Note: Woodrow Wilson H.S. (Dallas, TX) Hall of Fame information is made available by the Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Association, Inc. To submit a nominee for the Hall of Fame, contact a WWHSAA Board member. Inductees are selected every five years.
Louise M. Woerner Sellers, 1930 – grew her family-owned business, The Flag Store, into a nationally known specialty business, sewing flags for commercial businesses and governmental bodies; donated funds needed to install the new flagpole in front of Woodrow.
Ruth Allen Mewhinney, M.D., 1933 – well-known physician; specialized in and revolutionized pediatric and adolescent care for girls; compassionate and intelligent role model for three generations of women in North Texas
G. Mark Goode, Jr., 1938 – Engineer-Director, TX Highway Department, managing the fastest period of road growth in the history of TX highways; recipient, MacDonald Award (American Assn. of State Highway and Transportation Officials); 2008 inductee, TX Transportation Hall of Fame
Pete Harris Pappas, 1938 – co-founded what has become Pappas Restaurants, an 80 restaurant chain that includes the Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchens, Pappasito’s Cantinas, Pappas Bar-B-Q restaurants, Pappas Brothers Steakhouses, Pappas Burgers, Pappas Seafood House, and the Yia Yia Mary’s Greek Kitchen.
Charles Robert “Dr. Bob” Smith, M.D., 1940 – built and grew Doctors’ Hospital (near White Rock Lake); established what is now known as Doctors’ Healthcare and Rehab Center for long-term services, as well as Arcady Health Services Inc.
H. Neill McFarland, Ph.D., 1941 – taught at Perkins School of Theology; served 5 years as SMU’s Vice-President and Provost; Director of SMU's International Programs; awarded the "Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays With Neck Ribbon” by the Japanese government; author of 20 books pertaining to Japan; Professor of History of Religions emeritus at SMU and Founder and President emeritus of the Japan America Society of Dallas
Chris P. Xeros, 1945 – DISD music teacher for 39 yrs.; orgaznized the Richardson Symphony Orchestra, the first fully-professional 55 piece suburban orchestra in the DFW Metroplex, and served as its Conductor for 30 years
Charles B. Key, M.D., 1948 – founder of the Key-Whitman Eye Center; provided free eye surgery to patients who could not afford it, as well as to seminary students and missionaries – sometimes operating on as many as 100 patients a day
William J. “Bill” O’Neil, 1951 – noted American entrepreneur, stockbroker and writer, Bill O’Neil founded the Investor's Business Daily and the stock brokerage firm William O'Neil+Co. Inc. and he is the creator of the CAN SLIM® investment strategy
Lt. Col. Edwin L. Atterberry, 1952 – On August 12, 1967, on a reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam, Captain Atterberry was shot down and captured; escaped the “Zoo Annex” in Hanoi; captured, tortured to death; Atterberry Hall (Hangar 12) at Randolph Air force Base in San Antonio named after him
Thomas A. “Tom” Tombrello, Ph.D., 1954 – Assistant Professor of Physics at Yale University and Caltech, the home of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratories; Professor of Physics at Caltech; Caltech’s William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor; Chairman of Caltech’s Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy; Caltech’s Technology Assessment Officer; Caltech’s Robert H. Goddard Professor of Physics; Vice President and Director of Research at Schlumberger-Doll Research; awarded the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching; consultant for Schlumberger Ltd., Applied Minds Inc., FormFactor Inc., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of Southern California, E&M Labs Inc., Geo Fossil Fuels, LLC and LOHAS Choices
Barbara Byrd Adamson, 1956 – cofounder, Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Association; co-founded the Dallas High Schools Alumni Association; developed a statewide outreach program that has benefitted thousands of uninsured and underserved children in Texas by providing more than 1,100,000 free immunizations
