Hi. I'm looking for anyone who may have attended school at Willis-Cartwright Elementary in Fort Worth, Texas - especially during the years of 1975-1978.
For those who might be unaware, the school was also known as Theodore Willis Elementary prior to 1978. The name was changed around that time in honor of retiring principal, Mr. Cartwright. (I was just a kid! I never knew his first name!)
I'm especially interested in finding photos of the school, since the building was destroyed many years ago.
I created this blog as an anchor on the Internet for others who may be looking for information about the school too.
Thanks.
39 comments:
I attended Theodore Willis Elementary for 1st through 3rd grade, 1971-74. I had Ms. Cook for 1st grade and Ms. Tatum for both 2nd and 3rd grade. I was in 3rd grade when they bussed our 2nd grade students to downtown Ft. Worth (Carver school) as part of desegregation. Sorry that I can't help you with pictures. I took a few on a visit to Ft. Worth after the school was closed but I have no idea where those pictures are now.
Hi. I don't know how I missed your comment back in October. I appreciate your replying!
I don't know if anyone is still watching this thread, but. . .
CJ Cartwright was my father, and the principal at this school for 25 years. He didn't have a first/middle name -- just initials. When he retired in 1978, Willis Elementary was renamed Willis-Cartwright Elementary.
He became principal of the school when it opened in (I think) 1953. At that time, it was in White Settlement ISD and was called East Elementary. I started in 1954, and went grades 1 - 3 there, before transferring to my neighborhood elementary. Later, the school moved to FWISD and -- since East Elementary didn't make sense -- was renamed for Ted Willis, an Air Force hero from the area.
Hi, Joe ...
Thanks for posting and providing some history on the school and on Mr. Cartwright!
Would you happen to have any photos of your dad or the school that you could share with me?
Again, thanks!
I attended that school for Kindgergarden only year
I guess it was bout 1980-1981 School year.
Ms. Kay Moberg was my Kindergarden Teacher.
I remember Mr. Crawford was the Principal. He almost always wore short sleeve button-up shirts with a "wife beater" underneath and had his forearm tattoos exposed. They didn't have confidence in kindergardeners ability to read the bus numbers.. so they told us to look for the Yellow Fish.. So thats how I identified the bus I rode home. I noticed the pic from above was of Dayless and Roaring Springs. My father was a Staff Sargent and we lived at two locations on Dayless. The one I remember was the 2nd to last house. Its on the far right side of the pic
It was 413 Dayless Street. Roaring Springs separated us from the Golf Course that was up the hill. I never went over there for some reason. But I did go over there by the train tracks in the wooded area to ride my bike on the trails in there near that hidden Graveyard.. that was fun. After we moved off Dayless we moved to the 2nd to last house again. We lived next to the Lyons Family and a guy named Jim who had brought a wife back from Vietnam. They had two daughters Kathy and Melinda. By there we had started going to Burton Hills elementary and after Dr. Baily left for whatever reason. Mr. Crawford came over there to be principal. Few years later I ended up in Arlington.
I attended Willis-Cartwright also from 1981-1983 My kindergarten teacher was Ms Molberg. My 1st grade teacher was Ms Jackson. We lived on Carswell AFB on Thunderchief Ln. When I googled it tonight it only shows trees. No more apartments. We lived close to the Purnells and I remember a Donovan and Rashida. I dont have any pictures of the school or the houses. I just thought it was interesting to see people from the school that I vaguely remember.
WOW! This is an old thread so you may never see this post, but I attended Willis Cartwright but can't remember the years. I was bused to Carver for 2nd grade, and then went to Willis Cartwright for 3-5 grades. I had Jan Casson for 3rd grade, Mary Hudson for 4th grade, and Margaret Sweeney for 5th grade. I also had Ms Foote for Art, and Ms Goldberg (or whatever her new name was for the year) for music. I think I was there 77-79. Something like that.
