Scott Watkins, seated, is working with Corsicana Education Foundation executive director Rob Ludwig to put an alumni association directory together. The two are hoping former Corsicana High School students will provide information about themselves and their classmates. Daily Sun photo/SCOTT HONEA

1/20/2004 Keeping In Touch: CISD alumni directory in the works

By JOAN SHERROUSE/Daily Sun Staff

Do it for old times sake.

The Corsicana Education Foundation is looking for district graduates who would like to keep up with current happenings at their old alma mater.

"We want to generate and basically distribute resources back to CISD," said alumni association chairman Scott Watkins. "As one of the methods of doing that, we've decided to develop an alumni data base."

E-mail technology and the Internet have made networking around the world a walk in the park, and Foundation officials are hoping Corsicana High School grads will take the opportunity to get their names in the mix.

Watkins said a Florida-based company will ultimately produce a directory -- a hard-bound book and a Web site -- based on data he and fellow committee members gather in the months to come. Foundation executive director Rob Ludwig added that the company does not charge for this part of it's service, rather it depends on other sources of revenue.

The Foundation is looking for names and current contact data in order to compile class rosters which will ultimately be available on the Web and in book form.

"I've gone back, and I have a list of all the class officers back to 1957," Watkins said. "Hopefully, they have compiled reunion lists and kept up with each individual class."

The fledgling alumni association is interested in locating graduates of both CHS and Jackson High School, and as it develops more fully, core members are hoping the directory will be a multi-purpose resource.

Not only will the association give alumni a chance to find long-lost school buddies, organizers see it as an opportunity for grads to find out what is going on in the district now.

In addition, Ludwig said it is likely there are many ex-students who are not familiar with the Education Foundation's mission or its work. He said some may want to help out, either financially or in other ways, and the association will provide that opportunity.

"As we contact alumni ... I think they would be willing to help (by giving) talent, they would be willing to help financially and any way they can, but they just don't know about (the Foundation) yet," Watkins said.

The directory itself will include an introduction to both high schools along with photos and some old stories that will be of interest to ex-students.

Ludwig added that the alumni committee is hoping people will not only respond on their own behalf, but will be able to fill in the blanks where some of their classmates are concerned.

Anyone with information can contact Watkins at (903) 874-6587 or Ludwig at (903) 874-7441. Their e-mail addresses are: [email protected] and [email protected].