The Brewer Exes’ Association plans to honor three important individuals in a pre-game presentation at the Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 2.
The Distinguished Ex Award will be presented to Mr. Jimmie Barrett. The recipient of this honor is a Brewer graduate chosen by the association for his or her outstanding commitment to service and the way that this service has reflected back positively on all the students of Brewer High, both past and present, and on the community at large.

A proud father and grandfather, Jimmie Barrett is always engaged with his children and their children, but his love for youngsters doesn’t stop with his own family. He has worked for the children of the White Settlement ISD for 26 years as a board member, volunteering his time and energy so that the district provides the best education possible for its kids. No other board member has devoted so much time to our district; Jimmie is the longest serving Board of Trustee member for the White Settlement ISD.

Barrett is a 1960 graduate of BHS, and his wife Helen is a 1961 Brewer graduate. Helen and Jimmie have been married for 48 years and are the proud parents of four Brewer graduates as well. Jimmie is semi-retired now but has been in business for himself for the last 45 years. His company is JDBarrett Drywall. Helen works at Gardner Aldrich, LLP, which is a law firm. The Barretts are a community-minded family, and loyal Bear fans.

Their son Kelly is the co-owner of Goodfellas Logos, Inc. He and his business partner, Brewer grad Monty Shaw, also run the Spirit Store at Bear Stadium. Kerry, also son to the Barretts, is a coach and teacher at Richland High School, and Kyle, the youngest son, works for Integra Tax. The Barrett’s youngest child and only daughter is Susan Barrett Hammonds who is a teacher at North Elementary in the WSISD. The Barretts have six grandchildren: Kathryn, Emily, Jake, Will, Barrett and Brenley.

Jimmie began his service on the board of trustees in 1979, when his oldest son was about to become a senior. The accomplishments of the board during the following years are practically innumerable, but some of the things Jimmie is most proud of include the opening of the new North Elementary, the opening of the Fine Arts Academy thus serving the children of the district in yet another way, helping to establish the Educational Foundation that has raised thousands of dollars to benefit both kids and teachers in the WSISD, implementing both the Dual Language program and the Full Dual Credit College Credit Program, and finally seeing the opening of the Ninth Grade Center and the new State of the Art Brewer High School.

The Exes’ Association is so very proud to call Jimmie and Helen Barrett part of their own, and they consider it an honor to present to him the Distinguished Ex Award at Homecoming 2009.

Another legend at Brewer is Mr. Charles Burton and his wife Norma. The Burtons will be The Exes’ Association’s Honorary Exes Award recipients this year and will be presented and congratulated pre-game at Homecoming.

The Honorary Ex Award is presented each year at Homecoming to a person or persons in this community who have been closely involved with the school district and have become members of the WSISD family of friends, but didn’t enjoy the privilege of attending Brewer. The Exes’ Association just doesn’t want to hold this small point against these generous individuals, so they call them “honorary exes.” In this way, they become “official” or “real” Brewer Bears, even though they have been acting as Bears for decades.

The Burtons enjoyed 33 years of educational service to the WSISD in their 38 years in the business. Mr. Burton was a teacher and coach, and also an administrator for the district, and Mrs. Burton remained in the classroom. However, no matter which way they served the kids of this district, they developed long-standing relationships with them and feel close to many of them even to this day.

“We love all our students and consider them all our friends,” Mrs. Burton said recently. “We taught them first, and then their kids and their grandkids,” she laughed. “And we loved them all.”
The Burtons have 2 children of their own, who, not surprisingly at all, both became teachers. Sheila Cavanaugh is a teacher in the Keller School District, and Debbie Burkhart is a teacher for the Crowley School District.
Mrs. Norma Burton is from the small East Texas town of Enloe. She graduated from East Texas State University where she also obtained a masters degree as well.

Mr. Charles Leo Burton attended Paris Junior College, in his hometown of Paris until he won a football scholarship to Texas Tech University in Lubbock. However, Mrs. Burton confided, that as soon as one of those “famous sand storms” whipped up “ he changed his mind and came back home.” She said he then attended and graduated from The University of Corpus Christi also playing football on a scholarship. Mr. Burton also ended up getting his masters degree from East Texas State University.

Mr. Burton actually did all of the course work required for his doctoral degree as well, but did not complete his dissertation. Mrs. Burton said her husband was known for saying “Well, I didn’t want to be called Dr. anyway…”
Anyone who attended Brewer while the Burtons were there probably has a story to tell about this wonderful couple who shared most of their lives with this community. The Exes’ Association is so proud to be able to present them as our Honorary Exes for Homecoming 2009.

Here is a link to a PDF file announcing the activities for the BHS homecoming for 2009. Click on it and it will open in your PDF viewer. Have a good time.