Mary Beth Coniglio Rogers, 1957– author of Barbara Jordan biography; Deputy Treasurer of the State of Texas; Chief of Staff to the late Governor Ann Richards; President and CEO of KLRU-TV; member of the faculty of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and was honored as an outstanding teacher by the UT Ex-Students Association; inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame
Harvey Wiggins, 1960 – President and Founder of Plexon Inc; created the neural data acquisition equipment market as a commercial industry; designed the Multichannel Acquisition Processor (MAP) Data Acquisition System - affectionately called the "Harvey Box" even today
John Robert “Bobby” May, 1961 – winner of 3 Southwest Conf. championships, an NCAA championship, finalist for Olympic trials in hurdles; Rice University Head Track Coach and Assistant Athletic Director for Business; Rice U. Athletic Director; Rice Athletic Hall of Fame; inducted into the National Athletic Directors Hall of Fame
Phillip Shinoda, Ph.D., M.B.A., 1962 –Principal at Shinoda Assoc. LLC; editor of GreenSourceDFW.org; director, Memnosyne Institute’s Center for The Environment, Science and Economics; Director, Corporate and Community Relations at the UT Arlington; board member - AIDS ARMS Inc., the Center for Nonprofit Management, the Community Council of Greater Dallas, the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas Theater Center, Galaxy Counseling Center, North Texas Public Broadcasting, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza, The Hockaday School, the UT Southwestern Medical School, Women’s Issues Network, Japan American Society and Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP); co-founder/president, Asian American Forum; member – Dallas Citizens Council; recipient - Lifetime Community Advocate Award (Dallas Asian American Bar Association); recipient, Above and Beyond Award (United Way of Metropolitan Dallas); recipient - Leadership Dallas Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award
Joseph Michael “Dusty” Hill, 1967 – formed “ZZ Top” in 1969; member- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2004); sold over 50 million albums; 11 gold records; 7 platinum records; screen appearances; named Official Texas Heroes by the TX House of Representatives; May 3, 1991 ZZ Top Day (proclaimed by Gov. Ann Richards)
Terry S. Maness, Ph.D., 1967 – Dean of Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business; named Distinguished Professor Award from the School of Business; University Distinguished Professor Award; School of Business Most Popular Professor award; President, Southwestern Finance Association; President, Southwestern Business Deans Association; Board of Governors of Beta Gamma Sigma; board member - Brazos Higher Education Service Corporation, Citizens, Inc., Extraco Banks, and Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center
John D. “Jay” Settle, J.D., 1968 –with Woodrow classmate, Robert Pou, formed SettlePou Law Firm (voted one of Top 100 Places to Work in the Metroplex); Top 100 Law Firms in the Nation (Fortune Magazine); Chair of the Real Estate Section of the Dallas Bar Association; President and Chairman, Dallas Executives Assn.; President, Argyle Club, President of the 1010 Historical Society; board member, The Dallas Trolley Board ; board member, Dallas Campfire Girls; recipient, “AV” Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating available for legal ability and professional ethics
Emily Sherrill Weadock, 1978 – graphic artist/designer; co-writer and/or illustrator, 21 books; director of Independent Software Inc.’s Digital Art Studio and is also the owner of Mad Skill Studios; illustrator, six “For Dummies” books as well as a half-dozen other computer, business, and humor books; currently represented by the Evergreen Art Gallery in Evergreen, Colorado and is preparing for a one woman show at Artists on Santa Fe Gallery in Denver, CO.
