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[ Silence ] [ Crowd Noises ] [ Silence ] [ Applause ]

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In those days, most of the students were poor. Our nation was caught in the throes of a devastating depression. I was one among many who would be called today

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LES students, low socioeconomic status students. But we were taught to strive for excellence, to avoid mediocrity, We satisfied with nothing less than the best.

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We were taught to be good at doing what is meaningful and helpful. We were taught to be good at doing whatever we committed ourselves to do. We were taught to engage in a relentless pursuit of excellence. To pursue excellence is to go first class.

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Our society today suffers from the erosion of excellence and the popularity of mediocrity, and that which is intellectually excellent is accused of elitism.

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To study hard and to make good grades is not regarded by many as being cool. It's not the end thing to do. Just do enough to get by.

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Don't struggle to do your best. As Evelyn Shirk points out, our society is experiencing an unprecedented attack on achievement,

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a contempt for standards, and a distaste for the painstaking, the careful, and the difficult. There is disdain for well-accomplished work,

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which is reflected in inferior materials, defective products, poorly constructed homes, automobiles that break down, and workers that don't care. And one of the tasks of education

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is to enable the individual to cope with life in a democratic society and make a meaningful contribution to the ongoing of human existence. This Lincoln has been doing for 40 years.

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From this root out of dry ground has come a tender sapling that has developed into a mighty oak whose branches spread over this nation and many parts of the world.

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And we pause today to celebrate our history. We pause to water our roots. Several years ago in Waco, we were building a new home. And on the lot where the house was to be erected

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was a huge oak tree. And we wanted to arrange the house on the lot so that the branches of the oak tree would be spread over the house,

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sort of like an umbrella. In order to do that, we had to employ a tree surgeon. He helped us in making sure that the tree would be preserved. It was a season of drought.

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The tree surgeon said that the roots of the tree needed to be watered, special food needed to be provided. And so we followed those instructions, watered the tree and provided the food.

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Here we are today in a climate of change with a new tree surgeon on the scene, one who is one of our own, Dr. Lane, with a capable staff.

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And here we have the challenge of preserving this tree for years to come, that it might continue to grow, to glow, and produce good fruit. New occasions teach new duties.

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Time makes ancient good uncouth. They must upward still and onward who would keep abreast of truth. Forty years later, it is winter again. It's time to face a new beginning, to look at the trees of the forest and to notice that

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among the trees of the forest there is one tree that stands very tall. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but we have promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep, miles to go before we sleep. We must continue the journey of the pursuit of excellence. The times are different, but

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But the need for quality education remains the same. John Silber of Boston University says, "A restoration of excellence is in the best interest of society at large and each of its members. We must continue the quest for excellence.

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We must not join the cult of deprivation which seeks to justify the failure of pupils to learn on the basis of economics, substandard housing, poor nutrition, and parental apathy. Every person has to be taught to read. A person whose parents have no books can learn to read in school as quickly as a child whose home

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is well equipped. Studies have revealed that. Different children may have different learning styles which call for different educational approaches, but let Let us continue to push for excellence. Good, better, best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.

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So we must continue to fight as we begin anew today, to fight, fight, fight for the right, Right, right. A Roman general was fighting with his father, or with his son,

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in the front ranks against the Carthaginians. And the son looked at his father and said, "Father, my sword is too short." And the father said to the son, "Don't worry about the length of your sword, step up a foot."

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[laughter] And that is what we must do as we begin anew. That we may have weapons, but whatever weapons we have, we must use them to the best of our ability, step up a foot. Don't despair because of the negatives that may exist in our environment.

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Don't worry about the length of the sword, step up a foot. (audience applauding) So let us travel on toward our goal, for the prize of the upward call to creativity,

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the call to actualize our gifts and use them imaginatively and meaningfully, the call to develop free and responsible citizens in a democratic society,

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the call to care about ourselves as well as others, and the call to care about what we do, the call to be rightly related to reality. Well, so much to do, so little done.

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Ah, yesterday I saw the sun sink beamless o'er the vaulted grave, the ghastly ghost of yesterday. So little done, so much to do, Each morning breaks on conflicts new, But eager, brave, we'll join the fray And fight the battle of today.

