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12/09/1943 - 05/20/1984
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Bob and wife Fae |
photo by Jon Caery 1984 |
| Bob Graduated
high school from Hobart Indiana in May 62
Attended DePaul University in Green Castle IN and Montana State in Missoula, MT and followed the love of his life to where he received his BSE ('66)and Master in ('68) from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR. Came to Texarkana in 1968 as a AHS coach. He taught English at North Heights and PE at various elementary schools throughout the years. He started as an assistant principal around 1977. He was married to Fae Graham who taught in the TASD school district for 30 years before she retired in 2001. They had one daughter Rachel ('89) graduate. |
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I played under Coach Graham from 1970-1972. He was a great coach and
motivator. My mother taught at College Hill Elementary and they were close
friends. The most fun I had was working with Coach Graham in the summer for the
Texarkana Arkansas Schools. I was going to college and Mr. Wendell Watson hired
about 4 boys a summer for ball field maintenance, mowing, painting and other
different jobs. I worked with Coach Graham for a couple of summers. When I
was on his crew we always stopped and bought watermelon on a hot day. We would
hide the melon in the school cafeteria and eat it on break time. One of the
tractor drivers saw us and called Mr. Watson. He flew over to Union School and
we just got it thrown away before he saw us. Coach Graham said we had been
painting all morning and couldn't imagine anyone eating watermelon on the job.
At lunch, Mr. Watson called a meeting and didn't want anyone eating at
work. Coach Graham got up and told Mr. Watson if he found out who it was to let
him know and he would whoop 'em .Everyone in the shop broke down laughing
including Mr. Watson. Coach Graham and Mr. Watson were great, caring and fine
men. Thanks Wayne for this chance.
Sincerely, Danny Freeman-----teacher/coach-Genoa Central Schools and AHS class
of 1972.
My most vivid memory of him was in the spring of my senior year 1980. Boy was he pissed at me; all red and fuming and it's no wonder a heart attack got him. I had missed 13 days of school that semester and in April, I missed my 14th -- one over the limit. He called me into his office early in the morning and said I was finished, meaning I wouldn't graduate. My ICT teacher (I forget his name) was this Republican guy whose political views were just to the right of James Dobson; he loved to pontificate his way through class discussing politics. Despite his political persuasions, he seemed anti-establishment. He could see I was visibly upset and he met with me after class to discuss the call to Bob's office. After explaining the situation to him, he pulled out his classroom records book and gave me the exact dates of the last five days I missed.
I took that to my doctor the next day, he provided a much needed medical excuse, then I met with Bob first thing the next morning. Bob glanced at the excuse, gave me a dirty look with overtones of overt suspicion, then grudgingly sent me back to class with a warning: One more missed day and I was really done next time. I quickly departed before he could change his mind.
William A. Morris
Morris Law Firm, P.C.
950 17th Street, Suite 1800
Denver, Colorado 80202
Coach Graham was one of my favorite people at AHS. I had spent my whole high school career without
being in trouble with him until my last two weeks of my senior year (1983). This is when a young man tried to come between my girlfriend and me. He was
her former boyfriend and my former best friend. On numerous occasions he had made off color remarks about her and I had
warned him to stop. He did everything in his power to break us up and one night I had enough so I called him and told him to meet me at school early
so we could talk about our problem. He showed up and we fought. It wasn't a good situation.
Needless to say we were both sent to Coach Graham's office for discipline. He asked each of us to tell our side of the story. I told mine first and
Coach Graham look at the other guy and said "I don't blame him, you should have had you’re a## kicked!" Then he told me I just shouldn't have done it
at school. I will never forget that moment because I thought I was in some big trouble. Coach Graham was always a friend and my girlfriend, who is now
my wife, Beth White Carlton, and I will always have a special place in our hearts.
Thanks again,
Rev. Tom Carlton
Memories of Bob Graham...where to start...where to end. So many in what seems such a short time now. To say school life was a tad easier in the 80's is probably not the right word. Curriculum was probably as hard as it is today but the extra curricular activities where a WHOLE LOT more fun, I think. Bob & I loved to fish, talk fish, dream fish, etc. Some of my most precious memories are those days that Bob would call me to the office after lunch & asked if I had anything going on, I'd usually say no, so he would say, get to the house & get the boat hooked up & he'd be there in 30-45min. We enjoyed several early afternoon fishin's on Millwood at which, I can guarantee I learned more during those hours than I would have elsewhere. He was a father to me in school & after, a mentor, a role-model, but most of all, he was my friend & is sorely missed till this day. Thanks Bob!
Sincerely,
Jon Caery
Class of '82
Bob Graham was a great friend. He loved life, his family, and his friends. Bob used to keep the clock at the basketball games when I coached basketball at Arkansas High. We had some barn burners. Bob would always cheer me up after a game we had lost and that helped me a lot. All of Bob's friends have really missed him since his death. He was an inspiration to all who came in contact with him. Bob Graham is probably up there fishing today with J. L Brewer. Save me a place boys.
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