Abel Gonzales, 1988 – "Fry King" of the great State Fair of Texas; 7 time recipient of The Big Tex Award; appearances on Food Network, Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, and others; implemented “Cease the Grease!” to teach people not to pour used cooking grease down the drain, but instead to recycle it to make electricity
Joaquin Zihuataneo, 1989 – poet; award-winning English and creative writing public high school teacher; A National Poetry Slam Finalist, Grand Slam Spoken Word Champion, and HBO Def Poet; winner - Individual World Poetry Slam Championship; chosen to represent the U.S. at the 2009 World Cup of Poetry Slam in Paris, France
Travis H. Willingham, 1999 – actor; films/TV including “Secondhand Lions,” “Friday Night Lights,” and “Ray,” as well as in television programs including “The New Adventures of Old Christine,: “Private Practice,” “Nip/Tuck,” and “Cold Case”; motion pictures; video games; anime voice actor
Jesus “Jesse” Moreno, Jr., 2004 – Dallas civic activist; member, Dallas Parks and Recreation Board, the Dallas Mayor’s Star Council, Leadership DISD, Dallas Youth Commission, the DISD Teen Board, the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Redevelopment Master Plan Committee for Randall Park, the Redevelopment Master Plan Committee for Buckner Park, the Principal Search Committee and PTA at Lipscomb Elementary School, the Principal Search Committee and SBDM Committee at Woodrow Wilson High School, and the SBDM Committee at O.M. Roberts Elementary School; president, Northeast Dallas Chapter of the Lions Club
Coach Theo “Cotton” Miles, Honorary – former Woodrow head football coach; elected to the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame ; while at Woodrow - won District 7 of 11 seasons and, in 1969, he took the Wildcats to the State Semifinal game; Who’s Who in Colleges and Universities; lifetime coaching record - 184 Wins, 81 Losses, and 7 Ties; recipient, Stephen F. Austin State University Lettermen's Association Jack of Honor Award; Stephen F. Austin State University Hall of Honor; Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor
Ed Bentley, 1940—Chairman of the Board and CEO of Republic National Bank-Greenville Avenue with a long history of generous support for Woodrow programs and Juliette Fowler Homes.
Elizabeth Cupples Blessing, 1936—First woman to campaign for mayor of Dallas; second woman elected to Dallas City Council.
Alan Bromberg, 1945—Senior fellow of Yale law faculty, visiting professor at Stanford Law School, professor at SMU law school.
Bob English, 1942—Borrowed $1,100 from parents on graduation from Texas A&M, started English Bros. and built it into largest distributor of automotive paint and body supplies in the Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana region.
Neil “Skip” Fletcher, 1953—As 7-year-old served as “official taster” in family kitchen as father Neil and Uncle Carl developed recipe for their ever-popular Corny Dog at State Fair of Texas. Today he and brother Bill keep the dogs coming.
Lawrence Good, 1968—Distinguished architect whose projects include University of Texas-Dallas campus master plan, Lakewood master planning and Dallas Civic Garden Center.
Bob Goodrich, 1963—All-state end for Woodrow who achieved fine career as sports TV producer, winning 14 Emmy awards. Worked on ABC’s Monday Night Football, Super Bowls, Indianapolis 500, Summer and Winter Olympics.
Tracy Hiser Harding, 1981—One-time Yale cheerleader later served two years with Peace Corps, earned master’s degree in international relations at University of California-San Francisco and now works for State Department in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Phil Johnson, 1943—Longtime professional dancer who helped launch Woodrow’s proud tradition of annual musicals by choreographing showcase scene in 1958 production of Oklahoma! Still fit enough to wear his WWII Navy uniform when he marches in school’s celebration parades.
Larry Karl III, 1968—National Wrestling Hall of Fame member has achieved great success as coach of men’s and women’s teams at Skyline High School, winning a total of 31 district championships.
William Lewis Lester, 1929—Gifted painter who executed a mural commission entitled “Development of American Industry” during the Great Depression for the Public Works Arts Project which hangs in Woodrow’s library.
John Paul McCrumbly, 1971—Woodrow’s first African American football star helped 1969 team reach state semifinals. Also played for Tyler JC, Texas A&M and NFL Buffalo Bills.
Mariano Martinez, 1963—In 1971, the young restaurateur modified a soft-serve ice cream machine into the first frozen margarita machine, which is now displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Steve Miller, 1961—The Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits 1974-1978 has sold over 13 million copies. Long-popular singer and guitarist and his band continue to perform at sold-out concerts.