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So much to do, so little done, But when it's all the victory won, Ah, then my soul, this strife and sorrow will end in that great glad tomorrow. It's winter again, I said. Two friends were standing looking at the trees that were laden with snow and ice, and they

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listened as the branches were cracking and falling to the ground, trees were falling all around, and one said to the other said, "Oh what a pity that so many trees are falling and being ruined." The other said, "Only the weak ones break, only the weak ones. The strong will survive. The strong tree with deep roots, roots that penetrate

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deep into the water, roots that somehow feed that tree so that it grows up with leaves that are evergreen and produces fruit in all seasons, the strong survive and the strong continue to provide that fruit that will give nourishment for generations yet unborn. Hail to thee, Lincoln!

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Proudly we sing as we tread the pathways of glory and faith. [applause] I know you've already said thank you to them and certainly we're going to say how much We appreciate and we're not going to take time for expressing ourselves till we get in the receiving line down the cafeteria

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I want you to know the ministers of all our churches How much we appreciate what I mean, I need to say this to you first the last time Reverend Chambers was in the city of Dallas TM Chambers and he preached at our church and And he said there was a night there for all the churches and as they all came in

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The ministers particularly I whispered to somebody I see 45 of my boys and they said And she could not be here, so she is on stage now.

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Ms. Bailey would be here to be first, and then Ms. Webb. Come on over here. [applause] I am too full for speech.

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I am completely overwhelmed, as I always am when I hear the name of Lincoln High. And when those young people were singing, I had goose pimples. It makes us know that things are going on after we leave and we are just so proud and pleased to be here and witness this with you.

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Thank you. [applause] Thank you so much to those who are guests, those who are full-time guests as well as any others. I bring you greetings from the first faculty.

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We think of Lincoln as a home for our group and it has produced a merry, merry troop. As students have gone from place to place, they have brought to America and Texas things that are not a disgrace. Thank you. [applause] Thank you, Miss. I just want to wish you all the best. I know John Hopps is here. It's all right with me.

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John Hopson is a professor, full professor of physics at MIT. Come on John, stand up. [applause] Good evening. [applause]

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Well, I would just like to say that I am quite happy to be here. I happen to be passing through town and of all of the days that I picked, I picked the 40th anniversary of Lincoln High School and I've been away a while but I can honestly say that one of the pleasures of staying away is having the

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opportunity to return and you know see so many faces that I've seen early in the audience's you know names that I can't remember but it has been a wonderful experience and just let me say again that I'm quite happy to be here with you to celebrate the 40th this afternoon. Thank you.

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[applause] I haven't forgotten what's on the program. We're going down to this farm and I'll be back to you with love this later. But I want to say, Reverend Ritter, no wonder you got my cousin and your children up there in Boston. Would you honor that?

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(audience laughing) (upbeat piano music) ♪ Oh, why does he but go ♪ ♪ Beyond the throne, beyond the wall ♪

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♪ His hands are hard as hinges ♪ ♪ And the face of metal sore ♪ ♪ He has used the faithful life ♪ ♪ God is there to bless his soul ♪

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♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪

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♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do ♪ ♪ I have seen him in the watch ♪ ♪ By the barrages of the hell ♪

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♪ There in the hill ♪ ♪ An altar in the evening dew and hell ♪ ♪ I can really try to fit my head in the band ♪ ♪ Please, please, my dear Lord ♪

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♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪

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(dramatic music) (crowd cheering) [ Music ] [MUSIC]

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♪ All the brotherhood sing ♪ ♪ With the glory in his bosom ♪ ♪ Let there be rest to you and me ♪ ♪ As he died to make it holy ♪

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♪ When you stand, you make me free ♪ ♪ I'm going marching on ♪ ♪ Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ Glory, hallelujah ♪

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♪ Glory, hallelujah ♪ ♪ His truth is marching on ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ (audience applauding)

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(gentle piano music) [ Music ] ♪ The potter saw a vessel ♪ ♪ That had been broken by the wind ♪

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♪ Ooh, and the rain ♪ [music] Ha ha, yeah. [music]

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And he's old. [music] With so much [music]

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compassion. [music] You see he wanted to make it. [music]

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♪ I wanted to make it over again ♪ ♪ Oh, I ♪ ♪ Yeah, I was ♪ ♪ Oh, that broken vessel ♪

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♪ Oh, thank you, Jesus ♪ ♪ Oh, that no one ♪ ♪ Thought ♪ ♪ Love was any good ♪

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♪ I cried, Lord ♪ ♪ Yeah, He loved ♪ ♪ You, the potter ♪ I am the clay you make me, God make me over again today.

