Billy Pope

After graduation, my family moved back to Fort Worth, where I moved from when I originally came to Amarillo. I went to Abilene Christian University to pursue a Bible degree with the desire to become a youth minister. After graduating from ACU, I went to work for Admiral Linen Service as a Service Manager with the desire to be a self-supporting youth minister. After deciding that this was not going to work, but I really wanted to work with children, so I went to TCU to obtain my education degree, then on to The University of North Texas for my Master's degree. I have worked for the Birdville ISD just outside Fort Worth for the past 28 years. I have taught grades 2 through 6 and have been an administrator for 19 years. I was fortunate to marry the love of my life, Tammy who is a graduate of Richland High School. I have a beautiful and gifted daughter, Maddie who is 24 years old and has followed in the family business and teaches 3rd grade in San Antonio. I have a really cool son, Zachary who is 12. I live in Haslet, just north of Fort Worth and spend my free time restoring and hot rodding old Fords in my shop.

I have two:
I guess, the memory that makes me smile when I think back on my year at AHS was English with Mr. Biggers. As an educator, I think back on some of the things we did 30 YEARS AGO, and I have to think that this man was way ahead of his time in many respects. I blame him for me becoming an educator - thanks, Mr. Biggers, no one else encouraged me like you did. Because of you, I am the first Pope to ever graduate from college! Well, I had Janet Poirot Brown and Darryl Smith in class with me, and we gave that poor man heck all year long! I guess I was too stupid to realize that he wore a toupee - and the day that I called him slick... well, let's just say that I still chuckle at that moment.

Darryl Smith and I used to get a pass out of study hall to go work on our accounting practice sets. We were very studious for most of the year. Then we got to where we'd finish up a few minutes early and beat the crowd to the parking lot, no harm, right? Well, then we got to where we’d “finish” about ½ way through the period then head to Sonic for an ice cold Dr Pepper. Being young and smarter than anyone else, thinking that no one would ever know what we were up to, we began to sign out and not even go to the accounting lab. Life was good for a week or two, and then one day, the study hall dude – I don’t recall his name - said, “I checked yesterday, and you didn’t go to accounting, so you are not allowed to leave any more.” Doh!!! That was the first and only time I ever did anything like that. I blame Darryl, but he says since we used my car, it was my fault…. Good times… I only wish I had the opportunity to spend all of my high school years at AHS, as the students were warm and welcoming. They made this outsider feel like a part of the Sandie Family.