Danielle Drury Petters, 1985—First of seven siblings to graduate from Woodrow, she was a successful international fashion model before pursuing a career in education. Now in her first year as principal at J.L. Long Middle School on adjoining campus to Woodrow. Fluent in Spanish, she earlier taught ESL and cheerleading at Woodrow.
Marjorie Hardwick Schramel, 1982—Acclaimed ballerina danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov at American Ballet Theatre. Now director of Schramel Conservatory of Dance in New Orleans.
Inez Sookma, 1983—This is a great month in her life. She was promoted to colonel in the U.S. Air Force on April 1 and she’s being inducted into Woodrow Hall of Fame on April 25. Currently serving with International Military Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Barbara Galleher Tonry, 1954—Held 12 national titles in tumbling and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1960 before a knee injury redirected her focus to coaching. Organized first women’s gymnastics team at Yale and has been head coach since 1973.
Ruth Allen Vail, 1991—First Woodrow graduate to serve as school’s principal, her academic goals at her alma mater include overall quality, solid academics and a comprehensive athletic program. Her father, a 1965 Woodrow grad, met her mother in Mexico City where he was serving as a medical missionary. Multi-lingual, having majored in foreign languages at SMU.
Larry Wright, 1965—Author, screenwriter, playwright and staff writer for The New Yorker magazine, his book, The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, was an international bestseller and won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for general non-fiction. His memoir, In The New World: Growing Up In America, 1960-1984, is set in Dallas and recounts his experiences at Woodrow during the Kennedy assassination period.
Michelle Bobadilla, 1973—Associate vice president, University of Texas-Arlington.
Mary Brinegar, 1965—President and Chief Operating Officer, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society.
Bill Cuningham, 1949—City and community leader, known in East Dallas as “The Insurance Wizard.”
Vickers Cunningham, 1980—Judge, 293rd Judicial District Court.
Buckner Fanning, 1943—Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio, for 43 years, has led mission ministries throughout the world.
Burton Gilliam, 1956—Former Dallas firefighter, popular Hollywood character actor appeared in such films as “Paper Moon,” “Blazing Saddles” and “Honeymoon in Vegas”; Golden Gloves champion.
Gary Griffith, 1966—Dallas City Councilman, East Dallas representative on the Park Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Center City TIF Board.
James Rogers, 1945—Executive director and chief psychiatrist, Child Guidance Center, San Antonio.
Toby Shook, 1976—Dallas County assistant district attorney and chief prosecutor.
Peggy Hill Taylor, 1939—Founder, Peggy Taylor Talent Inc., first talent agency in the Southwest; has developed careers of hundreds of actors from New York to Hollywood.
George N. Zarafonetis, 1937—Credit card pioneer and founder of MasterCard (originally PrestoCharge).
Billy “Rooster” Andrews, 1941—Founder and CEO, Rooster Andrews Sporting Goods Inc.
Sam Blair, 1950—Writer and sports columnist, Dallas Morning News.
Stephen Cargile, 1982—Artist, Walt Disney Studios; Art Director, Euro Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland.
Al Carrell, 1943—Columnist, “Super Handyman” of radio and TV.
Pat Evans, 1947—Sports medicine specialist; team physician, Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks; founder and medical director, Justin Sports Medicine Program for Professional Rodeo Cowboys.
Bill Forester, 1949—Football all-American, 1952, SMU; captain, Green Bay Packers’ NFL champions, 1961-62.
Herschel Forester, 1948—SMU football, 1949-51; captain, Cleveland Browns’ NFL champion, 1954-55.
Lou Freeman, 1970—Chief pilot, Southwest Airlines Pilot Crew Base, Chicago Midway.
Kenyon Hiser, 1976—U.S. Navy commander, Destroyer USS Paul Hamilton.
Bradley Sue LaFon Howell, 1951—Woodrow Librarian, 1981-2006; founder, Woodrow Archives; responsible for Woodrow’s designation as City and State Historical Landmark.