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Listen, my friends, Have you ever loved in broken? And shattered by the storms In your life

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And you went searching [MUSIC] [MUSIC] ♪ Oh, and I strive ♪

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♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Just to look ♪ ♪ Just to look ♪ ♪ Oh, to the Savior ♪

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♪ Ha, ha, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, the one ♪ ♪ He can now set you ♪ ♪ He can set you free ♪

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♪ And here's what you do ♪ ♪ You cry Lord ♪ ♪ Yeah Lord ♪ ♪ You the pothead ♪

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♪ I am the clay ♪ ♪ You make me ♪ ♪ Oh, make me over again today ♪ ♪ Did the king tell the king he said ♪

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♪ Ha ha, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, my broken heart, my broken heart ♪ ♪ That day ♪ ♪ He made me a new vessel ♪

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♪ Yes, he did revive my soul again ♪ ♪ And so the game ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Is done ♪

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♪ Is done ♪ - Oh, shit! ♪ The game's set ♪ ♪ But what can harm ♪

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♪ But what can harm ♪ ♪ That day ♪ ♪ He laid me ♪ ♪ On the bed of sorrow ♪

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♪ Yes, he did ♪ ♪ That night, my soul ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ (audience applauding)

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- All the ministers that are in that room over there, hold up your hands, 'cause I wanna make sure I recognize you guys. - Thank you.

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(audience applauding) - At this time, I'd like to present a certificate to Dr. Harold Lane as one that stands the ladder of success, the less inclined he is to speak for himself.

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And Dr. Harold Lane says that kind of an individual. Also I'd like you to know that I take great pride in presenting this certificate to Dr. Harold Lane because he is a trusted friend, an outstanding educator,

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and my third grade principal. I've known him since I was in third grade and he's done a bit of hard living. Last week, in observance of Black History Week,

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he was also the recipient of an outstanding, of an award in education from the legislative black college. Dr. Caroline, we love you. (audience applauding)

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- Now all faculty members present, elected faculty members, would you stand? Please, those who are with you, Would you please stand?

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Hold up, babies. Now, tomorrow-- everybody give him a hand. Come on. [APPLAUSE]

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Thank you. [INAUDIBLE] waiting to serve you. Now, I want at least to stand, so tomorrow, when Dr. Lane

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starts giving-- Dr. Lane, on behalf of Washington National of the Alumni Association, I'd like to present this flag to you. The Lincoln High School flag reads, "The Washington League of the Alumni Association of Dallas, Texas

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presents this certification of appreciation to Lincoln High School on the occasion of its 45th anniversary, March 4, 1979. Emerson Emory, MD, National President." Thank you. [applause] But I'll open them to the Washington League, but don't ask to stand please.

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Stand up. [applause] You know, usually the mistress of ceremonies is the last to receive anything, but this little book I would like to give to you. From the American Legion, Tommy Robinson Post 802 Auxiliary Unit and the Post.

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May it stay in your office and give you the guidance that you need for tomorrow that you just spoke. Thank you so much. [applause] Good afternoon, Gillum. Please stand, please.

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As a member of the South Central Civic Organization, we gladly present to Miss Gillum this. We find no better time than from the school she graduated from, dear old Lincoln High, the number one school. one school. Miss Gilliam we present this to you. Many of you can't see but the leaves are good for the healing no doubt of many things she wanted. These are salt money.

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[applause] [inaudible] Did you have any more float lines? I'm going to get some help.

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[inaudible] [audience chatter] We're sorry that we may be going over time. I had instructed everyone to write down his or her speech,

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and I have mine written down, and I'm going to say it. [laughter] We are now ready to make these presentations. You can just stay right up here with me. It was the spring of the year of 1750

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out under the moon and the stars along with his son that eighth night. Om. [ Silence ]