Catherine Garley Tobia:  

I attended SHS from 1974-78. It was the first year that Stroman had Raider Belle Reserves. I was actually living in the Victoria High School district and was very interested in Drill Team at the time. Being African American with a Spanish decent, I didn't like the idea of wearing the blonde wig that was required. So I used my grandmothers address to enroll in Stroman High. In 1974, Ms. Johnson was the Raider Bell Director, ya'll remember her? Then she was replaced by Mrs. Susan Taylor. This lady was the funniest, most inventive lady I had ever met. She took the Belles to a whole different level. Mr . Nichols was principle in 1978(my senior year). The Varsity Football team was looking at a lean year. They were small, but determined. We had lost our star players the year before. Our star running back; Russell Bates and Gorgeous Greg Woods(my big brother, or so he though) had graduated and left for college. We had to rely on smaller, scrappier players like Ricky Woods(my brother from another mother; we grew up country together) and Greg McNary( my love interest, who didn't know I was alive) LOL. The Highlight of the Season was a 42-0 victory over the Sandcrabs. My life was consummed with thoughts of enjoying my last year at Stroman, seeing Victoria Tx in my rearview mirror and of course: RAIDER BELLES(The Pride of Victoria). I was always liberal and forward thinking. My circle of friends was a wide spectrum. I hung out with everybody and enjoyed it. Brenda Henry James, Cheryl Reed, and Loretta Young were my girls, but Kim Greer, Emlee Harwell, and Brenda Heller, what can I say, they we...Expand for more