Reestablish the Proud APACHE Mascot to H. Grady Spruce High School

We beseech the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) to reestablish the original Apache mascot to H. Grady Spruce high school.

H. Grady Spruce opened its doors in the fall of 1963 and chose as Mascot the Apache due to their pride, integrity, and fighting spirit. The school soon became known as the Home of the "Mighty Fighting Apaches".

Students were encouraged with the philosophies, "I Care" and "Everybody is Somebody," developed by the first Principle, Perry Fite. Students were taught to live with integrity and to treat all others with respect and to be courageous in life with "Apache Pride".

After 35 years of success, from 1963–1998, the school mascot was changed in 1998. In a time consumed with politics and "politically correct" activism -- remember the Washington Redskins? -- the DISD administration at the time got caught up in the politics and desires of an extremely small group of activists. The HGS mascot was changed to the Timberwolves (an animal not native to the Dallas area) without commmunity involvement.

Nineteen years later, cooler heads prevail and we now know that a majority of Native Americans support mascots such as the Apaches. And a recent Supreme Court ruling has established that such mascots are not inherently problematic nor can they be banned.

For the sake of future generations of HGS students we beseech the Dallas Independent School District to reestablish the original Apache mascot for H. Grady Spruce high school and allow them to experience Apache Pride.

We are APACHE PROUD!

I Care

Everybody is Somebody