Georgia Ann Carroll Kyser, 1937—Top John Robert Powers fashion model, Warner Bros. contract player, USO entertainer, wife of bandleader Kay Kyser, model for “Spirit of the Centennial” statue at Fair Park (now Women’s Museum).
Lawrence Marcus, 1934—Neiman-Marcus, U.S. Army captain of victorious WWII 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion in El Guettar battle against German forces.
Dodd Miller, 1957—Chief of Dallas Fire Department, 1976-2000.
Ken Morris, 1968—Co-founder, PeopleSoft, Inc., California.
Boone Powell Jr., 1955—President and CEO, Baylor Health Care System, Baylor University Medical Center.
Kyle Rains, 1976—Co-founder Woodrow Alumni Association, Woodrow historian.
Marvin Runyon, 1942—Postmaster General of the United States.
Joe Sholden, 1976—Merrill Lynch Financial.
John Sholden, 1979—Dallas County Justice of Peace.
Ken Woodfin, 1940—Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired).
Richard Berezden, 1956—President, American University,
Washington, D.C.
Walter Evans, 1948—Channel 4 television.
Al Haynes, 1948—United Airlines pilot whose crash landing saved dozens of lives.
Jerry Haynes, 1944—Channel 8 television, creator of “Mr. Peppermint.”
Samuel Robert Johnson, 1947—Texas state representative, Dallas and Collin counties.
William Kieschnick Jr., 1940—Former CEO, Atlantic Richfield Co.
Malcolm Kutner, 1938—Football all-American, 1941, University of Texas; NFL Most Valuable Player, 1948, Chicago Cardinals; vice president, C&K Petroleum.
Alton Lister, 1976—NBA Golden State Warriors.
Dr. Percy Luecke, 1943—Pediatrician, former member of DISD School Board.
William C. McCord, 1945—Chairman, Ensearch Corporation.
Nancy Armour Neeld, 1948—Tennis professional.
William H. Seay, 1936—Former CEO, Southwestern Life Insurance Co.
Charles W. Tessmer, 1938—Attorney at Law.
Joel T. Williams, 1938—Former senior chairman, Bright Banc.
Ruth Collins Altshuler Sharp, 1940—SMU Board of Trustee and Governors, 1968-87; civic leader.
Dr. Floyd Bloom, 1954—Neuroscience, medicine, author.
Tim Brown, 1984—Heisman Trophy winner, 1987, Notre Dame; Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders, NFL Rookie of the Year, 1988. (*NFL Hall of Fame, 2015)
Dr. Charles Max Cole, 1932—President, Dallas County Medical Society; Chief of Surgery, Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas; Diplomate, American Board of Surgery.
Jim Collins, 1932—U.S. Congressman, eight terms.
Trammell Crow, 1932—Founder and chairman of Trammell Crow Company, largest and most successful real estate development company in the U.S.
Jack Evans, 1940—Chairman, president and CEO of Cullum Companies, Inc., parent company of Tom Thumb Supermarkets. Mayor of Dallas, 1981-1983.
Ralph Guldahl, 1930—Golf pro, U.S. Open champion, 1937-38; Masters champion, 1939.
Jim Mattox, 1961—U.S. Congressman, Attorney General of Texas.
Geraldine Erwin Miller, 1952—Texas State Board of Education.
M.T. “Buddy” Minyard, 1930—Founder and chairman, Minyard Food Stores.
Davey O’Brien, 1935—Heisman Trophy Winner, 1938, TCU.
Thomas R. Phillips, 1968—Chief Justice of Texas Supreme Court.
Wallace Savage, 1929—Mayor of Dallas, 1949-51; County and State Democratic Party chairman, 1952-54.
Carroll Shelby, 1940—International champion race car driver, creator of Shelby Cobra and Shelby Mustang.
Dr. Tom Shires, 1942—Chairman, Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief, New York Hospital Medical Center; Dean, Cornell University Medical College.
Rowland Wolfe, 1934—Gold medalist in tumbling, 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.
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