Members of the Cleburne High School Class of 1959 remember Janet Honea Wallace as the girl who was always at the top of her class and involved in every school activity.
Wallace, who went on to finish as valedictorian, is the 2009 Coming Home Queen because of the nomination efforts of her fellow graduates, who are celebrating their 50th class reunion this weekend.
She is sharing the spotlight with Senior District Judge C.C. “Kit” Cooke, the recipient of the CHS Ex-Students Association Wall of Fame Award and Alan Borden, homecoming parade marshal.
“When we discussed nominating people from our class for the alumni awards, her name came to mind,” said classmate James Wright, who is a member of the 50th reunion planning committee. “Janet was an example for everyone in our class. As a student and an adult she has set an example all through her life.”
Wallace speaks with much fondness of her high school days, remembering pep rallies in the auditorium at the old Cleburne High School, helping decorate the gym for the Junior-Senior Prom, being a member of Willard House and a student in “Miss Hopper’s” English class.
“Back then I tried to be in everything,” she said. “I loved being with friends, being in clubs and activities. I loved going to football games.”
Wallace grew up in Cleburne, attending Adams Elementary in the first-sixth grades. At Fulton Junior High School she was an eighth-grade cheerleader and a straight-A student.
Her list of achievements at CHS included president of Future Teachers of America and National Honor Society vice-president.
The “Santa Fe Trail” quotes the school faculty, who selected her for Who’s Who as a junior and a senior, as being meticulous and efficient in all her work. Her senior honors included Junior Classical League Sweetheart, district and regional typing champion and she was voted Most Likely to Succeed.
After graduation, Wallace enrolled in Texas Christian University, where she was an English major and pledged Alpha Delta Pi.
She also extended her academic track record by another four years, graduating cum laude.
For the next 33 years, Wallace taught senior English and advanced placement English at Arlington High School.
While on faculty she was a class sponsor and was the UIL spelling coach.
In 1988 she was named Arlington High’s Teacher of the Year.
When she retired from teaching, Wallace and husband James, who have been married 36 years, returned to Cleburne.
Soon, she was again involved with high school students as a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church’s Academic Excellence Awards Committee.
For more than 25 years, St. Mark UMC has sponsored an annual awards program that recognizes Cleburne High School students for academic achievement.
Wallace has served on the Academic Excellence Awards Committee for nine years and is co-chairman.
“I love anything relating to students and academics,” she said. “Being on the Academic Excellence Awards Committee keeps my hand in education. I also teach the 9- and 10-year-olds Sunday School Class at St. Mark.”
She also enjoys volunteering. Her church activities include membership in the Miriam Circle of United Methodist Women, which focuses on outreach to the community and beyond.
Wallace, along with Cooke and Borden, will be honored at Thursday evening’s community pep rally, set for 7 p.m. in the CHS Gymnasium.
They will be recognized Friday in pre-game ceremonies set for 7 p.m. at Jacket Stadium.
Cleburne ISD
Wallace named ’09 Coming Home Queen
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