This was our press release done by CPS.  (2007)

For Immediate Release
   Hookway Alumni Host All-School Reunion

Chicago Public Schools Hookway Elementary School alumni will host an all-school reunion picnic at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 4 in West Chatham Park, 8223 So Princeton Avenue.

This picnic, which is expected to attract graduates from the 1920's to the 1980's, also will provide an opportunity for alumni and community members to discuss ways to improve community relations and decrease the violence in the city.

"Hookway School produced some really successful people," said Cheryl Lockett Samuels, one of the reunion organizers. "And that was because the people in the neighborhood worked together with the school, the church, and the park to provide activities and a sense of belonging for our children.   We need to rekindle that spirit."

Reunion organizers hope to ignite a renewed sense of community in the West Chatham area and to generate more intensive community involvement.

Last year more than 300 people attend the Hookway reunion picnic in the park.  This year's picnic will feature entertainment including a band comprised of Hookway alumni and talent from the Royce Glamour television show.

Thousands of students graduated from Hookway during its 63 years of operation.  Alumni include doctors, lawyers, teachers, entertainers and:

Rodney James - Headmaster of Beacon Hill Prep,
Calumet City, IL
Stanford Johnson - President of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (8th Largest teachers union in the U.S)
Michelle Jordan - Judge
Laurene Hynson - Owner of the Sweet Maple Cafe, Chicago
Joseph Martin - Founder, the Royce Glamour Show
Margo Phillips - Owner of "Ain't She's Sweet" Cafe
Richard Reels - NFL Referee
Pamela James Strain - Former principal of Ruggles School (CPS), founder of Beacon Hill Prep School
Roxanne Ward - Chicago Public Schools Board of Education member
Paula James Webber - Chief of Staff, Beacon Hill Prep
Michael Wilbon - Host of "Pardon the Interruption" on ESPN

The reunion committee is looking for all alumni from 1950's through 1980's; Hookway closed in 1981; Lenart Regional Gifted Center now occupies the building.

Hookway School was named for Amelia Dunne Hookway, CPS principal of Howland School from 1896 to 1914, and sister of Finley Peter Dunne, author and orginator of the bartender-sage, Mr. Dooley, which ran on the editorial pages of the Chicago Evening Post and the Chicago Journal at the turn of the 20th Century.  Ms. Hookway was a native Chicagoan, a member of one of the city's most prominent families and recognized as one of the city's foremost educators.

The schedule for the weekend is:

Friday, August 3rd -- Hospitality Night
Saturdaay, August 4th -- Reunion Picnic
Sunday, August 5th -- Worship

The Chicago Public Schools is the nations third-largest school system.  It includes more than 600 schools and about 415,000 students.




Where are you ? Many of your classmates/students are looking for you.

Patricia Battle
Babette Briggs
Shirley Robinson
Doris Jones
Lisa DeShay
Rita Mayfield
Lillian Lenard
Barbara Wren
Shirley Butler
Denise Santora
Steven Santora
Sharon Peace
Mr. John Bean
Ms. Leslie Avina
Ms. Patricia Buckney
Alberto Imala
Sylvia Jones
Yolanda Hill
Barbara McClure
Nancy Greathouse
Denise Brisco
Allen Brisco
Gina Shaunette
Mario Shaunette
Doneva Montgomery


(If you know where these classmates/teachers are, please let us know by going to the "Contact Us" site.  (If you are looking for a classmate that is not listed, please let us know also). Thanks for the response.  Many names that were on the list are off because they were at the reunion or someone contacted us about them and some have gotten in touch with us through the website.