Sandia Prep - 532 Magazine - Fall 2016

FROM THE
Head of School
This year marks Sandia Preparatory School’s 50th Anniversary.
I’m sure you knew that because we try to remind you on every
occasion, on every piece of letterhead, and on the many signs that
hang throughout the campus. But it’s important; it’s a tremendous
milestone in the history of school. We’re a half of a century old!
So, where were you in 1966 when the first small group of young
pioneering ladies anxiously stepped onto this campus? A half a
century ago, America looked a lot different. Lyndon B. Johnson
was in the Oval Office; The Beach Boys and Bob Dylan were the
top selling musical acts; "Bonanza" and "The Red Skelton Show" dominated the TV ratings;
Jacqueline Susann’s novel, " Valley of the Dolls" topped the New York Times’ Best Seller
list; and Captain Kirk introduced the world to the ridiculous concept of a flip-phone. The
average cost of a new home was $24,000, a gallon of gas was $0.32, a haircut was two
bucks, and a bottle of water… well, you couldn’t buy a bottle of water. 1966 also saw the
USA’s growing involvement in the war in Vietnam (Perhaps there are some reading this that
were then serving their country in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Thank you for your service.)
Here in Albuquerque, Ralph Trigg began his tenor as Chairman of the City Commission (i.e.,
Mayor), Popejoy Hall hosted its first concert (The Utah Symphony Orchestra); the Sandia
Peak Tramway brought its first customers to the summit of the mountain; and Sandía School
welcomed its first class of girls to the campus.
When those seventy eight young ladies first arrived on our campus, our founders must have
felt an incredible sense of pride and satisfaction. They had worked so hard to get the school
off the ground, and they invested their time, talents, and treasures to plant the seeds of
our success. That first Board of Trustees included some of the most prominent and socially
involved citizens of Albuquerque, and it was presided over by Barbara Young Simms, a
tenacious and determined woman who had been working on this “project” and gathering
support for the school since 1958. The Board hired Reverend Paul Saunders as the founding
Headmaster, and he was the perfect person for the job. He was a man who had a great deal
of experience in building institutions.
There have been many changes to school over the past 50 years, both in terms of the
campus and the programs, and there have many great administrators and faculty who have
moved the school forward and ensured its relevance. What hasn’t changed, however, is
the spirit of those who brought this school to life and the values that are the core of this
community. We do well to remember this. The decisions we make today and tomorrow
must be directed by our mission and tempered by those values. In fifty years, what will the
future generations be saying about us?
The First Sandía School
Board of Trustees
General Kenner Hertford,
Chairman
Mrs. Albert Simms II
(Barbara Young Simms),
President of the Board
Mrs. Edward Gladden
(Phyllis Boyd Gladden),
Secretary of the Board
Mr. Cale Carson, Treasurer
Mr. John Eastham
Mr. Max Linn
Mr. Frank Maple
Mrs. Albert Mitchell
(Natalie Galbraith Mitchell)
Mrs. Ben Roberts
(Nancy Anderson Roberts)
Mrs. Thomas Ryan
(Ellen Ann Lembke Ryan)
Dr. Randolph Seligman
Mrs. George Schreiber
(Mary Cook Schrieber)
Mrs. William F. Whitfield
(Sue Trammell Whitfield)
Mr. Paul Saunders,
Headmaster
Bill Sinfield
Head of School
532 • Fall 2016 4