April 25, 2005  -  The Bossier High School Alumni Association (Interim) held an organizational meeting in the Bossier Parish Historical Center, next to the main branch of the Bossier Parish Library.  Buzz Wojecki '66 presided over the meeting.  About 20 Bearkats were present.

Guest speakers were Bossier High School Principal, Bud Dean, and Mr. Bill Emory, Vice President of the Byrd High Alumni Association. Byrd is enjoying outstanding participation in their association.  Bill Emory shared his perspective about the formation and operation to this time of the Byrd High School Alumni Association. He answered questions from the floor regarding the nuts and bolts of running an association.

June 1, 2007  - BHSAA in review.

Some of our accomplishments:

We have organized ourselves, established bylaws, elected officers. We are meeting monthly at 6:00PM on the 1st Monday at the History Center located on Beckett Street in Bossier City.

Membership has grown to about 200 dues paying members.

We have a website, http://www.bearkatsforever.org/, where information related to the activities of the BHSAA are reported. You can find a list of our members, our bylaws, meeting minutes, photo tours, etc.  A forum has been added where all Bearkats can post their concerns.

We have furnished Bossier High School with a set of Military flags for use in parades and meetings. These flags were also used at the funeral of Joshua Burrows, Class of 2005, who gave his life in support of his country. See the "Legion of Honor" page on our website.

We participated in the Homecoming Parades. We distributed Spirit Ribbons in 2005 (Thanks to Band Supporter, Melody Von Einem) and BHSAA applications at the game. In 2006 after the parade we held a "Sock Hop" in the school cafeteria. The Classes '61, '64 and '66 were having reunions and were enjoying the Homecoming festivities.

The BHSAA presented Alumnus Zach Rathke '04 with the first Alumni Association Medal of Merit for his successful effort as a student and alumnus to help move BHS onto the National Register. Principal Bud Dean
was presented with the Association's second medal of merit for initiating the effort by tasking Rathke to take on this effort. Dean was also recognized for his important contributions towards the advancement of the BHSAA.

Vice President Tommy Smith rounded up Bossier leaders for a first ever meeting. It was Tommy's vision to create a synergy for BHS by creating an Executive Advisory Board. Among those attending were Congressman Jim McCrery; Parish Administrator, Bill Altimus; Bossier City Mayor's representative, Pam Glorioso and Bossier Chamber of Commerce President, Wanda Bennett '54.

In 2006 Scholarship awards of $250 were given to five outstanding graduating seniors. Three of these were funded by the generous support of several of our members. Two of the awards were in memory of James L. Cathey Jr. and in honor of Randal Kirkland.

We continue to have growing pains in that there is much we would like to do but willing workers are hard to find.

The officers for 2007 are Jerry Payne '60, President; Bill McClung '60, 1st Vice President; Lynda Beauvais Jones '57, 2nd Vice President; Linda McKaskle Pedro '58, Recording Secretary; Thomas Knowles '57, Secretary; Sandra Prothro Fanta '59, Treasurer; Elaine Waldrop Laughlin '57, Historian.

In 2007 we were able to again provide Scholarship awards of $259 to five graduating seniors.  Two of the awards were funded by BHSAA dues, two more were sponsored by the Class of 1957 at their 50th reunion.  The last award was funded by members in memory of Kenneth Green.

The BHSAA hosted the first "Hall of Fame" induction ceremony in 2006 as part of the Homecoming festivities. Inducted were Neal J. Huckaby '29, Arthur Ray Teague '31, James J. O'Donnell '32, Neal A. Yarborough '32, Wilna Wyse Mabry '33, F. Maxwell Smith '34, Kirby Wilson '36 James Cathy '37, Henry Clifton Brown, Jr. '38, Dr. C. H. McCuller '43, Billy Ross Robinson '47, and Miss Olivette Montgomery, faculty.

Contributions were made to BHS to help obtain a new mascot costume and to add to a clothes closet where needy students can obtain help with school uniforms.

In 2007 BHSAA members are encouraged to nominate a Bearkat for the "Hall of Fame". Expect a similar opportunity to make a nomination for the "Sports Hall of Fame".