Hendrix, I'm glad to see you found this blog. If you are on Facebook, I hope you also found the group that I established there. We recently had someone with the last name Hendrix join the Facebook group, so I'm thinking it may be you.
I too had Ms. Hudson for 4th grade, with Ms. Goldberg for music and Ms. Foote for art. Also, Mr. Darden for PE.
TO tmpwll1: I'm not sure if you will see this post, but, this is Rashida. Willis-Cartwright just came across my mind and I stumbled upon this blog. How cool that I see your comment with my name in it. I was in Ms. Jackson's first grade class in 82-83.
Ms Jackson was the old tall black lady.. She was tall since I last saw her I was in kindergarden. I am sure she was tall for a woman
Really cool. My dad was stationed at Carswell AFB in 1974 and attended my first yr at T Willis the fall of that year entering entering 4th grade. Can't remember my 4th grade teachers name but do remember she was older and wore glasses. I was there '74-'76 for 4th and 5th grades. I really only remember the art and music teachers and my 4th grade social studies teacher out in one of the portable classrooms outside. I remember being on the morning flag raising detail and putting up the bicentennial flag each morning. I also remember how load the bombers were when they took off from the flightline next door. Would love to see some old pictures too!
C duque,I'm glad you dropped by!
There are some photos of Willis-Cartwright (both before the name change and after) posted on this blog.
If you use Facebook, we also have a group there with more photos, in particular photos posted by other folks.
You should be able to find it by using this URL:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/66011836933/
--Ed
IANupe, I apologize for missing your post when you commented back in January. Thanks for dropping by!
If you use Facebook, we also have a group there. You should be able to find it by using this URL:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/66011836933/
When were you at Willis-Cartwright and for what grades?
--Ed
From 1st grade to 5th grade at Theodore Willis elementary. 1974-1978 Good experiences there and remember the teachers and principle fondly.
2nd grade was bussed to the East Side Projects - George Washington Carver elementary school. Horrendous experience
From 1st grade to 5th grade at Theodore Willis elementary. 1974-1978 Good experiences there and remember the teachers and principle fondly.
2nd grade was bussed to the East Side Projects - George Washington Carver elementary school. Horrendous experience
Oh my goodness! I am just about in tears.what a wonderful Christmas gift! I'm 58 years old now. I went to this school from second grade through 6th grade. My family was stationed there because dad was allowed to choose which hospital in the states to be transferred from Ramey AFB Puerto Rico. Because I was sick. He choose Carswell. We moved to 300 General Ramey. The school was right behind our house. I would walk home for lunch.
It was December 4, 1963 I was flown to the hospital. President Kenney was just assassinated a few weeks previously.
Oh I have so much to say. Mrs Going was my second or third grade teacher and Mr Vernon was my 6th grade teacher. All through the years I was in love with a lil boy named Mike.
A wonderful life!
Diana Bishop
Diana.hannahan@gmail.com
Hector Gill-Hi everyone, we were stationed at Carswell between 1981-1984. We lived at 3258C Thunderchief. I attended 1st grade at Willis Cartwright, Mrs. Brown. Then bussed across town for 2nd grade to Carver. Back to WC for Third with Mrs. Killiam, 4th grade At Burton Hill with Mrs. Hudson. I had 2 older twin sisters, Connie & Adrianne, younger sister Irene. Some names I remember are James Spriggs, Kerry Powell, Doris and Pam Reynolds, Carrie Stapleton, the Veristigi family. It was a great safe place to live. Riding our bikes to the lake, playing outside till 10 pm with no worries. The Space shuttle once landed on its way to Florida. We attended the local church. I spent lots of time at the youth center. Hearing the tornado sirens every spring. The engines of B-52's were always running as the Cold War readiness was ongoing. Spent the summers at the NCO club pool. I visited the base in 2013 and my house was no longer there, nor the pool. We then moved to Lackland then Randolph AFB. If you were there during these years please send me a message. Hector.gill4@yahoo.com
Kerry Powell was actually Carey Powell. He is my brother. We lived at 3256 D Thunderchief Lane. I have the same memories. We moved in 1983 to Chanute AFB in Illinois.
