High Quality Instruction and Learning for Every Child, Every Day in Every Classroom
January 2018
Renton High graduate (1936) Louise George turns 100-years-old Louise George will tell you that she’s nothing special; average, she’ll say. But Louise has lived a full life: she attended Renton High School (built in 1932) when it was considered “the new school”; she’s worked in Washington D.C. and San Francisco; in 1943, during World War II, she joined the Marine Corps; and in just a few weeks on March 9, Louise will celebrate her 100th birthday. Louise George graduated from Renton High School in 1936. Though she can’t instantly recall many classes, teachers or students, she does fondly remember that she enjoyed her time at school. She lived on South Tobin Street, right behind Renton High, which allowed her
to walk home for lunch every day. Her grades were good enough to allow her to join the Torch Society, an honors club. She says her classmates were mostly poor, but there were a few affluent students from families of doctors and bankers. Some of her friends attended college after graduation; but Louise used the skills she learned in high school, including typing and shorthand, to get good jobs of the time like secretarial work. Her class size was about 25 students (today’s class size is 29); she played volleyball in gym class. While walking around Renton High recently, Louise sees a portrait of Henry Moses, the Duwamish Indian chief, a direct
descendant of Duwamish Chief Sealth, and local high-school sports legend. He graduated well before Louise. “He was a nice boy,” she recalls. “He and his family were well respected in the community.” Louise was happy that she was able to attend Renton High’s 100th year celebration in 2011. More than 500 Renton High alumni attended the days-long Centennial Celebration that include school tours, minireunions, performances by the alumni choir, and memorabilia displays. As one of the longestliving alum, Louise, along with 1930 graduate Cecilia Carey Major, both cut the Centennial Celebration cake.
Louise says she still checks the Renton Reporter to see how the Renton High football and basketball teams are doing. “All along the years, I met wonderful people,” Louise says. “People I met in different places; some I met in the Marine Corps; some while working in various places. I kept in touch with them. Sometimes I visited them; sometimes they visited me.” She says she knows there were wonderful moments during her time as a student at Renton High. “There are always great moments; though I just don’t recall them right now. But I know they’re there.”