HomeComing 2009

We have some pixs of the new BHS in the image gallery. Take a look its a gosh darn nice looking school. Click on the image galleries in the menu or at the top right of the page.

By Cheryl Posey

The Brewer Exes’ Association held its annual business meeting last Thursday to mark the beginning of the Homecoming festivities. Every decade of graduates was represented at the meeting, from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The only decade missing was the 2000’s, and the group present agreed that in time those younger exes will join as well.

Just the next evening during the Homecoming game several members of the classes of the 2000’s joined the organization and signed their name in the official exes’ book of membership. It was a historic date to see those 2000’s going into the book!

At the meeting, the group decided to organize a membership drive committee to help raise funds for the scholarships to be given out in May. The committee is comprised of Brewer Exes from each decade. Their goal is to get at least 100 members from each decade to join within the next few weeks. President Elect Frank Molinar is leading this group, and he has challenged them all to a competition that he believes will be won by the 80’s decade. Winners of the competition will be treated to a prize.

The group also voted to raise the membership dues from $5 to $10 per year starting at Homecoming 2009. These will still be some of the lowest dues of any organization of this type.

The members also voted to begin selling lifetime memberships for $100. Exes who purchase this membership will be given a Lifetime Membership Card and will never have to be reminded to pay their dues again.

Members also discussed allowing associate memberships to be offered to individuals who did not attend Brewer but would still like to support the Exes’ Association. However, this agenda item was tabled until next year after much discussion.

Also discussed at the meeting was the probability of moving the Exes’ social historically held on Saturday night after Homecoming to a new location. Members voted to allow the officers to look for another venue. The social has been held at the White Settlement VFW Hall for the past few years.

Other agenda items discussed included making better use of the website created by Raymond Forsythe. The web address is cfbrewerexes.org. Mr. Forsythe was present and addressed many questions about possible uses for the site. Many would like to see this site used as a database for names and addresses for all ex-Brewer students. This could greatly benefit reunion organizers in the future.

Brewer Ex-Student Association

The membership drive for 2008-2009 is in full swing for the Brewer Ex-Student Association, and there is a new twist to be considered. At the recent business meeting held during Homecoming week, lifetime memberships were approved.
Members of the association who are tired of renewing every year have the option to renew only one more time for $100, and they will then be considered lifetime members. All Lifetime members will receive a lifetime membership card and a Brewer Exes’ Association decal for their vehicle. These decals are also available for sale for $1.00 from any association officer.
A membership committee was formed with Rita Owens and Frank Molinar as co-chairpersons. Each decade will compete for prizes to recruit the most new members from the 50’s to the 2000’s decades. Angela Miller and Frank Molinar will represent the 80's decade on the committee, and they have called out all the other decades to try to match the members they will recruit from the 80’s decade.

Debbie McKinney will represent the 70's decade on the membership committee, Maxine Harrod, Fran Smith and Sandy Heizer will represent the 60’s; A.C. Hall and Jason Ferguson will recruit for the 90’s decade, and Sharon Blair will recruit for the 50's decade. The committee is currently seeking members for the 2000 decade to serve with them as well. Anyone who would like to do so can email the association president at cwposey@aol.com. Any ex-Brewer student who joins the association will help their decade in the contest. Dues and demographic information can be sent to the high school. (Please see the ad on page 6 of this paper for complete information.)
Although membership dues for this year remain at $5.00, the association voted to raise them to $10 for next year’s Homecoming. They also voted to allow Brewer exes who are 65 years of age or older to continue to pay $5 for their membership dues indefinitely.
As most everyone knows by now, money collected from memberships is used to fund a scholarship for a graduating Brewer senior each spring. The Exes’ Association decided to give two scholarships this spring in honor of 2 deceased Brewer graduates, Robert Vallejo and Paulene Hoover, from the classes of ‘98 and ‘68 respectively.
Students who wish to apply for the Exes’ Scholarships will be required to write an essay on a topic decided at the business meeting held before Homecoming this year.
The topic for the 2009 scholarships is “There is a rock song – ‘Be True to Your School.’ Describe how you, as a BHS Senior, are true to your school now and how you see yourself long after graduation still being ‘true to your school.’ Describe how you can continue to support your Alma Mater throughout your life.”
The Exes’ Association also decided to move the due date for the scholarship essay from April to March. The association moved the date in hopes recruiting more scholarship applicants.

Click on the link below to view Homecoming Activities Schedule 2008.

Homecoming Activities Schedule 2008

For information on the class reunion for 1988 go to Brewer88

BREWER EX-STUDENT ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP 2008
In honor of JESSE BLAIR, Sr.