Hello Rashida. I remeber you being my very best friend in the first grade. Lol. How are you doing?
Theodore Willis Bombers!
My sister, Tara Mastrianni, attended Willis Cartwright in 1979-81. I guess WC closed & the 2nd graders had to attend elsewhere? Instead of bussing my sister to Carver, my parents enrolled her at a private school on Roberts Bend Rd. Does anyone happen to know the name of that private school? Perhaps you went there as well? It is no longer in existence & I am doing research for my sister as a surprise, so the name would be extremely helpful (no one can recall the name).
Hi, don't know if you will see this. I went there in 79-81. Mr Cartwright came to visit and everyone made sure I meet him since my name was Cartwright and I lived dirty across the street from the exit of the school. Ill never forget, I was introduced and he patted me on my head and said I was pretty enough to be his daughter. So funny I ran into this. Was just looking for my old house on Fairchild at the end of the runway.
I lived on dayless street in 1980. Was in the 4th grade had Mrs foote.
I had Ms foote also.
Wow this was great. I'm heading to facebook to see if anyone is still around. I lived on dayless will I attended Cartwright elementary I guess 79-81. Moved to Fairchild across from that school when I went to middle school. My name was Cartwright so I meet the retired principal one day when he came back to visit.
I attended from 74 to 76, Mrs. Thornton was my teacher, just came across my class photo
I also had Mrs. Sweeney in fifth grade along with Ms. Foote. I think it was 1979. I was also on the bus in second grade going to Carver. I've been trying to find friends from back then as I only kept in touch with two. I lived on Gen. Ramey St
I remember all those teachers!
~Amber~
I also had Mrs. Griffin in third grade in one of the modular buildings. She really did not like me lol
My name is Amber. My friends were Cheryl Thompson who I am still in touch with. Also Marjorie Carpenter who lives near me, and Tina Matthews
I lived on general Ramey st and had mrs Sweeney for 5th
Is that Lori lively from the 2007 post? I was bussed to the east side projects in second grade and then the project kids beat me into submission because I was white. The next year my little sister went mad was raped by one of her teachers. Then to add insult to injury they started bussing those kids to Willis Cartwright so that all the blessings of diversity could continue.
Those of you whose parents “ white flighted”are lucky and god bless them for saving you from those horrors. 2nd grade is too young for that kind of abuse.
I lived on ascal drive right outside the main gate which is now inside the main gate . I went to Willis J Cartwright for 5th 5th grade and I had Mrs. Sweeney
I also had Mrs. Sweeney.
I attended from 82-83 for Kindergarten. I think my teachers name was Mrs Abshire. We lived on Billy Mitchell street on the side by the golf course. I remember the house at the beginning of the street off White Settlement had a small cemetery behind it. Willis Cartwright closed after that year and I was bused over to Burton Hill.
I remember going to Theodore Willis back in 1965-1966. I still have my class photo with Mr. Cartwright our principle and Mrs. Rogers my teacher. I remember Miss Foote the art teacher. My classmates that I remember the most were like me always in trouble and know all about Mr. Cartwright's paddle. My Best friend was Larry Nero, Who never got any licks. It was Me, James Ingram,. Nicky Depew, Herold (Bootsie) Schmidt, Johnny Almager,. Who would throw-up every you pretended to have a hair in your mouth. Charlotte Elkins was the girl everyone was in love with. Those were very fond memories. My dad was stationed at Carswell AFB where I played Little League Baseball and was a member of Boy Scouts Troop #36. Moved back to Houston when Dad retired in 1968. Wherever you are Mrs. Rogers You were and will always be my favorite teacher of all time. Thanks for never giving up on me.
What was your house address? I lived at 108 Billy Mitchell from 1971-74. It was a yellow house with a pass-through to the driving range in the backyard. I think there was one house (or possibly two) between us and the house with the cemetery.
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