs to tell them to goto the site...Call,email,text DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO !
    Never forget where you came from !

    KIKBAK

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  22. Southwestern opened in the fall of 1959. I was in the first graduating class of SW in 1960 having spent my sophomore and junior years at Flint Tech which closed in 1959. Our 50th class reunion will be this year!

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  23. I graduated from SW in 1961 coming from Flint Tech. Found this site while checking around for a SW l961 reunion. Don't know if this site is still viable or not. Can't find any reunion either.

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  24. Flint Southwestern Class of "77" is having its 35th class reunion on August 18th at the Davison Country Club

    Please email flintsw1977@gmail.com if you are interested in attending

    or call 810-241-1184 - Janie

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Thanks for commenting. I moderate comments, so it may take a while for your comment to appear. You might enjoy my book about Flint called "Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City," a Michigan Notable Book for 2014 and a finalist for the 33rd Annual Northern California Book Award for Creative NonFiction. Filmmaker Michael Moore described Teardown as "a brilliant chronicle of the Mad Maxization of a once-great American city." More information about Teardown is available at www.teardownbook.com.