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Monday, April 2, 2018
Page #15
A walk to remember Originally published in the Howe Enterprise, June 16, 2014 Kids and newer residents of Howe have no idea who the heavily bearded, heavily clothed man is who walks continuously around the east side of town. They just might be shocked of the impact he made on countless individuals who call this city their home. After the announced retirement of longtime Superintendent, Charles Thompson, the school had a vacancy for the position. Gilstrap, who was best friends with Ray Culp (brother of then-school board member Ned Culp), was asked to apply for the superintendent position. "I knew I wasn't qualified for it. I was still working on my master's degree. But it was something that I was interested in and I thought I'd apply and if nothing else, it would be a mini-vacation," said Gilstrap. Gilstrap was not hired for the job as it went to Glen Mitchell. "They told me that I was not going to be the superintendent, and I knew that, but they said that we want you to be a high school principal in a year. The entire school board came out to Lubbock and I was in my shop working and they came out to my shop where I was welding and I couldn't believe that they had driven all the way out there just to see me and to say 'we want you' and that made me feel good," Gilstrap remarked. Gilstrap became the middle school principal with the understanding that he would become the high school principal the following year. He was worried about replacing H.L. Linker, who was the current high school principal and wondering how that was going to work. "I told Mr. Mitchell that I will never take somebody's job and have him fired simply to please me," said Gilstrap. Mr. Mitchell set it up for Gilstrap to take the elementary and middle school principal position and also
tax assessor in order for it to be an increase in pay from what he was already receiving in Lubbock. "A lot of people thought that Mr. Mitchell and I knew each other, but I never knew him until I got here," said Gilstrap. When Mitchell left Howe and Arthur Boyle was hired as superintendent, Boyle named Gilstrap the high school principal when it opened up, knowing that it was in Gilstrap's contract to be offered the position. Gilstrap, as a principal, was a bit intimidating, although he only stood 5' 9". He looked of a man that was either a wrestler or football Donal Gilstrap on one of his walks back in 2014. player. However, he was as caring and protective of his students as anyone could ask. ma'am.,’" remarked Gilstrap with a think about it, it's difficult. It took smile. me 15 minutes to get the knee pads "There were a couple of boys that I to stay in. I couldn't figure out how kept out of serious trouble. And it Gilstrap turned in three book reports to get the thing buckled. I just went was one of those where not a big in the first three days and completed out there without some pads," said deal was made of it. I told someone all of her assignments by her Gilstrap. that it's not me that's keeping these deadline. She soon realized that he boys out of serious trouble, it's that was an avid reader and had done After having to explain to Gilstrap old principal that I had in Colorado literally two things in his life to that what the word "tackle" meant, the City, Texas.,” said Gilstrap. point - work and read. coach had him on the kickoff team and wanted him to tackle the ball He molded himself after his high That English teacher not only carrier on the kick return. school principal. In fact, Gilstrap challenged him to push himself, but was very lucky to even have a high she also taught him how teachers "I grabbed him, picked him up and school principal and an education would react to stressful situations threw him on the ground. The other altogether. like that which would help him kids were clapping and carrying on down the road in his administration and what I didn't know was that this Gilstrap grew up picking cotton in position. kid was the typical bully," said the 1940's and was not able to go to Gilstrap. "The next time, I did the school until all of the cotton was It was also in high school that a same thing. I picked him up and picked, which was usually around coach told him that he needed to try threw him down. The third time, he November. His mother had a sixth- out for football. Even though wouldn't pick up the ball." grade education and his dad Gilstrap grew up in the hot-bed of received no education at all, but he high school football in West Texas Not knowing any football was a hard oil field worker. near Midland and Big Spring, he terminology, Gilstrap was a realhad never played or even seen a life Herman Munster on the field When Gilstrap went to school at football game due his constant with little understanding, but Colorado City, his principal set him working and reading. amazing strength. He became the up, knowing he wouldn't be there starting middle linebacker in the long. He took him to an English With his mother insisting on him first game that he'd ever seen. His teacher who demanded excellence staying in school at Colorado City, skills in football earned him an from him. She was upset at his his dad found a job nearby so that athletic scholarship to Hardinshowing up in November. could take place. He did as his Simmons University to play coach had asked and tried out for football. "She said, 'young man, every the football team in 1949, his student in my class is up to date. sophomore year. After college, he went to The U.S. When Christmas starts, you will Army for four years, spending time have said 100 lines of poetry and "On my first day, there wasn't in Korea, he made money for the you will give me nine book reports. anyone who could show me how to It will be done.' I said, ‘yes put the football uniform on. If you page 16
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