Editor’s note: The following remarks were given to induct the 2019 Spur Ex-Student at Homecoming. Many of you have talked about how powerful the words were, so we are running them in this space in their entirety.
From the country of Girard, Texas to the south side of Spur to attend Haynes School, this young lady was headed for greatness.
In 1964 she started school at East Ward Primary School. During her time at Spur High she participated in many sports, but her love was track and field. She set many records and in 1974 she set the 2A state record, running 54.84 seconds in the 400 meter. To this day that record still holds.
In 1976 she graduated from Spur High School. She went on to graduate from Prairie View A&M University in 1980 with a degree in physical education and a master’s degree in counseling.
During her college years she ran the 800 meter. She was a part of the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship team.
She traveled to many countries including Spain, France, Italy, Norway, Germany Switzerland, Greece, Sweden, Mexico City and Brazil, doing what she loved.
She won the 800 meter at the Drake Relays three times, and she was chosen as one of Drake Relays Women Athletes of the Century. She was an outstanding performer in the 1979 and 1980 Drake Relays. She anchored the 800 Medley relay that set a national collegiate record. She anchored the 4X400 relay to a meet record. In 1986 she set a meet record in the 800 meter and was inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame.
She was a member of the Pan American Team, World Championship Team, Goodwill Games, Sports Festival and United States versus Russia dual meet. In 1980, the year of the boycott, she made the Olympic team.
She began her teaching and coaching career in 1980 in San Antonio, Texas. She taught and coached at Prairie View A&M from 1987 to 2006. She was the head coach at the Pan African Games and assistant coach with the Summer Universiade in Italy. In 1999 she was head coach for the USA Pan American Team. Since 2006 to the present, she is the track coach and a teacher at Houston Northside High School.
She is the fifth child out of eight and fourth daughter to Jim and Arizona Kelley.
She is the mother of Shannon, Antoine and Taylor Washington.
By now you know the 2019 Outstanding Ex-Student is our very own Essie Kelley-Washington.
She traveled to many countries including Spain, France, Italy, Norway, Germany Switzerland, Greece, Sweden, Mexico City and Brazil, doing what she loved.
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