PHOTO BY LISA CARNLEY A ceremonial ribbon-cutting was held during the dedication of the new Lampasas High School campus. On hand for the event were, from left, Superintendent Randy Hoyer, trustee Linda Floerke, former trustees Max Keele and John Phillips, trustees Kirk Whitehead and Ron Farr, LHS Principal Mark Kehoe, trustees James Briggs and Wesley Crow, former board member Andrew Irvin and LISD Director of Finance Shane Jones. Familiar faces plus key figures from the past gathered Monday night to dedicate Lampasas' new multi-million-dollar high school facility on U.S. Highway 281 South.

Events kicked off with the Lampasas High School Badger Band playing the school song, accompanied by a dance routine from the Flames drill team.

Superintendent Randy Hoyer gave a brief history of how the new building came to be and told the audience how thrilled he is to be a part of it.

"I am very excited about our new school. It is an unprecedented facil- ity that is absolutely fantastic," he said. "Anytime something like this occurs, it takes a lot of planning. I came in on the tail end of it, and I am reaping the benefits of the hard work it has taken to get us to this point."

Planning began a number of years ago, the superintendent said, noting it took a lot of people to make the new campus a reality.

"But the biggest people involved are the taxpayers of the LISD. They had pride, and they recognized that our students deserved to attend a fine institution for their education. It took a lot of planning and foresight for this vision."

Hoyer acknowledged several board members who took the vision and ran with it, including former trustees John Phillips, Max Keele and Andrew Irvin. He recognized current board members who continued the work, including Linda Floerke, Kirk Whitehead, Wesley Crow, Ron Farr and James Briggs, board president. "These folks put in a lot of time, effort and countless hours of planning and meetings."

The superintendent then recognized the political action committee that pushed for better educational facilities for the community, and its spokesman J.W. Hutcherson, who Hoyer said spent many hours speaking to groups and working hard for the district's ben- efit.

The Blue Ribbon Task Force, which began tossing around the idea of new facilities a number of years ago, also was lauded, as well as the architects, contractors and bond counsel.

"The architects and contractors did a great job of working together in order for us to get the school open in time," Hoyer said. "They did stay on the timeline, and we have an incredible facility because of their work."

The superintendent then recognized LISD Business Manager Shane Jones, Maintenance Director J.D. Butts and former superintendent Dr. Brant Myers, who also was on hand for the occasion.

The steering committee of Briggs, Crow, Farr, Jones, Butts and Myers also was singled out for recognition.

Special guests were acknowledged, including Mayor Judy Hetherly, County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse, Sheriff David Whitis and Commissioners Lowell Ivey and Alex Wittenburg. "We appreciate the support and cooperation we had working with the city and county," said Hoyer.

Also recognized were Charles Pence, who donated the 88-acre tract of land for the campus; Guyco Construction, which renovated the old high school and Kline Whitis Elementary; Rex Daniels, who twice served as interim superintendent during the bond process; and former LHS librarian Mutsu Crumley.

"On behalf of the school board, I want to welcome you to the new high school and thank you for coming," said Hoyer. "It's a great night; it's a special night. Hundreds of people helped to make it possible. It was teamwork that got it done, and special thanks to each of you who had anything to do with the whole project."

Hoyer singled out the LISD's business manager for handling so many aspects of the project over the last several years. "Shane had thousands of things going on with this bond program. It's unreal all of the things he handled during the whole process. Shane, we will forever be grateful for what you have done."

The superintendent said the expertise of trustees Crow and Farr enabled the LISD to save millions of dollars during the construction phase.

"But the real heroes are the voters who passed the bond issue," he said.

Said Briggs of taxpayers: "We are a property-poor district, and this was quite a sacrifice on their part, but they cared more about the kids in this district than they did about their pocketbooks or themselves, and that is really commendable."

"God bless each of you, and God bless this school district," Hoyer added.

LHS Principal Mark Kehoe echoed the sentiments of those at the ceremony, when he said: "This place is awesome. We have great science labs; they're awesome. We have a beautiful library; it's awesome. We have two gyms where you can stand here and watch two games at the same time instead of walking through the mud in the dark to see the other one; it's awesome. We're glad to be here."

A closing prayer by the Rev. George Lumpkin of First United Methodist Church was followed by a ribbon-cutting, an open house and self-guided tours to close the dedication ceremony.