Dr. Frances Ditto Jennings to be honored as a Distinguished Alumna at 16th Annual Alumni Open House, June 22, 2013, AHS Cafeteria 10am-12pm To the Arlington High School Alumni Board: I would like to say how very much I appreciate the nomination of my cousin, Dr. Frances Ditto Jennings, as a Distinguished Alumna of Arlington High School. I was raised with Fran in the home of my mom and dad, Lillie Ditto Bailey and Joe Bailey. She was an extreme influence on me as a child. I always looked up to her and wanted to achieve what she achieved because I respected her so much. When I was in grade school, one of my assignments was to write a paper about “My Ideal Person”. I recently found my original paper and emailed it to her. She called me almost in tears saying, “I always thought you hated me.” Far from it Fran, though I was always a little concerned that my family loved you more than me. Frances has achieved more in her life than I ever could expect to do. As a graduate of Texas Women’s University, she went to Chicago to serve as a Hospital Dietician for Cook County Hospital. It was in Chicago that she met and married her wonderful husband, Ray. Several years and 4 children later, she and Ray moved back to Arlington. She joined the Arlington Independent School District, but did not stop there. She continued her own education and earned her Doctorate Degree from North Texas State University. Because of her dedication to education over the years many of our Arlington children have benefited. To give Fran this honor not only honors her. It honors our whole family and continues the dedication of our family to the success of Arlington. Fran is a descendant of James Ditto, the first Post Master, who with his son and Fran’s Grandfather, Web Ditto, wrote to Washington and asked that the little town of Johnson City’s name be changed to Arlington after Robert E. Lee’s home in Virginia. Fran is the daughter of Frank McKnight Ditto, who left Arlington in his teen years to serve in the Navy of our great country during World War I. She was raised in the home of Joe Bailey (for whom Bailey Jr. High was named), who served on the Arlington Independent School District School Board for 19 years. I like to think that is where she began her love and dedication to education. And as for our family, I know that I can speak for all of them, we are so proud of the love and service she has given to our wonderful city. And it all began at South Side Elementary School and Arlington High School. Thank you, Elizabeth Bailey Banowsky, Class of 1957 1754 Carriage Way, Sugar Land, Texas 77478 [email protected] 713-825-2627 - cell 281-242-0201 - home
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 01:16:06 +0000