Jesse Blair
1937-2007

Jesse Blair was a devoted family man with a heart as big as Texas. His love of life was always apparent in his actions and by his sweet, youthful spirit. He was known for his outgoing personality, his sense of humor, and for his many good works. Jesse was a proud Brewer Bear, along with his wife, Sharon Clark Blair, and his two children, Vicki Blair Ondich and Jesse Blair, Jr.

This year the Brewer Exes’ Association is honored to award this $1000 scholarship in his memory.

All graduating seniors who plan to attend a college or technical school are eligible to apply by writing and submitting a 1000 to1200 word essay. The essay should address the following question:

It has been said that “It takes a village to raise a child” meaning that we are not only a product of our homes and family, but of the community where we have lived and been educated. What can a graduate do to give back to his or her community and school?

The deadline for completing this essay is Friday, April 18, 2008. In order to be considered for this scholarship, each student must sign in on the appropriate sheet with Mrs. Humphus in the counseling office when turning in his or her essay. If Mrs. Humphus is not available, do not leave your essay on her desk without signing in on the sheet. If your essay is left without signing the sheet, it will not be submitted to the Exes’ Association for consideration.

Brewer Ex-Student Association holds annual business meeting

By Cheryl Posey

This year marked the first year for the Brewer Ex-Student Association to meet in the beautiful new library at Brewer High School on Loop 820. The meeting attracted a crowd of about 25 members who made several important decisions for the upcoming year.

After the reading of the minutes from the last business meeting, one of the first motions to be made for the evening surprised many present. The action was a motion to disband the association due to lack of interest. The member explained that although he and many others had been loyal to the club for years, membership had been steadily declining and he thought the new generations of Bears graduating were no longer interested in such an organization. The motion was seconded, but many members asked that the motion be tabled for a year to see if anyone else had any suggestions on creating interest in the organization. The motion never made it to a vote.

Frank Molinar, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Community Relations for the White Settlement ISD, then stood and asked if he could address the crowd. He expressed concern over disbanding the more than 40-year-old club and said that he believed there were still many ex-students and golden Bears willing to expend their time and energy to keep the organization afloat. “I am personally against disbanding,” he stated and said that he hoped the members would give him 1 year to try to turn the club around.

Brewer Exes Association makes Homecoming plans; discuss raising scholarship funds

By Cheryl Posey

The Brewer Exes Association met this past Saturday, August 25, to get a jumpstart on the planned festivities during the Homecoming weekend. The game will be played on October 12 this year. This is the last year for the game to be held at the old stadium before it moves to the new stadium still under construction at the new high school.
The first order of business involved electing a new president to replace Maxine Harrod, who stepped down for health reasons. Members elected Rita Owens, BHS class of ’69, to lead the association until the formal exes business meeting held the Thursday before Homecoming in the high school library when a new president will be installed.
Old business that was discussed included the Brewer Exes Association scholarships that were given on Awards Night in May to two graduating seniors. Some members felt that the association needed to do more to make sure that all seniors knew about the scholarship opportunity. Members will discuss at a later meeting how to advertise these scholarship opportunities more.
Funding for these scholarships comes from membership dues and the proceeds from the Annual Exes Social held on the Saturday after Homecoming. Members discussed the fact that attendance at the social has dropped in the past years and it is now difficult to raise money for the scholarships and pay for the social itself with the money made from so few people in attendance.
A suggestion was made to try to increase membership in the Exes Association by offering members more and keeping in touch with them more through newsletters and post cards.

New Business Discussed:
To make more funds for the scholarships, the association voted to participate in the Parking Lot Sale to be held in the White Settlement City Hall Parking Lot on Sept. 15 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. All BHS exes are urged to bring items to sell at this ‘giant garage sale’ to the parking lot by 8 a.m. on the day of the sale. Having the items priced would be great, but not mandatory.
Another fundraiser discussed is the sale of Exes Association T-shirts with the Brewer Bear on the front and the words “established 1952” below it. These grey T-shirts will be available for sale at the parking lot sale, at home football games and also at the Exes Social.
All of the funds for these sales will go toward providing scholarships for Brewer graduating seniors.
Any ex-Brewer student is eligible to join the exes association and is urged to do so. Membership dues are only $5.00 per year and all money raised from dues will definitely go to helping provide the yearly scholarships. Classmates can join by going to the Brewer Exes Association Website at www.cfbrewerexes.org and using a credit card there. They can also join at any home football game or by attending the Exes Social to be held at the VFW Hall on October 13.
The next informal meeting of the Exes Association will be held at The Point (formerly El Campo’s) on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 3:00. Anyone who ever attended Brewer High School is invited and the association really needs your input. Come and join us for the meeting and see what you can do to help your school.