[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN CELEBRATION OF THE 50 YEAR REUNION OF THE DILLARD HIGH SCHOOL CLASS 
                                OF 1966

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2016

  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr Speaker, I rise today to commemorate 50 years since 
the Class of 1966 graced the halls of Dillard High School in Fort 
Lauderdale, Florida.
  Dillard has a storied past and a bright future. Originally 
established in 1907 as Colored School Number Eleven, its opening marked 
the beginning of monumental African American achievements in South 
Florida. At that time, Fort Lauderdale was a farming region where 
locals found it unnecessary to educate African Americans past the sixth 
grade.
  Two decades later the school progressed under Principal Dr. Joseph A. 
Ely, who added more classes and sought to educate African American 
students past the sixth grade. He was also responsible for the school's 
current name, a nod to James Harvey Dillard, a white educator from 
Virginia, who was a black education advocate.
  In 1948, Dillard's well-known jazz program was led by Julian Edwin 
``Cannonball'' Adderley, who later became one of the best known jazz 
musicians in America. Adderley brought new life to the school and 
helped instill the importance of jazz in the students. He taught jazz 
when it had not yet been accepted as a classical art form, and while he 
was teaching jazz he was also teaching Bach and Beethoven.
  Due to an expanding community, the high school grades were moved to a 
new facility at 2501 N.W. 11th Street in 1950, where the Class of '66 
attended and graduated. Dillard High School is now one of 62 high 
schools in the Broward County Public Schools and has become a magnet 
school open to all of Broward County, hosting three programs:
  Performing & Visual Arts where students collaborate and work with 
artists-in-residence, and have the privilege of working side-by-side 
with the professionals at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 
the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art and other local arts organizations.
  Emerging Computer Technology which offers a state-of-the-art 
technology curriculum that complements students' core academic 
requirements utilizing computers and the latest technologies to develop 
higher level thinking skills, critical research and study, 
communication, and problem solving.
  Digital Entrepreneurship Academy where students understand the 
essentials for successful business plan development, start-up and 
operation using digital arts, and using technology to create art, 
music, multimedia and animation.
   Mr. Speaker, clearly all Panthers can be proud of the history and 
future of Dillard High School. It is my absolute pleasure to wish those 
Panthers celebrating their 50th high school reunion on June 18, 2016, a 
joyous and spirited reunion

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