As Sam Sees It

Winslow High School has made an excellent choice in their selection of Anna Ruth Battle (nee Van) as the keynote speaker for Thursday’s graduation ceremonies. Battle is quite possibly the finest female athlete to represent Winslow High School and could just be the finest athlete period to wear the maroon, white and gold.

Battle came from a family of talented athletes and won national honors before her graduation in 1980.

She was named All American during her senior year in three different sports: volleyball, basketball and track. She was also named “Arizona’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete” in 1980 by The Arizona Republic.

Battle’s athletic successes did not end with high school graduation. She represented Arizona State University in track and is still the school record holder for the triple jump. She was a collegiate All American in long jump and the triple jump and qualified for the United States Olympic trials in 1984.

She also represented Arizona State University on the basketball court and was a member of the United States Women’s Basketball Team that competed for the Jones Cup in Taiwan.

Success has come to Battle in fields other than athletics. She obtained her college degree and is currently serving as Principal of Tempe High School.

It is always a pleasure for a teacher to see a former student succeed. Anna Ruth Battle’s successes are no surprise. She was a good student and a very nice person. She came from good roots: the daughter of long-time Winslow residents Lorastene and Roosevelt Van. She handled her successes well as a student athlete and apparently is continuing to do so in her chosen profession.

My wife worked with Anna Ruth’s mother and thought the world of her. She was a good woman and would be proud of her daughter and the honor being bestowed upon her.

Winslow is honored to have its successful “children” return and we are indeed proud of Anna Ruth Battle. Her successes reflect in small measure on the schools of this community and those of us fortunate enough to have been her teachers.

Welcome home, Anna Ruth, we are proud of you!

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